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VAMPIRE WEEKEND: MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY DEBUTS AT #1

First-Ever Back To Back #1 Albums For An Independent Rock Band

Vampire Weekend’s Modern Vampires Of The City has entered the U.S. album chart at #1, selling nearly 135,000 copies since its May 14 release on XL Recordings.

This is the second time Vampire Weekend has achieved such an historic feat: Its sophomore album Contra also debuted at #1 in 2010, making this the first time an independent rock band has entered at #1 with two consecutive releases.

Modern Vampires Of The City also shatters the previous record for first week vinyl sales, moving nearly 10,000 units on vinyl alone and debuting at #1 on the Soundscan Vinyl Charts.  Additionally, the band charted #1 at Indie, Alternative, Digital and of course the top 200.

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QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

NPR MUSIC “FIRST LISTEN LIVE”

MAY 23 FROM LOS ANGELES

…LIKE CLOCKWORK OUT JUNE 4 ON MATADOR

www.npr.org/event/music/185557912/first-listen-live-queens-of-the-stone-age-like-clockwork

Queens Of The Stone Age will unveil the never before heard bulk of …Like Clockwork on May 23, with a very special NPR Music “First Listen Live” from QOTSA’s sold-out show at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.

Presaged by the just-revealed 15-minute film by Boneface (with animator Liam Brazier) featuring partial songs and the full animated “My God Is The Sun” video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f49yRhJ0NjI), the May 23 “First Listen Live” will be the first chance to hear the newest Queens material in its full length, girth and glory. QOTSA mainman Joshua Homme and his cohorts  Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita, Michael Shuman and Jon Theodore will hit the stage and your screen 8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET at www.npr.org/event/music/185557912/first-listen-live-queens-of-the-stone-age-like-clockwork to walk you through …Like Clockwork and then some.

Described by Homme as “an audio documentary of a manic year,” …Like Clockwork is the first all new Queens album since 2007’s Era Vulgaris, as well as the band’s debut release on Matador. The record can be pre-ordered on CD and vinyl now from http://smarturl.it/QOTSAamazon and from iTunes at http://smarturl.it/QOTSAlikeclockwork. iTunes pre-orders will immediately receive “My God Is The Sun.”

… Like Clockwork was produced by Joshua Homme and QOTSA, recorded by Mark Rankin with additional engineering by Alain Johannes and Justin Smith, at Josh’s studio, Pink Duck, in Burbank, California.

See below for tour dates and check back at the following for updates:

http://www.qotsa.com/
https://twitter.com/qotsa
https://www.facebook.com/QOTSA
http://www.likeclockwork.tv/

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

Live 2013

05/23/13  Los Angeles CA  The Wiltern Theater (SOLD OUT)
06/13/13 ­ Interlaken, Switzerland ­ Greenfield Festival
06/14/13 ­ Landgraaf, Netherlands ­ Pinkpop
06/15/13 ­ Donington, UK ­ Download Festival
06/21/13 ­ Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany ­ Southside Festival
06/22/13 ­ Berlin, Germany ­ Zitadelle Spandau
06/23/13 ­ Scheesel, Germany ­ Hurricane Festival
06/26/13 ­ Helsinki, Finland ­ Rock The Beach Festival
06/28/13 ­ Borlange, Sweden ­ Peace & Love Festival
06/30/13 ­ Herchesfeld Roeser, Luxembourg ­ Rock a Field Festival07/02/13 ­ Vienna, Austria ­ Wiener Stadthalle D
07/03/13 ­ Budapest, Hungary ­ Volt Festival
07/02-05/13 ­ Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic ­ Rock For People Festival
07/05/13 ­ Gdansk, Poland Heineken Open¹er Festival
08/02/13 ­ Chicago, IL ­ Lollapalooza
08/03/13 ­ Bonner Springs, KS ­ Buzz Under The Stars at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
08/04/13 Council Bluffs, IA Stir Cove at Harrah’s Casino & Hotel
08/05/13  Sturgis, SD  Broken Spoke Saloon and Campground
08/07/13 Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Center
08/08/13 Calgary, AB – Stampede Corral
08/9-10/13  Squamish, BC Squamish Valley Music Festival
08/15/13 Morrison, CO  Red Rocks Amphitheater
08/31-09/01/13 Philadelphia, PA  Budweiser Made In America Festival
10/04-06/13 Austin, TX  Austin City Limits Festival
10/11-13/13 Austin, TX  Austin City Limits Festival

NPR Music collaborates with NPR’s newsmagazines, public radio Member stations and the passionate NPR community to celebrate great music in every genre. Visit at www.npr.org/music and via NPR Music mobile apps.

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EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY & DAVID WINGO

PRINCE AVALANCHE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

OUT AUGUST 6 ON TEMPORARY RESIDENCE LTD

PRINCE AVALANCHE IN THEATERS, AVAILABLE VIA iTUNES, ONDEMAND EVERYWHERE AUGUST 9


Hailed by everyone from The New Yorker and Rolling Stone to Judd Apatow to their hundreds of thousands of fans for the cinematic scale and sweep of its instrumental epics, Explosions In The Sky & David Wingo release their original score to the feature film Prince Avalanche August 6 on Temporary Residence Ltd.

Explosions In The Sky first came into contact with Prince Avalanche writer-director and fellow Texan David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Snow Angels) approached them a decade ago for permission to use a song for his sophomore film All The Real Girls. The result was both Explosions In The Sky’s first-ever film license and the ideal complement to the film’s elegiac score by Texas compose David Wingo.

Many years later, Explosions In The Sky & David Wingo’s collaborative Prince Avalanche is as enthralling as it is intimate. Recorded entirely at the homes of its composers, Prince Avalanche, the record, is the perfect aural accompaniment to the darkly comic, sparely staged yet emotionally complex Beckett-ian tale featuring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch as two workers on an isolated stretch of Texas road–shot against the backdrop of Texas’ scorched Bastrop State Park, a location suggested to Green by Explosions In The Sky’s Chris Hrasky.

Hrasky, Michael James, Munaf Rayani, Mark Smith a/k/a Explosions In The Sky are no strangers to the crossroads of music and cinema. Figuratively and literally: Shortly after first crossing the 100,000+ sales mark with its 2003 album The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, the band would wind up scoring the 2004 Universal feature Friday Night Lights, and naturally continued the relationship, lending its music to the much loved TV series spun off from the movie. Since then, Explosions In The Sky’s music has been featured in the likes of Academy Award nominee The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, while the band commissioned three short films scored by tracks from its 2011 album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care: the vintage Polaroid love letter to a lost era “Postcard From 1952,” the touching romantic monster fable “Be Comfortable, Creature” and the animated sci-fi fantasy trip “Last Known Surroundings.”

Explosions In The Sky will soon be taking its live show–described by The New Yorker as ”one of the most ecstatic displays of loud rock I’ve ever seen”–on a limited run of summer dates in Brazil, Portugal and Canada. The shows conclude with an August 3 appearance at the Osheaga Festival in Montreal, just days before the August 9 release of Prince Avalanche.

The complete track listing to Explosions In The Sky & David Wingo’s original motion picture soundtrack to Prince Avalanche is as follows:

1. Fires
2. Theme From Prince Avalanche
3. Dear Madison
4. Passing Time
5. Rain
6. Alone Time
7. Hello, Is This Your House?
8. Can’t We Just Listen To The Silence
9. Wading
10. Dear Alvin
11. The Lines On The Road That Lead You Back Home
12. An Old Peasant Like Me
13. Join Me On My Avalanche
14. The Adventures Of Alvin and Lance
15. Send Off

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THIRD MAN RECORDS ENTERS INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEGENDARY SUN RECORDS

In 1952 a record label started in a bustling Tennessee town. They were fond of acoustic tile, storefronts, the color yellow, the owner producing recording sessions and music that generally moved people. Their output couldn’t be pigeonholed to any one genre. They released everything….country, rock and roll, gospel, bluegrass, rockabilly, blues. If there’s an American musical form that came to fruition in the early 20th century, bet your bottom dollar that some outstanding examples of it were recorded and released by Sun Records.

Sixty-one years later, Third Man Records, in a similarly-bustling Tennessee town and believing in many of the same ideas mentioned above, has entered into partnership with the legendary Sun Records to reissue titles from their catalog on the format they were best known…45rpm 7″ singles.

The initial three releases highlight three disparate, yet engaging releases from the Sun catalog.

Originally released in 1953,  ”Bear Cat” by Rufus Thomas is as certifiable a primitive R’n'B smoker that’s ever existed. Complete with the inimitable Joe Hill Louis on guitar, the future “Funky Chicken” Thomas gives his male-perspective answer record to Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog.” In the process, the legal powers behind “Hound Dog” writers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller won a lawsuit claiming “Bear Cat” infringed on the duo’s copyright. Ever since the writing credits have been Leiber/Stoller, but what has not changed is the unbeatable groove that moves the song. “Bear Cat” is as fresh today as it was when it was originally released sixty years ago.

Also released in 1953, “Just Walking in the Rain” by the Prisonaires was Sun’s first certifiable hit. Penned Johnny Bragg and Robert Riley, both inmates at Tennessee State Prison, the solemn, haunting doo wop vibes were enough to garner the group, all incarcerated inmates, frequent day passes out of prison walls to perform across the state…including numerous engagements at the governor’s mansion. The vocal prowess and good behavior on day trips would be enough for most group members to be pardoned by the governor. Elvis Presley often said the Prisonaires were his favorite vocal group and even covered “Just Walking in the Rain” on occasion. The proof is in the pudding on this one.

Released in 1956, “Get Rhythm” is an upbeat number by Johnny Cash with positive lyrics speaking of a happy shoe-shine boy. While the song is classic, inimitable Cash, it would quickly become overshadowed by its b-side, “I Walk the Line.” A peculiar song that changes key between each verse and has no chorus, “I Walk the Line” would become the song Cash is best known for, a tale of pledged fidelity with lyrical undertones implying even deeper meaning. Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song at #30 in their 2004 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

Each release remains faithful to its original issue on Sun, replicating the classic logo and label design coupled with a striking Sun company sleeve that dutifully employs the rooster Sam Philips lamented losing as labels switched from 78’s to 45’s.

This will be an ongoing partnership between Sun and Third Man and future releases are already in the works. Pre-orders for all three initial release (available for purchase individually or as part of a bundle) begin today, with an official release date of May 21st.

The limited edition versions of these singles will be an eye-catching yellow and black configuration we’re lovingly calling sun-ray vinyl. They will be limited to 150 copies per title. 100 copies of each of the limited versions will be sold from the Rolling Record store on May 28, 29, and 30th. The 28th we will sell the lmtd Johnny Cash single at Sun Records in Memphis TN, 29th will be Rufus Thomas in Louisville KY at Please & Thank You, and on the 30th we will sell The Prisonaires Sun Ray vinyl at Luna Records in Indianapolis. As always 50 copies of each limited edition record will go in random mail orders for the standard edition vinyl through the Third Man website. Please stay tuned to the Rolling Record Store twitter account for updates on these sales.

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ATOMS FOR PEACE RECONVENES FOR REHEARSALS

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL ADDED TO U.S. DATES

FINAL QUANTITIES OF AMOK LIMITED EDITION VINYL AVAILABLE AT http://smarturl.it/amokdoubleltdedition

Having completed a limited series of events commemorating the February 26 release of Atoms For Peace’s AMOK (XL Recordings) featuring Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich, the full Atoms For Peace lineup of Yorke, Godrich, Flea, Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco will soon begin rehearsals for its first full-band tour since the one concluding at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival nearly three years ago.

Since then, Atoms For Peace live output has consisted of  the aforementioned AMOK events, which featured Thom and Nigel spontaneously manipulating tracks from AMOK and Thom’s 2006 solo effort The Eraser, and augmenting them with live guitar and vocals, as well as the visuals of Tarik Barri–and more recently, Thom’s solo appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show in the UK, which featured a solo rendition of AMOK’s “Ingenue”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZl6BRY9IYQ

In a message released today, Thom said:

So far this year, Atoms For Peace has been about me + Nigel doing stuff like this in clubs in some of our favourite capital cities. But next week, Joey, Mauro and Flea all become free from their other projects and we start rehearsals together as a full band.  Touring proper starts in July –  the last time we did live shows together was at Fuji Rock nearly 3 years ago…

In other news, a fixed quantity of AMOK Special Edition Vinyl has once again been made available.

The demand for the double album, designed by long-time aritstic collaborator Stanley Donwood, hugely outstripped supply on AMOK’s album  launch, and so a limited supply have been re-released for sale: http://smarturl.it/amokdoubleltdedition

The Atoms For Peace tour kicks off  July 6 in Paris, with a U.S. run beginning September 24 in Philadelphia and including headlines at New York’s Barclay Center and the Hollywood Bowl as well as stops in Washington DC and Chicago before concluding October 17 at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The tour then resumes for a series of Japanese dates spanning November 18-23.

http://atomsforpeace.info

http://www.youtube.com/atomsforpeacetv

http://www.facebook.com/atomsforpeace

http://xlrecordings.com

ATOMS FOR PEACE

On Tour 2013

6th Jul 2013 – Zenith Paris FRANCE

7th Jul 2013 – Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam NETHERLANDS

9th Jul 2013 Lotto Arena Antwerp BELGIUM

10th Jul 2013 – Zenith Munich GERMANY

12th July 2013 – Pohoda Festival SLOVAKIA

13th July 2013 – Exit Festival SERBIA

16th July 2013 – Ippodromo delle Capannelle Rome ITALY

17th July 2013 – Ippodromo del Galoppo Milan ITALY

20th July 2013 – Malta Festival Poznan POLAND

21st July 2013 – Melt Festival Germany

24th Jul 2013 – Roundhouse London UK

25th Jul 201 – Roundhouse London UK

26th Jul 2013 – Roundhouse London UK

24th Sept 2013 – Liacouras Center Philadelphia PA USA

27th Sept 2013 – Barclays Center New York NY USA

30th Sept 2013 – Patriot Center Fairfax VA. USA

2nd Oct 2013 – UIC Pavilion Chicago, IL USA

4th-6th Oct 2013 – AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL, TX USA

9th Oct 2013 – Pepsi Center WTC Mexico City MEXICO

11th-13th Oct 2013 – AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL, TX USA

16th Oct 2013 – Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles CA. USA

17th Oct 2013 – Santa Barbara Bowl, CA USA

18th Nov 2013 – Zepp Osaka JAPAN

19th Nov 2013 – Zepp Osaka JAPAN

21st Nov 2013 – Studio Coast Tokyo JAPAN

22nd Nov 2013 – Studio Coast Tokyo JAPAN

23rd Nov 2013 – Studio Coast Tokyo JAPAN

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BOSNIAN RAINBOWS CONFIRM ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES

East Coast & Midwest Shows Announced Including Chicago, Washington DC and NYC Dates

Full-Length Debut Out June 25th On Sargent House–Pre-Order NOW at iTunes and http://bosnianrainbows.hellomerch.com

bosnianrainbows.com

sargenthouse.com

Bosnian Rainbows have added more dates to their touring schedule in support of the June 25 release of their self-titled debut, now adding more shows across the east coast and midwest. The band has also just been announced on the stellar line up this year at Mountain Oasis Festival in October.

The group just released a video for their song “Turtle Neck”, which is made up of photos from Bosnian Rainbows’ extensive worldwide touring that started this past August 2012 through their last shows in Mexico City. You can watch the video for “Turtle Neck” here:

http://youtu.be/L7olyzye4S4

See below for all confirmed dates, and be sure not to miss the band recently hailed by Time Out New York as one of the best live acts on the current circuit:

“Bosnian Rainbows is certainly more democratic, but the group’s music crackles with just as much unpredictable intensity… At its rhythmic heart are drummer Deantoni Parks and keyboardist Nicci Kasper… Teri Gender Bender harnesses a wide-ranging energy with her style and delivery that recalls Kate Bush, Damo Suzuki and even a young Geddy Lee… It’s a lineup that only a creative intellect as feverish as Rodriguez-Lopez could hope to wrangle… primed for mind-bending twists galore.”–TIME OUT NEW YORK

Bosnian Rainbows drops June 25th, but fans can grab their pre-order NOW from iTunes (which includes an instant download of “Torn Maps”). Pre-orders for a physical copy of the album can be made here:

http://bosnianrainbows.hellomerch.com

BOSNIAN RAINBOWS  2013

May 25, 2013 - El Paso, TX @  Neon Desert Music Festival

May 28, 2013 - Dallas, TX @ Trees w/ Zorch

May 29, 2013 - Austin, TX @ Red 7 w/ Zorch

May 30, 2013 - Houston, TX  @ HOB – Bronze Peacock w/ Zorch

June 24, 2013 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah

June 25, 2013 - Los Angeles, CA @ First Unitarian Church

June 26, 2013 - Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory

June 27, 2013 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

July 01, 2013 - Bogota, Columbia @ Rock Al Parque Festival

July 10, 2013 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West

July 12, 2013 - Washington DC @ U Street Music Hall

July 13, 2013 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts

July 14, 2013 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

July 16, 2013 - Hamden, CT @ The Spaceland Ballroom

July 18, 2013 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair

July 19, 2013 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s

July 20, 2013 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar

July 21, 2013 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement

July 23, 2013 - Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre

July 24, 2013 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge

Aug 02, 2013 - Cork, Ireland @ Indiependence Festival

Aug 16, 2013 - Groningen, Holland @ Noorderzon Festival

Aug 17, 2013 - Hasselt, Belgium @ Pukkelpop Festival

Aug 31, 2013 - Copenhagen, DE @ Vega w/ Tomahawk

Sept 01, 2013 - Oslo, Norway @Rockefeller Music Hall w/ Tomahawk

Sept 02,2013 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser Media w/ Tomahawk

Sept 04, 2013 - Helsinki, Finland @ Circus w/ Tomahawk

Sept 06, 2013 - Berlin, Germany @ Berlin Festival

Oct 26, 2013  – Asheville, NC @ Mountain Oasis Festival

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NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

“MERMAIDS” LIVE AT THE FONDA THEATER

VIDEO PREMIERE LIVE NOW AT ROLLINGSTONE.COM

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have partnered with Rollingstone.com to premiere a new video of a stunning and uncensored rendition of “Mermaids,” captured live in dramatic black and white by directors Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard  on February 21 at Los Angeles’ Music Box at the Henry Fonda Theater. Augmented by a children’s choir from the local Silverlake Conservatory of Music as well as a full string section, this once in a lifetime version of “Mermaids” was recorded during one of a series of very special events staged around the release of the Bad Seeds’ widely acclaimed 15th studio album, Push the Sky Away (Bad Seed Ltd.). The original February 21 performance was webcast globally by Lovelive in partnership with Rockfeedback and YouTube and was viewed by more than 100,000 people.

In addition to Push The Sky Away having marked Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ highest ever U.S. chart debut, entering the BIllboard 200 at #29, the record hit #1 in six countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Holland, New Zealand, Portugal), top 3 in seven more (UK, Germany, Greece, Norway,

Finland, Poland, Ireland), and top 20 in Canada. This was followed by a rapturously received standing room only theater and festival tour of North America that recently wrapped with last month’s Bad

Seeds/Grinderman doubleheaders at the two-weekend Coachella festival in Indio, CA. The tour was the most extensive North American outing for the Bad Seeds in several years, and has generated possibly the best critical and audience response of the band’s storied career, including:

“In his black suit, jet-black hair and white shirt, he was a dapper gentleman preacher who raved as if the Old Testament were also a scandal sheet, rife with betrayal, temptation, blood and lust… he was, as promised, transforming, vibrating, glowing, flying.” — CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“Right up there amongst the best frontmen of this or any generation. No one on the circuit can both command and terrify a crowd quite like Nick Cave.” –DALLAS OBSERVER

“Thanks, Nick Cave, for ruining pretty much every other show we’re going to see for the rest of the month. Or year. Or ever. There’s no way anybody is going to top what we saw on Saturday night… it was a mind-blowing evening of rock ‘n’ roll.” — NASHVILLE SCENE

“Towering over everyone else, however, were… the Bad Seeds, whose merciless performance, delivered with the fury of hellhounds unleashed, easily stole Sunday from any up-and-comers…” — OC REGISTER

“Fans were out of their seats from first note to last, either in rapture or because the shock-friendly performer gave ¹em the willies and they were too afraid to sit down.” — WASHINGTON POST

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will resume the Push The Sky Away tour May 25 at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona. The current itinerary takes Nick and Warren Ellis (Violin, Mandolin & Samples), Martyn Casey (Bass), Conway Savage (Piano, Organ), Jim Sclavunos (Drums & Percussion), Barry Adamson (Drums, Keys, & Percussion) and Ed Kuepper (Guitar) through the May-August festival season. The tour will resume October 26 with a three-night stand at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and will hit theaters and arenas throughout the UK and Europe until concluding November 29 in Bologna.

Further touring details and other information will be released as it is confirmed.

nickcave.com

www.facebook.com/nickcaveofficial

http://facebook.com/nickcaveandthebadseeds

https://twitter.com/ncandtbs

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PALMETTO PLAYGROUND TO BE RENAMED ADAM YAUCH PARK IN HONOR OF MUSICIAN AND NATIVE BROOKLYNITE ADAM YAUCH

DATE: Friday, May 3, 2013

TIME: 11:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Palmetto Playground Atlantic Ave., Columbia Pl., State St, BROOKLYN

EVENT & PHOTO-OP: Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey will join Borough President Marty Markowitz; State Senator Daniel Squadron; Council Member Stephen Levin; Member of the Beastie Boys, Adam Horovitz; parents of Adam Yauch, Noel and Frances Yauch, and members of the Yauch family; and John Silva of Silva Artist Management, to rename Palmetto Playground in Brooklyn Heights in honor of musician and Brooklyn native, Adam Yauch.

DETAILS: Adam Yauch grew up in Brooklyn Heights, on State Street, and learned to ride a bicycle in the park that will now bear his name.A pioneer in the worlds of music, social activism and film, Adam Yauch was not only a founding member of the Beastie Boys, but also established the Milarepa Fund that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and created the film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Adam Yauch Park (formerly Palmetto Playground) is located in the southernmost portion of the neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights.  The playground includes full and half basketball courts, a community garden, a greenhouse, a small fitness area, an open play space, drinking fountains, and a dog run.

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BECK CONFIRMS SUMMER HEADLINE & FESTIVAL DATES

SELECT SPECIAL ACOUSTIC & FULL BAND ELECTRIC SHOWS CONFIRMED FOR JULY & AUGUST

May 19 Santa Cruz & May 20 Song Reader Event in San Francisco SOLD OUT

Beck has confirmed a return to the touring circuit this summer for three very special acoustic-only dates featuring a pared down lineup followed by two fully electric big band blow-outs.

July 2 at the Days Off Festival in Paris, July 27 for one night only of the Americanarama traveling festival at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh NY, and July 28 at the Newport Folk Festival, Beck will be playing special acoustic sets with minimal accompaniment. In addition to acoustic renditions of some of Beck’s best loved classics, these very special performances will feature never before heard material from an upcoming acoustic record. The record can best be described as a self-contained work, one that came in the form of a burst of inspiration following the completion of last year’s groundbreaking Song Reader sheet music album.

Beck will continue his east coast run a few days later with an expanded band in tow for a pair of full-on large scale electric blow-outs taking place August 2 at Bank of America Pavilion in Boston and August 4 at the Prospect Park in Brooklyn. For these shows, fans can expect more of the fare that Beck and his veteran band delivered at show-stealing stops along last year’s festival circuit, including the set lauded by The New York Times as Beck “switched easily between two guises: the deadpan dispenser of brilliant semi-sequiturs and encyclopedic musical allusions — fuzz-toned garage-rock, synth-pop, slide-guitar blues, floating psychedelia — and the sustained, heartsick ballad singer of Sea Change. Though the band was live, the music embraced D.J. culture. Beck could, and often did, suddenly switch styles within a song as easily as dropping a needle.

Prior to the July/August dates, Beck is teaming up with McSweeney’s and Pop-Up Magazine to present a night of live music and stories about music, inspired by his Song Reader, at San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall on May 20. Featuring writers, filmmakers, photographers, radio producers, artists, and special musical guests, the show was announced last week, and tickets sold out instantly.

Beck Hansen’s Song Reader can purchased at http://store.beck.com/products/beck-hansens-song-reader-1.

The night prior, Beck will play a sold out one-off show at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz.

Further performances, recordings, etc. will be announced if and when they are ready to be…

BECK

Live 2013

May 19 Santa Cruz, CA — Rio Theater (SOLD OUT)

May 20 San Francisco, CA — Song Reader event at Davies Symphony Hall (SOLD OUT)

July 2 Paris, France - Days Off Festival at Cité de la Musique (special acoustic set) – on sale Tuesday, April 30

July 27 Wantagh, NY – Americanarama at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (special acoustic set) – on sale Saturday, May 4

July 28 Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival (special acoustic set) – on sale now

August 2 Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion (full band/electric show) – on sale Friday, May 3

August 4 Brooklyn, NY – Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park (full band/electric show) – on sale Friday, May 10

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IGGY AND THE STOOGES ON THE COLBERT REPORT TONIGHT

READY TO DIE OUT TOMORROW

Available For Pre-Order At

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ready-to-die/id637018136

New Video Live at

http://youtu.be/n3vbymBA6ag

“fast, loud, aggressive… their live gig was the surprise hit of SXSW last month”–NEW YORK

“Iggy is, as you can tell, in blunt fuck-you and just-try-to-kill-me form”–ROLLING STONE

Having just slayed a live and online audience with a Sunday matinee NPR First Listen Live from New York City (http://n.pr/17dKrYc), Iggy and the Stooges will make their debut appearance on The Colbert Report tonight, April 29.

The new Iggy and the Stooges album, Ready To Die, is officially out tomorrow, April 30, on Fat Possum. For an exclusive behind the scenes look at some of the juju that surrounded into its creation, check out http://youtu.be/n3vbymBA6ag.

The follow-up to the first record ever to bear the Iggy and the Stooges logo–the immortal 1973 proto-punk masterpiece Raw Power–Ready To Die finds Iggy Pop, guitarist James Williamson and drummer Scott “Rock Action” Asheton reunited for a full album of all-new material for the first time in 40 years, with Mike Watt filling in for the late Ron Asheton on bass. “Burn,” previously unveiled at http://bit.ly/Z86ZXE, opens the record recalling  those halcyon opening salvo of “Search & Destroy,” while the still-unreleased-until-tomorrow “Job” has already become a singalong anthem of the band’s live set, with “Sex and Money” and “Gun” becoming staples as well. The record also finds Iggy and the Stooges in reflective mode, with its closing ballad “The Departed,” a somber tribute to late founding Stooge Ron Asheton.

For further news, tour dates, etc., stay tuned to http://www.iggyandthestoogesmusic.com/us/news

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PAUL McCARTNEY JUNE 8 & 10 AT BARCLAYS CENTER–SOLD OUT!

RETURN TO CANADA CONFIRMED FOR ALL-NEW 2013 “OUT THERE” TOUR

All tickets for Paul McCartney’s June 8 and 10 shows at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn NY have sold out instantly. The first-time engagement for Paul at the venue is his first New York appearance since last year’s historic 12-12-12 benefit and continues a tradition of legendary NYC area plays including 2011’s Yankee Stadium doubleheader, 2009’s inaugural Citi Field three-play, and stretching all the way back to The Beatles’ 1965 musical christening of Shea Stadium.

Paul has also confirmed that his all-new 2013 “Out There” tour will include a visit to Canada for three new shows–two out of three in cities Paul has never before played: On July 7, Paul will play his historic first ever show in Ottawa, at Scotiabank Place. On August 12, Paul will return to Winnipeg for the first time since his New World Tour in 1993, for one night only at Investors Group Field. Finally on August 14, Paul will make his debut in Regina, playing his first ever show in the Queen City at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field.

As previously announced, the “Out There” tour will also be making stops May 18 and 19 in Orlando FL at Amway Center, May 22 and 23 in Austin TX at the Frank Erwin Center, May 26 in Memphis TN at FedEx Forum, May 29 and 30 in Tulsa OK at the BOK Center, June 8 and 10 in Brooklyn NY at Barclays Center, July 9 in Boston MA at Fenway Park, July 12 in Washington DC at Nationals Ballpark, July 14 in Indianapolis IN at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, July 16 in Milwaukee WI at Miller Park and July 19 in Seattle WA at Safeco Field.

Paul McCartney’s “Out There” tour will feature brand new, never before seen production and, as ever, hours of material from the most beloved catalog in popular music, with Paul performing songs spanning his entire career–as a solo artist, member of Wings and of course The Beatles.

The McCartney live experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity. For approximately three hours, many of the greatest moments of the last 50 years of musical history–not to mention the soundtracks of entire lives–are magically brought to life as only Paul can do. Last year marked 40 years since Paul’s premiere tour as a solo artist and these past four decades have seen him play in a staggeringly impressive range of venues and locations, including outside the Coliseum in Rome, in Moscow’s Red Square, at the White House, a free show in Mexico to over 400,000 people and even a performance beamed into outer space! Having played with his peerless band of Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens (keyboards), Rusty Anderson (guitar), Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums) and Brian Ray (bass/guitar) for over ten years, Paul never disappoints.

Paul is throwing himself into 2013 with full force following yet another landmark year in 2012, which saw him conclude his record-breaking “On The Run” tour, release his Grammy-winning Kisses On The Bottom album, accept a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, play at both the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics Opening Ceremony, be named MusiCares Person of the Year, and headline 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief–to highlight just a few memorable moments. With the “Out There’” tour and a new studio album in the works, it looks like 2013 will show no signs of Paul slowing down.

The “Out There” tour will see Paul and his band travel the world throughout the year, visiting both places of historical significance to Paul and new spots for the very first time. Further announcements and dates will be added in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to www.paulmccartney.com for official news and updates.

PAUL McCARTNEY

OUT THERE U.S. Tour 2013

May 18 – Orlando FL  - Amway Center (SOLD OUT)
May 19 – Orlando FL  - Amway Center (SOLD OUT)
May 22  - Austin TX – Frank Erwin Center (SOLD OUT)
May 23 – Austin TX – Frank Erwin Center (SOLD OUT)
May 26 – Memphis TN – FedEx Forum
May 29 – Tulsa OK – BOK Center (SOLD OUT)
May 30 – Tulsa OK – BOK Center
June 8 – Brooklyn NY – Barclays Center (SOLD OUT)
June 10 – Brooklyn NY – Barclays Center (SOLD OUT)
July 7 – Ottawa ONT – Scotiabank Place
July 9 – Boston MA – Fenway Park (SOLD OUT)
July 12 – Washington DC – Nationals Ballpark (SOLD OUT)
July 14 – Indianapolis IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse (SOLD OUT)
July 16 – Milwaukee WI – Miller Park (SOLD OUT)
July 19 – Seattle WA – Safeco Field (SOLD OUT)
August 12 – Winnipeg MB – Investors Group Field
August 14 – Regina SK – Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field

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PORNOGRAPHY: “7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN” AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON & iTUNES

RECORD STORE DAY VINYL SELLS OUT IMMEDIATELY

“MONTAGE MAHAL” EP UP NEXT

thebandpornography.com

“noisy as fuck”–ANTIQUIET

“Ryan Adams… Leah Hennessey and Johnny T. Yerington… rip through seven tracks”–BILLBOARD Record Store Day: 10 LPs To Pick Up

“The first amazing result of this grand trio”–MXDWN.com

“seconds of bubblegum-smacking, leather jacket-wrapped pop-punk”–SPIN

“about to fuck up your shit mega hard”–SYFFAL.com

Having sold through its entire physical pressing within days of its Record Store Day release April 20 on PAX-AM, Pornography’s seven-song debut single “7 Minutes In Heaven” is now available digitally via iTunes and Amazon as of April 23.

The digital version of “7 Minutes In Heaven” features two bonus tracks–”I’m Not Used To Failure” and “Dirty Cross-Dresser”–making it an even more affordable alternative than the $20 or more the 7-inch is currently fetching on eBay.

There are no plans at present to re-press ”7 Minutes In Heaven,” however a second Pornography EP “Montage Mahal” should be birthed by PAX-AM before too long.

Pornography is Leah Hennessey, Ryan Adams and Johnny T. Yerington. The band’s origin story takes about as long to recount as “7 Minutes In Heaven” takes to listen to: Adams and Yerington, whose C.V. includes drumming and co-writing credits on the former’s 2003 album Rock N Roll, had a chance encounter with Hennessey at her (sort of) workplace that quickly led to her unknowingly auditioning for their band The Finger. By the close of a 2-hour session that went incredibly well, it was decided this would be a new band entirely-one she then named Pornography-the three of them were well on their way to writing and recording “7 Minutes In Heaven” and another EP and album’s worth of material.

Gus Oberg produced all that stuff. It was recorded at the East Village Recording Center.

If you haven’t heard “7 Minutes In Heaven” lead track “Last Nite at the Opera” yet, it can be streamed/embedded here:

https://soundcloud.com/thebandpornography/last-nite-at-the-opera

Embed code:

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THE POSTAL SERVICE ADD WEST COAST ARENA AND AMPHITHEATER DATES

Give Up 10th Anniversary Tour Expanded To Seattle, Santa Barbara, San Diego & Los Angeles

Ticketing, Additional Info at http://bit.ly/PstlSrvc

http://postalservicemusic.net/

http://www.subpop.com/

“‘Such Great Heights’… inspired the single biggest sing-along of the entire day.”–BILLBOARD

“The idea that music — big, larger than life music — can start in a bedroom and grow into a force that can move a field of 80,000 devout music fans made me want to weep for joy… the world will be singing along with the Postal Service for the summer.”–LOS ANGELES TIMES

“The Postal Service drew what appeared to be the largest crowd of the day to the main stage… Lewis powerfully complemented Tamborello’s skittering beats and synths and Gibbard’s wallflower vocals with angelic yet powerful singing, sinuous guitar playing, and overall charisma; at times, she and Gibbard would dance together like they were in an old Human League video, which proved quite charming.”–ROLLING STONE

In the wake of a rapturous response to an opening week of its 10th anniversary tour including two show-stopping Coachella sets (see above), The Postal Service has confirmed the addition of five new arena and amphitheater dates in Seattle, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Los Angeles.

The newest dates of the tour commemorating the recent release of  the Give Up Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition on Sub Pop are as follows: July 18 at the Key Arena in Seattle, July 20 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, July 21 at the San Diego State Open Air Theater and July 23 and 24 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets for the new dates will go on sale April 27, with the exception of San Diego, which goes on sale April 26.

The Postal Service  2013 anniversary tour is quite possibly the single most hotly anticipated reunion of the year, selling out theaters, clubs, amphitheaters and arenas the world over, including the Greek Theater in Berkeley and New York’s Barclays Center where second dates have been added by popular demand. Other upcoming dates that have completely sold out in advance now include Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, London, Manchester, Detroit, Atlanta, Boise, Orlando, Kansas City, Columbus, and more sure to come.

The 10th anniversary dates reunite Postal Service principals Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello with Jenny Lewis, who appeared on the original 2003 album and tour. Lewis also sings on the two new songs on Give Up (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition). Laura Burhenn (Mynabirds, Bright Eyes) rounds out the 2013 touring lineup.

Give Up was certified platinum last year just shy of 10 years from its original February 9, 2003 release. Led by the single ”Such Great Heights,” the landmark album is, after Nirvana’s Bleach, the second-biggest selling album in Sub Pop’s 25-year history.

THE POSTAL SERVICE

Live 2013

05/18/13 Sat – Manchester UK @ Academy (SOLD OUT) ***
05/19/13 Sun – London UK @ Brixton Academy (SOLD OUT) ***
05/20/13 Mon – London UK @ Brixton Academy (SOLD OUT) ***
05/21/13  Tues – Paris FR @ Trianon ***
05/23/13 Thu – Barcelona SP @ Primavera Sound 2013
05/27/13  Mon – Sasquatch Music Festival, George, WA (SOLD OUT)
05/28/13  Tues – Boise ID @ Knitting Factory (SOLD OUT) *
05/29/13 Weds – Magna UT @ Saltair *
05/30/13 Thu – Morrison CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater + (SOLD OUT)
06/01/13 Sat – Houston TX @ Free Press Summer Fest
06/02/13 Sun – Cedar Park TX @ Cedar Park +
06/03/13 Mon – Grand Prairie TX @ Verizon Theater +
06/05/13 Wed – Orlando FL @ Hard Rock Live (SOLD OUT) +
06/06/13 Thu – Atlanta GA @ Fox Theater (SOLD OUT) +
06/07/13 Fri – Raleigh NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater +
06/08/13 Sat – Columbus OH @ LC Pavilion (SOLD OUT)
06/10/13 Mon – Detroit MI @ Fillmore Detroit (SOLD OUT) +
06/11/13 Tues – Toronto ON @ Air Canada Centre #
06/12/13 Wed – Boston MA @ Bank of America Pavilion #
06/14/13 Fri – New York NY @ Barclays Center (SOLD OUT) #
06/15/13 Sat – New York NY @ Barclays Center +
06/17/13 Mon – Philadelphia PA @ Mann Center for the Performing Arts +
06/18/13 Tue – Columbia MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion +
07/16/13 Tues – Vancouver BC @ Rogers Arena %
07/17/13 Wed – Portland OR @ Rose Garden Arena %
07/18/13 Thu — Seattle WA @ Key Arena %
07/20/13 Sat — Santa Barbara CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl %
07/21/13 Sun — San Diego CA @ SDSU Open Air Theater %
07/23/13 Tue — Los Angeles CA @ Greek Theater %
07/24/13 Wed — Los Angeles CA @ Greek Theater ^
07/26/13 Fri – Berkeley CA @ Greek Theater (SOLD OUT) %
07/27/13 Sat – Berkeley CA @ Greek Theater
07/30/13 Tues – Kansas City MO @ Midland Theater #
07/31/13 Wed – Kansas City MO @ Midland Theater (SOLD OUT) #
08/02/13 Fri – St. Paul MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium #
08/03/13 Sat — Chicago IL @ Lollapalooza

* Baths support

** YACHT supports

*** Stealing Sheep supports

+ Ra Ra Riot supports

# Mates Of State support

% Big Freedia supports

^ Divine Fits support

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TAKE FLIGHT AGAIN IN 2013 . . . WITH WINGS OVER AMERICA

Re-release of Paul McCartney & Wings’ groundbreaking 1976 live album Wings over America containing bonus material out May 28th on Hear Music/Concord Music Group

DVD release of the live concert film ‘Rockshow’ documenting the band’s epic Wings over the World tour across America (June 11th)

Theatrical release of ‘Rockshow’ and an exclusive VIP premiere screening – featuring an introduction by Paul – at BAFTA (May 15th)

This Spring will see another chapter unfold in the life of Wings, the band formed by Paul McCartney after the break-up of The Beatles – and one of the most successful bands the UK has ever produced.

Wings over America

First, the historic live album, which documented the band’s triumphant 1976 tour across North America, will be reissued in a range of formats. Fans and hardcore devotees alike will be especially thrilled with the stunning four-book, four-disc (3CD, 1DVD) Deluxe Edition Box Set.

The box set’s superior audio and video include the two-disc Wings over America album remastered at Abbey Road, a bonus audio disc recorded live at San Francisco’s Cow Palace, a bonus DVD containing the rarely seen 75-minute television special Wings over the World and the photo gallery montage entitled ‘Photographer’s Pass’.

Moreover, the Deluxe Edition Box Set contains four exquisitely rendered art books packaged with an incredible array of exclusive memorabilia, souvenirs, mementos, keepsakes and never-before-seen photos and art work from this historic tour.

The spectacular 110-page commemorative tour book beautifully recounts the behind-the-scenes drama through dozens of live performances and backstage photos along with new interviews and liner notes from eminent music journalist David Fricke.

The Wings over America leatherette-bound ‘Tour Itinerary’ contains extravagant memorabilia including printed 8X10 glossy band photos, a backstage guest pass, facsimiles of the invitation to the infamous end-of-tour party at the Harold Lloyd Estate in Beverly Hills along with Wings over America concert tickets, original album art work, tour posters, set lists, lyrics, press materials and much more.

‘Look’, the box set’s warm and intimate book of Linda McCartney photography features Paul and the band in their everyday life as they made their way across the country in the spring of ‘76.

Lastly, the set contains ‘The Ocean View’ an extraordinary hardbound compendium of drawings and sketches by artist Humphrey Ocean that captures the band on tour in relaxed and revealing ways.  A striking artistic achievement in and of itself, the audacious Wings over America Deluxe Edition Box Set is a must have for any McCartney enthusiast.

Rockshow DVD Release

And for the first time a DVD will be released by Eagle Rock of the live concert film Rockshow which was shot in 1975 and 1976 when Paul McCartney & Wings undertook the epic Wings over the World tour–the largest-scale tour they would ever undertake as a band.

Packed with all the classic Wings hits – plus some of Paul’s solo and Beatles classics – the film is released on both DVD and Blu-ray formats. Although filmed on this tour at the enormous Kingdome in Seattle, Rockshow, originally an edited version of the concert, was not premiered until November 1980 in New York and April 1981 in London. It was originally released on Betamax (later on laserdisc) but it’s only now that the complete full-length concert is being made available fully restored from the original 35mm film and with restored & remastered sound, including a 5.1 mix for the first time.

Rockshow Theatrical Release

And then third, but by no means least, Eagle Rock has partnered with distributors Specticast who are releasing the film theatrically worldwide for a ‘one night only’ event’ on May 15th (see here for more details: http://rockshowonscreen.com/) – meaning the film will be shown in more than 500 theaters across the world! The theatrical release features an exclusive introduction with Paul McCartney, but there will also be an exclusive VIP premiere screening of Rockshow, with Paul in attendance and introducing the film, at BAFTA on 15 May 2013.

For Wings Across America Paul brought with him one the most sophisticated and dazzling rock shows of the mid-Seventies (a time when nobody worried about extravagance or expense) and the band would eventually perform to more than 600,000 people at 31 shows in the US and Canada, ending with three mind-bending nights at The Forum in Los Angeles.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the demand that greeted Paul McCartney & Wings (Linda McCartney, Joe English, Denny Laine and Jimmy McCulloch) in the spring of 1976 as they embarked on what would become their one and only North American tour was overwhelming.  Having released four consecutive chart busting albums including Red Rose Speedway, Band on the Run, Venus and Mars and Wings at the Speed of Sound – not to mention 1973’s Academy Award-winning James Bond theme “Live and Let Die” – Paul’s solo career was in full flight… and having not performed in the States for 10 years either solo or with The Beatles, excitement had reached fever pitch.

Now Paul gives fans the chance to be able to immerse themselves in a concert that is destined to live forever.

Buy it on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/pmWOAdeluxe

www.paulmccartney.com

Notes for editors:

Wings are one of the most successful acts the UK has ever produced, achieving no less than 14 US Top 10 hits and 12 Top 10 hits at home – including “Mull of Kintyre” which with 2m+ sales remains the biggest-selling non-charity single of all time – over their ten year career

The Wings over America reissue (Hear Music/Concord) follows the re-release of Band on the Run, McCartney, McCartney II and RAM for the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.  To this point, the celebrated series, personally supervised by Paul, has been honored with the Best Historical Album GRAMMY Award for Band on the Run and most recently a Best Historical GRAMMY nomination for RAM

Released in early December 1976, Wings over America was platinum by Christmas and #1 on Billboard album chart by the third week of January. The famous live version of “Maybe I’m Amazed”, issued as a single in February 1977 (the studio version from McCartney, an FM-radio hit in 1970, was never available on 45) quickly went Top Ten on Billboard’s singles chart and has since become one of Paul McCartney’s most beloved songs

The remastered album’s release is dedicated to late members Linda McCartney and Jimmy McCulloch.

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MONKEY: JOURNEY TO THE WEST

Chen Shi-Zheng, Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewlett’s Extraordinary Music Theater Collaboration To Run Throughout LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL 2013, JULY 6–28

New York, NY, March 27, 2013 – Nigel Redden, Director of Lincoln Center Festival, today announced the  2013 Festival’s line-up, which runs from July 6 through 28, 2013. Single tickets go on sale on April 8 for the festival, which will unfold in six venues on and off the Lincoln Center campus. There will be a total of 62 performances by artists and ensembles from ­­­­­ten countries.

Opening the festival is Monkey: Journey to the West, an extraordinary music theater collaboration based on the classic Chinese folktale “Journey to the West” which dates to 1592.  Conceived and directed by internationally renowned opera and film director Chen Shi-Zheng, with music by Damon Albarn, lead singer of Blur, and design and animation by award-winning artist Jamie Hewlett, who, with Albarn, created the virtual band, Gorillaz, Monkey: Journey to the West will run throughout the festival with 27 performances in the David H. Koch Theater.

A theatrical spectacle, Monkey: Journey to the West follows the fantastical trek undertaken by a monk who travels from China to India seeking the Buddhist sacred scriptures.  On his journey through an enchanted world, led by the irrepressible Monkey King, the monk and his magical animal companions have many adventures, both comical and challenging.

Damon Albarn’s score features washes of electronic sounds, brass fanfares, electronic percussion, and Chinese pop melodies.  Jamie Hewlett’s designs, animations, and eye-popping costumes, are influenced by Japanese animé. And Chen Shi-Zheng’s thrilling vision transforms classic Chinese martial arts, circus acts, and acrobatics. Together, the three collaborators bring a dazzling, boundary-breaking approach to this timeless Chinese epic.

Commented Mr. Redden, “For its 18th edition, Lincoln Center Festival continues on its adventurous path with radically different ways of looking at similar subjects, new music from diverse traditions, and stagings as varied as their subjects. The Festival, as it has done since its start, again showcases the work of essential artists exploring their art compellingly.”

Tickets: Tickets are on sale to the general public starting April 8. Advance sales to Friends of Lincoln Center are from March 27 through April 7. For more information and to buy tickets visitLincolnCenterFestival.org or go to the Avery Fisher or Alice Tully Hall box offices, or call CenterCharge, 212-721-6500. Tickets for Monkey: Journey to the West are also available at the David H. Koch Theater box office.

Programs, artists and ticket prices are subject to change.

Monkey: Journey to the West

July 6-July 28, 2013

24 performances, 3 previews, David H. Koch Theater

Conception, Libretto, and Stage Direction Chen Shi-Zheng
Composer Damon Albarn
Visual Concept, Animation and Costumes Jamie Hewlett
Conductor Brad Lubman
Lighting Designer Nick Richings
Sound Designer  Barry Bartlett
Masks, Prosthetics, Makeup and Wigs Bertrand Dorcet

Monkey: Journey to the West is a music theater piece based on a classic Chinese folktale “Journey to the West” which dates to 1592. It is conceived, written and directed by Chen Shi-Zheng. The composer is Damon Albarn, best known in the U.S. as the singer/songwriter in the band Blur.  The designer/animator is Jamie Hewlett, who, together with Albarn, created the virtual band, Gorillaz*.

Over the course of this 100-minute, fantastical journey, the monk Tripitaka, travels from China to India, facing many challenges while searching for the sacred Buddhist scriptures.  The mischievous Monkey King leads Tripitaka and his animal companion protectors, including a pig and a horse, in a series of perilous and comic adventures and misadventures.

The dazzling production combines elements of music theater, bold and stunning animation, and performances by Chinese vocalists, martial artists and the Jiangsu Yancheng Acrobatic Company. Damon Albarn’s original and compelling score uses washes of electronic sounds, brass fanfares, electronic percussion, and Chinese pop melodies. Jamie Hewlett’s designs, animations, and eye-popping costumes reference the world of Japanese animé.

Monkey: Journey to the West created a sensation when it premiered at the first Manchester International Festival in England in 2007.  It was then performed at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and at Spoleto Festival USA, followed by performances at the Royal Opera House in London.

Singer/songwriter/producer Damon Albarn is the recipient of four Brits, two Ivor Novello Awards and a Grammy Award. His second opera Dr Dee, co-created with Rufus Norris, premiered at Manchester International Festival in 2011. In addition to his work with Blur and Gorillaz, Albarn has released a number of recordings, including Mali Music (2002), The Good The Bad and The Queen (2006), Monkey: Journey to the West (2007), Rocket Juice & The Moon (2012) and Dr Dee (2012). He has also produced music for Gorillaz, Amadou and Mariam, written music for film soundtracks, and most recently co-produced Bobby Womack’s current album The Bravest Man in The Universe. Albarn formed Africa Express, a collective of African and Western musicians in 2007, and toured the UK with them aboard a train last September as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

Creator of comic book series Tank Girl and co-creator of Gorillaz, Jamie Hewlett has forged a distinctive visual style and a unique place in British pop culture. Tank Girl was his first major commercial success. Hewlett also conceived the visual concept behind the several-million-selling, multi-award-winning virtual band Gorillaz, which won him the Design Museum’s Designer of the Year Award in 2006. Other projects include the Bafta award-winning titles for the BBC’s coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Chen Shi-Zheng directed the epic Peony Pavilion for Lincoln Center Festival 99 and subsequently staged three other productions for the Festival: The Night Banquet, 2002; The Orphan of Zhao, 2003; and My Life as a Fairytale, 2005. His other opera credits include Monteverdi’s Orfeo with English National Opera; Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas for the Spoleto Festival USA; Mozart’s Così fan tutte at Aix-en Provence Festival; Miss Fortune at the Royal Opera House in London; and Nixon in China for Theatre du Châtelet in Paris. His first film, Dark Matter, won the Sundance Film Festival’s Alfred P. Sloan Award. For Festival 2013, he is also directing the chamber opera, Matsukaze (Wind in the Pines) by Toshio Hosokawa.

*About Gorillaz

A truly global phenomenon, Gorillaz-singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle and drummer Russel Hobbs-has achieved ground-breaking success in in popular music, and was recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records as the planet’s Most Successful Virtual Act.

Put together by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, the band’s eponymous debut album was released to wide acclaim in 2001. Three studio albums, Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005) and Plastic Beach (2010) featured collaborations with a wide array of artists including Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, Lou Reed and Dennis Hopper.

Gorillaz has topped the charts around the world, hitting #1 in more than a dozen countries and garnering sales in excess of 13 million. The band has also received influential awards and recognition that reach beyond music including a Grammy and an Ivor Novello, a Webby Award and a Designer of the Year Award for Jamie Hewlett, and the Jim Henson Creativity Honor.

Monkey: Journey to the West performance schedule:
Saturday, July 6 at 8 p.m. (preview)
Sunday, July 7 at 2 and 8 p.m. (previews)
Tuesday, July 9 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 10 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 11 at 8 p.m.
Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 13 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 14 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 16 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 18 at 8 p.m.
Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 20 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 21 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 23 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 24 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 25 at 8 p.m.
Friday, July 26 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 28 at 2 and 8 p.m.

Running time: 100 minutes

The Lincoln Center Festival 2013 presentation of Monkey: Journey to the West is made possible in part by the Asian Cultural Council.

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