STOMP AND STAMMER — John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band’s on-screen band from the forthcoming independent film Adolescence, The Bloody Wolves of Venice, proves to be a formidable, real-life creative force on its debut recording, The Revelation EP.

Hopkins teams up with bassist Greg Lee (Yacht Rock Revue), drummer Mike Rizzi (Sweet Tea Project), guitarist Mark Dannells (Yacht Rock Revue) and California guitarist Mick Murphy (My Ruin, Teenage Time Killers, Chevy Metal). The five-piece doubles as the on-screen bandmates of former Sons of Anarchy actor Tommy Flanagan.

OZ Magazine — In November 2018, that same Georgia World Congress Center hosted DreamHack 2018 as Atlanta joined Valencia, Marseilles and Stockholm as past host cities of this major three-day festival that brings gamers together for competitions, networking and more. DreamHack turns its venues into small cities with a popular 24-hour Local Area Network (LAN) area, Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) section with catering and sleeping amenities, and a number of eSports tournaments.

It may surprise some, but the video game industry made more than twice as much as the global box office for films in 2017, reaping $70.4 billion versus cinema's $35.9 billion. Video gaming grew by 18%, while the world box office fell $1 billion short when it came to projections.

Elena Quevedo has been named chief development officer at Miami City Ballet. She was most recently senior vice president of advancement for The New Jewish Home, Inc. She has also worked with the New York city Ballet. Quevedo, a former academic, has a master’s in medieval architecture, and a Ph.D. in art history, from New York University.

VARIETY — The DreamHack Open is stopping in Rio de Janeiro for the first time ever in 2019, and tickets go on sale Jan. 5, the city announced on Friday. The Rio de Janeiro State eSports Federation confirmed the three-year contract and believes it’s an opportunity to increase the number of competitions within the city.

DreamHack, which launched in 2012, is an annual esports circuit for the online shooter “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.” Rio is the first of seven stops and takes place Apr. 19-21 at the Olympic Park. Another new location, the Netherlands, will host the event in October.

“Visiting new places is always our goal, and with new stages in Brazil and the Netherlands, we are sure next year will be unforgettable,” said DreamHack’s Michael Van Driel.

“ATLANTA & COMPANY” WXIA-11 ALIVE — Joe Gransden and John Driskell Hopkins perform a Christmas classic LIVE on 'Atlanta & Company'

ESPORTS INSIDER — Sweden-based tournament organiser DreamHack is wrapping up the year by looking ahead to the next – announcing its full line-up of events for 2019.

DreamHack will host its multi-event festivals in three continents next year, marking its entry into South America. DreamHack Rio, hosted in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, will take place over April 19-21.

THE ESPORTS OBSERVER — DreamHack  will host its first event in South America next year, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The three-day festival will take place in the Parque Olímpico, with the former Olympic Arenas to play host to a bring your own computer (BYOC) area, gaming expo, and $100K prize pool Counter-Strike: Global Offensive  tournament.

The announcement today marks DreamHack’s 24th anniversary, and growth from a school-cafeteria LAN party to a global gaming and esports brand. In addition to Rio, there will be debut events in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Dallas, Texas. Further event locations include Leipzig, Germany; Tours, France; Valencia and Sevilla in Spain; two more North American events in Montreal, Canada and Atlanta, Georgia; plus two festivals in the company’s home country: DreamHack Summer and Winter in Jönköping, Sweden.

STAR 94.1, “JEFF & JENN SHOW” — We talked with John Driskell Hopkins and got a special Christmas performance!

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Miami City Ballet has been awarded $3 million in support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The grant is part of a $37 million Knight Foundation investment announced Monday to further strengthen Miami art and culture organizations that fill out the city’s arts ecosystem, bringing Knight’s total investment in the sector to $165 million since 2005.

LOS ANGELES TIMES — George Balanchine thought of his “Nutcracker” as a gift to America’s children. Indeed, not long after the founder of the New York City Ballet premiered his 1954 spin on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale, the dance title with roots in 19th century Russia became an American holiday classic.

It can be an enticing present, and the return of Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” by Miami City Ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this weekend does offer the traditional treats, even if wrapped in some unfortunate packaging.

WXIA-11 ALIVE, “THE A-SCENE: — ATLANTA — ATLANTA — Atlanta is not only home to a billion-dollar film and television industry. But it’s also a world-class destination for the gaming industry.

Dreamhack, featuring everything gaming under one roof, hosted more than 30,000 visitors at the Georgia World Congress Center.

DreamHack made its Atlanta debut in 2017 bringing nearly 25,000 visitors from a total of 48 states and 25 countries. 2018 is expected to bring even more visitors to experience this festival.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES NEWS — For decades, The Nutcracker has been a holiday staple at performing arts centers across the country, with families returning year after year, little kids in tow, to watch the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “The Nutcracker Suite.” Although occasional productions wound up in Downtown Los Angeles over the years, they have been sporadic.