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BottleRock 2025: The Ultimate Music, Food, and Wine Festival in Napa Valley

BottleRock 2025: The Ultimate Music, Food, and Wine Festival in Napa Valley

By Michael Milano


Napa Valley, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4/8/25 – As the vineyards of Napa Valley bloom in the springtime, music lovers and foodies alike eagerly anticipate one of the most anticipated festivals of the year: BottleRock Napa Valley. Set to return for its 2025 edition, BottleRock has firmly established itself as a premier event, combining top-tier musical performances with world-class culinary experiences and award-winning wines. This year promises to be bigger, bolder, and more exciting than ever before.

The Lineup: A Star-Studded Affair

The Foo Fighters, featuring frontman Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins, perform at BottleRock 2021 Napa Valley.
(Photo: Dana Jacobs / Special to The Chronicle)

BottleRock 2025 boasts a diverse and thrilling lineup that will appeal to music fans across all genres. With over 60 bands and artists scheduled to perform across multiple stages, the festival ensures that no matter what your musical tastes are, there’s something for everyone.

Headliners this year include chart-toppers and iconic acts such as Foo Fighters, Lizzo, and Lana Del Rey—each bringing their unique sound to the main stage for unforgettable performances. In addition, festivalgoers can look forward to sets from popular bands like Imagine Dragons, Black Keys, and The Lumineers. But the musical experience doesn’t end there—up-and-coming artists, local favorites, and a variety of indie acts round out the schedule, ensuring that the weekend is filled with fresh sounds and vibrant energy.

With such a star-studded lineup, BottleRock 2025 will undoubtedly deliver a musical experience that exceeds expectations, bringing together fans of rock, pop, hip-hop, and beyond for a truly eclectic celebration.

Beyond the Music: Culinary Delights and Napa’s Finest Wines

Tacos de Pescado with fried fish, chipotle mayo, cilantro, cabbage and lime from La Calenda, a Thomas Keller Restaurant Group project in Yountville. La Calenda is one of the newcomers at this year’s BottleRock Napa Valley. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

BottleRock is not only a celebration of music, but also a gastronomic adventure. As attendees make their way through the festival grounds, they’ll be able to indulge in a cornucopia of culinary delights, featuring dishes from some of the best chefs and food trucks in the region. From gourmet street food to Michelin-starred cuisine, the festival offers a tantalizing selection of options, allowing festivalgoers to treat their taste buds while enjoying the beats.

Among the food offerings this year are exclusive pop-up restaurants and collaborations with renowned chefs like Thomas Keller, ensuring a refined dining experience that mirrors the sophistication of the Napa Valley itself. With everything from wood-fired pizzas to seafood delicacies, there’s no shortage of options for those looking to indulge.

And, of course, BottleRock wouldn’t be complete without Napa Valley’s iconic wines. The festival’s wine experience is second to none, with tastings and pairings featuring some of the region’s best-known vineyards, such as Robert Mondavi, Opus One, and Silver Oak. Wine enthusiasts will be able to explore Napa’s world-famous wines while enjoying the sounds of their favorite artists.

More Than Just Music: A Festival for All Senses
BottleRock has become synonymous with an immersive experience that goes beyond the music. As the festival expands in 2025, attendees can expect to see even more interactive elements designed to engage all the senses. New art installations, pop-up performances, and specialty cocktail bars will be scattered throughout the grounds, adding an extra layer of creativity and excitement to the festival atmosphere.

For those looking to relax and recharge, BottleRock’s “Wellness Zone” offers yoga classes, massages, and wellness workshops, creating a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the main festival activities. Whether you’re seeking mindfulness or simply a chance to unwind, the Wellness Zone provides a perfect respite amidst the festivities.

Sustainability at the Forefront

BottleRock Napa Valley, presented by JaM Cellars, has announced the lineup of celebrated restaurants, wineries, and craft breweries and distilleries to complement the BottleRock Napa Valley musical lineup during the three-day event, May 23 – 25, 2025, in historic downtown Napa.

BottleRock 2025 continues its commitment to sustainability, implementing initiatives that reduce the environmental impact of the festival. This year, the event will feature expanded recycling programs, eco-friendly food packaging, and green energy solutions to power the stages and festival grounds. Additionally, BottleRock is partnering with local environmental organizations to promote sustainability throughout Napa Valley and encourage festivalgoers to take part in the green initiatives.

With a focus on minimizing waste and maximizing green practices, BottleRock is setting the bar for how large-scale events can be environmentally responsible while delivering an unforgettable experience.

What to Expect at BottleRock 2025
Held at the scenic Napa Valley Expo, BottleRock 2025 is more than just a music festival—it’s a multi-day celebration of the arts, food, wine, and culture that makes Napa Valley one of the most sought-after destinations in the world.

In addition to live performances, gourmet dining, and wine tastings, the festival will offer a range of luxury experiences, including VIP packages, exclusive backstage access, and private wine tastings, providing an elevated experience for those looking to enjoy BottleRock in style.

With its mix of incredible music, mouthwatering food, world-class wine, and immersive art experiences, BottleRock Napa Valley is poised to be one of the standout events of the year. Whether you’re a die-hard music fan, a wine connoisseur, or someone who simply enjoys good food and good company, BottleRock 2025 has something for everyone.

Get Your Tickets Now

Hayley Erbert, left, and Derek Hough attend day three of the BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at the Napa Valley Expo in Napa, Calif. (Photo: Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Tickets for BottleRock 2025 are expected to sell out fast, so be sure to secure yours early. Whether you’re attending for the music, the food, or the wine, BottleRock is an experience you won’t want to miss. Get ready for a weekend of unforgettable performances, gourmet cuisine, and the best that Napa Valley has to offer.

Mark your calendars for Memorial Day Weekend 2025 and get ready to experience the magic of BottleRock in Napa Valley!

DOPE LEMON Announces New Album + SXSW, Bonnaroo & BottleRock Performances

DOPE LEMON Announces New Album + SXSW, Bonnaroo & BottleRock Performances
Grandstand_logo.png

DOPE LEMON

 ANNOUNCES GOLDEN WOLF

FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM OUT MAY 9TH VIA BMG

SHARES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO FOR

“ELECTRIC GREEN LAMBO” – LISTEN / WATCH

SET FOR U.S. APPEARANCES AT

SXSW, BOTTLEROCK & BONNAROO

Photographer credit: Daniel Mayne | download here

Today, DOPE LEMON announces their highly anticipated fifth album, Golden Wolf, set for release on May 9th via BMG. The album blends introspection with expansive sonic landscapes, fusing indie rock and psychedelic soul to reveal DOPE LEMON at their most honest and vulnerable yet. In addition to the album announcement, DOPE LEMON – the award-winning project of acclaimed Australian musician Angus Stone – has also released the album’s second single, “Electric Green Lambo” and music video. The artist will also be returning to North America this spring for performances at SXSW, BottleRock and Bonnaroo — look for additional dates soon!

Golden Wolf invites listeners to contemplate the choices they’ve made, the paths they’ve left behind, and those that lie ahead. Following four studio albums—including the ARIA-nominated Kimosabè—Golden Wolf peels back layers of memory and imagination, crafting a rich and evocative listening experience.

Confident, smooth, and irresistibly cool, ‘Electric Green Lambo’ is the perfect introduction to the world of Golden Wolf. Paired with soulful lyrics and sophisticated production, the track embodies the bold sonic evolution listeners can expect from the full album. Each new release from DOPE LEMON draws fans deeper into Stone’s immersive world, where music becomes a gateway to another realm.

“‘Electric Green Lambo’ is like stepping into a lucid dream — part reckless adventure, part hazy nostalgia,” notes DOPE LEMON. “It’s about chasing untamed energy, getting lost in neon and smoke, and breaking free from what holds you back. There’s this tension between wild freedom and the pull of something darker. It’s raw, dripping with mood, and, like the ride itself, unapologetically slick. Buckle up.”

WATCH & SHARE “ELECTRIC GREEN LAMBO”

Golden Wolf marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for DOPE LEMON. While Kimosabè reflected on Stone’s youth and the paths that shaped him, this album grapples with the question of what lies ahead. Moving effortlessly between sun-soaked rock and shimmering nocturnal grooves, the album invites listeners to savour the journey rather than rush to the destination. Like a vast desert landscape, the album is both stark and stunning — a place where time slows, and you can lose yourself completely.

Golden Wolf will be available everywhere on May 9th via BMG. Pre-save here.

‘GOLDEN WOLF’ TRACKLISTING

01 – John Belushi

02 – Sugarcat

03 – Electric Green Lambo

04 – Golden Wolf

05 – Yamasuki – Yama Yama

06 – We Solid Gold

07 – She’s All Time

08 – Maggie’s Moonshine

09 – On The 45

10 – Dust Of A Thousand Stars

‘Golden Wolf’ Cover Art | download here

ABOUT DOPE LEMON

Since its debut in 2016 with the critically acclaimed album Honey Bones, DOPE LEMON––the moniker of acclaimed Australian artist Angus Stone––has cultivated a reputation for pairing dreamy, laid-back grooves with deeply introspective lyricism.

DOPE LEMON’s rich, immersive soundscapes have struck a chord with audiences across the globe. Albums like Smooth Big Cat (2019) and Rose Pink Cadillac (2022) have not only climbed the ARIA charts—frequently earning #1 rankings in independent and vinyl categories—but have also garnered a devoted international following, with notable success in Germany, Switzerland, and beyond. His most recent album, Kimosabè (2023), continued this momentum, taking out the #9 spot on the ARIA charts and the #2 Australian Album.

With myriad achievements extending beyond the studio, the project has sold over 565,000 album equivalents and amassed over 700 million streams. The single ‘Rose Pink Cadillac’ was a fan favourite, landing a spot in triple j’s Hottest 100. At the same time, DOPE LEMON’s discography has been Shazamed nearly 2 million times—a testament to its magnetic pull.

On the live front, DOPE LEMON has headlined sold-out tours across Australia, North America, and Europe—including appearances at Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, and most recently joining Post Malone on the Australian leg of his 2023 arena tour. DOPE LEMON has also gained recognition for collaborations with notable Australian bands, such as Winston Surfshirt, and co-writing credits with the likes of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.

CONNECT WITH DOPE LEMON

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Spotify | Apple Music

Green Day, Justin Timberlake, and Noah Kahan Headline BottleRock 2025

Green Day, Justin Timberlake, and Noah Kahan Headline BottleRock 2025

The wait is over—BottleRock Napa Valley’s 2025 lineup is here! As the proud presenting sponsor for the 9th year, JaM Cellars is thrilled to be back to the ultimate festival experience at the JaMPad. 

This year’s headliners taking stage May 23 – 25 include Green Day, Justin Timberlake, and Noah Kahan, along with an incredible lineup of artists for three unforgettable days of music, mouthwatering food, and, of course, delicious JaM Cellars wines.

Opening at the Laemmle Theatre in Glendale on April 4, 2005 is Viet and Nam (Trong lòng đất) – a 2024 Vietnamese Filipino romantic drama written and directed by Trương Minh Quý

Opening at the Laemmle Theatre in Glendale on April 4, 2005 is Viet and Nam (Trong lòng đất) – a 2024 Vietnamese Filipino romantic drama written and directed by Trương Minh Quý

By Robert St. Martin

Interesting film from Vietnam, – Viet and Nam (Trong lòng đất) – a 2024 Vietnamese Filipino romantic drama written and directed by Trương Minh Quý.  Is showing at the Laemmle Theatre in Glendale.

Starring Thi Nga Nguyen and Daniel Viet Tung Le, the film is about two coal miners who were lovers, dreaming of a better life by escaping their lives until a doomed future parts them. The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Queer Palm. Two gay Vietnamese miners in love are haunted by ghosts of the past and false promises of the future in Truong Minh Quy’s drowsily distinctive second feature.

With his sublime slice of quite-slow-cinema, Vietnamese filmmaker Truong Minh Quy has reshaped his country’s anguished recent past into an emotional exploration of what it is to be young and queer in post-war Vietnam. The film takes placed in 2001 and the title characters, Viet (Duy Bao Dinh Dao) and Nam (Thanh Hai Pham), are two twenty-something coal miners in love. The pair snatch tender moments 1000 meters below ground, secret lovers hiding their bond amid the dust-caked uniformity of their profession.

The film has been banned in Vietnam not for its homosexual romantic aspect but for its unhappy view of recent Vietnamese history and its toll on its people with the war and so many dead people unaccounted for. In Viet and Nam, Late 20th-century Vietnamese history casts a trancelike spell, a thickly shadowed exploration – or should that be excavation? — of national trauma and its habit of living on, in spectral form, through subsequent generations.

Nam (Pham Thanh Hai) and Viet (Dao Duy Bao Dinh) — never distinctly identified as such within the film and given a joint “Nam/Viet” credit in the closing scroll — are two young coalminers in rural Vietnam involved in a tender but illicit relationship. Deep underground, in the sepulchral privacy of a nook carved out from the mine walls, they make love and cradle each other, anthracite sparkling around them like starlight. Son Doan’s subterranean, homesick, black-and-blue cinematography can be so shadowy as to be all but impenetrable, but sometimes out of the murk emerge frames of breathtaking loveliness.

Given an edge of radical newness by its frank, grimily beautiful portrayal of gay lovemaking (seldom have the body-contouring properties of coal dust on sweat-slicked skin been more sensuously explored), still, the rhythms of Truong’s film are slow, and the curtains-drawn darkness of much of its 16mm imagery may induce a state of meandering, semi-directed sleepiness.

Nam is intending to smuggle himself out of Vietnam, taking a perilous route involving a shady broker, a shipping container and a river crossing wrapped in a plastic shroud. Viet fears for him and wants him to stay yet is also achingly resigned to his leaving.

But before Nam goes, there are mysteries that need solving right here, chief among them the fate of his long-dead father, a soldier who might not have even been aware that he had a baby son at the time of his death. Along with his mother Hoa (Nguyen Thi Nga) and Ba (Le Viet Tung), a military veteran who may know where Nam’s father fell in battle, Nam and Viet go on an expedition toward the Cambodian border, in the slim hope of finding the dead man’s remains, guided mostly by Hoa’s dreams of her revenant husband and Ba’s hazy, possibly guilt-ridden memories.

They are far from the only family to have embarked on such a pilgrimage. Television news broadcasts list missing “martyrs” whose kin are begging for information that might help them locate their loved ones’ bodies. And Nam’s party encounters another group, who have engaged the services of a psychic (Khanh Ngan) in white face paint and a pink silk robe, who may be a charlatan but claims, un-disprovable, that the clumps of clay she claws out of the ground are in fact the sought-after man’s flesh, “turned into black dirt.”

Nam (Pham Thanh Hai) & Viet (Dao Duy Bao Dinh)

Dead men turn into dirt. Dirt is compressed into coal. Coal is mined and burned and turned into smoke that acidifies the rain that floods the caverns and swells the rivers, drowning the unlucky and soaking through the market goods Hoa sells for her meager living. “Viet and Nam” has an environmental aspect that has less to do with the circle of life than the inexorable circle of death, in which the occasional moments of levity — Nam giving Viet a birthday cake or tenderly preparing the mosquito net around Hoa’s bed — barely provide a pinprick of light in the gloom.

Truong’s approach is ostensibly similar to that of Thai master Apichtpong Weerasethakul and of last year’s Vietnamese Camera d’Or winner Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell.  But while those touch points achieve a kind of transcendent lightness, Viet and Nam is constantly pulled down at the edges, made heavy with foreboding and waterlogged with generational sorrow.

Nam (Pham Thanh Hai) & Viet (Dao Duy Bao Dinh) Riding on the Beach

Apichatpong, especially, likes to infuse his dreamscapes with the idea of the dead walking and talking, co-existing amongst the living. Truong, by contrast, is endlessly preoccupied with how the living, even when planning for the future or experiencing the joys and passions of the present, are forever being lured into joining the dead. It means Viet and Nam makes demands on even the most patient of viewers if they’re in any way resistant to the hypnotizing effect of its difficult, doom-laden atmospherics.

But the film does exert a powerful — if not exactly cheerful — gravity on those who can give themselves over to its persuasively pessimistic view of a national history that even this young, vigorous, loving pair can only stay on top of for so long, before it engulfs them, and pulls them down, under the sea or under the soil, into the clammy embrace of the past.

Nashville Celebrates Bobby Bare Day As Proclaimed by Mayor For Country Legend’s 90th Birthday

Nashville Celebrates Bobby Bare Day As Proclaimed by Mayor For Country Legend’s 90th Birthday
Bobby Bare And 117 Entertainment's Zach Farnum

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 7, 2025) – Country Music Legend, Bobby Bare, turns 90 years old today. In celebration, along with a week full of special events, the Mayor of Nashville, Freddie O’Connell, proclaimed today Bobby Bare Day in the City of Nashville. The proclamation was presented to Bare on the eve of his birthday in a small family gathering. Text of the proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, Bobby Bare is one of the oldest living country music stars at 90 years old and has called Nashville home for over 60 years; and,

WHEREAS, Bobby Bare has contributed to the DNA of country music through his origination of the Outlaw country sub-genre and independent ethos; and,

WHEREAS, Bobby Bare is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, inducted in 2013; and,

WHEREAS, Bobby Bare has been a Grand Ole Opry member since the 1960s, reinstated in 2018;

WHEREAS, Bobby Bare is on the Music City Walk of Fame, inducted in 2022; and,

NOW, THEREFORE I, Freddie O’Connell, tenth Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County do hereby proclaim April 7, 2025, as BOBBY BARE DAY in Nashville. Tennessee, and urge citizens to join me in celebrating his 90th birthday.

Tonight, a multitude of Bare acolytes, poets, and prophets will gather at the Basement East to celebrate the Country Music Hall of Fame member with a sold-out evening of songs and stories. An Americana Salute to Bobby Bare, hosted by Bobby Bare Jr., includes Shawn Camp, Elizabeth Cook, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris & Buddy Miller, Jaimee Harris & Mary Gauthier, Jamey Johnson, Jim Lauderdale, Kendell Marvel, Chuck Mead, Todd Snider, Aaron Lee Tasjan, The Cowpokes, Jacob Tolliver, and Lucinda Williams. The evening is benefitting MusiCares.

Monday, April 7: 
An Americana Salute to Bobby Bare: Hosted by Bobby Bare Jr. with Family & Friends
Proceeds Benefiting MusiCares®
The Basement East
SOLD OUT

Thursday, April 10:
Grand Ole Opry House
Opry Country Classics
Tickets Here: https://www.opry.com/show/2025-04-10-opry-country-classics-at-the-opry-house-at-7-pm

Saturday, April 12:
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Writers Round: The Songs of Bobby Bare
Featuring Buddy Cannon, Todd Snider, and Bobby Bare Jr.
Tickets Here: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/calendar/writers-round-the-songs-of-bobby-bare

About Bobby Bare
Born in Ohio, Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Bobby Bare is one of the most legendary country artists of our time with genre-shaping songs like “Detroit City,” “500 Miles,” “Marie Laveau” and many more. From country legends like Little Jimmy Dickens and Hank Williams to big band acts like Phil Harris and the Dominoes, Bare’s style was molded and led him to nearly five dozen Top 40 hits from 1962 to 1983. The original “Outlaw” of country music, Bare has been honored with many awards and accolades, multiple GRAMMY nominations and wins and an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2017, Rolling Stone named him in the top 50 of the “100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time.” An architect of the Outlaw Movement, he gained control over his own production and created Country’s first concept album, A Bird Named Yesterday, in 1967. Throughout his career, Bare championed the works of legendary songwriters like Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, and Shel Silverstein, whose collaboration with him resulted in the landmark album Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies. 2018 marked his 60th anniversary in the music business and the release of his studio album, Things Change, and two new music videos. A pinnacle moment in his life occurred in 2018 as he was welcomed back home as a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks. Over six decades, Bare released 38 albums and influenced countless artists, including Waylon Jennings and Billy Joe Shaver. His ability to find and interpret great songs, combined with his compassion and wit, made him one of country music’s most beloved artists. Bobby Bare’s legacy endures as a testament to the power of storytelling in music. For more information, visit www.bobbybare.com.

Interview with Artist Julian Voss-Andreae by Jimmy Steinfeldt

Interview with Artist Julian Voss-Andreae by Jimmy Steinfeldt

Julian Voss-Andreae

By Jimmy Steinfeldt

Artist Reception, Hohmann Gallery, Palm Desert, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4-5-25

Jimmy Steinfeldt: The title of your exhibit is “Ontological Relief and the Illusion of Matter” Tell us about one of my favorite sculptures titled “Tanzerin mit Blauem Haar (Dancer).”

Jimmy’s Reflection In Julians’ Art

Julian Voss-Andreae: That is a succession of an older piece. Similar to the art of Degas. I describe the human body as a bunch of triangles. Depending on where they are in the body, I make them smaller or bigger. The whole thing was designed on computer and then 3-D printed in sections and then cast in bronze and welded together. Then I take pieces of glass and use the outline from each triangle and then slump the glass overnight in a kiln giving it the curvature. Then I cut it out and glued it to the slot. Each glass piece takes a lot of work.

JS: You have had exhibits in my hometown of Minneapolis and in San Diego where I went to college.

JVA: In San Diego I was approached by an art consultant. He had a client who had a bio-science complex they had just built. They knew my background and interest in science. The sculpture is very tall. Ten feet tall cedar figure about 6000 pounds. It’s a man who’s meditating and he is looking at a tree which is a Torrey Pine which only grows in that area. There’s also a golden sphere sixteen inches in diameter. Inside his head that exact same sphere is missing creating a cavity in his head. This denotes a receptor. Like in biochemistry. Where there is a molecule that looks like a key and a molecule that looks like a lock, and they create a bio-chemical reaction. It’s the longing for that golden sphere that makes you complete.

The one in Minnesota was commissioned by the university for the physics and nanotech building they had just built. I made a man and a woman. This is a common form in physics. Like the Ying and Yang. Positron and electron. In this sculpture the man is in an uncomfortable position on his knees guarding the institution as a male while she is very at ease, feminine and mellow and looking in from the outside. They are like lovers who never see each other, and they are exactly on the same axis. It also deals with the quantum wave property of matter. We think of matter as solid but if you zoom in close enough everything is a wave.

JS: Meditation is part of many of your sculptures.

JVA: Meditation is a practice where we remind ourselves that we are more than just a body. When we calm ourselves down from chatter of the mind, we can discover something that is fundamental. Materialist reductionism suggests that the body is the fundamental thing. In truth there is a much deeper conscious based spiritual foundation to the world. Meditation is one of the ways you can experience that.

JS: You are from Hamburg. How has your hometown influenced you and your art?

JVA: The river in Hamburg is very important somehow. Mostly I see a very German aspect to my art. A combination of art and science. Intuition and intellect. The scientists in Germany tend to be much more visual. This has been going on for a long time. Einstein for instance could visualize something in his mind. This is unlike the Anglo-Saxonian tradition of doing science. I feel a connection to the visual tradition found in German art and science.

The exhibit runs through May 16. To learn more check out https://news.hohmann.art/voss-andreae-exhibition-2025

Julian Voss Andreae and Jimmy Steinfeldt

 

A Transformative Journey: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at The Music Center

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A Transformative Journey: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at The Music Center
Peggy Phillips at the Alvin Ailey Music Center LA

By Peggy Phillips

Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 4/6/25 – In 1979, as a dancer, I attended the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s performance at De Anza College—a moment that forever changed the way I understood movement and storytelling through dance. Watching Judith Jamison and the company perform, I saw possibilities I had never imagined—ways to convey emotion, tell a story, and embrace the beauty of the body in motion. Their movements—flexing, expanding, collapsing, and rising again with resilience—seamlessly blended ballet’s foundation with something freer, more expressive, and yet still deeply rooted in technique.

Alvin Ailey Cast Music Center April 2, 2025

Founded by the legendary Alvin Ailey, the company has long celebrated the African American experience and the universal themes of struggle, joy, and resilience. Ailey was more than a choreographer—he was a visionary who merged ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary styles into something uniquely powerful. His 1960 masterpiece, Revelations, which was also presented tonight at the Music Center, left an indelible mark on me. Its themes of joy and spirituality unfolded through movement that was both precise and boundless—deeply rooted yet transcendent. The creative use of props—such as parasols and flowing fabric—added an additional layer, extending the dancers’ bodies beyond themselves. But what struck me most was how the choreography captured the essence of nature and everyday life: the rippling flow of water, the grounded strength of the earth, the flight of birds, the labor in the fields, and the simple act of drinking water from a stream. Ailey’s movement was drawn not just from classical technique, but from life itself.

Another revelation was the way Ailey reimagined the use of the dancers’ arms and hands. In ballet, arms are typically held in controlled, rounded positions, following strict lines. But here, they reached, curved, pulsed, and carved through the air with a raw, expressive power. Hands opened and closed like blooming flowers, fluttered like wings, or pressed together in prayer. This entirely new approach to movement infused the choreography with an emotional depth I had never experienced before—it wasn’t just about form; it was about feeling, about storytelling through every inch of the body.

That performance reshaped my approach to choreography and teaching, inspiring me to craft pieces that told stories by breaking free from ballet’s rigid precision while still honoring its discipline. I began exploring movement inspired by nature, the animal world, and the expressive potential of the arms and hands. Ailey’s influence became the cornerstone of my artistic voice, encouraging me to see dance not just as a structured form but as a living, breathing language that connects us to the world around us.

Tonight, as I sat at The Music Center in Los Angeles, I was transported back to that life-changing evening so many years ago. The current cast paid tribute to Alvin Ailey’s legacy with extraordinary grace and power. Many Angels, featuring Samantha Figgins, James Gilmer, Miranda Quinn, Christopher R. Wilson, and Vernard J. Gilmore, was absolutely stunning—so moving and beautifully performed that it took my breath away. Treading, performed by Jacquelin Harris and Yannick Lebrun, was executed with exceptional grace and precision. Their performance was truly outstanding, defined by powerful movements and expressive physical strength.

The energy in the theater was electric. The audience’s thunderous applause and standing ovations confirmed what I already knew—Alvin Ailey’s work is timeless. His legacy lives on in every dancer, every movement, and every heart moved by his art.

Watch a performance clip here: YouTube Link

The Hollywood Times talks With the Filmmakers of “SoCal Snowy Owl” Documentary Premiering on PBS SoCal for Earth Month 2025

The Hollywood Times talks With the Filmmakers of “SoCal Snowy Owl” Documentary Premiering on PBS SoCal for Earth Month 2025

PBS SoCal’s new Earth Month programming headlined by local documentary SOCAL SNOWY OWL. When a rare snowy owl appears in a California suburb—the first sighting in 100 years—it captivates residents, turning a quiet neighborhood into a global destination. SOCAL SNOWY OWL will premiere on Tues., April 1 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Mon., April 28 at 4 p.m. on PBS SoCal.

Enjoy the Trailer:

Local Wildlife Highlighted in PBS SoCal’s 2025 Earth Month Slate with World Broadcast Premiere and Local Events for New Documentary  SOCAL SNOWY OWL 

Additional Earth Month Highlights Include WILDLIFE ON THE EDGE – Featuring Mountain Lion P-22 and Other Diverse Wildlife in the Mountains Around LA, Narrated by Beau BridgesTHE FUTURE OF NATURE Narrated by Uma Thurman and PATAGONIA: LIFE ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD Narrated by Pedro Pascal

Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App.  Members of PBS SoCal get extended access through PBS Passport.

Los Angeles, Calif. – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, announced earlier its 2025 Earth Month slate with 15 new titles and headlined by the world broadcast premiere of the new 30-minute documentary SOCAL SNOWY OWL that will be screened at two regional events over the course of the month. When a rare snowy owl appears in a California suburb—the first sighting in 100 years—it captivates residents, turning a quiet neighborhood into a global destination. The documentary explores how one bird fostered human connection, inspired conservation awareness and offered a moment of hope in a rapidly changing world. The film includes interviews with Cypress City Councilwoman Frances Marquez, California State Senator Josh Newman and more. SOCAL SNOWY OWL will premiere on Tues., April 1 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Mon., April 28 at 4 p.m. on PBS SoCal. Following the broadcast, the documentary will stream at pbssocal.org/SoCalSnowyOwl as well as on the free PBS App on April 1 and on PBS SoCal’s YouTube.

The Hollywood Times had the opportunity to talk with the director of SoCal Snowy Owl, Chris Angel, who is also a writer, producer actor and Lifelong Birdwatcher.  Also on the interview with producer Walter.  Enjoy our conversation:

PBS brings us all so many different programs about art, theatre, animals, kids programming and heart-warming human stories.  This documentary is one for all of us to watch.  It is a beautiful shot documentary with an amazing story of a beautiful Snowy Owl and the lives it touched in a community in Cypress.  The Snowy Owl found comfort on the roofs of a few homes during its visit and what a sight it must have been to see it in person.  Gather the entire family with a box of tissue, because you will need some.  A good cry is good for our soul.  Judy Shields, The Hollywood Times

The program augments the robust lineup of relevant specials and documentaries that highlight environmental stewardship premiering throughout April for Southern California viewers in partnership with presenting sponsor Metrolink.

Two local screenings will highlight the locally-produced film that was the winner of the Audience Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. On Thurs., April 10, SOCAL SNOWY OWL will screen at the Rivian South Coast Theater followed by a panel discussion with special guests and a general reception all starting at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the screening and to reserve your tickets, please visit https://rivian.com/spaces/laguna.

And on Thurs., April 24, PBS SoCal and the Natural History Museum will co-host a public screening of SOCAL SNOWY OWL along with the EARTH FOCUS episode “Transforming the Los Angeles River” starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons Theater followed by a panel discussion with special guests and a general reception afterwards. Guests are invited to enjoy a first look at the NHM Commons, a brand-new gathering space designed for community and conversation at the Natural History Museum.

For more information about the screening and to reserve your free tickets, please visit https://nhm.org/calendar/green-screen-our-planet-film-earth-focus-pbs-socal.

 

The Documentary will stream at pbssocal.org/SoCalSnowyOwl

SOCAL SNOWY OWL – Mon., April 28 at 4 p.m. on PBS SoCal – New!

A rare snowy owl appears in a California suburb. (Courtesy of Henry Tran)

A rare Arctic snowy owl’s unexpected visit to a California neighborhood sparks wonder and unites a community and reveals the fragile connection between nature and the changing world. In the Orange County suburb of Cypress, the community find that their encounters with this visitor change their lives for the better.

A snowy owl sighting captivates residents, turning a quiet neighborhood into a global destination. (Courtesy of Roy Rausch)

For more information, follow us on social at @pbssocal

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PBS SoCal’s Earth Month content is supported by generous institutional funders and partners including Metrolink. Environmental programming is supported, in part, by Edison International.

About PBS SoCal

PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App as well as over-the-air, via seven channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.

About Metrolink

Metrolink regional passenger rail service offers reliable, safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable transportation throughout an interconnected six-county network. Metrolink has 545.6 total service line miles and 67 stations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego counties, connecting people, communities, and businesses and serving as an essential link in the region’s mobility landscape. Metrolink also operates the Arrow service, a nine-mile extension of the San Bernardino County Line linking the cities of San Bernardino and Redlands.

Metrolink is committed to promoting sustainability, and we’re proud to be a part of this global effort. Small acts, like taking the train, can add up to a big green impact and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable Southern California.

The Astounding Virtuosity and Generosity of Herbie Hancock in 2025

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The Astounding Virtuosity and Generosity of Herbie Hancock in 2025

At the Walt Disney Concert Hall, in his eighty-second year of glorious living on this planet, Herbie Hancock and his talented band were nothing less than a musical revelation.

By John Lavitt

Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 04-04-2025

As the Creative Chair for Jazz for the LA Phil, Herbie Hancock blesses Los Angeles with more than curating incredible shows yearly at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Indeed, he graces both stages almost annually, bringing his very best to live performance, as he has done for so many years. With 14 Grammy Awards to his name, as the LA Phil describes him on their website, “Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explora-tions, he has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice.”

First, the man’s virtuosity is beyond comparison. In his eighties, Herbie Hancock’s mastery of piano, keyboards, and keytar continues to express innovation and joy. Walking out onto the stage with his accomplished band, Hancock mentioned the dark times we face in the microcosm of Los Angeles and the macrocosm of the nation today. He pointed out that while still recovering from the devastating wildfires, we now watch as our country is set ablaze. Nothing else needed to be added because we all knew what he meant.

Thus, Herbie Hancock promised a night of consolation through the magic of music. Beyond his virtuosity, Hancock has the genius to assemble an incredibly talented band around himself. The second point needs to be underlined: As a bandleader, Herbie Hancock’s beneficent leadership is characterized by generosity. He allows each of his outstanding players to shine. The band is so good that it needs to be introduced, as Hancock does on stage:

  • At the heart of the band, Terence Blanchard is an acclaimed trumpeter and a deeply respected composer. With over eighty film and television scores and a vast impact on modern jazz, he is also a virtuoso who loves playing with his old friend.
  • Beyond being the bass player for the Saturday Night Live band for over a quarter of a century, James Genus is a genuinely versatile bass player. Indeed, he brought a soft precision to the instrument during his solos, making the deep tones sing across the hall.
  • The youngest band member, Jaylen Petinaud, is a living dynamo on drums. A versatile Brooklyn drummer, Petinaud has already performed in multiple Broadway productions. His energy and verve keep the band moving forward with a rhythmic power.
  • Lionel Loueke hails from Benin on guitar and vocals but plays like he comes from another dimension. He blends multiple genres and has collaborated with Hancock on numerous albums. His ability to layer multiple tracks together live is inspiring.

The Herbie Hancock band, with their hallowed combination of virtuosity and generosity, played an incredible live show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The show ended with Herbie Hancock playing dueling solos on the keytar opposite Loueke’s guitar investigations.

Herbie Hancock
From Herbie Hancock’s Facebook Page Courtesy Of Patrick Keller

Together, the two musicians jumped up and down for five minutes, playing with precision and passion. Indeed, it would be inspiring to watch such a performance by a performer of any age, but watching Hancock perform in his eighties was downright astounding.