This Week in Music
Kings for a day: Oct. 3 at the Ford Center

Kings of Leon

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Published: 9/3/2009 3:10 AM
Last Modified: 9/3/2009 9:20 AM

Kings of Leon, the Nashville rock act with members from Oklahoma, has several new projects in the works, reports multiple news sources.

The band will also perform 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at the newly renovated Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Tickets are available at tulsaworld.com/ticketmaster .

The band has recruited Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Mark Ronson and more to give the platinum-selling "Only By the Night" album a dance-floor makeover, reported MTV online and Billboard. A release date hasn't been announced.

The quartet will also release a live DVD, recorded at London's O2 Arena in July.

Band mates also told Billboard that they've been working on new songs during their sound checks, with the eight to 10 tracks they've developed thus far comparable to bands like Radiohead, Thin Lizzy and the Band, reported Rolling Stone. A new album is in the works, but no name or release date has been announced, sources report.

News sources also report that frontman Caleb Followill will appear as a guest judge on an episode of "Iron Chef" later this year.

Boland and boys lead a benefit

Red Dirt music icon and Okie Jason Boland announced that he and his band, the Stragglers, will host a star-studded night of music for charity.

The concert will be 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Cain's Ballroom and will feature special guests Stoney LaRue, Mike McClure, Jackson Taylor, Red Dirt Rangers, Brandon Jenkins, Wade Bowen, Cory Morrow

and Jarrod Birmingham.

They will perform the hits of Don Williams. Advance tickets start at $15 plus fees, and all proceeds will go to charity, said Rodgers. For more information, check outtulsaworld.com/thestragglers .

Record label firm closes

The World's Fair label services group, co-founded in 2004 by Edmond resident Scott Booker, has folded, music industry news source Billboard recently reported.

Booker sold his stake in the company last year so he could free more time to run the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma, or ACM@UCO. Booker also manages rock acts the Flaming Lips, Colourmusic and Stardeath & White Dwarfs.

Current World's Fair co-founder and former president and CEO Kevin Wortis confirmed to Billboard that the group has closed. Reported Billboard: "The demise of the organization comes as something of a surprise; just yesterday, World's Fair sent an e-mail promoting the premiere of the new Lyrics Born video to writers."

The World's Fair site described the business as "a full-service, worldwide record label administration company." It had 12 staff members and provided press, promotions, marketing, sales, manufacturing, design and finance services for independent labels and artists.

It also helped promote, manage and run labels Daptone, Nat Geo Music and Quannum and artists Dizzee Rascal, British Sea Power Pela and more.

Local rapper primed for the big time

Local rapper X-Cal gains local momentum — and a slot opening for a national headliner — Thursday night right here in Tulsa. The hip-hop artist will bring his backing band (there’s no cheesy backing track with this guy), including members from David’s Bandana, Ransom James and more.

“Dazed ’n’ Dirty Tour” featuring Eminem’s band D12, with Potluck and X-Cal. Doors 7 p.m. Thursday, showtime 7:30 p.m. The Marquee, 222 N. Main St. All ages. Tickets $13 available from X-Cal at tulsaworld.com/XCal, or $15 at the door.

By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer