Multi-platinum recording artist and Grammy nominee David Nail is bringing a free concert to Milton at 9 p.m. this Friday at Jernigan’s Landing as part of the city’s Mardi Gras Kick-Off weekend.
Most easily recognized for country music power hits such as “Whatever She’s Got,” “Let it Rain,” “Night’s on Fire” and “Red Light,” Nail has been a dominant face in the country music scene since the early 2000s. He has been releasing new music ever since, with at least two unreleased singles slated to go out this year.
The new year has brought new energy, and he is ready to be back on the road performing for his fans.
“The Pensacola area is one we’ve gotten familiar with over the years, we’ve vacationed there a couple of different times,” Nail told the News Journal. “We’ve played pretty much one corner of the United States to the other and everywhere in-between … I would like to pride myself on whether it is Milton, Florida, or Madison Square Garden, hopefully we bring the same energy and bring the same quality performance any time we step on stage.”
He looks forward to more intimate venues that help to foster some of the most memorable connections with fans.
Nail’s visit to Milton will be his first concert of 2023, and he will be blending some of his crowd-pleasers with some of his newer music.
“I’m sure if I played a show and didn’t play ‘Whatever She’s Got’ or ‘Red Light’ or something like that, people would probably revolt and throw whatever was in their hands at me on stage,” Nail teased. “It’s a new year, so there are probably some songs that we haven’t played in a long time, or we haven’t ever played that we will incorporate here and there because we’ve quite frankly never played them live.”
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Nail said he has been known to find a groove with his setlists, but he is challenging himself this year not to solely base his line-up off of his top hits, but the music he has loved making. He will be spending the next few days working on the right lineup for Milton’s show.
“When I was a kid, I always had a competition within myself of trying to pick the songs that would be on the radio, but far too often I would find myself in love with the songs that I hoped would be on the radio, but didn’t ever end up getting on the radio,” Nail said.
“If you move on too fast, you lose sight of what you love,” Nail added. “That is one of the questions you get in Nashville more than anything — what’s next?”
Nail expressed how the pressure to keep moving began to catch up with him when his twins were born. Each goodbye to his wife and twins became more excruciating.
Even with the lull in his career he eventually had to take to focus on his family, he realized his songs would continue to live on, as they would be enjoyed 10 to 15 years past their release date. So much so, he himself has not grown sick of playing them.
“I remember people telling me when I was on the radio, ‘This song is just never going to get old.’ It’s funny because I’ve sang it probably 10,000 times and if it was ever going to get old for anybody, it probably should be (me),” Nail said.
More on Milton’s Mardi Gras Kick-Off
The Milton Mardi Gras Kick-Off will start off Friday with food trucks and festivities at 6 p.m., a live performance by Keith Anderson at 7 p.m. followed by Nail at 9 p.m. Personal chairs and seating are permitted, but no food or beverages are able to be brought in. However, food trucks and beverages will be available to purchase Friday and Saturday night.
On Saturday, the celebration will continue for the parade at 4 p.m. starting at Milton High School and ending at Jernigan’s Landing with an after party, live performance by Frank Fletcher from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., a kids zone, vendors and food trucks.
The weekend events are hosted by The Krewe of Airship Pirates and sponsored by city of Milton. While the event is free, a VIP option is available for $60 each night, or $100 for both nights. The VIP ticket includes dinner, beer and wine, a heated tent, VIP bathrooms, tables and chairs and a VIP viewing platform.
Tickets can be purchased online on The Krewe of Airship Pirates website.
This year’s Grammy Awards, which airs at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, will be devoid of three of the biggest names in music. Silk Sonic, Drake and The Weeknd all declined to submit their works for various reasons.
Drake is apparently not happy about being confined to the rap categories.
“The only category that they can manage to fit me in is in a rap category, maybe because I’ve rapped in the past or because I’m Black,” said Drake previously on the Apple Beats 1 podcast.
In 2017, “Hotline Bling” was nominated in rap categories, not the pop categories that Drake would have preferred. Drake’s 2022 album, “Honestly, Nevermind,” was a No. 1 hit. The single, “Jimmy Crooks,” to be fair, does sound very much like a hip-hop song.
The Weeknd performs April 24, 2022, at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.
Weeknd’s problems with the Grammys also go back a few years. His breakthrough album, “After Hours,” and smash single “Blinding Lights,” were snubbed by the Grammys in 2020. “Blinding Lights” has more than 500 million views on YouTube since then.
“I remain uninterested in being a part of the Grammys, especially with their own admission of corruption for all these decades. I will not be submitting in the future,” said The Weeknd in 2021 to Variety, after the Recording Academy announced the elimination of its “secret” nomination-review committees.
As for Silk Sonic, aka Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, their only beef with the Grammys seems to be that they won too many awards. The duo’s 2021 album, “An Evening with Silk Sonic,” had one eligible song at last year’s ceremony, “Leave the Door Open,” and it won four awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Mars, who has won multiple awards in the past as a solo artist, said “Silk Sonic would like to gracefully, humbly and most importantly, sexually, bow out of submitting our album this year.”
The aforementioned artists might still win Grammy gold based on collaborations. Still, the fact that three of the era’s biggest hitmakers are turning away suggest that the award’s influence is waning.
Grammy history is not exemplary. The awards were founded in 1957 to stave off the growth of rock ’n’ roll. The music establishment of the time — record execs like Mitch Miller — were fearful of losing their positions of power to this new and dangerous sound.
That’s why middle-of-the-road artists such as Tony Bennett and Henry Mancini won a bucketful of early Grammy awards. The Beatles, who won only five Grammys while they were an active band, were largely snubbed.
There were more snubs. The Rolling Stones didn’t receive a single Grammy in the ’60s and ’70s, and the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds,” now considered one of music’s greatest recorded works, wasn’t even nominated.
Elvis Presley won three Grammys in his lifetime — all for gospel. Chuck Berry won one — a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1984.
After a few decades, rock ’n’ roll finally started to get recognition, but there were a few blunders along the way — including Jethro Tull winning the 1989 Grammy for Hard Rock/Metal over Metallica.
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Metallica will support their new album, “72 Seasons,” with shows Aug. 4 and 6 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Once the rock ’n’ roll establishment got in charge of the Grammys, they in turn snubbed hip-hop. There wasn’t a hip-hop award until 1989, bypassing a decade of great records. Only two hip-hop acts, Lauryn Hill in 1999 and Outkast in 2004, have won Record of the Year.
This year, Beyoncé is an early favorite, with nine nominations related to her album, “Renaissance,” and hit single, “Break My Soul.” Kendrick Lamar has eight noms, and Adele and Brandi Carlile have seven each.
Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” (“A Summer Without You”) is up for Album of the Year, the first Spanish-language album to be nominated for that award.
As for Jersey talent, Snarky Puppy, the jazz-fusion group with Brick’s Bob Lanzetti on guitar, are up for a Contemporary Instrumental Album Grammy; SZA, aka Solana Rowe of Maplewood, is nominated for Melodic Rap Performance on the song “Beautiful” with DJ Khaled and Future; and Jack Antonoff (New Milford and Hillsdale) is going for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.
Performers at the ceremony include Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Lizzo, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy, Kim Petras and Sam Smith. Trevor Noah returns as host.
Will viewers continue to snub the awards? The 8.93 million who watched last year was a slight increase over the 2021 viewership, which was a record low.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Grammy nominations 2023: Drake, Weeknd Silk Sonic skip awards
The orchestra will perform Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture” and Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
Joining MaestroJohn Nardolillo will be the orchestra’s composer-in-residence, Salina Fisher. She will be premiering three of her new works at the concert: the Kentucky premiere of “Murmuring Light” and “Tupaia,” and the United States premiere of “Kintsugi.” Fisher will travel from New Zealand to Lexington for the performance.
Salina Fisher is an award-winning New Zealand composer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Her highly evocative music often draws on her Japanese heritage, as well as a fascination with the natural world. With a background as a violinist, Fisher finds lyricism in unusual timbres and extended tonalities, with a sensitivity to detail and gesture. Her music has been commissioned by ensembles including New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, International Contemporary Ensemble, Marmen Quartet, New Zealand String Quartet, NZTrio; and performed worldwide at venues including Lincoln Center, Philharmonie Berlin, Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Kennedy Center. In 2022-2023, her music has been programmed by the New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia, and Ulster Orchestras; Land’s End Ensemble, Syzygy Ensemble and Alexi Kenney.
Tickets for UK Symphony Orchestra concerts are $10 for general admission, $4 for students, and free for UK students with a valid ID before the day of the performance (at the Singletary Center ticket office). Tickets are available through the Singletary Center ticket office online atwww.scfatickets.com, by phone at 859-257-4929, or in person at the venue. Children 6 and older are welcome.
Founded in 1918, the UKSO is a 100-member all-student orchestra, presenting classical, chamber, opera and education concerts. The group is made up of undergraduate and graduate students from across the United States, Asia, South America, Africa and Europe. The orchestra has regularly performed with world-renowned concert artists including Itzhak Perlman, LangLang, Sarah Chang, Gil Shaham, Lynn Harrell, Marvin Hamlisch, Denyce Graves, Christine Brewer, Pink Martini, Ronan Tynan, Mark O’Connor, Wynonna Judd, Keith Lockhart and Arlo Guthrie.
UK’s orchestra has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., tours the state of Kentucky regularly and has toured China, playing concerts in major concert halls in Shanghai, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Yangzhou and Beijing. The orchestra’s performance at Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts was broadcast on China Central Television, a network reaching more than 1.5 billion viewers. In the fall of 2010, the orchestra played for the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games, a performance that featured more than 1,500 performers and 200 horses that was seen live on NBC in the United States by 39 million people, and by an estimated 500 million more television viewers worldwide.
Maestro John Nardolillo has appeared with more than 30 of the country’s leading orchestras, including the Boston Pops, the National Symphony, and principal orchestras of Seattle, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Milwaukee, Utah, Columbus, Indianapolis, Oregon, Fort Worth, Buffalo, Alabama, Louisville, Missouri, North Carolina, Toledo, Vermont, Columbus, Omaha and Hawaii. He also recently conducted concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia; and Carnegie Hall in New York. Nardolillo made his professional conducting debut in 1994 at the Sully Festival in France and has since made conducting appearances in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, the Czech Republic and China. He has led major American orchestras in subscription series concerts, summer and pops concerts, education concerts and tours, and for television and radio broadcasts. Nardolillo is the artistic director of the Prague Summer Nights Music Festival, and in 2004, he joined the faculty at the UK School of Music, where he serves as the director of orchestras.
The UK Symphony Orchestra is housed in theSchool of MusicatUK College of Fine Arts. The UK School of Music has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, music therapy, composition, and theory and music history.
Born and raised in Cape Cod, Hunter Brown has received two nominations for this weekends Grammy awards. They’re both songs he produced on two separate albums, in the “Best Rap Album” category.
“I didn’t really know it was possible to be Grammy-nominated from Cape Cod, because I never had an example to look up to,” said Brown, whose stage name is Akachi.
The 23-year-old is navigating a career in hip hop from a place not recognized for its talented hip hop musicians.
“Where I come from on Cape Cod, I have no connections,” Brown said. “There’s no real way into the industry, so another big piece of grinding was meeting people from Atlanta, Chicago, meeting people from LA.”
Brown co-produces beats with local musicians from different backgrounds, like Ben Shields from Norwood.
“Over the pandemic, I spent a lot of time trying to master my craft on the ukulele. That process of incorporating the ukulele into hip hop beats turned into so many other experimental things we ended up doing that turned into our greatest hits,” said Shields. “It’s really important to create a scene here that people across the country, across the world, can recognize.”
Brown says that he has no expectations when the awards take place on Sunday, but that a Grammy win would be a dream come true.
“It’s going to make me go harder. I think if I win, I won’t really think anything is impossible,” said Brown.
Noise-cancelling headphones are incredibly useful devices. They can sound out the noise to help you hear your music more clearly, focus while you study and even sleep better. To help you find the best noise canceling headphones for your needs and budget, we’ve created this buying guide.
Top products in this article
Best premium noise cancelling headphones: Apple AirPods Max, $500 (regularly $549)
Best sleep headphones: Bose SleepBuds II, $249
Best budget cancelling headphones: Soundcore by Anker Life noise-canceling headphones, $72 after coupon (reduced from $80)
With so many top headphone brands offering noise-canceling headphones now, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy. That’s why we’ve compiled the best noise-canceling headphones across different purposes, categories and budgets to help you find the noise-cancelling headphone that is best for you.
Keep reading to explore the best noise-canceling headphones in 2023.
Best budget noise cancelling headphones
Looking for the best best budget noise-cancelling headphones? Check out our selections for the best noise cancelling headphones.
Soundcore by Anker Life noise-canceling headphones
Amazon
These Soundcore by Anker Life headphones feature dual noise-detecting microphones that pick up and filter out up to 95% of low-frequency ambient noise. The Anker Soundcore Life headphones offer 40 hours of playback time on a single charge and feature ultra-soft leather earcups with memory foam padding for a pressure-free fit.
Soundcore by Anker Life noise-canceling headphones, $72 after coupon (reduced from $80)
JLab Studio Pro ANC Bluetooth wireless over-ear headphones
Amazon
These JLab Studio Pro noise canceling headphones offer 45 hours of wireless playtime. The headphones include cloud foam cushions around the ears, which are easily adjustable for a comfortable fit. They also have a built-in microphone with voice assistant for hands-free calling.
JLab Studio Pro Bluetooth wireless over-ear headphones, $99
JBL Tune 130NC noise-canceling wireless earbuds
Amazon
These JBL earbuds feature advanced noise-canceling technology for a solid price. You can connect the earbuds to the JBL app to activate noise-canceling or ambient-aware noise-canceling. They offer a 40-hour battery life without noise-canceling or 32 hours of battery life with noise-canceling engaged.
They are designed to offer JBL’s pure bass sound, though users can easily adjust the sound to fit their preferences in the app. The earbuds are also water-resistant and sweat-proof.
JBL Tune 130NC noise-canceling wireless earbuds, $50 (reduced from $100)
Best noise canceling headphones for sleeping in 2023
Noise-canceling headphones aren’t just for music; many people also use them while they’re sleeping. If your partner snores or you live in a loud area, noise-canceling headphones can help you get a better nights sleep.
Bose SleepBuds II
Amazon
Sleepbuds are headphones specifically designed for sleeping. They don’t stream music or podcasts like regular headphones. Instead, they deliver relaxing and noise-masking sounds to help you drown out snoring or other noises and sleep peacefully.
Bose SleepBuds II, $249
Kokoon Nightbuds sleep headphones
Kokoon
These uniquely designed sleep headphones fit snuggly in your ears to mask noise while you sleep. The sleep headphones feature special sensors that monitor your sleep and adapt the audio to your sleep.
Kokoon Nightbuds sleep headphones, $174 (reduced from $290)
Best Bose noise canceling headphones
Check out the best wireless noise-canceling headphones and earbuds from Bose.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Bose
Bose products are known for their excellent sound quality, and the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are no exception. They claim to offer the world’s best active noise cancellation, and have a new CustomTune technology that auto-adjusts music to your ears’ liking. They also have an “aware mode” that pauses noise cancellation for when you need to hear your surroundings. These noise-cancelling earbuds are also water- and sweat-resistant, so you can wear them to the gym.
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer six hours of battery life in a single charge and come with a charging case that holds three additional charges (24 hours of battery life in total). You can control music, answer calls and adjust the volume by simply tapping your earbuds instead of having to use your phone. These Bluetooth 5.3-compatible earbuds are available in black and soapstone colors.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, $299
Bose QuietComfort 35 II wireless noise canceling headphones
Amazon
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones feature three levels of noise cancelation, as well as a noise-rejecting microphone system for crisp call quality. The headphones maintain balanced audio performance at any volume level.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones feature high-fidelity audio and 24-hour battery life. You can adjust bass, mid-range and treble levels via a downloadable smartphone app.
Amazon reviewers praise the 4.6-star-rated Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones for their sound quality. One verified reviewer stated that “the overall sound is full, rich and natural, as expected from Bose.”
On-ear or over-ear noise-canceling headphones are a popular option for those who use their headphones to workout, listen to music or study. They’re a bit too bulky to sleep in, but these stylish and functional headphones are great for blocking out noise.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple via Amazon
Apple AirPods Max use active noise-cancelation technology to block out unwanted noise and feature a transparency mode so you can hear what you need to. These headphones feature 20 hours of listening. They come in a variety of colors including blue, green, red and silver. They’re also compatible with Siri.
Apple AirPods Max, $500 (regularly $549)
Sony WH-1000XM5 noise cancelling headphones
Amazon
These over-ear noise-canceling headphones from Sony offer 30 hours of listening on a single charge, with quick charging that gives up to three hours of playback with three minutes of charge. They also offer one-touch NFC pairing and noise cancellation with ambient sound mode. The Sony WH-1000XM5 offer a sound upgrade over the prior model, the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Sony WH-1000XM5 noise cancelling headphones, $398
Beats Solo3
Beats
The on-ear Beats Solo3 may be a good fit for music fans looking for a pair of bright-sounding headphones, especially those partial to rock, folk and country tunes. These headphones support spatial audio for a more immersive listening experience, soft ear foams for comfort, and up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge. They also feature noise-cancelation and Siri voice control.
Beats Solo3, $131 (reduced from $200)
Treblab over-ear noise-canceling headphones
Amazon
The Treblab over-ear workout headphones feature advanced active noise cancellation technology and great sound quality.They offer 35 hours of playtime per charge and recharge quickly.
One Amazon reviewer wrote, “I use these at the gym, and they’re perfect. They’re comfortable, hold a charge for a long time, have great sound, are lightweight, and stay snug on my head.”
Treblab over-ear workout headphones, $90 (reduced from $120)
Best wireless earbuds with noise cancelation in 2023
While the large over-ear noise cancelation headphones have been quite trendy, many people prefer noise canceling earbuds. Check out the top options below to find the best Apple AirPods for noise cancellation and the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 which are excellent wireless earbuds for android users.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Apple
The latest Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds have an upgraded wireless chip for improved audio functionality, a new low distortion driver for clearer audio, touch controls and improved active noise cancellation. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 provide truly custom sound: You can use your iPhone’s camera to analyze your unique ear anatomy and find the perfect audio settings for you.
“I wear these to the gym every day and for running. I have never had an issue with them coming out, and they do an excellent job,” wrote one reviewer. “I love the option of switching between ANC and transparency modes.”
Apple AirPods Pro 2, $239 (reduced from $249)
Samsung Galaxy Buds2
Samsung
Samsung’s highly coveted earbuds, the Galaxy Buds2, make great workout earbuds. Featuring active noise cancelation and ambient sound passthrough, the lightweight Galaxy Buds2 are built for users with an active lifestyle.
One Amazon reviewer shared their experience with these earbuds: “I have no complaints with these at all. I wear them for runningand when I do chores around the house, and they have not disappointed me yet! These are well worth the price and I won’t go back to my other earbuds or headphones!”
Samsung Galaxy Buds2, $108 (reduced from $150)
Beats Studio Buds: $100
Amazon
These sweat-resistant earbuds are ideal for avid runners or gym enthusiasts. They offer two levels of noise-canceling; active noise canceling and transparency mode. Meanwhile, the IPX4 water resistance ensures they’re protected even when you’re sweating on them every day. They come in 5 colors, all of which are on sale for only $100 right now.
Beats Studio Buds, $100 (reduced from $150)
How to choose the right pair of headphones
If you’re not sure how to find the best headphones, we’ve got you covered with answers to your most common headphone shopping questions.
Are noise canceling headphones worth buying?
Noise canceling headphones can certainly be more expensive than standard headphones or earbuds, but they are certainly worth buying if you plan to make good use of the active noise-cancelation features. Noise cancelling headphones are great for limiting outside noise to help you focus while you work out, study, listen to a podcast or take a call. They’re also helpful for sleeping or for people that get overstimulated by a lot of noise.
How much do noise cancelation is best?
The best noise-canceling headphones offer 20-40db of noise cancellation. A higher number indicates greater noise cancellation.
What type of noise cancelation technology is best for sleeping?
If you want to get the best sleep possible, consider headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC). A great active noise-canceling earbuds and headphones are most effective at blocking out snoring and outside noise.
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced today the initial lineup for the Summer 2023 season, including the Wolf Trap Opera (WTO) season, classical, symphony, and dance programming, and films with live orchestral music. The performances take place at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts at the Filene Center and The Barns at Wolf Trap.
Wolf Trap Opera’s (WTO) season opens on The Barns at Wolf Trap stage in June with Handel’s Semele. The love story follows the god Jupiter, who is enchanted by the beauty of the all-too-mortal Semele. Known for some of Handel’s most powerfully seductive music and triumphant choruses, this opera touches on the parable of ambition and indulgence. Conductor Timothy Long leads the cast in this musical drama directed by Tara Faircloth.
Gounod’s Faust, the French grand opera follows the timeless tale about a man selling his soul to the devil for immortality in a new immersive production at The Barns at Wolf Trap stage in July. The tragic opera established Gounod’s place as a legendary composer, and asks if the freedom of youth is worth the price of one’s eternity. Geoffrey McDonald conducts one of opera’s most performed tragedies, directed by Alison Mortiz.
Mozart’s Don Giovanni soars onto the Filene Stage this July. This popular tragic-comedic opera with a supernatural twist, follows the path of destruction for a young playboy (Don Juan) in a single day. The themes of power, justice, and loyalty in this masterpiece are just as resonate today, making it a story to remember. Stephanie Rhodes Russell conducts the Wolf Trap Orchestra and Mary Birnbaum directs this compelling new production.
“Wolf Trap takes an artist-centric approach when choosing our summer repertoire,” said Lee Anne Myslewski, Vice President, Opera and Classical Programming. “Our opera productions are specifically tailored for the voices of the most promising artists selected for our competitive summer residency program. This year’s performers are some of the best we’ve seen, and we are excited to showcase their talents with an array of operas and concerts that feature their talents.”
Other WTO performances this summer include a new Salon Series (July 7, July 12, and July 28) featuring intimate performances in the Scottish Barn; two programs with the National Orchestral Institute + Festival — A Night at the Opera (June 3) with Wolf Trap Studio Artists and acclaimed soprano Tiffany Townsend in Walker’s Lilacs (June 24); a recital program led by Steven Blier’s Night and Day U.S.A (June 4); Aria Jukebox (July 2), where the audience chooses the program (or arias. Just not ‘songs’); and Studio Spotlight with opera scenes featuring Studio Artists (August 3).
Each summer, Wolf Trap welcomes the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) to the Filene Center stage for a variety of performances and concerts. This summer audiences can enjoy The Planets in HD (July 7), Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert (July 8), Jurassic Park in Concert (July 22), Hilary Hahn plays Brahms (August 4), and Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (August 5).
Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert: Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki (July 14 + 15) celebrates the partnership between composer and filmmaker. With montages from the acclaimed Studio Ghibli films of Hayao Miyazaki, known for their legendary and beloved characters, accompanied by the illustrious score of composer Joe Hisaishi, who conducts the NSO.
Wolf Trap Opera (WTO) is a summer residency program of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, offering emerging artists career development and performance experiences. The Filene Artists are at a point in their profession between training and full-time professional careers, and many have already won prestigious awards and finished professional training programs. Internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Ryan McKinny (WTO 2006, 2008) is the 2023 Filene Artist in Residence. McKinny known for his highly crafted performances and intimate character portrayals, will give a public recital and conduct a master class this summer.
The 2023 Filene Artists are Brittany Logan (soprano), Louisiana, Denis Vélez (soprano), Mexico; Esther Tonea (soprano), California; Renée Richardson (soprano), Pennsylvania; Tiffany Townsend (soprano), Mississippi; Véronique Filloux (soprano), California; Emily Triegle (mezzo-soprano), Louisiana; Kathleen Felty (mezzo-soprano), Texas; Mary Beth Nelson (mezzo-soprano), California, Eric Taylor (tenor), Washington; Lunga Eric Hallam (tenor), South Africa; Daniel Rich (baritone), Maryland; Kyle White (baritone), Texas; Andrew Gilstrap (bass-baritone), Tennessee; Cory McGee (bass), Virginia; Eric Lindsey (bass), Georgia; and Wm. Clay Thompson (bass), Kentucky.
Wolf Trap Opera also selects Studio Artists each year who show significant potential and cultivates these young artists by providing skill-enhancing and career-building curriculum designed around their skillsets. The Studio Artists gain professional experience by covering their colleagues in the Filene Artist program, and through smaller roles and choruses for Wolf Trap Opera’s main-stage operas, opera scenes programs and recitals.
An opera, symphony and dance calendar, production information and casting, and a full WTO artist roster can be found here. To view the full season, including pop, rock, musicals and more, visit www.wolftrap.org/calendar. Ticketing information and links to print-ready photography are below.
Ticketing and On-Sale Information
Tickets for these performances go on sale to the public on Friday, February 17 at 10 a.m. at wolftrap.org.
Pricing varies by performance and seat location, and are subject to change. See individual performance listings online or the calendar below for prices.
Wolf Trap members have access to exclusive presales and may purchase tickets in advance of the general public. Memberships with presale access start at $80 and are tax-deductible less the value of goods and services provided. For more information, visit wolftrap.org/membership.
A compilation of the most exciting concerts, bands and performances to look out for in the coming weeks.
PHOENIX, Arizona — Super Bowl LVII and WM Open will undoubtedly bring some of the Valley’s favorite things together: cool weather, sports, great food and music. What more could Arizonans ask for?
With all of the big events happening in the Valley, it’s a great opportunity to see some of the biggest chart-topping hit makers right here in the desert. From alternative rock to nostalgic pop and hip-hop, Arizona is sure to be anything but boring this February.
>> SBHQ: Check out the 12News Super Bowl guide
Here’s how you can find the best tunes, festivals and concerts across the Valley leading up to the biggest sporting events.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
As tradition would have it, the week-long concert season kicks off with a soulful celebration in Mesa. Since 1999, the Super Bowl Host Committee has designated this annual event to commemorate a joyful start to the football festivities. The concert will feature familiar voices in gospel and soul, including the NFL’s own choir.
24th Annual Super Bowl Soulful Celebration with Patti Labelle, Israel Houghton, NFL Player’s Choir
Any country fans in the Valley? Well, this one’s for you. These three country stars kick off a very special 4-night festival in Scottsdale on Wednesday evening. You might think about getting those tickets fast though, as tickets for other shows in this festival have sold out.
2023 Coors Light Birds Nest music festival feat. Dustin Lynch, Lainey Wilson and Chris Lane
Suits & Sneakers in collaboration with Elevee Lifestyle present: Rick Ro$$
Tailgate Time Machine: Apprentice, Johnny Heartless and Adrian Diaz
RELATED: Dozens of Super Bowl events planned in the Valley RELATED: No ticket? Here’s where you can watch the Super Bowl
Thursday, Feb. 9
Electronic music icon Steve Aoki returns to the Valley on Thursday, February 9 for a special poolside party, Superzona.
Superzona Kick-off: Steve Aoki
Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023
7 p.m.
The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale
Tickets and info: talkingstickresort.com
Maya X E11EVEN present: Tyga
On Thursday, W Scottsdale will host rapper, songwriter and record producer G-Eazy, sponsored by Pepsi.
Zedd presented by TAO x MAXIM Big Game Party: Catch Me If You Can
Maya X E11EVEN present: Alesso
Tailgate Time Machine: Fashen and Vice
Brunchish feat. DJ Paul of Three6Mafia, Roya, Rich Cole, Walt and DJ Pest presented by Greater Phoenix Urban League
Budlight Super Bowl Music Fest: Kane Brown and Imagine Dragons
One of the bigger names in this year’s lineup is country music phenom Tim McGraw. The Louisiana native and husband to singer Faith Hill will headline a very special Super Bowl-eve event in Glendale ahead of Sunday’s game.
BetMGM West Fest: Tim McGraw and Bailey Zimmerman
2023 Coors Light Birds Nest music festival: The Chainsmokers with special guest GRYFFIN (SOLD OUT)
Leigh Steinber Super Bowl Party 2023 feat. Kim Cruse
Sports Illustrated: The Party presented by Captain Morgan feat. The Chainsmokers, Machine Gun Kelly, DJ Irie and Chantel Jeffries
Sunday, Feb. 12
Maya X E11EVEN present: TBA
Ashanti and Ja Rule: The Game Viewing Party
Tailgate Time Machine: Smashed and Slippe
Super Bowl Pregame Performances: Babyface, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Chris Stapleton
Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Rihanna
The Navy (Rihanna’s fan-base) can finally rejoice! The pop-star and entrepreneur will return to the stage for the first time since 2018. It’s safe to say many of her fans are more excited about the halftime show than the football game, though. Not much is known about the halftime show, as the singer has been tight-lipped since announcing the performance back in September 2022. In January, she launched the ‘Game Day’ collection from Savage X Fenty, where several pieces sold out in just one day.
RELATED: Rihanna drops Super Bowl themed collection ahead of halftime performance
For a full list of Super Bowl LVII events, see the Host Committee website here.
Get all the latest news and updates about what is going on around the Valley for Super Bowl LVII.
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Music composer Jonathon Jie Hong Yang is a rising talent whose work includes composing an orchestral piece entitled Brave the Wave for more than 120 WAAPA musicians. In 2021 he won the WA Screen Academy Award for Excellence in Music Composition for his work on three short films. He is studying for his master’s degree in music composition.
What’s your greatest ambition?
To write orchestral film music that is played by major orchestras around the world.
What was your happiest moment?
My happiest moments have been the chances I’ve had to share my music in live performance with my friends and the audience.
What would you say to encourage other young people to achieve their goals?
Everyone’s goals, dreams and definition of success are different. Do not let other people’s opinions of what you are doing stop you from pursuing your goals or diminish the achievements you have already made. They may not understand the significance of your achievements and goals.
What is your favourite animated movie character?
Hiccup from the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy.
What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I had perfect pitch, which is basically the ability to immediately discern what note any given sound is producing. It would make parts of my job a lot easier, for instance, music transcription.
What’s your dream holiday destination?
I would love to visit New Zealand, specifically Hobbiton in Matamata.
How and when did you start in your talent?
I started composing music in high school. I was heavily inspired by my passion for film, game and TV music and wanted to pursue a career in music composition to one day fulfil this dream of composing music for these mediums myself.
Jonathon Yang’s favourite item of clothing is a hat. Credit: Supplied
Harry Styles is still traveling around the world for his “Love On Tour” series of concerts and he recently made a big change in one of his songs that left fans enraged as they wanted to “humble” him to look back where he came from; what happened?
Last year, as the lead single of his record-breaking album “Harry’s House,” the former One Direction singer released “As It Was” and during the bridge part, the original lyrics read, “Leave America, two kids follow her.”
Since then, many fans from the United Kingdom have been using the line to remind the musician that he spends a lot of time in the United States compared to his home country.
“never leave america” this is the land of harry styles now, pledge my allegiance to him pic.twitter.com/6BPOWlze8N
BuzzFeed News reported that concertgoers during his tour in the UK screamed the lyrics hard to send him the message. During those moments, Styles can be seen smiling and laughing as his fans shout the line in unison.
More recently, the Grammy Award-winning artist resumed his scheduled concerts in Los Angeles, California, after spending a holiday break.
At his second Kia Forum show, fans are debating if they heard him quietly say “I’m staying” after the line, but the following day, Styles made it clear that he is indeed staying after changing the lyrics to “never leave America.”
READ ALSO: Phil Collins New Album, Tour 2023: Genesis Vocalist Returning Onstage After Celebrating 72nd Birthday?
Following this, many fans jokingly shared their responses on Twitter, saying they felt “betrayed” over the singer’s decision.
“never leave america harry styles?? because you can stay there and we eat all the cheese bread stirring our tail without you ok. feeling betrayed,” one wrote, translated to English.
“i can’t tell if uk harry styles fans are actually mad that he changed “leave her America” to “never leave America” or if they’re just really good at pretending to be mad,” one joked.
“harry styles needs to be humbled after saying never during the leave america part last night,” one expressed.
As of this writing, Harry Styles has yet to confirm whether he’ll stay in the United States for good. Although he has several properties in the UK, as noted by Capital FM, he also reportedly owns an apartment in the Tribeca neighborhood in New York City.
His property features three bedrooms and three bathrooms which cost him a whopping $8.7 million.
READ MORE: Ashton Kutcher Wants To Apologize To Harry Styles For an Embarrassing Reason: ‘I Feel Like A Jerk’
Routine Finds is a new compilation series where we share some of the music submitted to us. Here, we skip the review bit and just head straight into serving up the tunes.
