CHICAGO (AP) ― Fans of the Grateful Dead want a campout-style atmosphere during three 50th anniversary concerts in July at Chicago’s Soldier Field, but whether the venue will allow it is another question.Jeremy Davis, of Florida, started an online petition ― which had about 8,000 signatures by Saturday ― asking that overnight parking be allowed in lots surrounding the stadium along Lake Michigan.Davis said it would keep the anticipated tens of thousands of fans from crowding downtown streets and

Foo Fighters’ ‘Sonic Highways’ is a worthwhile tripFoo Fighters“Sonic Highways”RCA RecordsTwenty years into their career as one of the leading rock bands in the world, Foo Fighters continue to find ways to challenge both themselves and their listeners.On “Sonic Highways,” a companion to the similarly named HBO television series, the Dave Grohl-fronted band, with assistance from producer Butch Vig, tasked itself with touching down in eight U.S. cities, exploring each town’s music history, and the

NEW YORK (AP) ― Jazz greats Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock share much in common, but the last time they toured together was 37 years ago, when Jimmy Carter was in the White House and Sony had just introduced the Walkman. The performers announced a world tour of duo piano concerts on Thursday. It kicks off March 14 in Seattle. “Chick and I have always had an open door toward the possibility of touring again,” Hancock said in an email. “We both felt that enough time has passed since our last major

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Finnish conductor with an enthusiasm for modern, U.S.-inspired works, was Wednesday named composer-in-residence at the New York Philharmonic.The New York Philharmonic announced the appointment as it unveiled its 2015-16 season, which will also include prominent roles for the American bass-baritone Eric Owens and the Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov.Salonen, who will write a new piece for the philharmonic, was named composer-in-residence for the next three s

EXO. (SM Entertainment)March will see a battle of K-pop titans, as EXO and Big Bang are both preparing to make their return. The 10-member group EXO plans to drop a new album in March, after dominating year-end music awards with its third EP, “Overdose.” The exact date of its album release is not yet fixed, but the boys did schedule the date of their stage return ― the “EXO PLANET #2 ― The EXO’luXion” concert series, to be held on March 7, 8, 14 and 15 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in eastern

American singer-songwriter Bobby Mcferrin, best known for his 1988 hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” will be making his way to Seoul to perform two back-to-back concerts in March. The 10-time Grammy Award winner is best known for his signature style of overtone singing and jazzy, scat-like vocals. McFerrin’s most iconic hit, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” became the first a cappella song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went on to snag three Grammy wins for Song of the Year, Record of the

Jung Yong-hwa. (FNC Entertainment)Jung Yong-hwa, a member of K-pop group CNBLUE, said Monday that he had gone through difficult times and wanted to quit music. “People do not know this, but I have been through rough times in the past few years. There were times when I wanted to quit everything,” the 25-year-old singer-actor revealed, without giving more details. The remarks came during a showcase in Seoul on Monday to unveil his first solo album “One Fine Day,” a day before its official release

4Minute. (Cube Entertainment)K-pop girl group 4Minute will stage a return in February. The group announced it through its official Facebook account Tuesday, posting a link to a 3-D motion graphic clip on YouTube. Titled “4Minute ― REVAMPED,” the clip depicts a purple orb surfacing from underwater, heralding the group’s return to the local music scene. As the orb levitates, the overlying music transitions from mystical to dramatic. The suspense escalates until the orb explodes, revealing the numb

Kim Jang-hoonINCHEON (Yonhap) ― Pop singer Kim Jang-hoon has recently been investigated for smoking aboard a home-bound plane from France, prosecutors said Tuesday.Kim was accused of smoking a cigarette on Thursday in a toilet of a Korean Air flight bound for Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s main gateway, after leaving France’s Charles de Gaulle Airport.On Monday, the 50-year-old singer, who is well-known for his donations to charity groups and other good deeds, was summarily indicte

Music director puts his position on line for more financial support to Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

Agencies race to drop new idol groups in ever-intensifying competition

Hyundai Card’s ongoing Culture Project series kicked off the year with 5 Nights, Seoul’s first large-scale concert event of the year.A weeklong festival of live music, the company’s latest culture project promised rock-lovers five nights of performances. Originally scheduled to perform were Avenged Sevenfold, followed by Bastille, Starsailor, Rudimental and 22-year-old Icelandic folk singer-songwriter Asgeir, who wrapped up the festival with his solo show on Saturday.However, the “five nights” s

D’Angelo’s ‘Black Messiah’ plays to message of rising upD’Angelo and The Vanguard“Black Messiah”(RCA Records)The phrase “long-awaited album” gets tossed around quite a bit. But “Black Messiah,” D’Angelo’s follow-up to 2000’s “Voodoo,” comes after a 14-year wait.And the album arrives as demonstrators across the nation demand change after the recent slayings of unarmed black men by police in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York.The album title is about people rising up, D’Angelo said, and his songs --

TaeyangTaeyang, a member of boy band Big Bang, won the grand prize at the 29th Golden Disc Awards in Beijing on Wednesday.He snagged the Digital Single of the Year, regarded as the top honor of the day, with his mega-hit solo track “Eyes, Nose, Lips.” K-pop boy band BEAST was another winner of the day, capturing three honors ― Main Award, Popularity Award and the Best Male Performance Award. Another Popularity Award went to long-standing girl group Girls’ Generation. The Main Award for the 10 di