GIANT, a nightclub chain based in Los Angeles, is about to throw its epic New Year's Eve party, entitled GIANT Maximus, for the third time, with Moby, Paul Oakenfold, Dirty South and Benny Benassi set to headline.

Giant Maximus 2008/2009, in keeping with the omitted but implied "Circus" in its title, will not only feature some of electronica's best acts on three stages (actually three heated big tops) and a "Monster Midway Club" at its Downtown LA site, but also an entire amusement park (complete with ferris wheel), ongoing acrobatics shows and other interactive delights during its operation.

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Quite possibly the most prestigious musical event today, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has hit the big 4-0 and in turn, has outdone itself in booking nothing less than the cream of the crop. The 2009 lineup is incredibly diverse, both stylistically and chronologically, and will take music from jazz, pop, rock, soul, gospel, folk, salsa, blues, R&B, funk, and lots of music rooted in Louisiana, such as Cajun and zydeco. The event is scheduled to take place the weekends of April 24-26 and April 30-May 3 and it's a wonder how they've managed to cram hundreds of artists into a mere seven days. There are so many artists that one wouldn't know where to start unless they have a specific genre in mind. So for now, let's extract some of the rock bands that will be playing.

Although an official schedule has yet to be released, the lineup has been broken up between the two weekends. During the first weekend, Dave Matthews Band will be featured as one of the headliners (sadly, sans the original sax player). Wilco, who strangely drew in a larger crowd than Rage Against the Machine at Lollapalooza, will undoubtedly be received with open arms.  Read more »

It'd be hard to disagree that this year's presidential election was full of some innovative, creative and down-right genius ideas at getting people to pay attention.  From the bottom to the top, everyone was encouraged to participate through mini-rallies, phone trees, social-networking websites and instant-relay message boards.

One of the most powerful techniques for getting out candidate's messages and getting the ear of the public was the use of music, music videos and the artists as spokesperson, and the Obama camp definitely owned this tactic.  Read more »

Tickets for 2009's Langerado Music Festival will be available this Friday, December 12. A weekend pass for the festival, taking place March 6-8, are starting at $120, or you can buy individual day tickets for $75 a piece. Unlike most other concert tickets, there is no additional charge. Children under 8 get in free with an adult ticket buyer. Early-bird tickets are limited, though, and prices only go up from there. The tickets will be shipped out the third week in February.

Now in its seventh year, Langerado has moved from its old home at the Big Cypres Indian Reservation in Fort Lauderdale. It will now relocate to dowtown Miami's Bicentennial Park, just a couple weeks prior to the Ultra Music Festival, held in the same venue. With the attendance growing seemingly exponentially on a yearly basis, the venue change may prove to be a deal-breaker, seeing as how downtown Miami certainly isn't lacking in people.  Read more »

The 8th installment of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is scheduled to take place June 11-14. Produced by Superfly Productions in association with A.C. Entertainment, the 4-day event will remain in the same venue in Manchester, TN. Tickets can be purchased for pre-sale from December 4- 31. General admission tickets will be available for 5 payments of $50 or you can buy VIP tickets for $1,349.50 (not including fees).  Read more »

The summer rock festival is a hallowed tradition, and the mere mention of a Lollapalooza or a Bonnaroo calls to mind more than a few indelible images: The restless multitudes massed outside the brimming porta-potties, the eight-dollar hot dogs washed down with twelve-dollar beers, so many sunburned and shirtless party warriors being carried to the quiet mists of the chillout tent. The sun is out; people are on vacation; sometimes it rains, and we get naked in the mud.

The festival's immediate future is tied up in questions before U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Jeffrey R. Hughes on the suggested sale of the bankrupt Double JJ Resort.  The attorney for the bankruptcy trustee told Hughes that festival organizers have given a Wednesday deadline for a new Double JJ owner to come to an agreement on a 2009 festival at the resort.

As of today, organizers of the annual Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival are still searching for a place to hold the event for June 2009. After its first five years in Lawrence KS at Clinton State Park, the festival planned to move to a new site at Circle S Ranch in Jefferson County, 12 miles north of Lawrence, but the county commission yesterday rejected the festival's permit application to hold a festival on that site.

Festival promoter Brett Mosiman said alternative sites are under consideration. It's possible the festival could relocate outside the immediate area or even the state.

The Circle S Ranch alledgedly "lacks infrastructure to host thousands of cars and people", even though Wakarusa is far  Read more »

This past Sunday was one of those beautiful, crisp fall days.  The sun was shining brilliantly in a clear, blue sky.  The temperature got up to the upper 70s and there was a slight breeze.  And my son and I were attending our second Voodoo Fest and considering the time well spent!