Tapes 'N Tapes Sign With XL
Minneapolis-based indie rockers Tapes 'N Tapes have signed with XL Recordings. The label will be re-releasing their debut The Loon on July 25. In the meantime, the band will tour the U.K. in May before returning to the States for a few shows beginning June 1. For more info and a complete tour schedule, click here. ... read more
Matt Friedberger Readies Solo Debut
Matthew Friedberger, one half of brother/sister duo The Fiery Furnaces, is preparing for the release of his first solo album, a double disc entitled Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School, which will be released Aug. 8 by 859 Recordings. The first disc, Winter Women, will showcase Friedberger's more accessible pop songs. The second disc, Holy Ghost Language School, is the more experimental of the two. Meanwhile, The Fiery Furnaces are embarking on a European tour before returning to the States for a few shows in June. For more info on Matt Friedberger and The Fiery Furnaces, click here. ... read more
Wilco Announces Tour Dates, Plans Studio Time
Wilco has announced several summer tour dates in Canada and the Northeast, including an appearance at this year's Lollapalooza festival in the band's hometown of Chicago on August 6. They'll also be appearing on a Chicago edition of Late Night With Conan O'Brien May 12. The band is then planning to hit the studio before taking some much-needed time off. For a complete Wilco tour schedule, click here. ... read more
Michael Franti Readies New Album And Film
Hip-hop artist Michael Franti has two new projects on the horizon, both inspired by a visit to Baghdad he took 2 years ago. One is a new album, entitled Yell Fire!, and the other is a documentary entitled I Know I'm Not Alone. Both projects will be released on July 25 by Anti Records. Yell Fire! features many special guests, including reggae legends Sly & Robbie and pop star Pink. For more information on Michael Franti and his band Spearhead, click here. For info on Franti's film I Know I'm Not Alone, visit the film's website here. ... read more
KT Tunstall Goes Gold
Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall's debut album, Eye To The Telescope, has been certified gold by the RIAA. The video for Tunstall's breakout single, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," is currently in heavy rotation on VH1. For more information on KT Tunstall, click here. ... read more
Béla Fleck Announces Acoustic Planet Tour
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones will embark on a summer tour June 23, following their Bonnaroo performance. The Acoustic Planet Tour features a rotating collection of three different bands/artists per show who sit in on each others sets, then join together for a final performance. In it’s second year, the Acoustic Planet Tour will feature The Del McCoury Band, Umphrey's McGee, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain String Band, Natalie MacMaster, The Duhks, Nickel Creek's Chris Thile, Adrian Belew and Marc Broussard. The Acoustic Planet Tour: 6/23 Humphrey's, San Diego, Calif. (Yonder and Keller) 6/24 The Wiltern, Los Angeles,... read more
My Morning Jacket To Play With Boston Pops
My Morning Jacket will be playing with the Boston Pops Esplenade Orchestra for “Pop’s On the Edge” shows on June 21-22. The “On the Edge” series aims to bring classical music to audiences of all classes by playing classical staples alongside popular songs and marrying modern bands to the orchestra. In addition to the Pops show, My Morning Jacket will be touring around the country with Pearl Jam. For more information, visit mymorningjacket.com. ... read more
Radiohead Announces U.S. Dates
Radiohead has announced a series of theater dates in the U.S., kicking off June 1 in Philadelphia and ending June 30 in Los Angeles. In the middle of the theater tour, they will stop in Manchester, Tenn. for the Bonnaroo festival. There are no plans for a new Radiohead album in 2006. For dates, visit radiohead.com. ... read more
L.A.'s Day Laborer Band
Battling Invisibility With Music read more
Rick Moranis' Strange New Brew
As an artist who’s always sought creative control, it’s not surprising... read more
Goldfrapp
Don’t let her looks fool you. There’s more to British singer Alison Goldfrapp... read more
Lemonheads Reunite And Sign To Vagrant
The Lemonheads have recently re-formed and are finishing work on their eighth studio album, which will be released by Vagrant Records. Frontman Evan Dando is co-producing the record with drummer Bill Stevenson. The band, also including bassist Karl Alvarez, has reportedly been recording the album in Stevenson’s Colorado studio. For more information, click here. ... read more
5th Annual Ponderosa Stomp To Be Held In Memphis
The 5th annual Ponderosa Stomp, benefiting the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and MusiCares, will be held in Memphis from May 8-10. The event will take place on the roof of the Gibson Guitar Factory overlooking Beale Street. Artists such as Archie Bell, the Rebirth Brass Band, Deke Dickerson and The Eccofonics, and Fillmore Slim are slated to appear. For complete lineup and event info, click here. ... read more
Black Crowes Announce Summer Tour
The Black Crowes have just announced a major summer tour with special guests Robert Randolph & The Family Band and Drive-By Truckers. Tour dates are as follows: 6/10 Seattle, WA--White River Amphitheatre 6/11 Ridgefield, WA--Clark County Amphitheatre 6/13 Sacramento, CA-- Sleep Train Amphitheatre 6/14 Los Angeles, CA--TBA 6/16 San Diego, CA--Concerts in the Park 6/18 San Francisco, CA--Shoreline Amphitheatre 6/23 St. Louis, MO--UMB Bank Pavillion 6/24 Chicago, IL--Charter One Pavillion 6/25 Pittsburgh, PA-- Chevrolet Amphitheatre 6/27 Nashville, TN--Amsouth Amphitheatre 6/28 Birmingham, AL-- Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 6/30 Dallas, TX... read more
The 14th Annual Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards to be held June 26
The 14th Annual Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards will be held again this year after a three-year hiatus on June 29 at the Park Hyatt Bellevue in Philadelphia. This years honorees will include Chubby Checker, Bettye Lavette, Barbara Mason, the Delfonics, Producer Thom Bell and the late Otis Redding. Berry Gordy Slated will be the Lifetime Achievement Honoree. Patti Labelle and Smokey Robinson will host the event. ... read more
Widespread Panic to Release New Album June 13
Roots rockers Widespread Panic will release a new album Earth To America on June 13. The band will perform 4 spring concerts, 2 in Raleigh, NC and 2 in Atlanta at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. The May 9 Fox show will be simulcast through select movie theaters. The band has also just announced a west to east tour, including stops in LA, Chicago, Boise, Memphis and St. Louis. For complete tour dates, click here . ... read more
Les Claypool Releases Album, Film, DVD and Novel
Bass virtuoso Les Claypool will kick off several projects next month. The Primus front-man will release a new studio album, Of Wales and Woe on May 30th. Claypool will immediately embark on a national tour to support the album, which includes a spot at Bonnaroo Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo, a film written, directed by and starring Claypool will be featured at several festivals, including the Malibu Film Festival and Portland Longbaugh festival in April. The film will be released in theaters and on DVD later this year. In July, Akashic Books will publish South of the Pump House ,... read more
Glen Phillips Prepares For New Record And Tour
Folk/pop troubadour Glen Phillips will release his fourth solo record, Mr. Lemons, on May 2. Phillips will then begin a four-month headlining tour, where he will reunite with his Toad The Wet Sprocket bandmates in several cities for their first performances together in years. In July and August, Big Head Todd & The Monsters will join the tour on a double bill, which will also feature solo performances from Phillips. Phillips will then take his solo tour to Europe. For more info and a complete tour schedule, click here. ... read more
John Cowan Addresses Sexual Abuse On New Album
Acoustic-rock legend John Cowan will release his new studio album, New Tattoo, on June 13. The record features the graphic new song “Drown,” which tells the story of Cowan’s own experience as a survivor of child molestation. The release of the record also happens to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month. For more info on the upcoming record, click here. ... read more
John Cowan Addresses Sexual Abuse On New Album
Acoustic-rock legend John Cowan will release his new studio album, New Tattoo, on June 13. The record features the graphic new song “Drown,” which tells the story of Cowan’s own experience as a survivor of child molestation. The release of the record also happens to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month. For more info on the upcoming record, click here. ... read more
