by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A&E Writer

A big year for Frank Ocean climaxed December 5 with six Grammy Award nominations, including nods for Album and Record of the Year (artist and producer), Best New Artist, Best Urban Contemporary Album, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The R&B breakout star, who earlier this year admitted to an affair with another man, opened his tour at The Showbox Market this summer. Ocean's Channel Orange will battle The Black Keys' El Camino, Mumford & Sons' Babel, fun.'s Some Nights, and Jack White's Blunderbuss in the Album category. 'Thinkin Bout You' by Ocean goes up against The Black Keys' 'Lonely Boy,' fun.'s 'We Are Young' (featuring Janelle Monae), Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know' (featuring Kimbra), Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,' and Kelly Clarkson's 'Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)' in the Record field. His competitors for Best New Artist are fun., The Lumineers, Hunter Hayes, and Alabama Shakes.

There were big names missing from the Grammy nominees list, including Madonna, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj. The biggest disappointment from an otherwise impressive roster of nominations was a Song of the Year nod for Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe,' which also earned her kudos for Best Pop Solo Performance. Newer acts with tremendous buzz, such as Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, and Gary Clark Jr., were completely shut out of the 81 categories. The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast February 10.

THE MAC IS BACK
Legendary pop-rock band Fleetwood Mac will celebrate the 35th anniversary of their pinnacle work, Rumours, with a reissue of the album and a nationwide tour in 2013. The re-release of Rumours, which has sold more than 40 million copies to date, is said to include studio and live tracks that have never been featured on any of the group's previous recordings. Fleetwood Mac will perform May 20 at the Tacoma Dome. Tickets, priced between $58.59 and $164.10, go on sale December 17 at all Ticketmaster locations. Stevie Nicks (who interviewed with Seattle Gay News last year), Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie have committed to all dates of the 34-city U.S. tour.

Did you miss En Vogue this summer, when they jazzed up Dimitriou's Jazz Alley with a sassy performance that featured their biggest hits? Fret no more, the Funky Divas are returning. The Grammy-nominated vocal unit will appear at Jazz Alley once again February 14 through 17 with a somewhat similar lineup. Original members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron-Braggs will perform with the newly added Rhona Bennett and a three-piece backup band. Reservations can be made now online at www.jazzalley.com, or by calling (206) 441-9729.

Alabama Shakes, a Grammy nominee for Best New Artist and Best Rock Performance, have announced a live performance on March 3, at the Paramount Theatre.

Finally, Seattle's The Cave Singers have announced the release of their new album, Naomi, for March 5.

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