News …

Reading Festival official promises to address safety issues including crowd spotters on the lookout for potential audience surges – Get Bracknell U.K.

Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson and will.i.am are just a few of the stars appearing at tonight’s big Democratic finale in Denver – AFP

Rufus Wainwright drops plans to compose piece for the Metropolitan Opera – The New York Times (registration may be required)

Hilary Duff’s pop gets 10 days in jail for contempt of court – Associated Press

Hey, kids! Do you know what time it is? It’s time for more news stories about the labels dissing iTunes – The Washington Post / PaidCointent.org

Fans pay tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan 18 years after the guitar slinger’s death – KVUE News / KHOU.com

Views …

Nine Inch Nails in E. Rutherford, New Jersey – ” … a two-hour audiovisual, senses-blurring assault that made most arena-rock shows seem lazy and locked in the past.” – The Star-Ledger / NJ.com

Young Jeezy in NYC – “A taste of witty, lean triumphalism.” – The New York Times (registration may be required)

The Wombats in Seattle – “Pure indie-rock energy washed over the crowd, and for a few minutes it was total bliss.” – Seattle Weekly / Reverb

Daughtry in Allentown, Pennsylvania – ” … a genuine crowd-pleaser.” – The Morning Call

Donna Summer in Windsor, Ontario – ” … showed she has hardly lost a step since those glory years of the late-1970s when she reigned as the Queen of Disco.” – The Windsor Star / Canada.com

Backstreet Boys in Sudbury – “The two-hour concert was chock full of hits such as ‘I Want It That Way,’ ‘Incomplete,’ ‘Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),’ ‘As Long As You Love Me, I’ll Never Break Your Heart’ and ‘Backstreet’s Back.’ – NorthernLife.ca

They Say It’s Their Birthday … (Or so says Associated Press)

Billy Grammer is 83

Wayne Osmond (The Osmonds) is 57

Shania Twain is 43

Jack Black (Tenacious D) is 39

Max Collins (Eve 6) is 30

LeAnn Rimes is 26