Richie Kotzen

The blue-coloured- light drenched the stage, signifying the trademark colour of Rising. Beth Gibbons is here as part of Rising festival to showcase her solo album, Lives Outgrown, with a seven- piece band of musicians. Gibbons last toured Melbourne 15 years ago with proponents of trip hop, Portishead, appearing at Harvest Festival. There she was bathed in the golden afternoon rays of sunlight, but now she’s obscured by stage lights in alternating hues. Her musicians are backlit and positioned either side of the stage in groups of three and the keyboardist is in the centre behind Gibbons.

Burton C Bell has used his powerful new song ‘Savages’ as editorial, calling out the felon and his flock of ungodly evangelists.

This will be Usher’s fourth live shows in Australia. Usher first toured Australia in 2003, again in 2011and for RNB Fridays in 2018.

George Thorogood formed The Destroyed in 1973, ZZ Top started in 1969. Combined, George’s 53 years as a Destroyer and Billy Gibbons 56 years as a Top gives this night an incredible combined 109 years of experience on stage.

Ricky Martin will hang around in Melbourne for a little longer in November. Ricky will perform a second Melbourne show on 2 November.

JD Fortune is back and will tour a setlist of INXS songs for Australia in October.

Lady Gaga electrified fans last night at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, wrapping the first of two back-to-back sold-out stadium shows. Fresh off her widely praised headline performances at Coachella, Gaga brought her signature energy, theatricality, and emotional depth to the Mexican capital, kicking off a series of major international appearances leading into her highly anticipated MAYHEM Ball Tour this summer.