Raven-Symone has pulled the plug on her spring tour, which was scheduled to stop at Agganis Arena on May 20. "Unforeseen circumstances" is the official explanation offered in a statement from the artist's label, Hollywood Records. Ticket refunds will be available at point of purchase.

This fun news just in from Mass Concerts:

Dropkick Murphys
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Thursday July 10 – LeLacheur Park in Lowell, MA
Friday July 11 – Hadlock Field in Portland, ME
Saturday July 12 – McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI

Gates open at 5pm and show time is 6pm for all three shows. Rain or shine. Tickets are $32.50. There will also be a special $86.00 ticket good for all three shows. Tickets go on sale this Saturday May 17 at 10am at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (617) 931-2000, (207) 775-3331, or (401) 724-7300 (Pawtucket only).

The latest news from Live Nation:

Widespread Panic
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $30.00*
*plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:00 am

Tony Hawk`s Boom Boom HuckJam
At the Tweeter Center
Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Tickets are $25.00, $30.00* and $70.00 General Admission 4 pack special*
*plus $7.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 17, 2008 at NOON

Extreme
With Kings X
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Tickets are $25.00, $35.00 and $45.00*
*plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:00 am

Solid Gold Dance Party 2008
With The Village People, The Trammps, Musik and more
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Friday, August 1, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $30.00, $40.00 and $50.00*
*plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:00 am

My Morning Jacket
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $31.00*
*plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Friday, May 16, 2008 at 10:00 am

Rascal Flatts
With Taylor Swift
At the Tweeter Center
Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $31.00 and $71.00*
*plus $7.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:00 am

New Kids On The Block
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Friday, September 26, 2008 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $37.50, $47.50 and $77.50
Tickets are on-sale NOW!

Madonna “Sticky and Sweet Tour”
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $57.50, $97.50, $167.50 and $352.50
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:00 am

**If you have a Citibank card you can buy tickets in a pre-sale right now. (We just checked and there's some good stuff available in all price ranges. All you have to do is put in the first six digits of your card number. Be forewarned the service charges add up to $20 a ticket and that's not counting the various delivery fees, and free will-call pick up isn't listed as an option. Regular mail is free though).

All tix available through Ticketmaster.

Nine Inch Nails, which is giving away its new album on the band's website, makes its only Massachusetts appearance this summer August 8 at Worcester's DCU Center. Tickets are $55, $45, and $39.50 and go on sale Saturday at noon at ticketmaster.com, 617-931-2000, and the venue box office.

The cavalcade of concert announcements continues apace. Coldplay will bring the "Viva La Vida" tour, named after the group's forthcoming album, to the Garden on Nov. 3. Co-produced by Brian Eno, "Viva La Vida" comes out June 17, but if you're among the two million or so fans who copped a free download of the first single, "Violet Hill," you know we're in for some vintage Chris Martin swooning-and-crooning with a sharper -- and dare we say welcome -- new edge. Tickets for the Boston show are $47.50, $67.50, and $97.50 and go on sale Saturday June 14 at 10am at ticketmaster.com or 617-931-2000. Click here for info on scoring tickets to Coldplay's free June 23 show at Madison Square Garden.

Young@Heart, the Northampton senior-citizen chorus that covers Radiohead and the Rolling Stones and is starring in an award-winning new documentary film, makes its Boston area concert debut June 20 at the Somerville Theatre. Tickets are $30 and go on sale tomorrow at noon at the venue box office, by phone at 617-931-2000, or online at ticketmaster.

The Jammy Awards, which has honored the best in improvisational music for the past seven years, celebrated its last great jam Wednesday night. "We've kind of accomplished what we set out to do," said the event's executive producer Peter Shapiro in an AP interview. "In a good jam you kind of have to take chances and go in new directions." All four members of the uber-jam band Phish appeared on stage together for the first time since breaking up four years ago -- to accept a lifetime achievement award -- but the group didn't perform or hint at a reunion, which totally bummed people out.

-Nine Inch Nails began giving away its new album "The Slip" for free on its website earlier this week. Audiophiles will be pleased to know that there is a "higher than cd" quality download option. The site even lets you send a link to friends so they don't have to do all that pesky pointing and clicking themselves. A physical configuration- both CD and vinyl- will appear in July.

-Because there's no such thing as too much Madonna news, Madge hit number one on the Billboard album chart this week with her new album "Hard Candy."

-Country star Eddy Arnold passed away this morning at the age of 89. Considered a pioneer of the "countrypolitan" sound and a huge chart presence, Arnold hit with such songs as "Turn the World Around" and "You Don't Know Me."

AP has a write-up here. And here's a clip of Arnold singing one his most well-known hits "Make The World Go Away."

-Can't get to Bonnaroo this summer but really want to see My Morning Jacket? Never fear, Jim James and company have announced more tour dates and among them is Sept. 6 at the Bank of America Pavilion. No tix info yet but we'll let you know when we've got it.

Concert information comes to "Sound Effects" in many ways. Let us count them.

1.Live Nation informs us of this:
Madonna
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Wed. Oct. 15, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $57.50-$352.50
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10 am

2. Digging around on Ticketmaster reveals this:
Tina Turner
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Sun. Nov. 16, 2008 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $57-$150
Tickets go on-sale Monday May 12 at 10 am

Apparently there is a special "Oprah" pre-sale that starts today. We scurried over to the "O" website and disovered that the secret password is "HARPOANIT." (That's Oprah and Tina backwards. It works, "Sound Effects" just bought a pair).

3. A little birdie told us this:
Bon Jovi
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Wed. July 9 and Thu. July 10, 2008
Tickets go on-sale Monday May 19 at 10 am (No prices as of yet).

4.Pollstar claims this:
Janet Jackson
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Wed. Oct. 1, 2008
Ticket info forthcoming

Live Nation made its annual summer announcement yesterday filling in more gaps in the summer concert schedule.

In addition to the shows below LN also announced that the Bank of America Pavilion has installed "fixed seating" this summer which will mean "wider seats, more legroom, cup holders and an additional center aisle in section five to break up what was previously the longest row in the venue." (If it also means that when one person moves their chair the whole row won't move with it, as it did in the days of strapped-together folding chairs, then I'm all for it.)

They also announced that Rascal Flatts will play the Tweeter Center on Sept. 13 but won't have ticket info until Friday.

Stevie Wonder
At the Tweeter Center
Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $30.00, $40.00, $55.00, $75.00 and $125.00*
* plus $7.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:00 am

Amos Lee
At the Somerville Theatre
Friday, July 11, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $25.00 and $28.00
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:00 am

3 Doors Down
With Staind and Hinder
At the Tweeter Center
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Tickets are $18.00, $20.00, $22.50, $32.50, $38.00 and $68.00*
* plus $7.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:00 am

G. Love & Special Sauce
With the John Butler Trio
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $24.50*
* plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:00 am

Slightly Stoopid
With Pepper and Sly & Robbie
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $24.50*
* plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 10:00 am

Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock
At the Tweeter Center
Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Tickets are $35.00, $50.00, $65.00, $300.00 Gold Seat and $60.00 6-pack General Admission ticket special*
*plus $7.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Friday, May 9, 2008 at 10:00 am

New Kids On The Block
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Friday, September 26, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $37.50, $57.50 and $77.50
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 10, 2008 at NOON

All tix are available at Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

USA Today has a great little piece today on Tommy DeCarlo, a Boston fan who will be singing with the group this summer - including an Aug. 3 date at the Tweeter Center. Boston leader Tom Scholz came across some Brad Delp tribute MP3's DeCarlo uploaded to his MySpace page last year. Scholz says DeCarlo, a North Carolina Home Depot employee who is third from right in the above photo, bears an uncanny vocal resemblance to the late Delp. Anyone who attended last summer's Delp tribute at the Bank of America Pavilion heard DeCarlo sing "Smokin.'"

Journey also found its latest Steve Perry successor Arnel Pineda online, when a You Tube video of his Filipino Journey tribute group made its way to the band.

Somewhere "Ripper" Owens and "Izzy" Cole smile bittersweet, and in the latter's case, fictional, smiles.

As record release parties go, the one Madonna threw at Roseland Ballroom in New York City on Wednesday night for her new album "Hard Candy" was pretty sweet.

The joint- picture a wider Avalon with a balcony ring- was packed with all kinds from drag queens to soccer moms, some of whom had slept out on the curb overnight to get the first come-first serve free tickets.

After a long set of '80s and current hits by a deejay fond of funky mash-ups- Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," for instance- the mixmaster teased the crowd with a "candy" medley including Fiddy's "Candy Shop," New Edition's "Candy Girl" and Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy." Then, as the band took the stage, the deejay platform rotated to reveal Her Madgesty on an "M"-emblazoned throne.

Madonna, clad in black tails, satin track pants and high-heeled, modified boxing boots, kicked things off with the body moving grooves of "Candy Shop" and it didn't take long for the crowd to get into it.

She said a quick hello and segued neatly into "Miles Away" which featured quick cut images of boarding passes, planes taking off, and airports as she sang her melancholy-yet-danceable lament about long-distance love affairs strumming an acoustic with a sparkly silver strap.

As Timbaland appeared on the central video screen the familiar synth riff of "4 Minutes" boomed out of the speakers as the four side stage video screens began to glide across the stage and then swivel around to reveal Justin Timberlake behind one and Madonna behind another. The two pop titans got down with their bad selves and the cadre of dancers.

Madonna then scurried off the stage to grab an electric guitar and began strumming the opening lick of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." She then asked the crowd if they were there to see the Rolling Stones. When they answered emphatically in the negative she said "yeah (expletive) that." She then thanked JT and called herself the "luckiest girl in the world" to have worked with him, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West on "Hard Candy."

She may be turning 50 this year but there wasn't anything wrinkly about either her face or her non-stop dancing. (Which necessitated the use of pre-recorded backing vocals. It was clear she was singing live but she had some assistance.)

"Hung Up" was dedicated to the people who had waited many hours in line for the chance to breathe Madonna's air and featured a noisy, metallic guitar breakdown from Madonna, which she said simulated what waiting sounds like inside her brain. (Turns out patience is not one of her virtues).

The bouncy "Give it 2 Me" featured Pharrell singing along on screen and a fancy multi-colored laser show that couldn't compete with Madonna's own pinpoint dance moves.

She brought it home with "Music" giving her dancers a chance to shine and getting the crowd of 2,000-plus Madonna maniacs finally jumping up and down to her satisfaction.

It may have only lasted a shade over 30 minutes but it was an electric, action-packed set complete with a snazzy stage and a hot band led by the pride of New Bedford, keyboardist Kevin Antunes.

Judging from the sweat-soaked and giddy departing fans, who each got a commemorative poster, their sweet tooth was satisfied.

Setlist:

"Candy Shop"

"Miles Away"

"4 Minutes" with Justin Timberlake

"Hung Up"

"Give it 2 Me"

"Music"

Here's a link to a gallery of photos from last night's show.

On the heels of his world tour with Genesis, Phil Collins announced today that he is retiring from music. Turns out Collins is more excited about his collection of memorabilia from the Battle of the Alamo than touring or recording. “It’s not that unusual for a man of my age who grew up reading Davy Crockett,” Collins told The Times of London. Click here to read the story.

Radio 92.9 (formerly WBOS) has announced the line-up for its annual Earthfest:Cake, Cracker
The Bodeans, and the English Beat will take to the Hatch Shell starting at noon on May 24.

The opening slot on the mainstage will go to the winner of a local online band contest dubbed "Ourstage." The next four top vote-getters will play a side-stage. Check out contenders and vote here.

Do you miss Chikezie and Ramiele? Well, don't fret the "American Idol" concert tour comes to the DCU Center August 9. Ticket prices are TBA but they go on-sale Saturday May 17 at noon through Ticketmaster.

Contrary to that headline, Pat McGee is not imprisoned. But his band is giving a free show at Bill's Bar next Tuesday at 8 pm. It's part of a beer-sponsored concert series. Although there's no cost, you do have to RSVP and be 21 to gain admission. Check out the info here.

Josh Ritter is teaming up with members of the Boston Pops and former U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky for a special performance at Symphony Hall on June 27. Tickets for the performance go on sale today and may be purchased through the BSO's website or by calling 617-266-1200 or 888-266-1200.

If "A" equals Mariah Carey, "B" equals her new album "E=MC2", and "C" equals the number one spot on the Billboard Top 200 then A plus B equals C. Algebra is fun! And no doubt moving 463,000 units for the year's, and her career's, best sales week is fun for Carey.

In other chart news from Billboard, new country trio Lady Antebellum, who we told you about last week, came in at number four.

The summer schedule is filling up fast. Here's the latest update from Live Nation:

Feist
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $25.00 and $35.00*
*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Monday, April 28, 2008 at 10:00 am

John Mellencamp
With Lucinda Williams At the Bank of America Pavilion
Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $35.00, $60.00 and $85.00 and $125.00*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Monday, April 28, 2008 at 10:00 am

Projekt Revolution featuring Linkin Park and Chris Cornell
With The Bravery, Ashes Divide and Atreyu At the Tweeter Center
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Tickets are $24.75, $44.75, $54.75, $70.75 and 4-pack lawn tickets for $18.75*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 10:00 am

Sheryl Crow
With James Blunt and Toots & The Maytals At the Tweeter Center
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $26.00, $36.00, $46.00 and $56.00*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Friday, April 25, 2008 at 10:00 am

State Radio At the Bank of America Pavilion
Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $20.00 and $25.00*
*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Monday, April 28, 2008 at 10:00 am

O.A.R.
With Ozomatli At the Tweeter Center
Friday, August 8, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $35.00*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, April 26, 2008 at NOON

Buddy Guy and George Thorogood & The Destroyers At the Bank of America Pavilion
Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Tickets are $27.50 and $41.00*
*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Monday, April 28, 2008 at 10:00 am

Regeneration Tour featuring Human League and Belinda Carlisle
With Flock of Seagulls, ABC and Naked Eyes At the Bank of America Pavilion
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $25.00, $35.00 and $40.00*
*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Monday, April 28, 2008 at 10:00 am

All tickets are available through Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

E Street keyboardist Danny Federici passed away last night after a three year battle with melanoma. Springsteen fans were extremely familiar with the oft-smiling Federici who was a mainstay of the group.

On his website Springsteen posted a note that reads: "Danny and I worked together for 40 years - he was the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure natural musician. I loved him very much...we grew up together."

Also on the site is a note instructing those wishing to recognize Federici's passing to send donations, in lieu of flowers, to the "Danny Federici Melanoma Fund. A web site for the fund is being established and we'll post its link when it is on line."

AP has a nice write-up here.

Here's the most recent list of concert updates from Live Nation.

John Mayer with Brett Dennen at the Tweeter Center
July 12 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $29.50, $39.50 and 4-pack lawn tickets for $99.00*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 10:00 am

Sound Tribe Sector 9 and Umphrey’s McGee at the Bank of America Pavilion
July 26 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $24.50*
*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 10:00 am

Boston with Styx at the Tweeter Center
August 3 at 7 pm
Tickets are $25.00, $35.00, $50.00 and $60.00*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Friday, April 18, 2008 at NOON

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival featuring Slipknot and Disturbed
With Dragonforce, Mastodon, Sevendust, 36 Crazyfists, Airbourne and Five Finger Death Punch at the Tweeter Center
Aug 5 at 2 pm
Tickets are $25.25, $39.75, $49.75 and 4-pack lawn tickets for $75.00*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 11:00 am

Toby Keith Featuring Montgomery Gentry
With Carter’s Chord, Mica Roberts & Trailer Choir at the Tweeter Center
August 17 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $20.00 and $72.00*
*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees
Tickets go on-sale Friday, April 18, 2008 at 10:00 am

And here's a show we weren't alerted to officially by Live Nation but got the info for:

The Eagles at TD Banknorth Garden July 28 & 30
Tickets are $45-$185 and go on-sale Monday April 21 at 10 am.

All tickets through 617-931-2000 or Ticketmaster or Live Nation.

And here's a few for which we have partial info, but no ticket prices yet:

John Mellencamp with Lucinda Williams at the Bank of America Pavilion July 14-15, on-sale April 28

Sheryl Crow at the Tweeter Center July 30

"Crue Fest" with Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach and others at the Tweeter Center August 22

Alt-country/experimental rock heroes Wilco make their Tanglewood debut this summer, with an August 12 date in the hallowed outdoor shed. AP-level singer-songwriter-violinist-whistler Andrew Bird opens the show. All respect to James Taylor and Harry Connick, Jr., but this is a timely step in the right direction for Tanglewood. Why should baby boomers have all the bucolic Berkshires fun? Tickets for the show -- Wilco's only New England appearance this summer -- are $26 for the lawn and $36 for the shed, and go on sale April 25 at tanglewood.org or 888-266-1200.