Ginger Baker plays with Cream in 2005

Ginger Baker with Cream in 2005

Photo: Yui Mok/PA Images/Getty Images

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Ginger Baker, Iconic Drummer & Cream Co-Founder, Dead At 80

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In 2006, Baker, along with former Cream bandmates Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, were honored with Recording Academy's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 7, 2019 - 1:24 pm

Yesterday, Oct. 6, groundbreaking British drummer Ginger Baker, who performed with Eric Clapton in Cream and Blind Faith, passed away at age 80. The news was confirmed by his family via a post (shared below) on his official Twitter account. On Aug. 19, he celebrated his 80th birthday, and on Sept. 25 his family tweeted that he was "critically ill in [the] hospital."

A lifelong musician who set the standard for rock drumming, in 1993 Baker was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Cream, whose third member was the late Jack Bruce. In 2006, the dynamic trio also received Recording Academy's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Back in 1966, Baker, Clapton and Bruce, already notable musicians in their own right, banded together in London to form one of the first-ever supergroups, Cream. The released three powerful classic rock albums during their time together, ending with the highly successful Wheels Of Fire in 1968.

That same year, they would be nominated for Best New Artist at the 11th GRAMMY Awards, embark on a farewell tour and officially disband, at the height of the group's fame. After Cream was no more, in 1969 Clapton and Baker, along with Steve Winwood and Ric Grech, formed another short-lived supergroup, Blind Faith. Baker would go on to play with a variety of other artists around the world, including Fela Kuti and his own Ginger Baker's Air Force, wowing audiences and fellow musicians with his passionate drumming.

As The New York Times put it, Baker "was an architect of rock drumming, spilling across tom-toms with both power and nuance. His work in the 1960s with the bands Cream and Blind Faith made him a defining figure of many basic rock band concepts: the 'power trio,' the 'supergroup,' the 'drum solo,' 'jamming,' 'double-kick drumming' and—much to his trademark chagrin—an early thruway for 'heavy metal.'"

He is survived by his wife, Kudzai Baker, and his three children (from his first marriage to Liz Finch), Nettie Baker, Leda Baker and Kofi Baker. He is remembered by his family and the many fellow groundbreaking musicians he played with. His influence will be felt not only in the unforgettable music he directly contributed to, but also in the infinite number of artists and drumming techniques he helped influenced.

L.A.'s Selena For Sanctuary To Feature Ceci Bastida & More

Doug Lubahn - The Doors

Doug Lubahn performing with the Billy Squier Band in 1982

Photo: Ebet Roberts/Getty Images

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Doug Lubahn, Studio Bassist For The Doors, Dies At 71

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The celebrated musician recorded on the band's classic '60s albums 'Strange Days,' 'Waiting For The Sun' and 'The Soft Parade'
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Nov 27, 2019 - 10:11 am

Doug Lubahn, a celebrated bassist and session musician best known for his work with psychedelic rock pioneers The Doors, died Nov. 20. While details surrounding the cause of his death have yet to be released, his surviving wife, Pat Devanny, confirmed the news in a post shared on Lubahn's Facebook page, writing, "Words could never express the sorrow. He was the love of my life. I'll miss the laughter more than anything. RIP." Lubahn was 71 years old.

The Doors commemorated Lubahn and his work with the band in a post shared on the group's official Twitter page, noting, "Doug made indelible contributions to rock and roll, and especially to The Doors."

Lubahn, who's featured on The Doors' early iconic albums Strange Days (1967), Waiting For The Sun (1968) and The Soft Parade (1969), first began working with the group in the mid-'60s during the recording sessions for their second album, Strange Days. Paul A. Rothchild—who produced the self-titled debut album from Lubahn's previous band, Clear Light—introduced the musician to the group.

While The Doors never employed a full-time bass player, instead hiring studio musicians to work on their various albums, Lubahn was a regular figure in the band's official recordings, with founding member and keyboardist Ray Manzarek dubbing him "the fifth Door." (The Doors extended an offer to Lubahn, via producer Rothchild, to join the band as a full-time member; however, Lubahn famously declined, citing his refusal to leave his main project, Clear Light.)

In 2007, Lubahn published "My Days With The Doors," a memoir chronicling his time during the early days of The Doors and retelling the inside stories during the band's recording sessions.

For The Record: The Doors' 'The Doors'

Following his work with The Doors, Lubahn formed multiple groups, including the jazz-rock band Dreams as well as Pierce Arrow and Riff Raff; he served as bassist and lead vocalist for the latter two acts. He also performed and recorded on multiple albums from Billy Squier, including Emotions In Motion (1982) and Signs Of Life (1984), as well as Ted Nugent's Penetrator (1984).

John Densmore, the original drummer for The Doors, remembered Lubahn in a touching post on Twitter, saying, "I loved playing with Doug Lubahn."

A Tribute To The Doors

Santana

Santana at Woodstock

Photo: Tucker Ransom/Getty Images

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New Woodstock 50th Anniversary Box Set Offers A Complete Listen To The Summer '69 Fest

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The limited-edition set will allow music fans to listen to the powerful live performances from Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and every other artist who played Woodstock '69
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
May 8, 2019 - 6:01 pm

An official 50th Woodstock anniversary concert may or may still not be in the works, but one thing's for sure: a lot of music fans really want to celebrate the Summer of '69 on its 50th birthday.

Now, with an expansive special-edition box set titled Woodstock 50 — Back to the Garden — The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive, listeners can hear full performances from the original Woodstock concert.

Spanning 38 CDs, the limited-edition (of 1,969 copies, of course) set, which will be released on Aug. 2 via Rhino, will include 432 songs, 267 of which are previously unreleased, from the three-day event. It will be the most comprehensive look at Woodstock '69, i.e., the first time every artist, including greats Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead, are included on record.

Rock On: Jimi Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland' Turns 50

As reported by Rolling Stone, the tracks are ordered chronologically based on the actual lineup order and sets performed during that mystical weekend of Aug. 15–17, 1969, with each artist's set on one disc.

The collection came together from the work of Los Angeles producer and archivist Andy Zax and co-producer Steve Woolard, who had the herculean task of making a pile of 8-track tapes from 1969 see the light of day in the digital age of music. Zax was originally sent to take a look at the tapes back in 2005, and realized there was a massive musical treasure that needed to be unearthed. He didn't have the resources to do a fully comprehensive release with the 2009 40th anniversary Woodstock set he also worked on, so the new set will finally give (almost) all of the tracks the light of day.

"The Woodstock tapes give us a singular opportunity for a kind of sonic time travel, and my intention is to transport people back to 1969. There aren't many other concerts you could make this argument about," Zax said to Rolling Stone. "From the moment I saw those tapes, I was like, 'Oh my God, there's so much more than I'd ever thought. It was clear to me that no one was exploring this stuff and dealing with it in totality. Here was this vast trove of material not treated correctly."

The three tracks that didn't make the cut include two songs from Hendrix's set, per the request of his estate, for "aesthetic reasons." The only other missing song is from Sha Na Na.

The first 37 CDs take you through each act's show, and the 38th "bonus" CD features audio extras, like attendee anecdotes recorded during the fest. 

The non-musical audio moments, also featuring off-kilter announcements, are hidden gems of the archival work themselves. Zak speaks to the 38th disc, which includes "this one guy moaning about what a disappointing experience [Woodstock] was and that it was a sell-out. It's a great slice of real people in the moment reacting to it, which pleases me immensely."

In addition to the CD collection, the deluxe edition of the new set also includes a DVD of the director's cut of the 1970 Woodstock film, the 2009 "Woodstock" book by Michael Lang and various replicas of Woodstock '69 paraphilia, like a copy of the original program book. This deluxe set, housed in a plywood box designed by GRAMMY-winning graphic designer Masaki Koikethe, costs $800 and is the only option with the full audio.

Rhino also offers more economic 10-CD, 3-CD or 5-LP vinyl sets; all four options are available for pre-order now.

Pieces Of Woodstock's Original Wooden Stage Are Now Collectibles

Lightning in a Bottle 2018

Lightning in a Bottle 2018

Photo: Aaron Glassman

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Your 2019 Guide To The Best Summer/Spring Music Festivals

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Having trouble keeping up with 2019's many music fests? We've got you covered with this comprehensive list of 20+ ones to check out across North America—plus a few abroad
Ana Monroy Yglesias
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
May 8, 2019 - 10:40 am

Both weekends of Coachella 2019 have come and gone, which means that we are fully entrenched in music festival season in North America. Since late last year, the fest lineups keep coming, and, like many of you, we couldn't be more excited for the sunny, music-filled days around the corner.

To help you keep abreast on all the major fests you can explore this summer, we've compiled this handy list to highlight some of the ones across the country (plus a few abroad) you may want to check out.

Related: Jan Blomqvist Talks Playing Coachella, Berlin Techno & Covering The Rolling Stones

MAY
 

Lightning in a Bottle | May 8–13 | Bakersfield, Calif.

Need to get away and lose yourself in the music ASAP? Well, Lightning in a Bottle is probably calling your name. Bring your pool floaties to cool off in Buena Vista Lake, home to the new location of the Southern California camping music fest. Run by the good time experts/electronic music connoisseurs at the DoLaB, which just made an appearance at Coachella; the environmentally and socially conscious event was one of the first major "transformational music festivals" that so many others have been modeled after.

This year's stacked musical lineup features seven stages and a variety of house, techno and bass artists, featuring GRAMMY-nominated British dance duo Disclosure, a 3D experience from Flying Lotus, Santigold, Toro y Moi, Gramatik, Channel Tres, DJ Koze and Damian Lazarus. There will also be yoga, sound healing, and engaging talks, like one with activist hip-hop duo Climbing PoeTree titled "Creativity is the Antidote to Destruction: Artistic Tools for Urgent Times."

Tickets are still available with options that range from two to five days; more info here.

Corona Capital Fest | May 11 | Guadalajara, Mex.

Taking place on Mexico's West Coast in the city of Guadalajara, Corona Capital will bring the country some of the biggest names in rock, electronica and pop. Featuring Phoenix, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tame Impala, The Chemical Brothers, Christine & the Queens and more, the fest will give people in Mexico the unique opportunity to see artists that tend only to stop by in Mexico City, which hosts its own Corona Capital fest.

Those visiting the country for the fest will find the one-day event a convenient factor, as they can explore the rich history and culinary vastness of the second-largest city in the country, which is known to be the area where tequila and mariachi originated. Sports fans will find excitement in listening to music at the festival site, which is also home to the city’s soccer team, Las Chivas. For more information, visit the festival's website.

GRAMMYs at Corona Capital: Holy Ghost! On What "Do This" Is Really About & Why They Feel So Good About 'Work'

Electric Daisy Carnival | May 17–19 | Las Vegas

Rave lords Insomniac have been bringing the beats with their now-global Electric Daisy Carnival (and its many other EDM events) at the 23rd annual EDC. The flagship fest's ninth year in Las Vegas will take over Sin City from May 17–19 this year. The 2019 lineup is positively stacked with dance music greats, featuring GRAMMY winners Diplo, David Guetta and Tiësto, plus GRAMMY nominees TOKiMONSTA, Paul Oakenfold, Deadmau5, Above & Beyond and Kaskade.

Deadmau5 will be making his first return to the fest since 2010, bringing his new "Cube 3.0" stage setup, and Guetta will be back for his first time since 2012. Australian singer/songwriter DJ/producer extraordinaire Alison Wonderland, plus GRAMMY-nominated rave icons Steve Aoki and Armin van Buuren will bring fire to the three-day event.

If you want to get your dance on and check out the carnival rides, interactive art and plenty of lights and lasers with EDC in Vegas, you're in luck; tickets are still available. Check out EDC's website for more info.

Hangout Music Fest | May 17–19 | Gulf Shores, Ala.

If you're looking for something where you can chill in one spot, perhaps by a body of water, Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, Ala. may be more along the lines of what you're craving. The 10th anniversary, which the organizers have coined a "music vacation," will take place on May 17–19 on the beach.

The stacked lineup of over 50 acts is pretty diverse among artists and genres, with big names in dance music such as GRAMMY winner Diplo, GRAMMY nominees Mura Masa and Sofi Tukker, along with Detroit hero GRiZ and dance festival favorite Alison Wonderland.

Meanwhile, artists in the pop/indie-rock arena include GRAMMY nominees Hozier and Bebe Rexha, as well fan favorites The 1975, Walk The Moon and Jimmy Eat World. 

For more info and to see the complete list of artists, visit the Hangout Fest website.

BottleRock | May 24–26 | Napa, Calif.

If you want to experience the literal fruits of the world-renowned Napa Valley wine country while listening to some solid jams, BottleRock, which is located in wine-rich Napa, may be the fest for you. Its seventh-edition festival's top-tier headliners are GRAMMY winners Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons and Neil Young, who will be playing with Lukas Nelson's band Promise Of The Real. Other notable acts include Santana, Pharrell Williams, Gary Clark Jr., Sylvan Esso, Logic, Lord Huron, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Tash Sultana.

Other festival highlights include the Culinary Stage, which features both music from the likes of Big Boi and Juanes, as well as more culinary-focused guests, including Antoni Potowski, the resident foodie of "Queer Eye." No matter your fuel of choice, attendees can expect an amazing selection of Northern California wine, beer and even craft cocktails, as well as food prepared by your neighborhood Michelin-starred Napa faves. The Silent Disco offers even more music, with GRAMMY-nominated dance greats The Crystal Method and Paul Oakenfold taking the decks.

Tickets, including one-day and three-day options, are still available on the fest's website.

More: Tomasa Del Real On Bringing Her Take On Reggaetón, NeoPerreo, To Coachella

Primavera Sound | May 30–June 1 | Barcelona

If you've been itching to take a trip abroad in a scenic European city and have eclectic music tastes, you'll have a blast at Barcelona's Primavera Sound. The 19th edition of the music festival offers what organizers coined "The New Normal," a 50/50 gender split among performers. Of the 226 billed artists, over half are women.

The beautifully dense lineup includes both big names and hidden gems across genres, yet the headliners alone show that they are walking their talk. Erykah Badu, Future, Interpol, Tame Impala, Janelle Monáe, Solange, J Balvin, Rosalía, Nas, James Blake and Robyn all take the top spots.

The rest of the lineup is also filled with gems, including Kali Uchis, Liz Phair, Carly Rae Jepsen, Clairo, Cuco, Mura Masa, Empress Of, FKA Twigs, Pusha T and Big Red Machine (the National's Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon collab project).

The festival has also highlighted Primavera's commitment to urban music, with a focus on reggaeton and hip-hop. From the Latin side, in addition to unofficial second-wave reggaeton leader J Balvin, old-school genre legends Ivy Queen (one of the first and few women in the emerging scene in the '90s) and DJ Playero will be throwing down. From the U.S. side, Primavera 2019 will feature an exciting selection of female rappers, including Tierra Whack, Princess Nokia, CupcakKe and Rico Nasty.

Tickets, including single-day options, are still avaible on Primavera Sound's website.

Governors Ball | May 31–June 2 | New York City

Governors Ball Music Festival is returning for their ninth year on Randall's Island Park in New York City on May 31–June 2. 2019 will bring performances by headliners The Strokes and GRAMMY nominees Tyler, the Creator and Florence & the Machine.

The three-day music, art and music event certainly brings an N.Y.C.-inspired melting pot approach to their lineup, and this year does not disappoint. Other highlights include GRAMMY winners Lil Wayne and Kacey Musgraves, GRAMMY nominees SZA, Nas, The Internet, Jorja Smith, Bob Moses, Charli XCX, ZHU, plus Vince Staples, BROCKHAMPTON, Blood Orange, Clairo, Bazzi, MØ, Major Lazer (DJs Jillionaire, Walshy Fire and GRAMMY winner Diplo), Noname, Kaytranada, Gesaffelstein and King Princess.

More info on tickets, as well as the complete lineup and event details, can be found on the Governors Ball site.

Related: Tinder Teams Up With EDC, Gov Ball & More Music Fests For "Festival Mode"

JUNE
 

Roots Picnic | June 1 | Philadelphia

The Roots Picnic is back for its 12th year on June 1 and will feature a special headline performance from GRAMMY-winning band The Roots in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their 1999 album Things Fall Apart. 

H.E.R., 21 Savage and Lil Baby are among other artists on the music festival's bill. Raphael Saadiq,Tank & The Bangas and City Girls will also perform at the one-day event, taking place at its new location at The Mann At Fairmount Park in Philly. 

"We finally have a Roots Picnic in the Park," The Roots' manager Shawn Gee and President of Live Nation Urban said. "The vision 12 years ago was always to provide an all-day musical and cultural experience in Fairmount Park. Black Thought, Questlove and I grew up spending our Sunday afternoons at the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park watching Philly DJs spin, and enjoying the vibe and the culture. It's a great feeling to be able to come full circle."

For more information on tickets, visit the Ticketmaster website.

Splash House | Jun 7–9 | Palm Springs, Calif.

Splash House has been bringing the beats to the pastel-colored desert of Palm Springs for several years now, and will return June 7–9 (as well as in August). GRAMMY-winning French electro heavyweights Justice, GRAMMY-nominated U.S. house music stalwart Armand van Helden, New York-based house producer Jai Wolf and U.K. bass/trap champ TroyBoi will headline. The three-day fest takes place poolside at three beautiful desert aesthetic hotels: The Renaissance, The Riviera and The Saguaro.

The rest of the lineup offers an equally impressive and diverse group of electronic artists, including GRAMMY nominees Jax Jones and Dirty South, along with Pete Tong, A-Track, CRAY and more. Shiba San, Dusky, Kidnap and a few others will keep the vibes going into the nighttime, with official after-hours shows at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Daytime tickets for the June edition of Splash House went quickly, but they can be requested via a ticket exchange program. More info on all options can be found on Splash House's website.

Bonnaroo | June 13–16 | Manchester, Tenn.

Founded in 2002, this down-south outdoor fest once specialized in all things folk and jam. Nowadays, the lineup's diversified a bit, welcoming artists of nearly every popular genre. This year's Bonnaroo will take place June 13–16 at Great Stage Park, a 700-acre farm and event space in Manchester, Tenn., 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

The diverse group of artists on Friday alone include Phish, Childish Gambino, Solange, The Avett Brothers, Brockhampton, Courtney Barnett, Gojira, K.Flay and more. Post Malone, Odesza, Kacey Musgraves, The National, ZHU, John Prine, Maren Morris, The Lumineers, Cardi B and more will also get the farm grooving.

New for 2019, Bonnaroo will feature a "Sanctuary of Self-Love" campground experience curated by Paramore's Hayley Williams. There will also be circus acts, immersive cinema shows, theme parties, and the fest's first-ever Pride parade.

Tickets can be found on the festival's website.

GRAMMYs at Coachella: Sofi Tukker On Crafting Their "Ideal" Coachella Set, Giving Hugs To Maggie Rogers & More

Ruido Fest | Jun 21–23 | Chicago

For three days, Ruido Fest takes over Union Park, also home to Pitchfork Fest, and turns Chicago into a Latin alternative music mecca. This year, the music festival happening June 21– 23 celebrates its 5th edition and will gather iconic music groups like El Tri, Los Tigres Del Norte, Hombres G and Enanitos Verdes on the same stages as rising stars like Latin urban artist Tomasa Del Real, Helado Negro, Monsieur Perine and many more. From rock, to pop and electro, this festival boasts some of the best in established and up-and coming music artists in the Latin genre For more information on Ruido fest, visit their website.

Firefly | June 21–23 | Dover, Del.

Firefly Music Festival, which touts itself as "the East Coast's largest music and camping festival," returns for its eighth year in The Woodlands of Dover, Del. The June fest will feature GRAMMY-nominated headliners Panic! At The Disco, Post Malone and Travis Scott. 

GRAMMY winners TLC, Vampire Weekend and Zedd, as well as GRAMMY nominees Courtney Barnett, Death Cab For Cutie, DJ Snake and Tyler, The Creator will also perform at the woodsy fest. Alison Wonderland, Brockhampton, Dashboard Confessional, GRiZ, Kygo, Gucci Mane, Jessie Reyez, Snail Mail, Walk The Moon, and Young The Giant are also on this year's bill.

Tickets, along with "glamping" options, can be purchased on Firefly's website.

JULY
 

Essence Festival | July 4–7 | New Orleans

Essence Festival returns for its 25th year of celebrating black culture in New Orleans. The music portion of the event will take place from July 4–7 at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, with billed performers like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Brandy, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., Big Freedia, Ledisi, Mary J. Blige and many more. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will also bring extra inspiration to the main stage on Saturday.

Four other stages at the Superdome will showcase more talented artists such as AlunaGeorge, City Girls and Normani, as well as Mase, Ginuwine and Slick Rick.

Several different music fest ticket options are available, more info here.

Essence 2018: H.E.R. Opens Up On Mystery, Musicianship & Essence Fest

Mad Cool | July 11–13 | Madrid

Mad Cool Festival's diverse musical lineups have brought out a global fan base to its home in Madrid every year since 2016. Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds top the lineup on Thursday, which also features Canada's Kaytranada, La Dispute and The Hives. Friday will bring out The National and the Smashing Pumpkins as headliners, plus Madrid's own Vetusta Morla, Wolfmother and Germany's Sophie Hunger, among other exciting acts. Saturday closes off the musical celebration with The Cure, The 1975 and Greta Van Fleet.

If this lineup hasn't inspired you to experience the fest, maybe visiting the beautifully historic city of Madrid will. Single-day and three-day tickets can be found on Mad Cool's website.

Pitchfork Music Festival | July 19–21 | Chicago

The 14th annual Pitchfork Music Festival, held at Union Park in Chicago, offers an eclectic lineup perfectly embodied by its headliners: GRAMMY-nominated dancefloor-pop innovator Robyn, GRAMMY-winning godfathers of funk The Isley Brothers and GRAMMY-nominated sister trio HAIM.

The Isley Brothers, consisting of remaining members Ronald and Ernie Isley, will be celebrating 60 years as a group at the fest, bringing the funk with "special guests," Pitchfork reports. GRAMMY-winning blues and gospel icon Mavis Staples will also bring her longtime musical excellence to the three-day event.

GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop powerhouses Earl Sweatshirt, Jeremih and Pusha T, along with fellow GRAMMY nominee and electro-pop stalwart Charli XCX, are also slated to play. Several innovative '90s acts will also be performing: London-based avant-garde dream-pop group Stereolab, Scottish folk-pop band Belle & Sebastian (who will be playing their 1996 album If You're Feeling Sinister in full) and Swedish GRAMMY-nominated MC Neneh Cherry, who earned a nod for Best New Artist at the 32nd GRAMMY Awards in 1999.

The festival prides itself on highlighting emerging talent; some of the up-and-comers on the lineup are 20-year-old dream-pop artist Clairo, L.A.-based social activist/rapper JPEGMAFIA, French-Cuban electro-soul sister duo Ibeyi and 21-year-old N.Y.C. rapper Rico Nasty.

Both weekend and single-day tickets are available; visit the fest's site for more info.

Float Fest | July 20–21 | Gonzales, Texas

Billed as the "only festival in the world to combine the Texas tradition of floating the river and live music," Float Fest 2019 will feature Gucci Mane, Major Lazer, Ice Cube, Kaskade, Portugal. The Man, The Flaming Lips, Big Gigantic, Zeds Dead, Grouplove, Big Boi, Jungle and more at its new home at a private ranch on the Guadalupe River in Gonzalez, Texas.

"We're thrilled to be moving to a new city and keep the tradition of our fest going. Gonzales is known as the birthplace of Texas independence and we can't think of a better place to celebrate a festival rich in Texas traditions such as live music, floating the river, and camping," Float Fest founder Marcus Federman said.

Additional performers include G. Love & Special Sauce, Missio, St. Lucia, Houndmouth, The Floozies and more. The fest will also be partnering once again this year with local business to organize a river cleanup project. 

Tickets, including weekend and day passes, can be found on Float Fest's website.

Related: Exclusive: Lizzo On Lollapalooza, New Music & RuPaul's 'Drag Race'

Lovebox | July 12–13 | London

Chance the Rapper, Solange, Cypress Hill and 2 Chainz are among the headliners that make the U.K.'s Lovebox an international music festival with one of the most exciting lineups. Taking place in London's Gunnersbury Park, the two-day fest will also have Lizzo, Brockhampton, Action Bronson, and Kaytranada hit the stage.

The fest will also feature plenty of U.K.-based artists, including J Hus and Slowthai. For more information, visit the festival's website.

Newport Folk Festival | July 26–28 | Newport, R.I.

Newport Folk Festival returns for its 60th year to Newport, R.I., for a three-day fest. Taking place at Fort Adams State Park, Newport offers rolling lineup announcements, meaning some artists are still yet to be announced.

The genre-diverse bill is absolutely stacked: Audiences can expect sets from Maggie Rogers, Noname, Sheryl Crow, Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Portugal. The Man, Stephen Marley and The HighWomen. The latter is a new country supergroup consisting of Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby, who have yet perform together publically.

Even without the complete lineup, tickets to Newport have sold out. That said, tickets can be still requested via Newport's fan-to-fan exchange; more info here.

GRAMMYs at Newport 2018: Exclusive: Brandi Carlile On 'By The Way, I Forgive You' & "The Joke"

AUGUST
 

Lollapalooza | Aug. 1–4 | Chicago

Lollapalooza, the iconic Chicago fest held annually in the Windy City's Grant Park, always gets a long lineup of some of the biggest names in music, along with plenty of artists steadily rising to household-name status. For example, prior to dropping their major-label debut LPs this year, both Billie Eilish and Lizzo performed at the 2018 fest.

This year's flagship (organizers have launched Lollas globally now, too) event offers a diverse lineup, including GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, Flume, Lil Wayne and H.E.R.. Janelle Monáe, The Strokes, J Balvin, Rosalía, Tame Impala and RÜFÜS DU SOL will also bring heat to the four-day fest.

For ticket information, visit Lollapalooza's website. 

Lolla 2018: Exclusive: Billie Eilish On Success, Her Radio Show & New Music

Outside Lands | Aug. 9–11 | San Francisco, Calif.

San Francisco's biggest music festival returns for its 11th year in the city's gorgeous Golden Gate Park. Outside Lands' 2019 lineup features 2019 GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Lauren Daigle, Ella Mai, PJ Morton and Anderson .Paak.

This year's stellar lineup also includes earlier GRAMMY winners Twenty One Pilots, Edie Brickell, Flume, Lil Wayne, Paul Simon and Mavis Staples. GRAMMY nominees Bebe Rexha, Tierra Whack, Blink-182, Counting Crows, Hozier, the Lumineers and Bob Moses will also perform among the trees of Golden Gate Park.

Three-day tickets are currently available for the fest, while Outside Lands typically offers one-day options closer to the event.

Made In America | Aug. 31–Sept. 1 | Philadelphia

Made In America Festival, started by GRAMMY-winning rap legend JAY-Z in 2012, boasts GRAMMY nominee Travis Scott and GRAMMY winner Cardi B as this year's headliners. The two-day event will also include performances from GRAMMY winners Anderson .Paak, with The Free Nationals, James Blake and Kaskade.

61st GRAMMY Awards first-time nominees Jorja Smith and Tierra Whack are also on the bill, along with rising rappers Juice WRLD and Blueface, among others. The eighth annual festival will take place outdoors at Philly's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and is a great way to close out a busy festival season.

Tickets and more info are available on the fest's site.

No matter your musical and venue taste, there are plenty of festivals to keep you dancing all summer long. Stay tuned to grammy.com for updates on new lineup releases, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes artist interviews from the biggest events as we approach festival season.

Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival 2019 Coming In November

Elton John on Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

Elton John

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News

Elton John Celebrated With Britain's Exclusive Highest Honor

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Olivia Newton-John, Roger Taylor of Queen, Billy Ocean and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol are also among the artists on Britain's 2020 Honours List
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 30, 2019 - 5:00 pm

GRAMMY-winning music legend Elton John is being celebrated by his native Britain for his incomparable contributions to music, philanthropy and culture with the exclusive title of the Order of the Companions of Honor.

"I'm humbled and honoured to be among such highly esteemed company in receiving the Companion of Honour. 2019 has turned out to be a truly wonderful year for me and I feel extraordinarily blessed," the enduring "Rocket Man" wrote on Twitter.

The news comes with the recently released 2020 Honours List, in which Queen Elizabeth celebrates 1,097 new rankings of dames and knights each year. GRAMMMY winners Olivia Newton-John and Billy Ocean, along with Roger Taylor of Queen, and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol are also among the other musical artists on the list of high-level contributors to British society with several different ranks.

Watch: Elton John Discography: Icon Reflects On His Personal Favorite Albums

Australian-British singer/actress Newton-John "was made a dame for services to charity, cancer research and entertainment," as noted by The Guardian. Per Billboard, she is fighting breast cancer for the third time and has worked for years to support cancer research and funding with various philanthropic efforts, including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne.

"I am extremely excited, honoured and grateful beyond words to be included with such an esteemed group of women who have received this distinguished award before me," the "Grease" star said via Billboard. "As a girl born in Cambridge, I am very proud of my British ancestry and so appreciative to be recognised in this way by the United Kingdom."

Other powerful names in entertainment, like Oscar-winning British film directors Steve McQueen ("12 Years A Slave," "Widows") and Sam Mendes ("American Beauty," "Skyfall"). But as the Guardian points out, the majority of the list (72% this year) are made up of names we are less familiar with, yet nevertheless have dedicated themselves to public service. Simon Stevens, the Chief Executive of England's NHS, is one of these people, who has spent 31 years fighting for better public health funding.

According to BBC News, the honours list is published twice per year—during the New Year and on the Queen's birthday—and are informally approved by the Queen after nominees are approved by committees of "independent experts" divided by subject matter. "The system is overseen by the Cabinet Office Honours and Appointments Secretariat, and British nationals or citizens of the 15 Commonwealth realms can be nominated," BBC explains. Foreigners can receive honorary honours.

Read: 5 Ways Elton John Supports Philanthropic Causes

John was first knighted back in 1998—when he received his "Sir" title—and now joins a group of just 65 as a Companion of Honour. Fellow knighted GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney is also among this group, whose limit of 65 members at any given time includes the royal monarch himself.

He also received France's highest civilian honor, the Légion d'Honneur, earlier this year. The Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has organizations in both the U.K. and U.S., has raised over $400 million towards money to support HIV/AIDS research and prevention since 1992.

One of 2019's biggest music biopics, "Rocketman," highlighted the personal struggles of low self-esteem, toxic relationships and drug addiction John faced while bringing joy to many with his charismatic stage persona and groundbreaking blend of folk, pop and glam rock.

Kicking off in 2018, his massive farewell tour, appropriately titled Farewell Yellow Brick Road, has seen him bringing his joyful catalog of music to his countless fans around the world, with dates extending into 2020.

Giles Martin On 'Rocketman,' Elton John, Reinventing "Tiny Dancer" & More