The track, which is available now for purchase on iTunes, is functioning as a fundraising campaign: 100% of the proceeds are being distributed between That Girl in Pink and its five supporting charities: The Trevor Project, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms), Childline, and I’m Alive.

Amidst her global correspondence through social media, several fans made the specific request to hear Benni sing. In an attempt to satiate their requests, Benni finished the song she wrote in 2010, “Can You See Me Now.”  What was originally meant to be a ballad, quickly matured into a celebratory dance track with a positive and powerful message. In an effort to voice multiple issues, the lyrics string together the stories of teens afflicted by abuse, depression, molestation, and self-mutilation. The plights of many are the focus of the track, just as they are the focus of Benni’s crusade.

In addition to a campaign for awareness via “Can You See Me Now,” Benni will also be reaching out in person on a Nationwide School Tour. Ten lucky schools will be selected to have Benni as a guest speaker and performer. Each campus will be able to hear about her refusal to be bullied, and her urgency for others to do the same.

Check out “Can You See Me Now” on VH1.com here, http://www.vh1.com/video/benni-cinkle/694095/can-you-see-me-now.jhtml#artist=4017823

For more information, and to stay up to date on Benni’s cause, please visit:

www.thatgirlinpink.org
http://www.youtube.com/user/imthatgirlinpink
http://www.facebook.com/BennetCinkle
http://www.twitter.com/benni_cinkle

Saturday Main Stage Entertainers

Vicky Tafoya

3:05 – 3:35

Hailed as “The Rhythm and Blues Queen of Southern California”, Vicky Tafoya will kick off the Main Stage festivities with her blast from the past DooWop styled voice that’ll leave you “RockABeatin Boogie”- ing into the evening.

Sonsoles

3:55 – 4:40

With a fresh spin on Modern Latin Rock, Los Angeles formed band, Sonsoles energy infusing music will definitely be heating up the crowds this year at Pride, come and “Escapar” to their sound.

Dian Katz

5:00 – 5:45

Entertainment Editor, Published Author, and Badass Drummer….just to name a few of her accomplishments, Dian Katz will be rocking the stage with her head banging beats.

Sunny Daye

6:05 – 6:50

Sunny has shared the mic and stage with  greats like Stevie wonder, Michael Bolton, Julio Iglesias, Pastor Shirley Ceaser, Andre Crouch, Montell Williams, Hal Ketchum, and many others! When she sings, she connects with her audience from her heart with sass and power that has made many hip hop, r&b & rap lovers into fans of Sunny Daye’s country music! This is only her second time on the main stage at Pride. “I am so grateful to be with such incredible artist’s this year and can’t wait to ROCK IT Saturday night!”

Sophie B. Hawkins

7:10 – 7:55

Sophie B. Hawkins, a free spirited artist known for her gutsy honest lyrics. She is the creator of the hit songs, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” and “As I Lay Me Down”.

Abraham McDonald

8:05 – 8:50

On a mission to bring “Love Music” back to our hearts, crooner Abraham McDonald, winner of Oprah Winfrey’s 2009 Karaoke Challenge, travels to Pride with his new released hit single, “Miracle” and heartwarming R&B sounds.

Monica

9:00 – 10:00

Monica is headlining the Saturday Main Stage. A Grammy Award-winner with over 10 million records sold, she has been entertaining us with her raw natural voice since 1995. Here are some of her well known hits, “Don’t take it Personal (Just One of Dem Days)”, “The Boy is Mine” duet with Brandy, Space Jam soundtrack that featured, “For You I Will” and “Angel of Mine”.

Sunday Main Stage Entertainers

HitPLAY

3:15 – 4:00

Making music to move the soul, seasoned producers/artists John Hogue and Sean Peterson are the dynamic duo, HitPLAY.

Kim Yarbrough

4:10 – 4:40

“Jennifer Hudson meets Chaka Khan”, quadruple threat (vocalist, actor, dancer, and instrumentalist) Kim Yarbrough will be at Pride putting down some sweet sultry sounds to groove too.

Marvin Matthews

5:10 – 5:55

Concert artist and natural born entertainer, Marvin Matthews uses his soulful voice to inspire the people of today with the timeless message of Love for their fellow men.

Edward Moss

6:05 – 6:50

Edward Moss actor and impersonator of the late singer, Michael Jackson, will pay homage with his world renowned act as the “King of Pop”.

Maxine Nightingale

6:55 – 7:30

Maxine Nightingale, Disco Diva, known for her top hits, “Right Back Where We Started From”, “Lead Me On”, and “Turn to Me”.

Thelma Houston

7:35 – 8:10

A Motown Legend with over 43 years of success in the music world, soulful songstress Thelma Houston will perform at Pride.

Taylor Dayne

8:10 – 8:55

Multi platinum recording artist, Taylor Dayne, most famous for her 1980s and ‘90s hits “Tell it to My Heart” and “Love Will Lead You Back”.

This year the promoters over at Club Skirts are once again are throwing THE party of the year.   The Club Skirts Dinah party is know for bringing out big stars and up and coming performers (past years have featured headliners like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Ke$ha) and this years line up is looking pretty fantastic!  Promoters say that The Dinah event is “More than a simple gay event, The Dinah has undeniably grown to become quite a sought-after music festival that almost every major recording artist wants to play!”

The weekend officially kicks off with a Meet and Greet party on Wednesday, official Opening Night Party at Zelda’s on Thursday and TGIF Pool Party on Friday with DJ’s and a performance by Auburn singing her club hit “La La La”.

The party continues Friday night with the legendary White Diamonds Party  featuring the first out Country singer Chely Wright (“Shut Up and Drive” and “Like Me”) and Dev and The Cataracts (“Like a G6″ and “Bass Down Low”).   For those thinking that a country singer seems a little out of the norm for the Dinah stage, you probably haven’t had the opportunity to see Chely live.    Chely has gained a large loyal following of gay and lesbian fans since releasing her album, “Lifted Off the Ground” and her coming out memoir, “Like Me” in May of last year.     Chely will undoubtedly leave Palm Springs many new fans, as she is a funny, warm and gifted performer who has the ability to connect with her audience in a way few others can.

The Cabana Pool Party on Saturday will feature a full day of performances including  BG5 (as seen on the Kardashians), a battle of the Web Series, Go Go Dancers and DJ’s and more!  Party goers will also have an opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite celebrities with meet and greets with L Word cast members, smoking hot personal trainer and newest cast member of “The Real Housewives: OC”, Fernanda Rocha  and more!

Joining the stellar line-up is Grammy-nominated, 6.5 million selling artist, Natasha Bedingfield who is slated to headline The Dinah’s legendary “Hollywood Party” on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the Palm Springs Convention center – the largest concert venue in Palm Springs.

Bedingfield exploded onto the music scene with the hit singles “Unwritten”, “These Words” and “Single” all from her platinum debut album, Unwritten. The album entered the charts at No. 1, only the third debut album of a solo female to do so. Unwritten was the most played song on mainstream American radio in 2006. It was also the first Number One pop single by a British female solo artist in the U.S. in almost 20 years and garnered Bedingfield her first Grammy nomination for “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.”

Since then the international super star has delivered a handful of radio hits including “Pocket Full of Sunshine”, “I Bruise Easily”, “Love Like This” and her latest music gem “Strip Me” from her newly released album of the same name. Strip Me is the follow-up to 2008′s Pocketful of Sunshine, a mega hit in the U.S. selling over three million singles of the title track and featuring four number one dance singles.

“We are beyond thrilled and honored to have Natasha Bedingfield perform at The Dinah. She is the perfect headliner for our signature event,” says Mariah Hanson, “Her show will be one unlike any other! She’s an amazing, down-to-earth, exceptionally talented artist with a repertoire of empowering, feel good, and very relatable (to real life) songs.”

If you’re up for a little poolside fun, great music, even better company and a chance to meet some of your favorite celebrities, then you won’t want to miss Dinah Shore weekend in Palm Springs!  If you you haven’t already,  you’ll want to make sure to purchase your tickets as soon as possible.   There are still some tickets available and rooms are booking up fast at all Palm Springs hotels.

To find out more information about The Dinah weekend event visit TheDinah.com.

Canadian music sensation Divine Brown is an award winning singer and songwriter.  Signing with Warner Music in 2000 she has continued to record and perform throughout Canada and the U.S. .

Her most recent U.S. performance was at this year’s Long Beach Gay Pride Festival where she entertained an enthusiastic Long Beach crowd with her high energy stage performance and her amazing vocals.  She is a blend of 70’s funk and R and B.

We were fortunate enough to catch up with Ms. Brown and ask her a few questions after her main stage performance.

Shout LB:  Is this your first Gay Pride performance?

Divine Brown:  My first here in Long Beach, but my very first Gay Pride performance was last year in Toronto.

Shout LB:   Your music has a seventies sound.

Divine Brown:  Most of the material I performed is off of the album I won a Juno award for and was originally a reflection of that time period, that era the fifties, sixties and seventies.

Shout LB:  For which album did you win the Juno award?

Divine Brown:  The Love Chronicles.

Shout LB: Is that the current album you have out now?

Divine Brown:  Yes, I’m working on a new one but it’s taking me a while because I’m such a versatile artist and I want to reel it in a bit and tailor it to a specific sound but it’s hard for me because I’m so diverse.

Shout LB:   Yes, listening to your music it has many influences and would be hard to pin down and go in one direction.  How would you describe your style?

Divine Brown:  My style is a mixture of different things. That is what makes me unique.  The market place now is geared one way and I don’t believe in that and that’s not me.

Shout LB:  The marketplace does want to put artists in a category, you are either country, hip-hop or pop but if you look at the average person’s iPod it has a variety of artists from Etta James to the back street boys.  No one has just one genre on their iPod.

Divine Brown: Exactly. That’s the interesting factor. What are you really marketing when you look at the market place and who are you marketing to? I guarantee it that people today who go and buy music or down load it does not listen to just one style.   I’m here to cater to people who like a little bit of everything. Gospel to rock, to R and B, to country.

Shout LB:  Have you thought about putting an album out specific to the different genres, country, r and b or rock?

Divine Brown:  My first record was more geared towards an R and B soul pop record which was more acceptable back then.   I would describe it as a retrospective of different time periods.

Shout LB: Who initially pushed you in that musical direction?

Divine Brown:  That was all me.  I wanted to do a soul record because there was something about that sound and at the time is was expected.   I was coming off of the heels of neo-soul  and that sound.   It was early 2000.  That fist record was still unique with elements of funk.  I then evolved into wanting to be more diverse and doing a retrospective of sounds that I grew up listening to that influenced me. Like I said, the range is diverse from Denise Williams to Skeeter Davis.

Shout LB:  Why do you think there is this need to put artists in a box, one category, when everyone listens to a variety of genres?

Divine Brown: Marketing.  It’s what is out there.  People expect that. They don’t expect anything different because that is what they are being fed.

Shout LB:  You are coming from a theater background.  Is that a hard transition?

Divine Brown: No, it absolutely helps me. I can’t just look at one person. It’s about allowing my big energy to get out there.   It allows me to see and speak to everybody.  I enjoy performing. I had an amazing time tonight.

Ms. Brown was whisked away to do a signing and take pictures with her fans.  To find out the latest news on Divine Brown including release dates of upcoming albums and performance dates please check out her Facebook fan page.

After her amazing live performance we were fortunate enough to catch up with Amanda back stage.

Shout LB: “Are the crowds this excited at every concert?

Amanda Perez: “I perform all around the world, Australia, Japan, Singapore.  I have great fans. It’s awesome, God has really blessed me.”

Shout LB: “After sold out concerts and worldwide travel, what’s next?”

Amanda Perez: “I’m going back home for a little while.  Just for a little bit.  I will also be finishing up touches on my new album and it should be coming out in the next couple months.”

Shout LB: “You’ve been in music since you were very young. Have you always known this is what you wanted to do?”

Amanda Perez: “Yes, I use to do intermission for  Sombra Chicana USA, playing the drums and then started the Chicana Chiquitos.  I just wanted to do music.”

Shout LB: “You have had some trouble in the past with drugs but found your way back to your path, back to music.  What advice would you give to kids out there about following their dreams?

Amanda Perez: “It was one of those things, it’s around (drugs), it’s everywhere and it’s so easy and I just wanted to take the easy route out.  Honest to God, I knew it wasn’t for me but I was doing what I had to do to survive. One night I prayed to god and I told him, ‘God you have given me something, you have given me a talent, please just let me be free and let me do this’.  Two weeks later I got signed.”

Amanda Perez: “If you believe in God than you have to stay in school. A lot of kids tend to see what‘s going on in the streets or see other people with the flashy clothes on.  You can get it the right way and I have shown that.  God gave me a gift.”

After our interview, Perez was escorted to her fans who were eagerly awaiting autographs and pictures at her fan booth.  In a testament to how dedicated Amanda is to her fans, she stayed and signed for every one of her fans (there were hundreds!) who waited hours in line for her.    She is an amazing performer and an inspiration to those who dare to follow their dreams.  Look for her new album, “Love don’t make Sense” set to be released in a couple months.

Photos and video below:

Saturday, May 15th

3:15pm- SGI-USA Myo On Taiko
3:55pm- San Diego Kings Club
4:40pm- Century Blue Project
5:25pm- Niko Jaquez
6:05pm- When in Rome
6:50pm- Dreamgirls Revue
7:25pm- Amanda Perez
8:10pm- Divine Brown
9:00pm- A Flock of Seagulls

Saturday, May 16th

3pm-Cheer LA
3:35pm- Thrill the World Dance Group
4:10pm- Daryl Walter
4:45pm- Gabe Lopez
5:10pm- Donovan Marcelle
5:45pm- Billy Dortch
6:15pm- Dreamgirls Revue
6:55pm- The Ones
7:30pm- Board Intros
7:50pm-(“Diva Dynasty” Martha Wash,Crystal Waters, Linda Clifford)
8:55pm- Allison Iraheta

For more information on the Long Beach Pride Entertainment including line up for other stages including Trans Awareness, Country, Feista Caliente, Spotlight, Urban and more visit the Long Beach Pride website.

Martin, 38, told his fans his decision to divulge his sexual orientation marked ”an amazing turning point in my life” and began a few months ago when he began writing his memoirs.   ”From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time.”     Over time, he said, the secret had become ”too heavy for me to keep inside” and he joyfully embraced his gay identity as ”something worth celebrating”.

He said he did not come out earlier because people  had warned he might ruin his career were he to reveal he was gay. He was also worried about the impact on his twin sons, who were conceived with the help of a surrogate mother.  ”Many people told me … ‘All the years you’ve worked and everything you’ve built will collapse’,” he wrote. ”Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage.”

”Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment.”  Fans on his website were mostly supportive with comments praising him for his decision.    But as is to be expected there were many  negative comments as well, such as the one from ”sorry for you”, who said: ”Your soul will burn in hell!”

What will Martin’s (who has been recording primarily in Spanish in recent years) revelation mean for his career?  Only time will tell in the meantime let’s hope he can keep Livin’ La Vida Loca…..

Much like the original Lilith Fair, there will be 11 artists on each date, with only two consistencies per show: the Lilith Local Talent Search Ourstage.com winner who starts the day and headliner Sarah McLachlan. The remaining acts on the line-up are constantly rotating from among more than 80 acts.

The following is the list of dates that go on-sale on Saturday, March 27. For the list of artists playing each city, please click HERE.

  Date              City                  Venue
  —-              —-                  —–
  Fri, Jul 2        Portland, OR          The Amphitheatre at Clark County
  Sat, Jul 3        Seattle, WA           The Gorge Amphitheatre
  Sat, Jul 17       Chicago, IL           First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
  Tues, July 20     Indianapolis, IN      Verizon Wireless Music Center
  Sat, Jul 24       Toronto, ON           Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
  **Tues, July 27   Cleveland, OH         Blossom Music Center
  Sun, Aug 8        Atlanta, GA           Aaron’s Amphitheatre
  Tues, Aug 10      W. Palm Beach, FL     Cruzan Amphitheatre
  (**Tickets go on-sale April 3)

 Nearly 11 years since the last Lilith tour, the excitement surrounding the festival’s return grows daily. Here’s some initial media response to this year’s tour:

“Is this shaping up to be the best tour of the summer?” – Entertainment Weekly

“Well, the rumors were right on, and not only is Lilith Fair coming back, it’s coming back in a huge way, blending all musical styles.” – Rolling Stone

“Lilith Fair: Seriously, you might wanna go to this…”- USA Today “Pop Candy”

“With entries spanning genres from dance-pop to hot country, the festival promises to sound a lot different than your Women in Song Vol. 2 collection.” – Dose.ca

“The female-charged fiesta is better than ever.” – Consequence of Sound

Full list of artists announced so far (visit lilithfair.com to view artist pages):

A Fine Frenzy, Anjulie, Ann Atomic, Anya Marina, Ash Koley, The Bangles, Beth Orton, Brandi Carlile, Butterfly Boucher, Cat Power, Ceci Bastida, Chairlift, Chantal Kreviazuk, Colbie Caillat, Corinne Bailey Rae, Court Yard Hounds, Donna Delory, Elizaveta, Emmylou Harris, Erin McCarley, Erykah Badu, Frazey Ford, The Go-Go’s, Gossip, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Heart, Ima, Indigo Girls, Ingrid Michaelson, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Knapp, Jesca Hoop, Jill Hennessy, Jill Scott, Julia Othmer, Kate Miller-Heidke, Kate Nash Katzenjammer, Kelly Clarkson, Ke$ha, La Roux, Lights, Lissie, Loretta Lynn, Lucy Schwartz, Marina & The Diamonds, Martina McBride, Mary J. Blige, Meaghan Smith, Melissa McClelland, Metric, Miranda Lambert, Miranda Lee Richards, Missy Higgins, Nikki Jean, Nneka, Norah Jones, Priscilla Renea, The Rescues, Rosie Thomas, Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder, Sheryl Crow, Sia, Sugarland, Susan Justice, Suzanne Vega, Tara MacLean, Tegan and Sara, Toby Lightman, Vedera, Vita Chambers, The Submarines, The Weepies, Ximena Sarinana, Zee Avi

Full list of cities revealed so far:

Atlanta, Austin*, Birmingham, Boston, Calgary, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Edmonton, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City*, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis*, Montreal, Nashville*, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, DC and West Palm Beach

  * Non-Live Nation produced cities

To stay up to date on future ticket on sale dates and added performers visit:

www.lilithfair.com
www.facebook.com/lilithfairtour
www.myspace.com/lilithfairtour
http://twitter.com/lilithfair

CPRR is a night of music, art, DIY crafts, fashion and all around fun in Long Beach put on by LGBT artists, queer musicians and gay friendly business in the area for the queer community of the greater Los Angeles area.

On Friday Feb 5, 2010 the 2nd Annual Cut&Paste Rock&Roll will feature queer bands Ask Alice, He’s Not Gay and more along with local vendors from the Long Beach Craft Mafia, Queer Trash (zine/fashion) and other artists performing live body art and crafts for everyone to make and more.

Each attendee will receive the “Queer Survival Kit” which will include free CD’s from gay musicians, coupons to LGBT friendly business in the area, safe sex information, AIDS prevention information, a homemade CPRR coloring book and lots more.

Official line up TBA
Check the CPRR webpage here: www.myspace.com/cutandpasterockandroll

This event is ALL AGES
$10 at the door
$5 with ID 21+

“We’re shocked that Buju Banton, a singer with a long record of performing a song that glorifies the murder of gay people, would be honored with a Grammy nomination, regardless of the artistic merit of any of his work.

Throughout his career, Banton has performed music that promotes a culture of violence against lesbian and gay people; he sings in “Boom, Bye Bye” that “faggots get up and run” when he comes, that “they have to die,” and that he will shoot them in the head or “burn them up bad.” He is completely unrepentant, refuses to stop performing the song, and recently said, “There is no end to the war between me and faggots.”

Banton’s music has helped foster such an anti-gay culture in his home country of Jamaica — where several prominent gay activists and many other LGBT people have been murdered — that Time magazine recently asked, ‘Is Jamaica the most homophobic place on Earth?’ Banton himself was charged with a violent anti-gay hate crime.

It’s an affront to LGBT people, and to all fair-minded people around the world, that Buju Banton was even nominated. We certainly hope the members of the Recording Academy will not bestow the prestigious honor of a Grammy on someone whose music promotes murder.”