Omar Apollo to Perform at This Year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival

Omar Apollo is reaching his (Austin City) Limits

The 24-year-old Mexican American bilingual singer/songwriter will perform at this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Omar ApolloApollo, a two-time Latin Grammy nominee, will perform on both weekends of the festival, which take places over the course of two weekends at the city’s downtown Zilker Park, with bands playing across nine stages on October 7-9 and October 14-16.

But Apollo isn’t the only Latinx artist set to perform…

BIA, born Bianca Miquela Landrau, will also form part of the eclectic lineup at this year’s fest. The 30-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer rose to acclaim with the hit single “Whole Lotta Money.”

Other Latinx performers include The Marias, Sabrina Claudio and Lido Pimienta.

ParamoreLil Nas XP!nkRed Hot Chili PeppersThe ChicksSZAKacey Musgraves and Flume the event.

Three-day Tickets are currently on sale here, with layaway plans starting at $25 down and 3-day general admission tickets for both weekends on sale here.

The lineup for the Austin Kiddie Limits will be announced soon, with music fans ages 8 and under admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Camila Alves to Host “We’re Texas” Fundraiser with Husband Matthew McConaughey

Camila Alves is helping her fellow Texans with a little help from their musical friends…

The 39-year-old Brazilian-born model and designer, who resides in the Lone Star State, and her actor-husband and Native Texan Matthew McConaughey, have roped in a slew of stars for the power couple’s “We’re Texas” fundraiser on Sunday, March 21 for Texans impacted by devastating winter Storm Uri.

Camila Alves & Matthew McConaughey

The storm, which left thousands of Texans without heat, water and electricity, will be hosted by Alves and McConaughey, with performances by Post Malone, Kelly Clarkson and Kacey Musgraves.

The event will also feature performances from native Texans Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert and George Strait, as well as Gary Clark Jr., Khalid, Don Henley, Kirk Franklin, Leon Bridges, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Charlie Sexton, Clint Black, Los Lonely Boys, Parker McCollum and Randy Rogers.

The show will kick off at 7:00 pm CT on McConaughey’s YouTube channel, with 100% of funds raised going to the Just Keep Livin’ Texas Relief Fund.

Earlier this week McConaughey made news when he teased a potential run for Texas governor. The state’s next gubernatorial election is in 2022 and in an interview with The Today Show the 51-year-old Uvalde native said, “Am I considering that? Sure, it’s a great thing and an honorable thing to be able to consider. What I’ve gotta choose for myself is, I want to get into a leadership role in the next chapter of my life. Now, what role am I gonna be most useful in? I don’t know that that’s in a political position, or if that’s me as a free agent. It might be me as a free agent. So that’s something I’m personally working on is what is my position of most use in a leadership role.”

https://twitter.com/iamcamilaalves/status/1371944048164937730

The massive winter storm that killed more than 70 people in the U.S. while leaving more than 4.5 million Texans in the dark due to a massive power grid failure is predicted to have a significant financial impact as well, potentially costing anywhere form $195-$295 billion from lost income, reduced economic output and infrastructure damage.

FKA Twigs to Perform at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival Next Summer

FKA Twigs is ready to Rosk(ilde).

The 32-year-old part-Spanish singer-songwriter has been added to the lineup of Denmark’s Roskilde Festival in 2021.

FKA-twigs

Much like every major concert in 2020, the festival’s organizers had to take a break this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But this week, the promoters excitedly announced that they “think there is a need and reason to be hopeful.”

Kendrick Lamar will headline the festival in 2021; he’d previously been slated to headline the 2020 event.

In addition to FKA Twigs and Lamar, the festival, which is expected to run from June 26-July 3 next year, the roster includes The StrokesTyler, The CreatorFaith No MoreHaimThom Yorke‘s Tomorrow’s Modern BoxesGirl in RedAnderson.Paak, Big Thief, DaBabyDeftones, Doja Cat, Fontaines D.C. and Megan Thee Stallion.

Missing from the original roster of acts who were announced for the 2020 fest are Taylor SwiftKacey Musgraves, The Roots, Brittany Howard and Waxachatchee, among others.

The announcement is good news for live music fans who’ve gone almost a year without being able to attend live shows. But with the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine just now rolling out to first responders, medical professionals and nursing home residents in the U.S. and Europe, it remains to be seen if it will be safe to gather in large groups again by the summer.

Camila Cabello to Take Part in Kacey Musgraves’ First Holiday Special to Air on Amazon Prime Video

Camila Cabello is ready to celebrate a country Christmas

Country singer Kacey Musgraveshas announced her first holiday special, The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, with the 22-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer and former Fifth Harmony member among her all-star cast of collaborators on a variety of classic and original holiday songs.

Camila Cabello

Musgraves’ special, directed by Dan Levy will premiere globally on November 29 on Amazon Prime Video and feature Musgraves teaming up with Cabello on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Her other collaborators include Fred Armisen on “Silent Night,” Leon Bridgeson “Present Without a Bow,”James Corden on “Let It Snow,” Zooey Deschanel on “Mele Kalikimaka,” Lana Del Rey on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and Troye Sivanon the world debut of “Glittery.”

Musgraves will also be joined by the Radio City Rockettes, who will do one of their famous kickline routines as Musgraves sings “Ribbons and Bows,” as well as special guest Kendall Jenner.

The show “invites fans in as Musgraves prepares for a most joyful Christmas gathering with a whimsical set and dazzling wardrobe influenced by the artist’s fresh aesthetic,” according to a release announcing the special. “Equal parts heart-warming and cleverly absurd, Musgraves pays tribute to holiday specials of the past whilst also reinventing just what a Christmas special can be, with a magically modern twist.”

 “I can say without a doubt that this project is unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” Musgraves says in a statement. “What started as the small seed of an idea one night over a year ago has turned into something I’m so proud of.  Some truly brilliant comedic and musical guests are featured in the show — as well as my own Grandma. My vision was to bring my old Christmas album to life visually and create a modern and fashionable, fresh take on a classic format. It’s a nostalgic, Wes Anderson-inspired reimagining of the holidays. It’s heartfelt, funny, and most of all, real. I can’t wait to finally share.”

The show will be accompanied by an official soundtrack available on Amazon Musicand other digital services on November 29 as well.

Kacey Musgraves Latest Artist to Cover Selena’s Iconic Hit “Como La Flor”

Selena Quintanilla’s legacy lives on through her music, which continues to be performed by some unlikely artists…

Country singer Kacey Musgraves, who picked up four Grammys this year, including Album of the Year, surprised her fans with a cover of Selena’s “Como La Flor” at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Monday night.

Kacey Musgraves Selena Quintanilla Como La Flor RodeoHouston

Donning bell bottoms, her signature big hair and some serious Spanish-speaking skills, Musgraves’ performance hit close to home; Selena’s iconic concert, during which she wore a sparkly purple jumpsuit and red lipstick, took place at the Astrodome 24 years ago.

The February 26, 1995 show marked Selena’s third, and final, RodeoHouston appearance.

Selena gave her final live performance on February 26th, 1995, at the Houston Astrodome with nearly 67,000 in attendance. A live recording of the show (Live! The Last Concert) concludes with “Como la Flor,” which had been a massive hit for Selena (credited to Selena y Los Dinos) in 1992. One month after the Houston performance, she was murdered by her former fan club president Yolanda Saldívar. Her impact is still being felt nearly a quarter century later — in Musgraves’ performance, the awed Houston crowd sings along with a mix of reverent emotion and enthusiastic glee.

Selena’s sister approved of Musgraves’ tribute.

“Awww this makes me wanna shed a tear! Takes me back,” she wrote on Instagram. “A Big Big Thank you @spaceykacey for the love at the Houston Rodeo tonite with that SELENA Y LOS DINOSJam!”

Ricky Martin to Perform Alongside Camila Cabello at This Year’s Grammys

Ricky Martinis getting into the Grammy spirit…

The Recording Academy has announced that the 47-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will take the stage during this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony.

Ricky Martin

Martin, a two-time Grammy winner, will join Camila Cabelloduring her show opening number.

In addition to Martin, J BalvinYoung Thugand Arturo Sandovalare also expected to appear alongside Cabello, a two-time nominee this year.

Additionally, the show will feature a special tribute to eight-time Grammywinner, Dolly Parton, who will also take to the stage for the first time in 18 years to perform her new music.

Set to perform the iconic country star’s classic hits will be Katy PerryKacey MusgravesLittle Big Townand Maren Morris. Parton will then take center stage to sing her latest tunes from her 2018 album, Dumplin’ — the soundtrack to Netflix’s original motion picture by the same name starring Jennifer Aniston.

Previously announced artists performing during the biggest night in music include Cardi BDan + ShayH.E.R., Post MaloneShawn MendesJanelle Monáe,Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Diana Ross.

Hosted by Alicia Keys, the 61st Annual Grammy Awards will take place live from the Staples Center on Sunday, February 10 at 8:00 pm ET, and will be broadcast live on CBS.

Fergie Among Artists Donating Autographed Items for Charity Auction to Benefit Girls Rock Camp Alliance

Here’s your chance to walk in Fergie’s shoes… And all for a good cause.

The 43-year-old part-Mexican singer and Black Eyed Peas member is among the women donating their gear to be auctioned off on online marketplace Reverb.

Fergie

The proceeds from the auction will benefit the non-profit Girls Rock Camp Alliance, which works to provide summer camps and education opportunities for female, transgender and gender non-binary youth.

Fergie is donating an autographed pair of Fergie Footwear Black Prestons, beautiful studded mule shoes in a Womens 9.

Other artists donating their gear and memorabilia include Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, Paramore‘s Hayley Williams and Kacey Musgraves.

The auction begins on May 10.

All information about the auction can be found on Reverb’s website.

Gomez Among 24 Artists Featured on Orlando Shooting Charity Single “Hands”

Selena Gomez is lending her hands to help the victims of the Orlando Shooting.

The 23-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress is among 24 artists featured on a new recording to raise money for the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre.

Selena Gomez

The all-star release, entitled “Hands” — a charity single from Interscope Records with support from GLAAD — was conceived by hit songwriter Justin Tranter, co-writer of Justin Bieber’sSorry” and hits for Gomez, DNCE, Fall Out Boy and Gwen Stefani.

In addition to Gomez, the single also features Jennifer Lopez, who has worked on her own charity single with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stefani, Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Juanes, Pink, Mary J. Blige and Britney Spears.

The June 12 shooting at the gay nightclub in Orlando, which killed 49 people and injured 53, is the most deadly mass shooting in American history and the deadliest act of violence against the LGBT community.

Funds from the song will aid families with medical care, counseling and will also be used for education.

“Like the rest of the world I woke up to the news that morning and was horrified and sad and scared,” says Tranter, who has raised money and awareness for LGBT causes since coming out at age 14.

“Hands” is available on iTunes.

Proceeds will be distributed by Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and GLAAD.

The idea for the all-star project came together one day after the shooting.

L.A.-based Tranter and songwriting partner Julia Michaels had been on the road with Gomez writing songs aboard her tour bus in Miami the weekend of June 11 when news of the bloodshed prompted Tranter to switch course. That afternoon he signed on as a volunteer at The Center Orlando, the region’s chief LGBT community center.

“I called them and said, ‘If I fly up is there something for me to help with?'” he tells Billboard. “They say, ‘We need as many hands as we can possibly get.'”

“Hands” took hold the next day when Tranter met GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis who had arrived at the center from New York.

Beyond their immediate efforts — distributing food and water and GLAAD’s work with media — both were looking to make contributions that would have ongoing benefits. They point out that the massacre was also a profound attack on people of color, as that Saturday evening had been a popular “Latin Night” at Pulse. Most of the victims were of Latin heritage and Ellis says she does not want that point forgotten.

“When you hear the song it talks about hate being the driver here,” she says, “and that’s important because we have to be able to identify what’s driving these cruel acts in order to stop them. Artists using their platforms to accelerate acceptance is very powerful.”

Aligning with Interscope for the release, Tranter, GLAAD and Interscope president of A&R Aaron Bay-Schuck put the word out that a fundraiser was in the works. Within days artists from all spheres of the business had lined up — also among them Halsey, Ty Herndon, Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, Adam Lambert, The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, MNEK, Alex Newell, Mary Lambert, Prince Royce, Jussie Smollett, Nate Ruess and RuPaul — all recording separately from their homes, local studios, touring locations or wherever they happened to be at that moment.

“We assigned everybody what we thought would be the best part for their voice,” Tranter says, “and we asked them all to sing an additional part, just in case. But everybody got it done in time so we ended up with extra vocals.”

In Los Angeles “Interscope let us use their studio,” he notes. “Mary J. Blige recorded in New Orleans. Britney Spears in Thousand Oaks, I think. Pink in Santa Barbara. MNEK recorded at home in London. Selena recorded in her studio bus. Dan Reynolds recorded in his home. Adam Lambert was in Luxembourg. Ty Herndon the country star was in Spain. Kacey Musgraves, Nashville. Everyone just got it done.”

Another goal of the record, according to GLAAD, is to fund educational programs.

“This was an American guy who was born in Queens,” Ellis says of the gunman, Omar Mateen, 29, who was killed by police after a three hour stand-off. “He learned that hate here in America. This happened on American soil, against a particular community.”

While politicians and lobbyists have focused in recent weeks on Islamic terror and familiar narratives about gun ownership, Ellis, Tranter and others in the LGBT community want people to remember that this was a hate crime.

“I’m not educated enough to speak on the political details,” Tranter says. I’m a songwriter, not a politician. It could have been a million things but clearly, 100 percent, this was an attack on the LGBT community and people of color.”

“Hands” grew out of an unfinished piece that Tranter, Michaels and co-writer and producer BloodPop (formerly known as Blood Diamonds) had been working on and then shelved.

“The song didn’t ever finish itself and it didn’t ever feel right,” Tranter says of their initial efforts. “Now we know why.”

Mark Ronson also co-produced, while vocal engineer Benjamin Rice finessed the disparate tracks: “He helped us find the structure and make sense of it all.”

Warner/Chappell publishing executive Katie Vinten brought in numerous artists, among them P!nk, whom Tranter calls “a lifesaver,” adding, “Her vocal on the chorus is like from heaven directly.”

Spears opens the song with the plaintive line, “Can hold a gun or a hold a heart.” RuPaul is heard quietly toward the end, saying “take my hand baby.”

The songwriters had no specific plan as they entered the studio — only that they didn’t want the piece “to ever sound dated.”

“We didn’t want to have any trendy electronic elements,” Tranter notes. “We wanted it to sound classic, timeless and human. We want this anthem of positivity to be played for years to come.”

Download “Hands” here at iTunes.

Aguilera to Perform at the Billboard Music Awards

Christina Aguilera may be taking a break from The Voice this season… But she’s still making  music.

The 32-year-old half-Ecuadorian American singer will be performing at this year’s Billboard Music Awards next month.

Christina Aguilera

Aguilera will join her “Feel This Moment” co-collaborator Pitbull, “Come and Get It” singer Selena Gomez and rap duo of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis as performers at the awards show, which will take place on May 19 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Other artists joining the star-studded lineup include The Band Perry and Kacey Musgraves.

Pitbull and The Band Perry are both competing against previously announced performers Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Miguel for this year’s Milestone Award, which will be given to the fan favorite who gets the most votes online. A lucky fan will get the chance to present the award personally to the winning artist along with co-presenter Cee-Lo Green.