Vieux Farka Touré's latest album was recorded as an homage to his homeland.  Being that his native Mali has been splintered by territorial fighting between Tuareg and Islamic rebels since January 2012, his new album, Mon Pays (My Country), is devoted to reminding the world about the beauty and culture of his homeland.  The album is out on May 28, 2013 on Six Degrees Records with an extensive North American tour starting in June.

Sol Driven Train head back out on the road for a mix of city festival and club show dates across the East Coast this summer. The 5-piece horn-infused ‘Low Country Roots Rock Band’ had a busy spring with a heavy touring schedule and the release of Underdog, an album that has spent many weeks at the top of the Jambands radio chart.

Avid Beatles fans have been blaming Yoko Ono for the break-up of the Beatles for over 40 years. In a surprise gesture, Paul McCartney has come to her defense, stating that she did not cause the break-up, during an interview with Sir David Frost that will air later this year on Al Jazeera English Television. 

"She certainly didn't break the group up," the 70-year-old rock-star will be seen telling Sir David Frost in an interview to be broadcast next month.

VER LA LUZ, Scott Tournet's first solo album since 2006's Everyone You Meet Is Fighting A Hard Battle, hits streets today. The self-produced and independently released effort was recorded and engineered by Mike Kamoo (The Stereotypes, The Loons, Lights On), who engineered and mixed VER LA LUZ at his Earthling Studios in San Diego. Listen to the album's first track, “Lights Go Down,” here.