MUSIC NEWS: TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017
FEIST
Canadian singer-songwriter Feist says ``Pleasure,'' her first studio album in nearly six years, will be released on April 28.
It's the first time Feist has released an album of new material since 2011's ``Metals,'' which won the Polaris Music Prize.
She reunited with longtime collaborators Mocky and Renaud Letang for her fifth studio album. They both contributed to ``The Reminder,'' the 2007 release that launched her career into the mainstream with hits like ``1234'' and ``I Feel It All.''
The singer, born Leslie Feist, is also lined up to appear on Broken Social Scene's newest album, expected later this year.
``Pleasure'' is being released ahead of a series of North American tour dates, including Toronto's Field Trip Festival in June and the Winnipeg Folk Festival in July.
(The Canadian Press)
BROTHERS OSBORNE, MAREN MORRIS AND JOHN PARDI EARN ACM AWARDS EARLY
Brothers Osborne, Maren Morris and Jon Pardi are early winners at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards.
The ACMs announced on Tuesday the winners of their new artist categories, including Brothers Osborne securing new vocal duo or group of the year honours, Morris snagging the new female vocalist of the year award, and Pardi getting the new male vocalist of the year trophy.
The new artist winners will get to perform on the 52nd ACM Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 2, on CBS.
Brothers Osborne are also nominated for vocal duo of the year, while Morris is in the running for an additional five nominations, including album of the year, single record of the year and female vocalist of the year.
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Online: http://www.acmcountry.com
GREGG ALLMAN CANCELS ALL DATES
Gregg Allman has cancelled all of his scheduled tour dates for the year.
The 69-year-old rocker posted Monday on his website that ``it has been determined that Gregg will not be touring in 2017.'' In November, Allman said he was taking several months off from touring so he can ``focus on his health,'' but still had plans to tour.
The new statement said that fans who bought tickets for concerts in June should ``contact the ticket outlet from where you purchased the tickets for a refund.''
More details about why Allman has cancelled all of his 2017 shows were not available. He has faced multiple health issues, including contracting hepatitis C and having a 2010 liver transplant.
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Online: http://www.greggallman.com/news
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THE WHO MOVES TO VEGAS FOR THE SUMMER
The Who is taking up residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas this summer.
Caesars Entertainment announced Monday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will become the first rock band to take up residence at the hotel-casino's Colosseum since the venue opened in 2003.
The first run opens July 29 with six shows through Aug. 11.Tickets go on Friday at prices from $76 to $501.
The Who have sold more than 100 million records since forming in 1964. Their hit albums include ``My Generation,'' ''Tommy`` and ''Quadrophenia.``
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HANSON PLANS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Wrap your mind around this: in five years, Hanson will be eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Hanson is celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band and the 20th anniversary of their first release, ``Middle of Nowhere.'' This year they will release ``Middle of Everywhere - The Greatest Hits.'' They will kick off a 25th anniversary tour beginning with their own Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 21st. After some concerts, Taylor Hanson will D-J the ``Dance Like You Don't Care'' after-party. Guitarist Isaac Hanson says this year marks not just two decades of recorded music, but ``an incredible community of fans.''
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JAMES DURBIN - QUIET RIOT
Quiet Riot is scrapping the album they did with former singer Seann Nicols to remake it with new singer James Durbin. The group says in a statement the ``Road Rage'' album that was supposed to come out next month will now be delayed until the summer. Durbin was a finalist on the 2011 season of ``American Idol.'' Quiet Riot will continue their planned tour, which stops in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday.
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BOSTON'S TOM SCHOLZ - RECOGNITION
The city of Boston has sent greetings to guitarist Tom Scholz of the band Boston in honour of his 70th birthday. The Boston band Facebook page has a photo of the proclamation from Mayor Martin J. Walsh. The proclamation thanks Scholz for his service as an engineer, musician and philanthropist and for ``dedicating your life to serving others and making the world a better place.''
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ED SHEERAN - ``GAME OF THRONES''
Ed Sheeran tweets, ``Guess the cat's out of the bag.'' The producers of ``Game of Thrones'' confirm Sheeran will have a role in the upcoming season. Details on his role were not given. Producer David Benioff said during a panel discussion at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, on Sunday that he's been trying to get Sheeran on the show for years. He says he wanted to surprise actress Maisie Williams, who's a huge Sheeran fan. The last season of ``Game of Thrones'' premieres July 16th on H-B-O.
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OBIT - Y&T GUITARIST
Original guitarist Joey Alves of Y&T has died.
Frontman Dave Meniketti writes on Facebook that Alves died Sunday morning of ulcerative colitis and other complications. He was 63.
Meniketti calls Alves ``a fun guy who always played with attitude and conviction.'' Y&T's biggest hit was ``Summertime Girls'' in 1985. Alves left the band in the late 1980s.
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DAN AND SHAY - ``OBSESSED''
Dan and Shay named their current album ``Obsessed'' because that's a word they kept seeing their fans use online. Dan Smyers says fans say things like, ``I'm so obsessed with this song,'' or ``I'm obsessed with pizza.'' Dan and Shay ended up writing a song called ``Obsessed.'' Smyers says their fans have been so much a part of their success that Dan and Shay decided that should be the name of the album. He says because so many people use the word ``obsessed,'' he's hoping that maybe subconsciously they will also think about checking out the album.
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THE WHO - LAS VEGAS
A lot of acts have taken up residencies at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. But never a rock band. Until now, anyway. The Who will become the first rock band to play an extended stay the hotel-casino's Colosseum since the venue opened in 2003.
Caesars says the Who will begin its run July 27th through August 11th. The group has sold more than 100-million records since forming in 1964.
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TODD RUNDGREN - LIONEL RICHIE - LUCINDA WILLIAMS - DOCTORATES
Todd Rundgren will bestow his wisdom upon the graduates of the Berklee College of Music. He will be the speaker during commencement on May 13th in Boston. Rundgren also will be given an honourary doctorate of music. Lionel Richie, Lucinda Williams, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow and South Korean musician Shin Joong Hyun also will be given honourary doctorates of music. Berklee's tradition is for students to play the music of the doctorate recipients at a private concert the night before graduation.
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(The Associated Press)
