NICKELODEON SET FOR FIRST MEGA MUSIC FEST.

Nickelodeon is taking its celebration of music to the next level with its first Nickelodeon Mega Music Fest – a live event that will feature duets from musical artists and the network's preschool characters.

Actor John Leguizamo will host the concert, which will be filmed live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on May 22 and air in prime time on Nickelodeon this summer. The event, combining live-action performances with original animation, will feature celebrities including Sherri Shepherd as Stage Manager and Colbie Caillat, Wyclef Jean and The Roots performing duets with Dora the Explorer, the cast of Yo Gabba Gabba!, The Fresh Beat Band, The Laurie Berkner Band and more.

"Nickelodeon considers music for preschoolers one of its most important attributes and extremely valuable to educational curriculum overall, says Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "It is exciting to be able to bring a big star-studded musical event to this audience and their families."

Source

RIHANNA MAY JUST HEADLINE GLASTONBURY NEXT SUMMER.

Rihanna wants to follow in the footsteps of her mentor Jay-Z and headline iconic British rock festival Glastonbury. The Empire State of Mind hitmaker broke down boundaries by performing at the event in 2008, controversially becoming the first rapper to headline the traditionally rock 'n' roll event. And

Rihanna admits she'd love to be added to next year's (10) line-up, alongside U2 - who are already booked to perform - and a rumored Led Zeppelin reunion. She says, "Glastonbury is a great festival and a great platform for me to be a part of. I would love to be there. Even if I'm not headlining I would love to be there." At least we don't have Noel Gallagher to open his big mouth against RiRi. Oasis has BROKEN UP!

SAY WHAT? Organizers cancel Pemberton Music Festival north of Vancouver !

A massive outdoor music festival that drew more than 40,000 people to a site north of Vancouver last year has been cancelled for this summer.

The three-day Pemberton Music Festival debuted in a mountain valley with acts like Tom Petty, Jay-Z and Coldplay.

Organizers say they weren't able to reschedule another concert but hope the event will make a comeback in 2010.

The festival that featured rising Canadian acts alongside international superstars was mostly a success but also had some snags.

There were long waits on the highway between Vancouver to Pemberton, chaotic parking and an impractical shuttle system.

Some people spent eight hours in traffic chaos to make the usual 20-minute trip between Pemberton and nearby Whistler.

Is the music media recession hitting Canada? First Canadian Idol, killing my chances of winning Media Idol this year and now Pemberton?

Source: CP via Yahoo

NO DOUBT NEW MOM AND FALL OUT BOY NEW DAD TO HEADLINE BAMBOOZLE FEST IN 2009.

NO DOUBT have cemented their first date for 2009 just days after announcing a comeback. New mother Gwen Stefani's band will headline the second day of the Bamboozle festival on 3 May (08) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. New dad Pete Wentz's Fall Out Boy will headline the opening day of the event.

MANIFESTO IS BACK! TORONTO'S FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND MUSIC.

MANIFESTO is back for the second year and will take over the city of Toronto for five days with live musical performances from acclaimed artists, visual arts exhibitions, a mini film festival, Hip Hop Karaoke, $1500 street dance competition, multidisciplinary workshops, youth initiative pitch contest, the Governor General’s Urban Arts Forum of the Americas, and hundreds of individuals from across the Americas to support artists working to establish peace and solidarity in neighborhoods and communities.

The main event of the festival is a FREE day-long show at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, September 21st which includes a legendary headlining set with performances by the Rascalz, k-os, k'naan, Kamau, and more, hosted by Sol Guy. The event also features an emerging artist showcase presented by the Toronto Youth Cabinet, a 70-foot mural wall, workshops, the Freshest Goods Artist Market, an open break-dance floor, and much more!

Event Highlights for the festival include: One City Series, a pre-festival series of individually organized events, which come together under a single umbrella (Sept 11th-17th), the Governor General’s Urban Arts Forum of the Americas at Nathan Phillips Square, Pitch Contest at Nathan Phillips Square with the winning project pitches being awarded a $2000 prize (Wed Sept 17th), Manifesto Film Festival at the Royal Ontario Museum presented in collaboration with the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the ROM.

Hip Hop Karaoke at Revival (Thurs Sept 18th), Us & Them Art Exhibition at Well & Good Gallery (Fri Sept 19th), From Block To Block: Two Simultaneous Block Parties: Live from Scarborough at Scarborough Town Centre Move On Up 2 at Earl Bales Park, Barry Zukerman Amphitheatre (Sat Sept 20th) and The Official After Party at CiRCA including DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock performing together for the first time in Canada and second time in history plus some of the finest and most influential DJs and local performers; including international guests: Black Chiney dancehall kings from Miami and baile funk artist Deize Tigrona from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. For full details visit www.themanifesto.ca

"It has been an honor to work and learn from such dedicated and influential figures in stamping this year’s festival as a historical moment in Canadian history. All the town hall meetings, focus groups, and conversations have really put this movement into perspective. We are proud to have maintained lasting partnerships and announce new ones moving into our second annual festival with community groups, organizations, and individuals that are committed to spreading our message of solidarity. Despite whatever setbacks this city has faced in the past, I truly believe Toronto is approaching its potential of being crowned one of the leading culture capitals in North America."
~Che Kothari, Executive Director

The first ever Manifesto Festival was in September of 2007 and was a huge success going down as one of the largest and most unique hip hop festivals in Canadian history. The festival brought together over 100 artists and thousands of spectators for four days of art and music, culminating in a massive free outdoor event at Toronto’s civic heart, Nathan Phillips Square, where many of Canada’s revered hip hop pioneers shared the stage with some new blood in a celebration of our nation’s hip hop legacy and future.

Do not miss this years’ festival! Come and be a part of history and witness one of the most talked about events in Toronto! For further information visit www.themanifesto.ca

60 International journalists storm Nigeria for Music Festival!

Usher performed last nite and Jay had Beyonce nearby. An unprecedented number of international journalists from the world’s leading media organisations will cover the 2008 edition of THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival – starting with the first leg holding in Abuja on Friday. Top journalists accredited are from print and electronic media, in addition to online and photo journalists. Newspapers and magazines that are being represented include The Mail, Daily Express, Ebony, US Weekly and World Report, Rolling Stone, XXL, Vibe, Billboard, GQ, Vanity Fair and The Voice.

News agencies and electronic media include Reuters, Reuters TV, MTV, ITV, ITV Radio, BBC, WENL, Associated Press (AP), Press Association and Press Association TV. America Online (AOL) has also registered. Freelance journalists who write for Time magazine and New York Times, among other international organs, have already been accredited.

Source: Nigeria's ThisDay newspapers

Even Naomi Campbell was spotted planting some ridiculous cocoa tree in Abuja, Nigeria. Read more here......