I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Wicked, Bob Marley, Rod Stewart, The Black Crowes, and Hulu's spring schedule.
- After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. WICKED – In Theaters November 27.
- In conjunction with the upcoming biopic Bob Marley: One Love, which is based on the life of global icon, Island/UMe will be releasing a new limited edition of Bob Marley ’s timeless album, Exodus, on May 24, 2024. Including an exclusive 10” LP of rare bonus tracks and an essay by Jamaican historian Herbie Miller, this all-new package will be encased in a gatefold design for the first time and is available for preorder HERE. Cited by Time Magazine as the Best Album of the 20th Century (“Every song is a classic, from the messages of love to the anthems of revolution”) and the BBC as the “album that defined the 20th Century,” the legacy of Exodus extends beyond genres, eras, and continents, whose impact propelled Third World culture and politics into the global spotlight.
- To mark Valentine's Day, Sir Rod Stewart and Jools Holland with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra release “Pennies From Heaven," their third offering from the exquisite collaborative album Swing Fever - out February 23rd on Warner Records. The track sees a sensational interpretation of the early American classic written by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke. As Jools explains, "It’s such a lovely song and you can do it a lot of different ways. The lyrics are very optimistic and positive, and in the mouth of Rod, they're like modern poems of the 20th century. It's an expression of joy and the message of it is, 'It's going to be alright.'"
- legendary rock band The Black Crowes debut “Cross Your Fingers,” their second release from their highly anticipated new album Happiness Bastards, dropping March 15th via the band’s own Silver Arrow Records. An electrifying plea against a toxic lover “Cross Your Fingers” couples’ romantic agony with a killer guitar riff, emphasizing the blistering heat of a fraught relationship. Stream “Cross Your Fingers” HERE. Following the exhilarating lead single “Wanting and Waiting,” from the forthcoming album Happiness Bastards, “Cross Your Fingers” packs on the momentum with the urgency of a band who is just getting started. A delicate acoustic introduction makes way for an explosive, guitar-tearing drop and rhythmic chorus infused with the funk and soul of the Robinson Brothers’ Georgia roots. Since its release in January, “Wanting and Waiting” has dominated the airwaves – already top 10 at four radio formats, including AAA, Americana, Active Rock, and Canadian Active Rock.
- Hulu announced launch dates for three forthcoming titles: “Under The Bridge,” “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” and “The Contestant.” Please see below for Hulu's Spring Programming Slate. Click on the title for the trailer (if available):
SERIES
EXTRAORDINARY SEASON 2 (MARCH 6, 2024,all at once)
WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES (MARCH 28, 2024, 3 episodes at launch, then weekly)
UNDER THE BRIDGE (APRIL 17, 2024, 2 at launch, then weekly)
THANK YOU, GOODNIGHT: THE BON JOVI STORY (APRIL 26, 2024, all at once)
FILMS
FREAKNIK: THE WILDEST PARTY NEVER TOLD (MARCH 21, 2024)
THE CONTESTANT (MAY 2, 2024)
KIDS & FAMILY
DAVEY & JONESIE'S LOCKER (MARCH 22, 2024, all at once)
