Photo: Rodrigo Pena/Audio File blog -- Rock fans throw their hands up for Broken Social Scene at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio April 16, 2011

Thousands of music fans and art lovers are enjoying a hot weekend at the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. If you think it’s been hot here — this festival is going in the deep desert town of Indio in the Coachella Valley.  

Photo: Vanessa Franko/Audio File blog -- Singer Erykah Badu performed at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio April 16, 2011

Despite some technical difficulties, Grammy winning artist, Erykah Badu, rocked out with fans at Coachella on the Empire Polo Grounds yesterday. Music critic, Vanessa Franko, is following the events, the artists, the fans, celebrity sightings, and more in her blog Audio File. A lot of great Coachella photos as well on Franko’s blog.

Photo: Vanessa Franko/The Press-Enterprise 4/18/10 — Sly Stone on stage at Coachella

The unpredictable rocker Sly Stone did show at Coachella last night, but his appearance was a disappointment. Stone showed up late, which he is known to do, and did more jabbering than singing.  Music Blogger Vanessa Franko caught the Stone set and reports about it here. The Inland SoCal journalist has several posts and great photos from the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on her blog. 

I remember seeing Sly (Sylvester Stewart) Stone back when he could still rock the house and “…take ya higher.” Those were the good old days.  

Rock festival groove

Photo: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times  4/17/10

Music lovers groove to the beat at the huge Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival up in the Riverside County desert community of Indio today. The Los Angeles Times is reporting record-breaking crowds of 75,000 a day since the festival kicked-off on Friday, which included performances by Jay-Z and Beyoncé.  

Legendary rocker Sly Stone is scheduled to play the festival on Sunday. A notorious no-show, folks are wondering if Stone will make an appearance. Some of the other performers have been delayed or had to cancel because of that big volcanic ash cloud over Europe. More photos and article on the festival here.

A milestone at Dodger Stadium

Photo: Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers 4/16/10

Dodger Andre Ethier belted his first-career grand slam during the second inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. Ethier was on a roll. He hit a homer in the first inning as well. Dodgers went on to beat the Giants 10-to-8 in the first of a three-game series.

Michelle Obama on tour

Photo: Samantha Appleton/White House  4/14/10

In her first solo international trip, First Lady Michelle Obama visited Mexico and Haiti this week. More photos of the first lady in Mexico on the White House website.  Dr. Jill Biden, the Veepee’s wife, joined the first lady for the trip. Click here for Dr. Biden’s White House blog post about their stop in Haiti. And more photos, too. 

Grammys at the White House

Photo: Pete Souza/White House 4/14/10 

President Obama and Country Music Star Garth Brooks shared a moment at the White House on Wednesday, April 14, 2010. In the Oval Office, Brooks was presented with the “Grammy on the Hill” award for his leadership in advancing the rights of music makers. Also, the president received his better-late-than-never 2007 Grammy for the best spoken word album for his bestseller, “The Audacity of Hope.”  

I got e-mails this week from Dee Dee Brown about some upcoming soulful events in the Southland. 

The 4th Annual Summer Soul Jam will be kicking up a groove with a talented line-up on Saturday, August 16, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Par Three Golf Course in Compton.

Scheduled to perform are Grammy-winning singer Jody Watley, Anthony Hamilton, Johnny Gill of New Edition, Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band, and “American Idol” music director/music producer, Rickey Minor and his band.

Also, the get down and boogie concert will pay tribute to three community icons who recently passed away: singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes, comedian Bernie Mac, and community activist, “Bo” Taylor.

For more information and ticket prices check the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper website. The Sentinel is one of the co-sponsors along with KJLH radio station and the City of Compton.

 Concert under the stars at The Grove.

On Wednesday, August 20, at 8 p.m. The Grove in Los Angeles will be rocking to the sounds of The Temptations Revue featuring one of the last surviving original members of the Motown group, Dennis Edwards.

The Temptations Revue will be singing some classics like “My Girl” and “Get Ready.”

The concert is one of a summer series presented at The Grove.

Oh, and it’s free!  More details on  The Grove website.

Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach / Google file photo                                                               

Also, arriving by e-mail today, a report from South Bay activist and social diva, Dee Dee Brown about a big weekend event.

“Yesterday I attended the Bayou Festival @ The Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach with my husband and friends. The Bayou Festival had all the trappings of a New Orleans picnic. From the food to the traditional Zydeo music. ”

“… we experienced the soulful sounds of Linda Hopkins, who belted out the Blues like no other. Linda is 83 years young and dances like she was 20. She sang “Down Home Blues” and brought the house down.”