MediaTakeout.com is reporting that Albany rapper Shawn Jay, from the group Field Mob, is facing a cancer scare. Read their exclusive report.

Field Mob: Shawn Jay (left) and Smoke.

On his Twitter account, Shawn Jay confirms: “april isnt my month…car wreck…now they wanna admit me to see if i have terminal cancer.bout 2 smoke n talk to god #NoFear”

Field Mob is considered to be influential in the southern hip hop scene as it developed in the early 2000’s. Ludacris took note of the duo and signed them to his Disturbing the Peace label. Their hits include the Jazze Pha-produced single “Sick of Being Lonely” as well as “Georgia” and “So What.”

Continue reading Shawn Jay from Field Mob faces cancer scare »

Philadelphia's Man Man – from left, Honus (Ryan Kattner), T-Moth (Jamey Robinson), Chang (Billy Dufala) and Pow (Chris Powell) – brings its outrageously energetic live show to the Variety Playhouse April 30. Photo: Michael Persico

TODAY THROUGH MAY 7
500 Songs For Kids
In 2007, tireless man about town and musician Josh Rifkind started a fundraiser that combined 500 artists with Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 best rock songs. This year, each artist takes on one of the 500 greatest feel-good songs of all time. There are always surprises and the impressive list of artists includes local and national acts (check the foundation’s website for each night’s scheduled performers). The money goes to Rifkind’s Songs for Kids Foundation.
Nightly through May 7. $10; $20 May 7. Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta. 404-875-1522.

TODAY
Todd Snider
Nashville’s Snider can be snarky and snide, but he’s also witty, observant and even poignant. Of his latest studio …

Continue reading Live music picks: April 29-May 5 »

Kings of Leon returns to Atlanta for a show at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood in July with Band of Horses opening the show. Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 30. Photo: Dan Winters

ON SALE NOW
The Love Language. 8:30 p.m. May 11. The EARL. $10. TA.
Times New Viking. 9 p.m. June 3. The EARL. $10. TA.
This Will Destroy You. 8:30 p.m. June 9. The EARL. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Dick Dale. 8:30 p.m. June 10. The EARL. $25. TA.
Thao & Mirah. June 13.The EARL. TA.
The Rosebuds. 8:30 p.m. June 16. The EARL. $12. TA.
Alela Diane. 8:30 p.m. June 21. The EARL. $10. TA.
Centro-Matic. 8:30 p.m. June 23. The EARL. $10. TA.
Music from the film “Winter’s Bone” with Marideth Sisco, Dennis Crider, Bo Brown, Van Colbert, Tedi May & Linda Stoffel. 8 p.m. June 27. The EARL. $15. TA.
David Bazan. 8:30 p.m. June 28. The EARL. $14. TA.
Puro Instinct, John Maus. 8:30 p.m. July 6. The EARL. $8. TA.
Big Business, Torche. 8:30 p.m. July 14. The EARL. $15; $12 in advance. TA.
Paul Collins’ …

Continue reading Hot tickets: April 26 »

The 34th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival 2011 held a music-filled launch party Thursday night at the Loews Atlanta Hotel. Featuring a “Go Green” mission this year, the popular free festival also unveiled its own app. Guests were treated to remarks by Mayor Kasim Reed, City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Office of Cultural Affairs Director Camille Love, as well as a food sampler’s delight from eight local restaurants.

Nnena Nchege of the Office of Cultural Affairs said this year’s increased emphasis on straight-ahead jazz is by design. ”Our festival is one of the last free music festivals that celebrates jazz in its purest form,” she said. “The Atlanta Jazz Festival will continue to cultivate the legacy of classic jazz.”

AJC photographer Robb Cohen covered the event with his camera. Check out the 14-photo online gallery.

How many years have you been going to the Jazz Festival? What are some of your favorite performances?

(Photo Credit: Robb D. Cohen/

Continue reading Atlanta Jazz Festival 2011 Launch Party Features Mayor Reed »

Diddy-Dirty Money, the latest project from Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, plays the Tabernacle April 26. Photo: Travis Shinn

TODAY
Gurf Morlix, “Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah”
Texas musician Morlix is best known as a producer, having worked with Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen and Mary Gauthier. He also worked with the late Blaze Foley, who was shot and killed during a family squabble (someone else’s family) back in 1989. Foley spent some time in Atlanta, though he was most associated with Austin, Texas. Foley was a talented songwriter whose songs have been covered by Merle Haggard (“If I Could Only Fly”) and Lyle Lovett (“Election Day”), but it was his larger-than-life personality that cemented his status as an underground legend. Foley’s friend and fellow singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt summed it up with this: “He’s only gone crazy once. Decided to stay.” Morlix will perform and present the documentary “Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah.”
8 p.m. April …

Continue reading Live music picks: April 22-28 »

A recap of the Georgia winners at the 42nd Annual Dove Awards:

Female Vocalist of the Year: Francesca Battistelli

Artist of the Year: Francesca Battistelli

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year: Francesca Battistelli (“Beautiful, Beautiful”)

Special Event Album of the Year: Chris Tomlin and others (“Passion: Awakening”)

Recorded Music Packaging: Third Day (“Move”)

Long Form Music Video of the Year: Casting Crowns (“Until the Whole World Hears…Live”)

The show will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on gmc (formerly the Gospel Music Channel)

Continue reading Georgia’s Dove Award winners »

Photo: Melissa Ruggieri

In a total life-imitating-art occurance, Francesca Battistelli told the press corps that she had a “wardrobe malfunction” with her dress the day before the show and had to rush to Nordstrom Wednesday morning to find a replacement.

“It was totally ‘This is the Stuff,’ encapsulated in this day,” she said, referencing her hit song about life’s daily aggravations. “But it all turned around pretty well.”

She noted that 7-month-old son Elijah was upstairs at the Fox, sleeping.

“Motherhood is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Battistelli said, beaming.

Continue reading Francesca Battistelli’s last-minute purchase »

A very charming Greg Jennings (yep, the Green Bay Packers WR) just came back to the press room.

The ardent Christian music fan (TobyMac and Marvin Sapp are faves) said he isn’t that upset about the NFL lockout.

“This is the best thing that could have happened in a way. Fans think we [work] six months, but it’s a 10, 11-month deal. I have three little girls at home and a wife, so it’s perfectly fine with the lockout. As long as we start when we’re supposed to,” Jennings said, then added with a smile, “So we can beat up on the Falcons.”

Continue reading Greg Jennings, Christian music fan »

Francesca Battistelli took three Dove awards home out of four nominations, losing only to Jason Crabb’s song of the year winner, “Sometimes I Cry.”

Battistelli appeared genuinely shocked at her huge artist of the year win, saying from the podium, “This is ridiculous! I don’t know what to say. Thank you. I know fans voted in this category so thank you everyone who voted for me. I’m speechless.”

Continue reading Francesca Battistelli wins artist of the year »

By Shelia M. Poole

Tamela Mann, of gospel music and “Meet the Browns” fame, won her first Dove Award for  Traditional Gospel Album of the Year for “The Master Plan.”

Mann was joined on stage with her husband, David. She said the two are working on a cooking show and a marriage book. The book is “A Biblical Marriage in a Practical World.” David Mann said it should be out in late 2011 or early 2012.

As for the cooking show,  David Mann said its part of a good marriage too.  When you’re in the kitchen, “if you don’t communicate somebody is going to get burnt.”

When asked about Spike Lee’s tiff with Tyler Perry, both were gracious.

“God bless him,” said David Mann. Tamela Mann said it’s “a big enough pie for everybody to have a piece.”

Perry was less so. Perry, on a promo tour for his new film, was asked about Lee’s criticisms of his characters and movies. Perry told Box Office Magazine that Lee “can go straight to …

Continue reading Tamela Mann wins first Dove »