Posts made in December 2020

Coachella illustration for 360 magazine

Your Guide to the Most Popular Music Festivals

Over 32 million people in the US attend music festivals every year and that number is only getting bigger and bigger.

Buying a ticket and heading off to the most popular music festivals is the best way to listen to your favorite bands live, discover new artists, and have a lot of fun with your friends in a beautiful location.

There’s no wonder why so many people like going to music festivals! It’s a bucket list experience for many. But choosing the right music festival could make or break your whole trip.

If you want to figure out which of the most popular music festivals in the USA best fits your music taste and vibe, we’ve put together this guide to help you. All of these festivals are some of the most popular in the country and they cover a variety of genres and tastes.

Most Popular Music Festivals in the USA

We’ve listed the top, busiest, and most popular music festivals in the USA to inspire you to attend one. They’re located all over the US so we’ve included information such as exactly where they are and what time of year they take place annually.

Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival

Where: Manchester, Tennessee

When: Early September

Like a lot of music festivals, Bonnaroo started small and primarily booked folk-rock acts and garage bands back when it started in 2002. In just under 20 years, Bonnaroo now books some of the biggest names in rock and pop music such as Miley Cyrus and Tame Impala.

This is a music festival that offers something for everyone and it’s a great option for first-time festival-goers.

If you’re a festival newbie and are struggling with what to take to a music festival then click here.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Where: Indio, California and Coachella Valley, Colorado

When: Two weekends in April

Whether you love it or love to hate it, Coachella has become one of the music festivals to see and be seen. Tickets sell out faster every year, tonnes of celebrities attend and for those watching from the sidelines on Instagram, it can seem more like a fashion show than a live music event.

But Coachella attracts some of the best musicians in the world spanning all musical genres. It’s also responsible for some of the best musical performances of all time. Everyone remembers when Beyoncé practically renamed the festival Beychella in 2018 with her mindblowing set, right? And they will for years to come.

Stagecoach Festival

Where: Indio, California

When: Late April

Usually taking place the weekend after Coachella wraps up, Stagecoach is primarily a modern country music festival that acts as a sister event to Coachella. The kind of acts that perform live concerts at Stagecoach includes Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Keith Urban.

As you can imagine, Stagecoach attracts a different kind of crowd that particularly loves country music. But it’s still a hugely popular sell-out event with 75,000 people attending in 2019.

South by Southwest (SXSW)

Where: Austin, Texas

When: March

South by Southwest is a different kind of music festival altogether in that it’s not even strictly a music festival! Part conference, film festival, and music festival, South by Southwest (or SXSW as it’s often styled) almost takes over the city of Austin with hundreds of live music and arts events.

Some of the acts that have previously performed in the music section of SXSW include Lana Del Ray, The Shins, and Lady Gaga. The musical acts tend to be a mix of current pop musicians, hip-hop, and more alternative and indie names.

Lollapalooza Chicago

Where: Grant Park, Chicago

When: Late July/Early August

If you want to attend a quintessentially American music festival that isn’t out in a desert and has a line up featuring all different musical genres, Lollapalooza is perfect.

Past acts at Lollapalooza include Chance The Rapper, Paul McCartney and Alabama Shakes.

Lollapalooza also has a strong history of activism by allowing non-profits and political speakers a platform at one of the most popular music festivals in the USA.

Burning Man

Where: Black Rock Desert, Nevada

When: Late August/Early September

Burning Man is not a festival, and any true Burner will tell you the same thing. It is a spontaneous and cultural happening where art, self-expression, and curiosity converge in the Nevada desert.

But for the sake of clarity, it’s a festival and one of the most original in the world. Though there isn’t an official line-up of events or acts, nor is there really an ‘official’ anything at Burning Man.

Burning Man takes place over one whole week (called ‘Burn Week’) and since it’s inception in the late 1980s has amassed thousands of dedicated followers. No money is exchanged at Burning Man and Burners are expected to bring their own shelter, food, and supplies. 

Those who have attended this festival (or cultural happening) usually gushes that it’s one of the best experiences of their lives. 

Hangout Music Festival

Where: Gulf Shores, Alabama

When: May

What is missing from the other most popular music festivals on this list? If your answer is “the beach” then Hangout Music Festival might be the music festival for you!

Located on the Gulf Shores in Alabama, this three-day music event is the ultimate live-music-at-the-beach experience. Past performers include Twenty One Pilots, Stevie Wonder, and Vampire Weekend. Granted, Hangout doesn’t attract the huge mega musicians but their line ups are still star-studded events.
And who needs Beyoncé when you have upbeat and catchy tunes, sand, and the sun setting in the distance?

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Where: New Orleans, Louisiana

When: Late April/Early May

There’s no denying that New Orleans is one of the most vibrant, exciting cities in the world and Jazz is super important to the city’s history and music landscape.
Back in the 1970s, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was created as a showcase for local musicians but nowadays the event is so much bigger. In the past, non-jazz performers like Stevie Nicks, Lizzo, and The Who have performed at the festival so there really is something for everyone.
But at the heart, the Jazz & Heritage Festival is still about celebrating the spirit of the New Orleans people and their undeniable love of music.

There’s a Music Festival Out There for Everyone

Those are just some of the most popular music festivals, and there are heaps more out there! Music festivals aren’t simply just live music shows, but they’re exciting, fun, and often life-changing experiences.

Check out our other arts and music-related articles on our site for more inspiration and information!

Rita Azar Illustrates an Entertainment Article for 360 MAGAZINE

E!’S “DAILY POP” LISTINGS: JAN 5th – JAN 8th

Tune into E!’s “Daily Pop” weekdays at 11:00am ET/PT. Continue reading to see what E!’s “Daily Pop” will have in store January 5th through January 8th.

Tuesday, January 5  – Matt James joins us to talk about the season premiere of “The Bachelor.”  And we recap, discuss and get all the inside dirt on the 25th season of “The Bachelor” with Chris Harrison. Plus, Hollywood Skin Expert, Nurse Jamie joins us LIVE to discuss top plastic surgery trends for 2021.

Wednesday, January 6  –  Erin McKenna joins us LIVE in-studio to show us healthy treats for the New Year.

Thursday, January 7  – Author and Relationship Expert Diann Valentine joins us LIVE in-studio to chat about making over your love life in 2021 and celebrity fitness trainer Diann Valentine joins us LIVE in-studio to breakdown his fitness routine for the stars.

Friday, January 8  –  Fashion expert, Allison Deyette joins us LIVE in-studio to discuss styles to keep, ditch and try in 2021.

ABOUT E!’S DAILY POP

E! brings fans even more custom content when and where they are watching with the introduction of new live daytime broadcast series, “Daily Pop.” Hosted by pop culture personalities Carissa Culiner, Morgan Stewart and Justin Sylvester, the program delivers fun, insightful and relatable conversations centered around the biggest, most fascinating pop culture stories of the day. “Daily Pop” airs weekdays at 11:00am ET/PT on E!.

Frank Pena for 360 Magazine

Jonte’ Moaning × Brian Thomas

360 Magazine had the opportunity to collaborate with Jonte’ Moaning and Brian Thomas for an editorial fashion shoot that encompasses the new age of fashion. The incredibly talented duo worked together to produce a photoshoot that displays high fashion and uniqueness. The creative director of the shoot was Franklin Peña and the production was done by Brian Rubiano

This shoot features two exquisite looks which Moaning carries off flawlessly. The chained shirt, paired with leather shorts and unique, gladiator boots creates a modern-day, stylish armor. The second look features a silver overcoat with red and black dripping detail falling from the jacket’s shoulders. When paired with this statement red and grey hat, the look comes together effortlessly. 

Jonte’ Moaning has been a pioneer for the entertainment industry worldwide. He has influenced major pop artists with his unique discography. His work can recently be seen in the Black is King film which was directed, written and executively produced by Beyoncé. Jonte’ has been of major importance for the LGTBQ+ community and has broken down barriers for men to explore their gender expression. 

Jonte’ is best known for taking part in curating the iconic “Sasha Fierce” persona of BeyoncéAlthough, he has also worked closely with a number of other notable artists such as Janet Jackson, Cassie, Tamar Braxton, Blackpink and many more.

Jonte’ released his first solo single, “Bitch You Betta” in 2008 and has continued to release music from there. The artist has stated that he was inspired to work on his solo career while he was working alongside performing artists and felt that he “could do it better.”

As a performer, Jonte’ is known for his androgynous look and trademark high heels which challenge classic gender norms. He has worked into the elite status and continues to produce music that embodies all he represents. His music, along with his style makes waves within the entertainment industry and this editorial shoot is no different. 

You can read more about Jonte’s successful career on his website, HelloJonte.com.

The photographer for the shoot, Brian Thomas, is an astound choreographer and photographer who is best known for working with legend Michael Jackson. Throughout his career, he has gained a great deal of experience and works closely with a variety of performing artists. Thomas also owns Spinkick Pictures in New York City, which produces extraordinary films. 

Thomas has had major success in the directing industry and some of his credits include “Amy’s Victory Dance,” an award-winning documentary as well as, “Follow, Lead, Love” and “P.S. Love Robby,” two documentaries currently in production. He also directed the short film, “Dark Matter” which features dancer Desmond Richardson

Thomas has also won the GLAM award for various music videos including “Higher Love,” which stares Carishma. He has also worked as the Associate Director for the Cirque du Soleil  Flash mob Time Square performance. 

As well as being an accredited director, Thomas has choreographed for many notable stars. He has worked with stars such as Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Pink, Whitney Houston, Usher, Jason Durelo and Alicia Keys, all giant names within the music industry. He has also worked closely with stars like Destiny’s Child, Jamie Foxx, Mya, Brian McKnight, Deborah Cox, India Arie, Liza Minnelli, Gloria Gaynor and Marc Anthony to produce stellar choreography. 

Thomas has also choreographed for companies such as Sesame Street, The Electric Company, New York City Knicks Dancers, Brooklynettes, Optimum triple play, Are We There Yet, and numerous other TV and live stage events.

Thomas explained that his mission is to promote empathy through his work with Visual Art. He wants to further conversations about Equality, Representation, and Diversity which he certainly does with his films.   

Read more about Brian Thomas and his success on his website, http://brianthomasfilms.com/

The creative direction of the shoot was executed by Franklin Peña, a professional dancer and fashion model from New York City. He has always been heavily involved in the entertainment industry and in 2016 decided to make the move from the Bronx to Los Angeles. There, he appeared on E Network’s reality show, What Happens at The Abbey. This series takes a glance inside of The Abbey in West Hollywood, which is known as the “Best Gay Bar in the World.” The show follows the workers of the bar as they interact with celebrities and navigate love and drama. 

Pena was also tapped by 360 Magazine as a red carpet correspondent in 2017. He continues to grow his success working with a variety of other creatives in the industry. 

This shoot was produced by Brian Rubiano. As a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, Brian Rubiano has gained success as an actor and producer. He also started “Humanize It,” his own Film Production and Brand Strategy consultation company. 

Rubiano has worked closely with Brian Thomas on many similar films for Spinkick Pictures. Rubiano worked as the Post-Production Producer for both the Award-Winning feature documentary “Amy’s Victory Dance” and the short film “Dark Matter,” both of which Thomas also worked on. 

Rubiano has a goal to use his platform, skills & knowledge in order to help artists and the creative community to expand their brand’s purpose. He aspires to be a vessel to the voiceless, marginalized & underrepresented by using film production as his medium.

You can keep up with Moaning, Thomas, Peña and Rubiano on their Instagrams. 

Model: Jonte’ Moaning 

Photographer: Brian Thomas 

Creative Direction: Franklin Peña

Producer: Brian Rubiano

Frank Pena for 360 Magazine

Frank Pena for 360 Magazine

Jamaine Ortiz Illustration for 360 Magazine by Kaelen Felix

Q×A with Jamaine Ortiz

Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz, an up and coming, 23-year-old boxer, is making his name in the world of boxing. After growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts, the young boxer turned pro in 2016. His amateur record is 100-14 and he has already won many awards for his skill.

During the recent Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. fight that was shown on pay-per-view, Ortiz was victorious over Sulaiman Segawa of Silver Spring, Maryland. After scoring a technical knockout in the last 10 seconds of the seventh round, Ortiz gained the WBC USNBC Silver lightweight title. This was his first fight outside of New England and he certainly made himself known in the fighting community. After winning this fight, Ortiz jumped from 76th to 44th in the world for the lightweight division. If he keeps winning, Ortiz is predicted to fight for a major world title by late 2021.

360 Magazine sat down with Ortiz to ask him questions about his professional career, personal life and future.

What was your upbringing like? Was there always a focus on athletics?

I started boxing at seven years old, and I was always an athletic kid, playing sports and outside.

Where did you learn to box?

I learned how to box at the Boys & Girls Club of Ionic Ave.

Why boxing?

I use to get into fights as a kid, I like that its a one on one sport I don’t have to rely on anyone. Over time, I noticed I was winning a lot and kept it going.

Who are your role models, boxing or otherwise?

My role model was my coach Carlos Garcia.

You’re currently the Undefeated World Boxing Youth World lightweight champion. What does this accomplishment mean to you?

I’m actually the former Youth World lightweight champion due to my age since I turned 24 last April, currently, I hold the WBC USNBC Silver lightweight title. The accomplishment is just a stepping stone, I have far more to go and I understand its a process and this is part of the process.

Your nickname is ‘The Technician’ where does this come from?

A technician is a person skilled in an art or craft by dictionary standards and when it comes to boxing, and me being a carpenter, I’m now an active trader. It was a perfect fit since everything I do, including things in my personal life, I’m technical about it. So it’s a name that reflects more than just boxing.

You’ve been boxing competitively for more than a decade. How have you evolved during that time, technique-wise and also personally?

Time is the mother of greatness, practicing repeatedly overtime is only natural; I’m going to get better.

How has your career been impacted by COVID-19 and 2020?

Luckily I was able to get a fight right before the impact of covid came I didn’t get to fight as much as I normally would. I probably would have had about 4 fights in a year but I had two with the last one being a great exposure bout.

Tell us about your interests outside of boxing.

I enjoy nature and I spend most of my time with family. Always working on self-development, a lot of stocks, and trying to find real estate deals.

Do you still have Olympic aspirations? What are your future boxing goals?

Olympics of boxing is an amateur sport but recently I think in 2016, they allowed pros to compete but it is heavily dominated by amateurs. In the next year, I see myself becoming World Champion at the lightweight Division and reaching for that pound for pound list.

What is your go-to move in a fight?

Not sure, probably switching from orthodox to southpaw.

What makes you unique as a boxer?

My ability to switch stances easily and my technique.

BoxRec

Tapology

RingTV

Behind The Ropes

Gabrielle Archuleta illustration for gaming article inside 360 MAGAZINE

The Best Microgaming Slots for Pop Culture Enthusiasts

Popular culture spans several categories, including entertainment, sport, news, politics, fashion, and technology. These are generally recognised by people in society at any given point in time as having the most dominant influence on the population. For example, it could be a television show, song, sport, or US president. 

As the things and people involved in pop culture are so ‘popular’, it is no surprise companies try to capitalise on their popularity by releasing a number of products. The products can be anything from posters to toys. However, one of the most entertaining ways for pop culture enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the things they love, is by playing the latest online slots games. Over on BestCasinoSites.net you will find a detailed selection of slots games reviews but what are the best Microgaming slots for pop culture enthusiasts?

The hit television show, Game of Thrones, has played a significant role in pop culture ever since the first series aired in 2011. There were 73 episodes broadcast over eight seasons and it concluded in May 2019. The series attracted record viewing numbers and a huge fans base thanks the complex characters, epic sets, and deep storylines. As a result, Vulture ranked the series’ fans as the most devoted in popular culture, which is some recognition considering it was up against Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.

The Game of Thrones slot is a 5×3 reel game available in both 243 ways-to-win and 15 lines. The game allows you to choose between the four great houses of Baratheon, Lannister, Stark, and Targaryen. There are different rewards depending on which house you choose to represent and you can hear the Game of Thrones theme song playing as you spin the reels. The banners for each of the main Houses of Westeros are symbols on the reels along with A, K, Q and J royals. Fans of the show will also notice the Iron Throne, which is the Scatter symbol and the Game of Thrones logo, which acts as the Wild symbol.

Remaining in the world of visual entertainment and we come to the Jurassic Park online slot. The first film in the ongoing series was released in 1993 and directed by Steven Spielberg. The original film and the whole series are based on attempts by human beings to create a theme park based around real dinosaurs. The success of Jurassic Park has led to the creation of comic books, collectable figures, video games, theme park rides, exhibitions, and live shows. Due to its place in pop culture, Microgaming made the move to create an online slot and it was released in 2014. Complete with symbols of Velociraptors, T-Rex, Triceratops and other Jurassic Park creatures, the Microgaming Jurassic Park slot is a 243 payline video slot with 5 reels and 3 rows. The game is easy to play as you are immersed into the Jurassic Park world thanks to the graphics, music, and sound effects.

As highlighted above, both sport and movies play a big role in popular culture. In addition to the Jurassic Park slot, Microgaming have also released a game based on The Terminator. You must go back to 1984 to find the release of the first Terminator movie and this was directed by James Cameron. The film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, and has achieved a great legacy. In 2008, The Terminator was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and it has been named as one of the 30 Most Significant Independent Films of the last 30 years. Step forward The Terminator 2 online slot by Microgaming. The second film also became a cult classic and the slot game features all the main characters on the reels and clips from the actual movie. The biggest prizes in the game come from the T-1000 symbol and it is possible to win 129 times your total stake. 

In terms of sport, football has long been the one with the greatest fans base. Football is the most popular sport in the world, with millions of fans around the globe and this has led to the creation of various products. You can purchase football shirts, figures, cards, stickers, posters, paintings, books, comics, and so much more. This has led Microgaming to develop the 5-reel video slot called Football Stars and it has received rave reviews thanks to the great features and entertainment. The reels feature a selection of football players plus football boots, kits, and even a stadium. As you would expect, the star striker pays the most and the Football Star Deluxe logo symbol is the wild.

Other sports based slots games created by Microgaming include Cricket Star, which plays in a similar way to the football game.

With new additions to their catalogue every year, what will be the next top Microgaming slot for pop culture enthusiasts?

Melvin Sampson illustration by Kaelen Felix for 360 Magazine

Remembering Melvin Sampson

By Hannah DiPilato

Melvin Sampson was a leader throughout his life and was dedicated to fighting for the rights of indigenous people. Before his passing, he was a tribal councilman that pushed for Native American’s rights. 

Some of his most monumental efforts include helping to establish the Indian National Finals Rodeo, assisting in the improvement of health care for Native Americans across the nation, advocating for the construction of the Yakama Nation Indian Health Services clinic west of Toppenish and pushing to improve fish restoration in the Yakima and Columbia basins.

Sampson passed in his home on December 11 at 82-years-old and left behind his wife, Betty Jean and his four daughters. He will be remembered by his big family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Sampson’s full obituary can be found on Heggies Colonial Funeral Home’s website and anyone is able to leave thoughts, prayers and condolences for Sampson’s loved ones. People can also send flowers or a virtual gift and share photos and videos, a beautiful way to share remembrance amidst the pandemic. 

“He’s bigger than the Yakama Nation,” said Yakama General Council Chairman Roger Fiander, who grew up beside Sampson. “Besides that, he was my roping partner.”

Sampson’s legacy of helping to gain rights for Native Americans will live on for generations. Hopefully, many more people will follow in his footsteps to preserve tribal culture. 

Sampson was an advocate of better healthcare for Native Americans for 17 years while he served on the National Indian Health Board. He also helped form the Portland Area Indian Health Board, which monitors the federal administration of Indian health services in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. 

In Washington D.C., Sampson was at the head of an effort to gain funding for a new Indian Health Clinic. Eventually, his efforts led to an expansion of the clinic which expanded it into a facility of over 80,000 square feet. 

Sampson also wanted to improve fish rearing practices in the Yakama and Columbia basins in order to help the fish that lived there. With Sampson in charge, the Yakama Nation gained control of the Klickitat Hatchery which is found on the Klickitat river outside of Glendale. This hatchery was designed to rebuild the population of salmon by mimicking the natural habitat system that fish thrive in. 

Everyone that knew Sampson believed he was a born leader. He had a diverse understanding of tribal culture and government which allowed him to make many changes in his lifetime. George Waters, a lobbyist for the tribe in Washington, D.C., said that Sampson was just a person able to operate in different worlds. 

He was able to create many amazing things such as doing leatherwork and beginning a shop in his basement. Sampson can also be remembered for his forward-thinking ways that were ahead of his time. 

Irving Pinkham, another childhood friend of Sampson, said that Sampson cared for everyone and always wanted to help indigenous people. “In our way, nobody is better than anyone else and that’s what he believed too,” Pinkham said. “He never was a person who said ‘I, I did this, I did that.’ He was always a person who said ‘We, we did this, we did that.’ “

Sampson’s perseverance and ability to understand people helped him become a success in many aspects of his life. He was able to improve healthcare and the way of life for those around him and his legacy will be seen in all of the work he accomplished over his lifetime.

Explosion illustration by Kaelen Felix for 360 Magazine

Nashville Christmas Bombing

By Hannah DiPilato

Christmas morning had a horrific start for Nashville, Tennessee when a bomb went off at 6 a.m. Friday morning. 

Planted in an RV that was parked on the street, the bomb left excessive damage for the city; over 40 buildings were impacted. The most bizarre part was the fifteen-minute evacuation warning that played before the bomb erupted. This gave the surrounding area time to evacuate in order to prevent death and injury.

The police are currently investigating the situation and believe it was a suicide bombing. Human remains have been recovered from the scene of the incident, but no fatalities have been confirmed yet. So far, three injuries have been recorded due to the blast, but all are in stable condition. 

A tip released to law enforcement about the vehicle involved in the bombing has led agents to Antioch, a town just southeast of Nashville, to search a home. According to FBI spokesman, Jason Pack, they are conducting “court-authorized activity,” but have not reported who resides in the home. Law enforcement has received 500 leads and tips that are now being investigated. 

Douglas Korneski, FBI special agent in charge of the Memphis Field Office, was unable to identify any potential suspects at a press conference held on Saturday afternoon. However, as of now, police have identified one person of interest. 

One possible motive of the attack could be the destruction of the nearby AT&T building which caused major problems for cell service in many southern states. Korneski said the FBI is, “looking at every possible motive that could be involved,” when asked about the AT&T building being a possible target.

Mayor John Cooper has enforced a curfew in the downtown area until Sunday as a preventative measure until investigators can learn more about what occurred. The downtown area, and heart of Nashville tourism, was shut down so investigators could comb through the remains from the explosion.

Many residents of the area reported hearing gunshots at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Christmas morning. The white RV responsible for the explosion was parked directly in front of 166 Second Ave. North, which is the AT&T transmission building. 

The eerie message projecting from the van said, “This vehicle will explode in 15 minutes,” according to Betsy Williams, a resident that lived nearby the scene. The message repeated for a minute and then proceeded to count down from 15 minutes. At approximately 6:30 a.m. the recording changed as the time inched closer to the threat of an eruption. “If you can hear this message, evacuate now,” the voice boomed, minutes from when the street was blown up. 

Six police officers that were on the scene immediately began evacuating homes after hearing the message. No officials suffered serious injuries, one officer was knocked over by the force of the blast and another officer suffered from hearing loss. 

The investigation for answers continues into Saturday night and law enforcement is working hard to keep Nashville safe in the coming days. Korneski said the investigation will take time because “the investigative team is turning over every stone.” 

Illustration for 360 Magazine by Rita Azar

San Francisco Ballet Virtual Benefit

San Francisco Ballet (SF Ballet) announces details for its first-ever virtual benefit, Leap Into the New Year, to be held online via Socio on Thursday, January 14, 2021 to mark the opening of SF Ballet’s historic 88th Digital Season.

With a performance curated by Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson, the event includes delivered items, such as a meal, caviar, and gifts provided by McCalls Catering & Events; and wine provided by Rodney Strong Vineyards. The evening’s programming includes the SF Ballet performance debut of two of the Company’s new Principal Dancers, Nikisha Fogo and Julian MacKay, in the Act III pas de deux from Don Quixote, and an excerpt from a new work by Helgi Tomasson created on members of SF Ballet’s corps de ballet—click here to see a video about this work.

Leap Into the New Year also includes a newly produced prelude to Mrs. Robinson by Cathy Marston, featuring Principal Dancers Sarah Van Patten and Joseph Walsh, and excerpts from the Digital Season’s additional world premieres, Wooden Dimes by Danielle Rowe and a new work by Myles Thatcher. Complete programming and casting are included at the bottom of this release.

Proceeds from Leap Into the New Year will benefit a wide range of SF Ballet artistic initiatives, including new works, accessible digital content, scholarships and financial aid programs for San Francisco Ballet School students, and community education programs for youth, families, and seniors. The event begins at 6 pm with access to private virtual tables; a wine education session with the event’s wine sponsor, Rodney Strong Vineyards; and behind-the-scenes content from rehearsals, followed by a 7 pm performance.

Ticket holders at the Artistic Director, Principal, Producer, and Soloist levels will enjoy VIP programming, including the pas de deux from William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, rehearsed by Forsythe on Soloist Sasha Mukhamedov and Principal Dancer Aaron Robison, and the White Swan Pas De Deux from Helgi Tomasson’s Swan Lake performed by Fogo and MacKay.

Under the direction of Music Director Martin West, San Francisco Ballet Orchestra recorded music for the event using approved safety protocols at Skywalker Studios, 25th Street Recording, and the SF Conservatory of Music, which was produced, engineered and mastered by Leslie Ann Jones.

The evening is hosted by SF Ballet Soloist Madison Keesler, who will be styled by Neiman Marcus. All table guests will enjoy a private, virtual meet-and-greet with a Company dancer during the event and will have access to a virtual social wall where they can share photography and messages with other benefit-goers. Artistic Director and Principal level table guests will also have the option to request an on-site, socially-distanced photo-op with Drew Altizer Photography.

Tickets to the event start at $3,000 for a pair of guests or $1,600 for a virtual table of four for ENCORE! members. Guests who wish to receive a meal, wine, and gifts delivered to their home day-of must RSVP by December 31, 2020. Reservations may be made online or by contacting Emma Lundberg, SF Ballet’s Special Events Manager, at elundberg@sfballet.org or 415.865.6629.

LEAP INTO THE NEW YEAR’S PERFORMANCE PROGRAM 

Premier Presenting Producer

Osterweis Capital Management 

Presenting Producers

Frederick and Shelby Gans

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Linnea and George Roberts

Denise Littlefield Sobel

Excerpt from new work by Helgi Tomasson 

Composer: Jean Phillippe Rameau

Artistic Director Sponsor: Dr. Sunnie Evers

Featuring: JULIA ROWE, LEILI RACKOW, BIANCA TEIXERIA, NATASHA SHEEHAN

DIEGO CRUZ, LUCAS ERNI, LUCA FERRÒ, LLEYTON HO

Dedicated To… by Yuri Possokhov

Composer: Victor Osadchev

Artistic Director Sponsor: Jennifer and Steven Walske

Featuring: YUAN YUAN TAN 

Excerpt from Wooden Dimes, Danielle Rowe’s world premiere

Composer: James M. Stephenson

Artistic Director Sponsor: Alison and Michael Mauzé

Featuring: LUKE INGHAM, DORES ANDRÉ, MAX CAUTHORN 

Pas de Deux from Coppélia by Arthur Saint-Léon

Composer: Léo Delibes

Artistic Director Sponsors: Richard C. Barker; Yurie and Carl Pascarella

Featuring: MISA KURANAGA, ANGELO GRECO 

Excerpt from Myles Thatcher’s world premiere

Composer: Steve Reich

Artistic Director Sponsor: Christine Russell and Mark Schlesinger

CASTING TO BE ANNOUNCED 

Short film of Mrs. Robinson world premiere by Cathy Marston

Composer: Terry Davies

Artistic Director Sponsor: Fang and Gary Bridge

Featuring: SARAH VAN PATTEN, JOSEPH WALSH, LUKE INGHAM 

Act III Pas de Deux from Don Quixote by Alexander Gorsky and Marius Petipa

Staging and Additional Choreography by Helgi Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov

Composer: Ludwig Minkus

Artistic Director Sponsor: Diane B. Wilsey

Featuring: NIKISHA FOGO, JULIAN MACKAY

Pas de Deux from In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated by William Forsythe (VIP ONLY)

Composer: Thom Willems

Artistic Director Sponsor: James C. Hormel and Michael P. N. Hormel

Featuring: SASHA MUKHAMEDOV, AARON ROBISON

White Swan Pas De Deux from Swan Lake by Helgi Tomasson (VIP ONLY)

Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Featuring: NIKISHA FOGO, JULIAN MACKAY

ABOUT HELGI TOMASSON

Helgi Tomasson, one of the most venerated classical dancers of his generation, embarks on his 36th season with San Francisco Ballet in 2021. Born in Iceland, he danced with Harkness Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and New York City Ballet, where he distinguished himself as a dancer of technical purity, musicality, and intelligence. Tomasson assumed leadership of SF Ballet in 1985. Under his direction, SF Ballet has become a company widely recognized as one of the finest in the world.

Tomasson has balanced devotion to the classics with an emphasis on new works, cultivating frequent collaborations and commissions with choreographers such as William Forsythe, Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, Trey McIntyre, Cathy Marston, and Mark Morris, among many others. He has choreographed more than 50 works for the Company, including full-length productions of Swan LakeThe Sleeping BeautyRomeo & Juliet (taped for Lincoln Center at the Movies’ Great American Dance), Giselle, and Nutcracker (taped for PBS’s Great Performances).

He conceptualized the 1995 UNited We Dance festival, in which SF Ballet hosted 12 international companies; the 2008 New Works Festival, which included 10 world premieres by 10 acclaimed choreographers; and 2018 Unbound: A Festival of New Works. Tomasson has also connected SF Ballet to the world, through co-commissions with companies including American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet; and major tours to Paris, London, New York City, China, and his native Iceland. In 2020, Tomasson received the San Francisco Arts Medallion, created by the Museum of Performance + Design to recognize those individuals whose leadership, action, and generosity have benefited the cultural life of the San Francisco Bay Area.   

ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET

San Francisco Ballet, long recognized for pushing boundaries in dance, has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic “firsts” since its founding in 1933, including performing the first American productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker, as well as the first 20th-century American Coppélia.

SF Ballet is one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States and currently presents more than 100 performances annually, both locally and internationally. The mission of SF Ballet is to share its joy of dance with the widest possible audience—in its community and worldwide—and to provide the highest caliber of dance training in its School. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson, the Company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world.

Tomorrow x Together Album Art

TOMORROW X TOGETHER – STILL DREAMING

Global phenomenon K-pop boy group TOMORROW X TOGETHER (SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN and HUENINGKAI) will release STILL DREAMING via UMe, their first full-length album in Japanese, on February 12, 2021, in the U.S. Pre-order and you can pre-order here.

The album title STILL DREAMING imparts the message that the five boys continue to reach for a shared dream after the success of their debut album The Dream Chapter: STAR, released in March 2019.

The album features ten tracks comprised of Japanese versions of six of the group’s Korean hits, plus two intro/outro tracks, their Japanese hit “Everlasting Shine,” and a brand new Japanese original song, “Force,” featured as the opening theme for the animation “World Trigger” (2nd season).

In addition to the STANDARD 1 CD version, which will include one of five randomly selected photo cards for the first-run pressing, there will also be limited-edition versions of STILL DREAMING featuring all ten tracks. LIMITED EDITION A (1CD) is encased in a limited-edition deluxe slipcase with a 24-page booklet filled with daytime photos, a 24-page booklet filled with sunset-time photos, and a lyrics booklet. LIMITED EDITION B (1CD + 1 DVD) will include a DVD featuring the music video for “Blue Hour (Japanese Ver.),” a making-of video and footage from cover photoshoot, as well as a 12-page booklet filled with daytime and sunset-time photos unique to this limited-edition package.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER made their debut in March last year and has proved themselves as global super rookies as the forefront of the K-Pop scene, claiming a total of ten Rookie Awards. Widely recognized for their high-quality content and impeccable performances, TOMORROW X TOGETHER is once again prepared to take the world by storm with the release of STILL DREAMING.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER received global attention even before the release of their Korean debut mini-Album The Dream Chapter: STAR in March 2019. Upon its release, the mini-Album topped the charts at No.1 on iTunes’ Top Album chart in 44 countries and regions and went to No. 140 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. In addition, the music video for “CROWN” achieved 10M streams in just 13 hours and exceeded 14.49M streams 24 hours after its release, which is the fastest record among new artists debuting in 2019. As of February 15, 2020, the video now has more than 100M views.

Their debut full-length Korean album Dream Chapter: MAGIC also went to No.1 on iTunes’ Top Album chart in 25 countries and regions and the music video for its lead track, “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away),” has already exceeded 65M streams (as of Nov 25, 2020).

TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s last mini-Album minisode1 : Blue Hour reached 300K in physical sales in the first week of release, hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and debuting at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S.. The EP also placed No. 19 on Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Albums Chart. The new ranks mark career milestones for the group, coming on the heels of previous accolades including reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artist chart.

Track List:  

  1. Intro: DREAMING
  2. Force *New Japanese original
  3. Blue Hour *New Japanese version of the lead track in the mini album, “minisode1: Blue Hour” released in Oct.
  4. Run Away [Japanese version]
  5. CROWN [Japanese version]
  6. Angel Or Devil [Japanese version]
  7. Drama [Japanese version]
  8. Everlasting Shine
  9. Can’t You See Me? [Japanese version]
  10. Outro: STILL

Limited Edition A (CD)

Available on CD in a limited-edition deluxe slip case with a 24-page booklet filled with daytime photos, a 24-page booklet filled with sunset-time photos, and a lyrics booklet.

Limited Edition B (CD+DVD)

Available as a CD + DVD limited-edition with the DVD featuring the music video for “Blue Hour,” a making-of feature of the music video and videos from the album cover photoshoot. In addition, this package includes a 12-page booklet filled with daytime and sunset-time photos unique to this limited-edition package.

Standard Edition (CD

The first pressing to include one of five randomly selected photo cards.

About TOMORROW X TOGETHER

TOMORROW X TOGETHER (“tomorrow by together”) has come together under one dream in hopes of building a new tomorrow. Composed of five members, SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN and HUENINGKAI, the band is full of bright and playful energy, where each member is different from one another, shining in their own way to create synergy. In just two months of their debut, TOMORROW X TOGETHERsuccessfully sold out their first US showcase tour in six cities with their debut album The Dream Chapter: STAR. Emerging as one of K-pop’s most highly-acclaimed acts, the global super rookies have already won Best New Artist accolades on various award shows and received nominations in 2019 & 2020 MTV Video Music Awards’ Best K-Pop category.

About Big Hit Entertainment

Founded in February 2005 in Korea by CEO and Producer Bang Si-Hyuk, Big Hit Entertainment’s core business focuses on music production, artist management, and publishing. Big Hit’s business ventures incorporate and develop a range of content produced from top-notch artists’ IP, including global superstars BTS and its newest addition TOMORROW X TOGETHER. With its mission of “Music & Artist for Healing”’, Big Hit strives to impart a positive influence through content while providing comfort and inspiration to music fans worldwide.

Music Video for Timmy Trumpet – The Snail

The momentum for MAD WORLD, the debut album by global superstar DJ, producer and live instrumentalist, Timmy Trumpet, continues with the release of the official music video for “The Snail.” The song is a collaboration with Berlin based music producer Mo Falk, and the all-new music video directed by Jules Otway, is a 3D visual art piece created from an original illustration from acclaimed street artist Toot.

“After seeing Toot’s work featured at Art Basel last year, I knew I wanted to work one of his creations into my music somehow and so ‘The Snail’ was born,” says Timmy. “Mo Falk’s an amazing producer and has brilliant ideas. We infused Piano House, Future House and Trap with an underlying funk groove. I love that if you were to only hear one part of the track and not another, you might not think you were listening to the same track. But together it just works. There’s a lot of tracks that make more structural sense on the album but the tracks you get to really fuck with are always the most fun.”

“The Snail” music video comes on the heels of the release of Timmy Trumpet’s highly anticipated debut album MAD WORLD.This 18-track epic collection includes collaborations with R3HAB, Scooter, Vini Vici, Vengaboys and Gabry Ponte, and features 11 brand-new tracks never heard anywhere else before. In the lead up to the release of MAD WORLD, Timmy dropped the title track, “Mad World,” in collaboration with Italian DJ/producer Gabry Ponte, along with the music video featuring stunning visuals filmed in Philadelphia just one day after the pivotal 2020 U.S. Presidential election. He also released his second single off MAD WORLD, “Paul Is Dead,” with German techno legends Scooter on November 27.

2020 has been a monumental year for Timmy Trumpet as he continues his climb to the very top of global music scene at an unrelenting pace. His very first livestream clocked over 7 Million views becoming one of the most watched events in electronic music this year and more recently he landed in the Top 10 of DJ Mag Top 100, a feat managed only by a very small list of artists in the past decade.

Stream “The Snail” and the entire MAD WORLD album HERE.

Watch the official music video for “The Snail” directed by Jules Otway HERE.

TIMMY TRUMPET

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | Twitter