Beyond excited!  I’m packing-up and heading out to New York City for a few days to capture the Festivities at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which always has been a dream of mine to experience.  Like the rest of us I won’t be inside, but still I’ll be admiring the Fashion from the outside and sure to snap lots of Photos and hopefully meet some of my Idols!  The theme this year is Punk and hosting is Rooney Mara, while Beyoncé will act as Honourary Chair.

Things will be a bit quiet for the next couple days, but be sure to check back upon my return for what surely will be lots of excitement!  Expected this year are the likes of Amanda Seyfried, Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Rihanna, Florence Welch, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lawrence, Cara Delevingne, Kanye West and several, several more.

If you’d like to join-in on the fun at watch the Met Gala Red Carpet, be sure to stream it live 7:00 PM EST on Monday, May 6, 2013.  Click here to Vogue‘s Live Streaming.

See you when I’m back!  I’ll be uploading Photos on my Instagram and Twitter in the interim, so check there for the latest!

(Photo credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Collective Concerts and Mr. Will Wong want to give Toronto Readers a chance to win Passes to see Mercury Prize-winning, BRIT Award-nominated Act The xx. After gaining widespread exposure recently in these parts producing for Drake, getting sampled by Rihanna and even remixing for Adele, this Electronic-Indie Pop Trio now are touring in support of their Club-inspired latest Disc, Coexist.

The xx will be touring with Supporting Act Grizzly Bear in Toronto on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at TD Echo Beach and we’re taking Readers to the Show for free!

To enter, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before May 1, 2013. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/thexx @MRWILLW wants me to #win Passes to see #THExx live in #Toronto on 6/6/13! #concert #giveaway

Good luck!

Watch The xx perform their Single Angels at CBC‘s Studio Q below:

(Photo credit: XL Recordings | Video credit: CBC)

Acclaimed Music Video Director Sophie Muller‘s (Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé, Shakira) first Video of 2013 happens to be the second Single Stay, from Rihanna‘s latest Disc, Unapologetic.  The Track, which Rihanna performed last night at the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards also features the Vocals of hotly-tipped Newcomer Mikky Ekko whom duetted with her last night.

Perhaps it was Label issues or perhaps it was just an awkward fit to have relatively unknown Ekko appear in the Video, but all we see here is a ponderous Rihanna in a bathtub – a couple close calls with the coverage –  in all likelihood thinking about Chris Brown.

Watch the Video in full below:

Nashville-based Singer/Songwriter Mikky Ekko is on the verge of something huge and if he looks rather familiar, that would be beacuse he’s featured on Rihanna‘s latest Single, Stay. Ekko, whose birthname is John Sudduth, was introduced to the World last night, duetting with the Barbadian-born Pop Princess at the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards. That Track currently sits at number 58 on the Canadian Hot 100 and you can expect that to improve.

Ekko, just released the Video for his latest Single, Pull Me Down, a beautiful slow-burning Ballad which is at once will appeal to Fans of Gavin DeGraw and Gotye.  Insiders already are tipping him as perhaps 2013’s greatest Breakthrough Act and we just may see him next year in-the-running for Best New Artist.

Watch the Video below for Pull Me Down:

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)

The Music Industry’s Who’s Who gathered at Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight for the 55th annual GRAMMY Awards. Ohio-formed Band The Black Keys came away the Evening’s top Winners with a total four Grammys tonight including Best Rock Album, El Camino and Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance with Lonely Boy. Dan Auerbach who comprises one half of the Duo, won Best Producer, Non-Classical also; prior the Band had won three Grammys.

Winning coveted Song of the Year were New York-based Newcomers  fun. featuring Janelle Monáe with their Hit Single, We Are Young. Oddsmakers at Ladbrokes nailed it, making the Tune the odds-on choice to win in the Category.  The Trio also won Best New Artist.

Australian Sensation Gotye also won big tonight for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with his massive Hit Somebody That I Used to Know (ft. Kimbra), while also taking home Best Alternative Music Album for stateside debut, Making Mirrors.  Typically, the Winner of Song of the Year wins Record of the Year, so this was a breaking of  the mold.

British Folk Sensations Mumford & Sons won Album of the Year with their Disc Babel and also, Best Long Form Music Video for Big Easy Express.  The Disc is also nominated for Album of the Year at the forthcoming BRIT Awards in their native UK.

Although she didn’t win Song of the Year with her hit What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger), a recently-engaged Kelly Clarkson wins her third Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for her  2012 Disc, Stronger.   Equally a Powerhouse Vocalist, Adele won her ninth Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance with Set Fire to the Rain from former Album of the Year, 21.

Jay-Z and Kanye West as their Duo Watch the Throne won three Grammys for their Collaboration, N***s in Paris for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance and also No Church in the Wild (ft. Frank Ocean and The Dream) for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Ocean also won for Best Urban Contemporary Album with his Channel Orange, while Mrs. Carter herself Beyoncé, won Best Traditional R&B Performance with Love on Top. Toronto’s Drake was awarded Best Rap Album for Take Care, his sophomore effort.

American Idol Winner Carrie Underwood added two more Grammys to her collection, winning Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for Blown Away.

Check-out some of the fashion from the Grammys tonight below!  Clearly Rihanna was the Belle of the Ball in Azzedine Alaia.

 See the full list of Winners here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Fantastic day for Tennis Fans as retired former World #1 Tennis Player Andy Roddick made his way north to Toronto from Dallas for an Exhibition Match this weekend at Air Canada Centre.  Here to support her Husband of course is stunning Model/Actress Brookyln Decker who even with v. little Make-up still looked stunning upon arrival this afternoon.

Both Husband and Wife were super-nice to stop for a quick Snap, especially after a really early day. It was charming hearing Roddick call Decker by her Nickname, “Brook” as he called her over to take a Photo.  Later in the evening, she joined Celebrity Blogger Jared Eng (Just Jared)  and her Battleship Co-Star Rihanna at her 777 Tour Secret Show, held at Danforth Music Hall.  See their Backstage Snap here.

Roddick is set for a Match-up against Canada’s Finest, Milos Raonic in the Sport Chek Face-off, set to take place tomorrow night, while Greats Serena Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska are to be pitted against one another on the Undercard.  What makes this Event amazing also is that Fans will have a chance to interact with these Champs with two Autograph Signings being held tomorrow.  A first is set to take place with Williams, Roddick and Raonic at 12:45 PM, Toronto Eaton Centre Sport Chek, with a second to be held 6:15 PM with all four Players at Air Canada Centre.

Click here for more Information on the Event.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

She’s outdone herself AGAIN. Rihanna has just released the brand new Video for her latest Single Diamonds right in-time for her Toronto visit next Thursday, November 15, 2012.  The Princess of Pop will be on a whirlwind Tour around the Globe in support of upcoming Disc, Unpologetic, on her 777 Promo Tour which will see 150 members of the Media (from 82 countries), Friends and Fans fly aboard with her. A Private Concert at an undisclosed location is scheduled at each Stop-off City.

I particularly love the Water sequences and the wild Horses here are a powerful touch.  The Video for Diamonds balances all four elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire and feels harmonious. And did I mention how stunning Rihanna looks with her Asymmetrical Hair? This is my favourite look of hers since her Good Girl Gone Bad Era. Anthony Mandler directs the gorgeous and cinematic Clip.

Watch the Video in full below:

Universal Music Canada releases Unapologetic on November 19, 2012.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

Perhaps known better for his Collaborations, brilliant Producer/Singer/Songwriter Calvin Harris is in Toronto after a stay in New York, here promoting his latest Disc 18 Months, from Sony Music Canada.  The Album already has topped both the UK and Scottish Album Charts, seeing a release Stateside just last week.

The 28-year-old Scotsman exploded onto the Pop Music Scene internationally back in 2008 with Hits The Girls and Acceptable in the 80s and already is gaining heavy Airplay for his new Single Feel So Close, which has achieved triple-Platinum sales in Canada already.  18 Months pairs Harris with some outstanding Vocalists including Kelis, Ellie Goulding, Florence Welch (Florence & The Machine), Tinie Tempah, Ne-Yo and of course his international Smash Hit with Rihanna, We Found Love, is featured also.

Harris earlier today made visits to Virgin Radio 99.9, KISS 92.5, FLOW 93.5 and Z103.5, in addition to an appearance on MuchMusic‘s New.Music.Live where tons of Fans got Snaps with the handsome and friendly Talent.  Click here to read more on that.

Watch the Official Video for Calvin Harris’ Feel So Close below:

Order 18 Months on iTunes right here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong | Video credit: Sony Music)

Is it really true?  Universal Music really is going big for the upcoming release of Rihanna‘s seventh album and included on the 777 Promotional Tour are London, Paris, Toronto, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm and New York.  As reported by The Sun (UK),  Rihanna will be flying on a private jet – I’m assuming a Boeing 777 –  from City to City and in addition to her Entourage, some lucky Fans will on-board too witnessing an in-flight Performance!  Thanks to sharp-eyed Reader Monika for sending this along.

This Strategy actually sounds somewhat like an initiative Drake ran with Virgin Airlines a couple years back which I attended here in Toronto, but of course this is much more blinged-out! As is the case with previous visits to the City, Rihanna has spent some time with her famous Toronto Friend. Wonder if they’ll be reuniting once again?

Rihanna‘s Unapologetic is due on November 16, 2012.