Sights and Sounds: The Chieftains, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Rodgers

I was away most of last week and my inbox runneth over for sure...Enjoy everybody!

THE CHIEFTAINS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS WITH STAR STUDDED 'VOICE OF AGES' DUE FEBRUARY 21, 2012

BON IVER, THE DECEMBERISTS, THE CIVIL WARS AND MORE CELEBRATE THE LEGENDARY IRISH GROUP ON THE PADDY MOLONEY AND T BONE BURNETT PRODUCED 50TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM VIA HEAR/CONCORD


The Chieftains, the world's most celebrated traditional Irish band, will mark their 50th anniversary with the release of Voice of Ages on February 21st 2012 (Hear/Concord). An imaginative collaboration featuring a dazzling collection of like-minded musical visionaries and kindred spirits, Voice of Ages, produced by Paddy Moloney and T Bone Burnett, features The Chieftains teaming with stars from the worlds of indie-rock (Bon Iver, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem), country and Americana (The Civil Wars, Pistol Annies, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Punch Brothers), Irish and Scottish folk (Imelda May, Lisa Hannigan, Paolo Nutini) and more. "With 50 years of glorious music behind us," Paddy Moloney says, "I can think of nothing more exciting than to spend another 50 years collaborating with the best voices of the future."
Founded in 1962, winners of 6 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, The Chieftains: founder and leader Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Matt Molloy (flute), Seán Keane (fiddle) and Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals), have popularized traditional Irish music world-wide during their astonishing 50 year career. Over the years, some of the biggest names in music have worked with the legendary band: Sting, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell,
Joni Mitchell, and The Rolling Stones among many others. Voice of Ages is a bold affirmation that their inspiring influence, musical brilliance and enduring legacy are more relevant than ever.

The Chieftains 2012 US tour will kick off in Santa Barbara, CA February 17 and will culminate with a special 50th Anniversary St. Patrick's Day show at New York's Carnegie Hall March 17. For tour information is available on the group's official Web site.

Artists featured on Voice of Ages:
The Decemberists
Punch Brothers
The Secret Sisters
The Low Anthem
The Civil Wars
Pistol Annies
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Lisa Hannigan
Carlos Nunez
Paolo Nutini
Imelda May
Bon Iver

The Chieftains on the web:
http://www.thechieftains.com/



American Express Presents 'Reel to Reel: Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix At The Isle of Wight' at The GRAMMY Museum

All-Star Panel To Discuss Essential Hendrix Documentary On Dec. 8, 2011


Jimi Hendrix is recognized as one of the most creative and influential musicians of the 20th century. His innovative style and explosive abilities on the electric guitar captivated a worldwide audience. During the early morning hours of August 31, 1970, during his last tour, Hendrix headlined the Isle of Wight Festival and performed before an audience of 600,000--the largest of his career. Three weeks later, Hendrix was gone. Academy Award-winner Murray Lerner captured the historic performance of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, including Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox. Join us as we present Lerner's film, Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle of Wight. The film, a testimony to Hendrix's incomparable musicianship and showmanship as well as Lerner's cinematic artistry, will be introduced by Janie Hendrix, the late guitarist's sister and President of Experience Hendrix LLC. Following the screening there will be a panel discussion moderated by the GRAMMY Museum's Executive Director Bob Santelli with Billy Cox, bassist of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys, filmmaker Murray Lerner and John McDermott, Producer and Catalog Director of the Experience Hendrix catalog and co-author of Jimi Hendrix: Sessions: The Complete Studio Recording Sessions, 1963-1970 and Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of live Concerts & Sessions

WHO: Billy Cox: Bassist, Jimi Hendrix Experience

Janie Hendrix: President, Experience Hendrix LLC and sister to Jimi Hendrix

Murray Lerner: Director, Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix At The Isle of Wight

John McDermott: Producer and Catalog Director, Experience Hendrix Catalogue Bob Santelli: Moderator / Executive Director, The GRAMMY Museum

WHEN: Thursday, December 8, 2011; 7:30 p.m.


WHERE: The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE
800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(Near the corner of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard)


TICKET INFO: Doors open at 7 p.m. Public onsale is Friday, December 2, at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, call 213-765-6803.



PAUL RODGERS RECEIVES ASCAP AWARD FOR "BAD COMPANY"

SINGER/SONGWRITER/MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST BEGINS WORK ON FORTHCOMING SOLO STUDIO ALBUM

The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) has proudly presented the 2010 Songwriting Award in recognition of the hit song "Bad Company" to Paul Rodgers. The song hit #1 on the charts this past year when Five Finger Death Punch recorded and released their version of the timeless hit. When Rodgers wrote the song he was the first to write a self-titled song, where a band's name was also the title of a composition. Other acts to follow Rodgers concept include Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Motorhead. The award was given out in London on November 2, 2011 and was accepted by Rodgers son, musician Steve Rodgers. The iconic Rodgers was in New York City due to a prior commitment to appear with Joe Bonamassa at the Beacon Theater back-to-back nights.


Rodgers will be the featured guest on an upcoming episode of VH1 Classic's That Metal Show, set to air on January 14, 2012 at 11 p.m. This is his first television appearance since appearing on the national program Canada AM the morning of September 6th prior to embarking on his first major Canadian tour in several years. Rodgers also recently became a dual citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom, and will kick off his limited 2012 tour dates March 17 at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam, British Columbia Canada.

The Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter & self-taught instrumentalist has written, recorded, produced and released more than 30 albums since 1968 and has sold over 90 million records. Rodgers formed and led three separate bands to worldwide success: Free, Bad Company & The Firm and recently fronted Queen and toured as Queen + Paul Rodgers. Always looking forward, Rodgers has begun work on a solo studio record earmarked for the new year. He shared, "In 2012, I'll be focused on writing and recording so I'll only play a few select shows, and I may well include a new song or two just to play them in before they are recorded. This is something I like to do because playing live gives me a somewhat different perspective on the dynamics of the song."

Over the years Rodgers has recorded/performed with a who's who of rock including: Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Brian May, Buddy Guy, Joe Walsh, Slash, Nils Lofgren, Charlie Watts, Bryan Adams, Motown's Sam Moore and The Four Tops to name just a select few.