Odds & Ends: Alt-J, Yasalam Festival

Alt-J slots a 2015 show at NYC’s MSG … The Who, Armin van Buuren and Pharrell Williams will headline this year’s series of after-race concerts during the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November.

Photo: John Davisson

Lollapalooza, Grant Park, Chicago, Ill.

How many shows on Alt-J’s upcoming tour of the U.S. and Canada are sold out? It would be easier to count the number of gigs still on sale. Minus festival appearances at San Francisco’s Treasure Island, Las Vegas’ Life Is Beautiful and Austin’s Fun Fun Fun extravaganza, Alt-J’s schedule is showing a total of three headlining gigs that are still selling tickets.

Now the British indie band is stepping up to arenas. Alt-J, along with electronic rock duo Phantogram will play Madison Square Garden in New York March 30. But you gotta move quickly on this one because tickets went on sale today.

Since 2009 the Yasalam festival in Abu Dhabi has presented the big names during the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and this year is no exception. With drivers putting their pedals to the metal Nov. 13-23, the evenings will be filled with music. Here’s the schedule:

Nov. 20 – Tamer Hosny, Carole Samaha, Fayez Al Saeed, Mohammed Assaf
Nov. 21 – Armin van Buuren
Nov. 22 – Pharrell Williams
Nov. 23 – The Who

Tickets are on sale now. Click here for more information.