Music

After being canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is scheduled to return this spring with a lineup that includes headlining performances by The Who, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Buffett,and The Black Crowes.

The festival is scheduled to take place over the course of two consecutive weeks, April 29-May 1 and May 5-May 8. Many of the major artists on the 2022 bill had been scheduled to perform at either the 2020 or the 2021 festival.

The first weekend will feature performances by The Who, Foo Fighters, Lionel Richie, Randy Newman and many, many more.

Weekend two’s lineup will include Nicks, Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band, The Black Crowes, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Melissa Etheridge, Boz Scaggs, blues great Buddy Guy, members of The Neville Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, The Radiators and Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, as well as a Bob Marley set from Ziggy Marley and a tribute to the late Dr. John.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit NOJazzFest.com.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Jason Mraz is releasing an album collecting his love songs.

Lalalalovesongs, which includes “I’m Yours,” “I Won’t Give Up” and “Lucky,” his debut with Colbie Caillat, will arrive February 11 on CD, vinyl and digitally. A limited-edition neon-pink version will be available at Jason’s website.

“I feel so LaLaLaLucky to share these songs again on this new album,” Jason says in a statement. “Love has been an almost constant theme in my writing, and this record really shines on that, further amplifying the message. Big love to my listeners, and to [my record labels] for the lovely release!”

In conjunction with the news of the album, Jason has released a new video in which he discusses the creation of “I’m Yours,” its success and how it impacted his career.  A newly upgraded 4K version the original video has also premiered.

This year, Jason will mark the 20th anniversary of his 2002 debut album Waiting for My Rocket to Come. He’s also writing music for a new album that will come out next year.

Here’s the track listing for Lalalalovesongs:

“I’m Yours”
“Lucky” – Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
“I Won’t Give Up”
“You and I Both”
“The Woman I Love”
“Let’s See What The Night Can Do”
“Have It All”
“Love Someone”
“Sleeping to Dream”
“I’m Coming Over”
“A Beautiful Mess”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jay-Z and Meek Mill are among the artists supporting a bill in the New York State legislature that would restrict the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials.

Fat Joe, Robin Thicke, Killer Mike and many more joined the duo in signing a letter to New York lawmakers demanding the reform, according to Billboard. Senate Bill S7527, known as “Rap Music on Trial,” which would limit the admissibility of someone’s music as evidence against them in a criminal trial.

“This reform is urgently needed,” wrote Alex Spiro, Jay-Z’s attorney, and Erik Nielson, a professor at the University of Richmond who wrote a book on the subject. “This tactic effectively denies rap music the status of art and, in the process, gives prosecutors a dangerous advantage in the courtroom: by presenting rap lyrics as rhymed confessions of illegal behavior, they are often able to obtain convictions even when other evidence is lacking.”

If passed, prosecutors could only present rap lyrics to jurors if they can show that an expressive work is “literal, rather than figurative or fictional.”

Jay-Z’s letter cited a study that showed participants viewed violent rap lyrics more threatening than violent lyrics from a country song. “No other fictional form, musical or otherwise, is (mis)used like this in courts,” Spiro and Nielson wrote. “And it should come as no surprise that the overwhelming majority of artists in these cases are young Black and Latino men.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The wait for Rage Against the Machine‘s reunion tour will be just a bit longer.

The much-anticipated run, which will mark the “Killing in the Name” outfit’s return to the live stage for the first time since 2011, is now set to launch July 9 in East Troy, Wisconsin. All dates scheduled previous to that show, running from March 31 in El Paso, Texas, to May 23 in Detroit, are being postponed to a later date.

Run the Jewels is still slated to support.

Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates. Refunds are also available from point of purchase for the next 30 days.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Tour.RATM.com.

Rage had first planned to tour for 2020 after announcing their reunion at the end of 2019. They’ve postponed the outing several times amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They also dropped off the lineup for Coachella.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ryan Hurd is following up his chart-topping Maren Morris duet, “Chasing After You,” with another new track off his Pelago album called “What Are You Drinking.”

The singer shared the music video for the song this week, setting its introspective lyrics against shadowy footage of himself playing piano in a dark basement. As the song plays out, the basement starts to flood, the light coming narrowly through windows as the song hits its emotional peak.

“Are you raisin’ up champagne? Is there a tear in your Tanqueray?” Ryan sings in the chorus of his new song. “Are you heartbroke? Are you doin’ fine? / I wanna know, what are you drinking tonight?”

You can hear “What Are You Drinking” live at a show near you: Ryan just kicked off his headlining Tour de Pelago. Earlier this month, the singer also stopped by ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform another track off the album, “Pass it On.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The war of words continue between sisters Britney Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears.  After the “Toxic” singer sent a cease-and-desist letter over her baby sister’s new book, Things I Should Have Said, and slammed her on Instagram — Jamie Lynn has responded via her lawyer.

In a letter TMZ obtained to Britney’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, Attorney Brian Freedman condemns the pop singer’s actions.  He also called out Attorney Rosengart for saying his client was “going to take the ‘high road.'”

Referencing Britney’s vitriolic Instagram post, where she stated she should have “slapped” Jamie Lynn, Freedman states, “To be clear, social media posts that include cyber bullying which cause death threats to Jamie Lynn and her family, is neither the ‘high road,’ nor anything that will be tolerated.”

“It was also disappointing to see your Letter plastered all over the media,” he continued, calling the letter “insensitive.” 

Freedman encouraged Britney to read the memoir, stating, “Jamie Lynn is a member of the Spears family. Your Letter ignores a critical fact: Jamie Lynn has suffered through her own experiences, and her own trauma. Had you taken the time to read the Book prior to sending your Letter, you would know that the Book is not about Britney, but instead about Jamie Lynn’s own experiences growing up in the same family and describing what life for her was like as part of that family.” He attests the book depicts the Grammy winner in a positive light.

“Jamie Lynn hopes that there will be no further postings or inflammatory letters being sent to the media,” Freedman closes, “Jamie Lynn supports Britney and as always, she hopes she can get the healing, peace, and freedom she rightfully deserves.”

Britney has not reacted to the letter.  Attorney Rosengart did not respond to ABC Audio’s request for comment.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After teasing it for months on TikTok, Charlie Puth has finally released his new song and video “Light Switch.”

“On the songwriting level, it was really cool to share this song with the fans while I made it, so they felt like they were involved at the very beginning of the song, like they almost wrote it with me,” Charlie says of the new track.

The song is the first single from Charlie’s upcoming album CHARLIE, which will be his third full-length release.  In an installment of one of Vogue‘s “24 Hours With” series, Charlie notes that the album is his most personal yet.

“I’ve never had a chance to put out music that is truly me,” he explains. “And every song on this album is my personality with some melody attached to it.”

As for the “Light Switch” music video, the Grammy nominee portrays a man who sinks into a deep funk after losing the love of his life.  He is thrust into action after an ad for Light Switch Aerobics flashes on the television and the instructor puts him through self-care boot camp.  The hilarious video sees Charlie undergoing a much-needed makeover, shedding his beer belly and reclaiming his confidence.

But there’s a twist — once Charlie is back in fighting shape and tries to win back his love, he discovers she’s already fallen for someone else.  

The infectious single is about being unable to walk away from someone who strings him along like a plaything.

“You turn me on like a light switch/ When you’re movin’ your body around and around/ You got me in a tight grip/ You know how to just make me want you, baby,” he sings in the upbeat chorus.

“Light Switch” is available to stream and purchase now.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Snoop Dogg is doing double duty on Super Bowl Sunday.

In addition to performing in the halftime show with Dr. Dre. Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige, the “Drop It Like It’s Hot” rapper is also hosting Puppy Bowl XVIII (18) with Martha Stewart.

Snoop and Martha will also be the coaches for Team Fluff and Team Ruff, according to Entertainment Weekly. The Puppy Bowl debuts on Discovery+ and Animal Planet on Sunday, February 13 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. It is designed to raise awareness for pet adoption with a football game featuring 118 dogs from 67 shelters across the country.

As previously reported, Pepsi dropped a cinematic trailer for the Super Bowl halftime show on Tuesday. Directed by Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray, the trailer is titled “The Call,” and it features four of the halftime headliners — Snoop, Eminem, Blige and Lamar — all receiving a mysterious call that makes them rush off by plane, car and bicycle to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the site of the big game.

As each performer appears in the trailer, we hear one of their hits: “Rap God,” “The Next Episode,” “Family Affair” and “HUMBLE.”

The call comes from the fifth headliner, Dr. Dre, introduced by his hit “Still D.R.E.” He meets the other performers outside the stadium as we hear the classic “California Love” Dre produced for Tupac. 

“Each time I collaborate with Dre, it seems to mark an important moment in entertainment history, from projects like Friday, Set It Off, Straight Outta Compton, to now the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI (56) Halftime Show,” Gray said in a statement. “I consider it an honor and privilege to authentically build and create this moment with five of the most legendary artists in music history.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

If you’ve ever thought that Tom Morello looks like someone from Jersey Shore, then at least one other person agrees with you.

The Rage Against the Machine guitarist was apparently mistaken for a cast member from the infamous MTV reality series when he happened upon one of those celebrity home tours that frequent Hollywood and Los Angeles.

“The driver says on the bullhorn ‘Hey I recognize you from somewhere!'” Morello recalls in a tweet, adding that the driver then asked if he was “one of those Jersey Shore guys.”

“I reply, ‘Absolutely,'” Morello shares. “And everyone in the van took a photo.”

That then begs the question: which Jersey Shore cast member did the driver think Morello was? Pauly D? The Situation? Truly, a great mystery for our time.

While his 2022 is off to an unexpected start, Morello was busy in 2021, releasing two solo albums: The Atlas Underground Fire, and The Atlas Underground Flood.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Nathaniel Rateliff and Patti Smith will be performing at the 2022 Tibet House US virtual benefit concert, taking place on March 3.

The bill also includes Phish‘s Trey Anastasio, Laurie Anderson, and country artists Jason Isbell and Margo Price, as well as actor Keanu Reeves, who you may remember played bass in the ’90s alt rock band Dogstar.

Additionally, Iggy Pop and New Order‘s Bernard Sumner will be providing “special greetings” during the event.

Influential composer Philip Glass is the event’s artistic director.

Now in its 35th year, the annual concert raises money for Tibet House US, a non-profit organization that works to preserve Tibetan culture. It’s usually held in-person at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, but is taking place online for the second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can watch the 2022 Tibet House US concert via the streaming platform Mandolin. For more info, visit Mandolin.com.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.