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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Rumor has it that Yo La Tengo will be just one of the many bands playing at a new, free spring festival on campus in late April. Ingalls Mall (between Burton Tower and the Michigan League) will be the spot for the all-day event named Groovawoova. The headliners and other performers have yet to be announced, but possible show openers could include Virgin Records' own Ryan and his Raunchee Rebelz and The Gobblin' Gobles ... In other news, Blind Melon put an ad in the classified section of the Village Voice last week, saying it is searching for a new singer to replace ex-frontman Shannon Hoon who died of a cocaine overdose last year. The ad states Blind Melon will continue under a new name. If you're interested, send a tape, letter or whatever to: Jones Management, 2611 B, Huntington Lane, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. Addicted to Noise reported that the band is also in the process of putting together a final Blind Melon album featuring vocals from Hoon that were recorded in hotel rooms, on the band's tour bus, and in other wacky places. The new recording will also contain four tracks from the "Soup" sessions that didn't make it on the original album. No word on a release date ... Cypress Hill's Sen Dog should jot down that Blind Melon address, because as of last Friday, he's out of da Hill. At a performance in Philadelphia on Feb. 9, B-Real announced that Sen Dog is no longer in the group. The reason for his departure is still unclear, but Cypress Hill's tour will continue with a temporary replacement. DJ Muggs has also been absent from tour dates, but what's left of the band will roll into the State Theatre on Sunday night for a triple threat bill with 311 and The Pharcyde ... Censorship reared its ugly head last week when the city council of Johnson City, Tenn., canceled a White Zombie concert scheduled for Feb. 4 in the aptly-named Freedom Hall Civic Center. Apparently, a local Baptist minister charged that White Zombie's music was spreading "satanic messages," and that was grounds for canceling a show for which contracts had already been signed. The schlock rockers deny any satanic messages in their music, but the city council unanimously voted to revoke the signed contract with White Zombie. The band's record label, Geffen Records, said it has not yet been determined whether White Zombie or Pace Concerts (the canceled show's promoter) will take any legal action in the wake of the cancellation. Apparently, the First Amendment doesn't apply in Johnson City ... Soundgarden is wrapping up production on its new album, and have left Stone Gossard's Litho Studio in Seattle for the mixing board at Seattle's Bad Animals. Rumors say the album goes back to the band's roots with harsher production, but fans will have to wait until at least late May before they get their hands on the new disc. Soundgarden is also rumored to be on the roster for Lollapalooza `96, but a confirmed roster will be coming soon.

-- Brian A. Gnatt

FILM

This past Tuesday, nominations were announced for the 68th Annual Academy Awards ceremony to be held on March 25. Nominees for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role are Nicolas Cage in "Leaving Las Vegas" (Cage has already received the Golden Globe for this category), Richard Dreyfuss in "Mr. Holland's Opus," Anthony Hopkins in "Nixon," Sean Penn in "Dead Man Walking" and Massimo Troisi in "The Postman." Nominations for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role were received by Susan Sarandon in "Dead Man Walking," Elisabeth Shue in "Leaving Las Vegas," Sharon Stone in "Casino," Meryl Streep in "Bridges of Madison County" and Emma Thompson in "Sense and Sensibility." And who will walk away with the Oscar for Best Director? Nominees in this category include Chris Noonan for this year's surprise hit "Babe," Mel Gibson for "Braveheart," Tim Robbins for "Dead Man Walking," Mike Figgis for "Leaving Las Vegas" and Michael Radford for "The Postman." Of course, we all must be wondering which film will take the place of last year's "My name is Foooooorrrest, Foooorrest Gump" in the Best Picture category. Right now the contenders are "Apollo 13" (Gump is back!), "Babe," "Braveheart," "The Postman" and "Sense and Sensibility." Guess we'll just have to sit through another month of listening to other people tell us who the "definite" winners will be.