Arch MUSIC NEWS for 8/8/12

Neil Young is helping to draw attention to the issue of poverty across the world. He’s among the headliners slated for the upcoming Global Festival concert. The event is being staged in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly Meeting, which will address eradicating poverty throughout the world by 2015. Foo Fighters and The Black Keys are also on board for the free show, which is set for the Great Lawn at New York’s Central Park on September 29th.

The late Bob Marley‘s son Ziggy Marley says he’s proud that his father is being honored in Los Angeles. The L.A. City Council declared Tuesday Bob Marley Day, and presented Ziggy and his sister Karen with the proclamation.  Bob Marley Day coincided with the release of the documentary “Marley,” which arrived on DVD Tuesday. The film chronicles the career of the Jamaican-born reggae legend, who died from cancer in 1981 at the age of 36.

 Huey Lewis and the News have some new projects in the works – The band has started writing material for a possible new album.  A new album would be the band’s first collection of original material since 2001′s “Plan B.” Their last release was the 2010 Stax Records tribute disc “Soulsville.” Lewis also says EMI execs want to “make a big deal” out of next year’s 30th anniversary of the group’s album “Sports,” so he’s “listening” to their ideas.  ”Sports” was released in September 1983. The album includes the top ten singles “Heart and Soul,” “If This Is It,” “Heart of Rock and Roll,” and “I Want a New Drug.” It topped the Billboard 200 in June 1984, and ranked second behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on the Billboard year-end chart for 1984.

Train singer Pat Monahan says he and his bandmates are trying to put their own twist on “Joy to the World” for the upcoming holiday album, “A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary.”  He says they’re working on mashing up the Christmas classic with their 2003 hit “Calling All Angels.” He points out, however, that it’s still a work in progress, so he’s not sure what the finished product will sound like. But whatever happens, Monahan says it is an honor to be a part of the “Very Special Christmas” series. He says he and the guys have purchased previous editions of the album, and always thought it would be great to one day get the opportunity to contribute to one as well.  Others appearing on the new album for this holiday season include Dave Matthews, OneRepublic, Jason Mraz, Cheap Trick, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bublé, and more. The new album is slated to hit stores on October 16th, continuing a tradition that started back in 1987 and has already raised more than 100-million-dollars for the Special Olympics.