Music

Michael Jackson's doctor sentenced to 4 years

By: ANTHONY McCARTNEY 11/29/11 1:51 AM

The doctor convicted in the overdose death of Michael Jackson was sentenced to the maximum four years behind bars Tuesday by a judge who denounced him as a reckless physician whose actions were a "disgrace to the medical profession." Dr. Conrad Murray sat stoically with his hands crossed as Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor repeatedly chastised him for what he called a "horrific violation of trust" while caring for Jackson. Read More

James Taylor, Selena Gomez joins Swift onstage

By: MESFIN FEKADU 11/22/11 11:26 PM

Taylor Swift closed her "Speak Now World Tour" with her best friend and the man her parents named her after. The 21-year-old brought out James Taylor and Selena Gomez at her concert Tuesday night at New York's Madison Square Garden. Swift said her parents named her after Taylor, and the two performed his hit "Fire and Rain." Taylor also played the guitar while Swift performed her song "Fifteen." Read More

A brief guide to San Francisco's Treasure Island Music Festival

By: Staff report 10/12/11 6:25 PM

A list of selected highlights at this weekend's 2011 Treasure Island Music Festival: SATURDAY Death From Above 1979: The metal-influenced electro-rock duo makes a lot of noise for just two people — even grindcore death metal fans seem to like them. [8:45 to 9:30 p.m., Tunnel Stage] Read More

Mekons among the highlights of a lively Hardly Strictly opening night

By: Stephen Buel 10/01/11 11:41 AM

The early forecast called for rain, but perhaps the skies have enough sense not to spoil the nicest gift San Franciscans receive each year. The 11th-annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival got off to a fabulous start Friday and Saturday amid perfect weather and one of the concert’s strongest lineups ever. At any one time, several worthy acts were performing on a stage somewhere in Golden Gate Park. Friday and Saturday’s lineups yielded a wealth of riches. Read More

Your guide to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music

By: Staff report 09/29/11 4:00 AM

Here are a few top names among dozens of acts on six stages: FRIDAY Robert Plant and the Band of Joy: 5:45 p.m., Banjo Stage, Speedway Meadow east side, near JFK Drive Bright Eyes: 6 p.m., Rooster Stage, Marx Meadow, near JFK Drive Chris Isaak: 4:30 p.m., Star Stage, Lindley Meadow, JFK Drive near 30th Avenue Read More

San Francisco venues abandoning Ticketmaster

By: Lauren Gallagher 09/27/11 5:49 PM

Two iconic San Francisco concert halls are abandoning Ticketmaster for a venue-owned ticketing operation, starting Sunday.The Warfield and Regency Ballroom, venues owned and operated by sports and entertainment presenter AEG, will begin using AEG’s new service, axs Ticketing. The service is designed to provide a better ticket-purchasing process. Read More

Sade, live in concert, worth the wait

By: Leslie Katz 08/27/11 12:04 PM

Perhaps more artists should spend a decade between performing and releasing new material - for Sade, it’s been working like a charm. The band, fronted by the sleek, Nigerian-born, British-raised Sade Adu, hasn’t run out of steam as it wound toward the end of its highly anticipated tour in the first of two shows at the Oracle Arena in Oakland Friday night. Read More

Concert connections for this fall's San Francisco music scene

By: Lauren Gallagher 08/25/11 4:00 AM

Stages, festivals and clubs abound with pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic and acoustic music — for all tastes and ages. Star-studded lineups Rock the Bells Lauryn Hill, Nas and Erykah Badu are at the helm of the killer lineup for this year’s festival, which also includes Mos Def and Talib Kwali performing as Black Star, Immortal Technique and Common. [10:30 a.m. Friday, Shoreline Amphitheatre, $55-$281, www.rockthebells.net] Read More

Music fans battle cool weather at Outside Lands

By: Staff report 08/13/11 2:15 PM

The unusually cool weather that has been hovering over The City this summer didn’t do anything to dampen the spirit — or the numbers — of music lovers who flocked to Golden Gate Park for the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. For a slideshow of photos from Friday evening, click on the photo to the right. Read More

For the fourth year, Outside Lands a party in Golden Gate Park

By: Staff report 08/11/11 4:00 AM

In its fourth year, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival already has become one of The City’s most anticipated and well-attended musical, cultural, culinary — and people watching — events. The 2011 edition looks as enticing as ever. To see a map of the Outside Lands festival and photos of bands, click on the photo to the right. Read More