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We’re officially halfway through 2025, and it’s truly giving “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” vibes. This month’s column is going to lean into the good — a few Afropop moments of innovation, excitement, and inspiration that have made waves this year. This is an unranked list — a slice of joy and pride from my perspective. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize that around the world and particularly in the African diaspora, it can feel like these achievements pale...

When Wizkid: Long Live Lagos premiered at Tribeca Film Festival this month, the documentary on one of Afrobeats’ foremost superstars marked a milestone for the genre in itself. While Tribeca is flush with music documentaries, this one – a primer on a face of and the state of African pop music as it’s embedded itself in global pop culture – is a novelty. Later this year, Long Live Lagos will air on HBO and stream on HBO Max. In following Wizkid as he becomes the first African artist to play London’s elite Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,...

Coldplay’s status as the Glastonbury house band has almost become the butt of a joke since they first headlined at Worthy Farm back in 2002. This year, they become the first act ever to top the bill here five times, and bring a Saturday night show that is mesmerising at its best but often simultaneously head scratching.

Playing to what will undoubtedly be by far the biggest crowd of the weekend, the band launch straight into a phenomenal first 45 minutes that reminds everyone why they’re the only band to headline here this many times.

Coldplay’s headlining performance at Glastonbury on Saturday night featured a number of special guests, but one individual’s presence was particularly significant: Michael J. Fox.

The film and television icon, who has battled Parkinson’s disease since 1991, joined the band midway through their performance of “Humankind.” After serenading Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, frontman Chris Martin turned his attention to “another legendary Michael.” Martin continued his singsong introduction by describing the Back to the Future star as the “one who just totally rocks, with his Chuck Berry riff and the way he punched Biff… Ladies and gentleman, please welcome Michael J.Fox!”

Fox took the stage in a wheelchair and played guitar along with the rest of Coldplay. He then stuck around for “Fix You.”

“The main reason we’re in a band is because of Back to the Future,” Martin said following the performance. “So thank you to Michael, our hero.

Twenty years ago, the AIDS-awareness nonprofit Red Hot unveiled Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti, a tribute record that recruited over three dozen artists in celebration of the Nigerian musician. Now, after two decades, the record has been made available on streaming for the first time.

Red Hot + Riot: A Tribute to Fela Kuti received an update for the streaming era on its newly released deluxe reissue, which features two hours of previously unreleased alternate versions and additional covers previously trimmed down to accommodate the format of a physical CD.

Global Citizen has launched its 2022 campaign by releasing an open letter to end extreme poverty signed by numerous artists and entertainers, including Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Charlie Puth, and 5 Seconds of Summer.

The letter demands action from global leaders, businesses, and citizens everywhere to break systematic barriers that keep people in poverty, take climate action now, and empower adolescent girls. It marks the launching point of Global Citizen’s End Extreme Poverty Now — Our Future Can’t Wait campaign.

Other signees include Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Alok, Bill Nye, Billy Porter,...

The Hollywood Bowl’s 2022 summer season will include a three-night stand by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees Duran Duran, a fireworks-laden 4th of July engagement by the comedy/bluegrass team of Steve Martin and Martin Short, a Loggins & Messina reunion, a fully staged production of Cyndi Lauper’s Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” and a salute to Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee that will feature Billie Eilish and Debbie Harry, among others.

Artists with shows on the summer agenda include Ricky Martin, Pentatonix, Sheryl Crow, Diana Ross, Chvrches, John Fogerty, A-ha, Grace Jones, John Fogerty, UB40, A.R. Rahman, Lang Lang, Pink Martini, the Gipsy Kings, Boyz II Men and TLC.

As always, the LA Philharmonic may be the biggest star on the lineup, with 34 shows scheduled, 10 of which will be under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.

“Kinky Boots” marks this year’s annual staged production of a Broadway show,...

The massive Global Citizen Live concert this Saturday will include appearances from Billie Eilish, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, H.E.R., Metallica, Elton John, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran and Jennifer Lopez, among many others. So many, in fact, that the event is taking place on six continents over 24 hours.

Here’s a guide on how to watch or listen to the concert on TV, via streaming or online.

Coverage of the show will kick off at 10 a.m. Pt Saturday on ABC News Live (which can be accessed online or via Roku), Apple Music, Apple TV, Global Citizen.com, Time.com, Twitter and YouTube. FX will begin airing coverage at noon Pt, followed by iHeartRadio at 1 pm Pt and ABC at 4 p.m. Pt.

Artists and advocates donating their time to the global broadcast include Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Alok, Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, Billie Eilish, Black Eyed Peas, BTS, Burna Boy,...

International advocacy organization, Global Citizen has announced the expansion of Global Citizen Live to include Los Angeles and London with an outdoor event in L.A., which is presented by Verizon, and headlined by Stevie Wonder with Adam Lambert, Chloe x Halle, Demi Lovato, H.E.R., Onerepublic, Ozuna, The Lumineers and 5 Seconds of Summer at The Greek Theatre on September 25, 2021.

Also announced was the line-up in London, featuring performances from Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue, Måneskin, Nile Rodgers and Chic, and Rag’n’Bone Man all from a spectacular location. Tickets for the Los Angeles festival are available now at globalcitizenlive.la.

Both events are part of the once-in-a-generation day of unity across six continents, to be broadcast over 24 hours on networks around the world (Live on BBC One on September 25 from 5:30pm & across the BBC platforms until approx. 3:00am; Airing on ABC on September 26 at 7:00pm.

BBC Radio 1...

International advocacy organization, Global Citizen, has revealed many of the artists who’ll perform at Global Citizen Live events in Lagos, Nigeria, as well as festivals in Paris, France and in New York City, which is presented by Citi and Cisco, on September 25.

Across six continents, artists will help rally citizens in demanding that governments, major corporations, and philanthropists work together to defend the planet and defeat poverty by focusing on the most urgent, interrelated threats hitting those in poverty the hardest – climate change, vaccine equity, and famine. For tickets to the Paris and New York City festivals, fans and activists can support the campaign, earn tickets, and take action at GlobalCitizenLive.org.

These events, and more to be announced in August, are components of a once-in-a-generation, 24-hour worldwide event on September 25. Broadcast and streaming partners include ABC, ABC News Live, BBC, FX, iHeartRadio, Hulu, YouTube, Time, Twitter, and more...

Global Citizen Live, which will stage live concert events on six continents on September 25th, has announced its initial lineups for New York City, Paris, and Lagos.

Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez, and Lizzo are among the artists announced for the New York City show, while Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat and H.E.R. will perform in Paris. Femi Kuti leads the Lagos concert lineup.

The global events will take place in New York City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, London, Seoul, Los Angeles, Sydney, and Lagos, with more of the specific city lineups set to be announced.

Global Citizen Live has revealed more performers for the worldwide show on September 25.

Jennifer Lopez — who also played Vax Live in Los Angeles a few months ago — Black Eyed Peas and Meek Mill are among the acts just added to the 24-hour event, which will feature performances on six continents.

See the full lineups for the main concerts in New York City, Paris and Lagos, Nigeria, below. More performers are Tba.

Global Citizen, the international advocacy group behind the Vax Live concert on May 8, said next month’s event is aimed at defeating poverty, Covid and climate change.

The acts revealed today join Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, Billie Eilish, BTS, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay, Davido, Demi Lovato, DJ Snake, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Green Day, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Keith Urban, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Lorde, Metallica,...

Heralding an event that Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans calls “the one” — i.e., the biggest thing they’ve done to date — the philanthropic organization has announced plans for “Global Citizen Live,” a 24-hour special Sept. 26 that will be broadcast live from six continents and feature performances from BTS, Ed Sheeran, the Weeknd, Lorde, Metallica, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Lizzo and dozens of other artists.

Global Citizen says the broadcast/webcast will truly be mostly live throughout most of those 24 hours, with musicians or speakers on six continents in front of audiences everywhere from New York’s Central Park to the Champ de Mars in Paris to… yes, as you might have guessed from the top of the lineup, Seoul.

Other entertainers being announced in the first rollout of talent include Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Duran Duran, Keith Urban, Andrea Bocelli, Green Day, H.E.R., Demi Lovato, Coldplay, Adam Lambert, Usher,...

Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization behind this spring’s massive Vax Live event at L.A.’s Sofi Stadium, on Tuesday announced Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour live broadcast with events and performances filmed across six continents to unite the world to defend the planet and defeat poverty.

Artists and entertainers participating include Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, Billie Eilish, BTS, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay, Davido, Demi Lovato, DJ Snake, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Green Day, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Keith Urban, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Lorde, Metallica, Rag’n’Bone Man, Ricky Martin, Shawn Mendes, The Lumineers, The Weeknd, Tiwa Savage, Usher and more to be announced.

With performances in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America, Global Citizen Live will take place on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Like Vax Live, the new event will air across multiple channels,...

Global Citizen has announced the 2021 edition of Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour broadcast featuring performances and events filmed across the world. The livestream will take place Saturday, September 25th, and will air on ABC, ABC News Live, BBC, FX, iHeartRadio, Hulu, YouTube, and Twitter.

Artists performing at this year’s event include Adam Lambert, Alessia Cara, Andrea Bocelli, Angélique Kidjo, Billie Eilish, BTS, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay, Davido, Demi Lovato, DJ Snake, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Femi Kuti, Green Day, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness,...

Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Lars Ulrich and Hugh Jackman are among the stars who are joining to support Global Citizen’s Recovery Plan for the World. The year-long campaign aims to end Covid-19, end the hunger crisis, resume learning, protect the planet, and advance equity for all.

Femi Kuti, H.E.R., Idris and Sabrina Elba, Jonas Brothers, Lang Lang, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rachel Brosnahan, SuperM, Usher and Yemi Alade are also supporting the international advocacy organization’s new campaign, which was announced on Tuesday.

In 2020, Global Citizen’s advocacy and...

Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization, today announced its Recovery Plan for the World, a year-long campaign and series of events designed to better the planet across five categories. These include ending Covid-19 and the hunger crisis, resuming learning, protecting the planet and advancing equity.

The detailed framework — presented in full and put forth on the org’s website — is being supported by leaders across the music and entertainment space including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Femi Kuti, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Jonas Brothers, Lang Lang, Lars Ulrich, Miley Cyrus, Rachel Brosnahan, SuperM, Usher and Yemi Alade....

Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization, today announced its Recovery Plan for the World, a year-long campaign and series of events designed to better the planet across five categories. These include ending Covid-19 and the hunger crisis, resuming learning, protecting the planet and advancing equity.

The detailed framework — presented in full and put forth on the org’s website — is being supported by leaders across the music and entertainment space including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Femi Kuti, H.E.R., Hugh Jackman, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Jonas Brothers, Lang Lang, Lars Ulrich, Miley Cyrus, Rachel Brosnahan, SuperM, Usher and Yemi Alade....

Femi Kuti rails against oppression and corruption on his new single “As We Struggle Everyday,” a track from his upcoming album Stop the Hate, one of two releases the Nigerian musician will drop on February 5th.

“‘As We Struggle Everyday’ is about how hard people work every day to make ends meet and still go to vote corrupt politicians into power who are meant to be in jail,” said Kuti, the oldest son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.

The track is the latest offering from Stop the Hate, which is...

Miley Cyrus has shared a video message in support of Global Citizen’s latest Covid-19 relief campaign, Global Goal: Unite for Our Future, with a focus on the development of Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.

“We now have the opportunity to take a stand for equality and health for all,” Cyrus says in the clip. “Because this pandemic has affected our entire world, we need to ensure that everyone everywhere has the solutions for this pandemic: testing, treatments, and a vaccine. Together, people around the globe, across ages, borders,...

Tony Allen, the pioneering drummer who helped define Afrobeat during his tenure with Fela Kuti, died Thursday evening. He was 79.

Allen’s manager, Eric Trosser, confirmed the musician’s death to Rolling Stone, adding that Allen was taken to Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris, where he died of abdominal aortic aneurysm. “He was in great shape,” Trosser added to France 24. “It was quite sudden.” Sahara Reporters first reported Allen’s death.

As a member of Kuti’s band Africa 70, Allen helped revolutionize the art of drumming, simultaneously anchoring...

Beyoncé’s 2019 album The Gift, a companion to her soundtrack to The Lion King, finds sturdy footing on its fourth track. “Find Your Way Back” is supported by the graceful thrum of Niniola’s “Maradona,” an indelible house music single released early in 2017.

This nod marked the latest jump in global exposure for Niniola, a Nigerian singer who has gradually built an international profile since “Maradona” became a multi-country hit three years ago. Her latest release, “Fantasy,” came out on Thursday; it’s a wiry collaboration with the Nigerian luminary...

Lizzo, Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, Tool, Miley Cyrus and Vampire Weekend will headline the 2020 Bonnaroo festival.

Primus, Brittany Howard, Bassnectar, the 1975, Run the Jewels, Flume, Oysterhead, Tenacious D, Leon Bridges, Young Thug and Grace Potter also lead the the 19th annual event, which runs Thursday, June 11th through Saturday the 14th in Manchester, Tennessee.

Tickets — including general admission, VIP and Platinum options — go on sale Thursday, January 9th at noon Et via the Bonnaroo website.

The lineup will also feature Glass Animals, Young the Giant, Dashboard Confessional, Megan Thee Stallion,...

One day after announcing their upcoming double album, Everyday Life, and releasing two tracks from the project, Coldplay have shared their video for one of the songs, “Orphans.”

The clip, directed by Mat Whitecross, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the songwriting and recording process for “Orphans.” We hear audio of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and a kid (presumably one of his children) working out the drum rhythm for the song, followed by footage of Martin performing the melody of “Orphans” on acoustic guitar outside of Penn Station.

The video gives...

After teasing the announcement in newspaper ads around the world and in cryptic posters and social media posts, Coldplay officially confirmed that they would release a double album, Everyday Life, on November 22nd. To accompany the news, they’re sharing two tracks from the project, “Orphans” and “Arabesque.”

Both tracks were produced by the Dream Team, with Stromae providing vocals and Femi Kuti and his band playing horns on “Arabesque.” A video for “Orphans” will arrives Friday.

In addition to digital streaming services, “Orphans” and “Arabesque” are also available as...

Following Sunday night’s Global Citizen Festival in South Africa, the anti-poverty initiative reportedly raised over $7 billion in commitments — seven times the group’s original projected goal of $1 billion.

According to an impact report on Global Citizen’s website, the concert won pledges from organizations such as the World Bank, Vodacom, Cisco and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, as well as the South African government. Commitments will be applied towards the United Nations’ “2030 Program,” which aims to end extreme poverty by that year.

The festival, typically held...

Kacey Musgraves took her Coldplay fandom to the next level over the weekend, bringing out singer Chris Martin for a one-off collaboration. The pair shared the stage at Global Citizen Festival‘s Mandela 100 in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a sweet rendition of Musgraves’ “Rainbow” from the album Golden Hour.

Musgraves, who once performed a version of Coldplay’s breakout hit “Yellow” for an audience that included Prince Harry, was one of a diverse group of performers at the festival, including Beyoncé, Usher, Femi Kuti and Pharrell Williams. Her band was...

The Global Citizen Festival came to Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday to honor Nelson Mandela on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The anti-poverty show featured a keynote address by Oprah Winfrey and performances by Beyonce, Jay-z, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Eddie Vedder, D’banj, Femi Kuti and Sho Madjozi.

“Let’s leave this great gathering allowing the music and the message of this centennial celebration to renew our commitment to genuine transformation,” Winfrey told the crowd at Fnb Stadium. “Let’s insist on a world where every girl, child,...

Trevor Noah heads home to South Africa to host the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 at Fnb Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday, December 2. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: Self-Deportation Edition will air Monday, December 3 at 11 Pm Et/Pt on Comedy Central; it will air Tuesday, December 4 at 10 Pm Cat on Comedy Central Africa.

During his Self-Deportation Edition, The Daily Show host will show viewers a little more about his life before becoming host of the Comedy Central late-night show.

Beyoncé, Jay-z, Cassper Nyovest, D’banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams & Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, and Wizkid are among those set to participate in Global Citizen’s festival. The org says these artists will be joined by world leaders and private sector leaders to make commitments on the issues surrounding extreme poverty, while celebrating what would have been the 100th year of South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela,...

International advocacy organisation Global Citizen today announced that Beyonce, Jay-Z, Cassper Nyovest, D’banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams and Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, and Wizkid will headline the first Global Citizen Festival to be held in Africa, a free-ticketed event on Sunday, 2 December 2018 at the Fnb Stadium, Johannesburg.

The December event is the culmination of Global Citizen’s “Mandela 100” campaign in partnership with the House of Mandela; a series of global events honouring the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in his centenary year.

Oprah Winfrey will deliver a special keynote address remembering Nelson Mandela and his legacy.

Executive producers of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 include Dr. Precious Moloi Motsepe, Patrice Motsepe, Kweku Mandela, Dave Holmes, Declan Kelly, Liza Henshaw and Hugh Evans.

Hosts of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 include Naomi Campbell, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Bonang Matheba, Tyler Perry,...

Beyonce, Jay-z and Ed Sheeran will headline a special Global Citizen Festival in honor of Nelson Mandela in South Africa on Dec. 2. The concert, which will be held at Fnb Stadium in Johannesburg, will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of the anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, organizers announced early Monday. Mandela died in 2013.

Others performing at the festival include Usher, Eddie Vedder, a joint set from Pharrell Williams and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and African artists including Wizkid, Cassper Nyovest and Femi Kuti.

Oprah Winfrey will give a keynote address Mandela’s legacy, and other hosts will include Naomi Campbell and actors Forest Whitaker and Tyler Perry.

The Global Citizen organization has a stated goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. With its Mandela 100 campaign, it hopes to bring in $1 billion.

“Global Citizen’s campaign, which aims to rally $1 billion in new commitments, with $500 million of that...

Which music stars went home with awards at the 2014 Grammy Awards? Find out with this full winners list.

Winners in each category are bolded.

Record of the Year

"Get Lucky" -- Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers

"Radioactive" -- Imagine Dragons

"Royals" -- Lorde

"Locked Out of Heaven" -- Bruno Mars

"Blurred Lines" -- Robin Thick feat. T.I. and Pharrell

Album of the year

"The Blessed Unrest" -- Sara Bareilles

"Random Access Memories" -- Daft Punk

"Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" -- Kendrick Lamar

"The Heist" -- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

"Red" -- Taylor Swift

Song of the year

"Just Give Me a Reason" -- Jeff Bhasker, Pink and Nate Ruess (Pink feat. Nate Ruess)

"Locked Out of Heaven" -- Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine and Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars)

"Roar" -- Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry and Henry Walter (Katy Perry)

"Royals...

Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician who defined Afrobeat, influenced everyone from Paul McCartney to Michael Jackson. Now, with Finding Fela, Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (The Armstrong Lie) sheds new light on the politically fiery artist with never before seen footage and documents, including Kuti's report card (there's a reason he wasn't a doctor like his brothers). By framing the biography of the musician (Kuti who died from AIDS-related complications in 1997) through rehearsals for Bill T. Jones' Tony-winning musical Fela!, Gibney presents two stories in one – the staging of...

Lagos, Nigeria -- Nigeria celebrated the memory of late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti this past week as his family put on a series of concerts featuring singers and artists channeling his funky style.

Felabration, as the concert series is known, began with the opening of the Kalakuta Museum, which offers a glimpse of how Fela lived in his former home. Thousands came to the New Afrika Shrine, the performance hall where his son Femi Kuti performs each week.

Through the haze of marijuana smoke, top artists in Nigeria, including Asa and Tiwa Savage, performed on stage. Most raised their fists above their heads, mirroring the famous image of the singer who called for pan-Africanism and human rights in his country when many were cowed into silence by a string of military rulers.

Fela created Afrobeat in the late 1960s, mixing the rhythm of jazz, the catchiness of pop music and...

This year’s SXSW had a few strong themes running throughout its selections, and in the documentary category, this was seen in the numerous films about '70s rock icons such as “Paul Williams: Still Alive,” “Marley,” the preview of “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me,” and heck, even “Bad Brains: A Band in DC” fits into this category. But the Documentary Feature winning film, “Beware of Mr. Baker,” about Cream drummer Ginger Baker, certainly earned its award, as it blows those other (quite remarkable) films out of the water, starting with one vicious rap to the nose.

The film’s title is a literal one, taken directly from the sign at the gate of Ginger Baker’s South African compound. It also refers to the opening sequence of the film -- the camera obscured, with Baker shouting “I don’t want those fucking people in my film!” before lashing...

In this weekend's New York Times, actor/comedian/musician Fred Armisen talks about his Sunday rituals, part of which includes chunks of time devoted to Rockstar Games' hit western. Armisen--one-half of the ThunderAnt sketch duo that powers "Portlandia"--owns up to a significant relationship with "Rdr," saying:

I play Red Dead Redemption -- it comes from the same company that made Grand Theft Auto. I have a part in it: I'm the pharmacist. But I play it because it's a beautiful game. The words "video game" seem a teeny way to describe it: it's pure art, this whole universe of intense little interactions and consequences. It's relaxing because it's stressful. You get yourself into a physical panic whenever you play.

I didn't even know that Armisen played that pharmacist character, but Rockstar's games tend to sneak in a lot of unheralded, stealth cameos. Samuel L. Jackson voiced a crooked cop...

Sam Urdank/©Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection Ricky Gervais, 2009, in “The Invention of Lying.”

Ricky Gervais pens an atheist Easter essay; Susan Lucci speaks out about “All My Children”; “Fela” kicks off in Africa…

Ricky Gervais Pens an Atheist Easter Essay: British Comic Ricky Gervais, who drew more than 7,000 comments when he wrote an essay for Speakeasy last Christmas explaining why he doesn’t believe in God, has penned a new article for Easter about why he thinks he’s...

The New York Times reports that Femi Kuti, son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, saw Fela! while in New York on Sunday. Previously, Kuti would not see the production unless it was brought to Lagos, where his father originally built the nightclub. On Saturday, over a World Cup viewing with Fela! co-conceiver and producer Stephen Hendel, Kuti was promised the show will see a production in Lagos. Said Hendel: "We're going to keep our word."...

The New York Times reports that Femi Kuti, son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, saw Fela! while in New York on Sunday. Previously, Kuti would not see the production unless it was brought to Lagos, where his father originally built the nightclub. On Saturday, over a World Cup viewing with Fela! co-conceiver and producer Stephen Hendel, Kuti was promised the show will see a production in Lagos. Said Hendel: "We're going to keep our word."...

By Suzy Perler

This past weekend, 15,000 enthusiastic music fans descended upon the majestic hills of Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masontown, West Virginia for the 14th annual All Good Music Festival. They were treated to over 40 hours of music ranging from rock to reggae. For many, traveling thousands of miles to take part in this experience is the highlight of their summer and a yearly tradition. It's a perfect combination of great music, beautiful scenery, crisp mountain air and a friendly, laid back vibe.

The crowd got warmed up on the first night with Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead tribute band who set the scene for the weekend ahead with positive vibes and killer jams. Friday's (July 9) lineup also included festival favorites such as Umphrey's McGee, Tea Leaf Green and Femi Kuti. As the sun set, the crowd expanded and was ready to rock with featured band, Furthur (which includes...

R. Kelly officially kicked off the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa on Friday, June 11 with a rousing performance of the tournament's anthem "Sign of Victory". More than 84,000 soccer fans sang along at Soweto's Soccer City before the opening game between host nation South Africa and Mexico. Kelly headlined the pre-game spectacular with the Soweto Spiritual Singers.

South Africa's former leader Nelson Mandela, who was expected to be a big part of the concert, had to miss the celebrations following the death of his 13-year-old great-granddaughter. The teenager was killed in a car crash on her way home from Thursday's Kick-Off Concert party in Johannesburg.

Thandiswa Mazwai kicked off the music and dance spectacular before the opening game, and was followed by Algerian musician Khlaed, Nigeria's Femi Kuti and African music legend Hugh Masekela, among others, on a revolving stage in the middle of the pitch.

In a party taking place on August 26 at Mayfair Hotel in London, nominees for this year's Mobo Awards were uncovered. Those who got multiple kudos were Beyonce Knowles, Kanye West, Dizzee Rascal, Chipmunk and N-Dubz among others.

Beyonce, Kanye and Dizzee received three nominations each. Meanwhile, Chipmunk and N-Dubz led the pack, shadowing them all with four nods each. "It is a reflection of the industry that the guys are dominating the UK nominations, but we have identified a lot of young female talent coming through," Kanya King, the awards' founder, commented on the nominees list.

Beyonce was listed among the contenders for Best Video, Best International Act and Best Album, two of the latest have her facing off Kanye who received his third nod in Best Hip-Hop Act. Dizzee, meanwhile, got chances to win Mobo prizes in such categories as Best U.K. Act, Best Hip-Hop Act and Best Video.

What: Glade. When: July 16, 2009, to July 19, 2009. Where: Matterley Bowl, near Winchester, Hampshire, U.K. Relevance: Started as a stage at Glastonbury and still strongly tied with its mother festival, the Glade has grown into a full-fledged party of its own. It attracts about 16,000 people each year for its mix of psy-trance, techno, drum ’n’ bass, and every other incarnation of dance music. “Don’t expect to see any instruments lying around!” laughs musician Rory Guinness. Highlights: Underworld, Freestylers, Femi Kuti, Nitin Sawhney, Dub Pistols, and the Egg. Who: Electronic-music lovers. More Information: gladefestival.com Related: More events on the International Social Calendar...

On May 27, Dave Matthews Band will set out on a summer tour ambitious enough to rival Guns N' Roses. Well, maybe it won't be as extensive as the two-year Use Your Illusion tour, but it will span nearly the entire U.S., last a full six months and include a ridiculous batch of openers such as The Hold Steady, The Roots, Old Crow Medicine Show, Femi Kuti, The Avett Brothers, Jason Mraz, Switchfoot and more.