“LIVEWIRE” – 04/22/12

“IL DIVO” & Orchestra In Concert – NORTH AMERICAN TOUR to Launch With Canadian Dates…

Singing Sensation NIKKI YANOFSKY Invited to Perform on Select Shows!

Recently named “Artist of the Decade” at the Classic BRITS, Il Divo is the most successful international music break-through story of the millennium, selling more than 25 MILLION albums & pioneering the classical-crossover genre. The world’s foremost modern-edged classical quartet will kick off their highly-anticipated North American Tour in Canada on May 18, 2012 featuring TWELVE PERFORMANCES with stops in Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, & London. Canadian jazz-pop sensation Nikki Yanofsky has been invited to open for Il Divo in select Canadian cities. Nikki’s phenomenal voice & smooth jazz style made her an international success at age fifteen…& she has worked with legendary artists like Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, & Wyclef Jean. She was catapulted to the international stage with her stellar performance during the 2010 Winter Olympics’ opening ceremonies.

The Canadian dates are part of a massive 2012 WORLD TOUR, which criss-crosses six continents – with the group already performing sold out spectacles at leading venues across Europe, the UK, Australia, South Africa, Japan, & Asia. Currently receiving rave reviews from the European community, tickets for the North American leg are ON SALE now, & include exclusive “VIP Packages” in each city. Select “VIP Packages” include excellent reserved seats & unparalleled access to numerous perks…including ‘Meet & Greets’, photo opportunities, autographed limited-edition memorabilia, exclusive merchandise, & more! The North American leg of the “Il Divo World Tour” is presented by AEG Live in association with Octagon Music & CAA. To purchase tickets, please go to ildivo.com or aeglive.com.

The IL DIVO 2012 World Tour, the group’s fourth, follows the release of the quartet’s latest album “Wicked Game” (Syco/Columbia Records) & provides a new mark of achievement for the signature vocal blend with unique operatic arrangements which have captivated millions. “Wicked Game”, the sensation’s fifth studio release, includes the title track (a dramatic re-working of the popular Chris Isaak classic)…an emotionally beautiful rendering of Roy Orbison’s “Crying”…a heavenly song inspired by Samuel Barber’s ‘Adagio for Strings’ called “Dove L’Amore”…& a stunning version of the unforgettable “Time To Say Goodbye”.

With an all-new production & show designed by creative director Brian Burke (artistic director of ‘La Reve’ & Celine Dion’s five-year run of ‘A New Day’ at Caesars Palace – both in Las Vegas), the 2012 tour promises to incorporate a captivating visual & musical mix of fan favorites like ‘Unbreak My Heart’, ‘Somewhere’, & ‘My Way’ – as well as premiering new songs from the “Wicked Game” release…all performed with a FULL orchestra.

Il Divo’s Carlos Marin, Sebastien Izambard, David Miller, & Urs Buhler are widely regarded for utilizing their exceptional voices, cultural diversity, & wealth of operatic training to bring a fresh approach to romantic & popular songs. Their quintessential sound is an effortless blend of classical & pop, often dubbed pop-opera, that has kept the quartet in high demand around the world. Their most recent “An Evening With Il Divo” tour, which spanned most of 2009, saw sold out shows across 130 cities. Il Divo received the Billboard “Breakthrough Award” for one of the biggest grossing tours of the year.

Their ground-breaking success has brought an entirely new sound to vocal music, & the group has earned more than 150 GOLD & PLATINUM awards in 33 countries. Their first four albums – Il Divo, Ancora, Siempre, & The Promise – have achieved 50 ‘#1 Album’ chart positions internationally. Watch Il Divo’s premiere performance of “Wicked Game” & find a full tour schedule below.

“IL DIVO” & ORCHESTRA IN CONCERT – 2012 WORLD TOUR

CANADIAN TOUR DATES:

Fri-18-May / Windsor, ON / Colosseum at Caesars Palace *

Sat-19-May / Toronto, ON / Air Canada Centre

Sun-20-May / Ottawa, ON / Scotiabank Place *

Tue-22-May / Montreal, QC / Bell Centre *

Thu-24-May / Halifax, NS / Halifax Metro Centre *

Fri-25-May / Moncton, NB / Moncton Coliseum *

Sat-26-May / Saint John, NB / Harbour Station *

Wed-25-Jul / Vancouver, BC / Rogers Arena *

Fri-27-Jul / Calgary, AB / Scotiabank Saddledome *

Sat-28-Jul / Edmonton, AB / Rexall Place *

Sun-29-Jul / Saskatoon, SK / Credit Union Centre *

Tue-31-Jul / Winnipeg, MB / MTS Centre *

Tue-7-Aug / London, ON / John Labatt Centre *

* Nikki Yanoksy will open for Il Divo in these select cities.

USA TOUR DATES:

Tue-29-May / New York, NY / Beacon Theatre

Wed-30-May / New York, NY / Beacon Theatre

Thu-31-May / New York, NY / Beacon Theatre

Sat-2-Jun / Boston, MA / Wang Theatre

Sun-3-Jun / Boston, MA / Wang Theatre

Tue-5-Jun / Newark, NJ / NJPAC

Wed-6-Jun / Providence, RI / Providence Performing Arts Center

Thu-7-Jun / Uncasville, CT / Mohegan Sun Casino

Sat-9-Jun / Philadelphia, PA / The MANN

Sun-10-Jun / Baltimore, MD / Lyric Opera House

Tue-12-Jun / Orlando, FL / Bob Carr PAC

Thu-14-Jun / Hollywood, FL / Seminole Hard Rock

Fri-15-Jun / Tampa, Florida / Tampa Morsani Hall

Sat-16-Jun / Tampa, Florida / Tampa Morsani Hall

Tue-19-Jun / Austin, TX / Bass Concert Hall

Wed-20-Jun / Grand Prairie, TX / Verizon Theatre

Thu-21-Jun / Houston, TX / Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion

Thu-12-Jul / Phoenix, AZ / Comerica Theatre

Fri-13-Jul / Las Vegas, NV / Colosseum at Caesars Palace

Sat-14-Jul / Las Vegas, NV / Colosseum at Caesars Palace

Tue-17-Jul / San Diego, CA / San Diego Civic Theatre

Thu-19-Jul / Los Angeles, CA / Nokia Theatre

Fri-20-Jul / San Jose, CA / San Jose Civic

Sat-21-Jul / San Jose, CA / San Jose Civic

Tue-24-Jul / Seatte, WA / Paramount Theatre

Thu-2-Aug / Minneapolis, MN / US Bank Theatre @ Target Center

Fri-3-Aug / Rosemont, IL / Rosemont Theatre

Sat-4-Aug / Rosemont, IL / Rosemont Theatre

Mon-6-Aug / Pittsburgh, PA / Heinz Hall

Thu-9-Aug / Washington DC / Wolftrap

Fri-10-Aug / Atlantic City, NJ / Borgata

Sun-12-Aug / Alpharetta, GA / Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

Tue-14-Aug / Cleveland, OH / State Theatre at Playhouse Square

Wed-15-Aug / Saint Louis MO / Peabody Opera House

Thu-16-Aug / Kansas City, MO / Starlight Theatre

Sat-18-Aug / Denver, CO / Wells Fargo Center

Sun-19-Aug / Denver, CO / Wells Fargo Center

About Il Divo: The dramatic rise of Il Divo has been incredible in its speed & ground-breaking in its success over the last six years, bringing an entirely new sound to the world of popular music. Launched in the UK, late 2004, after a worldwide search of the international opera houses & concert halls by pop impresario Simon Cowell, the group were christened Il Divo – an Italian word meaning ‘Divine Performer’. Their multi-national identity reflects the universal appeal of their music…combining the individual talents of tenor David Miller from the USA, vox populi Sebastien Izambard from France, tenor Urs Bühler from Switzerland, & baritone Carlos Marin from Spain. Conquering the hearts of fans & the charts of nations all around the world, the group has garnered a multitude of awards globally. Their first world tour was a complete sell out, reaching 69 cities across 18 countries, & was followed by a broader 2007 tour drawing continuous standing ovations across 30 countries. The prestigious honor of joining Barbra Streisand on tour in North America & many unique high profile performances – such as the opening & closing ceremonies of the FIFA 2006 World Cup (at which they sang the official theme song with Toni Braxton) & a performance at the “Purple Inauguration Ball” in Washington for President Obama – have also been key highlights.

About Nikki Yanofsky: With a soulful voice to rival singers twice her age, Montreal’s Nikki Yanofsky is a natural born entertainer. Six short years ago, she performed at the International Jazz Festival of Montreal at the tender age of twelve…& this made Nikki the youngest headliner ever. A year later, the singer made her first recording for the Verve label. She is listed alongside stars like Etta James, Diana Krall, & Natalie Cole on a tribute album to Ella Fitzgerald, & in 2008 released her own live CD/DVD “Ella…Of Thee I Swing”. It earned her two Juno Award nominations – one for ‘New Artist’ & another for ‘Best Vocal Jazz Album’. More recently, the 18-year-old vocalist released her first studio album “Nikki”, which includes standards as well as original work. It was produced by Grammy winners Jesse Harris (Norah Jones) & the legendary Phil Ramone (Frank Sinatra, BB King, Ray Charles). The album debuted in Canada at #1 on the “Billboard Jazz Chart”, #6 on the “Billboard Pop Chart”, & was certified GOLD within three months. In the United States, Nikki debuted at #1 on the “Billboard Heatseekers Chart” & continues to sell steadily.

For more information, please visit:

WWW.ILDIVO.COM

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MANAFEST Unleashes a “FIGHTER” of an Album – Canadian Tour Dates Announced!!!

All great art must come from within, & when a work of art SO POWERFUL comes from a place inside that carries such resonance, the artist begins to represent that work in every waking moment. It’s that approach that BEC Recordings’ & international rock artist MANAFEST (a.k.a. Chris Greenwood) has carried throughout his whole life, which is now entrenched in Fighter, his fifth label studio project. Out on April 10th, & produced by Adam Messinger (Justin Bieber, NKOTB) & Seth Mosley (Newsboys), Fighter is an eleven track knock-down, drag-out roller coaster of emotional, pulsating radio-ready rock.

“The record speaks about the battles we fight within ourselves on a daily basis, as opposed to the physical.” says the two-time Juno nominee, “I wanted people to feel emotions, I felt the past few years, on this record…whether that was pain, love, victory, or fear…but at the end take courage, as you get up & press on toward your dreams.”

Manafest knows “all too well” about having to fight for his success. At age five, his father committed suicide. Years of childhood insecurity gave way to a promising skateboarding career, before an injury (once again) left Greenwood with a mountain to climb. When he started writing music, his life began to change – for the better. He’s sold over 150,000 albums & over 300,000 singles worldwide, has had his music featured in “CSI: Miami” & “One Tree Hill”, & is known around the world for his energetic LIVE SHOW. But it’s his native Canada that has yet to recognize his artistic resonance…a resonance that has made him a commercial & critical success abroad. The numbers say it all, & with the release of “Fighter” – it’s time for Canada to take notice.

“There is a market for what Manafest is selling.” – Exclaim!

Being propelled by “Never Let You Go”, the swaying single showcases Greenwood evolving from a state of vulnerability towards a sense of confidence, & one that holds “Fighter” afloat. It’s the kind of track which cannot be played with the windows rolled up. It begs listeners to scream its infectious chorus at the top of their lungs, much in the way that “Pushover” (the cinematic & raging previous single) did.

From the sing-a-long stomp of “Throw It Away” to the snarling push of “Come Alive” (which features Greenwood’s relentless rapping), blending with ease into a soaring chorus, “Fighter” is an early contender for one of the most powerful releases of 2012…& will surely convert many listeners into bona fide MANAFEST fans. With massive commercial success around the world – having toured the United States, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, & Japan – the ongoing relentlessness of Manafest’s “musical battle” will prove to establish him as a household name.

Catch “MANAFEST” LIVE:

June 01st – Victoria, BC – Temple

June 02nd – Nanaimo, BC – Headliners

June 03rd – Vancouver, BC – The Rio Theatre

June 06th – Lethbridge, AB – Rhythm House

June 08th – Calgary, AB – Orpheus Theatre

June 09th – Edmonton, AB – Avenue Theatre

June 13th – Yorkton, SK – Army & Navy Vets

June 15th – Regina, SK – The Exchange

June 16th – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre

June 24th – St. Catharines, ON – “SCENE FEST”

For music & more information, please visit: http://www.manafest.net

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ALL ELSE FAILS Announce “HELL & HIGH WATER” TOUR!!!!

Edmonton-based metallers All Else Fails, who released their epic award-nominated album “The Oracle: What Was, Is, & Could Have Been” on Suicidal Bride Records last August, have announced a British Columbia trek through the month of May. The “HELL & HIGH WATER” TOUR will start on May 3rd (with a show yet to be announced) & wrap up on May 12th @ “The Riverfront” in Grindrod, BC with Cast Into Ashes, Odinfist, & Scythia. You can follow the Facebook tour event page at this link.

“Obsidian Walls”, the band’s new music video directed by vocalist/guitarist Barrett Klesko, can also be viewed here. Socially conscious, lyrically poetic, & rife with apocalyptic symbolism – All Else Fails is poised to take the music world by storm. Playing an aggressively dark blend of punk, metal, & rock…this well-established Alberta band breaks the traditional ideals of their genre by producing music infused with experimental elements, classical nuances, electronica-influenced synth lines, & spoken word sampling. The band’s unique sound has won them acclamation & fans across the globe – using intricate guitar riffs & meaningful lyrics delivered with powerful vocals. They draw their listeners in, then blast them with full frontal force! It is metal for a new audience, one that’s ready for something beyond the ordinary.

The band has played with major touring acts such as Fear Factory, City of Fire, Three Inches of Blood, Threat Signal, Decapitated, Suffocation, plus Arise & Ruin – as well as earned a spot on the “Ernie Ball Stage” of the 2009 Vans Warped Tour that also featured Bad Religion, Alexisonfire, NOFX, Devil Wears Prada, Underoath, & more! Their heavily inspired high-energy LIVE SHOWS set them apart from their peers, often drawing comparisons to “The Holly Springs Disaster” & “Killswitch Engage”.

AEF Performance Dates:

May 03, 2012 – TBA

May 04, 2012 – Tunnel Night Club – Vancouver, BC

May 05, 2012 – TBA – Vancouver Island, BC

May 06, 2012 – TBA

May 10, 2012 – Logan’s Pub – Victoria, BC

May 11, 2012 – The Cambie – Nanaimo, BC

May 12, 2012 – The Riverfront – Grindrod, BC

For more information on ALL ELSE FAILS, please visit:

http://allelsefails.ca/

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CORNERSTONE Announce European “Get Naked Tour 2012″ Dates + Festivals!

Austrian rockers CORNERSTONE have announced a three week European headlining run on the “Get Naked Tour 2012” – including prestigious festival appearances at the famous CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL & POP OVERTHROW FESTIVAL!!!!

Are you ready to GET NAKED?!? Here are the dates:

04/27 UK – Norwich – King Eddie

04/29 UK – Cambridge Rock Festival

05/01 UK – Boston – Axe & Cleaver

05/02 UK – Horncastle – Old Nick’s

05/03 UK – Nottingham – Salutation Inn

05/04 DE – Haueneberstein – Kronenbuffet

05/05 DE – Baden-Baden – Bakis (UNPLUGGED)

05/19 UK – International Pop Overthrow Festival – Cavern Club

05/19 UK – International Pop Overthrow Festival – Eric’s

Finally, the cat is out of the bag! At the end of April 2012, Austrian rockers Cornerstone are going to perform at the famous CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL. This event is one of the many traditional festivals of Great Britain, & over the years acts like The Stranglers, Asia, Barclay James Harvest, & Starship have appeared there. Because of this year’s Olympic Games in London, the festival will be divided into a “Summer” & “Spring” edition. Subsequently, Cornerstone is going to tour through the UK again (for the fourth time)…with further gigs being planned for Germany. The highlight for the group will be appearing at the “POP OVERTHROW FESTIVAL” in Liverpool/UK, where they will perform at the infamous Cavern Club – a hallowed ground where even THE BEATLES made their first steps as a band.

Watch Cornerstone’s video for “Rise & Shine” here…

Find out more at:

www.cornerstone.co.at / www.facebook.com/cornerstoneaustria

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Debut Airing of “ASYLUM WORLDWIDE” Video-On-Demand Concert Only Days Away…Los Angeles’ SCARRED to Replace “Anger As Art”

VM Entertainment is proud to present the debut airing of “The Asylum Worldwide” video show, available as an on-demand presentation, launching Friday, April 27th @ 12:01AM American Pacific Daylight Time (08:01 GMT) & the video-cast will be available for 72 HOURS exclusively on theasylumworldwide.com. The ticket price for the event will be $1.99 USD.

The concert was filmed LIVE on Saturday, April 21st at Count’s Vamp’d (formerly Feelgood’s) in “Sin City” – Las Vegas, NV & was free admission for anyone in the LV-area to attend. Metal bands RUTHLESS, SEVENTH CALLING, & SCARRED were performing…along with special guests, Las Vegas’ very own VILE CHILD.

Los Angeles’ Scarred replaced “Anger As Art”, who had to suddenly pull off the bill. Scarred was formed in 2009 by guitarist John Toscano, who had a vision of combining the influences of metal masters such as Judas Priest & Iron Maiden with influences from the newer, edgy acts – such as Nevermore & Iced Earth.

Aside from the music, the night featured fan interaction & interviews with the Vamp’d staff, plus everyone involved in making the event an awesome spectacle. Bringing you all the in-your-face action will be The Asylum Worldwide’s very own “1Psychotic” & the lovely Wyckid Tamm. The pair launches this first edition of The Asylum Worldwide right off the tracks, right through your brain, & literally into your home.

For more information on upcoming events, including the new “Assault on Area 51″ Open Air Festival set to take place in Rachel, NV on Saturday, June 2nd (outside the Little A’Le’Inn) – please visit www.theasylumworldwide.com.

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JOHN TAGLIERI’s “LUCKY #9″ Proves to be Just That, As It Slams Into the AMAZON CHARTS!!!

Released only a few short days ago, John Taglieri‘s new Lucky #9 EP has proven to be aptly titled – as it rocketed into the #67 slot on Amazon’s “Adult Alternative Chart” & rose steadily throughout the day to the #20 position alongside Green Day, Dave Matthews Band, Tracy Chapman, Matchbox 20, & OK Go (amongst other gold & platinum selling artists). The record also hit the #2 mark in “Hot New Releases”.

“I’d like to say I’m surprised, but c’mon now!” says Taglieri laughingly. “Seriously though, I’m truly humbled & honoured to see it do this well. It’s nice to see that after twelve years & nine releases, I’m still relevant & can make music that people still want to hear.”

John is currently touring as a member of Joe Bachman’s band (www.joebachman.com) & has a few dates left:

25 April – Philadelphia, PA – “Tavern On Broad”

26 April – Sewell, NJ – “Otts On The Green”

27 April – Boston, MA – “The Harp”

*** On May 3rd, 5th, & 6th - John can be seen performing his own set at Irish Kevin’s in Key West, FL.

“Lucky #9″ can be purchased on Amazon or iTunes. Visit John on his official web pages:

www.johntaglieri.com

www.facebook.com/johntaglierimusic

http://reverbnation.com/johntaglieri

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STRAIGHT LINE STITCH Announces Upcoming U.S. Tour – Kicks Off Tuesday, April 24^th

Knoxville, TN’s STRAIGHT LINE STITCH are thrilled to announce their upcoming full U.S. tour – kicking off on Tuesday, April 24^th in Bowling Green, KY! Fresh off of their successful 2011 album, The Fight of Our Lives, the band hits the road again through the beginning of June. Joining them on the road is former STRAIGHT LINE STITCH guitarist Kris Norris (ex-Darkest Hour), back with the group for two months of shredding alongside Kris Hawkins. Up until the tour begins, STRAIGHT LINE STITCH will continue writing for their third album…in which they hope to be in the studio by the end of the year.

The band recently re-emerged as free agents looking for a new label home. “I think, as a band, we are looking forward mostly to just getting back to basics…& at the very heart of that is hitting the road & letting everyone know that STRAIGHT LINE STITCH is still going strong!” states frontwoman, Alexis Brown. “There are some new faces in the mix, but the feeling & the essence of the band is still the same – which is to go out & give it all we’ve got.”

Heavy metal & hard rock fans are a fickle & discerning bunch. Bands that attempt to make a career for themselves by trend jumping, with half-hearted devotion, do not last. STRAIGHT LINE STITCH has been steadily ascending the ranks of metal & hard rock through authentic & impassioned performances, an organic evolution of their writing & recording, plus a tried & true “Road Warrior” mentality towards touring.

The band defined who they were early on in their career, & held steadfast to their beliefs, while making the natural progressions & growth of a committed touring band. While being genuine at the core of a band’s being is an absolute necessity for credibility & longevity, it gets you nowhere fast – if the songs do not matter. The SLS sound is commanding & universal, engaging casual fans of hard rock, & satiating the most stringent fans of metal. The tenacious musicianship is on FULL DISPLAY upon first listen, quickly establishing the virtue of the players. The balance between aggressive punch, & highly-charged hook, goes a long way to explaining the wide & diverse range of devoted SLS loyalists. Whether sharing the stage with titans of metal like Slayer, or playing a coveted slot on the punk-driven Warped Tour, STRAIGHT LINE STITCH captivates & levels all in attendance. Vocalist Alexis Brown is a blazing persona that demands the attention of a room. Throughout their songs, Alexis navigates a seamless shift from harrowing screams to heartfelt melody that adds depth & sincerity to their music. Her clean vocal parts never take a back seat to the punishing screams, as they are sung with an assertive power & spirit that soar mightily.

“STRAIGHT LINE STITCH” DATES: