It was such a success last year, attracting more than 100,000 people to various events in and around L.A. Live, that organizers have planned a second series of events leading up to the annual BET Awards, June 29 at Nokia Theatre.
As before, when Beyoncé tied the launch of her Mrs. Carter Show to the opening of the inaugural BET Experience, Staples Center will host three packed bills showcasing different facets of modern urban-soul.
The first night, June 27, will be the most lushly romantic, thanks to turns from Maxwell, Jill Scott and Marsha Ambrosius. Saturday night is still set aside for hip-hop, so June 28 will feature A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, K. Michelle and more. And the final installment, June 29, boasts an appearance from Mary J. Blige, along with Trey Songz, Jennifer Hudson and Tamar Braxton.
Per-show price is $59.50-$149.50, with three-day packages available from $199 to $399. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 14, at 10 a.m. Here’s where you can find more information and details on after-parties, meet-and-greets, “106 & Park” tapings.
George Clinton: Those BET bashes aren’t the only multiact R&B bills going on sale this week, as the legendary bandleader and his P-Funk All Stars will cap a May 2 show at Nokia Theatre also featuring Cameo, Con Funk Shun and Dazz Band, $39.50-$110. Later that month, on May 30, Guy and Tony! Toni! Toné! will lead a lineup at that L.A. Live venue that includes H-Town, Color Me Badd and Force MDs, $49.50-$95.
Both of those go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, as do two more Nokia events: South Korean hip-hop outfit B.A.P. on April 22, $45-$135; and Latin pop star Juan Gabriel, May 1, $80-$250.
And count Ms. Lauryn Hill in for a spring gig at L.A. Live as well, as the former Fugee appears May 17 at Club Nokia, $55-$90, on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Queen + Adam Lambert: This teaming is such a given, it’s a wonder a tour took so long to materialize. After all, Lambert first worked with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, the remaining active members of Queen, when he was becoming a sensation on “American Idol” back in 2009.
That, coincidentally, was just about the same time that May and Taylor were parting ways with former Free and Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers, whose time with the group yielded lots of memorably nostalgic arena dates but also a forgettable studio album (The Cosmos Rocks) that ultimately underscored just how incompatible such ingrained classic-rock figures were.
Lambert, on the other hand, is perhaps the closest living embodiment of the flamboyance and vocal range of Freddie Mercury. He’s a natural fit for Queen and has already earned raves in the role, both for his epic performance with the group at the 2011 MTV European Music Awards and a heralded run across the continent and the U.K. the next year, culminating in three sold-out nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.
Finally, the pairing is coming to the States and making a lone Southern California stop on July 3 at the site of many a memorable Queen show in the past, the Forum, $39.50-$149.50, on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Also on sale at that time are tickets for two smaller shows in Las Vegas at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, July 5-6, $49.50.
Beck: The still-maverick artist, who a few weeks ago issued an album certain to land atop many year-end lists, the meticulous and magnificent Morning Phase, has announced a warm-up gig before his Coachella performances, his first headlining appearances there since the festival began in 1999. But you’ll have to drive to Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre to see it on April 9, $49.50, on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Also out that way, at Santa Barbara Bowl: country-pop upstart Hunter Hayes, June 15, $35-$65, on sale Saturday at 11 a.m.; and KJEE’s Summer Round Up featuring 311, Young the Giant and more, May 15, $45, on sale Saturday at noon.
Ennio Morricone: The Italian film maestro, who in 2012 had to cancel his Hollywood Bowl visit, has now postponed his Nokia Theatre appearance scheduled for March 20. The new date is June 15. Tickets, $59.75-$350, are still available. Refunds are available at point of purchase.
David Tutera: Planning fall-or-later nuptials? Then maybe you’ll want to hear what WE tv’s celebrity wedding designer has to say in his Sept. 13 presentation at City National Grove of Anaheim, $35-$125, on sale Friday at noon.
Justin Hayward: The voice of the Moody Blues has slated a solo acoustic show at the Coach House on June 3, $50. Also coming to San Juan Capistrano club: reggae mainstay Third World returns Aug. 9, $20; Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band jam on May 23, $20; and the remnants of Badfinger play April 18, $20.
Schoolboy Q: The Black Hippy hip-hop affiliate has added a second night at the Observatory on April 1, now that his first show, April 2, has sold out. Tickets are $28.50.
Also at the Santa Ana spot: a pairing of Madlib with Freddie Gibbs, April 3, $10; a $5 gig from expert rocksteady revivalists the Aggrolites on April 24; and Canadian punk band Propagandhi, May 25, $20. And coming to the venue’s smaller Constellation Room are Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, June 7, $13; and dance-rock outfit Electric Six, June 14, $15.
Intocable: We’ve been remiss in mentioning that the Tejano outfit has booked two shows at House of Blues Anaheim, June 20-21, $42.50-$85. And speaking of norteño stars, Julion Alvarez has slated a night at Nokia Theatre in less than two weeks, March 24, $39.75-$199.75, on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Also new at the Mouse House: O.A.R. with Jillette Johnson, May 6, $30-$60; and tribute bands Aeromyth and Pyromania, April 24, $15.
Meanwhile, coming to HOB Sunset Strip: Stonebreed with Made in America and the Nu Kat Boys, April 1, $8; Paganfest Tour 2014 featuring Korpiklaani, Turisas, Chthonic and more, May 13, $25; rapper YG with DJ Mustard, May 23, $27.50; reggae favorite Pato Banton, May 25, $15; and this year’s ’90s-resurrecting Summerland Tour, with Everclear, Soul Asylum, Eve 6 and Spacehog, July 17, $29.50.
Peter Hook & the Light: The bassist, who on previous outings had revisited Joy Division albums, is moving forward chronologically into two of the best from his New Order days, Low-Life (1985) and Brotherhood (1986). He and his band will perform those in full, plus an opening set of JD material, Nov. 22 at the Fonda Theatre, $22.50, on sale now.
Also at that Hollywood haunt: Mac DeMarco with Calvin Love, July 11, $20.50, on sale now; and Yann Tiersen, June 20, $25, on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger: The duo of Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl will play May 17 at L.A.’s El Rey Theatre, $17, on sale now. Also headed there: Self, Aug. 1, $22, on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.
The Faint: The Nebraskan dance-punks, who play O.C. at the Observatory on June 5, have added a third gig to their Roxy stand, June 8, $23, on sale Friday at noon.
Also at the Sunset Strip club: Rasputina, April 3, $15; Exist Elsewhere with the Gallery and Jutty Ranx, April 30, $15; French Horn Rebellion with Hey Champ, May 30, $15; Electric Six with Yip Deceiver, June 13, $17; and the Menzingers, touring behind their second Epitaph Records release Rented World (out April 22), June 21, $16. All of those are on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
File Photos: Getty Images
