New Jerry Douglas album coming soon
On Sep. 20, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Jerry Douglas will release his latest solo effort, The Best Kept Secret. Several notable guests make appearances on the nine-time Grammy winner's new record, including Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss and John Fogerty. ... read more
The Rock Boat fills up
(Above: Sister Hazel) The Rock Boat, the annual cruise hosted by rock band Sister Hazel and Atlanta-based event producers Sixthman, sold over 2,200 tickets soon after they went on sale, making it the fastest sellout in the event’s five-year history. Billed as “The World’s Greatest Floating Music Festival,” The Rock Boat is a four-day cruise where fans get to see a number of like-minded bands while cruising the Gulf of Mexico in a luxury ship. The growing success and fast sell-out of “TRB05” have prompted organizers to add a second event in 2006, with a winter version of the cruise... read more
The dB's provide free download, plan upcoming shows
For the first time in two and a half decades, the original lineup of the dB's (Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Will Rigby and Gene Holder) has produced new material in a recording session. The band is offering a glimpse at this new material via a download at its official site, and hopes to have an album out by late 2006. Also scheduled are two shows in Chicago and one in New Jersey during the month of September. ... read more
Rolling Stones to release new album, tour
The Rolling Stones have announced a Sept. 6 release date for their first album in eight years, A Bigger Bang. On Aug. 21, everyone's favorite sexagenarians will ONCE AGAIN kick off a Mega World Tour in support of their latest album, complete with overpriced tickets. In addition to 35 dates in the U.S., Mick, Keith and the gang will perform in Mexico, South America, Europe and other exotic locales across the globe. Hundred bucks says they follow with a pay-per-view concert special and throwaway live album. ... read more
Pedro The Lion streams new song
Pedro The Lion is currently streaming an electric and acoustic version of a brand new song called “The Devil is Beating His Wife.” The track will be on their fifth studio album, due out in 2006. To hear the song, visit pedrothelion.com ... read more
W.C. Handy Music Fest in Alabama
(Above: The late W.C. Handy) ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) has joined with three of Alabama's leading music organizations—The Music Preservation Society, The Muscle Shoals Music Association and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame—to present the W.C. Handy Music Festival/Songfest 2005, a weeklong event (July 22 - July 30) celebrating the musical accomplishments of northern Alabama. Florence, Ala.—where the festival is being held—was the birthplace of W.C. Handy (1873-1958), revered worldwide as "the Father of the Blues," and composer of the enduring classic, "St. Louis Blues," recorded by everyone from Bessie Smith to Chet Atkins and... read more
Son Volt to appear on Letterman
Fresh off the release of their first album in seven years, Okemah and the Melody of Riot, seminal alt-country rockers Son Volt are slated to appear on the The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, August 1. A soon-to-be-announced headlining fall tour is also in the works for the band. ... read more
Pixies Keeping Busy
In between reunion show dates, members of the Pixies have been busy with their respective projects. Guitarist Joey Santiago has been composing and recording original music for the upcoming Showtime comedy Weeds, the story of a recently widowed suburban woman who makes ends meet by becoming the neighborhood pot dealer. Weeds premiers on Showtime Aug. 10, and will air Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 p.m. Meanwhile, singer Frank Black just released a new solo album, Honeycomb. The Pixies are currently touring the U.S., with European dates coming up in mid-August. ... read more
MODA Hosts Concert Poster Art Exhibit
The Museum of Design Atlanta will open an exhibit featuring contemporary concert poster art on July 28. The exhibit—which will feature pieces from Jesse LeDoux, Jeff Kleinsmith, Craig Howell, Tara McPherson, Modern Dog and many others—kicks off with a VJ playing current music videos, a silent auction and a reception. For more information, visit MODA. ... read more
Morning Becomes Eclectic offers podcast
Los Angeles radio station KCRW (89.9 FM) now offers podcasts of live performances by unsigned and independent artists from its morning show, Morning Becomes Eclectic. “Since we began offering our non-music programs as podcasts, we’ve been inundated with requests to make music programming available,” said host Nic Harcourt. “While the major labels are still figuring it out, the independent artists understand the value of this type of promotion.” Each Morning Becomes Eclectic session podcast will be available for a two-week window. For more information, see KCRW.com ... read more
Kasey Chambers To Tour U.S.
Australian alt.country singer Kasey Chambers will play 17 American dates in August in support of her current album Wayward Angel. Chambers will perform songs from all three of her albums as well as new songs to be recorded for a 2006 release. For more information and full tour dates, visit Kasey Chambers's website. ... read more
Particle To Kick Off Calilicious Tour
Particle is set to launch its Calilicious tour, a 32-show run the band will share with guest Gabby La La. The tour will get under way Aug. 25 in the band’s home state of California and will include stops at Jazz Aspen and Harvestfest in Minnesota. For more information and complete tour dates, visit Particle People. ... read more
Classical Music Available Online
The American Library Association announced at its annual conference that is has expanded its partnership with independent classical music label Naxos to add thousands of titles to its Digital Library Reserve catalog. With an internet connection and a library card, patrons can download classical pieces any time, for a lending period of 14 to 21 days, after which the digital files expire. Many of the pieces include an associated eBook that provides biographical and historical information about the composition. For more information, visit OverDrive Digital Library Reserve. ... read more
James Dean Documentary Released
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of James Dean’s death on Sep. 30, Eagle Rock Entertainment has released a DVD documentary, The Real James Dean, exploring Dean’s life, career and legacy. The film includes footage from Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant, as well as interviews with colleagues, friends and family. ... read more
Out-of-print Coe album to see new release
David Allan Coe’s long-lost debut Penitentiary Blues will become the first release from the Shout! Factory/HackTone imprint on Aug. 23. While serving his eighth consecutive stretch in prison, Coe wrote the record that includes “Cell #33,” “Oh Warden” and “Death Row.” The album will be packaged in a digipak replicating the die-cut gatefold of the original LP, which featured a photo of Coe behind bars that lifted away when the front cover was opened. Inside the package will be two booklets: The first will include a new essay from Grammy-winning historian Colin Escott and a new introduction handwritten by... read more
Beck plays Mexican restaurant in San Fransisco
According to a report at www.DennisYang.com, Beck recently performed unannounced at Pancho Villa, a taqueria in San Fransisco. Apparently, the chameleonesque musician was largely ignored as he played in the back where a traditional mariachi musician usually performs. The following night, July 18, Beck headlined a show with Le Tigre at San Fransisco's Bill Graham Civic Center. ... read more
Ani DiFranco takes a break
Ani DiFranco will take a year off to recover from tendonitis in her hands and wrists. Her West Coast Tour, which was supposed to begin Aug. 30, has been cancelled, and her last concert will be July 31 in Floyd, Va. During the break DiFranco plans to record a new album, expected next year. Contributing: Washington Times ... read more
Chicago Musicians Killed in Accident by Suicidal Driver
(Above [L-R]: Dahlquist, Meis and Glick) Chicago musicians Michael Dahlquist (Silkworm), Douglas Meis (The Dials) and John Glick (The Returnables) were killed in a car accident July 14 in Skokie, Ill. The three friends were stopped at a light when they were hit from behind by Jeanette Sliwinski, a distraught 23-year-old model attempting suicide after a cell-phone argument with her mother. Dahlquist, Meis, and Glick, on their lunch break from their jobs at Shure Inc., were killed instantly, rammed at an estimated speed of 70 MPH. The wreck left Sliwinski without serious injury. Sliwinski was charged with three counts of... read more
Hot Snakes Disband
The Hot Snakes announced that they will break up after their August festival dates in Norway and Sweden. After five years, the band feels that it is time to move on. ... read more
News Corp. acquires MySpace for $580 million
News Corp.—a division of Rupert Murdoch's Fox Interactive Media—has acquired L.A.-based company Intermix, owner of online networking site MySpace.com, for $580 million. During its relatively short existence, MySpace has garnered advertising revenues that rival veteran search engines Yahoo and Google. Additionally, more than 350,000 bands now use the site, some of them even providing exclusive tracks in an effort to boost record sales. Contributing: DigitalMusicNews.com ... read more
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