Suwannee Springfest, held March 22-25 at the beautiful Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, Florida was the rainiest, most violently stormy festival I have ever attended, but it was still a great time and the show went on.  It rained off and on and then just on until late afternoon Saturday. After lightening struck by our tent and the crescendo of its thunder rang in our ears, the sun did come out in all its glory.

"This Is How It Goes" is a Record Store Day 2012 exclusive 7-inch by Marco Benevento, available at independent record stores across the country this Saturday, April 21. The song from the revered pianist is the first to ever feature vocals. Taking the honors is Kalmia Traver from the exploding indie-dance band Rubblebucket.

Marshall Blonstein, president of Audio Fidelity, has announced April 24 as the release date for the reissue of two classic rock albums. Phil Collins' chart-topping 1989 solo set BUT SERIOUSLY will be released as a 24-Karat Gold CD, and Ten Years After's 1971 A SPACE IN TIME, released in 24-Karat Gold format last year, will return in a 180-gram vinyl LP edition.

Charles Manson, Jim Jones, and David Koresh typically represent the idea of cults in America. Among the indie scene however, the word “cult” is gradually making an association with pop vocals and keyboard melodies entrenched in a darker noise rock thanks to the New York group, CULTS.

Real Gone Music enters its first Spring with a potpourri of reissues that are definitely not garden variety, with releases ranging from hardcore punk to power pop to Motor City rock ’n’ roll, doo-wop and Summer of Love fixtures the Grateful Dead, all due in late May.

Bluegrass multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, radio host, and festival promoter ALAN TOMPKINS is proud to announce the April 17, 2012 single release, “This World Is Not My Home” from his upcoming solo album NO PART OF NOTHIN’.  The track features Alan on vocals with Deryl Dodd singing harmony, as well as Randy Kohrs on resophonic guitar, Ned Luberecki on banjo, Stephen Mougin on guitar, Gerald Jones on mandolin, and Mike Bub

Soon, the Ozark Mountains will once again be filled to the brim with the wonderful sounds of music, people and (hopefully) tons of high fives. Those high fives will be for everything: the opportunity to see so much talent in such a small place, meeting old friends, discovering new bands and all-around good times. That’s what this is all about.

Naama Kates is a Los Angeles transplant whose move from New York left her feeling lost and lonely; feelings that inspired the songs that would become her debut album, “The Unexamined Life.” A tongue-in-cheek take on Socrates’ “an unexamined life is not worth living,” Naama spent a year reflecting on her life and the path that she had chosen.“My life was nothing but examined,” shares Kates.

Pickathon 2012, happening Aug.

NXNE and AOL Canada today announce that three-time Grammy-Award winning group The Flaming Lips will headline an electrifying free show at Yonge-Dundas Square on Saturday, June 16.  Celebrating its 18th year, NXNE Music presents more than 650 artists for 300,000 attendees and generates more than $47 million for the city.  NXNE takes over Toronto June 11-17, 2012.