Elton John could be the answer to his prayers
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/111874614.html
Strip of six Elton John tickets is the end result of an incredible Friday journey for Henry Landry that started by biking into Duncan from outside Cowichan Bay.
Henry Landry hopes to turn his good fortune into a major boost for a new Vancouver Island Peace Centre and Retreat Garden at Gibbins and Vimy Roads in Duncan, with a little help from his new friend Elton John.
Landry loves how a series of remarkable events went in his favour to purchase the first six tickets for the legendary performer’s first show next Valentine’s Day at Victoria’s Save On Foods Memorial Centre.
As a fundraiser for the site where the Nichiren Buddhist Society intends to relocate from Samuel Road, Landry is putting the tickets up for auction despite the fact he’s a huge Elton John fan and would love to attend the show.
“We have two acres now we made a deposit on,’’ he said. “We have rights to another nine acres.’’
Assuming Elton John sings his classic John Lennon tribute song Empty Garden at the show, it’ll be another touch of irony since he’ll be inadvertently helping a new multi denominational garden to sprout.
“People from all over the world will be able to come for the retreats,’’ said Landry. “That’s the whole idea.’’
Tickets for Elton John’s Victoria performance went on sale Friday and Landry’s quest began bright and early at 5:30.
“In the pitch dark, I got on my bike and cycled into Duncan,’’ he said.
“I cycled in from Affinity (Cowichan Bay) to Duncan where I came to support our community transit bus to Victoria.’’
By 8:30, Landry was at the Victoria arena.
“The way they do the tickets now, you don’t have to get in line,’’ he said. “They do a ticket draw.’’
Landry separated himself slightly from the throng when he received his ticket, but stayed within earshot to hear the call. “I didn’t want to lose my energy,’’ he said.
“I started chanting and I thought ‘wouldn’t it be nice if I was in the top 10,’’’ Landry recalled.
A crowd he estimated at about 300 people had assembled by draw time at 9:25.
When ticket No. 124 was called, Landry let out a great big, ‘yes,’ he said.
By 10 o’clock, it was time to make the big purchase. Landry consulted people in the know for the best choice of seat location.
“We’re at about one body length height from where Elton John will have his piano,’’ he explained.
Landry paid $170 each for the six tickets for a total of $1,020, but hopes to turn the proceeds of the auction into much more for the retreat garden and peace centre.
Bidding for the tickets by silent auction will begin at $250 each on Dec. 26 and continues until Feb. 1. Interested persons will have a chance to make bids and view the high bids at
www.penlan.com and then go higher if they desire.
“We’re not trying to scalp anybody here,’’ said Landry. “We’re doing this as a fundraiser.
“We’ll start posting the first name and initial only and their bid on the ticket. We’ll post every day who’s the top six people and how much they’ve bid.’’
Landry celebrated his 25th anniversary of becoming a Buddhist Dec. 8 and became a master teacher in 1994. “I think it was part of the universe blessing me; here’s six tickets for the anniversary,’’ he said.
Landry counts himself as one of Elton John’s faithful followers.
“He’s been playing for 40 years and I’ve been following him for nearly that long,’’ he said. “I have all the DVDs.’’
Landry didn’t rule out the possibility of submitting his own bid to reacquire a ticket by paying into his own charity.
News has traveled fast since Landry landed the tickets.
“My phone’s been roaring off the hook,’’ he said. “I’ve got friends I’ve forgotten about.’’
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120568794653971
Have Fun Tonight Everyone!!!! Cant wait to hear about it!!
Lady GaGa and Elton John's 'Gnomeo and Juliet' Duet to Be Released on Feb. 8
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00037408.html
December 15, 2010 09:04:11 GMT
The theme song titled 'Hello Hello' will come out along with thirteen other 'Gnomeo and Juliet' soundtracks a week before Valentine's Day.
"Hello Hello", a song which reunites good friends and for the first time since their Grammy performance, will be released on February 8, 2011. It will be made available for purchase in a "" soundtrack album along with the other 13 songs.
Back in October, GaGa tweeted, "Eltoneo + Guliet! Finishing our duet Hello, Hello in studio. Sounding so amazing, some last finishing touches and off to the movies!" The song reportedly will be played in the movie when the two lead characters, lawn ornaments named Gnomeo and Juliet, meet for the first time.
According to in Amazon, John will be singing at least seven songs out of the fourteen tracks, and two of them are brand new. In addition, there will be a new version of his 1972 song "Crocodile Rock" which is performed by .
The movie itself is planned to hit theaters in the United States on February 11. Co-produced by John, it features voicing Gnomeo and voicing Juliet. Joining them in the upcoming Disney animated film are and .
Elton John to play in Dunedin
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/4464968/Elton-John-to-play-in-Dunedin
Singer-songwriter Sir Elton John is the first major act booked for Dunedin's controversial new roofed stadium.
The $200 million stadium is expected to open in August and will host Rugby World Cup games before the concert at the end of the year.
It will be Elton John's first South Island visit for two decades.
Promoter Phil Sprey said fans would be delighted to hear Sir Elton was coming back to the South Island for the first time in 20 years.
Dunedin Venues chief executive David Davies was thrilled with the announcement.
"This is a fantastic coup for the city."
Elton John set to rock stadium
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/140983/elton-john-set-rock-stadium
Click photo to enlarge
Sir Elton John is set to give his first South Island concert in 20 years at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium next year. Photo supplied.
Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium has attracted its first international act, with Sir Elton John booked to perform late next year. The concert follows the Rugby World Cup.
It will be Sir Elton's first visit to the South Island in 20 years. Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies said it was important to him the first event announced for the stadium, apart from the Rugby World Cup, was a concert rather than a sporting event.
"It's as big an entertainment event as we could have reasonably hoped for in the circumstances."
The concert would set a benchmark for performances to come at the stadium, and was "a fantastic coup for the city".
While ticketing details were not yet decided, organisers were "working to ensure preference is given to local and regional ratepayers".
The news was also welcomed by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, who said the booking was "fantastic".
Managing director of the concert's promoter, Capital C: Concerts, Phil Sprey said the date of the concert, ticket prices and when tickets would go on sale would be announced early next year "once a few loose ends are tied up".
Mr Sprey was brought to Dunedin last year to provide his expertise as a consultant for the Carisbrook Stadium Trust.
Yesterday, he said Sir Elton would be coming with his band, and the Dunedin concert was his only New Zealand booking at this stage.
Asked if he expected the concert to attract large numbers, he said: "I hope so. It's costing me a lot of money."
Just how much was commercially sensitive.
Mr Sprey was behind the musician's last three New Zealand concerts, in Auckland, New Plymouth and Wellington, and said Sir Elton was an "easy-going" artist to deal with.
Mr Sprey said having the roof on the stadium took one element of risk out of the equation, and allowed the concert to be held earlier in the summer than usual.
Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry used the occasion to hit back at his critics.
"I'm mindful of the severe criticism from some quarters, who shouted from the mountain tops there was no way we would get an international artist to Dunedin; no promoter would bring one; we were dreaming."
Mr Farry said the situation was "a great reminder" Dunedin should not be controlled by people "who want anything you do to get nowhere".
"You have to be prepared to push the boundaries."
He said there would be more announcements in the next six to 12 months that would "underscore you don't let negative people get control".
Sir Elton John coming to NZ
http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/sir-elton-john-coming-nz-3975777
Published: 8:32AM Thursday December 16, 2010
Source: ONE News
Sir Elton John has been confirmed as the first big concert signing for Dunedin's new covered stadium.
He will perform to a potential 30,000 crowd late next year after the stadium has hosted its three Rugby World Cup Pool matches.
The International Rugby Board has been assured the stadium will be completed in time for the World Cup.
Sir Elton's last visit to New Zealand was in 2007 when he performed at New Plymouth's TSB Bowl of Brooklands.
Legendary record producer Stuart Epps delivers signature courses at SAE Online
http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/124369-legendary-record-producer-stuart-epps-delivers-signature-courses-at-sae-online.html
December 15, 2010, 06:05 PM
SAE Online is pleased to announce the launch of its newest course, and this one brings its students one of the most well-qualified and inspiring people in the music industry into their learning environment: producer and engineer
Stuart Epps.
Stuart Epps has over 40 years of experience in the music industry. His career began at the age of 15 and he quickly moved up the ranks to become Chief Engineer at
DJM Studios. Epps learned from one of the greats,
Gus Dudgeon, with whom he built the famous
Mill Studios on the banks of the Thames. It's at Mill Studios where he was soon asked to become Chief Engineer, Studio Manager and Producer.
Throughout his career Epps has worked with some of the great talents in music. As well as recording and touring with
Elton John, other noteworthy names on his lengthy CV include
George Harrison,
Led Zeppelin,
Eric Clapton,
Paul Rodgers,
Jimmy Page,
George Michael,
Oasis and
Twisted Sister. Epps continues to produce records and is not one to hold back that he is excited about being the first official VIP Signature Course offered at SAE Online.
“Students on my signature course will learn an incredible amount of knowledge about record production," Epps added.
"This is the stuff that you won’t find in any text book – it’s about the process of making records from start to finish. Ultimately, my goal is to make you a better producer.”
For more details on The Epps Factor or to sign up for this VIP SIgnature course click here
Chris Hambly, Academic Director of SAE Online noted, “It's amazing to be working with Stuart Epps. He has held workshops with SAE Institute campuses in the past, and now we are working together to deliver an all-new curriculum that will give people around the world a glimpse into the best that engineering and producing can offer.”
In the four-week course, ‘The Epps Factor’ takes students through the process of record production; from pre-production and working with artists to the final mix. The SAE Online delivery method allows students to interact with their learning advisor – in this case Stuart Epps himself – chat with fellow students, and get top-notch content developed from years of combined experience between SAE and Mr. Epps.
By the end of the course students will walk away with a truly unique experience and a head full of new techniques to produce great music.
For more details on all SAE Online short courses click here
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MedvedevRussiaE
