Those who supply rocking music to half the parties in America would surely know how to throw a grooving party. Red Melon, the premier recording label of San Francisco, has been releasing the best in house music and rap. Water Melon boat parties have been the talk of the town for several years for the raw party fever and the celebrities that it attracts.
After a lull of a few months, the Red Melon monthly house party is back with a bang, with one scheduled for September 13. The usual Melon gang of Dan Hruby and Jay Zimmerman shall be there, as well as the biggest party animals of the city. So make sure you get invited for the party at the newly refurbished DNA Lounge in the Bay Area.
If Hawaii had to have a physical symbol, it would be the colorful yellow flowers that are strung into garlands in this island state of the U.S. The Aloha Festival’s Floral Parade pays a tribute of sorts to this symbol, with Hawaiians dressed in their colorful best for the huge parade in Honolulu.
Beautiful floats, marching bands, women dancers adorned in flowers, accompanied by Hawaiian music make the whole spectacle a treat for the senses. The Parade is scheduled for September 13 at 9 am, along the Kalakaua Avenue, Ala Moana Park and Kapiolani Park.
Several street artistes like jugglers, magicians and stuntmen show off their talents to the crowds gathered on the sidewalks for the Parade. The Parade especially celebrates the hula dance with special dance performances and competitions.
Aloha Festival is very traditional. Below is a video of 1996 event:
Denver, Colorado just needs the least of reasons to celebrate and make merry. Every September, an annual month-long festival is held within the green environs of the Denver Botanic Gardens to celebrate Latino music and culture.
The Chile Harvest Festival is a part of the festivities. Visitors can taste some spicy Latin American fare, topped with plenty of salsa sauce and tomatoes. Children especially have a lot to look forward to here with several amusement activities and art and craft exhibitions. Visitors must definitely reach the venue at least an hour in advance to admire the beautiful gardens and the various herbs and plant species found here. Admission prices are between $5-7.
Two’s company, but three’s a crowd-puller! No better proof of this than the stupendous success enjoyed by the jazz trio of The Bad Plus. Bassist Reid Anderson, drummer David King and pianist Ethan Iverson make for one magical combination, fusing rock and pop influences in jazz compositions.
Eight years old, they have almost as many studio albums to their name. However, nothing beats listening to them perform live. Yoshi’s, the Bay Area jazz club of San Francisco, brings The Bad Plus live to its audiences in California on September 9-10. The band known for its soothing music, infused with a vibrant tempo and energy, has found the perfect location to complement its music.
Yoshi’s attracts some of the most discerning jazz audiences in the city, creating a wonderful ambience to listen to music in.
The 21st Bull Durham Blues Festival is set to blow away audiences on September 18-20 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the Hayti Heritage Center. Organized by the St. Joseph’s Foundation Inc. to promote blues music and the African-American culture closely related to it, the Bull Durham Blues Festival resembles a carnival more than a live music festival, owing to the sheer warmth and cheer that envelops its atmosphere. 2008’s lineup boasts of some impressive names like MSG Acoustic Blues Trio, Rosie Ledet and Clarence Carter. The festival welcomes all sorts of experimentation and innovation in blues music, which makes performances refreshingly new each year. A three-day package ticket costs $85. All major credit cards accepted. Doors at 5 pm.
The only thing bad about this is in the name; other than that, The Bad Plus are absolutely rocking. An American music trio, The Bad Plus is redefining the idea of jazz for today’s listeners. Bass, piano and drums come together to create scintillating music, soothing to the ears and hearts of music-lovers. And the fantastic three are now going to come live at the beautiful Florence Gould Hall of New York on September 20. Jazz with a pinch of rock and pop have been the forte of the band’s members-Reid Andersen, Ethan Iverson and David King. Having burst onto the music scene in 2000, The Bad Plus has been consistently creating great studio albums. The show on the 20th is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Book your tickets at the earliest to witness live magic on stage.
Music and art makes for a heady combination, found in plenty at the Brookside Artzz Festival in Tulsa. One of the most happening events in the city, the 2008 festival is scheduled on September 20. The Artzz in the name of the festival is a mix of art and jazz, as more than 30 artistes line the streets of Brookside, displaying their creativity through all possible mediums-glass, pottery, paint, charcoal, installation art as well as junk art.
All this in the company of several jazz bands that set the mood of the fest with music that is peppy and soothing in turns. Brookside, the premier shopping destination of Tulsa is an ideal venue for the fest, ensuring that huge crowds of tourists flock to the event. Visitors can find the festival at Peoria stretched between 32nd and 41st Streets.
It would be hard to find a more glamorous stage for an artiste like Beck, famed for setting the stage on fire with his power-packed performances. After his appearance at the San Diego Street Scene Festival, this will be Beck’s next live performance in California’s hottest address on September 20.
Known for his unique style of music, betraying myriad influences, with brilliant lyrics, Beck has a forged a permanent place in the heart of audiences. The master behind albums such as Modern Guilt, Mellow Gold and Mutations, Beck is a treat to watch live. Besides, the impressive venue itself is worth a watch.
Check in early before the concert to take a peek at the Hollywood Bowl Museum, with its innovative exhibitions, usually pertaining to the visual arts. So grab those exclusive tickets soon, lest you are too late.
No better way to beat the blues than attending the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival. The 31st edition of this iconic festival is scheduled for September 20 at Freedom Village, Greenville. Presented by the Mississippi Action for Community Education, the festival celebrates the blues tradition of the South in all its vivacity and simplicity.
Noted performers this year include Koko Taylor, Bobby Rush and T.K. Soul. What’s special about the Mississippi festival, besides its being the second oldest blues festival, is that it encompasses the essence of Southern life and the African-American community. It has managed to retain its cultural and community feel after all these years, making the festival seem like a mammoth family reunion.
The venue itself was a tiny hamlet once upon a time. Hence, audience members, be prepared to be swept of your feet with Southern charm and warmth. Tickets are priced at $25.
Two sleepless nights of music and more music bring the city of San Diego alive during this annual music festival. Claimed as the city’s oldest and largest music festival, Street Scene enters the silver year this year. Whether it’s the oldest or not, it is definitely the grandest musical extravaganza that can be seen in this Californian city, perhaps rivaled only by Coachella.
Past performances have enthralled audiences, both young and young at heart, thanks to the eclectic mix of artistes. In its special year, Street Scene has outdone itself with 40 bands lined up for performances at 4 locations over two days-September 19 & 20, 2008.
Names like Beck, Spoon, Tegan & Sara and The Black Crowes adorn the lineup. The streets of East Village shall double up as venues of the festival. A long-time favorite among locals, the festival cannot be given a miss!
When four names from different popular bands come together to create music, there are bound to be fireworks. The Raconteurs, a Nashville-based band comprising Jack Lawrence, Brendan Benson, Jack White and Patrick Keeler, does just that, drawing from the varied influences of its members.
Known for their hit albums and chart-topping singles, the Raconteurs have enjoyed instant international fame, even though the band is just three years old. No better proof of their popularity than the huge crowds that are thronging its live concert tour.
Scheduled to pay a visit to Seattle on September 19, the Raconteurs are all set to rock the stage at the WaMu Theater of the Qwest Field Center. Tickets are priced at $35. Don’t miss it for the world!
Britain’s very own Modfather is all set to rock the House of Blues Chicago on September 16, 2008. Paul Weller has enthralled two generations of audiences, first with his magical performance as the lead singer of two popular bands The Jam and The Style Council and now with his hit solo albums.
He was at the helm of the 1990s Britpop movement, known initially as the Paul Weller movement. The British singer and songwriter is touring the U.S. to promote his new album 22 Dreams. With several of his popular singles featuring in cinema as well, Paul Weller has definitely gone down in music history for eternity. His song lyrics particularly strike a chord among listeners, as well as the mix of soul and pop music that is a mark of all his albums.
Tickets for the live concert are priced at $33-$35. The show is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Age restrictions apply.
The phenomenon of the UK duo of Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip is all set to hit the House of Blues Dallas-Pontiac Garage on September 15, 2008. Awesome lyrics and fresh voices have made these British boys a rage around the world, no little thanks to convergence media like Youtube and music downloads.
Dan le Sac a.k.a. Dan Stephens pens down the innovative rap lyrics while Scroobius Pip or David Meads is the brains behind the funky sound. Known best for their chart-topping singles ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’ and ‘A Letter from God to Man’, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip are now all set to take on the live concert scene in North America.
No better place for this dynamic duo than the House of Blues, the Mecca of music-lovers. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 pm. For tickets and further information, visit
One of the several pit-stops on her Taking Chances World Tour 2008-09, celebrated chanteuse Celine Dion is all out to wow her audiences once again at the Madison Square Garden (MSG) of New York on September 15, 2008.
The Canadian-born singing sensation has not embarked on such a wide-scale tour in recent times and has hinted it may be her last. This makes her concert at Madison Square that much more special and worth attending. Thanks to the excellent acoustic facilities at the MSG, the concert is sure to be a smash hit.
The official ticket seller- Ticketmaster has introduced three interesting package deals especially for this tour which guarantee to take the magic of the concert a notch higher. Tickets are fast selling out so make sure you book yours soon. All major credit cards accepted.
In the Labor Day weekend, from August 29 to September 1, the Hart Plaza at Detroit, Michigan, will host the annual Detroit International Jazz Festival. The event will feature more than 100 performances in six stages. Among the performers are Dianne Reeves, Hank Jones, Gerald Wilson Geri Allen, Philly’s stalwarts, Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath, Joey DeFrancesco and Pat Martino.
If you can’t wait for it, in August 15 the sax players Steve Wood, Wendell Harrison, and Carl Cafagna will play at the Detroit Institute of Art.
, informing details about it (date, place, site, country, etc.).