Vetusta Morla

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Mad Cool Fest Returns In 2019 With Vampire Weekend, The Cure & More Plus Fest Upgrades

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With the lineup and experience upgrades, the festival to be held July 11-13 in Madrid is sure to be one for the books
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 30, 2018 - 3:16 pm

Mad Cool Festival's diverse musical lineups have brought out a global fan base to its home in Madrid, Spain every year since 2016. The fest has announced its 2019 lineup and musical acts include iconic groups like the Cure, rising bands like Greta Van Fleet and other artists that mesh rock, pop and electro from all over the world. The bill along with its recently announced festival upgrades make the fest sure to be one for the books.

To launch the fest being held July 11-13, Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds top the lineup on Thursday that also includes Canada's Kaytranada, La Dispute and The Hives. Friday will bring out The National and the Smashing Pumpkins as headliners and Madrid's own Vetusta Morla, Wolfmother, Germany's Sophie Hunger, among some other exciting acts throughout the day. Saturday closes off the musical celebration with the Cure, the 1975 and Greta Van Fleet. Other artists include Bonobo, Mogwai and England's Jorja Smith.

The 2019 edition of Mad Cool Fest has upgrades that will be an experience within itself. This time, the fest will have more space as it will reduce the number of stages and will get rid of one VIP area. They will also have more restrooms and free metro rides from the Valdebebas to the center of Madrid between 1.30 a.m. and 5.30 a.m.  

If this lineup hasn't inspired you to experience the fest, maybe visiting the beautifully historic city of Madrid will. Go here for ticket info visit Festicket.

Damien Escobar Shares Violin Mastery On Press Play

Maná

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Maná Honored By An Array Of Latin American Talent At Latin GRAMMY Person Of The Year Celebration

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Mexico's GRAMMY-winning band was honored with performances from Gilberto Santa Rosa, Pepe Aguilar, La Marisoul and more
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 15, 2018 - 2:04 pm

Musical stars from all over Latin America came together on the night before the 19th Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor superstar Mexican pop/rock group Maná, as this year's Latin GRAMMY Person Of The Year.

Maná Honored At 2018 Person Of The Year

Lights resembling the night sky lit up around an image of Fher Olvera, Alex González, Sergio Vallín and Juan Calleros—the members of Maná—on stage as actor Jaime Camil and Argentine singer Soledad Pastorutti hosted the spectacular night filled with talent that included tributes of the group's biggest hits and most touching songs by some of Latin music' biggest rising and established stars. The celebration began with an interpretation of "Adicto A Tu Amor," one of the group's most seductive songs, by Draco Rosa and violinist Ara Malikian.

The night continued as Colombia's Sebastian Yatra took the stage to honor the group with his version of "No Ha Parado De Llover," a sad song about losing a lover without knowing why. Group Monsieur Periné—also from Colombia—lightened the mood with their take of  the upbeat, energetic rock tune "Oye Mi Amor," one of the band's most iconic songs from earlier in their career, from 1992's ¿Dónde Jugarán los Niños?

Puerto Rican salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa, alongside pianist Arthur Hanlon, performed a salsa version of Manás hit, "Bendita Tu Luz." Mariachi music superstar Pepe Aguilar performed a special rendition of "Mariposa Traicionera" with renowned group Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández. Spanish rock star Enrique Bunbury covered "Vivir Sin Aire."

Other performances included José María Cano and Dani Cano, Iza Real and Piso 21, Vetusta Morla, Beatriz Luengo, Beatriz Luengo, La Marisoul and Orianthi, and Pablo Alborán.

Maná have become some of Latin America's greatest songwriters and musicians with a musical career that began in the 1980s. Inspired by rock groups of the U.S. and Europe, the band was among a group of Mexican musicians to begin writing the history that is now known as Mexico's rock scene. Since then, the band has created music that fuses rock, pop and Latin rhythms, transcending Mexico and into the world.

"We are very happy to see so many people here and to hear these super amazing covers that we weren't expecting, at times we didn't know what song was going to be performed and where it would end," lead singer Olvera said at the celebration. 

The GRAMMY-winning band closed off the night with a performance of two of their well-known songs "Labios Compartidos" and "Clavado En Un Bar." Tune in to the 19th Latin GRAMMY Awards to catch another performance of the legendary band.

The Complete Latin GRAMMY Awards Viewer's Guide

 

Lily Allen

Lily Allen

Photo: David M. Benett/Getty Images

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Lily Allen, Florence + The Machine Shortlisted For 2018 Mercury Prize

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The prestigious prize honors the best album released in the U.K. by a British or Irish artist
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jul 26, 2018 - 4:34 pm

For British or Irish musicians who released an album in the U.K. this past year, today is a big day. The 2018 nominations for the prestigious Mercury Prize, which celebrates the best albums of the year, have been announced.

This year's shortlist for the Mercury Prize includes 12 albums from a diverse group of artists: Florence + The Machine's High As Hope, Lily Allen's No Shame, the Arctic Monkeys' Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, Jorja Smith's Lost & Found, and Wolf Alice's Visions Of A Life. The list is rounded out with albums from Everything Everything, Everything Is Recorded, King Krule, Nadine Shah, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Novelist, and Sons Of Kemet.

Nominees for the 2018 prize were selected by a panel of 12 judges, including industry professionals, broadcasters, journalists, and musicians such as Lianne La Hava and Marcus Mumford. They narrowed more than 200 entries down to the 12 revealed today during a live presentation with BBC Music.

"This year's Hyundai Mercury Prize celebrates albums by musicians at all stages of their careers, but with a shared belief in the importance of music for navigating life's challenges — whether personal or political, falling in or out of love, growing up or looking back, angry or ecstatic," the judges said in a statement. "The music here is funny and inspiring, smart and moving."

Since the award's inception in 1992, 26 albums have been crowned as U.K.'s finest. Past recipients of the Mercury Prize include 2017's recipient singer/songwriter/producer Sampha for Process, and James Blake, PJ Harvey, the xx, Benjamin Clementine, Young Fathers, and alt-J.

The winner of this year's Mercury Prize will be announced at the awards show on Sept. 20, which will take place at the Eventim Apollo in London.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

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Glastonbury Festival 2019 Announces Headliners Janet Jackson, The Killers & More

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Other performers include the Cure, Diplo, Sheryl Crow, Lauryn Hill, Janelle Monáe, Tame Impala, and Vampire Weekend
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Mar 15, 2019 - 12:05 pm

England's Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts revealed their initial lineup for 2019's June 26–30 event, held at Worthy Farm outside Pilton, Somerset. In addition to five-time GRAMMY winner Janet Jackson and previous nominees the Killers, 2019 Glastonbury is filled with a curated combination of the famous and emerging. Other GRAMMY winners on the lineup include the Chemical Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Diplo, Lauryn Hill, Mavis Staples, and Vampire Weekend.

In addition to the Killers, previously nominated artists performing this summer include Bastille, Neneh Cherry, the Cure, Miley Cyrus, Fatoumata Diawara, Liam Gallagher, Jon Hopkins, Hot Chip, Hozier, Janelle Monáe, Jorja Smith, Tame Impala, and Wu-Tang Clan.

One of the joys of a curated festival like Glastonbury is experiencing new acts, from the established to those just on the radar. Two accomplished artists who stand out are the band Interpol and British rapper Stefflon Don. Others include Anne-Marie, Billie Eilish, Michael Kiwanuka, Lizzo, Pale Waves, Cat Power, Latin GRAMMY winner Rosalía, Sharon Van Etten, Kurt Vile & The Violators, and Kamasi Washington.

Although Glastonbury 2019 has already sold out, the festival encourages those wanting to attend to register at their website for an April ticket resale.

Janet Jackson Announces Metamorphosis Residency At Las Vegas' Park MGM

Ezra Koenig

Ezra Koenig 

Photo: Monika Mogi

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Vampire Weekend Release New Music, Announce Forthcoming Album Details

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After teasing the follow-up to 2013's 'Modern Vampires Of The City,' the band unleashes two new songs
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 24, 2019 - 12:10 pm

GRAMMY-winning indie rock band Vampire Weekend are done merely teasing new music after their mini hiatus; They've not only dropped two new songs, but have also revealed their forthcoming album, Father Of The Bride, will be out in the spring.

Days ago the band teased the follow-up to 2013's Modern Vampires Of The City with 120 minutes of the guitar riffs of one song, "Harmony Hall." Now fans can hear the full-length version of the song and another titled "2021."

The songs are two of the 18-tracks on the upcoming album, whose title was chosen by singer Ezra Koenig years ago, the band said in a statement.

While on break from releasing music with Vampire Weekend, Koenig co-wrote and produced "Hold Up" on Beyoncé's GRAMMY-winning Lemonade album and released a Netflix anime series Neo Yokio, while continuing to host his Beats1 show Time Crisis.

Brandi Carlile, Miley Cyrus, H.E.R. & Red Hot Chili Peppers Added To 2019 GRAMMYs Performer Lineup