Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks finally bring their acclaimed HEART & SOUL Tour to South Florida!

It is a mutual love fest between Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart as the take off on their 2012 HEART & SOUL Summer Tour.

Expressing their admiration for the other, the Hall of Famers say: “I couldn’t be happier to be back on the boards with Stevie this summer,” says Rod Stewart. “We had fantastic fun on the road together last spring and I’m thrilled at the chance to bring it to new cities and fans this summer."

Stevie Nicks says, "I had a great time last year on the road with Rod, he is really fun to work with. I am very excited to join him again this year."

The first venue foray Rod and Stevie first was in the spring of 2011 for their acclaimed HEART & SOUL Tour taking the legendary musicians on an 18-concert arena tour highlighted by two sold-out shows at both New York’s Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

This year's tour will hopefully feature a repeat of the more than three hour shows featuring individual performances of all of their biggest hits—opening with Stevie’s and closing with Rod’s—with a few rousing duets in the middle.

Last year's shows were lauded by reviewers including US Weekly calling the show “magical,” with a set list that “sparked non-stop cheers from the sold-out masses,” and the Boston Globe declaring “Stewart and Nicks make a classic combination” delivering sold-out audiences a “hits-packed night of crystal visions and reasons to believe.”

Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks will be at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday August 4, 2012.

Latin singer Cristian Castro heads to South Florida!

Cristian Castro has sold more than 10 million albums has 100 gold and platinum-certified discs including 17 #1 hits. He has been compared to Frank Sinatra as the voice of a new generation. Castro has been recognized by Billboard as one of the top three most played artists in the history of the Hot Latin Songs chart.

Born in Mexico City, Castro began in his artistic career alongside his mother, actress Veronica Sainz Castro, in the soap opera El Derecho De Nacer. He went on to work with Silvia Pinal in the stage production of the musical MAME and two soap operas, Mi Segunda Madre and Las Secretas Intenciones.

His first album, Agua Nueva (1992), introduced the hits “No Podras” and the title track which shot the album to #1 on the charts in Puerto Rico, United States and eventually throughout all of Latin America.  His second album, Un Segundo En El Tiempo, went platinum in the United States, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Colombia. It opened a huge door for the then 18-year-old when he won Best Song of the Year for “Nunca Voy a Olvidarte” at the Latin Billboard Awards. The album also yielded other hits including “Es Mejor Asi,” “Por Amor A Ti,” and “Nunca Jamas.” With the release of the megahits albums Lo Mejor De Mi (1997), Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor (1999) and Azul (2001), Castro’s career seemed unstoppable.

Mi Amigo el Principe is Castro’s 14th studio album and includes some of legendary icon Jose Jose’s biggest hits, reinterpreted and produced by Rafael Perez-Botija. “Lo Dudo,” “Desesperado” and “Prenso” are just a few of the offerings which blend the original arrangement characteristics of the principal recordings with a contemporary twist. The album, which has has debuted at #1 in the United States, Mexico and Central America, is the continuation of his tribute album to Jose Jose which was released in 2010.

Castro is a beloved international artist who has performed in Spain, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Honduras, Panama, the United States, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, among others.

He has appeared on major television events worldwide including the Viña del Mar, Oye Awards, Premio Lo Nuestro, MTV Awards, Latin Grammys and Billboard Awards telecasts.

Cristian Castro will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday August 18, 2012.

Madonna brings her MDNA 2012 World Tour to South Florida!

Hot on the heels of her extravagant Super Bowl XLVI halftime performance, Madonna is currently performing around the world in support of her new album, “MDNA".
It’s the first time the Queen of Pop has gone on tour in three years.

Madonna’s previous tour, STICKY & SWEET World Tour, ran between 2008 and 2009.She kicked-off her world tour with a concert in Tel Aviv, Israel on May 31st then set off through 26 European cities including London, Paris, Milan and Berlin.

She’s also got tour dates in South America and Australia before moving onto North America on August 29^th in Philadelphia then she concludes the tour in Miami on November 20th.  

Her world tour announcement came just days after Madonna’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl on February 5th, with a record 114 million people tuning in to watch the glitzy, Cleopatra-themed show, which was lauded by critics but resulted in an apology from television network NBC and the NFL for a rude finger gesture made by British hip hop star M.I.A. during the show.

Madonna will be at the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami, Florida on Monday November 19 and Tuesday November 20, 2012.

Rock legends The Who bring their QUADROPHENIA North American Tour to South Florida!

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey announce the return of the band’s classic album “Quadrophenia” to the concert stage beginning in November 2012.
This will not be the first time The Who has toured performing its 1973 double-album about alienation, mods and rockers. The band took “Quadrophenia” on the road in North America and Europe in 1996 and 1997.
To recreate “Quadophenia” live, Townshend and Daltrey will have a little help from their friends: Zak Starkey on drums, bassist Pino Palladino, Simon Townshend on guitar/backing vocals, keyboardist Christ Stainton, Loren Gold on keyboards and backing vocals and Frank Simes serving as musical director as well as keyboardist and backing vocalist.
As a warm-up for the tour, a special one-night-only theater showing of the rock-doc “The Who: Quadrophenia – Can You See The Real Me?” is scheduled July 24 at 8 pm local time (July 25 in Canada). Presented by NCM Fathom Events, AEG Live and UMe, the film includes a special welcome message from Townshend.
The film also promises plenty of historic footage, including the opening night of the band’s 1973 QUADROPHENIA Tour in San Francisco when Keith Moon collapsed and resulted in Townshend asking the audience if anyone could play drums. Scot Halpin answered Townshend’s call, thus ensuring his place in rock ’n’ roll trivia.
The Who’s QUADROPHENIA Tour will be at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday November 1, 2012.

Benise brings his THE SPANISH GUITAR spectacle back to South Florida!

Benise and his Emmy Award®-winning "Nights of Fire" cast, returns to South Florida with a new world music and dance production, THE SPANISH GUITAR.

THE SPANISH GUITAR creates a phenomenal theater experience that appeals to the hearts and souls of people of all ages, cultures and musical backgrounds. Whether you've seen him on his PBS special or in concert before, Benise's incredible new show will be a season highlight.

His expressive scenery, staging and arrangements carry audiences on a musical voyage to exotic destinations from Spain, Africa and Brazil to Cuba, France, and Egypt. You'll be willingly held captive as exotic drums, Gypsy violin, Flamenco dancers, Cirque performers, Brazilian Samba dancers, tribal drummers, and more create a theater experience that has been dubbed "The Latin Riverdance," but is clearly so much more.

Benise takes you on an intoxicating musical journey across the globe in search of the seductive roots of Spanish guitar. Crossing new musical boundaries and armed with an amazing band of international musicians, elaborately choreographed dancers and his versatile Spanish guitar, Benise captures world music at its best and delivers a powerhouse performance.

Benise will be at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday November 8, 2012.

Outspoken Bill Maher heads to South Florida!

For the last 18 years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television.  First on Politically Incorrect (Comedy Central & ABC from 1993 to 2002), and for the last seven years on HBO’s Real Time, Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 27 Emmy nominations.

In October of 2008, this same combination was on display in Maher’s uproarious and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, “Religulous”, directed by Larry Charles (BORAT). The documentary has gone on to become the 7th highest grossing documentary, ever.

In addition to his television program – which has featured such regular visitors as John Edwards, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Arianna Huffington, Alec Baldwin and Michael Moore – Maher has written four bestsellers: “True Story”, “Does Anybody Have a Problem with That?”, “Politically Incorrect’s Greatest Hits”, “When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden”, “New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer” and most recently, “The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass”.

Maher began his career as a stand-up comedian in 1979, and still performs at least 50 dates a year in Las Vegas and in sold-out theaters across the country.  Two of his nine stand-up specials for HBO – 2007’s “The Decider” and 2005’s “I’m Swiss” – have been nominated for Emmy awards. Maher’s most recent stand-up special for HBO was the hilarious.

His stand-up special, ”CrazyStupidPolitics LIVE! from Silicon Valley” was streamed live on Yahoo.com earlier this year.

Real Time with Bill Maher returns from hiatus for the second half of its 10th season on August 17, 2012.

Maher was born in New York City, raised in River Vale, N.J. and went to Cornell University.  He now resides in Los Angeles.

Bill Maher will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Sunday September 2, 2012.

Rock icon Carlos Santana brings his SHAPE SHIFTER TOUR 2012 to South Florida!

Delivered with a level of passion and soul equal to the legendary sonic charge of his guitar, the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world’s best-known musical signatures. For more than four decades – from Santana’s earliest days as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion outfit in San Francisco – Santana has been the visionary force behind artistry that transcends musical genres and generational, cultural and geographical boundaries.

Santana’s star arrived in the era-defining late 1960s San Francisco Bay Area music scene with historic shows at the Fillmore and other venues. They emerged onto the global stage with an epic set at “Woodstock ’69,” the same year that their self-titled debut LP came out. Introducing Santana’s first Top 10 hit, “Evil Ways,” the disc stayed on Billboard’s album chart for two years and was soon followed by two more classics — and Billboard #1 albums — “Abraxas” and “Santana III”.

More than 40 years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 100 million records. To date, Santana has won ten Grammy® Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project, 1999’s “Supernatural” (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Smooth”). In 1998, the group was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Carlos Santana received Billboard Latin Music Awards’ 2009 Lifetime Achievement honor; and, he was given Billboard’s Century Award in 1996.  Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”

The music of Santana has been celebrated with a two-DVD and Blu-ray set entitled SANTANA: Greatest Hits Live at Montreux 2011. His last CD, “Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time”, was Santana’s 29th Billboard Top 200 charting release, 12th Top 10 album debut and third Top 10 debut in the past five years. With that release, Santana joined the Rolling Stones as the only other musical act in chart history to score at least one Top 10 album in every decade beginning with the 1960s.

“Shape Shifter” (2012), is Santana’s latest album featuring a 13-song instrumental tour de force (one song features vocals by Santana’s lead vocalists Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay). The album also features Chester Thompson on keyboards, Dennis Chambers on drums, Benny Rietveld on bass, Salvador Santana on keyboards, Raul Rekow on congas and Karl Perazzo on percussion.

An equally multi-faceted businessman, Santana’s “River Of Colors” (ROC) founded in 1997, has enjoyed tremendous success in both Lifestyle and Entertainment products such as the Carlos by Carlos Santana and Unity by Carlos Santana brand names encompassing shoes, handbags, headwear as well as noted musical instruments including electric guitars, hand percussion and sparkling wine.

The arc of Santana’s performing and recording career is complemented by a lifelong devotion to social activism and humanitarian causes. His Milagro Foundation, originally established by Carlos Santana and his family in 1998, has granted more than five million dollars to non-profit programs supporting underserved children and youth in the areas of arts, education and health.

Santana will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Friday and Saturday August 24 & 25, 2012.   

Broadway’s BILLY ELLIOT: The Musical returns to South Florida in 2013!

BILLY ELLIOT: The Musical is the spectacular musical with the heart, humor and passion to be called “the best show you’ll ever see” by the New York Post and honored with ten 2009 Tony Awards® including Best Musical.

Since its 2005 London debut, which was followed by acclaimed productions in Sydney, New York, Melbourne, Chicago, Seoul, Toronto, and on tour across America, BILLY ELLIOT has delighted the critics, swept the awards and captured the hearts of over 7.5 million people worldwide.

Set in a small English town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent for dance that inspires his family and his whole community, and changes his life forever.

Based on the internationally acclaimed film, BILLY ELLIOT is brought to life by a phenomenal cast of performers and the Tony Award-winning creative team - director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall - along with music legend Elton John, whose score is called "show-stopping and electric" by The New York Times.

It's your turn to experience this joyous celebration of one boy's journey against the odds to make his dreams come true.
BILLY ELLIOT is most appropriate for children 8 years of age or older. It contains strong language and some scenes of confrontation between policemen and miners.

BILLY ELLIOT: The Musical will be at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida from March 5 to 10, 2013. 

The disco hit THE DONKEY SHOW boogies on down to South Florida!

“Passion.  Sex.  A rollicking cool party!” - The New York Times

In the spirit of Studio 54, that epic shrine to disco, the celebrated smash hit

THE DONKEY SHOW now takes Miami by storm as the city's dreamiest pop-up club!

It's the ultimate night fever - a crazy fun house of disco mirror balls and feathered divas, of roller skaters and hustle queens, enchanted by an ever-so-light sprinkling of Shakespearean magic.

Come party on the dance floor to all the '70s disco hits you know by heart as the show unfolds around you! Get the bouncer's attention—and you'll hustle right in! Get down and boogie with the star-crossed lovers, or watch from the sidelines - if that's the way you like it. And don't stop til you get enough! You can party into the night and live out your own fabulous disco fantasy.

If you love the night life, THE DONKEY SHOW will be your midsummer night's dream come true.

Dance Floor tickets provide an all-access pass to dance alongside the cast members!  VIP Table seating allows you to sit and take in the action, or get up and get in on the action!

Disco fever is highly contagious. Protect your kids - leave them at home!
THE DONKEY SHOW will be on the stage of the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht Center in downtown Miami, Florid runs thru August 12, 2012. 

Cirque du Soleil’s DRALION heads to South Florida!

Cirque du Soleil is pleased to announce that the critically-acclaimed touring production DRALION is currently touring North America.

Thrilling more than 8 million people worldwide since the show premiered in 1999, DRALION is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus traditions and the avant-garde style of Cirque du Soleil.

DRALION is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus tradition and the avant-garde approach of Cirque du Soleil. The name DRALION (pronounced “Drah-lee-on”) is drawn from its two main symbols: the dragon, representing the East, and the lion, representing the West.

DRALION derives much of its inspiration from Eastern philosophy with its perpetual quest for harmony between humankind and nature.  The international cast features 52 world-class acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, singers and comedic characters.

Suspended in time between the past and the future, DRALION is a celebration of life and the four elements that maintain the natural order: air, water, fire and earth. Innovation soars to new heights as it defies the laws of nature.

DRALION is a dynamic performance that transcends the boundaries of the imagination and leads us into a dreamscape with a new and sparkling perspective.
Cirque du Soleil’s DRALION will be at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale, Florida July 19 thru 29, 2012.

Broadway hit SISTER ACT: The Musical heads to South Florida!

SISTER ACT: The Musical is Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash!  The New York Post calls it “… ridiculously fun!” and audiences are jumping to their feet in total agreement!

SISTER ACT: The Musical features an original score with music by multi-Academy, Grammy and Golden Globe Award-winning composer Alan Menken (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE LITTLE MERMAID and ENCHANTED), lyrics by Tony and Academy Award-nominee Glenn Slater (Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID), and a book by multi-Emmy Award winners Cheri and Bill Steinkellner ("Cheers") with additional book material by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane (XANDADU and THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED).

Directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks (GUYS AND DOLLS, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ’ and others), the production features choreography by Tony and Olivier Award nominee Anthony Van Laast (MAMMA MIA! and BOMBAY DREAMS) and is based on the 1992 Touchstone Pictures motion picture SISTER ACT written by Joseph Howard and which starred multi-award winner Whoopi Goldberg, who also produced this Broadway musical adaptation.

SISTER ACT: The Musical tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe disco diva whose life takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT: The Musical features an original Alan Menken/Glenn Slater score with a vast inspiration of musical styles from Motown, soul and funk to great big disco anthems and Barry White inspired musical comedy.

SISTER ACT: The Musical features scenery by Klara Zieglerova, costumes by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Natasha Katz, and sound by John Shivers. The music department includes Musical Supervisor Michael Kosarin, Music Director Brent-Alan Huffman, and orchestrations by Doug Besterman.

SISTER ACT: The Musical received five 2011 Tony Award nominations:  Best Musical, Best Original Score (Alan Menken (Music)/ Glenn Slater (Lyrics)), Best Book of a Musical (Cheri & Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane), Best Actress in a Musical (Patina Miller) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Victoria Clark).
SISTER ACT: The Musical will be at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from December 18 thru 30, 2012.  

Dave Matthews Band head back on the road with their Summer Tour!

Dave Matthews Band is returning to the road. DMB, one of the most successful touring acts in music, took the majority of 2011 off. The band is now back in full swing this Summer with more than 40 shows across the United States.

Dave Matthews Band started their Summer tour in May with a show in Woodlands, Texas with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The band will play with acts like Blind Pilot, The Head and the Heart, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Delta Spirit as they wind their way through North America.

According to Billboard, Dave Matthews Band became one of the most successful touring acts by selling more than 11 million tickets from 2000-2009.

During their last tour in 2010, the band sold more than a million tickets and grossed $61.2 million.

The Dave Matthews Band is also recording a new studio album. DMB recently started recording with Steve Lillywhite, who produced the band’s first three studio albums, “Under The Table And Dreaming”, “Crash” and “Before These Crowded Streets”.

Dave Matthews Band will be at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida on Friday and Saturday July 20 & 21, 2012.

Justin Bieber brings his BELIEVE Tour to South Florida in 2013!

It’s official! Justin Bieber announced recently the full schedule of his 2012-2013 BELIEVE Tour and that he recently signed break out Canadian artist Carly Rae Jepsen will be joining the tour as an opening act!

Justin will kick off his 45 city tour in Glendale, Arizona on September 29th and will wrap up in Miami, Florida on January 27, 2013.

JB is paying it forward, donating $1 from each ticket to Pencils of Promise, a charity that works to increase educational opportunities and build schools in the developing world.

"I’ve been really hard at work in the studio, in the dance studio, just kind of figuring out what I want to do as far as choreography and whatnot,” said Bieber. “I think the tour’s going to be really special. We got a lot of surprises.”

On Wednesday May 23, 2012, Justin stopped by Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show to perform “Boyfriend” and dropped the final track list for “Believe” (out on June 19th). The album, produced by Usher, features top artists such as Ludacris, Drake, Big Sean, and Nicki Minaj.
Justin Bieber will be at the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami, Florida on Saturday and Sunday January 26 & 27, 2013.

Nicki Minaj brings her PINK FRIDAY World Tour to South Florida this Summer!

It's hard to believe that Nicki Minaj has never had her own North American headline tour - until now.  The hip hop/pop singer's PINK FRIDAY World Tour is headed to the U.S., along with one stop in Canada, this summer.

After supporting Lil Wayne and Britney Spears on the road last year, the upcoming excursion will give Nicki a chance to be the star of the show in all of her trademark technicolor costumed, wigged-out glory. She has tons of new tunes to share with her Barbz and has promised to bring back her intimate meet & greets.

Her second studio album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded”, was released in April 2012, debuting at No. 1 on the Nielsen SoundScan chart.

Nicki warmed-up for the North American tour with a bunch of U.S. radio shows including KIIS FM’s Wango Tango in Los Angeles on May 12, Wired 96.5  Fest in Philadelphia on June 1,  Jam’n 94.5 Summer Jam in Boston on June 2 and Hot 97 Summer Jam in New York on June 3.

The PINK FRIDAY World Tour has several international locations to hit up before coming to the states like Europe from June 8 through July 8.

The U.S. portion of the tour begins in the Midwest with a July 16 show at the Chicago Theatre.  The last gig of the summer journey is August 2 in Vancouver, British Columbia at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Nicki Minaj will be at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami, Florida on Tuesday July 24, 2012.

Fiona Apple brings her 2012 Tour to South Florida!

The American singer/songwriter, Fiona Apple, has extended her North American tour this summer in support of her latest album "The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do."

The summer tour kicked off on June 19, the same day of her album release, in her home state of New York at the State Theater in Ithaca. She will make her way along the East Coast and wrap it up in Pittsburgh, PA on October 21. Some notable venues include the Chicago Theater in IL, Chicago; the House of Blues in New Orleans, LA; and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

The 49-city theater and auditorium excursion will also make three stops in Canada. At first her tour only consisted of 27 dates, but she added 21 additional stops to her comeback tour.

Fiona had a successful Spring tour with two sold out shows in Chicago and another sold out show in New York at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. A handful of songs from "The Idler Wheel..." were performed on her Spring tour. The first single, "Every Single Night" was released on April 23. Two other singles, "Anything We Want" and "Valentine" were debuted in March. Apple was welcomed back enthusiastically by loud screams during her Spring tour and she could hardly rest between songs, according to WMagazine.com.

Apple recently performed at the Governors Ball Music Festival on Randalls Island in New York. The New York Times stated "Sunday's most riveting performance belonged to Ms. Apple and her songs about romantic strife and self-torment." The article goes on to describe the high energy performance Apple gave fans by dancing to the music.

"The Idler Wheel..." is Apple's fourth album and her first studio set since 2005's "Extraordinary Machine," and was released on June 19, 2012 via Clean Slate/Epic Records. Apple told NPR's Guy Raz, "The only reason that it takes me seven years to do stuff is because I just don't really have a plan. I got a lot of problems, but I'm really good at intuiting what I need to do to be happy with whatever I create. I know when to stop myself, I know when to start, I know when to leave something alone. I guess I just kind of indulge that completely, and so I just take my time."

The album was recorded around four years ago and then stayed at Epic records until changes were made. The album's long title is not unusual for her, given her 1999 release, "When The Pawn...," which was a 90 word poem. Apple talked about the long title of her newest album with NPR, "These two lines represent two places where I am in my life right now — where I've gotten past the place of being somebody who [thinks], 'I'm just going to hit this thing until it's right. And turned into this person who feels a lot more powerful and a lot wiser.'"

Apple came onto the scene at the age of 19 in 1996, with the triple platinum album "Tidal," and in 1998 her single, "Criminal" earned a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
Fiona Apple will be at The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday September 30, 2012.

Carrie Underwood brings her BLOWN AWAY World Tour to South Florida!

Appearing on ABC’s Good Morning America recently, Underwood performed tunes from her new album, “Blown Away”. Timed to coincide with the nationwide television appearance was her tour announcement, detailing a fall adventure beginning in New Hampshire in September 2012.

But Underwood will be plenty busy during the months leading up to her four-month fall trek. The lady appeared at the Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on May 26 and headed across The Pond for her first-ever headlining gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 21. How anxious are the Brits to see 2005 “American Idol” winner? The show sold out in 90 minutes, indicating Londoners lover Underwood as much as her fans do in the States.

After an appearance at Toronto’s “Boots & Hearts Music Festival” on August 12, Underwood’s BLOWN AWAY World Tour gets down to the city-after-city routine beginning September 14 in Manchester, NH at the Verizon Wireless Arena. With dates on the books through December 22 when she lands in Sunrise, FL to play the Bank Atlantic Center, you should find plenty of opportunities to catch Underwood live on stage as well as her special guest Hunter Hayes.

“I can’t wait to get back out on the road and perform new music from my album for my fans,” Underwood said in a statement. “We have a lot of exciting things planned!”

Presented by vitaminwater, sponsored by Olay and promoted by AEG Live with one dollar for every ticket sold going to support Red Cross disaster relief.

Carrie Underwood will be at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday December 22, 2012.

Singer-songwriter Don McLean heads to South Florida!

As a teenager, young New York troubadour Don McLean purchased his first guitar, took opera lessons and began making contacts in the music business. He performed at venues including the Bitter End and Gaslight Café in New York, the Newport Folk Festival, the Cellar Door in Washington, D.C., the Main Point in Philadelphia, and over 40 colleges throughout the East Coast alongside artists Herbie Mann, Brownie McGee and Sonny Terry, Melanie, Steppenwolf, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian and others. He even turned down a prestigious scholarship to Columbia University Graduate School in favor of becoming resident singer at Caffe Lena in NY.

An early environmentalist, McLean traveled the Hudson Valley, giving talks about the environment and singing songs for whoever would listen. A year later, he joined the first crew of the Sloop Clearwater. With Pete Seeger, they travelled the Atlantic seaboard giving concerts at each port.

In 1969, Don recorded his first album, “Tapestry”, in Berkeley, CA. Outside the studio door, student riots were taking place; inside Don was singing “And I Love You So.” In 1971, “American Pie” was released and marked the closing of The Fillmore East, the famous New York concert hall. Some 30 years later, “American Pie” would be voted #5 in a poll of the 365 Songs of the Century compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

McLean’s second single, 1972’s “Vincent,” reached #12 in the US and #1 in the UK #1 where its stayed on the charts for 53 consecutive weeks. Concert footage and other video clips set to McLean songs formed the 1972 award-winning produced Bob Elfstrom-produced film, TILL TOMORROW. “Tapestry” was reissued followed by the self-titled Don McLean that included the song “The Pride Parade.” “Playin’ Favorites” became a top-40 hit in the UK in 1973 and included the classic, “Mountains of Mourne” and Buddy Holly’s “Everyday.”

Throughout the 1970s, McLean remained an in-demand concert performer. It was not until 1978, however, that he teamed with Elvis Presley’s back-up singers The Jordanaires for the hits “Chain Lightning” and the #1 “Crying.” The early 1980s saw further chart successes with “Since I Don’t Have You,” a new recording of “Castles in the Air” and “It’s Just the Sun.” He also released the country-based “Love Tracks” (1987), “Favorites and Rarities” (1992) and the recent “Addicted to Black” (2009).
A true American classic, his songs have been covered by Guns N’ Roses, The Fugees, George Michael and Madonna. In 2002, “American Pie” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and in 2004. McLean was inaugurated into the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

Don McLean will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Thursday July 5, 2012.