Memphis is a city with music in its blood. In 1999, when musician and producer Fred Ford, co-founder of the Beale Street Music Festival, was diagnosed with cancer, David Less organized Fredstock, a fundraiser to help with his medical bills. Less contacted Memphis legend Alex Chilton (The Box Tops, Big Star), who was living in New Orleans, to ask him to participate.

On April 10th, Backline will host “Set Break,” their first-ever livestream fundraiser on The Relix Channel, exclusively on Twitch—featuring live performances from all over the world, public service announcements from music industry professionals, and immersive wellness experiences.

Chris Friday, Tour Manager for Mike Gordon, Warehouse Manager for Phish, former Production Manager at Higher Ground, and energetically outrageous singer for Touchpants recently received the devastating news his son, Iggy, was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia at 11 years old. In preparation for the daunting path that lies ahead, the live music industry is rallying in support, announcing plans for a two-day virtual auction that will feature concert tickets, rare commemorative merchandise, and more. Organized by Cate Esser (Booking Agent, Promoter) and Danny Bennett (Higher Ground.

This Women’s History Month, Craft Recordings is celebrating one of the most inspiring women in jazz, Abbey Lincoln, with a special reissue of her landmark LP, Abbey Is Blue. In stores May 28th and available for pre-order today, the 1959 album has been meticulously remastered from its original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI.

In the fall of 2020, with live concerts and gatherings on hold, Andy Frasco, Kitchen Dwellers, Mihali (Twiddle), and Shawn Eckels (Andy Frasco & The UN) embarked on an extraordinary road trip to the Southeastern U.S. where the group would play a series of concerts that would become known as the "Isolation: Concerts For No One."

What started one year ago as an innocent social media game, when Facebook friends and fans suggested artists they would like to cover Wesley Stace a.k.a. John Wesley Harding’s songs, became a reality with the Community Coronation Covers Project, a community-curated playlist featuring myriad well-respected artists. The tracks have now been gathered on Bandcamp as The Good Lyre: Songs of John Wesley Harding, available Fri., April 2.

Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Daniel Lanois releases his new album Heavy Sun through eOne, the first release under his new "Maker Series" brand. “We want to lift people’s spirits with this music,” says Lanois. “It’s so easy to feel isolated right now, but we want everyone to feel included in what we’re doing.”

Stream / Download: Daniel Lanois - Heavy Sun

John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band will release Leftover Feelings on May 21st via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Jerry Douglas and recorded at the Historic RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tenn. A meeting of two American music giants in a legendary setting, Leftover Feelings is neither a bluegrass album nor a return to Hiatt’s 1980s days with slide guitar greats Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth. There’s no drummer, yet these grooves are deep and true.

Two of today's top Contemporary guitarists, Tab Benoit and Samantha Fish, co-headline a special Socially-Distanced Concert together at Peace Concert Hall, 300 S. Main St., Tuesday, April 6. Showtime: 7:30pm. All ages. Face masks required for entry. Tickets: $40.-$60. Info: (864) 467-3000 or visit https://tickets.peacecenter.org/Online/mapSelect.asp.

Oliver Wood has announced his debut solo album, Always Smilin', will be released May 21 on Honey Jar/Thirty Tigers. The first single "Fine Line" is out today at all streaming platforms (listen/share).