Metallica side project The Wedding Band announces California show

Metallica side project The Wedding Band announces California show
Metallica side project The Wedding Band announces California show
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Metallica‘s Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo have announced a new show with their covers side project, The Wedding Band.

The concert takes place May 27 in Napa, California, and is an official after-show of the BottleRock Napa Valley festival, which Metallica is headlining.

Tickets go on sale this Thursday, March 3. For more info, visit BottleRockNapaValley.com.

Along with Hammett and Trujillo, The Wedding Band features a rotating lineup, including Queens of the Stone Age drummer Jon Theodore, Bad Wolves guitarist Doc Coyle and Ugly Kid Joe vocalist Whitfield Crane. The group’s sporadic live shows consist entirely of covers.

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Lionel Richie to be saluted by Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, Luke Bryan & more at Gershwin Prize concert

Lionel Richie to be saluted by Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, Luke Bryan & more at Gershwin Prize concert
Lionel Richie to be saluted by Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, Luke Bryan & more at Gershwin Prize concert
ABC/Eric McCandless

Lionel Richie will be receiving the Library of Congress’ prestigious Gershwin Prize for Popular Song next week, and now we know who’ll be honoring the singer at an all-star tribute concert that’s part of the event.

The March 9 show in Washington, D.C. will feature performances from Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men, Andra Day, Yolanda Adams, Miguel, country star Chris Stapleton and Lionel’s fellow American Idol judge, country superstar Luke Bryan

Anthony Anderson will host the concert, and Lionel himself will perform. It’ll air on PBS on May 17 at 9 p.m. ET, as well as on PBS.org and the PBS Video App.

The Gershwin Prize honors a “living musical artist’s lifetime achievement in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of entertainment, information, inspiration and cultural understanding.”  Past recipients include Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Smokey Robinson and Paul Simon.

This is yet another accolade for Lionel, who’s already won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and four Grammy Awards, and is nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Extremists harass minority refugees arriving in Poland from Ukraine, witnesses report

Extremists harass minority refugees arriving in Poland from Ukraine, witnesses report
Extremists harass minority refugees arriving in Poland from Ukraine, witnesses report
Getty Stock/Kutay Tanir

(NEW YORK) — As Ukrainians flee across Europe amid the onslaught of attacks from Russia in Ukraine, non-white refugees have faced discrimination from extremist groups patrolling the border, reporters and residents in the area told ABC News.

On March 1, dozens of self-identified right-wing nationalists marauded through the city center of Przemysl, Poland, and harassed refugees who looked to be people of color, the witnesses said. Many non-white refugees have arrived in the city while they evacuate Ukraine.

As this humanitarian crisis goes on, many fear extremism will continue to cause trouble for refugees of color trying to escape the war.

More than 836,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since Russian forces invaded the eastern European country on Feb. 24, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

At least 453,000 of those refugees have escaped to Poland as of March 2, UNHCR said.

Near the Przemysl train station on Tuesday, where thousands of refugees are passing through, anyone who looked to be African or Arab were being targeted by the extremists in the attack, witnesses reported.

Julian Würzer, a reporter for the German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost who is stationed in Poland, told ABC News that extremists aggressively shouted at refugees to get out of the country and allegedly assaulted them.

Online videos seen by ABC News show police in riot gear diffusing the incident, which Würzer said went on for about 20 minutes before police arrived.

There have been no reports of injuries.

Local authorities did not immediately respond to ABC News’ requests for comment on the incidents.

These extremists are a minority in the country, however. There has been an overwhelming effort by local citizens to help those fleeing across the Polish-Ukrainian border. ABC News reporters on the ground say that volunteers across the region have been offering to house, feed, and clothe the many refugees.

At the border, witnesses tell ABC News that extremists have reportedly been accepting Ukrainians but vowing to “defend” Poland against an influx of non-Christians. These extremists are believed by some to be backed by Russia.

Poland’s government has aligned itself in recent years with right-wing ideals and has been criticized for anti-refugee sentiment. Last year, Poland refused to let thousands of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the country after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko forcibly drove them out of his country.

Commissioner Filippo Grandi of the UNCHR has confirmed that there have been instances of discrimination in the admission of certain refugees from Ukraine. Some third-country nationals have reported being stuck or being rejected from passage in their attempts to flee, he said.

Grandi said that state policies are not causing instances of discrimination, and that “there should be absolutely no discrimination between Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians, Europeans and non-Europeans.”

“Everybody is fleeing from the same risks,” Grandi said at a March 1 press conference. “We will continue to intervene, as we have done several times to try to ensure that everybody is received in the same manner.”

ABC News’ Tomek Rolski and Christopher Donato contributed to this report.

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J. Cole announces Dreamville music festival with Lil Baby, Kehlani and more

J. Cole announces Dreamville music festival with Lil Baby, Kehlani and more
J. Cole announces Dreamville music festival with Lil Baby, Kehlani and more
Tabatha Fireman/Getty Images

Rapper J. Cole took to his Twitter to announce the second annual Dreamville Festival and revealed some of the artists, including Lil Baby and Lil Wayne, who will join next month in the star-studded lineup. For the first time, the festival will be held over the course of two days, instead of one.

From the new school’s Lil BabyMoneybagg YoAri Lennox and Kehlani, to the old school’s Lil WayneJeezyJa Rule and Ashanti– the event is sure to bring all the action to Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park.

“Went crazy on the lineup Dreamville Fest 2 days this year. April 2nd and 3rd. See you in NC,” J. Cole said in the announcement tweet.

The “Dreamville” rapper is set to headline Sunday’s show along with T.I.Rico NastyWale and others. Lil Baby will head up Saturday’s show alongside Fivio ForeignEarthGang and more.

“The second annual Dreamville Festival will once again provide a thoughtfully-curated, multi-stage music event from J. Cole, who himself was raised in nearby Fayetteville, North Carolina,” a statement from the festival’s official website read. “The festival offers an opportunity for J. Cole to give back to his home state that has helped shape the artist he has become with a one-of-a-kind celebration of local culture, food and art that also features a curated selection of music performers blending together some of today’s biggest national acts with exciting up-and-comers.”

Tickets are available to purchase on the festival website. As of Wednesday afternoon, the “JV” and “Varsity” VIP packages were already sold out.

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JetBlue pilot pulled off plane after failing breathalyzer

JetBlue pilot pulled off plane after failing breathalyzer
JetBlue pilot pulled off plane after failing breathalyzer
Getty Images/Robert Nickelsberg

(BUFFALO, N.Y.) — A 52-year-old JetBlue pilot was pulled off a plane in Buffalo, New York, after blowing a blood alcohol content over the legal limit for pilots, according to Helen Tederous, public affairs director for the Niagra Frontier Transportation Authority.

Pilots face strict blood alcohol restrictions, with .04 considered illegal.

According to NFTA, a Transportation Security Administration officer noticed the pilot was acting drunk, and authorities removed him from the cockpit.

NFTA Airport Police took the man, who is from Orlando, Florida, into custody, and notified federal authorities, according to Tederous. He was released to JetBlue security and may face federal charges.

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SXSW just got countrified, as Dolly Parton is scheduled to appear

SXSW just got countrified, as Dolly Parton is scheduled to appear
SXSW just got countrified, as Dolly Parton is scheduled to appear
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Dolly Parton is taking her forthcoming novel, Run, Rose, Run, to new heights with a debut appearance at South by Southwest. 

This year, Dolly will bring some country flair to the annual music, film and media festival in Austin, Texas, when she and co-author James Patterson sit down for a conversation about the thriller novel, moderated by former Nashville star Connie Britton, on March 18 at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater.

After the discussion, the country icon will perform original songs from the album being released in tandem with the book, along with some of her classic hits. The show will be available to stream for free on “Dollyverse” by Eluvio.  

Run, Rose, Run follows a young artist named Ruthanna who moves to Nashville to pursue her music dreams, but is followed by dark secrets from her past. The book will be released on March 7, with the companion album set to drop on March 4.

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Listen to new Pixies song, “Human Crime”

Listen to new Pixies song, “Human Crime”
Listen to new Pixies song, “Human Crime”
Infectious/BMG

Pixies have released a new song called “Human Crime.”

The track is available now via digital outlets, and is accompanied by a fantastical video directed by bassist Paz Lenchantin.

“The storyline is loosely based on an ‘inside joke’ between [frontman Black Francis] and I about going on tour,” Lenchantin says of the clip. “How we go through a door from our reality state into the altered state of becoming and being a Pixie.”

You can watch the “Human Crime” video streaming now on YouTube.

“Human Crime” is the first new Pixies song since 2020’s “Hear Me Out.” The band’s most recent album is 2019’s Beneath the Eyrie.

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Black Label Society announces spring tour dates

Black Label Society announces spring tour dates
Black Label Society announces spring tour dates
Christie Goodwin/Redferns via Getty Images

Black Label Society has announced a U.S. headlining tour for this spring.

The outing kicks off April 30 in San Diego, and concludes May 21 in Inwood, West Virginia. Alice Cooper guitarist and solo artist Nita Strauss will provide support on most dates.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 4. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit BlackLabelSociety.com.

Black Label Society will be touring behind their latest album, Doom Crew Inc., which dropped last November.

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Cody Johnson sells out RodeoHouston’s opening night, following in the footsteps of some of the genre’s titans

Cody Johnson sells out RodeoHouston’s opening night, following in the footsteps of some of the genre’s titans
Cody Johnson sells out RodeoHouston’s opening night, following in the footsteps of some of the genre’s titans
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Texas traditionalist Cody Johnson is now part of a very select group of performers, as earlier this week he became the third act to ever sell out night one of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The other two? Garth Brooks and George Strait.

The King of Country was the first to accomplish the feat in 2017, with Garth joining Strait the following year. Now, it’s Cody’s turn: On February 28, he brought in 70,554 fans to open the iconic annual rodeo event, which will continue through March 20.

“Monday night was a historical night for myself as well as Rodeo Houston; sold-out opening day!!” Cody says, still riding high off his milestone performance. “I can’t thank everyone enough for coming out and showing support to me and my band. CAN’T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR!”

More A-Listers will take the stage as the rodeo proceeds throughout the month. Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Kane Brown and Jon Pardi are just a few of the country acts playing the event.

Meanwhile, Cody’s single “‘Til You Can’t” is in the top five and climbing at country radio.

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Marilyn Manson files defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood

Marilyn Manson files defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood
Marilyn Manson files defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood
John Shearer/Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Marilyn Manson is suing ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wood for defamation, Deadline reports.

In the complaint, Manson, born Brian Warner, accuses Wood and artist Illma Gore, who is referred to as Wood’s “on-again, off-again romantic partner,” of “wrongful and illegal acts done in furtherance of a conspiracy…to publicly cast [Warner] as a rapist and abuser — a malicious falsehood that has derailed Warner’s successful music, TV, and film career.”

Wood publicly accused Warner of abuse in a February 2021 Instagram post, writing that the shock rocker had “horrifically abused [her] for years.”

Following Wood’s claim, which Warner denied as “horrible distortions of reality,” several other women came forward with accusations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, including actor Esmé Bianco, model Ashley Morgan Smithline, and Warner’s former assistant, Ashley Walters. Warner has denied those allegations, as well.

In his suit, Warner alleges that Wood and Gore “provided checklists and scripts to prospective accusers” and “made knowingly false statements to prospective accusers,” and impersonated an FBI agent to “create the false appearance…that there was a federal criminal investigation of Warner ongoing.”

Warner’s lawyer, Howard King, tells Deadline, “We’re filing this now because we have been able to gather an overwhelming trove of evidence — including both documents and witness statements — which proves that the stories that Evan Rachel Wood and her co-conspirator Illma Gore have been falsifying and spreading are both vindictive and demonstrably untrue.”

Warner’s suit arrives ahead of Wood’s upcoming Phoenix Rising documentary, which premieres March 15 on HBO. In the two-part film, Wood accuses Warner of drugging and raping her during the filming of his “Heart-Shaped Glasses” music video. Warner’s lawyer denied the claim as “false” and an “imaginative retelling.”

For anyone affected by abuse and needing support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474.

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