Oscar winning filmmaker Peter Jackson has collaborated with The Beatles for the upcoming documentary, The Beatles: Get Back, due out in August, 2021.
Get Back looks at the Fab Four in 1969 and 1970, when John Lennon, Paul McCartney,George Harrison and Ringo Starr were preparing for their first live show in two years, showcasing the camaraderie and spirit between them, as they wrote and rehearsed 14 new songs.
The film draws from 56 hours of previously unseen footage of the band, shot by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and includes more than 150 hours of audio. Also included in the documentary is the band’s final live performance as a group in London, England.
Paul McCartney said in a tweet:
Peter Jackson has released an exclusive sneak peek of his upcoming documentary “@TheBeatles: Get Back” for fans everywhere to enjoy.
In a video message, Jackson introduced an extended preview, noting that the film was due to be finished by now, but has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying “Hopefully it will put a smile on your face in these rather bleak times that we’re in at the moment.”
Jackson’s native New Zealand has COVID-19 under control, leading him to be able to resume work on the film. He stresses that the video shared is not a trailer, but a montage of scenes so far collected for the film, set to a rehearsal recording of the movie’s title track.
The Beatles: Get Back will be released with a new book of the same name, the first official book credited to the band since 2000’s The Beatles Anthology. The new book will be out on August 31, 2021, and features an introduction by Hanif Kureishi.
The Beatles: Get Back will open in theaters on August 27, 2021.
Wu Tang Clan released “Hi,” a new single alongside Texas, on Tuesday, December 1.
Recognized as one of the pioneers of the grimy, raw, hard-nosed sound, Wu Tang Clan’s status as international stars is not to be underestimated. They were synonymous with New York for almost three-decades. Their reputation as one of the most influential factions in Hip Hop history has seen their popularity soar in nations throughout the world, one being Scotland.
It was February 9, 1998, when Clan members Method Man and RZA joined Scottish pop-rock outfit, Texas, on stage at the Brit Awards in London. The two factions were performing the remix to the latter’s top 10 UK charting single, “Say What you Want.” Now, over twenty years later, the two groups have collaborated on another trans-cultural record, “Hi.”
Featuring RZA, Ghostface Killah and with vocals from Sharleen Spiteri, the record came about during RZA’s time in Glasgow. Whilst the Clan head honcho was filming a documentary, he connected with Spiteri and subsequently contributed a verse the Wu Tang Clan track, “Hi.”
A fast-paced alternative record, the music video opens up with Top Boy actor, Kadeem Ramsay, watching footage of their iconic performance at the Brit Awards. The television then segues into a more recent interview between RZA and Spiteri in which they discuss their yearn to work together again. Ramsay’s character is a super-fan of the two groups, as his room is filled with posters, memorabilia, as well as a shirt with a picture from the 1998 Brit Awards plastered on it.
Throughout the Wu Tang Clan “Hi” music video, he is seen performing routine tasks such as; picking out an outfit, driving his car and getting a tattoo. It is revealed that he kidnapped Spiteri in an attempt to get the two groups to collaborate once again. Spiteri responds by facetiming RZA, and after a short conversation, he obliges to the request. Spiteri and Ramsay then share a smoke, as she lightly ridicules his poor attempt at tying her up.
A 2,000 mile border wide concert is being planned amid the upcoming 2020 election. The event “Rock The Border, Stop The Wall.” Over 30 musicians, activists, and artists, will perform in a CO-VID-safe online concert. The concert will take place on Friday, October 23rd at 5PM CST/6PM ET in the bordering states of California, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
Tension at the southern U.S. border has peaked in the past few years, due to U.S. immigration policy. To downplay and unite in spite of all the controversy, musicians gathered togther in high spirits to perform and play music. “Fandango At The Wall” was a film centered on gathering musicians on both sides of the Tijuana-San Diego border. Musicians played big band jazz arrangements and enjoyed the harmonious music on both sides of the border. Another border-related concert is coming soon, although it’s not exactly a film.
The event aims to motivate young latinos for the upcoming election and aid efforts in stopping the controversial border wall project. The event is a 2,000 mile border-wide concert and it will be hosted by the “#No Border Wall Coalition” in Laredo. Formed in February 2019, The #No Border Wall Coalition is a network of community members, artists and activists who oppose the border wall. With this upcoming election, the youth latino vote may be crucial to the final results.
The number of Gen Z latinos likely voting for the first time may surpass numbers from the 2016 election. Adrian Quesada of the “Black Pumas” says “The time is now to make our voices heard against injustice, oppression, division and hatred. Joining together to stop the border wall is the first step, and voting is more important than ever to head in the right direction.”
The concert has garnered plenty of support from artists. “The border wall is the physical manifestation of everything we have to mobilize against in this election: hate, fear, xenophobia and division,” guitarman Beto Martinez says. “This concert is a show of solidarity and a statement of hope against all those things that would divide us.” In addition to being a performer, Martinez is also the creative organizer of the event.
The concert will be at 5PM CST/6PM EST. The full line up of the event includes the Black Pumas, Aloe Blacc & Maya Jupiter, Ozomatli, La Santa Cecilia, Grupo Fantasma, Gina Chavez, Making Movies, Trans-Border Orchestra (Orkestra Mendoza + Mexican Institute of Sound), Anais Mitchel & the Cast of Hadestown, Las Cafeteras, Superfónicos, XIXA, B Side Players, Amalia Mondragon, Tiarra Girls, Bidi Bidi Banda, Radio La Chusma, Nosotros, Nohe y Sus Santos, Native Creed, Esther Martinez, Papaya Con Chile, Baracutanga and Rizu X.
For more information on “Rock The Border Stop The Wall” the organization has a website along with a Facebook and Instagram page. Navigate through the details of the organization, their mission statement, and relevant news.
Le Couleur, an alternative pop group from Montreal comprised of vocalist, Laurence Giroux-Do, bassist Patrick Gosselin, and drummer Steeven Choudinard, has released their latest album Concorde. Despite COVID-19 cancelling numerous live performance schedules and release dates, that has not stopped Le Couleur from expressing fine work; Concorde is a well-tuned, melodic, and soothing album.
When performing live, Philippe Beaudin joins on percussion and Francis Do Monte plays guitar and keyboards. For their new show, they recently changed and showcased their new formation, consisting of six musicians in total. The French-Canadian group had put out EPs in 2013 and 2015, before finally releasing their critically acclaimed debut album P.O.P. in 2016. Le Couleur’s synth-pop sound is filled with intricate melodies, tight basslines, and the album is a very enjoyable listen for indie pop listeners and recent live performances at home are just as nice to listen to. Amid the pandemic, they have recorded home performances in place of in-person events. Interested readers can find these in-home performances on YouTube.
Concorde is named after an outdated airliner model that had a notable incident in 2000 when a fuel tank explosion on an Air France flight killed all onboard. The airliner would go out of service in 2003. Prior to the disastrous effect of the Concorde flight, it was positively perceived for its sleek design, and allowed faster flights in comparison to other airline models. The group was inspired by the ups and downs of the Concorde timeline along with the airliner’s symbolism. The Concorde’s sleek design represents that sexy, idealistic image of the carrier. The crash and its eventual retirement mark the “macabre” side that Le Couleur.
Key Tracks: Concorde, Comme une fin du Monde, Train de Minuit,
This past week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a considerable fee increase to the touring visa for artists by the end of 2020.
DHS proposed the fee increase last November and it takes effect in October. There are two types of visas involved in this increase. According to NME, O visas are for “individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement,” while P visas can be used by family of those individuals.
The O visa rate will increase by 53%, going from $460 to $705. On the other hand, the P visa will decrease by 51%, making it $695.
To Matthew Covey, an immigration attorney for the nonprofit Tamizat, this fee increase is extremely damaging for most arts institutions.
“The bigger problem is that [Immigration and Naturalization] and later USCIS adjudication of the O and P regulations has become so arbitrary and onerous, that most arts institutions have been forced to hire attorneys to manage the process for them. As such, presenting performing artists in the U.S. now comes with massive legal costs which are — in our opinion — a catastrophic financial impediment to cultural exchange.”
Matthew Covey to NPR
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration service said that “the current fees do not recover the full cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services.”
Because of all regulations on a foreign artist touring visa, many music groups have been deported or denied. This, in turn, can be very problematic for future groups abroad that hope to tour the U.S.
In February of 1968, The Beatles pulled the ultimate disappearing act. The world’s most culture-bending and publicized foursome went radio silent, forsaking the comforts of Swingin’ London for a humble ashram in remote Northern India to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
For two months, the justifiably world-weary fabs were alone but very together, with just their romantic partners, trusted roadie Mal, and a few heavy friends like Beach Boy Mike Love, the singer Donovan, actress Mia Farrow and her soon-to-be immortalized sister, Prudence. And, oh yes, one very lucky 22-year-old Canadian, Paul Saltzman, who unknowingly stumbled into the world’s most exclusive mystical gathering, all in hopes of learning meditation as a way to mend his recently broken heart.
Now an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with over 300 credits, Saltzman spent 10 days in close company with the Beatles at Rishikesh. The lush color photographs he casually snapped of them in blissful repose, often cradling their precious Martin guitars, would become vital artifacts of what is arguably their most creative period. It was one where they wrote up to 48 songs, classics like “Blackbird,” “Mother Nature’s Son,” “Goodnight,” “Julia,” “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Revolution” and “Junk” that would appear not only on The White Album, but Abbey Road and their solo offerings.
Saltzman’s new documentary, Meeting the Beatles in India, is much more than gossip about what happened behind the ashram’s exclusive gates. It is a profound and personal study, through the prism of the Beatles, of how the enlightenment and peace produced by meditation can impact creativity, as well as our physical and emotional well-being.
Narrated by Morgan Freeman, Meeting the Beatles in India expertly weaves together a mountain of rarely seen archival film and some never-before-seen in film photos from Saltzman’s collection, along with interviews from a bevy of notables like Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd and her sister Jenny and long-time meditation champion and film director David Lynch. Together they captivatingly tell the story of the Beatles time in India, the impact it had on their creativity and the Western World’s lasting embrace of Maharishi’s TM. Beatles history buffs will, of course, delight in the new factoids unearthed. These include how the band’s falling out with the Maharishi came about (we’re looking at you, Magic Alex!). And, in a face-to-face meeting in Hawaii with the real-life Bungalow Bill, we hear how his hunting trip with his mom inspired the tune, and how the tune then inspired him to put down a gun and pick up a camera to capture wildlife more peaceably.
The film also takes Saltzman back to India, with legendary Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn in tow and suitably agog. Here, they visit the former site of EMI Studios in Bombay where George recorded The Inner Light, with master musicians like flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia who is interviewed in the documentary and, of course, to the ruins of the ashram and the bank of the holy Ganges River to trace the Beatles’ steps.
Saltzman’s chance meeting with the Beatles came about when he headed to the ashram to learn meditation in an effort to mend a heart crushed by a “Dear John” letter sent from his girlfriend in Canada. On arrival in Rishikesh, he was turned away, being told that the ashram was closed to host the Beatles, who he was unawares were even in India! A kindly staffer let him stay in a tent outside the gates, and after eight days, he was allowed to enter and take a one-on-one session to learn TM. It took less than five minutes, and his first 30-minute meditation was ‘a miracle’ that healed the agony of his heartbreak.
In a blissed-out state following the session, Saltzman was walking through the ashman and saw the Beatles and their party sitting at table. When he asked to join them, the always leader-like John warmly welcomed him with an, “Of course, mate!”
Over the course of the next week, Saltzman hung out with them often, and even had private discussions, such as the one where John, addressing the young man’s recent heartbreak, told him: “The really great thing about love is that you always get another chance.”
In the film, Saltzman revisits the spots where Paul and John first sang Dear Prudence to Prudence Farrow, the serious-minded sister of Mia Farrow, and the beginnings of the unfinished song that would become Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, with the partial set of scribbled lyrics set beneath McCartney’s shoe. In the convivial atmosphere, Saltzman used his low-end Pentax camera to casually capture some of the most intimate and relaxed photographic portraits ever taken of John, Paul, George and Ringo. These include the famous “Class Photo” of the group, their friends and 40 or so others who are at the ashman learning to become TM instructors.
Meeting the Beatles in India also takes viewers to The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool. Here, Saltzman reunites with George Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd and her sister Jenny, who were both in Rishikesh with the Beatles, as they revisit their memories at an exhibit of Saltzman’s photos. This great documentary broadens the focus in an interview with famed filmmaker David Lynch, who also served as an Executive Producer of the film. In it, he discusses the impact TM has had on his own life and creative output and his foundation’s work to expose children around the world to the mental, physical and creative benefits of meditation.
When young Saltzman returned to Canada, his experiences with meditation and the Beatles were chronicled in a single story in a leading magazine, with a select few of his images. The pictures were then put away and forgotten for 32 years until his daughter, Devyani, suggested he do something with them. Several gallery shows and books followed a few years ago, setting the stage for what Saltzman’s believes is the most far-reaching and meaningful document of the experience, this new film.
With COVID-19 decimating traditional distribution means for film, the producers of Meeting the Beatles in India are plying an exciting new avenue for its premiere.
Gathr Films will host a World Event Cinema Premiere on Wednesday, September 9 at 7 PM (local times all around in the world) on its Gathr At Home™ platform. The film will be followed by a live Q&A with the filmmaker.
For another in-depth look at Saltzman and his experiences with the Beatles, check out episode 223 of the original all-talk Beatles’ podcast, Fab4Free4All, hosted by three New Yorkers, Tony Traguardo, Mitch Axelrod and Rob Leonard. Also recommended is Jenny Boyd’s 2013 book, It’s Not Only Rock ‘n’ Roll – Iconic Musicians Reveal the Source of their Creativity. In it, Boyd, now a psychologist, studies the sources of creativity of famous musicians in her orbit including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Joni Mitchell, Keith Richards, her former husband, Mick Fleetwood, and dozens more.
Reggae legend Toots Hibbert has been placed into a medically induced coma. The Jamaica Star reports the 77 year old is being cared for at University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).
“Toots is fighting for his life and his family is asking for prayers,” publicist Claude Mills said.
On Monday news broke that the singer was awaiting results of a COVID-19 test after having shown symptoms. While awaiting test results, Mills noted that Hibbert was showing signs of the virus, and the musician’s inner circle have self-quarantined while awaiting their test results. Hibbert had recently released his latest album Got To Be Tough.
Original story follows below:
Toots and the Maytals singer Toots Hibbert has been hospitalized in Kingston, Jamaica. He is currently in the intensive care unit at the private facility. According to a statement released by his family Hibbert has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting his test results.
Toots Hibbert. Photo by Robert Tellerman.
According to his family, Hibbert is in good spirits and is getting better day by day and receiving the best treatment possible. The family thanks everyone for their prayers and in particular the minister of culture Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange and the minister of health Christopher Tufton for their assistants in getting Hibbert tested. They also thank the medical professionals taking care of Hibbert around the clock.
Statement made by Hibbert’s family.
Toots and the Maytals are a Jamaican musical group that were formed in the early 1960’s under their original name The Maytals. They are widely known for their ska and reggae sound. Some of their most widely known songs “Pressure Drop,” “Funky Kingston,” and “Bam Bam.” They recently released their first album in over ten years titled, Got to be Tough. The album features many originals as well as a Bob Marley cover of “Three Little Birds” featuring Ziggy Marley. It also features a track with Ringo Starr on percussion and Ringo’s son and longtime Who drummer Zak Starkey on guitar. Hibbert is notably famous for coining the genre name “reggae.”
Bandcamp announced their plans to waive their revenue on September 4, 2020 from midnight to midnight Pacific Time to support musicians facing hardships during COVID-19. The music company plans to keep waiving their revenue for these first Friday of the month days for the rest of the year.
According to the Crack Magazine when Bandcamp withdrew its fees for a day back in March as a promotional act people ended up buying $3 million worth of music in 24 hours. Since then BandCamp has continued these waved revenue days periodically including a 3 month stretch back in May, June, July of this year as a move intended to help independent artists and labels, who are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Bandcamp’s website since the pandemic hit in March, people have bought more than $75 million worth of music and merchandise directly from artists and labels, and to date, fans have paid artists over half a billion dollars on Bandcamp.
Bandcamp started waving it’s revenue on the first of the month back in May saying, “To keep supporting musicians during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are waiving our revenue share on all sales this Friday, May 1, from midnight to midnight PDT. Let’s come together as a community to put money directly into artists’ pockets” via their Twitter page.
To keep supporting musicians during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are waiving our revenue share on all sales this Friday, May 1, from midnight to midnight PDT. Let’s come together as a community to put money directly into artists' pockets: https://t.co/hPhgm7WBR4pic.twitter.com/DG6KYI2IN5
Bandcamp announced plans to continue the first Friday revenue waiving until the end of the year considering the pandemic is far from over. The following dates will continue this first Friday tradition: September 4, 2020, October 2, 2020, November 6, 2020 and December 4, 2020.
New York favorites to check out and support on September 4
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad are a Western New York favorite by reggae fans. They formed in 2011 and are based out of Rochester. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s sixth studio album MAKE IT BETTER was released September 16, 2016 on Rootfire Cooperative and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart. Their newest single “Good Love” released on February 7, 2020 is available for $0.99 on Bandcamp along with more of their content.
Aqueous is another Western New York favorite hailing from Buffalo New York. They have a devoted following for their indie-jam rock sound. They have recently made it into the national music scene due to their unique way of performing where no two shows are ever the same. They enjoy blurring the lines between a multitude of styles and genres. Their latest live performance for the Live From Out There streaming performances are available on BandCamp for each song for around $5 along with more of their content.
Consider the Source is another favorite from New York City. Consider the Source is an instrumental trio formed in 2004. They are self acclaimed SiFi/ MiddleEaster/ Fusion sound that breaks normal genre concepts. The group has released five studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation album. They have become widely known especially by Radiohead fans for their Radiohead inspired performances. Their latest album You Are Literally A Metaphor was dropped in 2019 and is available on Bandcamp for $10 along with more of their content.
For more information on Bandcamp and their first Friday revenue waiving visit their website.
Inclusion Festival announced its plan to be the nation’s first and only sensory-friendly music and wellness festival. The three day festival will broadcast virtually on the Inclusion Festival’s website and will run from August 21-23, 2020.
The festival will be designed to accommodate and include people of all abilities. Believing the concepts of inclusion are fundamental to all experiences and communities. The festival’s fundamentals have grown to spread inclusion as a state of mind past just the festival experience. The festival will have year-round events, experiences, consultation and training, as well as an online magazine.
The festival will host many incredible musicians on top of featuring people of all abilities. In the spirit of inclusion, Matt Butler will conduct Everyone Orchestra with participants Al Schnier (moe.), Aron Magner (The Disco Biscuits), James Casey and Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Bridget Law, Kai Eckhardt (Garaj Mahal) and Weedie Braimah. There will also be a very special performance from Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass) with collaborators Holly Bowling, Lindsay Lou, and Jay Cobb Anderson (Fruition). New sets will be aired from Hayley Jane, Zach Gill (ALO), TIKYRA (Southern Avenue), Peck and Penn (Midnight North), Karina Rykman, Tash Neal (London Souls), and many more.
The festival aims to showcase best practices in online accessibility including continuous closed captioning, American Sign Language Interpretation, and accessibility tools embedded on the streaming site. Inclusion Festival ONLINE will also offer a wide variety of workshops, diverse conversations including an interview with award-winning author and autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin, and live nightly dance parties. Viewers can log into Zoom rooms to participate and connect from home.
The Festival can be viewed on theInclusion Festival’s website. The event will also be streaming on CashOrTrade Streams. All donations received from the live-stream event will directly benefit the non-profit organization Accessible Festivals, dedicated to ensuring that music and recreation are accessible to all people, in addition to supporting the participating musicians and presenters.
For more information visit the Inclusion Festival’s website.
Music venues and theaters throughout the UK turned their lights red to support the many music industry workers who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Similar to America’s #SaveOurStages campaign, the UK has #WeMakeEvents to call upon support for the music industry across the pond.
Red lights shown at the Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge.
As a part of the Red Alert movement, a march in Manchester, England on Aug. 11 took place dubbed #WeMakeEvents. Among famous musicians who showed support for the movement were Leona Lewis, Doves and New Order.
Both the Red Alert movement and #WeMakeEvents focus on raising awareness to the live music industry falling apart. This was due to not having live shows during the pandemic. Although artists were hurt from the concert losses, so were the crew members.
According to BBC, “Producers, engineers, tour managers, security staff, truck drivers and cleaners also marched past some of Manchester’s closed venues.”
The Royal Albert Hall joined the Red Alert movement and tweeted about their support as well.
Our events rely on countless suppliers, manufacturers and freelancers and we will all need to work together to make the shows of the future.
