Music News - Coldplay To Release First Track From Official The Hunger Games; Catching Fire Soundtrack

Bergen Performing Arts Center New Show On Sale Friday August 16, 2013 at 11AM – Michael Nesmith and Traffic Jam

MICHAEL NESMITH (of the MONKEES)
Tuesday November 12, 2013 8PM
$79, $59, $49, $39

DAVE MASON’S TRAFFIC JAM
Sunday January 5, 2014 8PM
$60, $45, $35

Tickets available at: www.ticketmaster.com or www.bergenpac.org or Box Office (201) 227 1030

(Englewood, New Jersey-August 13, 2013) Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood New Jersey presents Michael Nesmith of The MONKEES Tuesday November 12, 2013 at 8PM and DAVE MASON’S TRAFFIC JAM Sunday January 5, 2013 at 8PM. Don’t miss these two great shows at bergenPAC as tickets go on sale Friday August 15th at 11AM at www.ticketmaster.com or call the Box Office at 201.227.1030.

About Michael Nesmith of THE MONKEES

Michael Nesmith is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the rock band The Monkees and co-star of The Monkees TV series (1966-1968).

In 1965, Michael Nesmith won a role on a new television series about a rock group modeled after the Beatles. The Monkees, which also featured Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Mickey Dolenz, debuted in September 1966, and this made-up boy band developed a real following.

The Monkees’ popularity soon translated into pop-chart success. They reached the No. 1 spot with “I’m a Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville.” The group sold millions of albums, but they struggled with their reputation as a manufactured act. Nesmith and the other band members began to take more creative control with 1967’s Headquarters, which featured numerous songs penned by the quartet. They also played many of the instruments for the recording as well.

DAVE MASON’S TRAFFIC JAM

This multimedia retrospective of Traffic is recounted through the music and stories of its co-founder, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason. Backed by a full band, Mason performs hits such as “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Feelin’ Alright,” while relating behind-the-scenes insights on the band’s heyday.

Dave Mason is a living rock legend. At age 18, the Worcester England native teamed up with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to form the
legendary band Traffic, who had a profound affect on the genre of rock and roll. While still a teen Mason penned the Traffic hit “Feelin’ Alright”. The song became a global rock anthem and has been recorded by dozens of artists (including Joe Cocker who had a huge international hit with the song), “Feeling Alright” remains a highlight of Mason’s live shows today.

After extensive touring with Traffic throughout the UK and Europe, Mason headed for the USA to pursue a solo career. He struck international gold with his debut album “Alone Together”, which is considered a seminal rock classic. It’s known for the marbleize vinyl, vertical gatefold packaging, the hits “Only You Know And I Know”, “World In Changes”, “Shouldn’t Have Took More Than you Gave” and more. The album has sold millions of copies.

Five highly successful albums for the CBS/Sony label followed, four of which received gold album certification in the US. His next album Let It Flow sold millions of copies and contains another major Mason classic “We Just Disagree”. In addition to performing to sold-out audiences and being a permanent staple in record collections and hearts of fans around the world, Mason’s unique guitar work can be heard on many landmark albums and songs such as the Rolling Stones’ Beggar’s Banquet, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, Paul McCartney’s Listen To What The Man Said and Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland.

Hendrix’s major rock standard “All Along The Watchtower” features Dave playing the acoustic guitars before Hendrix’s soaring entrance onto the track. The song is a big favorite of Dave’s and he performs it in nearly every on of his live shows. Dave Mason’s work and career remain linked with numerous other members of rock and roll elite, including Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Rita Coolidge, Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell, Ron Wood, Jim Capaldi, Mama Cass Elliot, and The Spencer Davis Group.

Dave Mason’s career spans several important rock eras, and encompasses his work as a producer, performer, songwriter, and consummate guitarist. In 2004, Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with the groundbreaking group Traffic.

Mason is also involved in the program he co-founded, Work Vessels for Veterans (WVFV); an all-volunteer movement that provides veterans with the tools they need to transition to civilian work. Mason is also an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruments and lessons to children in public schools throughout the United States.

Dave Mason tours regularly and is currently performing a special Unplugged show Jonathan McEuen, son of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder John McEuen.

LIONSGATE AND REPUBLIC RECORDS ANNOUNCE THAT COLDPLAY WILL RELEASE FIRST TRACK TITLED “ATLAS” FROM “THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE” SOUNDTRACK ON AUGUST 26

Deal Marks First Time the Multi-Grammy® Winning Band will Record for a Motion Picture

NEW YORK, NY and SANTA MONICA, CA August 9, 2013 – Multiplatinum recording artist Coldplay will release the first track from the official soundtrack album for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, it was announced today by Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and Republic Records, marking the first time Coldplay has ever recorded an original song for a motion picture. The song, titled “Atlas,” is scheduled to be available via iTunes and all digital retailers on August 26, 2013. Republic Records is again teaming up with Lionsgate to release the soundtrack in advance of Lionsgate distributing the film on screens worldwide on November 22, 2013.

“I have great respect and admiration for Coldplay, and we are thrilled with how well they have connected to the themes and ideas within the film,” said filmmaker Francis Lawrence. “Their unwavering passion and excitement for the project elevated the collaboration even further, and we can’t wait to share this music with audiences around the world.”

“We are so honored that Coldplay, one of the iconic rock bands of our generation, will perform the first song out on the new soundtrack,” said Tracy McKnight, Lionsgate’s Head of Film Music. “Knowing that Chris Martin is a fan of the books makes this even more meaningful. The Coldplay single underscores the stature of recording artists we’ve assembled for this powerful soundtrack.”

Monte Lipman, Chairman & CEO of Republic Records, stated, “The creative alliance between Coldplay and The Hunger Games franchise will create a level of excitement and anticipation of epic proportions.”

Coldplay is one of the top recording artists of recent times, selling over 60 million records worldwide and winning seven Grammy Awards and five MTV Video Awards, among other honors. They are signed to Parlophone, the legendary label known for The Beatles, Radiohead, Queen, David Guetta and more.

The first installment of The Hunger Games was the 13th highest-grossing North American release of all time on its way to grossing nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office.

This is the first in a series of highly anticipated announcements of the new artists to be revealed in the coming weeks.

The first Hunger Games partnership between Republic Records and Lionsgate yielded the Grammy Award-winning, chart-dominating The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond executive produced by T Bone Burnett.

The album hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200 on its release with sales over 175,000, making it the first soundtrack to top the chart since November 2009. It was the best-selling soundtrack of 2012, the fastest selling soundtrack ever at iTunes, and was certified gold by the RIAA shortly after its release. The album earned a Golden Globe Award nomination and three Grammy Award nominations, and its first single, Taylor Swift’s “Safe & Sound” featuring The Civil Wars, won the 2013 Grammy Award for “Best Song Written for Visual Media”.

ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson). Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins that has sold over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS
A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Republic is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Amy Winehouse, Ariana Grande, Black Sabbath, Colbie Caillat, Enrique Iglesias, Florence + the Machine, Godsmack, Gotye, Kelly Rowland, Owl City, Of Monsters & Men among many others.

It is comprised of innovative imprints and digital business ventures including Brushfire (Jack Johnson, G. Love), Cash Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj), Lava Records (Jessie J, Lorde), Loma Vista (Soundgarden, Damian Marley), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), NBC’s The Voice (Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery), Republic Nashville (The Band Perry, Florida Georgia Line, The Eli Young Band), XO (The Weeknd), among others.

ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 28 shows on 20 networks spanning its production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, Anger Management, the network series Nashville, the syndication successes Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, its spinoff Meet the Browns and The Wendy Williams Show as well as the new series Orange Is The New Black.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of The Hunger Games franchise, The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn – Part 2, Now You See Me, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, Tyler Perry’s Temptation, Warm Bodies, Texas Chainsaw 3D, The Expendables 2, The Possession, Sinister, The Cabin in the Woods and Arbitrage.

Lionsgate’s home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.