Events

John Mayer wages a shock and awe battle

John Mayer stepped on the Sound Academy stage last night secure in the knowledge that Battle Studies , his first full-fledged studio album since 2006’s Continuum , will be the No.1 when the Billboard charts are updated on Thursday on the strength of over 300,000 copies sold in the U.S. Nick Krewen  Special To The Star, Wed Nov 25 2009 John Mayer stepped on the Sound Academy stage last night…


Fredstocks: The Anti Festival

Alt. country singer/songwriter Fred Eaglesmith has quietly pioneered his own underground festival scene GRAMMY.com Nick Krewen Who needs Deadheads when you have Fredheads? With 16 albums and two DVDs to his credit, Canadian alternative country singer/songwriter Fred Eaglesmith has built a particularly devoted following in North America, Australia and the Netherlands. And while his notoriety and album sales may not rival that of a Bruce Springsteen or a Bob Dylan,…


Farewell Fan Fair

Fan Fair Nick Krewen GRAMMY.COM   Farewell Fan Fair. When it wound down June 8 with a rare reunion of The Judds, the door closed on a 32-year tradition. Upon its return in 2004, the annual Nashville country music festival – which encourages fans to mingle with its stars – will be sporting a different name: the CMA (Country Music Association) Music Festival. More troubling to hardcore country music fans,…


Willie Nelson Fears for Farm Aid Future

Exclusive!!! Nick Krewen September 29, 2008 Even though he’s raised over $14 million to help the plight of the American farmer with his annual Farm Aid concerts, country music legend Willie Nelson fears his efforts may be futile. “I think it’s a losing battle,” says Nelson, who headlines Farm Aid ’98 with co-founders Neil Young and John Mellencamp this Saturday (October 3) at the New World Music Theatre at Tinley…


A Sip of The Refreshments

  NICK KREWEN Hamilton Spectator August 22, 1996   You’ve gotta admire a band that can rhyme the word “guard” with the name Captain Jean-Luc Picard,  whom Trekkers know as the captain of the most powerful Starship in the United Federation Of Planets, the Enterprise. And you’ve gotta admire a band who tried to contact Patrick Stewart, the classy actor who immortalized the role of Picard in the classic cult…