WEEKLY PIC
The moment before walking on stage is always one of excitement and anticipation. How many Hanson concerts have you seen??
Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival 2023 free concert lineup: Band of Horses, Hanson, the Fray, Don McLean
The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Skyrocketing costs for big-name concerts has made the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival an appealing option for budget-conscious music lovers.
The city this year budgeted $250,000 to pay for multiple acts with major hits under their belts to appear March 25 and 26 for free at Blackburn Park. The headliners include indie rock band Band of Horses, family pop band Hanson (1997 No. 1 hit “MMMBop”) Don McLean (1971 No. 1 hit “American Pie”) , Deep Blue Something (1995 top 5 hit “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) and The Fray (top 10 hits such as “Over My Head,” “How to Save a Life” and “You Found Me.”).
In recent years, major acts such as Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Rick Springfield, the Wallflowers and Five for Fighting have performed at the Brookhaven festival. The event attracts 40,000 people over a typical weekend, according to communications director Burke Brennan.
Brookhaven mayor John Ernst, in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said the city has increased the budget for musical talent slightly over the yeras. He believes this is a way not just to entertain Brookhaven residents but shine a brighter light on the city itself for those who live around Atlanta.
“It’s a branding effort and a marketing effort,” Ernst said. “Elected officials from other cities and federal and state officials come by. It’s a way for us to get together outside of work.”
He said the festival is supplemented by sponsorships and while it does not break even, gets closer each year. “It’s also a major boon to our local restaurants and hotels that weekend,” he said.
The festival uses Live Nation, the largest promoter in the nation, to help find acts for the festival that fit its budget. Ernst said the goal is to offer a wide variety of acts that appeal to multiple generations.
“People know a lot of these songs and I’m excited to see a legend like McLean,” Ernst said.
In past years, the festival booked a few country and R&B acts, but rock and pop appear to be the primary genres of choice.
Some other cities in Atlanta have set aside money to book name acts as well. Peachtree Corners last year hosted Vertical Horizon, the Spin Doctors and Everclear on its town green on top of several tribute bands, all for no charge. Canton’s Etowah River Park featured the Atlanta Rhythm Section for free last May. Chamblee brought the Plain White T’s to City Hall Plaza last August at no cost.
According to Pollstar, the average ticket price for the top 100 tours in North America during the first half of 2022 was $108.20, up 18% from $91.86 during the comparable period in 2019. And most acts of even modest renown will charge at least $30 to $40 a ticket before fees at venues like the Variety Playhouse, Center Stage or the Eastern.
Those high costs have also generated a strong secondary market for cover and tribute bands at places like Madlife Stage & Studios in Woodstock and 37 Main in Avondale Estates.
Band of Horses last appeared in Atlanta in August 2022 opening for the Black Keys at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta. It also appeared at the Shaky Knees Festival at Central Park in Atlanta last May. In earlier years, the band has performed at Music Midtown, the Coca-Cola Roxy at the Battery and as an opener for My Morning Jacket.
Hanson headlined a show at the Eastern last July and in recent years has appeared at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, Buckhead Theatre and Cneter Stage in Midtown.
McLean was also here in 2022 at Atlanta Symphony Hall and before the pandemic appeared at the City Winery in Atlanta.
The festival also includes the Splash Artists’ Market, Kidz Zone, Pet World, Classic Car Show, and food trucks. The Brookhaven Cherry Blossom 5K will take place on Saturday, March 18.
Headliners at the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival from past years:
2018: Keith Anderson, Craig Morgan, Edwin McCain, Five for Fighting
2019: The Wallflowers, Smash Mouth, the Spin Doctors, the Romantics
2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19 (Rachel Platten and Better Than Ezra were scheduled headliners)
2021: Rick Springfield, The Revivalists, The Amy Ray Band, Better Than Ezra, Jagged Edge, Brian Littrell
2022: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Drivin N Cryin, Anderson East, Howie Day
Dadville Hanson Part 2: “Dad Loved Me the Most”
You know there was no way we could contain the pure joy of Hanson in a single episode! Tulsa’s favorite sons are back again to talk about why Issac was their parent’s favorite, how to encourage self-confidence in your children, and their current relationship with “MMMBop.” Listen at Apple Podcasts
New Feature: Songs Played Live By Album
A new feature has been added to the “Song Stats” drop down – Songs Played Live By Album. This page will show broken down by album, how many times Hanson has played each song to easily see which songs have been played much less than others. The page also shows how many setlists are missing, how many are partial, and how many shows overall are in the database. This page does take a bit to load as it has to compile data from every concert ever.
HANSON: Saluting Legends
WEEKLY PIC
Isaac, Taylor and Zac point to the guests of honor at the Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys.
Rebuilding the System with Taylor Hanson
Rebuilding the System with Taylor Hanson
SEASON 1 EPISODE 11
Tara meets with Taylor Hanson, member of the hit rock band “Hanson” and founder of Food on the Move, an organization working to solve the food desert crisis. They discuss Taylor’s celebrity childhood, his expectations for himself and his relationship with neuroplasticity and the world around him.
Follow Taylor Hanson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorhanson
Visit the Food on the Move Website: https://www.foodonthemoveok.com
Follow Food on the Move on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodonthemoveok
Visit Hanson’s Website: https://hanson.net
Follow Hanson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanson
Dadville Podcast: Hanson Part 1: 15 Kids and 16 Million Albums
The ’90s nostalgia is DEEP in this episode as we welcome Taylor, Zach, and Issac Hanson to the comfortable confines of Dadville. With approximately 15 children between them, few guests have had as much raw dad experience as this trio. In the first of a two-parter, the brothers discuss how fatherhood has changed the band, important lessons they have learned, and what it was like to meet Paul McCartney (Spoiler: It was very cool.)
HANSON: On-Sale Monday
Deep tracks Only Ep. 10 – Isaac Hanson (Hanson)
Colt and Philip talk with Isaac Hanson, the oldest of the three brothers who make up the American pop band, Hanson. They discuss the history of the band, the ways they have built and maintained their unique and loyal fanbase, and the process of creating a set list. Saddle up as the cast of Deep Tracks Only takes you on a journey through the b-sides of the brains and hearts of some of their favorite people on earth. Colt and Philip bypass the “what” of people’s lives and move to the “why.”
Taylor Hanson Rents Henson’s ‘We Are the World’ Recording Studio to Rework Iranian Protest Anthem ‘Baraye’ as Industry-Wide Collaboration
Getty Images
After 44 years of living under Iran’s oppressive fundamentalist Islamic regime, the situation on the ground in the country — mass protests following the Sep. 16 murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini — has become an international crisis. In response, Taylor Hanson, of the multi-platinum and chart-topping “MMMBoppers” Hanson, has put out a widespread call for 16,000 voices to join him in recording a song in support of Iranian women and their global allies.
The session will play out on Feb. 4 at Henson Studios in Los Angeles, where 38 years ago, USA for Africa came together to record “We Are the World.” Hanson, who is no stranger to social causes, has set his sights equally high on the Voices Project, which is slotted under the newly established For Women Life Freedom nonprofit organization, a trusted center for Iran-related causes.
“The idea for The Voices Project was born as a touchpoint, a gateway to connect with the issues [in Iran] in a different way. My hope is it becomes octane towards unifying this overall movement,” says Hanson from his home in Texas.
The session will revolve around recording “Baraye – For Women, Life, Freedom,” which combines the slogan for the Iranian movement, “Woman, Life, Freedom” and Shervin Hajipour’s “Baraye.” The latter has been a long-established anthem for the movement, and thus, is up for best song for social change (a special merit award) at the upcoming Grammys.
Hanson’s awareness of what’s happening in Iran is tied with “Baraye” being in the running for this new award. Alerted to the events in Iran by an Iranian-American friend, Hanson has been posting about the protests on his socials since last October. This same friend asked Hanson if he could help get “Baraye” submitted to the Recording Academy for consideration. Hanson is the president of the Texas chapter of the Academy, and when he asked the Academy if “Baraye” was even eligible, he was informed by Academy president Harvey Mason Jr. that it was.
Hanson (photo by Jonathan Weiner)
“This cause broke my heart,” Hanson says. “My whole life, I don’t think I’ve been able to ask myself if I see any difference between the Iranian government and the Iranian people. The government [of Iran] has been seen as very much not a friend to our nation. But the people [of Iran] are the ones being oppressed.”
“Baraye – For Women, Life, Freedom” is produced by Hanson, Iranian American musician Hamid Saeidi of Grammy-winning group Opium Moon, multiple Grammy winner producer/engineer Jim Scott and producer/musician David Garza (Fiona Apple), with assistance from CJ Eiriksson. Hanson has personally reached out to his star-studded contacts list to bring as many marquee names to the session as possible; confirmed artists thus far include Rufus Wainwright, Kevin McHale, Yolanda Adams, Gus Van Sant, Alex Greenwald, Darren Criss, Ben Folds, Gina Chaves and Gene Moore.
“Considering the level of atrocity that has unfolded [in Iran] … Considering how vital this is, how critical, that it hasn’t reached the consciousness of as many people as it should, just doesn’t add up,” he says. “My thinking was, ‘What way can this movement break through?’ Music might have a real role to play here.”
The version being recorded, coincidentally on the same date as the Special Merit Ceremony, is in English, with a new chorus, one that will be easy for anyone to sing without rehearsal. To join the session, artists can register here. It’s worth noting that the session is not restricted to famous musicians, and anyone can participate by submitting their voice remotely.
“Music is always powerful,” he says. “This recording event at Henson helps communicate, ‘You need to see what’s going on in Iran. This is something we can’t ignore. This is something we need to advocate for.’ At the very least, we must treat this as something that needs to be top of mind for our leaders because it’s only going to get worse.”
The target release date for “Baraye – For Women, Life, Freedom” is Feb. 10, the day before the global Iran protests marking 44 years since the coup and subsequent regime change in Iran, which forced scores of citizens into the diaspora.
As far as possibly becoming a target by the Iranian government, adds Hanson: “I would have to be blind, deaf and dumb to not realize we’re standing up for a cause that is dangerous. With any call to action against something that is violent, you take some risk. Inaction is what allows violent action to proliferate. … I think any risk I am taking by calling people together to sing for a cause is a fraction of the risks thousands have already taken to stand up for their lives. I believe that this movement came to me for a reason. How many people must die, [and] how many people must live oppressed for us to think it matters? What we are doing is shining of light so bright it cannot be ignored or overlooked.”