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Rolling Loud, Boston Calling downsize for 2025

Rolling Loud’s 2025 Los Angeles edition has been condensed into a two-day format, with ticket prices slashed.

Organisers of the world’s largest hip-hop festival initially went on sale with a three-day edition for 2025, set for 14-16 March.

Now, they’ve announced a “new era” for the 75,000-capacity event, cutting a whole day of programming and restaging the festival for 15-16 March at Inglewood’s Hollywood Park.

Weekend general admission ticket prices have dropped from US$399 in 2024 to $179, a 55.1% reduction in full-festival costs. Broken down, the daily cost fell by 32.7% from $133 per day last year to $89.50.

The Rolling Loud brand, which launched in Miami in 2015, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Over its first decade, the franchise has staged editions across the US, Europe, and Asia, with 2024 editions in Pattaya, Thailand; Vienna, Austria; LA, and Miami.

Performers for the LA edition are expected to be announced this week. Last year’s headliners include Ty Dolla $ign and Kanye West (aka ¥$), Post Malone, and Future x Metro Boomin.

On the East Coast, Boston Calling has also reduced ticket prices alongside the release of its 2025 lineup, amid backlash for overcrowding at last year’s event.

GA weekend ticket prices decreased over 8.6% on last year’s price from $383 last year to $350 all-in for 2025. One-day passes fell 10.5% from $189 to $169, and a two-day option has been introduced for $330.

The multi-day US event will return on 23-25 May at Harvard Athletic Complex, headlined by Luke Combs, Fall Out Boy and the Dave Matthews Band. Other acts featured include Megan Moroney, Sheryl Crow, T-Pain, Avril Lavigne, Cage The Elephant, Vampire Weekend, and Sublime.

Tumbling ticket prices for these festivals go against the trend of rising Euro festival ticket costs

Organisers plan to combine its existing two stages into a singular ‘rotating stage system’ to optimise space for attendees. During its 13th edition, festivalgoers described “unsafe” overcrowding conditions on the final day of the festival, leading to an onslaught of medical emergencies partly due to high temperatures.

Roughly 40,000 people descended on the festival’s sold-out final day, which featured back-to-back performances from Chappell Roan, Megan Thee Stallion, Hozier, and The Killers. The number reportedly doubled the estimated 16,000 people who attended the day prior.

In addition to the changes in staging, organisers will implement an indoor air-conditioned arena — with special indoor programming to be announced — along with expanded access to water stations.

First staged in 2013, the festival is produced by Boston Calling Events, part-owned by local Crash Line Productions and Austin-based C3 Presents. The festival is co-curated by Aaron Dessner of The National.

Tumbling ticket prices for these US festivals go against the average trend of 5% year-on-year increases across European festivals between 2024 and 2025.

“Unfortunately, we see rising supplier costs and the effects of global (and especially local) inflation. It is something we have to deal with when calculating ticket prices,” said Tamás Kádár, CEO of Sziget, at the time.

 


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P!nk earns second highest-grossing run from a female

P!NK’s 2023-2024 global tours have grossed nearly US$700 million, becoming the second highest-grossing run of all time from a female artist after Taylor Swift.

The three-time Grammy Award-winning artist’s run comprised four record-breaking tours: Summer Carnival Tour 2023 + 2024, TRUSTFALL Tour, and P!NK LIVE.

According to promoter Live Nation, the two-year run shifted more than five million tickets across 130 stadium and arena dates in 15 countries.

The Summer Carnival Tour EU/UK leg brought in over one million fans and grossed over $125 million, while the North American leg saw her perform to a further 1.75 million fans.

Across 130 stadium and arena dates in 15 countries, the two-year run shifted more than five million tickets

The Australia/New Zealand leg brought in over one million fans across 20 stadium dates. And with over three million tickets sold in Australia throughout her career across six tours, P!NK is now the country’s highest-selling artist.

Across the entire 2023-2024 global run, the 44-year-old’s performances have broken all-time attendance records at 15 venues globally and set new highest gross sales records around the world.

The US star, whose real name is Alecia Beth Moore Hart, also became the first female to headline shows at American Family Field (Milwaukee, WI), Chase Field (Phoenix, AZ), and Washington Grizzly Stadium (Missoula, MT).

P!nk is managed by Roger Davies and represented by Barrie Marshall at Marshall Arts.

The team behind the Summer Carnival Tour tour gave a unique glimpse behind the scenes of the global trek at the recent ILMC Production Meeting (IPM). Revisit the panel report here.

 


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Oasis reveal 2025 North American tour dates

Oasis have expanded their 2025 reunion tour by announcing a handful of stadium dates in North America.

Produced by Live Nation and SJM, the run will see the Gallagher brothers play stadiums in Toronto, Chicago, East Rutherford, Los Angeles and Mexico City next summer, supported by special guests Cage The Elephant.

The confirmed shows at the new Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Canada (24 August) and in the US at Soldier Field, Chicago (28 August), MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (31 August) and Los Angeles’ Rose Bowl Stadium (6 September) will represent their biggest ever headline concerts in the territory. They will also perform in Mexico at GNP Seguros Stadium on 12 September.

The Britpop legends built up a solid following across the Atlantic during their commercial peak in the 90s, but famously fell short of reaching a similar level of success as in their native UK.

“America. Oasis is coming. You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along”

“America. Oasis is coming,” says a statement from the group. “You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along.”

The general ticket onsale will begin on Friday 4 October at www.ticketmaster.com. As with the UK shows, Twickets will serve as the official resale partner.

Plans are also underway for Oasis Live ’25 to visit other continents outside of Europe and North America later next year.

The Oasis Live ‘25 Tour was the biggest concert launch ever seen in UK and Ireland, with more than 10 million fans from 158 countries attempting to buy tickets for the group’s first shows since 2009.

However, the unprecedented demand soon gave way to a dynamic ticketing controversy that has prompted multiple inquiries. There was widespread media coverage of fan anger after customers were offered “in demand” tickets for more than twice the advertised face value under surge pricing after queuing online for several hours.

“Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model will not be applied to the forthcoming sale of tickets to Oasis concerts in North America”

A statement from Oasis’ management says that dynamic pricing will not be employed for the US, Canada and Mexico shows.

“Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model will not be applied to the forthcoming sale of tickets to Oasis concerts in North America,” it reads. “It is widely accepted that dynamic pricing remains a useful tool to combat ticket touting and keep prices for a significant proportion of fans lower than the market rate and thus more affordable.

“But, when unprecedented ticket demand (where the entire tour could be sold many times over at the moment tickets go on sale) is combined with technology that cannot cope with that demand, it becomes less effective and can lead to an unacceptable experience for fans.

“We have made this decision for the North America tour to hopefully avoid a repeat of the issues fans in the UK and Ireland experienced recently.”

The full list of 2025 tour dates announced so far is as follows:

July

4 – Cardiff, UK – Principality Stadium

5 – Cardiff, UK – Principality Stadium

11 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

12 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

16 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

19 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

20 – Manchester, UK – Heaton Park

25 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

26 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

30 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

August

2 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

3 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

8 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

9 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

12 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

16 – Dublin, IE – Croke Park

17 – Dublin, IE – Croke Park

24 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium

28 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field

31 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

September

6 – Los Angeles, CA – Rose Bowl Stadium

12 – Mexico City, MX – Estadio GNP Seguros

27 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

28 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium

 


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QOTSA cancel all remaining 2024 tour dates

Queens of the Stone Age have cancelled the remainder of their 2024 tour due to frontman Josh Homme requiring “essential medical care”.

North American festival dates at Soundside Music Festival and Mempho Music Festival have been cancelled alongside the band’s slot at Mexico City’s Corona Capital.

Meanwhile, US headline shows at MGM Music Hall, Boston, Andrew J Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago and Breese Stevens Field in Madison have been postponed to next year.

“QOTSA regret to announce the cancellation and/or postponement of all remaining 2024 shows,” says a statement posted to the group’s social media accounts. “Josh has been given no choice but to prioritise his health and to receive essential medical care through the remainder of the year.

“Josh and the QOTSA family are so thankful for your support and the time we were able to spend together over the last year”

“Josh and the QOTSA family are so thankful for your support and the time we were able to spend together over the last year. Hope to see you all again in 2025.”

The rockers were forced to cancel a string of European festival headline dates last month due to 51-year-old Homme requiring “emergency surgery”.

The cancelled performances included Festival Jardin Sonare in France, Slovakia’s Pohoda Festival, Germany’s Zitadelle Spandau, Czechia’s Colours of Ostrav, METAstadt in Austria, Electric Castle Festival in Romania and Athens Rocks in Greece, as well as two headline shows at SRC Salata in Croatia.

They also pulled out of slots at Norway’s Øya, Sweden’s Way Out West, Denmark’s Syd for Solen, Caberet Vert in France, Lowlands in the Netherlands, Belgium’s Pukkelpop and Portugal’s Villar de Mouros.

 


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TEG Live names Tim McGregor global head of touring

TEG Live’s managing director Tim McGregor has been appointed global head of touring, overseeing the firm’s concert and festival portfolio.

With effect from today, McGregor is responsible for overseeing the continued growth of the global touring businesses across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, UK, Europe, and North America.

This portfolio includes TEG Live, TEG Dainty, TEG Van Egmond, TEG MJR, Handsome Tours, Laneway Festival, TEG Asia, TEG Live Europe and TEG North America.

McGregor has been the MD of TEG Live since joining the business in 2016.

“I am delighted to appoint Tim to the role of global head of touring,” says TEG Group CEO Geoff Jones. “Tim’s outstanding track record in the live entertainment industry draws on more than three decades of experience. His in-depth industry knowledge and excellent business acumen makes him the ideal choice to lead the overall concert and festival touring strategy for TEG across the globe.”

“”Tim’s outstanding track record in the live entertainment industry draws on more than three decades of experience”

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with Tim in his new role to drive growth and success for the TEG business.”

McGregor adds: “I am excited to be furthering my remit with TEG to build its touring operations both locally and globally. I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved to date, but this is only the beginning.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Geoff for this opportunity and for his ongoing support. We’ve been on a long journey together, and I look forward to embarking on the next phase of TEG with Geoff and the senior leadership team.”

Based in Sydney, TEG is a specialist in live entertainment, ticketing, digital and data.

Earlier this year it was reported that the owner Silver Lake had secured a A$1.1 billion (€663.8 million) dividend recapitalisation for the Australian live entertainment giant after attempts to sell the company stalled.

 


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Lauryn Hill speaks out on Fugees tour cancellation

Lauryn Hill has blamed “sensationalism and clickbait headlines” for the decision to cancel her North American tour with the Fugees.

Billed as a 25th anniversary celebration of Hill’s debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the 18-date “co-headline” run was set to feature the US singer and Fugees bandmates Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel.

But the tour, which had been rescheduled from last November, was pulled this week – just three days before tonight’s (9 August) scheduled opener at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida.

Alleging that unfavourable media coverage had hurt ticket sales for the dates, Hill says the decision to cancel was made “with difficulty”.

“Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows,” she says on social media. “Regrettably, some media outlets’ penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour.

“The trust and faith I have in my intentions and my commitment to my art seem to have been overshadowed by this unfortunate portrayal.”

“We’re looking forward to performing at the shows in the UK and Europe in October”

Hill & the Fugees’ October/November 2024 European tour is scheduled to go ahead as planned. Kicking off in Ireland at Dublin’s 3Arena, it is slated to include UK arena dates in Cardiff, Manchester, London, plus shows in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden.

“The audiences in the UK and Europe not only haven’t seen the Miseducation anniversary performance yet, they also haven’t seen the Fugees perform together in over 25 years,” adds Hill. “Performing for my fans, is a profound exchange of energy and emotion that excites me every time. Every show is a piece of my expression and testament to our connection and shared love for music. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed about not being able to perform than I am.

“We’re looking forward to performing at the shows in the UK and Europe in October — and for our fans in North America, when these unforeseen circumstances are resolved, we’ll be back in full force.”

A number of other high-profile artists have also cancelled gigs at short notice in recent days, including Journey, who axed their UK & Ireland tour as a result of “circumstances beyond the band’s control”, Rod Stewart, who called off his 200th residency celebration show in Las Vegas due to suffering from strep throat, and Blink-182, who pulled two US concerts “due to illness”.

Last week meanwhile, PinkPantheress and Garbage both cancelled all their upcoming tour dates for health reasons.

 


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Fred again.. announces North America arena tour

Fred again.. has announced a North American headline tour for this autumn.

Promoted by Live Nation, the places we’ve never been tour is currently set to begin on 11 September at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, and conclude on 13 October at Fort Worth, TX’s Dickies Arena.

The British DJ and producer will also visit Salt Lake City, Seattle, Minneapolis, East Troy, Detroit, Toronto, Buffalo and Atlanta on the outing, with more dates to be added.

The announcement comes after a busy summer for Fred Again.. which included a secret set at Glastonbury (UK) and top-billing performances at Belgium’s Pukkelpop, The Netherlands’ Lowlands, France’s Rock en Seine, the UK’s Reading and Leeds Festivals and the US’s Bonnaroo.

He also played his first stadium show at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, enjoyed three sold-out nights at the Frost Amphitheater in Stanford and co-headlined San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza with Skrillex.

The sold-out San Francisco show in June grossed more than $2 million (€1.8m) from 25,427 tickets, according to Pollstar.

The EDM star also had a high-grossing show at Langley Park in Perth, Australia, on 30 March that grossed $2,337,344 (€2.1m) from 34,718 tickets.

“Okayyyyy North America we comin’ on tour next month!!,” Fred Again.. wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Whenever we go to the US I hear about (and sometimes see from the plane!!) all these mad places that we haven’t gotten to go to and explore. So yeah, I can’t waittttt to see these parts and play some shows in some magical places.”

The places we’ve never been tour announcement arrived alongside the announcement of ten days, Fred’s highly anticipated album arriving 6 September.

Fred again.. is represented by Wasserman Music’s Ben Shprits and Evan Hancock in North America and Tom Schroeder in the rest of the world.

places we’ve never been tour:

SEPTEMBER
11 – Denver, CO, Ball Arena
12 – Denver, CO, Ball Arena
15 – Salt Lake City, UT, Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater
18 – Seattle, WA, Climate Pledge Arena
19 – Seattle, WA, Climate Pledge Arena
25 – Minneapolis, MN, Target Center
28 – East Troy, WI, Alpine Valley Music Theater
29 – East Troy, WI, Alpine Valley Music Theater

OCTOBER
01 – Detroit, MI, Little Caesars Arena
03 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
04 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
07 – Buffalo, NY, KeyBank Center
09 – Atlanta, GA, State Farm Arena
13 – Fort Worth, TX, Dickies

 


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Mayhem Fest to return for first time since 2015

Touring heavy metal festival Mayhem is to return this year as a one-off event, prior to a full-scale comeback in 2025.

The festival was last held in 2015, with a planned 2020 return ultimately shelved due to Covid, but has now been confirmed for 12 October at the 65,000-cap Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California, US.

Presented by Hit Parader in partnership with Live Nation, it will be headlined by Bad Omens and feature the likes of Parkway Drive, Architects, Jinjer, Poppy Kittie, August Burns Red, Seven Hours After Violet, We Came As Romans, Suicide Silence, After The Burial and Throwdown.

Also announced are Born Of Osiris, Mothica, Hanabie, Peyton Parrish, Darkest Hour, Unearth, Brutus, It Dies Today, EscuelaGrind, Holy Wars and Roman Candle.

“Thank you to all of the artists who have brought this back to life with us”

“Thank you to all of the artists who have brought this back to life with us,” says a social media post from organisers, who plan to resurrect the event as a touring festival from summer 2025.

Mayhem, which previously comprised up to 30 tour dates at arenas and amphitheatres across the US and Canada, was created by Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman and is now being headed up by Hit Parader owner Ash Avildsen, CEO of Sumerian Records.

First staged in 2008, the festival has starred bands including Slipknot, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson, Killswitch Engage, Korn, Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Slayer, Motörhead, Avenged Sevenfold and Trivium.

 


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Ice Spice announces inaugural world tour

Ice Spice has announced details of her first-ever global outing, the Y2K! World Tour.

The American rapper, who signed with WME last year, will play festival dates across Europe, followed by headline shows across North America this summer.

The 24-date tour kicks off at Roskilde Festival in Denmark on 4 July, followed by slots at Poland’s Open’er Festival (5 July), Rolling Loud Europe in Austria (7 July) and Beach, Please! Festival in Romania (11 July).

She will then wrap up the European leg with performances at Wireless Festival in the UK (12 July) and Switzerland’s Openair Frauenfeld (13 July).

The trek, produced by Live Nation, will then head to North America, starting in Washington, DC on 30 July at The Anthem, with additional stops in cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Toronto, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland and Atlanta before wrapping up on 31 August in Miami at The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater.

Special guests RIOTUSA and Cash Cobain will join as support on all North America dates. The tour coincides with the release of Ice Spice’s debut album, Y2K!, which drops on 26 July.

The full list of dates is as follows:

Thu Jul 4 – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival

Fri Jul 5 – Gdynia, Poland – Open’er Festival

Sun Jul 7 – Vienna, Austria – Rolling Loud Europe

Thu Jul 11 – Costinesti, Romania – Beach, Please! Festival

Fri Jul 12 – London, UK – Wireless Festival

Sat Jul 13 – Frauenfeld, Switzerland – Openair Frauenfeld

Thu Jul 18 – Dour, Belgium – Dour Festival

Tue Jul 30 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

Thu Aug 1 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater

Fri Aug 2 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark

Sun Aug 4 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Tue Aug 6 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17

Fri Aug 9 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit

Sun Aug 11 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY

Tue Aug 13 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

Wed Aug 14 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory

Sat Aug 17 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium

Mon Aug 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium

Wed Aug 21 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater

Fri Aug 23 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre

Sun Aug 25 – Dallas, TX –The Factory Deep Ellum

Mon Aug 26 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall

Wed Aug 28 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy

Sat Aug 31 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

 


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The Black Keys cancel entire North American tour

The Black Keys have cancelled their entire North American arena tour, scheduled for later this year.

The American duo – Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney – were due to embark on the Live Nation-produced, 31-date International Players Tour, kicking off at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK on 17 September.

It was also slated to visit venues such as Kia Forum in Los Angeles, New York’s Madison Square Garden and the United Center in Chicago, as well as stops at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Columbus’ Nationwide Arena in their native Ohio.

However, amid rumours of poor sales and complaints about high ticket prices, the CAA-represented band say they plan to reconfigure the run as a more “intimate experience”, with a revised set of tour dates to be announced in the near future.

“We have decided to make some changes to the North American leg of the International Players Tour that will enable us to offer a similarly exciting, intimate experience”

“The band wants to assure everyone that Dan and Patrick are alive and well,” says a statement on behalf of the pair. “Following the recent run of shows in the UK and Europe, including stops at iconic venues like Brixton Academy and the Zenith in Paris, we have decided to make some changes to the North American leg of the International Players Tour that will enable us to offer a similarly exciting, intimate experience for both fans and the band, and will be announcing a revised set of dates shortly.

“Everyone who had purchased tickets and/or VIP to the initial tour dates will be fully refunded – and when the new plans are announced, will be the first to be able to buy tickets.

“Thank you for your understanding and apologies for the surprise change… We’re pretty sure everyone is going to be excited when you see what we have in mind though, and look forward to seeing everyone soon.”

In other gig news, Nicki Minaj’s 25 May concert at Manchester’s Co-op Live, which was called off at the last minute following her arrest at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, will now take place on 3 June.

 


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