Alex Gray, the concert promoter for the waterfront concerts at Bold Point in East Providence, pled guilty to domestic assault charges in 2017 and as a result has lost his permit to operator concerts with the City of Portland, Maine. The Portland Press Herald first reported the story.
The victim Erica Cole reported head injuries and a broken jaw.
The East Providence concerts are linked to two companies RI Waterfront Events and the sister company Newport Waterfront Events.
Gray’s ties to the East Providence venue are deep — he is the promoter. And, in 2017 the licenses to operate the East Providence venue were transferred to his control.
His corporation in Rhode Island, Waterfront Concerts, LLC’ s agent is Katherine Spaziano, according to documents filed with the RI Secretary of State’s Office.
Spaziano is a top person in the Rhode Island companies — she is the director of ticketing and guest services for RI Waterfront Events and Newport Waterfront events. Those documents were filed with the state just ten-days ago.
In the courtroom, Alex stated “we fundamentally disagree what’s on the police report”. After pleading guilty in court, Alex proceeded to defend his innocence outside of the courthouse, saying: “If I hit someone's head five-to-ten times, I would not be here for a deferred dismissal, I’d be here for a murder charge.” The truth is that I didn’t even write my own statement. A Portland police officer recorded a statement on my behalf, as I shook uncontrollably on a hospital bed.
The officer took my statement at Maine Medical Center, where an ambulance brought me by request of the police and paramedics. According to the police report, they were concerned of a “closed head injury, and a fractured jaw” after observing redness and swelling to the right side of my head. Since being assaulted, I’ve undergone dental work on my right side because of my now offset bite. My dental work, along with my ambulance and emergency room bills, still weigh on me financially as I write this letter.
I spent weeks after the assault homeless, washing my one outfit and only pair of underwear in a sink. I slept on a couch for seven months, unable to provide myself with even the necessities. Over the past year, I've started from scratch to rebuild a life, and I'm proud of everything I've accomplished in that time.
East Providence City Manager did not respond to a request for comment.
In Portland, the decision to strip Gray’s company of the city’s contract and licenses to operate the summer events is not ironclad as Gray was replaced by Live Nation — the dominant concert promotion company in the region and headed in New England by Don Law. “The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to contract with Live Nation for the concert series on the city-owned Maine State Pier this summer even though the move will not necessarily keep a local promoter who pleaded guilty to domestic violence assault from being involved in the shows,” reported the Portland Press Herald in April.
Related Slideshow: 25 Must See Spring & Summer Concerts in New England - 2018
Hall of Famer Jackson Browne is coming to PPAC in May.
In his career, Browne has sold over 18 million albums in the U.S.
He is known for songs such as "These Days", "The Pretender", "Running on Empty", "Lawyers in Love", "Doctor My Eyes", "Take It Easy", "For a Rocker", and "Somebody's Baby" and others.
Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2007
Jason Aldean brings his "High Noon Neon Tour" to the Xfinity Center.
Aldean is celebrating the release of his eighth album titled "Rearview Town."
In his career, he has seen 19 singles reach #1 on the on either the Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts with "Why", "She's Country", "Big Green Tractor", "The Truth", "Don't You Wanna Stay" (a duet with Kelly Clarkson), "Dirt Road Anthem," among others.
In 2017. Aldean won the Entertainer of the Year Award at the ACM Awards.
Latin American Music Festival at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet
Providence, RI
A celebration of Latin culture that showcases the music, art, food, and dance styles of countries like Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, and many more.
The festival will be filled with live performances from dance groups, musicians, and vocalists who are ready to put on a show.
Live music, dance, food, and visual art installations transform the Providence. Dozens of music performances play over a four-day event. Multi-art installations take-over of public spaces, parks, and outdoor stages in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Artists from across the globe perform.
Formally one half of the legendary duo "Simon & Garfunkel," Paul Simon is bringing his solo tour to the TD Garden.
Simon has earned sixteen Grammys for his solo and collaborative work, including three for Album of the Year (Bridge Over Troubled Water, Still Crazy After All These Years, Graceland), and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
Music legends Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill are bringing their Soul2Soul World Tour to Mohegan Sun this summer.
The tour is one of the highest grossing tours in country music history.
Tim McGraw
McGraw has won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, 10 American Music Awards, and three People's Choice Awards.
He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
Faith Hill
Hill has won five Grammy Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, six American Music Awards, and several other awards.
In honor of Bob Marley, the Wailers are continuing to tour and celebrate his legacy.
There are more than 250 million Bob Marley & The Wailers recordings sold, including 1977’s Exodus, anointed Best Album of the Century in 1999 by Time Magazine, and “One Love,” named Song of the Millennium that same year by BBC.
Country music star Luke Bryan is coming to Fenway Park.
Bryan released his latest album titled "What Makes You Country," on December 8 of 2017. The album features the hit single "Light it Up."
To date, Bryan has sold more than 7 million albums and 27 million singles worldwide.
Bryan, who's career who began in 2000, is best known for his number on singles " I Don't Want This Night to End," "Drunk on You," and "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye."
Chris Brown is bringing his “Heartbreak on a Full Moon Tour” to the Xfinity Center.
Brown has sold more than 100 million albums and singles worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists.
He has won several awards, including 14 BET Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards, and 5 Soul Train Music Awards. According to Billboard, Brown has the seventh most Hot 100 entries on the chart with 87.
Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers and Los Lobos at Indian Ranch
Webster, MA
Hornsby's music has been recognized on a number of occasions with awards, including the 1987 Grammy Award for Best New Artist with Bruce Hornsby and the Range, the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, and the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
He also collaborated with Grateful Dead and was a member of the band from September 1990 to March 1992, playing over 100 shows during that period.
The Foo Fighters are bringing their "Concrete and Gold Tour" to Fenway Park for a two-night stay.
The Foo Fighters recently released their ninth album titled "Concrete & Gold," which reached #1 in the U.S.
Over the course of the band's career, four of their albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album. Overall, they have sold over 12 million copies in the United States alone.
They are known for songs such as "Best of You," "Learn to Fly," "Times Like These," and more.
Taylor Swift is coming to Gillette Stadium for three shows this summer as part of her “Reputation” Stadium Tour.
Swift is the winner of 10 Grammy Awards, five Guinness World Records, one Emmy Award, 21 Billboard Music Awards, 12 Country Music Association Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards, and one Brit Award.
She is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums—including 27.8 million in the US—and 130 million single downloads.
She was named Time Person of the Year in 2017 as part of the “Silence Breakers.”
The 2018 Newport Jazz Festival will run from August 3 to August 5 at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The festival will show off over 50 individual jazz ensembles on four stages including performances at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Fort Adams State Park.
The festival will feature artists such as George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Roy Hargrove, Alicia Olatuja and more.
The tour is the second one that Beyonce and Jay-Z have done together following 2014's On The Run tour.
Jay Z
Jay-Z is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, having sold over 50 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide, while receiving 21 Grammy Awards for his music.
He holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the US Billboard 200 with 14.He has also had four number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, one, ”Empire State of Mind,” as the lead artist.
Jay-Z married Beyoncé in 2008. As a couple, they have an estimated net worth of $1.16 billion.
Beyonce
In her career, Beyoncé has sold an estimated 100 million records as a solo artist, making her one of the best-selling music artists in history.
She has won 22 Grammy Awards and is the most nominated woman in the award's history.
Beyonce is also the most awarded artist at the MTV Video Music Awards, with 24 wins.
Forbes ranked her as the most powerful female in entertainment on their 2015 and 2017 lists, and in 2016 she finished in sixth place for Time's Person of the Year.
For the fourth consecutive year, rock and roll legend Billy Joel will play Fenway Park.
Billy Joel released his first hit song, arguably still his biggest hit, Piano Man in 1973 and since has become the 6th best selling recording artist and the third best selling solo artist in the United States.
Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and then the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Legendary rock bands Journey and Def Leppard are combining to bring a huge show to Fenway Park.
Def Leppard is one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S.
Overall, they have sold more than 100 million records all over the world.
Journey has sold over 80 million albums worldwide, earned 19 top 40 singles and 25 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums, and has headlined multiple sold-out stadiums.
The legendary Beach Boys are returning to Indian Ranch this August for a concert that you don't want to miss.
The group had over eighty songs chart worldwide, thirty-six of them US Top 40 hits (the most by an American rock band), four reaching number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Beach Boys have sold in excess of 100 million records worldwide.
Kenny Chesney is bringing his "Trip Around the Sun" tour to Gillette Stadium with special guest Dierks Bentley.
Kenny Chesney has already performed at Gillette Stadium more times than any other artist and broke 9 attendance records during his 2015 Big Revival Tour.
Chesney has recorded 20 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA, produced over 40 top 10 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay Charts, 28 of which have reached #1.