Estonians sing en masse to lift spirits dampened by recession

TALLINN, Estonia — More than 20,000 choir singers gathered Sunday to fill the air with positive vibes as Estonians took their minds off a crippling recession in a mass celebration of folk songs.

Beyonce, other artists at Essence Fest pay New Orleans-style tribute to Michael Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — Brass band musicians on trumpet, trombone and tuba belted out “A Closer Walk With Thee” as the Essence Music Festival gave a salute to Michael Jackson befitting a New Orleans jazz funeral procession.

Queen Latifah promotes beauty, empowerment at Essence Music Festival in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — Queen Latifah dropped by the Essence Music Festival on Friday to help celebrate its 15th year of uplifting and empowering the African-American community through issues-filled seminars by day and high-powered musical performances by night.

International film festival opens in Czech Republic, honors Isabelle Huppert

PRAGUE, — The 44th International Film Festival opened Friday in the Czech Republic with a week of events planned, including an award for French actress Isabelle Huppert and a world premiere by Milos Forman.

Beyonce, Lionel Richie headline Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, celebrating balck music

NEW ORLEANS — The celebration of black music and culture at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans will provide comfort to artists and fans alike after a tough week following Michael Jackson’s death.

Beyonce, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker headline 2009 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — When the Essence Music Festival kicks off in New Orleans on Friday, singer Lionel Richie says the celebration of black music and culture will provide some comfort following Michael Jackson’s death.

Iowa State Fair to honor Michael Jackson with butter statue of the pop icon

DES MOINES, Iowa — Michael Jackson is getting a new tribute. And it’s in butter.

Theaters across North America take a nimble approach to the economic downturn

NEW YORK — At the Utah Shakespeare Festival, there’s an “Early Bard” special to entice theatergoers into buying tickets in advance — the farther in the future, the bigger the discount.

Reno’s Artown festival offers something for everyone each day in July, most of it free

RENO, Nev. — With more than 300 free events throughout the month of July, organizers of Reno’s 14th annual Artown festival are promoting this year’s celebration as the perfect vacation destination for families on a budget.

Estelle replaces Lauryn Hill as headline act for Stockholm Jazz Festival

STOCKHOLM — Grammy-winning British singer Estelle will replace Lauryn Hill as the headline act at this year’s Stockholm Jazz Festival.

Danish-Swedish drama ‘Original’ best film at 12th Shanghai International Film Festival

SHANGHAI — The Danish-Swedish drama “Original” won best picture at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival, with its male lead Sverrir Gudnason named best actor for playing the soul-searching son of a mentally ill mother.

Oprah Winfrey charmed by the artistic talents of girls at her South African school

HENLEY-ON-KLIP, South Africa — Oprah Winfrey says the dream she had for the poor girls attending the school she established in South Africa is coming true.

Italian author Claudio Magris to receive German literary prize

BERLIN — Italian author Claudio Magris will receive the top award of the Frankfurt Book Fair this fall, the jury announced Thursday.

Ricky Gervais, Bill Maher, Tracy Morgan to headline NY Comedy Festival

NEW YORK — Ricky Gervais (jer-VAYS’) Tracy Morgan and Bill Maher (MAHR) will headline the sixth annual New York Comedy Festival.

Bonnaroo wraps after memorable performances from Springsteen, Phish, Al Green, Wilco

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — They were chanting “Bruuuuuce” at Bonnaroo all weekend, as Bruce Springsteen performed a three-hour set with the E Street Band one night and joined Phish on stage another.

Trent Reznor says he ‘has to stop,’ performance at Bonnaroo Festival is his last US concert

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor said their performance Sunday at the Bonnaroo Music Festival was their last in the country.

Springsteen wows Bonnaroo with songs for ‘hard times,’ rocking Tennessee event with 3-hour set

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Bruce Springsteen astonished the Bonnaroo crowd with a passionate three-hour performance, offering sweat and rock ‘n’ roll to inspire, he said, in “hard times.”

In rare festival appearance, Bruce Springsteen plays Tennessee’s Bonnaroo

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — They were sure to be chanting “Bruuuuuce” at Bonnaroo Saturday night.

Comedian Robert Smigel, as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, skewers Bonnaroo Music Festival

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Robert Smigel is riding around Bonnaroo, looking for targets. To the 49-year-old comedian behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the hordes at this Tennessee music festival and the 100-plus bands performing here are ripe for parody.

Tanya Tucker reconnects with fans with music festival appearance, new CD

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Country Music Association’s annual festival is supposed to be all about the fans, but Tanya Tucker says the artists get quite a bit out of it, too.

Though technically a Bonnaroo rookie, Phish comes home to the Tenn. music festival

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Phish might technically be a Bonnaroo rookie, but the band’s first performance at the Tennessee music festival had the feeling of a homecoming.

Bonnaroo Music Festival gives stage to African acts, who sing of love and war

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — The Bonnaroo Music Festival is large enough that it contains mini-festivals within itself. On Friday, one of the more vibrant and colorful stages was an African invasion.

Bonnaroo Music Festival kicks off in Tennessee with green ambitions; Jimmy Buffett joins bill

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — The eighth annual Bonnaroo Music Festival got under way Thursday with stormy weather, but it did little to dampen enthusiasm as music’s favorite beach bum unexpectedly joined the lineup.

Bonnaroo, CMA Music Festival kick off Thursday, draw tens of thousands to Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Whether your musical tastes lean toward Nine Inch Nails or Brad Paisley, there’s something for you in Middle Tennessee as both the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester and the CMA Music Festival in Nashville run Thursday through Sunday.

Brad Pitt buys painting by German artist Neo Rauch at world’s leading contemporary art fair

BASEL, Switzerland — Brad Pitt was the star attraction at this year’s edition of the world’s leading contemporary art fair. He was also a customer.

Music festival stimulus package: Bruce Springsteen, Phish big draws at eighth year of Bonnaroo

What’s one way to ensure your mega music festival is well attended in the middle of a recession? Book a reunited Phish.

Lauryn Hill cancels all European tour dates this summer due to health reasons

STOCKHOLM — Festival organizers say hip-hop and R&B singer Lauryn Hill has canceled all tour dates in Europe this summer for health reasons.

Financially struggling Ala. Shakespeare Festival has a hit with play about coach Bear Bryant

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The 26 years since legendary Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant died have not dimmed his fame nor the urge for ‘Bama fans to revel in his story.

African music star who ignited controversy with lyrics performs in NY as part of arts festival

NEW YORK — An African music star who ignited worldwide controversy among fellow Muslims with one of his albums was in the city Saturday to perform at an arts festival aimed at spreading a deeper understanding of Islam.

SC’s Spoleto Festival USA reaches ticket sales target ahead of closing weekend

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Spoleto Festival USA enters its final weekend of concerts, plays and fireworks with good news amid tough economic times: It reached a scaled-back target for ticket sales, unless final events are rained out.

Wales, African-American culture, Latin music at Smithsonian Folklife Festival

WASHINGTON — Wales, Latin music and “The Power of Words in African American Culture” will be the themes of this summer’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Film by fiance of freed journalist Roxana Saberi to debut at Cannes Film Festival

CANNES, France — When Cannes Film Festival organizers chose an Iranian film for their lineup, they couldn’t have guessed how timely it would become.

Curtain ‘Up’: Pixar maestros feel cartoons come of age as animated adventure opens Cannes

CANNES, France — After nine hits and four Academy Awards for films including “WALL-E” and “Ratatouille,” the Pixar Animation gang finally feels it has made it to the grown-ups’ table with “Up,” the first animated movie to open the Cannes Film Festival.

Stars, celebs and cinephiles gather for opening of 62nd Cannes Film Festival

CANNES, France — The evening gowns glittered, the red carpet was unfurled — and the 3-D glasses were at hand as the 62nd Cannes Film Festival opened Wednesday with the soaring animated adventure “Up.”

French icon Huppert follows Penn as jury president at Cannes Film Festival

CANNES, France — The Cannes Film Festival faced a problem this year — how to replace passionate, attention-grabbing actor Sean Penn as jury president?