Latest news with #AvrilLavigne
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
From TMO madness to English ‘pies' — why did they have to go and make things so complicated?
Several huge sports events suffer from complex rules, leading to anticlimactic viewing. Somewhere in a time long ago (2002 to be precise), my oldest child drove me slightly crazy by constantly demanding a particular song by Avril Lavigne. The chorus of that hit came echoing back this weekend as I attempted to indulge in what I thought would be a cornucopia of top-level, global, highly competitive sport – the second Test between the Wallabies and British & Irish Lions, England versus India Test cricket, the climax of the Tour de France and the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix. As each of those events progressed (or didn't) in increasingly bewildering ways, I found myself channelling Lavigne and singing loudly: 'Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?' At one point I was switching between elite F1 drivers doing the first four laps of the mere 44 they were going to be allowed in a 20-minute uncompetitive procession behind a safety car, elite cyclists drifting through the countryside drinking champagne and elite cricketers arguing about whether they should be on the field at all given that the Test was grinding towards a draw. The day before, the thrilling series-deciding second rugby Test between the Wallabies and Lions ended up, inevitably, with everyone watching lengthy slow-motion TV replays to determine whether the Lions' last-gasp try would stand. What we saw was a highly dangerous assault on a Wallaby neck or a perfect clean-out, depending entirely on your bias. My conclusion was that it was probably both. It was legitimate but shouldn't be. And it was definitely anticlimactic and unsatisfactory. The entire thing was the apex of the television match official (TMO) madness which has descended on rugby and means its myriad complex laws are being second- and third-guessed all the time. The authorities need to be asked the Lavigne question. 'Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?' Judgement calls TMO's should be for groundings over the try line and seriously dangerous or foul play which the on-field officials have not seen (an important qualification). Leave the rest to the judgement of the guys with a whistle and flags. If the occasional marginally forward pass, tiny knock-on, head-on-shoulder contact or truck-and-trailer side-entry channel block (I made that up but it could be a thing for all I know) gets missed, then so be it. If the disciplinary committee post-match wants to reassess dangerous-play calls and impose bans, then that's okay, but let's not stop the game for a Supreme Court hearing. Meanwhile, back at the venerable Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit (a legendary track beautifully set in the Ardennes Forest which could soon be replaced by a soulless expansion venue in Thailand), the torturous rules of that sport were, yet again, getting in the way of a decent contest. Rain was causing issues but watching cars parked for an hour in sunshine and then not compete for one-10th of the shortened 'race' before a 'rolling start', which is nothing like the drama of a normal start, probably made cautious sense somewhere in a rule book but made none at all to an average punter like me. I still do not understand what happened to Lewis Hamilton back in 2021 when he was cruising to a world title over Max Verstappen until some random behind him crashed and his substantial lead was wiped out by the safety car and some drivers were 'unlapped' and some changed tyres but he couldn't. F1 measures things to milliseconds on lap times and milligrams of vehicle weight and yet cannot contrive a system where a safety car means the gaps remain the same as they were before it came out. And then we have the compelling yet bizarre dance that is the Tour de France. So many questions. Why don't they race properly for most of the final day? Why do the main riders stop when a leader crashes? Why are some teams complaining that one team 'wins too many stages'? Why is it unacceptable to attack in a particular way but not in others? Why is the best rider on the day often reined in to help his teammate rather than going for the stage win? In short, 'why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?' And then, the world-champion sport on rules and etiquette complexity, Test match cricket, really kicked in. England were frustrated on the final day at Old Trafford by some superb rearguard batting from India, which gained them a draw and kept an excellent series alive. Once a decisive outcome was impossible, the English team felt everyone should shake hands and get off work early. India captain Shubman Gill, rightly, was having none of it because he wanted his not-out batters to reach their hundreds and to tire out his opponents (who had invited this fate by putting them into bat after winning the toss) before the decisive Test starting on Thursday. The English then sulked and bowled what we used to call 'pies' – part-timers delivering rubbish. It was an unedifying and completely uncompetitive spectacle. And one that is almost impossible to explain to anyone other than a Test cricket tragic.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How Vans Warped Tour Tradition Engages Music's Youth Market
Chris Demakes (L) and Roger Manganelli of Less than Jake perform during the Vans Warped tour at Pier ... More 30/32 on June 27, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by) After a five-year pause, the Vans Warped Tour is making a nostalgic and novel comeback. Marking its 30th anniversary this year, the tour kicked off a three-city jaunt June 14-15 in Washington, D.C. followed by shows July 26-27 in Long Beach, California, and Nov. 15-16 in Orlando, Florida. Returning artists Falling in Reverse, 311, Ice Nine Kills, Simple Plan, Asking Alexandria and Black Veil Brides join new acts Avril Lavigne, Body Count and Better Lovers on stage. An 88-page Official Vans Warped Tour Guide this year features a foreword by Warped founders Kevin Lyman and new interviews with Avril Lavigne, MGK, Simple Plan and All Time Low. The guide also includes "Warped Memories" comics illustrated by Luke McGarry and stories from Warped Tour regulars Mark Hoppus and Hayley Williams. In partnership with Z2 Comics, the nostalgic festival is spotlighting comics at performances to engage younger fans. Humor resonates with newer generations seeking out more authentic, immersive live shows built around real-life experiences. This offers artists new opportunities to design creative programming beyond the recent rise in virtual concerts, live streaming engagements, and concerts featuring design installations. Z2 Comics President Josh Bernstein says, "Warped Tour was an amazing rite of passage for so many bands and fans over those years, and so probably many people's first concert experience. Kevin built 'a little festival that could' back in 1996 with Sublime and others. And we're talking about it 30 years later; it's incredible." Most Warped Tour attendees this year are first-time festival-goers, illustrating the success of blending tradition with innovation. Festival community engagements like food and blood drives are growing community engagement and new connections among socially responsible fans. More than 250,000 complimentary zines were distributed to attendees wanting a lasting memory of the event. Jeffree Star performs during the Vans Warped tour at Pier 30/32 on June 27, 2009 in San Francisco, ... More California. (Photo by) Warp Tour tickets sold out for the first two events before bands were announced. Tickets are fairly priced at $149.99 per two-day event compared to most festivals that cost upwards of $600 for general admission weekend access. According to Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, personal interactions between fans and artists are vital to the festival brand's long-term cultural relevance and success. The first show received positive reviews, he says, crediting nostalgia of the tour and its future focus on community and bands. Lyman says that as a professor at the University of Southern California, he has noticed among his students over the past few years that concepts like zines are becoming important again. He notices that students burned out from constantly scrolling and using social media enjoy slowing down to read and absorb content on paper. "Those moments and touchpoints like zines are becoming important to young people again. They also serve as a foundation for building community," Lyman says. "If you can find that microcommunity to relate with, it's a foundation for rebuilding the things we need as a society to be whole." Black Veil Brides founder and lead vocalist Andy Biersack considers the Warped Tour the most significant event in his life and says, "As a kid, it was my everything and my safe haven. As a young teen, it was my dream to be a part of it on stage, and as an adult, it was the single most vital and transformative thing for my career." Biersack, who considers Warped Tour production staff and artists his family, also met his wife, fellow musician Lilith Czar, on the Warped Tour. The pair serenaded each other from converted truck stages in amphitheater parking lots and spent evenings walking the festival grounds. Now future generations are carrying on the tradition in a new style.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I'm extremely nervous': Students rock out on stage for Bluesfest's final night
On the final night of Bluesfest, crowds could hear 'Mr. Brightside,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' resonating from the LeBreton Stage. But The Killers, Avril Lavigne and Guns N' Roses didn't make an appearance at Ottawa's biggest music festival this year. Instead, the guitarists, pianists, drummers, bassists and singers from about 10 different schools or community groups were rocking out on stage, with some performers as young as seven years old. The performers were part of Bluesfest's Be in the Band and Blues in the Schools programs that offer elementary and high school students mentorship opportunities from local artists. Following weeks of music practice during the school year, the students perform at their school or local community centre. Some are then offered the opportunity to take their show to Bluesfest. 'It's a pretty big deal,' said Bluesfest community programs manager Alan Marsden. 'You come together for a show in your community and see your kids performing up there. 'It gives you a sense of pride.' Blues in the Schools — 'a large bucket of cuteness,' according to Marsden — was up first. Twenty-two Grade 2 students from Corpus Christi lined up and sang just under 30 minutes worth of music, accompanied by dance moves and harmonicas simulating train sounds. The student's teacher, Jeannie Wong, has been involved with Blues in the Schools for 26 years. She gives up her summer holidays to prepare the children to have the 'one-of-a-kind experience' of performing at Bluesfest. 'I'm always excited to learn something new, but also bring that love of music and excitement for the children to spark that passion in them,' Wong said. 'It's thrilling to see the kids so excited and the light in their eyes when they finally get up on the stage.' Be in the Band was up next, with 18 separate sets of musicians, mostly playing rock or pop tunes to an audience that grew throughout the night, particularly when the rain started just before 8:30 p.m. Each group sang a song or two before cycling off the stage to make room for the next. Louisiana Saucier from Hadley Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau, Que., plays bass. This was her third time performing with Be in the Band. Before hitting the stage, the 14-year-old said it can be nerve-wrecking to play for a crowd — but it's still a great experience. 'It's fun to be in a band with people my own age,' she said. 'It's nice to just create something.' Not every performer is as musically experienced as Saucier. Seventeen-year-old Aspen Horgan, from Norman Johnston Secondary Alternate Program, had never touched a bass prior to getting involved with Be in the Band. 'It's just surreal, honestly,' Horgan said backstage before performing. 'I'm extremely nervous … Bluesfest is such a massive thing.' Horgan's band, The Tragically Dustins (an ode to their teacher, Dustin Wenzel), performed 'Coffee Girl' by The Tragically Hip with a cool and calm demeanour under the warm glow of purple, red and white spotlights. 'I was very in the moment,' Horgan said, adding that the sizable crowd ended up fading into the background. Rosy Tlem, also 17, was one of the lead vocalists from Notre Dame High School who sang a rendition of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' and Bruno Mars' 'Finesse.' While on stage, Tlem and the two other vocalists often took each other's hands as they called on the audience to sing along. 'It's do or die,' Tlem recalled after the show. 'This is my secret desire to perform in front of people.' For some of the young artists, the music programs gave them an opportunity to grow closer to their fellow musicians, as well as nurture a passion for music. 'I've had kids tell me that the program transformed their lives. Saved their life, even,' Marsden said. 'Music is really important to me. I really wanted it to be important to the people who are involved, too.'
Ottawa Citizen
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
'I'm extremely nervous': Students rock out on stage for Bluesfest's final night
On the final night of Bluesfest, crowds could hear 'Mr. Brightside,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' resonating from the LeBreton Stage. Article content But The Killers, Avril Lavigne and Guns N' Roses didn't make an appearance at Ottawa's biggest music festival this year. Instead, the guitarists, pianists, drummers, bassists and singers from about 10 different schools or community groups were rocking out on stage, with some performers as young as seven years old. Article content Article content The performers were part of Bluesfest's Be in the Band and Blues in the Schools programs that offer elementary and high school students mentorship opportunities from local artists. Following weeks of music practice during the school year, the students perform at their school or local community centre. Article content Article content 'It's a pretty big deal,' said Bluesfest community programs manager Alan Marsden. 'You come together for a show in your community and see your kids performing up there. Article content 'It gives you a sense of pride.' Article content Blues in the Schools — 'a large bucket of cuteness,' according to Marsden — was up first. Twenty-two Grade 2 students from Corpus Christi lined up and sang just under 30 minutes worth of music, accompanied by dance moves and harmonicas simulating train sounds. Article content Article content The student's teacher, Jeannie Wong, has been involved with Blues in the Schools for 26 years. She gives up her summer holidays to prepare the children to have the 'one-of-a-kind experience' of performing at Bluesfest. Article content Article content 'I'm always excited to learn something new, but also bring that love of music and excitement for the children to spark that passion in them,' Wong said. 'It's thrilling to see the kids so excited and the light in their eyes when they finally get up on the stage.' Article content Be in the Band was up next, with 18 separate sets of musicians, mostly playing rock or pop tunes to an audience that grew throughout the night, particularly when the rain started just before 8:30 p.m. Each group sang a song or two before cycling off the stage to make room for the next. Article content Article content Louisiana Saucier from Hadley Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau, Que., plays bass. This was her third time performing with Be in the Band. Before hitting the stage, the 14-year-old said it can be nerve-wrecking to play for a crowd — but it's still a great experience. Article content 'It's fun to be in a band with people my own age,' she said. 'It's nice to just create something.'
The Advertiser
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Bonnaroo festival to return after flood-forced break
The Bonnaroo festival will return in 2026, with organisers promising to reseed the event site, improve access roads in campgrounds and add more drainage after flooding forced them to cancel the 2025 event. The festival had been set to take place in the US city of Manchester, Tennessee, in June with performers including Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, Hozier, Vampire Weekend and Queens of the Stone Age but was cancelled after one day due to "record-setting rainfall". Organisers say the festival will return to the same location from June 11-14 in 2026, with some changes. "We've been taking your feedback to heart over the past few weeks as we plan improvements and talk about what's next for the festival. And now, it's time to share those plans with you," Bonnaroo said in a statement posted on Instagram. "Campsites located in areas most affected by flooding will not be utilised. This will result in a reduced capacity on The Farm (more dancing space)," the post said. It outlined plans to stagger camping entry and programming across the festival's stages and promised "the calibre of artists you expect from us" would remain "very similar" to previous years. "In the 2025/2026 off-season, we'll be dedicating an additional multi-million-dollar budget and initiating improvements that prioritise the campgrounds and other areas affected by the extreme weather in 2025," the statement said. "Some of these projects will include reseeding the property, continuing to increase access roads within the campgrounds, adding more drainage and reinforcing primary water runoff pathways. "We appreciate your feedback on future Bonnaroo dates, and we heard you loud and clear that your strong preference is to keep Bonnaroo in June." The statement said weather experts had confirmed the record-setting rainfall experienced in 2025 was "extremely uncommon". "All things considered, our traditional June time frame remains the most optimal time of year for Bonnaroo," it said. The Bonnaroo festival will return in 2026, with organisers promising to reseed the event site, improve access roads in campgrounds and add more drainage after flooding forced them to cancel the 2025 event. The festival had been set to take place in the US city of Manchester, Tennessee, in June with performers including Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, Hozier, Vampire Weekend and Queens of the Stone Age but was cancelled after one day due to "record-setting rainfall". Organisers say the festival will return to the same location from June 11-14 in 2026, with some changes. "We've been taking your feedback to heart over the past few weeks as we plan improvements and talk about what's next for the festival. And now, it's time to share those plans with you," Bonnaroo said in a statement posted on Instagram. "Campsites located in areas most affected by flooding will not be utilised. This will result in a reduced capacity on The Farm (more dancing space)," the post said. It outlined plans to stagger camping entry and programming across the festival's stages and promised "the calibre of artists you expect from us" would remain "very similar" to previous years. "In the 2025/2026 off-season, we'll be dedicating an additional multi-million-dollar budget and initiating improvements that prioritise the campgrounds and other areas affected by the extreme weather in 2025," the statement said. "Some of these projects will include reseeding the property, continuing to increase access roads within the campgrounds, adding more drainage and reinforcing primary water runoff pathways. "We appreciate your feedback on future Bonnaroo dates, and we heard you loud and clear that your strong preference is to keep Bonnaroo in June." The statement said weather experts had confirmed the record-setting rainfall experienced in 2025 was "extremely uncommon". "All things considered, our traditional June time frame remains the most optimal time of year for Bonnaroo," it said. The Bonnaroo festival will return in 2026, with organisers promising to reseed the event site, improve access roads in campgrounds and add more drainage after flooding forced them to cancel the 2025 event. The festival had been set to take place in the US city of Manchester, Tennessee, in June with performers including Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, Hozier, Vampire Weekend and Queens of the Stone Age but was cancelled after one day due to "record-setting rainfall". Organisers say the festival will return to the same location from June 11-14 in 2026, with some changes. "We've been taking your feedback to heart over the past few weeks as we plan improvements and talk about what's next for the festival. And now, it's time to share those plans with you," Bonnaroo said in a statement posted on Instagram. "Campsites located in areas most affected by flooding will not be utilised. This will result in a reduced capacity on The Farm (more dancing space)," the post said. It outlined plans to stagger camping entry and programming across the festival's stages and promised "the calibre of artists you expect from us" would remain "very similar" to previous years. "In the 2025/2026 off-season, we'll be dedicating an additional multi-million-dollar budget and initiating improvements that prioritise the campgrounds and other areas affected by the extreme weather in 2025," the statement said. "Some of these projects will include reseeding the property, continuing to increase access roads within the campgrounds, adding more drainage and reinforcing primary water runoff pathways. "We appreciate your feedback on future Bonnaroo dates, and we heard you loud and clear that your strong preference is to keep Bonnaroo in June." The statement said weather experts had confirmed the record-setting rainfall experienced in 2025 was "extremely uncommon". "All things considered, our traditional June time frame remains the most optimal time of year for Bonnaroo," it said. The Bonnaroo festival will return in 2026, with organisers promising to reseed the event site, improve access roads in campgrounds and add more drainage after flooding forced them to cancel the 2025 event. The festival had been set to take place in the US city of Manchester, Tennessee, in June with performers including Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, Hozier, Vampire Weekend and Queens of the Stone Age but was cancelled after one day due to "record-setting rainfall". Organisers say the festival will return to the same location from June 11-14 in 2026, with some changes. "We've been taking your feedback to heart over the past few weeks as we plan improvements and talk about what's next for the festival. And now, it's time to share those plans with you," Bonnaroo said in a statement posted on Instagram. "Campsites located in areas most affected by flooding will not be utilised. This will result in a reduced capacity on The Farm (more dancing space)," the post said. It outlined plans to stagger camping entry and programming across the festival's stages and promised "the calibre of artists you expect from us" would remain "very similar" to previous years. "In the 2025/2026 off-season, we'll be dedicating an additional multi-million-dollar budget and initiating improvements that prioritise the campgrounds and other areas affected by the extreme weather in 2025," the statement said. "Some of these projects will include reseeding the property, continuing to increase access roads within the campgrounds, adding more drainage and reinforcing primary water runoff pathways. "We appreciate your feedback on future Bonnaroo dates, and we heard you loud and clear that your strong preference is to keep Bonnaroo in June." The statement said weather experts had confirmed the record-setting rainfall experienced in 2025 was "extremely uncommon". "All things considered, our traditional June time frame remains the most optimal time of year for Bonnaroo," it said.
