Michigan Music Blog

Led Zeppelin is done – well, technically they have been pretty much done for quite some time now. But over the past few years there has been some speculation of a reunion tour of the group, and this grew even more as the band did in fact reunite – although it was only for one show at the 02 Arena in London. Hell, the band even entertained possibilities of doing the tour without Robert Plant, who was adamantly against the reunion the entire time. But now it is official – their plans just didn’t work out, and the Led Zeppelin reunion tour will not happen; with or without Robert Plant.

***Update May 26th 2009***

Check our comments for the latest updates on Dunegrass 2009!

We’ve heard from Ted and here’s the news….

“Hello Michigan Music Blog and lovers of festival music.
I bear good tidings and news of Dunegrass 2009. The spirit and reality of Dunegrass lives throughout the land and in the hearts of many such as the wonderful people above me here, and it is being planned as I type this. A new site has been secured just outside of Empire. We are reviving the original recipe for Dunegrass and the response is wonderful.
Our new site is http://www.dunegrass3.org
Please be patient for complete info to be posted.
Thank you all for the spirit of DG.

Ted

Just so you know, Grass Roots Productions is not and will not be involved in any way.”

*****

Original post 1/8/2009

According to the Leelanau News, there is a strong possibility that the Sleeping Bear Dunegrass and Blues Festival might not take place in Empire, Michigan in August of this year – and it might not take place at all. Dunegrass is a little-known festival that has been held in the Northern part of the Lower Peninsula for well over a decade now.

But the Leelanau News reports that Stephen Volas of Grassroots Productions, the company that runs and organizes the Dunegrass Music Festival is nearly a quarter of a million dollars in debt – and at this point it is unclear whether or not the Dunegrass 2009 festival will indeed go down as planned.

We’ve all been waiting on pins and needles, but finally today the lease between AEG Live (the festival promoters) and the bank trustee has been approved by a Grand Rapids judge. For those of you who don’t know, this was the biggest obstacle in the way of Rothbury 2009 happening. Once the Oceana Township Board approves the 2009 Rothbury Music Festival, and once they secure they proper land permits, it will be all good to go. But these last 2 things should be a breeze, and I’m sure we’ll have a lineup and some news before long. Either way, stay tuned to Michigan Music Blog for all of your Rothbury 2009 News!

Well we finally have some news concerning the Double JJ Ranch and The 2009 Rothbury Music Festival, and from what the local press is reporting, the news is very, very promising.

It appears a lease has been signed for the promoters to continue with the Rothbury Festival 2009 at the Double JJ Resort, and there will be an emergency court hearing today. If all goes as planned, the judge should approve the signing and it won’t be long now before we’re all back at the ranch! Some Rothbury 2009 Rumors include Tom Petty, The Dead, Phish, and several more…stay tuned for any more news as soon as we hear it!

Last Friday marked the beginning of the annual Heavyweight Championship of Rock at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Round 1 featured bands Charles the Osprey, Night of 1000 Knives, Absinthe, The Trial, Vintage, and Last Rite. Round 2 will continue Friday, January 9 with Choke, Release the Crimson, Kill Tomorrow, Our Fate In Hell, The Dead Last, En Vino Veritas. Round 3 will take place on Friday, January 16 with Weddg, Garda, Tru-Burn, Stockton, Genetic Drift, and State of the Union. Round 4 takes place on Friday, January 23 with Storied Life, Feeble, Brothers, Page 66, Breaknek, and Ascend The Throne.

The Heavyweight Championship Finals will begin on Saturday, February 7.

Well it doesn’t necessarily have to do with Michigan, but it is huge news in the music world – according to Rolling Stone magazine, sources close to the band Phish say that they will be playing in 2009 at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on the farm in Manchester, Tennessee. Many have been doubtful that Phish would play a music festival as they have been known in the past for hosting their very own multi-day fests, but with the recent announcement of a reunion tour in the works, this rumor may finally come to a reality in June of 2009. We’ll just have to wait and see…

More possible bad news on the status of the 2009 Rothbury Music Festival – according to reports in the local newspapers, the Double JJ Ranch and Resort is now being investigated for fraud that has to do with an infrastructure grant that was obtained by the resort in 2004.

What exactly this means for Rothbury 2009 is uncertain – but this certainly isn’t going to help the situation any. Stay tuned to the Michigan Music Blog for more news on this topic as it comes in – I for one still remain hopeful that the Rothbury 2009 Fest will indeed take place at The Double JJ Resort.

There was even more tragic news released yesterday regarding the horrific events that have taken place over this past weekend. FBI officials confirm that the body of a young male that was found in the rear seat of an SUV (the one that was described when the original Amber Alert was issued) is indeed Jennifer Hudson’s 7 year old nephew. Though the body has not been positively identified as of yet, FBI and police officials are saying that the body is believed to be that of Julian King, the nephew of the singer/actress that was in the home at the time of the double murder of her brother and mother.

BREAKING NEWS

A terrible tragedy has befallen singer/actress Jennifer Hudson over the week when both her mother and brother were shot on Chicago’s south side. Hudson’s seven-year-old nephew is also missing, and an amber alert has been issue for the boy. The ex-husband of Jennifer’s sister Julia has been taken into police custody for questioning, according to media reports.

Jennifer Hudson made her step into stardom via the popular television show, American Idol, and this is a horrific and completely unexpected turn of events that has happened to the prolific young superstar. Stay tuned to Michigan Music Blog for more news about this double murder and possible kidnapping as it happens.

With 3 kids, and a half billion dollars between them, it is finally official – Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are getting a divorce. There has been much speculation over the past few weeks that their relationship has been on the rocks, and rumors are abound that Madonna may be responsible for the recent break up of Alex Rodriguez and his girlfriend…I suppose we’ll find out if this is true soon enough, but one thing is for sure. Some of her recent songs have indeed been themed around their rocky relationship and their upcoming divorce, and papers have now been filed – the divorce will be happening.

According to news reports ex Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM were critically injured Friday night/Early Saturday morning when the plane they were about to take off skidded off the runway. The duo had just finished a show under the moniker TRVSDJ-AM. The entire crew onboard the plane along with 2 other passengers died as a result of the crash.

The plane was departing from an airport in South Carolina, and its way to Van Nuys, California for the birth of Barker’s assistant’s child – the assistant is believed to have been one of the passengers on board that was killed, while the other one has not yet been named.