Hillsong UNITED Returns to North America Amidst Popular Demand

Announces August “Aftermath” Tour Dates Following Record Breaking Winter/Spring North American Tour, Release of Band’s Fastest Selling Album Ever, AFTERMATH

After becoming the first Christian artist to sell out Staples Center in Los Angeles, logging sold out events at major venues coast-to-coast this winter/spring and subsequently gathering Pollstar Magazine’s April 11 “Hotstar” cover feature, modern worship band Hillsong UNITED returns to North America this summer to pick up where they left off. Hitting primarily the Midwest for the first burst of tour dates in June, the band will play Van Andel Arena on August 15th at 7:30pm.

Singing the favorites that have helped sell over 11 million albums, the band will also play songs from AFTERMATH, Hillsong UNITED’s acclaimed 2011 release that topped retail sales charts internationally, hit No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200 and continues to be its fastest selling album ever.

Premier Productions, which promoted the Staples Center event, as well as promoted sold out Hillsong UNITED events earlier this year at such major market venues as ShoWare Center (Seattle), Warfied Theatre (San Francisco), Memorial Auditorium (Sacramento), Music Hall (Dallas), Berry Center (Houston), Gwinnett Center (Atlanta), Hammerstein Ballroom (New York City) and two back-to-back events the same night at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre, announces that tickets will go on sale June 3, 2011. Ticket prices are $28.50 and $38.50 (VIP) and may be purchased at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets including D&W Stores and select Family Fare locations, or charge by phone at 1- 800-745-3000. All ticket prices increase $3 on the day of show. Groups of 10 or more save $4 per ticket (not valid on floor seats). Call 616-742-6185 or email groupsales@smggr.com for more details.

Additional information on how to purchase tickets can be found through www.PremierProductions.com, with a special pre-sale offer using the promotional code “aftermath” available on this website as well as all points of purchase beginning June 1.

“The appeal of Hillsong UNITED is their love for the Church and creating an atmosphere where people engage and express their faith through dynamic worship music that creates an incredible unified experience,” says Shane Quick, owner and vice president of the concert division with Premier Productions. “To hear thousands of people singing together at the top of their lungs for three hours is nothing short of amazing.”

“There is a real sense of perseverance within our team, not performance,” says Hillsong UNITED member Joel Houston. “In 2011, we are pushing the boundaries and stretching ourselves; musically, lyrically and believing that God is going to do things He has never done before.”

While on tour, and in response to nationwide food bank deficits, Hillsong UNITED is partnering with local churches and agencies to again facilitate an I-HEART :: This Means Love Food Drive in each city they visit. “Yes, the world is a mess but the Good News is that it can get better; all it takes is a little more love and unity,” says Hillsong UNITED’s Jad Gillies as he urges people attending the tour to bring to the event non-perishable food to help meet the needs of their neighbors. Over 7,000 family meals were collected for those that need them most during the Feb/March US leg of the tour.

Born out of the Youth Movement of Australia’s Hillsong Church, and fronted by worship leaders Joel Houston, Jad Gillies and Jonathon “JD” Douglass, the UNITED team is also an evolving collaboration of pastors, worship leaders, musicians and songwriters - all intentional about giving voice to a generation passionate about God. Having led worship in churches, stadiums and open fields in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, Hillsong UNITED’s AFTERMATH is the first new album from the band in over two years. The recording sparked the band’s biggest radio hit to date, “Search My Heart,” and offers an unabashedly creative collection of new songs that celebrates the One who saves, redeems and is the true representation of Hope in a world where hopelessness abounds.

More information on Hillsong UNITED can be found at www.hillsongunited.com and www.facebook.com/hillsongunited, where the band has over 1.93 million friends.

TAYLOR SWIFT OPENS SPEAK NOW … HELP NOW

FUNDRAISER TO WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE VIA WEB STREAM EVENT

Taylor Swift announced today via Twitter that she will expand her fundraising efforts for tornado victims by streaming two performances during Saturday’s “Speak Now … Help Now” benefit event.

“I'll be streaming 2 of the songs from the Speak Now/Help Now rehearsal performance worldwide- Saturday at 9pm central on taylorswift.com :),” Taylor tweeted from @TaylorSwift13.

The stream will give fans around the world a first look at Taylor’s new stage and her show for the North American leg of the Speak Now World Tour. Information on how to donate to help tornado victims will be posted during the stream.

“Speak Now … Help Now”, the final dress rehearsal for Taylor’s Speak Now Tour, will be held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, May 21st, and is open to the public as a benefit event for tornado victims.

100% of ticket sales will go directly to help tornado victims via the Speak Now … Help Now Fund established through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

STREAM DETAILS:
TIME: 9:00 p.m. CDT – Saturday, May 21st
PLACE: www.TaylorSwift.com

The North American portion of the Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour 2011 kicks off on May 27th in Omaha, Nebraska. Taylor Swift performs at Van Andel Arena on July 28, 2011!

THE ROCKETS to Open For Bob Seger at Grand Rapids Date

Detroit-Natives to Warm Up the Van Andel Arena Crowd on May 28

Finishing up what could be his last tour ever, Bob Seger has announced that rock veterans The Rockets will be opening up the performance when he visits Van Andel Arena for a second time in as many months on Saturday, May 28th.

The show begins at 8PM and a limited number of tickets are still available. Tickets are $72.50 and are available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 1- 800-745-3000.

Natives of Detroit, The Rockets formed in 1972 and released five studio albums which offered several hits including “Oh Well,” a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s original. With founding members, Johnny “Bee” Bandajek and Joe McCarty, The Rockets have always been a popular name in Detroit and around Michigan, especially in the 70s and early 80s. In 2010, The Rockets were honored at the Detroit Music Awards with the Distinguished Achievement Award.

The Rockets have already opened for Seger earlier in the week for the first of his three dates at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Showing his allegiance to Michigan-bred artists, Seger has also featured Battle Creek-native Frankie Ballard as an opener for several shows. Ballard opened for Seger during their last stop in Grand Rapids last April.

Spotlight Saturday Grand Opening This Weekend

If you're looking for Urban Social Entertainment in an upscale downtown setting, then the 5/3 Bank Vault is for you! Grand Rapids' most in-demand urban dj, PJ the DJ, will be spinning a mix of adult hip hop, R&B, reggae, Jazz, neo-soul and more...

Come out and experience the best in urban night life!

This event is hosted by Lacy Jones and Jermaine Prebbles!!! Sponsored by Holla Bakk Entertainment. This is a 21 & up event. No sports attire allowed.

Saturday, May 21 at 9PM-2AM
Van Andel Arena 5/3 Bank Vault
Tickets $10

VEE Corporation Announces A Musical & Imaginative 2011-2012 Tour Season

Including 1st Sesame Street Live Tour to Mainland China

As VEE Corporation raises the curtain on its 32nd touring season, we are delighted to announce Elmo and friends will be coming back to Grand Rapids. “Elmo Makes Music” will be taking the Van Andel Arena Stage from Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13.

Tickets are $14.50, $18.50, $24.50, $32.50 (Gold Circle), and $57.50 (Sunny Seats). However, opening night tickets are all $14.50 excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 16 at 10am. Tickets may be purchased at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Groups of 10 or more receive a $3 discount per ticket (excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats). For group discounted tickets, please call 616.742.6185 or email groupsales@smggr.com.

For this first time in its distinguished history, Sesame Street Live will also commence an eight-week tour of Mainland China with “Elmo’s Green Thumb”. Opening June 26, Sesame Street Live will perform at the finest theatres in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Chongqing, Wuhan, Henan, Hefei, Changzhou, Wenzhou, Qingdao and Yantai. Performances will be presented in Mandarin and/or English based on local preferences. The production will then transfer to Singapore for a multi-show run in that territory where it has toured previously.

The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families, produced in partnership with VEE, is an around-the-world tour exclusively for military families on bases. The fifth installment kicked off on April 14 in Columbus, Ohio with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. This USO tour, created to help military children deal with the challenges of deployment and homecomings, is based on Sesame Workshop’s award winning Talk, Listen, Connect (TLC) initiative. Stops on this tour include Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Korea, Turkey, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Spain.

VEE is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with Sesame Workshop to create and produce Sesame Street Live, the longest running touring production for children in history. Like the award-winning television show on which it is based, Sesame Street Live uses the power of Muppets to teach critical skills such as literacy, math, healthy habits, and respect for others – all while entertaining in a positive, family-friendly way.

For the most up-to-date information, visit http://www.sesamestreetlive.com/. For a full schedule of the performances in Grand Rapids, go to http://www.vanandelarena.com/.