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Warren Civic Music Association delays 2020-21 announcement

Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment:

• Warren Civic Music Association has its 2020-21 lineup set, but the announcement won’t come this weekend as planned.

The organization said in a statement released Wednesday, “We had hoped to announce our 2020-2021 season by the end of May, but things are still up in the air as far as what the restrictions for gatherings and social distancing for entertainment venues will be in the fall. Until such time that we receive the government guidelines, we will need to hold off with announcing our fantastic new season. We look forward to bringing back our concerts and sharing an enjoyable evening of friendship and beautiful music together again. Thank you for your understanding.”

WCMA was forced to postpone the final two concerts of its 2019-20 season due to stay-at-home directives issued by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Divas3 currently is scheduled for Aug. 25 (its third date) and may need to be moved again, with March 2021 as the likely time frame.

The Gatlin Brothers now is scheduled for April 20, 2021. Tickets purchased for the original dates will be honored for the new ones.

• Cancellations still dominate the concert news these days, but The Kent Stage has a couple shows going on sale this week.

New Power Generation will perform the music of Prince on Sept. 24. NPG was Prince’s backing band from 1990 until 2003, an era that included such hits as “Gett Off,” “Cream,” “Diamonds and Pearls,” “My Name Is Prince” and “7.”

Morris Hayes, the longest-running member of New Power Generation, plays keyboards and leads the band. He served as music director for the official Prince tribute concert in 2016 in Minneapolis following Prince’s death earlier that year.

He is joined by NPG original members Tony Mosley, guitar and vocals; Sonny Thompson, bass; and Levi Seacer Jr., guitar. Vocals are handled by MacKenzie and rapper Tony M., who appeared on several Prince and NPG tracks.

The band performs both NPG-era material and Prince’s hits from the ’80s. Tickets are $45 and $35.

Irish folk act The High Kings will do two shows at 8 p.m. Feb. 24 and 25, 2021. In the last 12 years, the band has released four studio albums, two live albums and two DVDs. They performed for President Barack Obama in Ireland and were invited to perform at the White House in 2012 for its St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Tickets are $40 and $30. Both shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through EventBrite.

The Kent Stage has postponed all of its shows through June. The first date currently on the schedule is blues artist Ana Popovic on July 16.

• Kent Stage isn’t alone in canceling June. The only local venues with June dates still listed are Packard Music Hall (Jamey Johnson on June 26) and the Covelli Centre (Impractical Jokers on June 20).

Powers Auditorium has an R&B triple bill featuring Blackstreet, Case and Adina Howard still scheduled for July 3. Tedeschi Trucks Band canceled its summer tour Wednesday afternoon, so the only show at Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre is the Beach Boys on Aug 26. The Robins Theatre also could be dark until Christopher Cross in August unless it comes back earlier with movies.

The forecast is no brighter for outdoor venues in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh markets. S&T Bank Music Park (Star Lake) still has two late June shows — Megadeth / Lamb of God on June 28 and Nickelback on June 30. But Blossom Music Center has canceled / postponed everything until the Doobie Brothers on July 22. David Gray on July 14 is the first thing remaining on the Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica calendar. And Stage AE has nothing indoors or outdoors until Bon Iver on July 28.

An announcement is expected June 1 on the status of the Motley Crue / Def Leppard / Poison / Joan Jett & the Blackhearts stadium tour, which is booked at FirstEnergy Stadium on July 3 and PNC Park on Aug. 16. PNC Park also has Green Day / Fall Out Boy / Weezer still slated for Aug. 15.

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