There wasn’t good news for Rick Ross fans this past weekend, as all 23 days of the imminent tour were cancelled. Last week Ross had given an indication that all was not right with the tour, when he cancelled two upcoming shows in North Carolina. Who was to think though that every date would be given the chop? So now the question is: why?

At first rumor was that Ross and his Maybach Music Group were receiving threats from the Gangster Disciples, a rival group that Ross had spoken about previously in his lyrics. Statements from Rick Ross and his reps though, indicate that the cancellation was due to far more pedestrian matters than that. Chalk this one up to poor communication and complete disorganization. Reps of Ross had said at the time that these were mainly on the part of the tour promoter, which was Live Nation, one of the biggest promoters in the industry.

Ross issued a statement himself saying, “I want to apologize to all of my fans who I missed performing for due to the cancellations and want to let them know that I will get back to their cities. I’m ready to get back in the studio to make good music.”

Until then unfortunately, it looks as though fans are just going to have to wait.

Bon Jovi hasn’t been on tour since 2010, and by the time they roll into some of North America’s biggest cities, it will be almost three years since they’ve been on the road. But now they’re bringing the “Because We Can” tour to the United States and Canada and tickets are now officially on sale!

Bon Jovi’s past tour in both 2008 and 2010 topped Billboard’s charts as the highest-grossing concert tours, so you know this one’s going to be a good one. “Because We Can” is going to promote the band’s umpteenth studio album, What About Now (it’s actually their twelfth.) Shows will be packed with songs from the new album, fans can also expect to hear some of the great Bon Jovi classics, too.

The tour will travel through 33 different cities in total for the time-being, and they are some of the biggest venues on the continent – Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Tampa, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Toronto, Ontario are just a few that have been announced. The first stop is in Uncasville, CT on February 9. You can find a full listing of dates and venues on our Bon Jovi tickets page.

Don’t live in North America? Don’t worry. Rumor has it that these are just the first few dates being announced, and that the band is currently working on global dates that would turn this into a world tour.

Tickets are already on sale and they’re not going to be around for long, so make sure you get yours today!

It’s a great time for country music, but that’s not why the Grammy Nominations Concert Live is being held in Music City. It’s because the organizers, and the city of Nashville, wants to show artists, the industry, and the world that this is a place where all music is celebrated — not just the kind that includes fiddles and banjos.

The 55^th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on February 10, 2013 and The Grammy Nominations Concert live! Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night is just that. It’s something that every city wanted to host, including Los Angeles, but Nashville was chosen because the Grammys represent a broad spectrum of music, and not just one specific type. And that’s just what Nashville is becoming, says city officials.

Karl Dean, Nashville’s mayor, said he’s excited about the event, not just for the prosperity it will bring to the city, but also because it will shine a spotlight on how Nashville encapsulates every kind of music.

“There are obvious benefits of the concert from attracting attention to the city from people who want to do business here to attracting people who want to relocate business here,” said Dean. “It’s important for folks to understand how diverse the music scene is in Nashville.”

And that diversity shows in just a few of the acts that have been announced as participating in the Grammy Nominations Concert Live show. Ne-Yo and Maroon 5 were some of the first bands to be announced, with Maroon 5 giving a special one-hour concert afterwards for those in attendance. Of course, one can’t help but think of country music thoughts turn to Nashville and so Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, and The Band Perry will also be performing; and The Who will also be delivering a special tribute to Johnny Cash.

Hip hop legend-turned-actor LL Cool J will be co-hosting with country’s own sweetheart, Taylor Swift. There’s a little something for everyone in this one, and will take place live and on television on Wednesday, December 5 so mark the date and set your PVR!

Anyone who’s ever even stood outside a stadium where Justin Bieber is performing will tell you that the screams heard are one of the loudest things on this planet. But “Believe” it or not, they do get louder. Especially if you’re in Toronto and another Canadian heartthrob, Drake, walks out on stage.

This is what fans at Rogers Centre in Toronto were treated to on Saturday. Just making his way out of the throngs of fans in Ottawa the weekend before, Justin brought his “Believe” tour to Toronto. During the show, Justin took the time to recognize the home crowd, and to introduce another Canadian artist to the stage.

“We’re pretty close to home,” Justin told the screaming crowd. “I want to do a special song I haven’t done on tour yet. Give it up from your hometown, Drizzy Drake.”

Drake walked out onto the stage, the two bust out into “Right Here” from Justin’s Believe album, and the crowd went wild. Afterwards Drake also extended the favor and said some very nice things about the Biebs.

“There’s very few people I met in the world that are as talented and as incredible as this young man right here. I wanna thank you for giving me a childhood dream, which is my first opportunity to perform at the Skydome,” Drake said. This was the former name of the Rogers Centre, until it was changed in 2005.

The two mixed it up even more, performing Drake’s “The Motto” immediately after, and Justin once again got the chance to show off his rapper-style, filling in for Lil Wayne‘s portion of the song.

When the Rolling Stones kick off a tour, it’s always big news. But when they kick off their 50th anniversary tour, it’s an event; and one that people are still talking about two days after their show at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday.

This is a show that had it all, while in true Stones style, still keeping it to the basics. The Stones have never needed lasers or light shows, or robotically choreographed dancers in the background — and they still don’t fifty years later. Who needs backup when Mick Jagger is still shredding the stage apart, in near constant movement from the drop of the first beat to the last applause? And who wants lights or lasers interfering with the guitar show Keith Richards always puts on?

The Stones brought all of this and more on Sunday night, making it a classic Stones show, with a few modern twists and some old-school throwbacks.

It was Mary J. Blige who brought the most contemporary feel, matching Mick pitch for pitch as they belted out “Gimme Shelter” together; and Jeff Beck was on hand to show off his own guitar skills on “I’m Going Down.”

In addition to new friends, old friends were there for the ride too, with former Stones member Bill Wyman taking the stage to lend guitar support on “It’s Only Rock and Roll” and “Honky Tonk Women.” Mick Taylor, who left the Stones in 1974, was also there, and was one of the favorites of the crowd.

No more so than Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Woods, and Charlie Watts though, who all played with the crowd while putting on a truly unforgettable show.

Happy birthday, Rolling Stones, and here’s to many more to come!

If you haven’t yet heard of one of the biggest music events of the year, then pack your bags and get ready to head down to Houston, Texas for the South by Southwest (SXSW) event! This event is a collection of the best film, interactive, and music festival, and it’s being held in March of next year. And what’s sure to make this year’s festival one of the biggest ones yet is that Dave Grohl is going to be the keynote speaker!

Dave Grohl is perhaps best known as being the lead singer of the Foo Fighters, but this is a man with loads of credentials behind his name. He was the drummer for Nirvana on one of their biggest albums, “Nevermind,” and he’s also taken his place behind the drums when playing with Tom Petty. It was only after these accomplishments that he moved onto the Foo Fighters, and with them won 11 Grammy Awards. He’s also collaborated with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Elton John, to name just a few. Certainly sounds like someone who’s qualified to speak as keynote speaker at SXSW!

The Dave Grohl keynote will be open to any registrants who have signed up under the Music and Platinum package, as well as registered showcasing artists. This event, along with everything else that goes on at SXSW, is a great chance for networking, career-building, and of course, stage after stage of music to entertain those who attend the conference.

The keynote will take place on March 14, 2013; but the entire conference runs from March 12, 2013 to March 17,2 013 at the Austin Convention Center in Texas. This event is wildly popular, and spaces won’t last for very long, so make sure you register today!

The American Music Awards were held this past Sunday at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, and it was a huge night for Justin Bieber. On top of two outstanding performances he gave, Justin also took home three awards — including the top award of the night.

The first award that Justin won was also the first award of the night that was handed out. It was for favourite pop/rock male artist and upon acceptance, he thanked and dedicated it to just about everyone, including “the haters” and his fans.

Justin’s second award came when Jenny McCarthy presented the best award for favorite pop/rock album. It went to Bieber for his album “Believe,” and as he came up on stage to get his award, McCarthy doused him in kisses, saying that Justin was “just so cute!” Laughing afterwards, Bieber said half-jokingly, “I feel so violated right now.”

But the big moment of the night came as Justin faced other top competitors for artist of the year. Rihanna, Drake, Maroon 5, and Katy Perry were all also up for the award. After Bieber’s name was called, he pulled his mom (who came in lieu of recent ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez) up on stage with him. Choosing to be a better winner than he was in his first acceptance speech, Bieber focused on his roots. During his speech he turned to his mom and said, “I wanted to thank you for always believing in me.” He also turned back towards his fans and asked that they too, continue to believe in him.

That wasn’t it for Justin on his big night, though. He also performed two different songs. One was a soft acoustic of his song “As Long as You Love Me,” in which Justin took over the duties of Big Sean, rapping certain lyrics himself. He also performed the high-tempo song, “Beauty and the Beat,” in which Nicki Minaj joined him onstage to perform alongside him.

Coldplay and Jay-Z may seem like an unlikely matchup to co-headline a show together, especially one as big as a New Year’s Eve show. But in fact it will be the second year in a row that the two have teamed up to perform a special show for the special holiday; and the rapper and Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin are very good friends who are looking forward to ringing in another year together.

The two will co-headline at the Barclays Center on, of course, December 31, 2012; and there are all kinds of reasons to be excited about it. Not only will concert goers get to hear some of the best, past and present, songs from these two great artists; but it’s also the first time Coldplay has performed in NYC in seven years. The same cannot be said for Jay-Z, but anyone who wants to get a taste of what his recently-released album, Live in Brooklyn, sounds like, this is the place to do it. That record was created at the Barclays Center over the span of eight sold-out shows.

Coldplay gave just a hint of how spectacular these two are when they team up together, stating on their website, “This will be the second time in two years that Coldplay has celebrated new year with long-term friend and collaborator Jay-Z, the band having shared the bill with him at a Las Vegas concert in 2010. More recently, Jay-Z performed onstage with Coldplay at the spectacular London 012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony.”

And anyone who had a chance to see it knows just how special it is to watch. Get your Coldplay & Jay-Z tickets today.

If you are a tween, have a child who is a tween, or just happen to love a good boy band, then move over Justin Bieber–One Direction is the new craze!  The band formed in 2010, getting their first break on the British X Factor TV show.  They finished third on the show, but that didn’t stop them from signing with Columbia Records in the US.  The band consists of five British and Irish born members, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles.

“Up All Night” was the band’s first album, which released early this year to much success.  Popular hits off of their first album included “What Makes You Beautiful”, “One Thing”, “Gotta Be You”.  The band has already sold well over 12 million albums and singles, and they are about to sell a lot more with their newest announcement.  The band is all set to release their second album, “Take Me Home” on November 12, 2012.

The first single of the new album, “Live While We’re Young” was released on September 28, 2012.  It has been described as a mix of bubblegum pop and pop rock.  The message is an upbeat one about living life to its fullest.  The song rocketed up to number three in the Billboard Charts, and topped the charts in Ireland.  It even dethroned Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” for the Vevo record’s most views in 24 hours.  The next single has been announced as “Little Things” which is scheduled for release in November.  Louis Tomlinson also told eager fans that shooting for the video had already begun.

Of course, with a new album also comes a new tour!  One Direction has already announced tour dates across the US for the summer months of June, July and August.  Fans will want to get their tickets early, or risk not “living while they are young” and instead crying outside the gates of a sold out show.  This band is hot and tickets are sure to go quick.  Find out when the band will be touring your hometown and buy the best price tickets online today.  Be one of the first to hear the boys of One Direction croon the newest songs of their album live and in person!

The Old Tire Swingers are a band known for giving their all and putting their hearts and souls into it, but none are likely to compare to their upcoming show at the Fox Theatre. This Theatre is special, and not just because it puts the band directly in front of their hometown fans. It’s also a very prestigious theater to play in. And that’s something the Swingers aren’t taking lightly as they prepare for their show there this Saturday night.

“We’re just trying to make the Fox show exactly the way we want it to be,” says Nick Kennedy, guitar player and lead singer for the band. “The Fox is definitely special to us. Not everybody gets to go play the Fox. You don’t just call up the owner and say, ‘Hey, we want to play a show.’ The fact that they would even allow us to play there is big for us.”

Not everybody, indeed. The Old Tire Swingers will be only the second local band in the past several years to play the iconic theatre. Poor Man’s Poison, a band that focuses on folk and Americana music, played there this past February to a sold out crowd. There’s little doubt that the Swingers will do the same this Saturday.

If you haven’t seen or heard them yet, make sure you take this chance. The Swingers are known for bringing an old style of bluegrass music, complete with a banjo, upright bass, mandolin, and acoustic guitar. But being from a younger generation, the group puts a unique and modern twist on it, making this music that anyone can relate to.

Tickets are on sale and the show starts at 8 p.m. this Saturday at the Fox Theatre in California. For a truly fun and unforgettable music experience, get your tickets today!