Angélique Kidjo is a Beninese French singer-songwriter, actress, and activist with such a long and influential career that she is now considered “The Queen of African Music.” Kidjo is a true force of nature. Angélique Kidjo, with the Color of Noize Orchestra conducted by Derrick Hodge, celebrates 40 years of music and JOY; on the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in Midtown, Manhattan; on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 8pm. Kidjo is a multi-Grammy winning, Beninese singer, UNICEF and OXFAM goodwill Ambassador who launched her music career in France. She is an African woman of the world who speaks fluent Fon, Yoruba, Gen, French, and English.

It has somehow been 20 years since U2 released How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb— the one with “Vertigo” — and the band is rolling out a “shadow album” of ten outtakes from it, dubbed How to Reassemble an Atomic Bomb, on Nov. 22. The band already dropped one of the songs, the chiming mid-tempo anthem “Country Mile” and now they’ve released a second track, “Happiness,” which is a bigger sonic surprise. In the wake of mixed reactions to their underrated 1997 album Pop, which incorporated some electronic dance beats into their sound, U2 shied away from their funkier instincts for a while. But “For this anniversary edition I went into my personal archive to see if there were any unreleased gems and I hit the jackpot,” the Edge recently wrote. “We chose ten that really spoke to us."

At the Baryshnikov Arts Center, an adaptation of Smith’s poem-memoir “Woolgathering” features Smith reciting, others dancing and a surprise guest. “Woolgathering” is a slim collection of prose poems that Patti Smith, the singer-songwriter and punk pioneer, published in 1992. It’s mostly a memoir of childhood — of a poet’s childhood, or of the way that all children have a poet’s imagination. “The mind of a child,” she writes, “is like a kiss on the forehead — open and disinterested.” It is “mystified by the commonplace” and “moves effortlessly into the strange,” glimpsing and gleaning, “piecing together a crazy quilt of truths.”

Kris Kristofferson passed away late last month, and fans are still mourning the loss of the beloved musician and actor. [..] Several of Kristofferson’s titles, including albums and songs, find their way to various Billboard charts this week. The singer-songwriter appears on at least three different tallies, and he rises higher than ever on one of them. Kristofferson’s single “Why Me” returns to the Christian Digital Song Sales chart this frame. The tune blasts in at No. 1, reaching the summit for the first time.

American country musician Kris Kristofferson was a military veteran and anti-war activist. He continued his advocacy against the Gulf Wars and benefit concerts for Palestinian children despite the negative impacts that both had on his career. Kristofferson died on September 28 at his home in Hawaii, aged 88.

Grammy-winning jazz artist esperanza spalding says she gets chills when she thinks about the first time she heard the voice of Milton Nascimento, played over the stereo at a dinner party. She was a student at Berklee College of Music, and Nascimento, a Brazilian singer-songwriter many decades her senior, became an inspiration to her. The two eventually became friends, performing with each other on one of spalding’s albums, on stage and at Nascimento’s home in Brazil. [...] In today's session, you'll hear spalding and Nascimento perform songs from that album in an exclusive mini-concert recorded live in Brazil for World Cafe.

“Just For One Day” draws on a fictionalized version of the story behind Live Aid, a cultural moment that unfolded on July 13, 1985, when Madonna, Queen, Elton John and other major acts performed to help raise funds and fight famine in Ethiopia. [...] Bob Geldof doesn’t think Live Aid — or a global benefit concert of its size — could have the same impact today that it once did, but he hopes a new musical attached to his name might inspire younger people to take his lead in making a difference.

The music world, including U2's Bono, was shaken when Kris Kristofferson died on September 28, 2024. Many have paid tribute to the late singer. Bono took to U2's Instagram to post an A cappella cover of his song “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”

Rosanne Cash remembered the late Kris Kristofferson as “a piece of my heart and family history” in a moving tribute shared on Instagram. [...] In her tribute, Rosanne said she expected that Kristofferson would “leave the planet fairly soon,” but said that “doesn’t change the magnitude of the loss.” She continued: “And yet we will always have him — his enormous legacy, his resonant spirit, the lasting power of his authenticity, his staggering gifts as a poet — in word, on screen, in his being.”

Kris Kristofferson, the singer and songwriter whose literary yet plain-spoken compositions infused country music with rarely heard candor and depth, and who later had a successful second career in movies, died on Saturday at his home on Maui, Hawaii. He was 88. [...] Steeped in a neo-Romantic sensibility that owed as much to John Keats as to the Beat Generation and Bob Dylan, Mr. Kristofferson’s work explored themes of freedom and commitment, alienation and desire, darkness and light. [...] Over four decades Mr. Kristofferson acted in more than 50 movies, including the 1980 box-office failure “Heaven’s Gate” and John Sayles’s Oscar-nominated 1996 neo-western “Lone Star.” Singer-songwriters may not be the likeliest of movie stars, but Mr. Kristofferson consistently revealed an onscreen magnetism and command that made him an exception to the rule.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Kris Kristofferson, an esteemed supporter of Toast to Freedom. Without him, our song would have never been the same. Thank you, Kris, rest in peace

Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy award-winning music and the infectious energy of its mesmerising choreography and breath taking performances has left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as a global cultural sensation. To celebrate this incredible 30th year milestone, Riverdance will embark on a special anniversary tour, bringing its magic to audiences around the world. This spectacular production rejuvenates the much-loved original show with new innovative choreography, costumes and state of the art lighting, projection and motion graphics. And for the first time Riverdance welcomes “The New Generation” of performers, all of whom were not born when show began 30 years ago.

Tourists have flocked to Woodstock, New York since the late 1960s, when word got out that rock stars and other musicians had moved there, and the town lent its name to the biggest event in rock music history, 1969’s Woodstock Music & Art Fair. Musician Amy Helm was born a year later in Woodstock and has seen the town’s popularity grow. [...] “Woodstock is a beautiful small town with a strong community of supportive and kind people,” says Helm, who just released a new album Silver City, her fourth solo album.

Deemed a prodigy as a teenager by contemporary jazz connoisseurs, Spalding in 2011 became the first jazz artist to win best new artist at the Grammys (over fellow nominees Drake and Justin Bieber), and the youngest faculty member ever at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Now 39, she's one of the most heralded jazz artists of her generation, an inspired booking for the Marcus Performing Arts Center's first jazz series concert of the season at Uihlein Hall. Establishing a contemplative environment with an introductory pause, Spalding and company extended the mood through the music, her radiant voice striking a solitary, soaring note — albeit just above a whisper — for a full 12 seconds at the start of set opener "Formwela 1." She subtly strummed her stand-up bass, and Doob gently slid a drumstick against the rim of a cymbal, as Spalding's repetitive elongated vocal notes formed into words, imploring us to "sink into the ground," her poetic phrasing painting a picture of air that had become "miraculously clear," of a calm rising from the "belly of your sway."

The Hejira world music radio show aired Jeff Spitzer-Resnick’s interview of 5 time Grammy award winner esperanza spalding the morning before her show at the Wisconsin Union Theater. he Hejira world music radio show aired Jeff Spitzer-Resnick’s interview of 5 time Grammy award winner esperanza spalding the morning before her show at the Wisconsin Union Theater. [She speaks about her new collaboration with Milton Nascimiento] "I picked songs of his that I love to pieces and haunt me and the ones that I thought hadn’t been overdone, you know, because some of like, you’d really have to have a reason to do Travessia. At this point, it’s been done so many times, so many beautiful ways. Then songs of mine that I thought would be a good counterpoint or a compliment, you know, to the songs of his that to me were really the pillars of the album."

On Monday, October 7, 2024, an exceptional concert will take place in the sumptuous setting of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The artist Angélique Kidjo will give a unique and exclusive performance to mark the 40th anniversary of her career and the opening weekend of the "Révélation! Contemporary Art from Benin" exhibition. For the occasion, Angélique Kidjo will be accompanied by pianist Thierry Vaton.

Gentle dub reggae plays through speakers by the North Transept inside St Paul’s Cathedral, while ushers show people to their seats. Hosted by nightclub Fabric, this is an unusual collaboration for a 350-year-old place of worship better known for grand royal weddings, funerals and classical concerts. The seating area is packed to its 2000 capacity, as club kids mingle with a rock crowd, and there’s a palpable sense of anticipation. [...] Starting with spoken word lines from the poem Cry Humanity: “Blessed are the children who will rebuild our world”, Patti Smith moves into the tribal, hypnotic chant of Easter’s Ghost Dance. [...] Subtle, careful arrangements – like Shanahan’s plangent notes on the grand piano – become huge and resonant as they float to the cathedral walls.

Ewan McGregor received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 12, as fans, close friends, and family came out in huge numbers to honor his achievements [...and] was joined by Hayden Christensen for his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony

Four-time GRAMMY®-winning singer/ songwriter Rosanne Cash will be the recipient of the sixth annual Crossroads of American Music Award at GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi’s 2024 Gala, which will take place at the Museum in Cleveland, on October 3, at 6 p.m. [...] “As one of the most profound singer/songwriters of her generation, and a bestselling author, Rosanne Cash has had an immeasurable impact on the history of American music,” says Emily Havens, Executive Director of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. “With her incredible voice and deeply personal songs, Cash has built an indelible career making commercially successful music across genres. We can’t wait to honor her incredible achievements with the sixth annual Crossroads of American Music Award at this year’s Gala.”

The new recording of Amy Helm, "Silver City" features her original material, more than her previous three recordings. It hits the stands on Sept. 6. [...] Head north to perform a headline set at the Black Swamp Arts Festival. Helm will perform Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. on the Main Stage. “I travel so much for work and the stories in the songs are very much about my experience at different times in my life that are always defined by the place I was,” Helm said. “There is a lot of motion." [...] Helm is excited to be bringing that joy to the Black Swamp Arts Festival. She said she’s heard “wonderful things” about the festival and she’s happy to have been invited to perform. “It sounds like a cool community building event. I’m excited to be there I love playing music for people. It’s happiest I am.”

Amy Helm is the immensely talented daughter of Levon Helm, drummer and co-lead singer for The Band. With that kind of background and a life infused with music, including years of playing and touring with Levon Helm, she has developed some serious chops. That talent is displayed front and center on Amy Helm’s upcoming album, Silver City, which is being released on September 6, 2024. Americana Highways had the opportunity to get a pre-release of the album. Silver City is Amy Helm’s fourth studio album. Intensely personal, each of the songs represent individual stories and glimpses into Helm’s life and experiences including her roles as artist, mother, wife, and woman, while also drawing inspiration from the strength and struggles of women generally.

Milton + Esperanza is a profound, exceptional collaboration between Brazilian music legend Milton Nascimento and Grammy-winning bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding. Recorded in Brazil throughout 2023, this 16-track album intertwines Nascimento’s classic Afro-Brazilian roots sound with Spalding’s contemporary jazz vibes, reflecting their shared musical bond. Produced and arranged by Spalding, the album masterfully revisits Nascimento’s well-known songs, introduces brilliant new compositions inspired by his work, and includes engaging reinterpretations of popular hits such as The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” and Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” These versions are not simply covers, but rather thoughtful reinterpretations that honor the originals while adding Spalding’s inventive perspective.

Christine and the Queens delivered an electrifying take on an Edith Piaf classic during the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in Paris on Thursday. [...] As the sun set at the Place de la Concorde, Chris arrived in a red car (naturally) and walked the tops of pianos before launching into an updated-and-nearly-unrecognizable rendition of Édith Piaf’s “Non, je ne regrette rien”.