It’s hard to image as winter gets a firm foothold, but the sultry, spring New Orleans Jazz Festival is just around the corner. The festival is headlined by heavyweight music acts like Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes and My Morning Jacket. The 2010 edition of the New Orleans Jazz Festival marks the 41st running of the classic music event that features an eclectic blend of musical genres from rock and pop to gospel and blues.

The festival will take place over two weekends – April 23-25 and April 29-May 2 — at the New Orleans’ Fair Grounds Race Course. This year’s edition of the festival drew crowds of 40,000 to see first time participant Bon Jovi among other acts.
Other big name acts that will be participating in this year’s festival include Elvis Costello, The Allman Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Lionel Richie, Darius Rucker, Jeff Beck and hundreds of other artists. In addition to featuring nationally known acts, the New Orleans Jazz Festival also highlights local musical acts as well as food and craft booths.

Tickets went onsale Tuesday (12/15) via Ticketmaster and range in price from $45 for a single day admission to $120 for a three-day package and $160 for a four-day on the second weekend. If you can stomach the sometimes abrasive heat, this event is one not to be missed.

Van Morrison, with his sporadic summer tour that revisited “Astral Weeks,” his classic album from 1968 complete, has now announced a couple extra fall dates for “Astral Weeks” in addition to some regular show dates.

Van Morrison will be kicking the trek off with a Las Vegas performance on September 25 followed by a September 29 theater gig in Chicago. Other stops planned include a September 30 date in Toronto, a October 1 stop in Montreal, and an October 24 visit to Waterbury, CT, before wrapping up in Mashantucket, CT on October 28.

The most recent release from Van Morrison, his 2008 “Keep It Simple” ablum, produced the highest debut the Irish songwriter and singer has ever had in his career of 42 years. The album debuted on Billboard’s 200 chart at No. 10. It’s the first new material collection from Van Morrison since 2005 and his 35th studio album overall.

In February “Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl” was released by Morrison. It was recorded last fall in the historical venue in Los Angeles, almost 40 years since the classic album was released in 1968. There is also a live performance DVD version available through Amazon.com exclusively.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in June announced that next year Morrison along with 27 other entertainers would be receiving stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

Van Morrison has a few shows lined up for this summer. The Irish songwriter and singer is shifting from his “Astral Weeks” tour over to his more typically live and ever changing shows.

Earlier this year, Van Morrison wrapped up a full string of live performances featuring “Astral Weeks,” his classic album from 1968. He will be visiting four cities on a short trek, kicking off in Boston on August 4, followed up by two nights in Washington D.C on August 6 and 7, and closing out in Atlantic City, NJ on August 8.

The legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer scored his highest debut for a studio album of his 40 plus year career with “Keep It Simple.” Released last year, the set debuted in the No. 10 spot on Billboard’s 200 chart. It is Morrison’s 35th album and first collection with all material being new since 2005. All 11 of the songs were composed by Van Morrison who produced the set along with being the arranger, composer and lyricist.

A wide array of musical influences are honored on the album, including gospel, soul, country, blues, folk, jazz and Celtic. On Van Morrison’s MySpace page several songs from the album are streaming.

In February “Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl” was released. It was recorded last November in Los Angeles nearly 40 years since “Astral Weeks” was released in 1968. A DVD version is scheduled to be released on April 7 and sold exclusively by Amazon.

A two night run has been booked by Van Morrison to perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Van Morrison will be performing “Astral Weeks,” his classic album from 1968, in its entirety.

The shows have been scheduled for November 7 and 8. There will be two parts to the show. During the first half, Morrison along with his band will be performing songs from his long career. During the second half, the entire “Astral Weeks” album will be performed.

Morrison wrote in a statement that it was a welcome opportunity for him to perform the songs as he had intended to originally. It’s about imagination and creation. A song is a small movie that has music and melodies built around it. It’s moving pictures with poetry in the mind. During the 1960s and 1970s, the music wasn’t supported by record companies. I never was able to take the songs out on tour, and I didn’t have any money myself for doing it. The songs are fresh and timeless today as much as when I wrote them. I’m very happy to be able to perform them in the Hollywood Bowl.

The Hollywood performances are being recorded and will be released as an album entitled “Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.” The new label for Morrison, Listen to the Lion Records, is going to be offering a vinyl version before Christmas. In January a CD version will be released.

Next month, Van Morrison is visiting North America to perform a handful of gigs in support of “Keep It Simple,” his new album.

The run of one week will kick off in Toronto on July 7, with stops scheduled for Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlantic City and Detroit. The concerts are scheduled in between the European dates of Morrison’s, including his July 19 Stockholm Jazz Festival headlining performance. Morrison’s European schedule is listed on his website.

The legendary songwriter and singer from Ireland received the highest debut in his career of over 40 years with “Keep It Simple” when it debuted on Billboard’s 200 chart in the No. 10 slot. It’s the 35th album of Morrison’s career and first collection since 2005 of new material. All of the album’s 11 songs were written by Morrison and he also served as the album’s producer, arranger and lyricist.

A wide range of musical influences are highlighted on the new album, including jazz, blues, folk, Celtic, soul, country and gospel. Song samples from the album can be found streaming from Morrison’s MySpace page.

Last year, although Morrison didn’t release an album containing new music, he was a Billboard 200 fixture with his three different collections of hits: “Still on Top- The Greatest,” “The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3” and “Van Morrison at the Movies- Soundtrack Hits.”

Recently, Van Morrison also reissued 12 albums out of his back catalog. According to a recent press release, these remastered sets also included bonus material that hasn’t been previously released.

Van Morrison, the veteran singer and songwriter from Ireland, has lined up several US dates for later this year and is preparing to release another career retrospective for his fans.

Currently on Van Morrison’s calendar are only two sets of two night stands. He will be in San Francisco on December 27 and 28 and in Dallas on December 29 and 30. However on Morrison’s website it indicates an announcement for additional shows is forthcoming.

On November 1, pre-sale tickets for these dates will going on sale via Morrison’s official website.

“Still On Top- The Greatest Hits,” will be released by Morrison on November 6. The career retrospective of 21 tracks contains remastered versions of some of Morrison’s biggest hits, spanning from 1964 when Morrison was a frontman for the Irish band Them all the way through “Magic Time” his studio release from 2005.

The latest album from Morrison, “Pay the Devil,” released last year, contains 12 country classic covers, including “Things Have Gone to Pieces” from George Jones and “Your Cheatin’ Heart” from Hank Williams. There are also three original compositions from Morrison on the set.

During the late 1960s as well as early 1970s, Morrison emerged as a solo star. His better known albums include “Tupelo Honey,” “Moondance” and “Astral Weeks.”

Morrison is a Belfast, Northern Ireland native. In 1993 he became a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Van Morrison is The Rolling Stones’ most recent high profile act to have been tapped to support “A Bigger Bang,” their upcoming tour of North America.

Morrison will be joining the Rolling Stones on their November 3 Vancouver, British Columbia tour stop and will also appear with them in Oakland, CA on November 5.

The Dave Matthews Band, previously announced to open in El Paso, TX on October will also be opening for the Rolling Stones in Seattle on October 17.

Three Days Grace and Kayne West are other acts that will be opening on selected dates for The Rolling Stones.

Over the past few weeks tickets for the Rolling Stones forthcoming tour have been rolled out. In the next few days more on-sales are scheduled to be rolled out. El Paso show on-sales will start on Saturday August 12, with on-sale tickets for the Las Vegas, Missoula, MT and Louisville, KY starting on August 14. Seattle on-sales will start on August 21.

The Rolling Stones are continuing to back “A Bigger Bang,” their album released last year. It’s the band’s first new studio album since “Bridges to Babylon” from 1997. The new album debuted in the No. 3 spot on Billboard’s 200 chart.

According to organizers, ninety percent of ticket prices for the upcoming dates in North America will have a price tag of $89 for stadium concerts. Arena shows will be priced at $99, with limited Gold Circle seats available.

Van Morrison will be taking a break from touring Europe and play several upcoming US shows. Morrison is continuing to support “Pay the Devil,” his most recent country based album.

Van Morrison will be kicking off a short run of dates in the US in Philadelphia on August 5, followed by three other East Coast dates. Following another overseas touring round, Morrison will be returning to the States in September. He will have three West Coast shows, starting in Berkeley, CA on September 12.

Morrison will be also be appearing at Austin City Limits Festival in September.

The complete European itinerary for Morrison is listed on his website.

Morrison’s new album “Pay the Devil” contains 12 country classic covers including George Jones’ “Things Have Gone to Pieces” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart” from Hank Williams. The sets follows “Magic Time” released in 2005 and also contains three original Morrison compositions.

In addition, the legendary singer released recently a live DVD that contains five songs from “Pay the Devil” that were filmed during a performance held at Ryan Auditorium in Nashville earlier this year. The live DVD is going to be packaged along with new “Pay the Devil” pressings. At Morrison’s website there is a preview video that can be viewed of the disc.

Morrison emerged as a solo performance star during the late 1960s and the early 1970s. His well known albums include “Moondance,” “Astral Weeks” and “Tupelo Honey.”

In 1993 the Belfast, Northern Ireland native was inducted into Rock and Roll’s Hall of Fame.

Van Morrison, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Willie Nelson, and The Flaming Lips are highlighting this year’s lineup for the Austin City Limits Festival held in Austin, TX.

The annual event’s fifth edition will be taking place on September 15-17 at Zilker Park in Austin. Around 130 bands will play across eight stages.

Additional acts that have been confirmed to perform at the festival include Nickel Creek, Calexico, Iron and Wine, Kings of Leon, The New Pornographers, Damien Marley, Cat Power and The Memphis Rhythm Band, Gnarls Barkley, G. Love and Special Sauce, Ben Kweller, Thievery Corporation, Ween, The Shins, Los Lonely Boys, The Raconteurs, John Mayer, String Cheese Incident and Massive Attack.

The festival’s website contains a complete listing of the confirmed acts along with performance times and ticket information.

The festival of three days was inspired by “Austin City Limits,” the PBS long runing music show. The festival also features a food fair and arts festival, along with entertainment and games for children such as a petting zoo that features different musical instruments.

Responding to criticism from earlier festivals that the typical summer time Austin temperatures made things very unpleasant for festival goers, the organizers this year will include more misting areas, drinking fountains and man made shaded areas.