Rapper Jack Harlow launches new US festival
Jack Harlow is launching a new music festival this May in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
The inaugural Gazebo Festival will be co-headlined by the rapper himself, as well as R&B star SZA.
James Blake, Vince Staples, Veeze, Pinkpantheress, Rich Homie Quan, Omar Apollo, Majid Jordan, Slum Village, BNYX, Karrahbooo and more round out the bill.
The two-day event will take place at Kentucky’s Waterfront Park on Memorial Day Weekend (25-26 May) to celebrate “the intersection of music and culture”.
“I am so grateful for his commitment to making first class things happen for Louisville”
Gazebo Festival is a partnership between Harlow (repped in North America by Wasserman Music) and local promoter, Production Simple.
Tickets for the event are available from 6 March and start at $255 ($235) for general admission. A portion of all ticket proceeds will benefit community organisations and local initiatives in the Louisville area through the Jack Harlow Foundation, which was launched last year.
“Jack Harlow is an extraordinary Louisvillian who continues to give back to his hometown,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg in a press release. “This is yet another way Jack is showing up for our city, and I can’t wait to see the excitement this festival creates. I am so grateful for his commitment to making first class things happen for Louisville and our people.”
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ASM Global leads ‘Fill the Truck’ initiative
ASM Global, Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center and Pepsi partnered to host a “Fill the Truck” supply drive to collect and deliver essential items to help Eastern Kentucky residents recover from recent catastrophic flooding.
Last month’s flooding in the US devastated the region and claimed the lives of 39 residents.
The collection event was part of the 22,000-cap venue’s larger initiative to support the local community through ASM Global Acts – the company’s corporate social responsibility platform – which also made a financial contribution.
“While we cannot imagine the devastating loss that has impacted Eastern Kentucky residents, we knew we had to find a way to provide support,” says ASM Global KFC Yum! Center general manager Eric Granger. “Our ASM Global staff approached me wanting to help with Eastern Kentucky flood relief, and we knew we could make a bigger impact with the support of our partners and the local community.
“Pepsi is such a willing and supportive partner and eagerly jumped in to help by providing transportation to deliver items directly to residents in Eastern Kentucky. Seeing our community come together to help our neighbours during this incredibly difficult time has been extremely rewarding for our entire ASM Global team, and we could not be more pleased with the response.”
“It was incredible to see the Louisville community come together to support this meaningful initiative”
Local businesses and residents were encouraged to collect supplies and drop them off at the arena’s outdoor Pepsi Plaza. With support from Louisville-area residents, businesses and government office workers, the ASM Global team filled two large semi-trailer trucks with food and supplies for flood victims.
“It was incredible to see the Louisville community come together to support this meaningful initiative,” adds Louisville Arena Authority chair Leslie Geoghegan, who worked closely with ASM on the scheme.
“As a part of this community, it is our responsibility to find ways to make a different and give back. Like the tornadoes in Western Kentucky several months ago, this natural disaster’s impact has been felt throughout our state; and we wanted to assist the many families in Eastern Kentucky affected by flooding.”
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US set to host first indoor arena show since March
American hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia have announced they will be performing at the first indoor arena show in the US since the pandemic began in March.
The group are set to perform at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on 11 December this year, alongside Project Pat, Sean Da Don, Gem, and Real Gates.
The 21,017 arena seating capacity will be scaled down to 15% capacity, which includes 3,152 patrons and event staff. Tickets will be sold in restricted socially distanced seat blocks of up to six, with the vast majority of tickets in blocks of four.
According to Three 6 Mafia, the concert has been approved by the governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, who was first elected in 2019.
“We are excited for this opportunity to reopen our doors and welcome concert-goers back to Rupp Arena”
“We have been in contact with the Kentucky State Department of Health for many weeks, working out the details and coming up with a plan that fulfils the safety protocols recommended by the CDC and the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” says Lexington Centre Corporation CEO and president Bill Owen.
“We are confident that the measures we have put in place will provide a safe environment for patrons to come out and enjoy live entertainment. We are excited for this opportunity to reopen our doors and welcome concert-goers back to Rupp Arena!”
Tickets are now on sale but due to Covid-19 restrictions, they are mobile-only. Fans can only use the Ticketmaster transfer option to forward tickets to the attending guests in order to aide in contact tracing.
Face coverings for guests and staff will be required to be worn during the entire event. All guests will be subject to temperature checks and must adhere to social distancing throughout the facility including their seating location.
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Experienced venue manager Granger joins AEG
Eric Granger, a entertainment/sports industry veteran with more than 20 years’ experience in venue management, has joined AEG Facilities.
Granger, formerly of the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee, and Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, becomes GM of KFC Yum! Center, AEG’s arena in Louisville, Kentucky. He replaces outgoing GM Dennis Petrullo, who retired earlier this month.
KFC Yum! Center (formerly Downtown Arena) has a capacity of 22,090, and is home to the Lousville Cardinals basketball teams. Since its opening in October 2010, it has hosted several major concerts, including Luke Bryan, Janet Jackson, Eagles, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Maroon 5 and Kid Rock.
“Eric brings a great depth of knowledge and industry experience”
“We are thrilled to have Eric join the AEG Facilities and KFC Yum! Center team in Louisville,” says AEG Facilities president Bob Newman. “Eric brings a great depth of knowledge and industry experience and will play a key role in the continued success and stellar reputation of one of the region’s premier and busiest destinations for sports and entertainment.”
As GM, Granger will be responsible for the management of all of the arena’s business operations, the creation of new events and the development of new revenue opportunities. He steps into his new role on 1 January 2018.
“I am looking forward to working with the great group of professionals in Louisville with AEG Facilities and the Louisville Arena Authority,” he comments. “KFC Yum! Center is an incredible facility.”
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