There is in everyone, a touch of the romantic, nostalgia for smoked filled dens, the clicking of wine glasses, and melancholy music filling the air.  Wherever he is at, B.B.  King gives you this feeling, bringing a definition to rhythm and blues that few have been able to rival.  For over sixty years, he has been hailed the king, occasionally playing with other blues icons, such as Gladys Knight, Randy Crawford and John Mayall.

His style is distinctly related to his guitar, a deeply instrumental approach, finding chords where one would have thought none existed, hanging on notes that linger in an evening air saturated with the ghosts of the fabulous era of rhythm and blues.  The music is haunting yet vibrant, bringing back lonely nights and the throbbing of the heartstrings.  His technique has influenced some of the world’s greatest music performers, including Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Jeff Beck.

B.B. King mixes traditional blues with jazz, pop, swing and jump to create his own unique and highly personal sound.  The master of electric guitar was inducted into the rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.  Rolling Stone listed him as number seven of the top one hundred greatest guitarists of all time, and Gibson’s ranked him as number seventeen.

B.B. King has performed tirelessly throughout his career, delivering an average of 250-300 concerts a year.  At the age of 87, he’s still going strong, giving fans one of the most memorable of musical experiences.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to hear the King live, now would be a very good opportunity to do it.  It’s not just a step into musical entertainment at its best, but music that spans the years, bringing with it the history of blues, jazz and rock and roll development.  Classical and sophisticated, yet plaintive and simple, it’s as easy to listen to with your blue jeans on as in a suit and tie ensemble.  Find out why B.B. King is considered one of the greatest blues players and guitarists that ever lived, while deepening your appreciation of music.

There are few things more magical to a child than Christmas. If you are looking for some new ways to make memories with your children this holiday season you may want to check out “The Heart of Christmas” show playing at the Crown Theatre in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

This is a fast-paced show that is sure to keep the attention of little ones and grownups alike. You’ll see a light show, hear songs, see costumes, and really get into the holiday spirit. This is a show all about the real meaning of Christmas, and it helps us all to stop and take a moment to really enjoy the season with our loved ones.

There will be snow fluttering across the stage, funny and touching Christmas songs will be sung, a Grinch will appear, and 30 dancers, some in reindeer costumes, will parade across the stage, there will even be a Christmas Elvis! You’ll see a live full manger scene, you will hear “Silent Night” being performed, and the main act, the Voices of the Heart singers will belt out your favorite Christmas songs. Kids of all ages are sure to love this fun, often touching show. This is truly a variety show with something for everyone.

If you are looking to do a little charity this season, you can also start by seeing this show. All the weekend proceeds go to children’s charities in the area. So far the show as donated over $350,000 dollars to charity! The funds go to Friends of Children Foundation, Fayetteville Autism, The Child Advocacy Center, and more. Not only do you get a fantastic show, you also get to give the gift of charity to needy boys and girls, and perhaps teach a good lesson to your own little ones.

Those in, or who will be visiting, the Fayetteville area should book their tickets early as this beloved show can sell out quick! The scheduled dates for the performances this year are November 24th and 25th. Start your season out right by seeing The Heart of Christmas show with your loved ones.

Step into Mill Town Music Hall on Saturday, October 27, to see Smoke on the Mountain, and you’ll instantly step back in time to 1938 and become a member of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. If that doesn’t seem strange enough for you, wait until Paster Oglethrope and the Singing Sanders Family try to bring you into the “modern” world!

It’s the first annual Saturday Night Sing at the Baptist Church, and you’re invited to join them! Paster Oglethrope has brought along a family of bluegrass singers in order to bring a refreshing twist to the usual doldrums of church. He thinks the Sanders Family are the ones to help him do the job, but soon finds out that the family might be more than he can handle. And they might be more than you can handle, too!

It’s laughs for a congregation of all ages, as the Sanders Family cousins give their fiddle, bass, guitar, and mandolin a real workout singing some of the best gospel songs you’ve ever heard. Church in the Wildwood, Wonderful Time Up There, No Tears in Heaven, Jesus is Mine, and of course, Smoke on the Mountain are all just a few of the tunes you’ll hear.

“Smoke on the Mountain” is the most-often revived off-Broadway show, so don’t miss your one-day chance to see it! It’s fun for the entire family!

Chances are, you saw The Dark Knight Rises and were blown away by the spectacle that was Batman on screen. However, Batman has been a comic book icon long before he was ever a movie star or a TV series hero. And we’re guessing that you still haven’t seen Batman as imagined by Broadway! With the success of the Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark musical, not to mention those Jim Henson Muppets and Disney figure skaters that make it look easy, perhaps it was only a matter of time before the caped crusader would get his own “live” production.

What can you expect from Batman Live? This touring stage show is not just a dramatic journey into the mind of Batman. It is also a production that gives kids and adults what they’re expecting from seeing such a popular myth come to life. Expect circus acts, stage magic show elements and non-stop action!

The production debuted in Manchester of the UK last year, but it was so popular that it found touring interest in the United States, not to mention throughout England and Ireland. In the summer of 2012, it finally came to the states and made a big splash.

The story follows the origins of Batman as well as Robin, who had a stint in the circus. From there, the plot unravels and we also get a glimpse into Batman’s psyche and origin. Alfred, Commissioner Gordon and all your favorites are in the stage play and you get to watch as pivotal comic book continuity scenes take place, such as the death of Robin’s family, as well as a modern day crime plot by Arkham’s notorious inmates.

Expect to see all of your favorite villains as well as heroes, such as the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Riddler, Scarecrow, Harley Quinn and even Catwoman. It may not be as dark as the Christopher Nolan directed film, but the stage play is true to the comic right down to the scowl of the Dark Knight himself. The show will be touring in major American cities throughout the rest of 2012. Show your love of Gotham and see Batman in person!

Jason Aldean is one of the biggest country artists that you can find hanging out on the charts right now, and he’s taking his show on the road with a “stadium tour” next year. But this isn’t just any tour, and these aren’t just any stadiums. Although not every venue will be at an actual stadium, those that are were all chosen for very specific reasons.

As Aldean tells it himself, it all began in Georgia. “Being from Georgia, and being a big [University of Georgia] fan, this was number one on my list, but they’ve never had a show here, so it was one of those things. ‘That would be really cool, but they’ve never done one before and I don’t know if they’ll let us do it.’ It started from there. This is probably the most excited I’ve ever been about any of my shows.”

And there’s a lot to be excited about. Aldean is in fact playing in Georgia, on April 13, 2013; and the other stadiums all “places that were special to me,” said Aldean. Those places are stadiums such as Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, the latter of which will go down in the history books. It will be the first time a country singer has ever played there when he takes the stage on July 13, 2013. He’ll play Wrigley Field a week later, on July 20.

These are the only three dates that have been announced so far, with Aldean visiting each city to announce the stop.

When the Muse announced European dates for their tour over four months ago, it seemed that North American dates were never coming. Now though, fans in Canada and the United States can relax. The Muse are on their way, and shows will start on this side of the pond beginning as early as January 21, 2013!

Just a week after performing in Japan, the Muse will head over to the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California on January 21. From there they’ll jump back and forth between Canada and the States, with the North American leg currently including 21 stops in total. Some of the major stops along the way include the Staples Center, the United Center, and Madison Square Garden. Canadian stops include Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, and Calgary.

But, even with all the stops, the Muse says that there may even be more added. “Stay tuned for additional tour announcements,” the band says on their official website. But, just what can fans expect for those shows? The band says that they want to turn away from the laptop-generated shows that are becoming the mainstay of so many touring artists.

“People will pay money to see someone with a laptop who’s done all the experimentation at home and pretty much just hits the spacebar,” lead singer Matt Bellamy recently told Telegraph. “There is a part of us that is definitely clinging to the organic, human side of music, to honor our friendship and the fact that we want to play together in a room.”

Tickets for Muse’s North American leg go on sale this Friday, October 12 so mark your calendars! And to find out where and when the Muse will be in your area, check out all the tour dates on the StubPass.com Muse tickets page.

Off-Broadway shows get a bad rap. They’re not eligible for Tony awards, they’re usually not filled with huge star names, and well, let’s face it. They’re not on Broadway. But these are rather poor arguments that, should you heed them, will make you miss some really great shows. Here’s a lineup of the best that Off-Broadway is offering this fall. And they’re all must-see shows!

Bullet for Adolf
Written by Woody Harrelson, this is the story about two men who strike up an unlikely friendship in Houston before meeting up with a New Yorker who’s obviously running from something. Those who love a true story will love this one as it’s based on actual people (whose names have been changed.)

Sleep No More
If you love shakin’ up Shakespeare, Sleep No More is the show that you have got to go see! It’s an adaptation of Macbeth but, is that a Chelsea warehouse you’re seeing? You bet it is, and this setting is just one of the things that will let you know you’re seeing The Bard the way you never have before. And if Macbeth isn’t really your thing — in any form — go for the bar anyways. It’s open on the rooftop of The McKittrick Hotel after every show!

Roman Tragedies
And if you really love Shakespeare, you can’t miss Roman Tragedies. This play blends the best of Bill, spinning Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus into one giant six-hour play. Think you’ll feel restless during that time? Don’t worry about it. You can stretch your legs when you walk up on stage to buy a drink!

Which, if any, of these shows will you be going to see?

Who ever thought that a simple love story, that was clearly the underdog from the start, could have gained such global attention that it goes from Broadway to London, with rave reviews all the while? That’s just what happened with “Once” as it prepares to go to London’s West End for showings at the Phoenix starting just after Christmas.

When “Once” first opened off-Broadway in 2011, it received some harsh reviews, with The New York Times being especially vocal about lackluster performances, and musical sequences that just didn’t quite hit the mark. Other critics thought that the show had potential, and that it could perhaps be a Broadway hit. The next year it was moved to the Great White Way.

Immediately upon opening on Broadway, it could be seen that “Once” was going to be a smash hit. During its time there it received 11 Tony Award nominations in 2012, and won eight of them. Ben Brantley, who had written the original review of the off-Broadway show, reviewed it once again during its opening night on Broadway. During that review he was forced to admit that “what is essentially the same production feels as vital and surprising as the early spring that has crept up on Manhattan.”

“Once” will begin playing at the Phoenix in London following “Goodnight Mister Tom,” which is set to run for nine weeks throughout Christmas.

The show will be directed by John Tiffany and choreographed by Steven Hoggett, the same creative team that was behind the critically acclaimed “Black Watch.” The love story has been written by Irish playwright Enda Walsh.

Time goes by so quickly, especially in the fast-paced technology driven world of today.  Sometimes it is just nice to kick back and listen to some nostalgic tunes.  The Killers at first glance shouldn’t be “nostalgic”…until you realize the band formed over 11 years ago!  The good news is that they are performing all your favorite songs, as well as some new hits off their current album, combining the best of the past and the future.

The Killers newest album is entitled Battle Born and was released on September 18, 2012.  This is their fourth studio album together and fans are already loving their newest songs.  The band took a hiatus at the beginning of 2010, and the time away certainly gave them some inspiration.  They came back on tour and now have some fresh new ideas.

The first single of the album is entitled “Runaways”.  Critics are claiming the song stirs up nostalgia, with an 80’s rock vibe, and yet is the closest they have come to their original sounds.  Overall, reviews have been positive.  Other tracks you are sure to hear blasting on the radio (or on an iPod near you) include “Miss Atomic Bomb”, “Flesh and Bone”, “Here With Me” and namesake track “Battle Born”.

There is even better news: a tour has already been announced and tickets are already on sale.  Stops include California, Colorado, New York, Utah, Nevada and more.  They also make their way up for a few shows in Canada as well.  The first show is scheduled for September, and the tour will run until the end of December, which doesn’t give fans much time to snag tickets, and events are already selling out fast.

Along with their newest hits, the band will be playing old favorites.  You will hear “Mr.  Brightside”, “When You Were Young”, “Read My Mind”, and more being sung live and in person.  Be the first to hear the band play their newest songs live, and enjoy a little nostalgic mind trip as they play your old favorites.  Get your tickets online today and don’t miss out seeing The Killers when they come to your neck of the woods.

Chicago is a city filled with wonderful experiences.  If you live in the city, or plan to visit in the fall of 2012, then don’t miss out on an amazing event for the eyes and ears the Joffery Ballet: Human Landscapes.

This is a company that is known worldwide for its amazing visions of dance.  Human Landscapes is sure not to disappoint.  It is broken into three distinct pieces: Forgotten Land, Pretty Ballet, and The Green Table.  It is being held at the Auditorium Theatre at 50 East Congress Way in Chicago, Illinois.

Forgotten Land is choreographed by the great Jiri Kylian, with the music of Benjamin Britten.  This dance has been inspired by a painting by Edvard Munch.  This painter was most famous for the painting “The Scream”, but the dance was actually inspired by another of his works, this one of women on a beach.  It deals with themes of motion, how the waves of the beach manage to erode the shore and also renew it.  It is sure to be a fluid and enchanting treat for the eyes.

Pretty Ballet has been choreographed by James Kudelka, with music by Bohuslay Martinu.  It is set in four movements and can be hard to put into words.  It truly is something to be experienced firsthand.  Watch as moods themselves take the stage, seem the change and flow before your eyes, see the dreams, see the framework of ballet, see the very muse at the heart of it.

The Green Table is choreographed by Kurt Jooss, with the music of Fredrick Cohen.  This is a dramatic piece with an anti-war message at its heart as it shows the high price paid by all that engage in it.  This year marks the 80th anniversary of the piece, but it is timeless as the message is as true today as it was in 1932.  It is a stunning dance, and one not soon to be forgotten.

Joffery Ballet: Human Landscapes is sure to be a highlight of your fall this year.  Book your tickets early as the show is only scheduled to run until the end of October, and the best seats are sold out quickly!