The Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., certainly isn’t lacking big stars. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s 15-night run will undoubtedly go down in Garden State history and now, one of this decade’s favorite live performers has a special concert planned for the venue. The Dave Matthews Band’s September 11th performance at the arena will be filmed for broadcast as a PBS television special called "An Evening with Dave Matthews and Friends." The multi-camera shoot will include performances from several surprise guests.

Launch.com has hooked up with SFX Entertainment and CBS Radio for the Summer ‘99 Concert Giveaway promotion. Fans can enter to win a pair of tickets to a selection of 11 concerts scheduled for August and September. Some of the shows included in the sweepstakes are R.E.M., Sugar Ray, Dave Mathews Band, and Lilith Fair. In addition to the free tix, the winners will receive a CD autographed by the artist of the show they select. Winners will be chosen randomly through Launch.com and on-air promotions by select CBS radio stations.

  Woodstock’s riotous grand finale may have been the story that made the headlines, but the message boards at Woodstock.com are filled with complaints about the high prices festival vendors charged for food and water. Click on "community" once you reach the festival’s official home page and you’ll find various comments about Sunday night’s crash-and-burn events, plus several well-chosen words about vendor prices at the three day festival. While most posters are not supporting the few who rioted, several express frustration at paying $4 s for a bottle of water, $15 for a bag of ice and up to $10 for fast-food items.

  Blues Traveler leader John Popper will release his solo debut, Zygote, Sept. 7. The album, which strays from the rootsy sound of Blues Traveler into more classic pop structures. Among the musicians joining singer/harmonica player on the album is Dave Matthews Band percussionist Carter Beauford. It has not yet been announced when Popper will mount a tour behind the album.

  EMI Music Publishing paid $200 million for the copyrights to more than 40,000 hits, according to a Reuters report. The music publishing company, whose catalog was already extensive, now has the rights to such rock classics as "Louie Louie," "Mony Mony," "La Bamba" and "Tequila." The collection was purchased from Windswept Pacific and also included the copyrights to lyrics and music by artists such as heartland rocker John Mellencamp, country legend Willie Nelson and pop group the Spice Girls.

  Blues legend B.B. King will kick off his annual Blues Festival tour on Tuesday (Aug. 3) at Salt Lake City’s Deer Valley Theater. Other blues greats accompanying the guitar virtuoso on this year’s 44-city tour will include fellow blues guitarists Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Buddy Guy, along with horn ensemble Tower of Power. The tour will end Oct. 3 in St. Louis.