Metallica is set to announce a symphonic pairing with conductor/composer Michael Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra at a press conference January 6 in San Francisco. According to Kamen's official website, negotiations for up to three live shows in San Francisco with the Symphony, most likely in April, have been underway since September.

The Oscar and Grammy-winning Kamen, responsible for an astounding number of movie soundtracks and orchestral work with a number of contemporary artists, has worked with Metallica in the past. Kamen provided the string and horn arrangements for Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" from the band's 1991 album, "Metallica," also known as "the black album."

Meanwhile young bluesman Kenny Wayne Shepherd is also teaming up with his hometown orchestra. Tickets went on sale this week for a March 19 concert featuring Shepherd and the Shreveport Symphony.