Pure Imagination Fest announces 2024 Lineup feat. Flaming Lips, The Pharcyde, Sylvan Esso, Tanya Tucker and more

The stellar and wide-ranging lineup for the 2024 Pure Imagination Festival coming to beautiful Watson Lake in historic Prescott, AZ on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, 2024 has just been announced. Below is the official poster and media release! (read my coverage of last year's great event HERE)...Robert Kinsler

Pure Imagination Festival will be returning to the awe inspiring granite dells of Watson Lake in historic Prescott, AZ this year. The female-led and curated, all-ages destination festival will return to the site for its third edition, set to take place May 17 & 18, 2024.

This year's festival boasts an impressive bill, headlined by pre-eminent psychonauts The Flaming Lips, who are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their tour for Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, as well as critically acclaimed indie dance-pop duo Sylvan Esso, revered country artist Tanya Tucker, two-time Grammy Award winner, and hip-hop legends, The Pharcyde. Additionally, the lineup includes Danielle Ponder, The National Parks, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, The Irie and more. Friday’s kickoff concert lineup will feature singer-songwriter, musician, poet and outspoken activist Michael Franti & Spearhead, as well as Ponderosa Grove.

Ponderosa Grove performing at the Pure Imagination Music Festival in May 2023.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser

The festival has been the work of Candace Devine, frontwoman of Ponderosa Grove and CEO of Further West, the company that produces Pure Imagination Festival. Devine started the festival out as part of a desire to see Prescott rise as an epicenter for arts, culture and music in the Southwest. The town itself is surrounded by the Prescott National Forest which offers 1.25 million acres of natural, rugged beauty and is a top destination for mountain biking, hiking and bouldering. 

“I am so excited for this year's festival! Pure Imagination has truly become a movement of wonder and joy in our community and it feels more important than ever. In this time when the world feels a little off course, nothing brings a warmer feeling to my heart than knowing we are just a few months away from experiencing true human connection to each other, our beautiful landscape, and a greater communal kindness that comes through all of us from live music,” said Devine.

She continues, “I can't wait to see this year's lineup on our stages along with the addition of the Friday night kick-off concert. What's better than the most magical festival experience? More of it! I am so looking forward to seeing faces that I have seen the last couple years return, and seeing the many new faces that have heard about us and are joining in to add to the magic. It's our festival family that really makes Pure Imagination as special as it is.”

Visit the official Pure Imagination Festival website HERE.

Five-time GRAMMY winner Chris Lord-Alge to present at TEC Tracks session at NAMM on Thursday, Jan. 25

The NAMM Show arrives in Anaheim, CA this week. I hope to see many of you there...Robert Kinsler

Chris Lord-Alge

Five-time GRAMMY® winner Chris Lord-Alge to present at TEC Tracks session at NAMM on Thursday, Jan. 25

 

Anaheim, CA, January 23, 2024 — Chris Lord-Alge, five-time GRAMMY®-winning producer, engineer, and mixer, will be presenting a TEC Tracks Session at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, Thursday, January 25, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m. PST. Titled “Chris Lord-Alge on commanding your career: wisdom from five-time GRAMMY® award-winning mix engineer on succeeding as a producer/engineer,” the session will take place in Room 204B at the Anaheim Convention Center.

In the dynamic and competitive world of music production and engineering, the ability to command your career is essential for success. At this TEC Tracks Session, Chris Lord-Alge (whose credits include Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, Muse, Pink, Dolly Parton and dozens more) will share invaluable words of wisdom on navigating the industry and building a thriving career. This session is a comprehensive guide on how to command your career based on his insights.

Topics will include:
• Getting clients and networking: building a strong network within the industry.
• Communication/professionalism with clients.
• Creating your rules/define boundaries.
• Collecting money: How to establish systems and guidelines that are clear.
• Scheduling: Including time management and setting realistic timelines for projects.
• Artist relations: Dealing with the artist, including understanding their vision and creative.
• Manager relations: How to deal with the manager.
• Social media: Strategic presence, community engagement.
• Transfer of mixes: When, where, to whom and how.

About Chris Lord-Alge
Chris Lord-Alge, a five-time GRAMMY®-winning producer, engineer, and mixer, has left an indelible mark on the music industry through his illustrious career. A recent recipient of a CMA award for Single of the Year with Keith Urban, Chris’s influence extends far beyond borders. His production and engineering prowess have contributed to projects garnering over 15 ARIA Awards in Australia and numerous Juno Awards in Canada.

Notably, Chris clinched an Emmy® Award while collaborating with Cher and worked alongside Phil Collins on an Oscar®-winning song for the Disney movie Tarzan. His multifaceted career, spanning decades, encompasses a diverse array of musical genres. From iconic collaborations with Sugar Hill Gang to contemporary artists like Shinedown, and from legends like Bon Jovi to crooners like Michael Bublé, Chris has navigated the music landscape with unparalleled versatility. His portfolio extends from working with James Brown to Green Day, Krewella to Keith Urban, Tina Turner to Tim McGraw.

Chris Lord-Alge's impact transcends the studio. His CLA brand has produced best-selling audio products and plugins, solidifying his influence in the tech side of the industry. Additionally, his role as an educator through seminars with Mix With The Masters, NAMM and other platforms has made him a globally sought-after brand. His unwavering commitment to music and the audio community is not just a career; it is his life.

The Beatles' 1962-1966 ("Red" album) and 1967-1970 ("Blue" album) discussion

Watch their latest video where TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss their thoughts on the 2023 reissue editions of The Beatles' 1962-1966 (The Red Album) and 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) two months after their release. 

Watch the video HERE.

CRAWLERS share new single 'Kills Me To Be Kind’

Check out the infectious new track "Kills Me To Be Kind" from rising Liverpool-spawned rockers CRAWLERS (I also love the band's 2023 advance cut "Call It Love") and get details on the quartet's forthcoming album due on Feb. 16, 2024...Robert Kinsler

CRAWLERS / Photographer: Megan Doherty

 

CRAWLERS SHARE NEW SINGLE

‘KILLS ME TO BE KIND’ 

 

TAKEN FROM EAGERLY AWAITED DEBUT ALBUM

 ‘THE MESS WE SEEM TO MAKE’

SET FOR RELEASE ON FEBRUARY 16

 

LISTEN HERE

 

 

Today, January 19^th, CRAWLERS share their new single “Kills Me To Be Kind” via Interscope Records. The single comes as the Liverpool alt-rock four-piece ready themselves for the release of their hotly anticipated debut album The Mess We Seem To Make on February 16th.

 

“Kills Me To Be Kind” takes the band into a world of anthemic rock, worthy of stadium crowds and explosive chants, yet holds a sentiment close to the hearts of those in young diminishing relationships. Pre-order The Mess We Seem To Make HERE

 

‘“Kills Me To Be Kind" is a song for all the people pleasers. The ones ready to settle in a relationship where they felt diminished of their true self and finally breaking out of that moment,’ elaborates lead singer Holly Minto of the track.

 

It follows a string of electrifying releases from CRAWLERS including debut album cuts “Call It Love” and “Would You Come To My Funeral,” which launched as a Radio 1 ‘Hottest Record in the World’ in September, and cements their reputation as one of the most exhilarating bands to come out of Liverpool in recent years.

 

Speaking about The Mess We Seem To Make, singer Holly Minto says, “This album debut comes from us honing our craft, being vulnerable with each other, finding our sound and saying exactly what we wanted to. I think that's a lot of what the Crawlers sound is, being honest with each other about how to get the correct emotions out - trying, failing, and pushing each other to keep playing and writing to the limits.”

 

True to their word The Mess You Seem To Make takes on a whole range of challenging topics; trauma, sexual politics, mental health, the general goings on in a young person’s life. Across the record, feelings of loneliness, insecurity and toxic forms of dependence are held up to the light and examined in close context.

 

It digs deeper into what fans already know and love about Crawlers’ eclectic alt-rock sound and builds on the relationship of trust they have with producer Pete Robertson and engineer Tom Roach at Liverpool’s Coastal Studios, crafting anthemic rock songs where each member's playing personality can truly thrive. Rather than forcing themselves in any one sonic direction, they maintained the free-wheeling spirit of 2022’s mixtape Loud Without Noise, producing a striking debut which cements their status as the UK’s next big crossover alternative act.

 

The Mess We Seem To Make features 12 tracks and will be available on various formats including Deluxe CD, white vinyl, blue splatter vinyl and silver glitter cassette.

ABOUT CRAWLERS

To become a great rock band, you often need to begin with a certain alchemy. There needs to be talent, determination, a solid friendship which can withstand the rigors of creative difference or public critique. But you also need a sizable dose of ambition, the kind of unapologetic belief that your voice is one which needs to be heard. Such was already the case for Crawlers way back in 2018, where Amy Woodall, Liv May and Holly Minto were at school together in Liverpool. Having formed in 2018, the band spent their first few formative years gigging around the Liverpool scene. Amy, Holly and Liv were already polishing their grunge-rock sound when they recruited drummer Harry Breen. Newly solidified as a four, their formidable live reputation has already encouraged the kind of organic fanbase that will help them become the UK’s next big crossover alternative act.  Over the years, each new release has sealed CRAWLERS reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting young bands, with last years’ debut mixtape “Loud Without Noise” cementing their global status through helping them to achieve a huge 80+million streams to date.

 

CRAWLERS are Holly Minto (she/they), Amy Woodall (she/her), Liv May (she/they) and Harry Breen (he/him).

 

Connect with CRAWLERS

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Mercury Studios to release The Who 'Live at Shea Stadium 1982' on 2CD and 3LP on March 1

Check out this exciting news on the release of a truly classic Who performance coming to both audio CD and vinyl on March 1...Robert Kinsler

Mercury Studios Is Proud To Release

THE WHO

LIVE AT SHEA STADIUM 1982

FIRST EVER AUDIO RELEASE OF THE FULL SHOW

~2CD AND 3 LP~

~March 1, 2024~

CLICK HERE TO VIEW “Love Reign O’er Me”

New York, NY (January 18, 2024) — Mercury Studios will release the first official audio companion of Live At Shea Stadium 1982 on March 1, 2024. Previously released on DVD and Blu-ray in June 2015, The Who (Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Kenney Jones) delivered both classic tracks and rarely performed songs: “Pinball Wizard,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “My Generation,” “Substitute,” “Who Are You,” “I Can’t Explain,” “See Me Feel Me,” “Baba O’Riley,” and many more. The tour promoted the 1982 album It’s Hard and the set list was comprised of several tracks from that album, some of which the band would only play live on this tour.

The Who’s 1982 North American tour was their last to feature Kenney Jones on drums and the band did not tour again until 1989. This recording features the show from the second of their two nights at New York’s Shea Stadium and was recorded on October 13th 1982.

TRACK LISTING

3LP:
A1. Substitute

A2. I Can’t Explain

A3. Dangerous

A4. Sister Disco

A5. The Quiet One

B1. It’s Hard

B2. Eminence Front

B3. Behind Blue Eyes

B4. Baba O’Riley

C1. I’m One

C2. The Punk And The Godfather

C3. Drowned

C4. Tattoo

D1. Cry If You Want

D2. Who Are You

D3. Pinball Wizard

D4. See Me Feel Me

E1. Love Reign O’er Me

E2. Long Live Rock

E3. Won’t Get Fooled Again

F1. Young Man Blues

F2. Naked Eye

F3. I Saw Her Standing There

F4. Summertime Blues

F5. Twist And Shout

2CD:
(CD1)
1. Substitute

2. I Can’t Explain

3. Dangerous

4. Sister Disco

5. The Quiet One

6. It’s Hard

7. Eminence Front

8. Behind Blue Eyes

9. Baba O’Riley

10. I’m One

11. The Punk And The Godfather

12. Drowned

13. Tattoo

14. Cry If You Want

(CD2)
1. Who Are You

2. Pinball Wizard

3. See Me Feel Me

4. Love Reign O’er Me

5. Long Live Rock

6. Won’t Get Fooled Again

7. Young Man Blues

8. Naked Eye

9. I Saw Her Standing There

10. Summertime Blues

11. Twist And Shout

https://store.mercurystudios.co/

ABOUT MERCURY STUDIOS

Mercury Studios is a full-service production studio.

Current and recent projects include Telluride Film Festival selections American Symphony, a feature documentary by award-winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman that follows Jon Batiste and If These Walls Could Sing, the untold story of the world-famous Abbey Road Studios directed by celebrated British photographer and filmmaker Mary McCartney for Disney+; “My Life as a Rolling Stone,” a four-part docuseries of intimate portraits of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts for the BBC and MGM+; Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl, a career documentary about the superstar currently available on Netflix; Mixtape, the critically acclaimed feature documentary from Omar Acosta focused on the DJs and artists who shaped the sound and culture of Hip-Hop through mixtapes for Paramount+; and the forthcoming “This Town,” a six-part series for the BBC from writer, creator, and executive producer Steven Knight. Mercury Studios also produced “Sam Smith Live at the Royal Albert Hall” (BBC/Tik Tok) and Billie Eilish’s livestream event, “Overheated,” at The 02 London and the upcoming “Lang Lang Plays Disney” for Disney+.

Editorially independent, Mercury Studios is powered by Universal Music Group and represents the world’s leading catalogue of music-related content, consisting of thousands of hours of premium music-driven film and television programming.

Coachella 2024 Lineup Is Here!

The lineup for Coachella 2024 has just been announced! A wide-ranging and strong lineup is bound for Indio, CA this April...Robert Kinsler

COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2024 LINEUP  REGISTER NOW FOR ACCESS TO PASSES AT COACHELLA.COM  PRESALE BEGINS FRIDAY, JANUARY 19 AT 11AM

Los Angeles, CA (January 16, 2024) – Coachella returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA for two weekends set for April 12 – 14 and April 19 – 21, 2024. Register now for access to passes at coachella.com. Presale begins Friday, January 19 at 11am PT. For your best chance at passes, look to Weekend 2. This is a presale and does not guarantee pass type, packages or camping.  YouTube returns in 2024 as the exclusive livestream partner for both Coachella weekends on our official YouTube channel; delivering iconic performances, exciting behind-the-scenes content, and so much more to millions of fans around the world.  Watch Coachella On YouTube all year-round. Expect more videos from Weekend 1, Weekend 2 and beyond for more chances to relive the memories and discover new curated content in the months we’re not together in the desert. Introducing “Ascending | A 2023 Coachella Documentary”, a short-film created by Zoe Malhotra and Meghna Chakraborty that spotlights six artists of South Asian descent that performed at Coachella 2023. Highlighting the globalization of South Asian musical influence, the film documents performances by Ali Sethi, Charli XCX, Diljit Dosanjh, Jai Paul, Jai Wolf and Joy Crookes. Watch here.     Official Hotel Packages that bundle festival passes with local lodging and transportation are available for Weekend 1 and Weekend 2, sold exclusively through Valley Music Travel.  For more festival information and updates, please visit www.coachella.com.  ###  ABOUT GOLDENVOICE  Goldenvoice, creators of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival, operates successful Los Angeles and Bay Area music venues including the Fonda Theatre, The Roxy Theatre, El Rey Theatre, The Novo, Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, The Regency Ballroom and The Warfield. Goldenvoice holds exclusive booking deals at Brookside at The Rose Bowl, Santa Barbara Bowl, Mountain Winery and Frost Amphitheatre. They also have produced events such as Desert Trip, Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, Cruel World, Just Like Heaven, Power Trip and many more. Beginning as an independent punk rock promoter in the early 1980s, Goldenvoice grew to be the preeminent alternative promoter in Southern California by forging strong relationships with both bands and music fans. Currently, Goldenvoice promotes over 2,000 concerts a year in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska and Canada plus recently adding North American tours to their growing list of accomplishments. For additional info, please visit www.Goldenvoice.com.

Tower of Power singer Lenny Williams’ 'Chill' out on Feb. 23 via Omnivore Recordings; on CD for 1st time in 30 years

Check out a new media release for details on a reissue of famed singer Lenny Williams' Chill coming next month...Robert Kinsler

Tower of Power Singer Lenny Williams’ Chill To Be Released On February 23 via Omnivore Recordings

Available on CD For The First Time in 30 Years

January 16, 2024: On February 23, Omnivore Recordings will release the reissue of Lenny Williams’ Chill, the 1994 release from the lead singer of Tower Of Power and lead vocalist on Kenny G’s “Don’t Make Me Wait For Love,” from the 5X Platinum album Duotones. Remastered with updated artwork featuring liner notes from Kevin L. Goins, the album will be available on CD for the first time in over 30 years. Chill will also mark the first release through a new agreement between Omnivore and SoulMusic Records, with this album, in association with Platinum Garage Recordings.

 

Vocalist Lenny Williams joined Tower Of Power in 1972 after releasing singles as a solo artist on Fantasy, Galaxy, and Atco Records. His first release with the band was their self-titled, third album, which went Gold. After two albums with the group, Williams returned to his solo career—releasing albums through the end of the 1970s on Warner Bros., Motown, ABC and MCA Records. Material from those albums became a hotbed for sampling decades later by Kanye West, Mobb Deep, Scarface, Young Jeezy, and others.

 

In 1986, Williams was recruited by award-winning producer Preston Glass to sing lead vocals on a track by jazz artist Kenny G. The track, “Don’t Make Me Wait For Love,” hit #15 on the Pop charts, and the album, Duotones, went on to sell over five million copies in the US. Lenny would reconnect with Duotones producer Glass (Stacy Lattisaw & Johnny Gill, Jermaine Stewart, George Benson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stanley Jordan) in 1994 for a new album—Chill.

 

The album contains originals from Williams, Glass, and other Duotones contributors, as well as covers of hits by Daryl Hall & John Oates (“Sara Smile”) and McFadden & Whitehead (“Ain’t No Stoppin' Us Now”).

 

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/rsA9k0Ayr4M

 

Pre-order: https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/chill/

Chill Tracklist:

1. Chill

2. Baby, You Caught My Eye

3. Sara Smile

4. Driftin’

5. Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now

6. It Could Have Been You

7. Has Anybody Seen My Heart

8. Baby Take It Off

9. No One’s Ever Loved Me

10. Sentimental

11. I Do

12. There’s No Hiding Place