mattosgood said:

mattosgood said:

peedub said:

mattosgood said:

not at all, I fully endorse the recent article by Matthew Jeffery

Re: Celebration - I have been in 2022, 2024 and 2025 - each has been good for different reasons. From my limited experience of 3 events, I'd say they continue to evolve, somethings work, other things perhaps less so.

It's more that I would personally give The Estate a little more leeway here, rather than carping on about they should do this or that - as they will never please all of us, all the time.

Plus, to me, it is better to have Celebrations than not. There will come a time, when the bands are too old and we will be as well, that they probably will not work.

Your fortunate to have the level of disposable income that allows that level of financial output to be sometimes gratifying. I, too, could afford the expenditure. Of everything they've offered, I MIGHT spend $50 to see the npg/revolution perform, but certainly only if they were proximal to my location. I love Prince, but none of what they offer provides value or entices me to travel or enhances my love and understanding. That celebration is the only thing on offer for the 40+ year hard-core fans that supported Prince through his lean years, it's kinda a joke. [Edited 4/16/26 13:03pm]

I'd say there's an experience that goes beyond just a gig - being in MPLS, being at PP, being with friends and like minded people, sharing that experience etc

Would I spend that much on any other artist - no way -

Celebrations are unique though, and if it is on anyone's bucket list, I would advise go sooner than later, as there will come a point in time, where it will only be 3rdEyeGirl capable of playing live.

The panels have always been interesting to me whether it be Jill Jones, Susan Rogers, the artists Doug Henders & Laura LiPuma, The Revolution, Morris Day and The Family.

The listening to Vault tracks is great but can be hit or miss, depending upon whether you like the tracks selected - but also frustrating as they haven't done anything about releasing them

Touring PP the first time, was awesome and a bucket list thing, I'd been dreaming of doing since I was a teenager - subsquent special exhibits such as the 'shoe room' and the 'purple rain room' or in the studio hearing When Doves Cry played via Prince's LinnDrum and Oberheim synth -have helped keep the PP tour interesting

The 3 standouts to date for me have been The Revolution at 1st Avenue and being in the studio with 3rdEyeGirl and Shelby, with headphones hearing them talk through how Prince and they recorded What If and I'd say the first night parties, either at the W hotel or last year as 1st Avenue with the DJ Lenka sets - as she really rocks!

I would probably have added seeing The Family live too, to this, but I'd just experienced that at Candy Dulfer’s "The Purple Jam" a few months before.

Clearly too, well at least for me, seeing the NPG and Morris Day live is always great.

I hear what you're saying but for me, Celebration is my Glastonbury or my Coachella, as I don't like festivals and when you devide the price of Celebration by the days, it makes it more palatable. Are they perfect no, but like Prince gigs, I do wish I'd gone to more.

ShellyMcG said:

mattosgood said:

not at all, I fully endorse the recent article by Matthew Jeffery

Re: Celebration - I have been in 2022, 2024 and 2025 - each has been good for different reasons. From my limited experience of 3 events, I'd say they continue to evolve, somethings work, other things perhaps less so.

It's more that I would personally give The Estate a little more leeway here, rather than carping on about they should do this or that - as they will never please all of us, all the time.

Plus, to me, it is better to have Celebrations than not. There will come a time, when the bands are too old and we will be as well, that they probably will not work.

"They will never please all of us, all the the time". That's a true statement. But my question would be, have they actually pleased ANY of us at ANY time? I'm talking about the current top dogs now. These guys can't take credit for the 1999 set or the SOTT set etc. So what have they actually done so far that could be considered a positive move that has pleased even half the fan base? And this is not a bad faith argument. I'm genuinely asking because I can't think of anything.

fair comment - I think the acid test is not letting us down on the Parade release - as we know there is material to make a SDE and it is an era that merits showing the love to like the 1999 and SOTT SDEs.

They are also one year on from the Q&A at last year's Celebration, so the ball is in their court, because I do think Matthew J's article is spot on and if they have any sense they will take it as a blueprint

mattosgood said:

mattosgood said:

peedub said:

mattosgood said: Your fortunate to have the level of disposable income that allows that level of financial output to be sometimes gratifying. I, too, could afford the expenditure. Of everything they've offered, I MIGHT spend $50 to see the npg/revolution perform, but certainly only if they were proximal to my location. I love Prince, but none of what they offer provides value or entices me to travel or enhances my love and understanding. That celebration is the only thing on offer for the 40+ year hard-core fans that supported Prince through his lean years, it's kinda a joke. [Edited 4/16/26 13:03pm]

I'd say there's an experience that goes beyond just a gig - being in MPLS, being at PP, being with friends and like minded people, sharing that experience etc

Would I spend that much on any other artist - no way -

Celebrations are unique though, and if it is on anyone's bucket list, I would advise go sooner than later, as there will come a point in time, where it will only be 3rdEyeGirl capable of playing live.

The panels have always been interesting to me whether it be Jill Jones, Susan Rogers, the artists Doug Henders & Laura LiPuma, The Revolution, Morris Day and The Family.

The listening to Vault tracks is great but can be hit or miss, depending upon whether you like the tracks selected - but also frustrating as they haven't done anything about releasing them

Touring PP the first time, was awesome and a bucket list thing, I'd been dreaming of doing since I was a teenager - subsquent special exhibits such as the 'shoe room' and the 'purple rain room' or in the studio hearing When Doves Cry played via Prince's LinnDrum and Oberheim synth -have helped keep the PP tour interesting

The 3 standouts to date for me have been The Revolution at 1st Avenue and being in the studio with 3rdEyeGirl and Shelby, with headphones hearing them talk through how Prince and they recorded What If and I'd say the first night parties, either at the W hotel or last year as 1st Avenue with the DJ Lenka sets - as she really rocks!

I would probably have added seeing The Family live too, to this, but I'd just experienced that at Candy Dulfer’s "The Purple Jam" a few months before.

Clearly too, well at least for me, seeing the NPG and Morris Day live is always great.

I hear what you're saying but for me, Celebration is my Glastonbury or my Coachella, as I don't like festivals and when you devide the price of Celebration by the days, it makes it more palatable. Are they perfect no, but like Prince gigs, I do wish I'd gone to more.

I've been to all the Celebrations, except last year just went to the live show, and the live performances are probably my least favorite part about the whole thing. I would much rather sit and watch a taped live performance of Prince all day. The panels are great. I've skipped out on all the DJs nights, but I do go regularly to the DJ nights when it isn't part of Celebration at Paisley. I refuse to pay for VIP, so I've missed all the vault tracks. I know what it's like to hear a Prince song one time and unless you have a recording device or taking detailed notes, you're probably not going to remember much about it.

mattosgood said:

I'd say there's an experience that goes beyond just a gig - being in MPLS, being at PP, being with friends and like minded people, sharing that experience etc

Would I spend that much on any other artist - no way -

Celebrations are unique though, and if it is on anyone's bucket list, I would advise go sooner than later, as there will come a point in time, where it will only be 3rdEyeGirl capable of playing live.

The panels have always been interesting to me whether it be Jill Jones, Susan Rogers, the artists Doug Henders & Laura LiPuma, The Revolution, Morris Day and The Family.

The listening to Vault tracks is great but can be hit or miss, depending upon whether you like the tracks selected - but also frustrating as they haven't done anything about releasing them

Touring PP the first time, was awesome and a bucket list thing, I'd been dreaming of doing since I was a teenager - subsquent special exhibits such as the 'shoe room' and the 'purple rain room' or in the studio hearing When Doves Cry played via Prince's LinnDrum and Oberheim synth -have helped keep the PP tour interesting

The 3 standouts to date for me have been The Revolution at 1st Avenue and being in the studio with 3rdEyeGirl and Shelby, with headphones hearing them talk through how Prince and they recorded What If and I'd say the first night parties, either at the W hotel or last year as 1st Avenue with the DJ Lenka sets - as she really rocks!

I would probably have added seeing The Family live too, to this, but I'd just experienced that at Candy Dulfer’s "The Purple Jam" a few months before.

Clearly too, well at least for me, seeing the NPG and Morris Day live is always great.

I hear what you're saying but for me, Celebration is my Glastonbury or my Coachella, as I don't like festivals and when you devide the price of Celebration by the days, it makes it more palatable. Are they perfect no, but like Prince gigs, I do wish I'd gone to more.

Spot on!

I’ve been to two Celebrations so far — 2019 and 2023.

2019 was honestly the best experience I’ve ever had there, and I made some friends for life.

In 2023 we were in the studio with the NPG (Morris, Levi, Tony M, and Tommy Barbarella) for a recording session, with Prince’s voice coming through our headphones giving instructions.

It felt unreal, like he was right there in the room with us.

And yes — DJ Lenka at the W absolutely rocks! Her mixes are fire.

She should really come to the Amsterdam Dance Event.

I’m going again this year, and like you said: this is my Coachella.

It’s the closest thing I have that recreates the feeling of going to a Prince concert.

Trufunksoulja said:

mattosgood said:

I'd say there's an experience that goes beyond just a gig - being in MPLS, being at PP, being with friends and like minded people, sharing that experience etc

Would I spend that much on any other artist - no way -

Celebrations are unique though, and if it is on anyone's bucket list, I would advise go sooner than later, as there will come a point in time, where it will only be 3rdEyeGirl capable of playing live.

The panels have always been interesting to me whether it be Jill Jones, Susan Rogers, the artists Doug Henders & Laura LiPuma, The Revolution, Morris Day and The Family.

The listening to Vault tracks is great but can be hit or miss, depending upon whether you like the tracks selected - but also frustrating as they haven't done anything about releasing them

Touring PP the first time, was awesome and a bucket list thing, I'd been dreaming of doing since I was a teenager - subsquent special exhibits such as the 'shoe room' and the 'purple rain room' or in the studio hearing When Doves Cry played via Prince's LinnDrum and Oberheim synth -have helped keep the PP tour interesting

The 3 standouts to date for me have been The Revolution at 1st Avenue and being in the studio with 3rdEyeGirl and Shelby, with headphones hearing them talk through how Prince and they recorded What If and I'd say the first night parties, either at the W hotel or last year as 1st Avenue with the DJ Lenka sets - as she really rocks!

I would probably have added seeing The Family live too, to this, but I'd just experienced that at Candy Dulfer’s "The Purple Jam" a few months before.

Clearly too, well at least for me, seeing the NPG and Morris Day live is always great.

I hear what you're saying but for me, Celebration is my Glastonbury or my Coachella, as I don't like festivals and when you devide the price of Celebration by the days, it makes it more palatable. Are they perfect no, but like Prince gigs, I do wish I'd gone to more.

Spot on!

I’ve been to two Celebrations so far — 2019 and 2023.

2019 was honestly the best experience I’ve ever had there, and I made some friends for life.

In 2023 we were in the studio with the NPG (Morris, Levi, Tony M, and Tommy Barbarella) for a recording session, with Prince’s voice coming through our headphones giving instructions.

It felt unreal, like he was right there in the room with us.

And yes — DJ Lenka at the W absolutely rocks! Her mixes are fire.

She should really come to the Amsterdam Dance Event.

I’m going again this year, and like you said: this is my Coachella.

It’s the closest thing I have that recreates the feeling of going to a Prince concert.

sounds like we may have been in the opposite VIP groups, you got the NPG and the Son Of Sexy M.F. and I got the same thing with 3rdEyeGirl with Prince coming through on the headphones on What If - a truly unreal experience as you say

[Edited 4/18/26 8:23am]

overpriced hype train. I don't believe in the lack of affordability for these events.

olb99 said:

happyshopper said:

olb99 said:

Why have a conversation about the Vault if there's absolutely no plan? ?

Why announce a Parade Deluxe Edition when there isn’t one. All relevant questions to ask at the panel!

Agreed.

mattosgood said:

Trufunksoulja said:

Spot on!

I’ve been to two Celebrations so far — 2019 and 2023.

2019 was honestly the best experience I’ve ever had there, and I made some friends for life.

In 2023 we were in the studio with the NPG (Morris, Levi, Tony M, and Tommy Barbarella) for a recording session, with Prince’s voice coming through our headphones giving instructions.

It felt unreal, like he was right there in the room with us.

And yes — DJ Lenka at the W absolutely rocks! Her mixes are fire.

She should really come to the Amsterdam Dance Event.

I’m going again this year, and like you said: this is my Coachella.

It’s the closest thing I have that recreates the feeling of going to a Prince concert.

sounds like we may have been in the opposite VIP groups, you got the NPG and the Son Of Sexy M.F. and I got the same thing with 3rdEyeGirl with Prince coming through on the headphones on What If - a truly unreal experience as you say

[Edited 4/18/26 8:23am]

Ha! I knew there had to be some other Orgers in the building

Didn't even know there were 2 different recording sessions.

olb99 said:

Why have a conversation about the Vault if there's absolutely no plan? ?

Vault Panel ? Yeah, right.

Get ready for "Lame Excuses Panel Pt.2" instead...