First-generation K-pop boy band Sechs Kies confirmed that its year-end concerts will take place in Daegu and Busan.After holding its first group concert in 16 years in September, the group will be extending its tour “2016 Sechs Kies Concert Yellow Note” next month, the members explained on Naver’s broadcasting app V Live on Saturday.“When the concert came to an end, we all felt that we truly wanted to do it again,” said member Jang Su-won. The five-member act recently unveiled its new hit single

BOSTON (AP) -- The forgotten music of Boston’s early hip-hop and rap scene is being revived by two unlikely heroes: a local college and the public library.Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Boston have been working with the Boston Public Library to compile an online archive of demo tapes by the city’s top hip-hop and rap artists of the 1980s. Opening to the public Saturday, the Massachusetts Hip-Hop Archive was created in part to reclaim the city’s role in the genres’ history.“It’s b

Jane Siberry“Angels Bend Closer” (Sheeba Music)Jane Siberry twists genres and conventions on “Angels Bend Closer,” a haunting, uplifting album befitting her eclectic style.On the Canadian’s first major release in five years, Siberry’s lyrics arrive like emotional gushes barely contained by their musical frames, mostly lavish ballads with a bounty of details.Nearly seven minutes long, “Morag” encapsulates several aspects of the album and Siberry’s intense diversity -- nearly stream-of-consciousne

Sting“57th and 9th” (A&M/Interscope)Sting’s new album, his first in more than a decade, sounds a lot like the old stuff, but that’s not a bad thing.The first single “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You” sounds like the love child of Police classics “Every Breath You Take” and “Can’t Stand Losing You.”There are the achy lyrics of the former, which holds up well but has more of a stalker vibe than it seemed to the first time around. And there’s the driving bass line of the latter, the style of playing

Pink Martini“Je dis oui!”(Heinz Records)Pink Martini brings its progressive commitment to “Je dis oui! (I say yes),” an entertaining global jaunt in eight languages and a whirling variety of styles.With no airs and graces but plenty of splendor, Thomas Lauderdale’s big band/little orchestra explores songs from Armenia to Portugal, a few originals and American standards like “Love for Sale” on its ninth studio album.NPR’s Ari Shapiro helps out on “Ov Sirun Sirun,” said to be most famous folk song

After a two-month hiatus, singer Jung Joon-young may return to KBS2 hit variety program “Two Days, One Night” next month, according to industry insiders on Thursday.However, the artist’s management agency C9 Entertainment denied the claim, telling local media that Jung “and the ‘Two Days, One Night’ team have not yet discussed his return to the show.”The 27-year-old singer-songwriter was mired in an alleged sexual offense scandal in September, when his ex-girlfriend filed charges against him for

STOCKHOLM (AFP) -- Music icon Bob Dylan will not attend the Nobel ceremony in December to accept his literature prize because he has “other commitments,” the Swedish Academy said Wednesday. “The Swedish Academy received a personal letter from Bob Dylan yesterday where he explained that he could not make himself available in December,” it said in a statement. “He wishes that he could accept the award personally, but other commitments make it unfortunately impossible. He underlined that he feels i

Last year, pianist Cho Seong-jin caused a sensation when he became the first Korean to win the International Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 21. Over 90,000 copies of his two live albums were sold in Korea within a month. Classical music experts around the world lauded the “expressive nuance” of Cho’s interpretations. Naturally, Korean parents wondered how he had been educated.“My parents never pressured me. My mom didn’t even expect I would keep playing the piano. My dad told me to quit

K-pop stars behind some of this year’s hit summer tracks are returning with new ballad releases just in time for the cold days ahead. Gearing up to unveil its first EP in over a year is the ballad group SG Wannabe. The trio revealed teaser clips for each of the tracks, including the title single “I am Missing You,” from its upcoming mini album “Our Days” on the group’s official social media channels on Wednesday morning.  Written and produced in part by SG Wannabe members, the five-track album w

Actress-singer Kwon So-hyun is getting a fresh start. 　The 22-year-old, a former member of the now-disbanded K-pop group 4Minute, has signed with 935 Entertainment in a bid to further her acting career, the company announced Tuesday. 　“(Kwon) has shown lots of potential since her early days as a child actress,” 935 Entertainment said in a statement. “We will be supporting her wholeheartedly in her activities as an actress at home and abroad.”　 Others under the agency include veteran actors such