From Bonnaroo to Lollapalooza, there are a number of long running music festivals throughout the summer, but few can hold a candle to the Ravinia Festival. The Chicago-based event has hosted talented musicians in Highland Park since the early 1900s, and this year welcomes the likes of Seal, Sarah McLachlan, Duran Duran and Natalie Merchant.
The first moth of the schedule is packed full of great artists. Here are some highlights:
June 9 Earth, Wind & Fire with Orchestra
June 10 Iron & Wine/Dr. John
June 15 Al Green/Chicago Children’s Choir
June 17 Jimmy Cliff
June 24 Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers
June 25 Esperanza Spalding
June 28 Glen Campbell “Goodbye Tour”/Ronnie Milsap
June 29 Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw
June 30 Sarah McLachlan
Download PDF of full schedule here.
The oldest music festival in the country, Ravinia runs from June through September, with shows scheduled for most days throughout the summer. Many of today's most popular festivals owe their existence to Ravinia. Here's a look at two of this summer's most anticipated festivals.
Bonnaroo Music Festival
Held in Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo Music Festival began as a celebration dedicated to jam bands and has since expanded to include artists of all different genres. This year, the weekend-long festival is slated for June 7 through 10 and will welcome some of the biggest names in music. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead and Phish are the scheduled headliners, and although they may be the most recognizable acts, there are many other must-see artists making appearances throughout the weekend.
Fresh off his Best New Artist win at the Grammys, Bon Iver, the musical project of Justin Vernon, is another one of the most anticipated acts. Additionally, bluegrass favorites The Avett Brothers are set to be on one of the featured stages along with 2011 breakout stars Foster the People. Music legends The Beach Boys and Alice Cooper will also be taking the stage.
Lollapalooza Music Festival
Much like the Ravinia Festival, Lollapalooza is held in Chicago, but a short distance away in the city's Grant Park. This year, the festival is set for August 3 through 5, and although it features a somewhat different lineup than Bonnaroo, it is no less impressive.
Like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza will feature the Chili Peppers, but the other headlining acts are The Black Keys and Jack White, who is fresh of the release of his first solo album, the critically acclaimed Blunderbuss.
Outside of the three big-name headliners, Lollapalooza is a veritable who's who of breakout stars from the last 18 months. The Alabama Shakes, M83, Childish Gambino and The Head and the Heart will all be making their way to Chicago in early August.
Sometimes referred to as the greatest spectacle in racing, the Indianapolis 500 has certainly lived up to its reputation. For more than 100 years, the annual race has pitted some of the most talented drivers in auto racing and has become one of the most widely-attended events in all of sports. Hundreds of thousands of fans get their hands on Indy 500 tickets each year, and 2012 should be no different.
There are a lot of storylines to consider entering race weekend, but perhaps most interesting is just how wide open this year's event is. It's always hard predicting a winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but few analysts have been able to offer up a clear cut favorite. A lot of attention has been given to Australian driver Ryan Briscoe, who captured the pole position last weekend, but he certainly has a lot of competition right behind him.
There are many big name drivers who will vie for the Indy 500 crown. In particular, Briscoe should be on the lookout for Andretti Autosport drivers - three of whom will be starting right behind him. Among them is Marco Andretti, who is the grandson of racing legend Mario Andretti and has been especially successful in his early career.
Fans should also keep their eye on Brazil's Helio Castroneves. The racing veteran has captured three Indy 500 titles before, with the most recent coming in 2009. With 19 wins in the IndyCar Series, he is one of the most decorated drivers in the sport.
If this year's race is anything like the 2011 incarnation, it will not leave anybody disappointed. Even the most casual of racing fans remember how last year's ended. JR Hildebrand, making his first start in an Indy 500, entered the final lap in first place and seemed destined to claim the title. However, he crashed on the final turn, allowing veteran Dan Wheldon to pass him in the final 200 yards.
Will this year be just as exciting? There's no reason to think it won't be. With no clear cut favorite, the title is anyone's to capture. Will Hildebrand earn redemption for last year's mistake? Will Castrovenes win his fourth title? Or Will Marco be able to break the dreaded Andretti Curse? There's only one way to find out.
Who's your pick to win it?
Photo by Getty Images
First off a big congrats to Phillip Phillips on winning season 11 of American Idol! It was an epic season, filled with some of the most talented singers the show has ever found. Lucky for you that talented group is heading out on tour in a few short weeks! The top 10 Idols are hitting the road in July for the American Idols Live! Tour.
Jump to: American Idols Live! Tour tickets.
The 2012 American Idols Live! Tour will certainly be a big hit. With such a talented lineup of singers, how could it not be? The biggest names are the two finalists, Philip Phillips - a 21-year-old Georgia native - and 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez. Other performers include the likes of Joshua Ledet, Skylar Lane and Colton Dixon.
But the focus of the tour will be squarely on Phillips and Sanchez. Phillips won over the hearts of Americans thanks to his unique singing and dancing style that's earned him comparisons to Dave Matthews.
As for Sanchez, she is one of the most talented singers the show has seen in years. The young contestant has shown her natural flair through her renditions of songs including Whitney Houston "How Will I Know" and Mariah Carey's "My All."
Make sure to catch the American Idols Live Tour when it comes to your town and see these talented performs as they start down the path to stardom.
Were curious: Which Idol do you think will have the best career? Tell us in the comment section below.
About American Idol Live! Tour
Fans of the show who purchased American Idols Live! Tour tickets during its inaugural run were given the opportunity to catch the initial glimpses of first season winner Kelly Clarkson before she went down the path to stardom. Joined by runners up Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin and six others, the 30-stop tour was Clarkson's first exposure to concertgoers, and she has since grown into one of the most popular acts in the country thanks to hits like "Miss Independent," "Since U Been Gone" and her most recent single "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)."
The initial American Idols Live! Tour was a hit and has been every year since. The nationwide concert series has introduced the music world to several big names throughout the year including country star Carrie Underwood, who embarked on the tour in 2005 after winning the fourth season. Other stars who have made a name for themselves on the tour include Daughtry lead singer Chris Daughtry, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert.
Last month on TicketsNow, Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace, fans of live entertainment were flocking to arenas and ballparks across the country. Leading the way in popularity and sales overall were a number of Official Fan Marketplaces for Ticketmaster’s resale partners, including the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, and US Open Tennis.
“We are thrilled to see several of our resale partners topping the list of hot events,” said Julia Vander Ploeg, TicketsNow General Manager. “Our ability to authenticate every ticket sold on our official fan marketplace partnerships is a big win with fans. They know they are getting a Ticketmaster-verified ticket with a unique barcode reissued expressly for them.”
Here’s a look at April’s hottest-selling events overall as well as the top events in cities across the U.S.
Top Events Nationwide for April 2012
New York/New Jersey
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1. New York Rangers
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2. US Open Tennis
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3. New York Knicks
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4. New York Yankees
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5. New Jersey Devils
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Chicago
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1. Chicago Cubs
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2. Chicago Blackhawks
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3. Chicago Bulls
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4. Chicago White Sox
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5. WWE
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Atlanta
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1. Atlanta Braves
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2. Atlanta Hawks
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3. Jason Aldean
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4. One Direction
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5. The Eagles
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Dallas/Fort Worth
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1. Texas Rangers
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2. Mexico National Soccer
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3. One Direction
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4. Samsung Mobile 500
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5. Jimmy Buffet
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Denver
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1. Colorado Rockies
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2. Denver Nuggets
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3. Wicked
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4. Drake
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5. Colorado Avalanche
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Southern California
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1. Los Angeles Lakers
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2. Los Angeles Dodgers
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3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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4. San Diego Padres
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5. Los Angeles Kings
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Adele took home 12 awards at last night's Billboard Music awards, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Pop Album.
LMFAO also had a big night taking home 6 awards including Top Duo/Group, beating out Lady Antebellum and Maroon 5.
Coldplay and LiL' Wayne had a solid night as well taking home 4 awards each.
Read the full recap and check out all the photos at Billboard.com
Some big concert news today as Jay-Z announced he'll be headlining and curating Budweiser's 'Made in America' music fest this September in Philly.
The Live Nation event is co-sponsored by Budweiser and United Way and will take place over Labor Day weekend (September 1st & 2nd).
The full line-up is set to be announced on May 21st with tickets going on-sale on May 23rd.
According to the Live Nation press release, "the concert will benefit United Ways in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Lancaster County, PA and New York City, enabling them to invest more dollars into their regions, strengthening local communities and improving lives."
More from the press release here:
“This Labor Day, we will not only make history but we’re benefiting a great organization. ‘Budweiser Made in America’ will encompass every genre of music, creating and showcasing the only genre that matters, ‘great music.’ Budweiser and Live Nation are going to produce an amazing two days of performances, and it’s great to partner with United Way again to support all of the positive work they do in the community,” said Shawn “JAY Z” Carter.
The festival in Philadelphia will culminate following a summer of music parties in cities all across America, when Budweiser will invite its Facebook fans to experience talented local bands and artists. Budweiser, brewed across America, has a decades-long history of celebrating great American music.
“This festival will offer music fans from across the U.S. and beyond the biggest names in hip-hop, rock, dance and other popular genres this Labor Day,” said Rob McCarthy, vice president of Budweiser for Anheuser-Busch."
Tell us who you'd like to see added to the line-up in the comment section below!
Ask anybody and they'll probably agree with you that Pink Floyd was one of the most innovative and creative bands in music history. The founder and front-man of the band, Roger Waters, was the creative force behind many of Pink Floyd's most famous albums including Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. But perhaps he is best known for The Wall, which is recognized as among the most important albums in rock history.
Given the place that the album and its creator have in the annals of music history, it's no surprise Roger Waters' The Wall Live tour has become one of the most popular in the world. Since it was first launched in North America in 2010, the breathtaking performance has captivated millions. For those of you who haven’t seen it, you’re in luck because another North American leg kicked off on April 27.
True to its source material, The Wall Live tour gives concert-goers quite the unique experience. The album was envisioned as a rock opera, and Waters' performance certainly delivers. Along with a cadre of talented musicians, Waters plays the album in its entirety, touching on fan favorites ranging from "Another Brick in the Wall," "Comfortably Numb," "Run Like Hell" and "Young Lust."
Though reliving one of the most beloved albums of the last 40 years is part of the appeal of The Wall Live tour, the concert also has a compelling visual element that pays homage to the 1982 film based off the album. The set features the iconic white-brick backdrop of the album cover, and throughout the show, eye-grabbing visuals are projected on it.
Some may be curious why Waters has chosen to launch the tour more than 30 years after the album was released, especially without his fellow Pink Floyd band mates. In a post on his website, Waters says he felt the time was right, given the current geopolitical climate, to revisit the themes of abandonment and personal isolation that made the 1979 album resonate with so many people.
"This new production of The Wall is an attempt to draw some comparisons, to illuminate our current predicament, and is dedicated to all the innocent lost in the intervening years," the songwriter and bassist wrote.
After kicking off the tour in Mexico City in late April, Waters will make stops everywhere from San Diego to Portland, Oregon, to Yankee Stadium in New York City before wrapping up the tour on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.