Van Halen Working on New Album
Van Halen is working on their first new studio album since 1998. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex announced that David Lee Roth is back as the group's lead singer. He hasn't recorded a studio album with Van Halen in 26 years. Van Halen is expected to perform a concert tour following the album's release in 2011.
Taylor Swift Lights Up Billboard Hot 100 Chart
Taylor Swift's new single, "Mine," debuts at Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. That makes her the second female artist in the history of the Hot 100 to have multiple Top 5 entries in a single year. This past February, Taylor debuted at Number 2 with "Today Was A Fairytale." Mariah Carey had two entries in the Top 5 during a calendar year in 1995. She debuted at Number One with "Fantasy" and her duet with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day." "Mine" is the lead single from Taylor Swift's upcoming album Speak Now, which will be released on October 25.
Lady GaGa's Remix Makes Billboard's Top 10 Albums List
There are four new albums in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. Canadian rock group Arcade Fire lands on the list at Number One with The Suburbs. Trill O.G. by rapper Bun B enters at Number 4. Lady Gaga comes in at Number 6 with The Remix. And, All Night Long by Buckcherry debuts at Number 10.
Brian Wilson Says New Album is 'Labor of Love'
Beach Boy Brian Wilson refers to his new album as "a labor of love." Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin features his versions of 10 George Gershwin classics, including "Summertime," "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "I've Got Rhythm." He told USA Today, "I chose the ones that I thought I could do justice to. And, I tried to sing them the way I thought he'd want me to, if he were alive." The album also contains two new songs that Wilson co-wrote. "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" drops August 17.
'American Idol' Jordin Sparks Makes Broadway Debut
On August 19, American Idol's 2007 winner Jordin Sparks will make her Broadway debut in In The Heights. She'll play the role of Nina Rosario in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning show. Sparks said, "I'm beyond excited. It's going to be a whole new challenge for me. I'm going to do something I'm familiar with, which is singing, but I'll be doing it in a whole different way, which is fun. I like to keep challenging myself and growing and learning new things, so this is going to be a really cool experience for me." Sparks' 12-week run ends on November 14.
New Album Releases August 17:
"No Better Than This" by John Mellencamp
"Cowboy's Back In Town" by Trace Adkins
"Carmen: Duets and Arias" by Andrea Bocelli
"The Final Frontier" by Iron Maiden
"Foundling" by David Gray
"Intimacy" by Kem
"25: The Collection" by A-Ha
"The Trouble With Angels" by Filter
Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:
Brad Paisley will headline the 7th annual New England Country Music Festival, which will be held at Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts on August 21. Also on the bill are Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans and Easton Corbin. More than 50,000 Country fans will attend the sold-out festival.
The U.K.'s 15th anniversary V Festival will take place August 21 and 22 at Hylands Park Chelmsford in Essex and at Weston Park in Staffordshire. Headliners include American rock group Kings of Leon and the U.K.'s Kasabian. The sold-out festival will also feature performances by Stereophonics, the Pet Shop Boys, David Guetta, Paolo Nutini, Cheryl Cole and the Prodigy, among others.
Look Who's Going On Tour!
On August 15, David Gray and Ray LaMontagne kicked off a North American co-headlining tour in Columbia, Maryland. Gray is supporting his eighth studio album, Draw the Line. LaMontagne's new album, God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise, drops August 17. The 22-date tour wraps up on September 12 in Redmond, Washington.
