2006

Confirming news first reported here in February, veteran modern rock act Smashing Pumpkins is writing material for its first new studio album since 2000. In a message on its Web site, the Billy Corgan-led group said it will begin recording this summer but has no release date in mind for the project.

At deadline it is still unclear if Corgan and Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin are working with any other musicians. “As long as Billy has Jimmy, he can make the essential Pumpkins record, I’m sure,” former Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur previously told Billboard.com, adding that while she is not involved in any reunion plans, “my services are always there to play my favorite songs.”

Corgan stunned fans last June when he took out a full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times announcing his intentions to “renew and “revive” the Pumpkins, who split acrimoniously in 2000. In 2004, he broke his silence about why the band dissolved, lashing out at guitarist James Iha and bassist D’Arcy Wretzky for walking away from an endeavor he described as “essentially my entire life… a dream I still believe in.”

Corgan’s newspaper ads came out the same day as his Reprise solo debut, “The Future Embrace,” which met with a chilly reception at retail.

Source billboard.com.

As expected, Pink Floyd principal Roger Waters will tour North America this fall and will be performing the band’s classic 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety. Beforehand, Waters will spend the summer touring Europe, beginning June 2 at the Rock in Rio festival in Lisbon.

The North American tour, Waters’ first since 2002, will get underway Sept. 6 in Holmdel, N.J., and hit arenas and outdoor amphitheatres. The band will include longtime sidemen Andy Fairweather Low and Snowy White on guitar, drummer Graham Broad and Waters’ son Harry on Hammond organ.

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason will make a guest appearance at Waters’ July 14 show in Nevers, France, but at deadline is not confirmed to join the band at any additional shows.

Sans Waters, Pink Floyd performed “Dark Side of the Moon” in full for the first time during its 1994 tour in support of “The Division Bell.” With Waters back in the fold, the band performed the “Dark Side” tracks “Breathe” and “Money” as part of its four-song set at Live 8 last summer.

Here are Roger Waters’ North American tour dates:

Sept. 6: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC Bank Arts Center)
Sept. 8: Mansfield, Mass. (Tweeter Center)
Sept. 12-13: New York (Madison Square Garden)
Sept. 15: Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach)
Sept. 16: Camden, N.J. (Tweeter Center)
Sept. 18: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills)
Sept. 20: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)
Sept. 21: Montreal (Bell Centre)
Sept. 24: Burgettstown, Pa. (Post Gazette Pavilion)
Sept. 27: Cleveland (Gund Arena)
Sept. 29: Chicago (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre)
Sept. 30: Noblesville, Ind. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
Oct. 3: Phoenix (Cricket Pavilion)
Oct. 5: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)
Oct. 8: Las Vegas (Theatre Under the Stars)
Oct. 10: Mountain View, Calif. (Shoreline Amphitheatre)
Oct. 12: Seattle (Key Arena)

An eclectic mix of artists were on display last night (April 20) during the sixth annual Jammy Awards at New York’s the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. A number of intriguing combinations hit the stage, including rediscovered soul vocalist Bettye LaVette with Blues Traveler, Peter Frampton with Guster and Joe Satriani with former Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins.

moe. won live performance of the year for its Feb. 10, 2005, tsunami benefit at New York’s Roseland Ballroom. Studio album of the year went to Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke’s “Sixty Six Steps,” while Phish took home archival album of the year for “Live at Madison Square Garden New Year’s Eve 1995.”

The evening was hosted by Grateful Dead drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, who also hit the stage with Gordon, Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo for a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” and the sing-a-long “Iko Iko.”

Jammy Awards winners:

Studio album of the year: “Sixty Six Steps,” Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon
Song of the year: “Taught To be Proud,” Tea Leaf Green
Vonage Live album of the year: “Live at Myrtle Beach,” Widespread Panic
Live performance of the year: moe., Feb. 10, 2005, Roseland Ballroom, New York
Tour of the year: Big Summer Classic Tour, Summer 2005
Archival album of the year: “Live at Madison Square Garden New Year’s Eve 1995,” Phish
DVD of the year: “No Direction Home,” Bob Dylan
New Groove of the year: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Lifetime achievement award: Frank Zappa
World music award: Baaba Maal
Green Apple industry award: Larry Bloch

Source: billboard

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones will team with artists like Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams, the Del McCoury Band, Umphrey’s McGee and Chris Thile of Nickel Creek for their upcoming Acoustic Planet Vol. II tour, which will begin June 23 in San Diego.

Like the first Acoustic Planet tour in 2004, band members will sit in on each others’ sets, allowing for a continuous show. YMSB and Williams are slated for the California tour dates, while Thile and the Duhks will play in Seattle and Portland, Ore., respectively. Natalie MacMaster and the Del McCoury Band are on board for East Coast dates, while Umphrey’s McGee, Adrien Belew and Marc Broussard will join for shows in the Southeast.

Tickets are on sale for many of the dates through the Flecktones’ Web site.

Here are the Acoustic Planet Vol. II tour dates:

June 23: San Diego (Humphrey’s)
June 24: Los Angeles (Wiltern)
June 25: Saratoga, Calif. (Mountain Winery)
June 26: Santa Rosa, Calif. (Wells Fargo Center for the Arts)
June 27: Portland, Ore. (Crystal Ballroom)
June 28: Seattle (Moore Theater)
Aug. 7: Boston (Bank of America Pavilion)
Aug. 8: Hyannis, Mass. (Cape Cod Melody Tent)
Aug. 10: Burlington, Vt. (Shelbourne Farms)
Aug. 11: Danbury, Conn. (Ives Concert Park)
Aug. 12: Philadelphia (Penn’s Landing)
Aug. 13: Vienna, Va. (Wolf Trap)
Aug. 14: Baltimore (Pier Six)
Aug. 16: Atlanta (Chastain Park)
Aug. 18: Cary, N.C. (Regency Park)

Source billboard.com.

Backstage at the Jammy Awards last night in New York, the Dead’s drummer Mickey Hart told Billboard.com the group is considering touring sometime this year. “We’re talking about it,” he said. “Maybe at the end of the year. Nothing is confirmed though.”

As far as the summer goes, look for Phil to be on tour with another Phil & Friends outing, with Mickey possibly on board as one of the friends.

read the full article at jadedinsider.com

The Fifth Annual Marty Stuart Late Night Jam will be held at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Wednesday, June 7 at 11:00PM. Doors open at 10PM. Tickets are $39.50 & $29.50. Tickets are on sale now at the Ryman Auditorium box office.

This year’s performers include Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Connie Smith, Travis Tritt, Kathy Mattea, Jim Brock, Don Chambers and GOAT, John Stone, The Legendary Shack Shakers, and the Fairfield Four.

Past performers include Montgomery Gentry, Kentucky Headhunters, Wynonna, Keith Urban, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Earl Scruggs.

The concert will benefit MusiCares. MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. In the past four years combined, the Marty Stuart Late Night Jam has raised a total of $50,000 for MusiCares.

“The LATE NIGHT JAM is five years old. I consider that a milestone,” says Stuart. “My concept from the beginning was to offer a diverse show to kick off Nashville’s Music Festival. It’s kind of become the pirate ship, sidewinder event of which I dreamed. The Ryman is the perfect setting for diversity and MusicCares is certainly the perfect cause for which to play and sing. The list of talent from previous years is stellar and this year is no different.”

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, tonight (4/20) on NBC will see David Gilmour’s U.S. television debut. He’ll be performing “On An Island” with special guests David Crosby and Graham Nash plus one Pink Floyd classic with touring band mates Richard Wright of Pink Floyd and Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera. Check your local listings for times.

If the small screen isn’t enough, Americans can head over to their local Regal Cinemas and watch the London concert in its entirety from May 15-30th.