“Being a part of Lilith Fair was inspiring on so many levels. Besides discovering new music everyday and sharing the stage with an incredible array of talented women, it was wonderful to see established and new artists alike have the opportunity to play in front of much larger or more diverse audiences than usual. With that in mind, I am thrilled to announce the first set of artists for Lilith 2010,” said Lilith co-founder and main stage headliner Sarah McLachlan.

This initial list of artists includes a few original members of the Lilith Fair of the late 90s, (like Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara and Erykah Badu). Erykah Badu, who performed on the main stage in 1998, reflects on her initial Lilith run and why she has signed up again, “Magic happens when you bring this many artistic women together. I’ll never forget the frequency and energy that I felt that first time I performed at Lilith. Between the sistas on stage and those in the audience, it was powerful!”

Tegan and Sara, Canada’s indie-rock duo are thrilled to be a part of the tour, “Sara and I played one of the last Lilith Fair shows ever 10 years ago in Edmonton, AB. We only played one show and it was on the smallest stage, in the rain, to nearly no one. And yet, for the past 10 years, it continues to come up in almost every interview and is something we honestly look back on as a very important event in our career. The impact of Lilith Fair was felt all over the world, and its significance still resonates with women and the music industry itself 10 years later. We are proud to be a part of it again and are truly excited that Lilith is back.”

The first round of artists confirmed for the 2010 Lilith Tour are:

A Fine Frenzy, Ann Atomic, Ash Koley, Brandi Carlile, Butterfly Boucher, Chairlift, Chantal Kreviazuk, Colbie Caillat, Corinne Bailey Rae, Donna Delory, Emmylou Harris, Erykah Badu, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Ima, Indigo Girls, Ingrid Michaelson, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Knapp, Jill Hennessy, Jill Scott, Katzenjammer, Ke$ha, Mary J. Blige, Meaghan Smith, Metric, Miranda Lambert, Nneka, Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder, Sheryl Crow, Sugarland, Susan Justice, Tara MacLean, Tegan and Sara, Vedera, Vita Chambers, The Submarines, The Weepies, Ximena Sarinana, and Zee Avi.

More confirmed artists will be revealed in the coming months. Stay tuned…

Follow @lilithfair on Twitter for the most up to date information.

www.lilithfair.com

On Monday, December 7, Haydain Neale’s friends and peers will join on stage to celebrate the his life and music. Haydain Neale’s legendary voice had been missing from the Canadian music scene since a serious motor accident in the summer of 2007, but his strength and perseverance during his recovery was moving and inspiring.  Over the past two years, with the unwavering love and support of his wife Michaela, daughter Yasmin and numerous others, Neale finished production on the album he started almost three years ago. While privately battling cancer, Haydain went back into the studio with his fellow Jacksoul band mates to complete the record.

Jacksoul will be releasing SOULmate on Decemeber 1, a collection of all new remarkable songs that tell of love, hope and endurance, set to his trademark unstoppable beats.  With past hits like “Can’t Stop”, and “Still Believe in Love”, Jacksoul has been internationally heralded as an incredible artist that delivers soul stirring and intoxicating music.

Executive produced by Haydain and Michaela Neale, SOULmate is the fifth release from Jacksoul, and is comprised of ten new tracks that showcase a powerful voice in R&B/Soul music, a potent mix of smooth vocals and tight beats, and showcases the simplicity of brilliant songwriting.

All proceeds from the sale of SOULmate will go to the Haydain Neale Family Trust.

CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU:

A Celebration of The Life and Music of Haydain Neale

Featuring Nelly Furtado, k-os, Justin Nozuka, Divine Brown, Keshia Chante, Luke McMaster and others

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE – TORONTO

19+/ General Admission

Doors:  7:00PM

Show:  9:00PM

Tickets on sale @ 10:00am Wednesday, December 2nd

Tickets available all Ticketmaster Outlets or call 416-870-8000 to charge by phone.

Order online at  www.ticketmaster.ca

Tickets (incl. GST) $20.00: General Admission

(plus FMF and service charges)

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE HAYDAIN NEALE FAMILY TRUST

November 23rd must be a lucky day for music sales because this year’s heaviest hitters are all releasing their much anticipated albums this week.

Lady Gaga- The Fame Monster

Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, will be hitting stores in three different versions – a standard version of the new 8-song album; a deluxe version which includes both The Fame Monster and her massively successful debut album The Fame; and a collector’s edition super-deluxe art book version, which includes both albums, fanzines, 3-D glasses, paper dolls, a puzzle, pictorials, a lock of Lady Gaga’s hair and other surprises.

“In the midst of my creative journey composing The Fame Monster, there came an exciting revelation that this was in fact my sophomore album,” Lady Gaga says in a statement. “I would not add, nor take away any songs from this EP, it is a complete conceptual and musical body of work that can stand on its own two feet. It doesn’t need The Fame.”

Gaga goes on to say that “music has no economy” and she wants to make an album that is affordable for her fans.

“For those who do not have my debut album, there are a series of collectible double-disc editions that include both albums and artwork conceived by the Haus of Gaga in collaboration with our mentor Hedi Slimane. Hear the music, see the show, live and love yourself…Lady Gaga,” she says.

The standard and deluxe versions of The Fame Monster will be released on November 23. The collector’s edition super-deluxe version will be released on December 15.

Rihanna- Rated R

After months in hiding from the press and paparazzi, Rihanna’s newest album Rated R is the result of cabin fever.

Rihanna recently sat down with Diane Sawyer to talk candidly about the incident which resulted in Rihanna’s seemingly fairytale relationship being shattered and Chris Brown being sentenced to community labor, five years probation and one year of domestic-violence counseling. In addition to speaking out to raise awareness about domestic violence, Rihanna talked openly about growing up in Barbados, her family life, how she has been doing since that fateful February night… and ofcourse the new album.

Rihanna worked with the likes of Tricky Stewart, Justin Timberlake, Chase & Status, and Stargate on the album. But she also hooked up with Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, who wrote and produced her single “Russian Roulette.”

This album is Rihanna’s first release since 2007’s hit-spawning Good Girl Gone Bad.

“The best and safest way I can say this is that Rihanna has some stuff to say and she’s going to say it,” Ne-Yo told MTV News about his work with the pop star. “And she ain’t going to make no apologies for it. … I’ve heard a good majority of the album … world, get ready. That’s all I’m going to say: World, get ready.”

We are ready!

Shakira- She Wolf

On the heels of its widely successful international debut, Shakira is set to release a special North American only edition of her third English language studio album, She Wolf , on November 23. The special edition of She Wolf will include bonus tracks that are available for the first time anywhere all on one disc such as “Give It Up to Me” (produced by Timbaland ft. Lil Wayne), “Did It Again” (ft. Kid Cudi), and exclusive live performances. The international release of She Wolf has already become an instant success occupying the #1 spot in 18 countries and selling 1.5 million albums to-date.

The album’s infectious first single and title track “She Wolf” saw a worldwide chart topping debut with nearly a million singles sold in the U.S. and topping the iTunes singles chart.

For this album, Shakira took her ‘pop fusion’ sound, and uniquely blended pop with sounds from all over the globe. While she was the primary producer of She Wolf , Shakira collaborated with several creative talents to co-write and produce on the album including The Neptunes, John Hill and Wyclef. For one track, Shakira invited renowned composer Hossam Ramzy, who previously worked on Kashmir with Led Zeppelin, to inspire a unique Egyptian orchestral string arrangement on “Why Wait”.

As an exciting added value for fans, the She Wolf CD, when inserted into a computer, will provide special access to preview the forthcoming Spanish language album.

Adam Lambert- For Your Entertainment

With his out-of-this-world vocal range and unique musical style, Adam Lambert is the ultra-glam, rock superstar that has America hooked. Adam, last season’s American Idol runner-up, is unleashing his debut album, For Your Entertainment.

For Your Entertainment was written by Claude Kelly (”Circus” by Britney Spears) and Dr. Luke (”I Kissed A Girl” by Katy Perry and “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne, “Right Round” by Flo Rida, along with multiple singles by Kelly Clarkson) and produced by Dr. Luke.

“I feel so lucky to have been granted true opportunity to work with some of the top producers and writers in popular music,” Says Adam. “This album is a reflection of their genius and the collaborative energy that they were gracious enough to share with me.”

The credits on Lambert’s first album read like a list of the hottest artists in the music business. Lady Gaga, long cited as a major influence on Adam, co-wrote the track “Fever” with producer Jeff Bhasker. P!nk is a co-writer on “Whataya Want From Me,” along with Sweden’s Max Martin and Johan Shellback. Matthew Bellamy, of the British prog rock/eletronica band Muse, one of Adam’s favorite groups, wrote “Soaked.”

The list of big names featured in the credits on Adam’s debut release go on and on, you will have to pick up the CD today to find out the rest.

Rocker lands lead in upcoming Spider-Man musical

Tobey Maguire’s no longer the only actor wearing the webs, as producers of the upcoming Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Lights have finally found their star.

Reeve Carney, lead singer of rock band Carney, will play Peter Parker in the title role opposite Evan Rachel Wood, who is set to play love interest Mary Jane Watson, and Alan Cumming, previously cast as Spidey nemesis Norman Osborn, a.k.a. the Green Goblin.

Julie Taymor, who previously directed Wood in the 2007 musical film Across the Universe, will direct the Broadway debut of Marvel’s friendly neighbourhood superhero, while U2’s Bono and The Edge provide music and lyrics.

“The music of Bono and Edge requires an extraordinary talent— not only is Reeve a great rock and roll singer but his acting is equally fresh and authentic,” Taymor said in a prepared statement.

Carney’s casting ends months of searching and speculation over who would step into the role made famous by Maguire on the big screen. Despite repeated denials, rumours abounded that Universe star Jim Sturgess would don the tights and rejoin his co-star and director for a Broadway run. In the end, the year-long commitment the production required of the film star prevented the old band from getting back together.

Though Sturgess would have lent the production some additional star power, producers hope that the relatively inexperienced Carney will provide Peter Parker with a little edge, so to speak.

“Our ambition was to find a Peter Parker who could really act and sing, but who still brings a kind of performance that could be new to Broadway audiences,” said Bono and The Edge. “We wanted something a little more authentically rock and roll.”

With a legion of dedicated fans thanks to three successful films and five decades of comics, the musical – scheduled to open next year at New York’s Hilton Theatre – will nonetheless require a heroic effort to equal the popularity of its on-screen predecessors. Combined, director Sam Raimi’s three Spider-Man films have grossed nearly $2.5 billion at the box office.

In addition to its previous success, the franchise has recently generated buzz for the soon-to-lens Spider-Man 4, the first of two planned sequels.The latest round of internet rumours has Canadian darling Rachel McAdams joining returning actors Maguire and Kirsten Dunst as Spidey rival/love interest the Black Cat.

If all remains on schedule, the musical production’s run should coincide with the shooting of the film, which is currently slated to hit theatres May 5, 2011 – nearly nine years to the day after the original.

Coming off her third No. 1 single, “Waking Up in Vegas,” multi-platinum Capitol singer-songwriter Katy Perry is set to put her unique signature on yet another defining signpost of global pop culture, releasing her upcoming appearance on MTV: Unplugged in CD + DVD set in one package on November 17, 2009.

Recorded live in New York on July 22, 2009, Perry presents some of her most well-known songs in a whole new way, performing unplugged re-arrangements of her hits “I Kissed A Girl” and “Waking Up In Vegas,” along with “Thinking Of You,” and the popular tracks “Ur So Gay” and “Lost” from her debut album One Of The Boys.

The MTV: Unplugged set list is rounded out with two brand-new tracks, a cover of the Fountains of Wayne song “Hackensack,” and the never before released original song “Brick By Brick.”

If you are a major Katy Perry fan or know someone who is this is a pretty cool CD+DVD set that you can give as a gift or keep for yourself!

Check out the trailer here:

Katy Perry MTV: Unplugged Trailer

Katy Perry | MySpace Video

The A-list

The Toronto Film Festival is known as the good luck charm for potential Oscar nominated movies, so it is only appropriate that the A-list premiere their films at TIFF. And when it comes to A-list Toronto got a taste of the very best: Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney. If the entertainment industry had royalty, these two would be King and Queen. Oprah was in town to promote her movie Precious, and George was in town to promote two flicks, Up in the Air and Men Who Stare at Goats. My sources tell me that after Oprah surprised George at his Up in the Air premiere, the two held a party back at Oprah’s hotel (where she booked an entire floor) and popped bottles until the early morning hours. Oh, the life!

Belles of the Ball

TIFF was not lacking when it came to beautiful women. In attendance were the following jaw-dropping ladies: Megan Fox, Natalie Portman, Penelope Cruz, Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Connelly, Demi Moore, Emily Blunt and Jennifer Garner.

I was standing at the entrance of the Liberty Grand, TIFF Opening Party, when Jennifer Connelly strolled by arm-in-arm with her hunky hubby Paul Bettany. I don’t think I have ever felt so short, fat and unattractive in my entire life. She is phenomenal in person, and her slightly see-through dress made her even more irresistible to every man at the party.

Musicians Take Over TIFF Parties

TIFF was not only about the actors, but also about the musicians. U2 conveniently scheduled their two sold out concerts the week of the film fest. They were spotted partying at One in Yorkville both nights, the first with Colin Farrell and the second with Jonas Brothers, the Kings of Leon and the White Stripes (who were also in town to premiere their movie Under Great White Northern Lights)

Drewmania

Drew Barrymore took every opportunity to promote her new directorial debut Whip-it all across Toronto. First, she had a roller-derby team of hot ladies cause frenzy around town. As well, Drew made appearances on Much Music’s MOD, MTV Live and Live @ eTalk. She spoke about her love for Canadian actress, Ellen Page and their steamy kiss in Marie Claire. Drew’s on and off again boyfriend Justin Long was in town to support her film and the two partied it up all week at Tattoo Rock Parlour and Sweaty Betty’s. Drew also took my best dressed award for her Alexander McQueen dress, which she accessorized with her two-toned blonde with black tips hair-do – that only she can pull off… don’t make this a trend!

Shinan Govani aka. King of Scoop

Shinan Govani is known for getting the best insider scoop at events like TIFF. It was only appropriate for him to launch his book Boldface Names the same week. As entertainment columnist for the National Post, Govani gets to go inside every exclusive party and premiere around the world and always gives us the best dish.

This TIFF his encounters with Tom Ford and Suzanne Somers became world news! When leaning in to whisper something to Tom Ford, the designer stood back and asked Govani, “Are you trying to smell me?”, every fashion blog ran with this hilarious encounter the next day. On the more controversial side, when Govani asked Suzanne Somers about Patrick Swayze’s death, she told him that it was Swayze’s chemotherapy treatments, not pancreatic cancer, which ended his life prematurely.

Twitter = Life Saver

Twitter was a life saver and my celebrity stalking tool this TIFF. The week coming up to the film fest I made sure I was following all the right people: entertainment and lifestyle columnists and bloggers. These were the tweeters who would tell me where the parties were, who was there and what people were wearing. Once I got the tips I was off to the races!
And if I forgot the spelling of someone’s name or who was in which movie, I could always count on a tweet to correct my errors. Plus getting the news to my dedicated Adorned readers was much easier via my twitter account: www.twitter.com/adornedmag

Colin Farrell vs. Joe Alvarez

The red carpet was abuzz after Colin Farrell confronted British photographer, Joe Alvarez, who allegedly was yelling at Farrell’s sister to move along the red carpet at the Triage premiere so he could get a clear shot of the movie star. Farrell shook his finger in Alvarez’ face and held him by the collar until he apologized.

Alvarez later talked to the press and said, “If I had known it was his sister I would not havesaid it or just been more careful.”

Lesson learned!

Nikki Beach

Nikki Beach was the official after party for the film fest. You could spot Megan Fox, Drew Barrymore and many other stars partying at the top of the Hyatt until the early morning hours. I had the opportunity to stop by Nikki Beach a few times during the festival, once at the beginning of the fest and again at the end. By the end of TIFF, Nikki Beach was nearly destroyed. Partygoers were jumping on the furniture, the organizers were being fined for overcrowding, the floor was covered in champagne puddles… but what is a film festival party without a little chaos?

We will see if Nikki Beach decides to open a permanent location in Toronto.

Precious

I would be surprised if Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire did not make it all the way to the Oscars. With Oprah and Tyler Perry pushing this picture, it is not a surprise that it took home Cadillac People’s Choice Award, meaning Toronto audiences rated it more favourably than the rest of the 335 films .
Directed by Lee Daniels, the movie tells a fictional story about a girl named Claireece (Precious) Jones, a teenager living in Harlem in the 80s who can’t read and is pregnant for the second time by her father. Precious finds hope and happiness in an alternative school program. Daniel told reporters at the press conference, “I made this film for every person out there who ever looked in the mirror and felt unsure about the person looking back.”
The cast includes newcomer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, Mo’Nique (who critics say is a shoe-in for a best supporting actress nomination), Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz and Sherri Shepherd.