Today, Candid Records and Chick Corea Productions announce Trilogy 3, a new double live album. In 2020, Chick Corea—27-time GRAMMY® winner, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, and one of the most iconic figures in jazz—hit the road with his powerhouse trio of Christian McBride and Brian Blade, embarking on what would be Corea’s final tour. The recordings from those shows are now being released as Trilogy 3, the third installment from this extraordinary group. The announcement comes with the first single, “Windows,” an iconic Corea composition making its first appearance on a trio recording of Chick’s since his landmark album Now He Sings, Now He Sobs nearly six decades ago.

Listen to “Windows” from Trilogy 3

The album is now available for pre-order. It will be released on all streaming services on February 28th, with physical formats arriving on May 30th. The vinyl release is a double-disc LP in a gatefold jacket. Produced and recorded by Bernie Kirsh, and mastered by Bernie Grundman, both the LP and CD feature personal liner notes from Christian McBride and Brian Blade.

With years of collaboration to draw from, nine-time GRAMMY®-winning bassist Christian McBride and four-time GRAMMY®-winning drummer Brian Blade bring a profound musical connection to their work with Corea. Their long-standing partnership fuels a dynamic, ever-evolving soundscape that elevates the art of the jazz trio to new heights.

Following the critically acclaimed Trilogy (2013) and Trilogy 2 (2018) albums, which each earned two GRAMMY® Awards including Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Trilogy 3 marks yet another milestone for this celebrated ensemble. The release brings together live performances from their February-March 2020 tour, cut short by the onset of the pandemic, capturing the trio’s extraordinary interplay and artistic brilliance. The album features fresh interpretations of jazz standards by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, alongside Chick Corea compositions, and a vibrant take on Domenico Scarlatti’s “Sonata In D Minor.”

Widely regarded as one of Chick’s most acclaimed ensembles, this trio has consistently pushed the boundaries of jazz with technical brilliance, playful camaraderie, and deep emotional resonance. Trilogy 3 invites listeners to join these masters on a journey through music that is both timeless and groundbreaking.

Tracklisting:

Humpty Dumpty

Windows

Ask Me Now

You’d Be So Easy To Love

Trinkle Tinkle

Scarlatti: Sonata in D Minor K9, L413 Allegro

Spanish Song

Tempus Fugit

About Chick Corea: Born in 1941 in Massachusetts, the iconic keyboardist, composer, and bandleader Chick Corea was a DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, as well as one of the most nominated artists in GRAMMY® Awards history with 75 nods and 27 wins, in addition to 5 Latin GRAMMYS. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, bebop to jazz-rock fusion, children’s songs to chamber and symphonic works, Corea touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his career since playing with the genre-shattering bands of Miles Davis in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

While one would expect the 20th century to have been the apex of Corea’s career, he was certainly as productive in the 21st. Whether playing acoustic piano or electric keyboards, leading multiple bands, performing solo, or collaborating with a who’s who of musicians, Chick’s career never paused. Underscoring this, he was named Artist of the Year three times between 2014 and 2018 in the DownBeat Readers Poll, a publication that called him “a pianist virtually without peer.”

About Candid Records: From 1960-1963, founder, A&R man, and producer Nat Hentoff recorded over 30 extraordinary albums for the Candid Records label. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings—from bebop to the avant-garde to blues. Candid sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer, Alan Bates, bought the label in 1989. The next phase of Candid Records is happening now. Since its relaunch in 2021, the label has reissued over 30 titles to high critical acclaim. Thanks to brilliant new releases, Candid has received four GRAMMY® Awards: 2024 winners the Count Basie Orchestra, 2023 winners Terri Lyne Carrington and Wayne Shorter, and 2022 winner Eliane Elias. Today’s Candid is not only committed to its legacy but looks forward to defining its future with the quality music that is synonymous with its elite heritage. Learn more at www.candidrecords.com.

 Today, ‘90s alt-rock icons the Spin Doctors announced their first studio LP in 12 years: Face Full of Cake, out April 11 via Capitol Records. They also released the album’s first single “Still A Gorilla” and its accompanying music video. “Still A Gorilla” finds the band showcasing a noisier, heavier sound but with the same sense of humor they’ve come to be known for. Inspired by the hard-hitting energy of Robyn’s “Konichiwa Bitches,” the track finds the long-running group exploring new territory after 35+ years.

To celebrate the record, the band will play an album release show at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl on April 12. Presales begin on Monday January 20, and tickets go on sale on Friday January 24. To buy tickets and to see a full list of upcoming shows, please visit spindoctors.com.

Listen to “Still A Gorilla” 

Watch the video for “Still A Gorilla” via YouTube

Pre-order/pre-save Face Full of Cake

“‘Still A Gorilla’ is a heavy-duty track about what it is to be human,” shares vocalist Chris Barron. “[Drummer] Aaron [Comess] had that piece of music around for quite a long time, and whenever he and I sat down to try and write some lyrics to it, it just never quite came together.” But then Comess sent Barron the Swede’s aforementioned 2005 song as a reference point and things came together. “Aaron was like, ‘A vibe like this would be cool,’ and the humor of that song gave me the entree into the song, so I just sat down and wrote that in an hour.”

The followup to 2013’s If the River Was Whiskey, the upcoming LP marks their debut on Capitol Records and the first Spin Doctors record with new bassist Jack Daley who joined the band full-time in 2021. Face Full of Cake can trace its origins back to the early days of the pandemic, but after several writing sessions – including time spent at the Vermont studio space of Phish’s Mike Gordon – and intimate hangs between guitarist Eric Schenkman and Barron, the album began to fully take shape. Recorded at Daley’s Asbury Park, NJ studio, the project has an exploratory and easy energy that came from a laidback and low-pressure recording process.

“We weren't really thinking of it as a record,” shares Comess. “We've gone through a lot of phases in our 35 years, and sometimes things really gel and sometimes they're just extremely difficult. When we made this record, we captured a moment where it felt effortless. There's a really fresh energy in the tracks — a sense of us discovering the songs as we played them.”

That energy is evident on the new LP, which features a combination of the easy-going hook-forward songs that made them so popular and the freewheeling jam sensibilities they’ve always exhibited with bluesy funk flavor and straightforward rock’n’roll. It’s not so much a reinvention of the wheel but a fusion of everything they’ve done up to this point with an added fearlessness that comes from knowledge and practice. 

“Spin Doctors fans are going to be knocked out by this new record,” shares Barron. “It’s got that vintage Spin Doctors sound of ear candy and denser material that harkens back to Pocket Full Of Kryptonite but with years of experience under our belts.” 

Formed in 1988 in New York City, Spin Doctors’ full-length 1991 debut Pocket Full of Kryptonite sold over ten million copies across the world and spawned two massive singles: “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” which reached number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and the now ubiquitous Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten hit “Two Princes,” which was the No. 1 Rock radio hit of 1993 and was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group at the GRAMMYs. They’ve appeared on SNL, played major festivals like Glastonbury and opened for The Rolling Stones. And after three decades and nearly two thousand shows, Spin Doctors remain as committed as ever. 

Tour Dates:
February 22 – Saint Paul, MN – Rock From The Heart
March 1 – Suquamish, WA – Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort
April 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
May 25 – Allston, MA – Boston Calling Festival
June 5 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre
June 6 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre
June 7 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre
June 8 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre

Face Full of Cake Tracklist
1. Boombox
2. Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven
3. Still A Gorilla
4. The Heart Of The Highway
5. Double Parked
6. I Liked You Better When Your Butt Was Big
7. The Buddha On The Lawn 
8. She Don’t Love Me Anymore (Anymore)
9. I’m The Man (You Got) 
10. While You’re Holding The Moon (Over Me)
11. She Stands Alone
12. When You Got Turmoil In Your Mind

Today, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Joe Ely announced his new album, Love and Freedom, set for release on February 7 via Rack ‘Em Records / Thirty Tigers. With nearly 25 albums under his belt, the prolific Texas native returns with a timely collection of songs written by Ely and some of his musical heroes, including Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and Woody Guthrie. Along with the announcement, Ely released a new single, “Shake ‘Em Up,” which he describes as “an ode to dice games in the Wild West.”

Listen to “Shake ‘Em Up” via YouTube
Stream “Shake ‘Em Up”
Pre-save Love and Freedom

“I’m really appreciative of everyone’s help in putting this album together,” shares Ely. “To me, Love and Freedom is a reminder of the times we’re living in right now, and I hope it resonates with whoever takes the time to listen.”

Co-produced with frequent collaborator Lloyd Maines (Miranda Lambert, Kris Kristofferson), Love and Freedom unveils songs from Ely’s recording vault, spanning several decades of sessions at Spur Studios, his home studio outside Austin. Ely recorded these tracks during time off the road, resulting in poignant renditions of classics like the Ryan Bingham-featured take on Woody Guthrie’s protest anthem “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” and the heartfelt Guy Clark cut, “Magdalene.”

Love and Freedom follows Ely’s 2024 road album, Driven to Drive, which received widespread acclaim from Pitchfork, American Songwriter, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, No Depression, and more. In addition to his revered solo work, Ely is one-third of the Texas-based trio The Flatlanders, alongside Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. In 2021, the band released Treasure of Love, their first album in over 12 years, which earned a five-star review from The Austin Chronicle, praising, “Perfect in vision, voice, harmony – not to mention timing – Treasure of Love delivers quintessential Flatlanders.”

Over the course of his long and eclectic career—as a songwriter, performer, collaborator, and author—Joe Ely has altered and expanded the meaning of Texas music, bringing its sounds and stories to audiences worldwide. Love and Freedom marks yet another milestone for Ely, celebrating the power of unity through song during divisive times.

Love and Freedom Tracklist:

Shake ‘Em Up
Adios Sweet Dreams
Magdalene – Written by Guy Clark
Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) [feat. Ryan Bingham] – Written by Woody Guthrie
Waitin’ Around to Die – Written by Townes Van Zandt
Sergeant Baylock
Today It Did
Band of Angels
For the Sake of the Song
Here’s to the Brave
What Kind of War
No One Wins
Surrender to the West

Maya Delilah has announced the release of The Long Way Round, her stunning full-length debut album out March 28 via Blue Note/Capitol. The London-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist has also been named a 2025 Spotify “Artist To Watch,” another sure sign of her rising star after she was named to the Fender Next “Class of 2024.” Her debut album makes good on that promise by bringing all the elements of her art together — the intimacy, the ability, the inspiration, the depth, the lightness — into one striking work.

While the 12 songs on The Long Way Round are steeped in soul-pop, they also contain rich strains of country and blues, hints of gospel and choral music, and one full serving of unvarnished funk with the flirty new single “Squeeze” out today. “This album is a combination of so many parts of me,” says Maya. “I get so influenced by different genres, people, places, and experiences that it’s always felt hard for me to fit my music into a consistent sound or mood. It took me a long time (hence The Long Way Round) to realize that it’s a beautiful thing to have a body of work that explores so many different influences.”

Making the album was also a literal journey, from a barn-based studio in Devon, England, to a home studio in Los Angeles, and back to various rooms across London. All with a cast of friends new and old, including producers Peter Miles, Josh Grant, Doug Schadt, Seth Tackaberry, and Aquilo’s Ben Fletcher and Tom Higham, as well as collaborators including Samm Henshaw, Grace Lightman, members of FIZZ, organist Cory Henry, and drummer Aaron Sterling (John Mayer, Taylor Swift).

Maya’s muse isn’t the only thing tying The Long Way Round together. Opener “Begin Again” introduces a powerful theme. As she looks back at her first car, her first kiss, her first home, she returns to the gentle hook: “Another day, another end / Oh, we begin again.” The idea of cycles frames the set as the album goes on. Depending on your interpretation, The Long Way Round could be about regaining trust in love or losing it entirely. Shuffled, these songs could trace the arc of one relationship from inception to end, or it could be the bridge between a failed romance and a thrilling new one, or it’s a dozen separate vignettes. With these songs — from soothing, psychedelic send-off “Look at the State of Me Now” to Western-inflected codependence tribute “Necklace” to the ‘70s soul music inspired “Actress” — Maya proves herself a master of not just an evocative guitar solo, but of capturing life’s biggest contradiction: why everything matters all the time and also why it’s not that deep.

“My biggest hope is that the album feels nostalgic to someone I’ve never met before,” says Maya. It’s an interesting thought given how uniquely “Maya” this set is, but that’s exactly what makes it work as intended. The warm glow, the wry smile, a sense of loss, and a yearning for renewal — we’re right there with her as she looks back, and ahead, at The Long Way Round.

A 24-year-old singer, songwriter and guitarist from North London, Maya Delilah attended the prestigious BRIT School whose alumni include Adele, Amy Winehouse, and FKA twigs, among many others. In 2020, lockdown put a pause on the background session work Maya had begun to do within her community of music-making friends, so she turned to livestreams and TikTok where she built up a devoted following with unadorned clips where she would sit cross-legged on the floor, a bed, or a table, her fingernails dancing over the strings, making the guitar sing out whole moods. Over the course of two self-released EPs (2020’s Oh Boy, 2021’s It’s Not Me, It’s You), she amassed more than 50 million streams of fan favorites like “Breakup Season” and “Tangerine Dream” that greeted heartache with humor. Maya began releasing music on Blue Note/Capitol in 2022, reinterpreting Cassandra Wilson’s cover of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” for Blue Note Re:imagined II, and following with a string of singles including “Silver Lining” and “Pretty Face.” Maya was named to the Fender Next “Class of 2024” — a huge co-sign from the guitar brand she’s been playing since age 8 — and has also been named a 2025 Spotify “Artist To Watch.”

Today, the Grateful Guitars Foundation (GGF), a 501(3)(c) nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond, announces that they’ve added lauded guitarist, singer, songwriter Jason Sinay to their board. 

Based in Los Angeles, Sinay’s career has spanned decades, collaborating with Keith Richards, Neil Young, Bob Weir, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams, Jeff Lynne, Joe Bonamassa, Ivan Neville and more. He’s most known for his long-standing role in the Dirty Knobs, the rock band led by Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. 

“A world class instrument in the hand of a good musician can change lives instantly,” shares Sinay. “These instruments bring out of us musicians pure inspiration that is transferred directly to the souls of the audience. I see myself as a worker among workers who is willing to contribute my time and energy to the greater cause. I also have a lot of experience in the philanthropic world, and I feel that I can benefit the cause with knowing some of the ins and outs of the 501-C3 world.” 

"We are ecstatic that Jason Sinay has joined the Grateful Guitars Foundation board,” shares GGF Founder Andy Logan. “His professional music background alone provides much needed industry knowledge to our team. In addition to being a pro player, Jason is also a guitar collector, and most importantly, he is an awesome human being dedicated to making the world a better place and is inspired to take our musical instruction support to the next level. We are so grateful to welcome Jason Sinay to our GGF family.” 

Founded by Andy Logan in 2019, the Grateful Guitars Foundation not only serves to put guitars in the hands of musicians in the community but also supports music instruction in schools to seed the next generation of these players through their partnerships with various schools and educational organizations.

Last year was busy for the GGF who hosted their second annual benefit concert at San Francisco’s famed Great American Music Hall on August 13, 49 years to the day since the Grateful Dead’s legendary performance at the venue, featuring performances by Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), John Kadlecik (Dark Star Orchestra, FURTHUR), Barry Sless (Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros), David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) and more. This followed the release of the compilation Grateful: The Music Plays the Band, a seventeen-track collection of some of the finest Grateful Dead songs performed by key members of the band’s greater musical community including Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company), Dark Star Orchestra and more. Learn more about The Grateful Guitars Foundation at https://gratefulguitars.org/. 

About Grateful Guitars Foundation
Grateful Guitars is a 501-c3 nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond. We identify musicians who thrive in live settings and we secure the gear they need to reach their fullest musical potential. Through the powerful connection between the skilled player and the highest quality instrument, our aim is to ensure that jam band music thrives for generations of live music fans. Additionally, Grateful Guitar Foundation board members share actual and replica Grateful Dead instruments and gear from their personal collections with players in the community. We are also rolling out a program seeking to support music instruction in schools to seed the next generations of talented players in the Bay Area and beyond.

Today, Candid Records and Chick Corea Productions released Corea’s rendition of Thelonious Monk’s “Trinkle, Tinkle,” the second single from the upcoming double live album Trilogy 3 (out digitally February 28, with CD & vinyl pre-orders available now for release on May 30. In 2020, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and jazz icon Chick Corea hit the road with his powerhouse trio of Christian McBride and Brian Blade, embarking on what would be Corea’s final tour. The recordings from those shows are now being released as Trilogy 3, the third installment from this extraordinary group. On Sunday, Corea was posthumously awarded with his 28th GRAMMY® for Remembrance, a collaborative album recorded with Béla Fleck. 

Listen to “Trinkle, Tinkle” from Trilogy 3

In 2020, Corea spoke with All About Jazz about Thelonious Monk’s influence on his career, saying "I was fortunate enough to see Monk's band play live many times in New York. There was a two to three-week engagement at the Apollo Theater. I was playing piano with Mongo Santamaria and we opened the show. There were three bands playing on these shows. The second band was Monk's quartet with Frankie Dunlop on drums, John Ore on the bass, and Charlie Rouse on saxophone. I used to stand backstage behind a curtain. Right at eye level there was a hole in the curtain. It was an old curtain. It was perfect. Monk was right there. Literally if I had put my arm through the curtain, I could have touched him. He was maybe two feet away from me. I got to see him play two shows a night for three weeks… That was Thelonious Monk University for me. He was a very inspiring musician for me."

With years of collaboration to draw from, nine-time GRAMMY®-winning bassist Christian McBride and four-time GRAMMY®-winning drummer Brian Blade bring a profound musical connection to their work with Corea. On Trilogy 3, their long standing partnership fuels a dynamic, ever-evolving soundscape that elevates the art of the jazz trio to new heights.

Following the critically acclaimed Trilogy (2013) and Trilogy 2 (2018) albums, which each earned two GRAMMY Awards® including Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Trilogy 3 marks yet another milestone for this celebrated ensemble. The release brings together live performances from their February-March 2020 tour, cut short by the onset of the pandemic, capturing the trio’s extraordinary interplay and artistic brilliance. The album features fresh interpretations of jazz standards by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, alongside Chick Corea compositions, and a vibrant take on Domenico Scarlatti’s “Sonata In D Minor.”

Widely regarded as one of Chick’s most acclaimed ensembles, this trio has consistently pushed the boundaries of jazz with technical brilliance, playful camaraderie, and deep emotional resonance. Trilogy 3 invites listeners to join these masters on a journey through music that is both timeless and groundbreaking.

The album is now available for pre-order. It will be released on all streaming services on February 28 with physical formats arriving on May 30. The vinyl release is a double-disc LP in a gatefold jacket. Produced and recorded by Bernie Kirsh, and mastered by Bernie Grundman, both the LP and CD feature personal liner notes from Christian McBride and Brian Blade.

Tracklisting:
1. Humpty Dumpty
2. Windows
3. Ask Me Now
4. You’d Be So Easy To Love
5. Trinkle Tinkle
6. Scarlatti: Sonata in D Minor K9, L413 Allegro
7. Spanish Song
8. Tempus Fugit

About Chick Corea: 
Born in 1941 in Massachusetts, the iconic keyboardist, composer and bandleader Chick Corea was a DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, as well as one of the most nominated artists in GRAMMY Awards history with 76 nods – and 28 wins, in addition to 5 Latin GRAMMYS. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, bebop to jazz-rock fusion, children’s songs to chamber and symphonic works, Corea touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his career since playing with the genre-shattering bands of Miles Davis in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
While one would expect the 20th century to have been the apex of Corea’s career, he was certainly as productive in the 21st. Whether playing acoustic piano or electric keyboards, leading multiple bands, performing solo or collaborating with a who’s who of musicians, Chick’s career never paused. Underscoring this, he was named Artist of the Year three times between 2014 and 2018 in the DownBeat Readers Poll, a publication that called him “a pianist virtually without peer.”

CANDID RECORDS: From 1960-1963, founder, A&R man, and producer Nat Hentoff recorded over 30 extraordinary albums for the Candid Records label.  One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues.  Candid sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer, Alan Bates, bought the label in 1989. The next phase of Candid Records is happening now.  Since its relaunch in 2021 the label has reissued over 30 titles to high critical acclaim. Thanks to brilliant new releases, Candid has received four GRAMMY® awards – 2024 winners the Count Basie Orchestra, 2023 winners Terri Lyne Carrington and Wayne Shorter, and 2022 winner Eliane Elias. Today’s Candid is not only committed to its legacy but looks forward to defining its future with the quality music that is synonymous with its elite heritage.  Learn more at www.candidrecords.com

Today, GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz pioneers Yellowjackets release their newest single “The Lion” featuring guitarist and singer-songwriter Raul Midón. The song appears on their upcoming album Fasten Up, due out February 21 via Mack Avenue Records.  Well into their fourth decade as a band, the new release from these masterful musicians will be Yellowjackets’ 27th album and their seventh for Mack Avenue Records.

Listen to Yellowjackets “The Lion"

The cohesive spirit of forward motion that has propelled Yellowjackets throughout the band’s history has less to do with the tempo of the songs themselves – which make up a vibrant blend of styles and influences – but with their commitment to exploration and renewal. Those ideas are reflected in the band’s lineup, which features founding pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante, drummer Will Kennedy, saxophonist Bob Mintzer, who came on board in 1990; and the Australian-born bassist Dane Alderson, who will celebrate his first decade as a ’Jacket with the release of Fasten Up.

The ‘jackets’ collaborative spirit is evidenced by guitarist and singer-songwriter Raul Midón’s special guest appearance on “The Lion.” Midón’s layering of delicate and wordless vocals runs into Ferrante’s upbeat melody, and the weaving of his guitar lines into the band’s lively sound explodes in a crescendo of joyful freedom.  “Adding his voice definitely brought out the melody,” Ferrante says, “and I was so impressed by how he folded his guitar part into the song. One of Raul's many strengths is his incredible groove, and really fondly found the space to integrate his guitar while moving the tune forward rhythmically.”

Yellowjackets released their eponymous debut album in 1981 at the height of the fusion era. Since then they’ve adhered to fusion’s genre-blurring mentality while refusing to remain tied to any single style or era. Drawing upon a history-spanning mélange of jazz movements, steeped in funk grooves and chamber music sophistication, and always keeping an ear to the ground for new sounds and technologies, Yellowjackets have evolved to become a genre unto themselves.

There is a communal joy that invigorates all of the music that Yellowjackets create. The thrill of group discovery bristles through the muscular funk grooves, deepens the emotion of the ballads, and digs deep to unearth the roots of the band’s bracing sense of swing. On Fasten Up, their rich history remains in focus in the rearview mirror as they accelerate into the future.

Tracklisting:

Comin' Home Baby

Fasten Up

Will Power

November 8th

The Truth of You

The Lion (feat. Raul Midón)

Swingmeister General

An Interesting Dream

Broken

The Unresolved Question

Xemeris

Tour Dates:

February 7: Warehouse Theatre | Lynchburg, VA

February 12: Fox Tucson Theatre | Tucson, AZ

February 14: Soka Performing Arts Center | Aliso Viejo, CA

February 15: The Soraya | Northridge, CA

February 21: Elmhurst Jazz Festival | Elmhurst, IL

March 4-5: Dazzle | Denver, CO

March 7: Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium | Pittsburg, KS

March 8-9: Blues Alley | Washington, DC

March 17: Brighton High School | Cottonwood Heights, UT

March 19: Manship Theatre | Baton Rouge, LA

March 25: McCain Auditorium (Kansas State University) | Manhattan, KS

March 27: Greer Cabaret Theater | Pittsburgh, PA

April 24: Bell Theater | Holmdel, NJ

April 26: Koerner Hall | Toronto, Canada

May 1: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA

May 15: Jazzfest Bonn | Bonn, DE

May 16: Jazzfestival Weiz | Weiz, AT

May 17: Teatro Communale | Vicenza, IT

May 21: Teatro Forma | Bari, IT

May 22: Magazzini Del Cotone | Genova, IT

May 23-24: Blue Note | Milan, IT

May 27: Bitefartcafe | Belgrad, SE

June 1: Luxor Live | Arnhem, NL

June 3: Nica Jazz Club | Hamburg, DE

June 20: Lerner Theater, Elkhart Jazz Festival | Elkhart, IN

Today, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Joe Ely has released his 29th solo album Love and Freedom via Rack ‘Em Records / Thirty Tigers. A healing elixir for the world’s emotional turmoil, this timely album features songs written by the prolific Texas native as well as by some of his musical heroes including Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Woody Guthrie.

Listen to Love and Freedom

The new album has already garnered praise from PopMatters, Holler, The Bluegrass Situation and Glide Magazine, who raved, “Five plus decades on, one of our greatest troubadours, Joe Ely, keeps pushing forward.” 

Co-produced alongside frequent collaborator Lloyd Maines (Miranda Lambert, Kris Kristofferson), Love and Freedom unveils songs from Ely’s recording vault from several decades at Spur Studios, his home studio facility. He first recorded these songs – with themes of immigration, poverty, war, justice, love, freedom, and other social issues – during time spent off the road and brought them to Maines to polish them up for release. The end result features highlights like the rollicking “Shake ‘Em Up” as well as poignant renditions of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee” (featuring Ryan Bingham) and the heartfelt Guy Clark cut, “Magdalene.”

Love and Freedom follows Ely’s 2024 official road album Driven to Drive, which was released to widespread acclaim from Pitchfork, American Songwriter, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, No Depression and more. In addition to his revered solo work, he is one-third of the Texas-based trio The Flatlanders along with Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. In 2021, the band released Treasure of Love, their first album in over 12 years which had The Austin Chronicle raving in their five-star review, “Perfect in vision, voice, harmony – not to mention timing – Treasure of Love delivers quintessential Flatlanders.”

Over the course of his long and eclectic career – as a songwriter, performer, collaborator, and author – Joe Ely has altered and expanded the meaning of Texas music while taking those sounds and this place around the world. Love and Freedom marks yet another milestone for Ely, one that celebrates the power of unity through song during these divisive times.

Love and Freedom Tracklist:
1. Shake ‘Em Up
2. Adios Sweet Dreams
3. Magdalene – Written by Guy Clark
4. Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) [feat. Ryan Bingham] – Written by Woody Guthrie
5. Waitin’ Around to Die – Written by Townes Van Zandt
6. Sergeant Baylock
7. Today It Did
8. Band of Angels
9. For the Sake of the Song
10. Here’s to the Brave
11. What Kind of War
12. No One Wins
13. Surrender to the West

Today, Nashville guitar virtuoso Sean Thompson releases Head In The Sand, his second album under the moniker Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears, via Ears Over America/Missing Piece Records. He celebrated the album with a release show last night at The Blue Room and will play a Grimey’s In-Store today before closing out the weekend with a listening party event at East Nashville’s The Green Ray. This week, Thompson was also profiled by the Nashville Scene who lauded his guitar work on the LP as “expressive, conveying the granular emotions that words might wash away.” 

Listen to Head In The Sand

“This album signals a paradigm shift for me personally and musically,” shares Thompson. “I feel like I’m getting better at bringing out the music that is inside of me now. I’m becoming cozier with sonic freedom and exploration, especially when it comes to recording. I want humanity and organic sound to be the hallmark of my music, and I think it comes across here. This album is a diary entry. A time capsule. A sonic outline of difficult experiences paired with musical growth.” 

Head In The Sand was written as a direct reaction to a series of challenges Thompson faced in succession, including the death of his mother, the loss of his dog and a life-altering breakup. Inspired by Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa and the Grateful Dead, Thompson eschewed the standard singer-songwriter palette for something more cosmic and timeless. Garnering early acclaim from BrooklynVegan, No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation and more, the album features previously shared singles “Roll On Buddy”, a warm and ebullient ode to his dog who passed away in 2022, the psychedelia-imbued “Riding In The Van” and the raucous weather anxiety anthem “Storm’s Comin’ Tonight.”

Recorded and produced by Jake Davis, Thompson enlists bassists Alec O'Connell and Ryan Jennings, Erin Rae, Jo Schornikow (Phosphorescent) on keys, drummer Ben Parks, Michael Ruth (Rich Ruth) on synths, guitarist Jack Quiggins and steel player Spencer Cullum. A co-founder of the band Promised Land Sound, Thompson’s nimble and lyrical guitar playing has anchored the live bands of Erin Rae, Teddy and the Roughriders, Emily Nenni, Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection and more.

Head In The Sand Tracklist
1. Head In The Sand
2. Storm’s Comin Tonight
3. Roll On Buddy
4. Not In The Cards
5. New Memories
6. Fizz
7. Riding In The Van
8. Sweet Taste of Tennessee
9. Saying The Quiet Part Out Loud
10. Song From The Heart

Today, Omnivore Recordings announced The Exciting Sounds of Buck Owens And His Buckaroos Live From Richmond, Virgina, 1964 will be released on March 28, pressed on strawberry jam-colored vinyl. It serves as the earliest known full concert recording of Buck and his Buckaroos, mastered from the original tape by Grammy®-winning engineer Michael Graves and including extensive liner notes from co-producer Scott B. Bomar.

Buck Owens and his Buckaroos were a phenomenon when they burst onto the scene in the early 1960s. in 1963–1964, they had five #1 Country hits including “Act Naturally,” “Love’s Gonna Live Here,” “I Don’t Care (Just As Long As You Love Me),” and “My Heart Skips A Beat.” Their live Carnegie Hall Concert release hit #1 in 1966, but how exciting they were onstage before that was largely unheard. Unless you were there. Until now.

The Exciting Sounds Of Buck Owens And His Buckaroos Live From Richmond, Virginia, 1964 is the recently discovered, earliest full-concert recording of The Buckaroos onstage. The band, performing the aforementioned #1 hits and more, shows how their presence and performance in front of a live audience cemented their status as one of the greatest acts of all time—in person and on record.

Painstakingly restored and mastered by multiple Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves, The Exciting Sounds Of Buck Owens And His Buckaroos Live From Richmond, Virginia, 1964 shows a band ready to take over the world. (Even showing appreciation to their new labelmates, The Beatles, with a cover of “Twist And Shout.”) With a first pressing on strawberry jam colored vinyl, the record looks and sounds like it could and should have appeared in 1964, but with 21st century style and technology.

So, head to Richmond and hear Buck Owens And His Buckaroos firing on all cylinders. It may have happened over six decades ago, but it sounds as vital and important to music history now as ever.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/cilDvaQTXq0

Pre-order: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/live-from-richmond

Tracklist:

SIDE ONE

1. intro

2. Act Naturally – (Johnny Russell/Voni Morrison)

3. Love’s Gonna Live Here – (Buck Owens)

4. Together Again – (Buck Owens)

5. My Heart Skips A Beat – (Buck Owens)

6. band intros

7. Orange Blossom Special – (Ervin Rouse)

8. The Streets Of Laredo (The Young Cowboy) – (Trad., arr. by Buck Owens)

9. I Don’t Care (Just As Long As You Love Me) – (Buck Owens)

10. Close Up The Honky Tonks – (Red Simpson)

SIDE TWO

1. Mexican Polka/Buck’s Polka – (Buck Owens)

2. Truck Drivin’ Man – (Terry Fell)

3. A-11 – (Hank Cochran)

4. Release Me – (Eddie Miller/W.S. Stevenson)

5. Hello Trouble – (Eddie McDuff/Orville Couch)

6. I Don’t Hear You – (Buck Owens)

7. Dang Me – (Roger Miller)

8. Hello Walls No. 2 – (Willie Nelson/Sheb Wooley)

9. Long Tall Texan – (Henry Strzelecki)

10. Twist And Shout – (Phil Medley/Bert Russell)

Today, Sterling Drake has announced his debut album The Shape I’m In, due out May 2 via Calusa Music/Missing Piece Records. Produced by GRAMMY-winning Icelandic musician Thorleifur Davidsson (Sierra Ferrell, KALEO), the new album is a captivating exploration of the Montana troubadour’s journey, vulnerably reflecting on love, heartbreak, purpose and the revelations that bring us back home. Along with the announcement, Drake has shared his new single “She Means Everything to Me,” a tender confession of gratitude for an unwavering partner, which arrives just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Listen to “She Means Everything to Me” via YouTube

Stream “She Means Everything to Me”

Pre-order/pre-save The Shape I’m In

“‘She Means Everything to Me’ explores personal struggle and the redemptive power of love,” says Drake. “The song is ultimately framed as a conversation with God about the hardships I faced in the early stages of my career and the adoration I felt for a partner who had been a stable figure during a tumultuous time in my life. Navigating this early stage of life can be extremely taxing on a relationship, but if you both weather the storm, it can ultimately create a meaningful love that endures.”

On The Shape I’m In, Drake masterfully draws from country, folk, Celtic, and bluegrass traditions to forge something entirely its own. His songwriting is profoundly existential here, balancing the emotional and the intellectual in equal measure as it grapples with the life experiences that make us who we are. The story Drake tells is a personal one, but it speaks to broader humanity – to the fundamental search for belonging that defines us.

Growing up always on the move, Drake is equally musically inspired by his childhood punk-band days in the Florida suburbs as he is by his penchant for country music and current Montana ranching lifestyle. After striking out on his own, he found ways to bring all of his passions together, pulling from his work with horses and cattle, his travels as a touring musician, and his time spent writing and performing in Nashville to craft an enthralling sound. In 2021, he began releasing a series of singles and EPs that prompted Rolling Stone to praise his “rough-hewn aesthetics,” and in 2024, he took home Male Honky Tonk Artist of the Year honors at the annual Ameripolitan Awards in Austin.

Now with his debut album in tow, Drake hopes the message of his new music will help inspire those in his fellow ranching community who may be struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse. “I’ve found songs to be particularly effective in reaching people that might not otherwise be ready to have these kinds of conversations,” he explains. “Ranchers tend to have their guard up, but there’s a sense of trust and vulnerability that comes with music that can really affect change in people.”

This relatable honesty is at the core of Drake’s performances on The Shape I’m In. “I left home at 17 without any idea where I’d end up. All I knew was that if I held onto my dreams, they’d lead me where I was meant to be.”

The Shape I’m In:

1. The Shape I'm In

2. Calusa

3. She Means Everything to Me

4. Ozark Rose (feat. Timbo)

5. Best Worst Thing

6. Nothing to Lose

7. Troubadour’s Blues

8. House of the Rising Sun

9. Neon Lights & Cheap Perfume

10. In My Dreams

11. White Freightliner Blues

12. Tramps and Hawkers

13. Worthy of the Name (feat. Brennen Leigh)

14. Reprise

Today, Texas-via-Oklahoma band Jason Boland & The Stragglers released “Take Me Back To Austin,” the final pre-release single ahead of their new album The Last Kings of Babylon, out March 14 via Thirty Tigers. The breezy single celebrates his adopted home of Austin, TX – his favorite place to return to from the road and where he first met his wife. The Last Kings of Babylon marks a full circle moment for the band as they reunite with legendary producer Lloyd Maines, who produced the band’s debut album Pearl Snaps.

“My wife and I lived in Austin when we first got together, and then we moved out into the country in Texas, where it can be pretty boring,” Boland explains. “People expect with how much time I spend on the road that I’d want to come home and kick my shoes off when I finally get a break, but all we ever want to do is head right back into Austin and catch a band.”

“Take Me Back To Austin” follows the release of “High Time” and “Drive,” which was featured in American Songwriter, Country Central, Whiskey Riff and All Country News who proclaimed, “This balance of sorrow and resilience is what makes Boland’s artistry so compelling.”

Jason Boland & The Stragglers will embark on a 2025 album release tour that kicks off on March 14 in Waco, TX and culminates with four sold-out “The Boys of Oklahoma” stadium shows from April 10-14 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, OK alongside Cross Canadian Ragweed, Turnpike Troubadours, The Great Divide and Stoney LaRue. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit their website. 

The announcement of The Last Kings of Babylon arrives on the heels of the band’s 25th anniversary. A quarter of a century ago, Boland and his Stragglers cemented themselves in the alt-country and Red Dirt scenes with the release of their 1999 breakthrough Pearl Snaps. Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the country scene’s most multidimensional songwriters,” Boland would go on to sell more than half a million albums and collaborate with Shooter Jennings and Robert Earl Keen over the course of his career.

In 2024 alone, Boland and his band mounted a 30-date anniversary tour, released a live album Live From Cain’s Ballroom, and cemented their status as one of the pillars of the Red Dirt movement with “The Boys of Oklahoma” concerts which have sold over 180,000 tickets.

The Last Kings of Babylon tracklist:
1) Next To Last Hank Williams
2) Truest Colors
3) Drive
4) Take Me Back To Austin 
5) High Time
6) One Law At A Time
7) Ain’t No Justice
8) Farmall
9) Irish Goodbye
10) Buffalo Return To The Plains

Tour Dates:
2/15 – Yantis, TX – Neon Moon Restaurant and Social Club
2/22 – Fredericksburg, TX – Luckenbach Texas
3/14 – Waco, TX – The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill
3/15 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler
3/20 – Austin, TX – 3Ten ACL Live
3/21 – Lubbock, TX – Cactus Theater
3/22 – Roswell, NM – The Liberty, Inc
3/28 – Springfield, MO – Midnight Rodeo
3/29 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Indy
3/31 – Detroit, MI – El Club
4/1 – Evanston, IL – SPACE
4/2 – Bloomington, IN – Castle Theatre
4/3 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
4/4 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads
4/5 – Fort Smith, AR – The Majestic
4/10 – Stillwater, OK – Boone Pickens Stadium 
4/11 – Stillwater, OK – Boone Pickens Stadium 
4/12 – Stillwater, OK – Boone Pickens Stadium 
4/13 – Stillwater, OK – Boone Pickens Stadium 
5/10 – Tyler, TX – East Texas State Fair - Tyler BBQ & Music Festival
5/17 – Crystal Beach, TX – Camp Margaritaville RV Resort Crystal Beach

Today, the Iowa-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Hailey Whitters released a new song “Prodigal Daughter” featuring Molly Tuttle on guitar and harmony vocals. The song was co-written by Hailey Whitters, Paul Sikes and Bryan Simpson, who she collaborated with on her platinum hit “Everything She Ain’t,” and features performances by reigning CMA Musician of the Year Charlie Worsham and ace bluegrass players Bryan Sutton, Stuart Duncan and Justin Moses. 

Listen to “Prodigal Daughter (feat. Molly Tuttle)”

Watch the official “Prodigal Daughter (feat. Molly Tuttle)” lyric video via YouTube

“‘Prodigal Daughter’ represents a return to my roots, my faith and what's important to me,” explains Whitters about the new song. “Over the last few years, I've been listening to a lot of bluegrass music, and I’ve been so excited by the new faces propelling the genre - especially artists like Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings. Their music definitely inspired this one, and I was lucky enough to get Molly to be a part of it and to record with some of my favorite bluegrass musicians like Bryan Sutton, Stuart Duncan, Justin Moses and Charlie Worsham to help me define a new sound for this record.”

“Prodigal Daughter” follows the release of “Casseroles,” which was lauded as a “Song You Need to Know” (Rolling Stone), a “nuanced reflection on grief and recovery” (Billboard), “an undeniable triumph” (Holler), a “testament that she can hang with some of the genre’s best” (Country Central), “proof she’s only getting better” (Wide Open Country) and “a beautiful and striking tune” (Whiskey Riff). 

“Casseroles” marked Whitters’ first song release since her critically-acclaimed 2023 EP I’m In Love, which received raves from American Songwriter, Billboard and Stereogum, who called the title track “an expertly constructed bit of music” and proclaimed, “Whitters can tell a story, but on this one, she tells a feeling. When the song hits right, you can almost feel all that joyous anticipation yourself.” That same year, Whitters was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards and took home the ACM Award for New Female Artist of the Year, performing her platinum certified hit “Everything She Ain’t” during the show. The song marked her debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and her first top 20 hit at country radio.

In recent months, Whitters has released collaborations with Max McNown, Evan Honer and Brooks & Dunn. In November, she experienced a full-circle moment supporting Alan Jackson on his final tour date of 2024 in Salt Lake City after penning his 2017 single “The Older I Get.” Whitters closed out her year with two sold-out shows at her hometown honky-tonk DanceMor Ballroom in Swisher, Iowa. 

This year, Whitters will perform at the inaugural Sand in My Boots festival on May 16 in Gulf Shores, Alabama and at Under the Big Sky Music Festival from July 18 to 20 in Whitefish, Montana. To keep up with tour dates, visit HaileyWhitters.com.

About Hailey Whitters: 
Hailey Whitters is a GRAMMY-nominated, platinum-selling singer/songwriter from Shueyville, Iowa, and currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2023, she took home the ACM Award for New Female Artist of the Year and was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards. That same year, she made her late-night TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, soon followed by performances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC’s Today and the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, where she performed her platinum-certified single “Everything She Ain’t.” The song appeared on her breakthrough album Raised, which was named Rolling Stone’s #1 country album of the year and, like her 2020 album The Dream, appeared on over 15 other year-end best-of lists. “Everything She Ain’t” marked multiple firsts for Whitters, including her first-ever top-20 single at country radio, her debut on the Billboard Hot 100, and RIAA Platinum certification. Over the last five years, Whitters has toured with Luke Combs, Shania Twain, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church and Luke Bryan, and has performed at festivals such as Coachella, Bonnaroo and C2C. She has been featured in The New Yorker, New York Magazine and on NPR’s Weekend Edition. Outside of recording her own music, Whitters has written songs for Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Brandy Clark and more. 

Today, acclaimed guitarist and Wilco member Nels Cline released “Slipping into Something,” the third single from his upcoming album Consentrik Quartet, out March 14 via Blue Note Records. The release is the eponymous debut of the guitarist’s band comprising saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, bassist Chris Lightcap, and drummer Tom Rainey. By turns swinging, grooving, bracing, mesmeric, and quietly stunning, the album spotlights the ensemble’s profound chemistry as well as Cline’s versatility as both a player and a writer. Consentrik Quartet is available for pre-order on Blue Note Store exclusive color vinyl, black vinyl, CD, or download. 

Listen to “Slipping into Something”

This spring, Nels Cline will be touring the Northeast with Consentrik Quartet, including April 14 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. The band will also be celebrating the album release with a performance at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 30. Cline will in fact be making four appearances at the festival this year including performances with eucademix (March 28) and Jenny Scheinman (March 29), as well as the first live show by an expanded version of The Nels Cline Singers (March 28) since the release of Share The Wealth in 2020. Full list of tour dates below, or visit nelscline.com/shows for more info.

Cline’s range is undeniable. Think of how he elevates the songs of Jeff Tweedy as a member of Wilco, or the diverse musical terrain he’s traversed on his albums for Blue Note Records over the past decade — from the gorgeous, sweeping mood music of Lovers featuring lush arrangements by Michael Leonhart to the wide-open sonic audacity of Share The Wealth, the latter featuring his longtime group the Nels Cline Singers.

Consentrik Quartet also underscores his ceaseless appetite for and encyclopedic knowledge of great improvised music: Committed jazz observers might hear echoes of the guitar/sax frontline attack and programmatic scope of the John Scofield/Joe Lovano quartets, as well as the soft-spoken intensity and seamless blend of composition and improvisation that defined the various iterations of the Jimmy Giuffre 3. It also calls to mind adventurous 1960s Blue Note classics by Andrew Hill, Eric Dolphy, and others. In fact, Consentrik Quartet feels at times like a roadmap to Cline’s rich and considered palette of influences.

Of course Cline, a genial and generous man, can’t help but channel praise toward his empathetic bandmates. Compared to his often-otherworldly Singers, he explains, the Consentrik Quartet is “much more of a jazz group, if I dare use that word. I wanted to have the music reflect the players, and have the players come forth so that everybody is able to hear them and enjoy their lucidity and their mastery.”

To start, “I’ve got one of the greatest drummers on the planet in the band” in Tom Rainey, says Cline. Rainey, probably best known for his work with Tim Berne and Laubrock, his spouse, is that rare avant-gardist who can expertly color and improvise freely, then swing with old-school ferocity. Lightcap has earned acclaim for his original music and his collaborations with Regina Carter, Craig Taborn, Joe Morris, Matt Wilson, and other luminaries, and Cline praises the vast reach of his skills.

A superb avant-gardist whose music is equally challenging and alluring, Laubrock has left Cline dumbstruck over the years as a co-leader with Rainey and in groups like guitarist Mary Halvorson’s octet. “I heard her negotiating these perplexing chord changes in that band, with this amazing combination of great facility but also a kind of intimacy,” he says. “Honestly, when I listen to her playing on the Consentrik record, I’m consistently blown away. To me, it sounds like it’s her record because of how she shines.”

The pandemic figures heavily into the Consentrik story. Cline first assembled these musicians six years ago, for a free-improvisation set at the Brooklyn outpost of John Zorn’s venue The Stone. Soon after, Cline became aware of a commission and grant opportunity through the renowned Philadelphia arts organization Ars Nova Workshop, to compose new music and tour it in the Eastern U.S. “So I wrote about why I thought this was something I’d want to do, and I got the grant,” Cline says. “And then the pandemic hit.”

Cline estimates he wrote half of this material during lockdown, first in Brooklyn and then in rural upstate New York, where he and his wife relocated. “Suddenly,” Cline recalls, “we were enveloped in silence.” The respite afforded Cline the bandwidth to immerse himself in writing, and to think in a diligent way about what the Consentrik aesthetic could be. “Initially, for myself anyway, my sonic palette, I was looking at a more conservative approach—a little more traditional, I guess you’d say.” But Cline’s imagination, it turns out, is too fertile to be hemmed in by artistic parameters—even if he sets them himself. “Over time, I found myself looping and writing funkier grooving tunes,” he says.

This new release is also, in many ways, a love letter to the Brooklyn improvised-music scene that he became a vital player in well over a decade ago. And though he no longer lives in the borough, his allegiance to the creative musicians Brooklyn nurtures remains steadfast.

“My dream starting in the mid-’70s was to live in New York City and play music there,” Cline reflects. “I didn’t do it until 2009, when I met Yuka [Honda], and I thought, ‘Whoa—I guess I’m finally doing this.’ But I was very happy to be a part of this community. And I’m still happy about it.”

April 2025 - Consentrik Tour 
3/30 - Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears
4/7 - Portsmouth, NH @ The Press Room
4/8 - Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
4/9 - Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
4/10 - Nashua, NH @ Nashua Center for the Arts
4/11 - Marlboro, NY @ The Falcon
4/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ Solar Myth
4/14 - New York, NY @ LPR

Today, Bachman Turner-Overdrive, the legendary rock n’ roll band behind worldwide hits such as “Takin’ Care Of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”, announced a new run of US tour dates dubbed, Roll On Down The Highway 2025 Tour. A majority of the shows will be co-headlined with southern rock pioneers The Marshall Tucker Band, with the 70s/80s hitmakers Jefferson Starship as the special guest. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 28.

The US tour will follow BTO’s massive Back In Overdrive Tour 2025, an extensive run of shows across Canada this April and May. Multi-platinum April Wine and Headpins, two fellow Canadian rock bands, will open in support. Tickets are on sale now.

Last year, Randy Bachman revived BTO, and has continued to tour throughout 2024 with a run of US dates wrapping up next week. Led by Bachman, BTO's latest lineup also includes his son Tal Bachman. With Randy's legendary guitar and Tal's contemporary flair, BTO forges ahead, blending their classic hits with a fresh energy that captivates audiences worldwide. The band will also be performing hits from The Guess Who, the iconic classic rock group which Bachman co-founded with Burton Cummings. The BTO legacy lives on, promising unforgettable performances and a continued impact on the ever-evolving rock landscape.

Bachman has become a legendary figure in the rock and roll world through his talents as a guitarist, songwriter, performer and producer. Bachman has earned over 120 gold and platinum album/singles awards around the world. His songwriting has garnered him the coveted #1 spot on radio playlists in over 20 countries and over the course of his career he has sold over 40 million records. Randy’s songs have been recorded by a broad range of artists and have been placed in dozens of TV shows, films and commercials. Impressively, his music has provided a veritable soundtrack of the last thirty years of popular music.

Founded in Spartanburg, SC over five decades ago, the 5x Gold, 3x Platinum-selling rock band The Marshall Tucker Band have sold millions of albums worldwide thanks to hits such as “Can’t You See,” “Heard It in a Love Song,” “Fire on the Mountain,” and “24 Hours At a Time.” CMT once named “Can’t You See” the #4 Greatest Southern Rock Song while Ultimate Classic Rock crowned it the #1 Southern Rock Song. Their self titled debut album reigns as Gibson Guitar’s #5 Greatest Southern Rock Album of all time, and GRAMMY Magazine named the group’s logo as one of the most distinctive and iconic brands in music. In 2023, the MTB was awarded Pandora’s Billionaires Plaque, recognizing over one billion streams on the platform. For more information on The Marshall Tucker Band, visit marshalltucker.com or their Facebook Page.

US Tour Dates with The Marshall Tucker Band and Jefferson Starship:

July 18 –  Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Cove

July 19 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Casino

July 20 – Fargo, ND – Scheels Arena

July 22 – Interlochen, MI – Kresge Auditorium

July 24 – Appleton, WI – Neuroscience Group Field

July 25 – Terre Haute, IN – The Mill Terre Haute

July 26 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center

August 1 – El Reno, OK – Lucky Star Casino

August 3 – Amarillo, TX – Amarillo Civic Center Complex #

# Outlaws replacing Jefferson Starship as special guest

US Tour Dates - BTO only:

July 28 – Bloomington, IL – Bloomington Center For The Performing Art

July 29 – Elk Grove Village, IL – The Village Green at the Charles Zettek Municipal Complex

July 31 – Jefferson City, MO – MU Health Care Capital Region Amphitheater

August 15  – Wendover, NV – Peppermill Casino

August 16 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar PAC

August 18 – Boise, ID – Western Idaho Fair

August 21 – Pala, CA – Pala Casino

August 22 – Ft. McDowell, AZ – We-Ko-Pa Casino

August 23 – Albuquerque, NM – Legends Theater at Route 66 Casino

Back In Overdrive 2025 Canada Tour Dates with April Wine and Headpins:

April 1 – Victoria, BC – Save On Foods Memorial Centre

April 3 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre

April 4 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Event Centre

April 6 – Cranbrook, BC – Western Financial Place

April 8 – Prince George, BC – CN Centre

April 9 – Grand Prairie, AB – Bonnetts Energy Centre

April 11 – Calgary, AB – Event Centre at Grey Eagle Casino

April 12 – Calgary, AB –  Event Centre at Grey Eagle Casino

April 13 – Lethbridge, AB – VisitLethbridge.com Arena

April 15 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre

April 17 –  Brandon, MB – Westoba Place at Keystone Centre

April 19 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre 

April 24 – Kitchener, ON – The Aud (Kitchener Memorial Auditorium)

April 26 – Toronto, ON – Great Canadian Resort Toronto

April 28 – St. Catharines, ON – Meridian Centre

April 29 – Peterborough, ON – Peterborough Memorial Centre

May 1 – London, ON – Canada Life Place

May 2 – Ottawa, ON – The Arena at TD Place

May 4 – Sudbury, ON – Sudbury Arena

May 5 –  Laval, QC – Place Bell

May 7 – Saint John, NB – TD Station

May 8 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre

Today, The GRAMMY-winning musician, songwriter, and producer Dan Wilson announced his new album good night, los angeles, an 18-song collection of piano recordings born out of a regular series of Sunday evening recordings he would post to social media. Recorded entirely on a 1918 Vose & Sons upright piano that was found on the streets of Hollywood, the record marks Wilson’s first instrumental release and offers a rare glimpse into the award-winning songwriter’s raw, unvarnished creative process.

Today, Wilson released the first selections from the forthcoming album, accompanied by an animated video for the three-song medley “deervale / moorpark / tujunga.” Each of the album’s 18 tracks are accompanied by videos from art director Yazz Alali and illustrator/animator Sarah Nelson, who paired the music with hypnotic animations of mushrooms growing and interacting, their mycelium spreading out through the soil and entangling together to create increasingly complex neural networks.

Watch the video for “deervale / moorpark / tujunga” via YouTube.
Stream “deervale,” “moorpark,” and “tujunga” HERE.

About the album, Wilson explains: “Last month, I was scheduled to announce my first instrumental album, good night, los angeles. The album was born out of a weekly artistic practice: late Sunday nights I would sit down at the piano and improvise a simple, peaceful instrumental piece on the spot. Then I’d share it on Instagram with the caption #goodnightlosangeles. It was a calming and meditative practice for me, and I hoped the songs would have the same calming and meditative effect on listeners. I ended up making nearly 200 of them. Late last year, I compiled my favorites into an album for a January release. But then the wildfires hit my town, and I hesitated. I didn’t want to appear tone-deaf - especially given the album’s title. But now I can’t help wanting to move forward and share this music with the world. I'm from Minneapolis, but I’ve lived here since 2010 and good night, los angeles is a love letter to my adopted city. These are late-night improvised lullabies, and I hope they can help someone put down their worries for a moment and feel the peace of those quiet nights here in LA.”

About the video, he adds: “I loved the idea of these songs soundtracking the amazing, hidden life of the forest floor at night. Sarah is a brilliant wildlife artist, and she did such a beautiful job of tapping into the emotional core of these songs and translating that into the natural world.”

An instrumental piano album may seem like an unlikely project for an artist so known for his way with words, who last year alone received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song (“It Never Went Away”), won his first CMA Award for Song of the Year (“White Horse”) and took home the GRAMMY for Country Song of the Year (“White Horse). But in the end, the result is classic Wilson: an evocative work of deep emotion and thoughtful beauty, one crafted purely for the love of the creation and shared in the hopes of forging meaningful connection.

About the forthcoming album, Wilson adds: “The past 12 months have been packed with incredible honors and recognition for my songwriting. Even if these are things I never think about when I’m making the music, it’s sweet to get respect for it afterwards. Mainly though, I’m in it for the inspiration, the process, the moment of creation, the laughs and the seriousness of a recording session, the joy of sharing what we make. I feel luckiest when I’m living the life of an artist. The thing I’m most excited about this year is the release of my improvised piano lullaby album, good night, los angeles. These songs all happened as part of a weekly artistic practice of sitting down at the piano and making up a new instrumental piece on the spot. Sunday night, family is asleep, house is dark, city is quiet; go to the piano and improvise into my phone for just a few minutes; if it’s good, post it online with the hashtag #goodnightlosangeles. Seems like people have found them just as calming and meditative to listen to as they were for me to record. That is its own kind of honor, and one that I deeply appreciate.”

good night, los angeles tracklist:
1) mulholland 
2) deervale
3) moorpark
4) tujunga
5) rhinestone
6) volledam
7) beverly glen
8) ambrose
9) van nuys
10) round valley
11) avon
12) alexandria 
13) ventura
14) fairway
15) coldwater
16) normandie
17) laurel
18) hillhurst

Today, Academy Award-nominated actress Amy Irving has shared her new single “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So” featuring Steve Earle, the latest offering from her forthcoming album Always Will Be, out April 25 via Queen Of The Castle Records/Missing Piece Records. Originally written by Tony Award-winning songwriter Frank Loesser and popularized further by Willie Nelson, “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So” finds Irving and Earle exchanging confessional verses about a lover’s lament over a sauntering, jazzy arrangement. The new track is one of many renditions from her longtime friend Nelson’s iconic catalog that comprises Always Will Be, with additional special guests including Amy Helm, Louis Cato, Chris Pierce, Lizzie No and Nelson himself.

“I Wish I Didn’t Love You So” arrives on the heels of Irving’s critically acclaimed film Crossing Delancey being added to the Criterion Collection earlier this month. She recently spoke with Vulture about “the New York rom-com classic” and this prestigious honor.

Listen to “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So” (feat. Steve Earle) via YouTube

Stream “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So” (feat. Steve Earle)

Pre-order/pre-save Always Will Be

“Two of the songs on my new album, which is a celebration of Willie Nelson’s music, were not written by him,” says Irving. “He sang wonderful renditions of ‘I Wish I Didn’t Love You So’ and ‘I’d Have to Be Crazy’ in the past, and he suggested them for me. ‘I Wish…’ was written by Frank Loesser in 1947 for the Paramount movie The Perils of Pauline, and the amazing Steve Earle joins me for this duet. One of my very favorite albums in the world is the soundtrack to the movie One From the Heart with Tom Waits singing his songs in his deep, gravelly voice along with the more pure sounds of Crystal Gayle. I feel like we are in the same lane with this new recording.”

“I Wish I Didn’t Love You So” follows the bittersweet “Always Will Be” (feat. Amy Helm), a tribute to Irving’s late best friend Judy Nelson that has garnered praise from Variety, Holler, The Bluegrass Situation and more. The origin of Always Will Be begins with Irving and Nelson’s decades-long friendship, which spans back to meeting while shooting the 1980 film Honeysuckle Rose. After dueting on a reimagining of his song “I’m Waiting Forever,” Nelson proposed that Irving record an album entirely of his work. She took him up on the offer, collaborating again with bandleader Goolis (Jules David Bartkowski) for these 10 genre-defying tracks.

Over Irving’s prolific career, she has been heralded as a “revelation” by Time, while Variety dubbed her “a gifted stage actress of uncompromising integrity.” She first came to prominence with early screen roles in Brian DePalma’s Carrie and The Fury. Nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Yentl, Irving has captivated audiences with beloved starring roles in films like Crossing Delancey, The Competition and Micki and Maude.

Now in this latest chapter, Irving has created an arresting body of work that couples her gift for dynamic storytelling with her talent for bringing unexpected and inspiring interpretations to the works of others. Shifting into music, the playground may look slightly different, but the creative impulse and deep dedication to craft remain.

Irving will be performing album release shows at New York City’s City Winery on May 4 and Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY on May 31. For more information and tickets, visit amyirvingmusic.com.

Always Will Be Tracklist:

1. It’s a Dream Come True (feat. Lizzie No)

2. Yesterday’s Wine (feat. Goolis)

3. I Guess I've Come to Live Here In Your Eyes (feat. Chris Pierce)

4. I'd Have To Be Crazy

5. If You Want Me to Love You I Will

6. I Wish I Didn't Love You So (feat. Steve Earle)

7. Getting Over You (feat. Goolis)

8. Everywhere I Go (feat. Louis Cato)

9. Always Will Be (feat. Amy Helm)

10. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground (feat. Willie Nelson)

Today, Candid Records and Chick Corea Productions released Trilogy 3, a new double live album. In 2020, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and jazz icon Chick Corea hit the road with his powerhouse trio of Christian McBride and Brian Blade, embarking on what would be Corea’s final tour. The recordings from those shows are now being released as Trilogy 3, the third installment from this extraordinary group. The album is out digitally today with CD & vinyl pre-orders available now for release on May 30. Earlier this month, Corea was posthumously awarded with his 28th GRAMMY® for Remembrance, a collaborative album recorded with Béla Fleck. 

Listen to Trilogy 3

Watch “Windows” Visualizer 

With years of collaboration to draw from, nine-time GRAMMY®-winning bassist Christian McBride and four-time GRAMMY®-winning drummer Brian Blade bring a profound musical connection to their work with Corea. On Trilogy 3, their long standing partnership fuels a dynamic, ever-evolving soundscape that elevates the art of the jazz trio to new heights.

Following the critically acclaimed Trilogy (2013) and Trilogy 2 (2018) albums, which each earned two GRAMMY Awards® including Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Trilogy 3 marks yet another milestone for this celebrated ensemble. The release brings together live performances from their February-March 2020 tour, cut short by the onset of the pandemic, capturing the trio’s extraordinary interplay and artistic brilliance. The album features fresh interpretations of jazz standards by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, alongside Chick Corea compositions, and a vibrant take on Domenico Scarlatti’s “Sonata In D Minor.”

Widely regarded as one of Chick’s most acclaimed ensembles, this trio has consistently pushed the boundaries of jazz with technical brilliance, playful camaraderie, and deep emotional resonance. Trilogy 3 invites listeners to join these masters on a journey through music that is both timeless and groundbreaking.

Physical formats arrive on May 30, and pre-orders are available now. The vinyl release is a double-disc LP in a gatefold jacket. Produced and recorded by Bernie Kirsh, and mastered by Bernie Grundman. Both the LP and CD feature personal liner notes from Christian McBride and Brian Blade.

Tracklisting:
1. Humpty Dumpty
2. Windows
3. Ask Me Now
4. You’d Be So Easy To Love
5. Trinkle Tinkle
6. Scarlatti: Sonata in D Minor K9, L413 Allegro
7. Spanish Song
8. Tempus Fugit

About Chick Corea: 
Born in 1941 in Massachusetts, the iconic keyboardist, composer and bandleader Chick Corea was a DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, as well as one of the most nominated artists in GRAMMY Awards history with 75 nods – and 28 wins, in addition to 5 Latin GRAMMYS. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, bebop to jazz-rock fusion, children’s songs to chamber and symphonic works, Corea touched an astonishing number of musical bases in his career since playing with the genre-shattering bands of Miles Davis in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

While one would expect the 20th century to have been the apex of Corea’s career, he was certainly as productive in the 21st. Whether playing acoustic piano or electric keyboards, leading multiple bands, performing solo or collaborating with a who’s who of musicians, Chick’s career never paused. Underscoring this, he was named Artist of the Year three times between 2014 and 2018 in the DownBeat Readers Poll, a publication that called him “a pianist virtually without peer.”

CANDID RECORDS: From 1960-1963, founder, A&R man, and producer Nat Hentoff recorded over 30 extraordinary albums for the Candid Records label.  One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues.  Candid sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer, Alan Bates, bought the label in 1989. The next phase of Candid Records is happening now.  Since its relaunch in 2021 the label has reissued over 30 titles to high critical acclaim. Thanks to brilliant new releases, Candid has received four GRAMMY® awards – 2024 winners the Count Basie Orchestra, 2023 winners Terri Lyne Carrington and Wayne Shorter, and 2022 winner Eliane Elias. Today’s Candid is not only committed to its legacy but looks forward to defining its future with the quality music that is synonymous with its elite heritage.  Learn more at www.candidrecords.com

Today, the New York-based artist The Bones of J.R. Jones (aka Jonathon Linaberry) announced his 6th studio album Radio Waves will be released on June 20 via Tone Tree Music. The 11-song collection was produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Robbie Lackritz (Feist, Bahamas) and marks Linaberry’s first time working with an outside producer. 

Also today, he released the album’s debut single “Savages,” a driving anthem that revels in the reckless abandon of young adulthood. Magnet Magazine called the single “An intoxicating first dip into Radio Waves… a warmly hypnotic, achingly nostalgic reassessment of misspent youth.”

Stream / embed “Savages” via YouTube.

“‘Savages’ is finding yourself out all night in the July heat under city street lights, at a house party, getting lost with your friends and being completely enveloped in that moment. It’s surrendering to that feeling. Letting yourself feel wrecked, gut punched, inspired, and bleary eyed. It’s about wanting to disappear right then and there in the hopes that time stops.”  

This week, The Bones of J.R. Jones kicks off his largest European tour to date, before hitting the road this spring and summer for an extensive US tour that will make stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville and many more. Below please find a full list of tour dates or visit his website. 

From being hailed by Noisey a “one man band who can hold an audience rapt, rendering the cacophony of a stage full of musicians utterly unnecessary,” The Bones of J.R. Jones has spent the last decade evolving into a full-fledged headliner who has remained fiercely independent while amassing more than 650,000 unique monthly listeners on Spotify alone. In recent years, his music has been used in a slew of films and television shows including True Detective, Suits, Daredevil, Longmire, and Graceland. 

Moody and hypnotic, Radio Waves is steeped in the sonic landscape of the ’80s and ’90s as it excavates the past with equal parts nostalgia and curiosity. “After a dozen years of touring and recording, I found myself getting burnt out by the constant barrage of new music that’s out there,” Linaberry reflects. “In some ways, it’s great to have that kind of access, but it can also be numbing, and I found myself missing what it felt like to have an album change your life, to listen to your cassette of Born In The U.S.A. so many times you have to wind the tape back up with a pencil.” 

Linaberry set out to tap back into that magic on Radio Waves, writing songs steeped in the sounds and stories of his own coming of age. He tuned out the modern world in favor of stark, lo-fi demos built around fingerpicked guitars and old school electronics. “A lot of these songs started on a drum machine, which was very intentional,” Linaberry explains. “I wanted to focus on simplicity, on stripping tracks back to their most essential elements so that the melody and the vocals could shine.”

“These songs live in the night—the endless kind, where you get in your car just to drive and listen to music, to feel like you’re going somewhere even if you’re not,” Linaberry says. “It’s the sound of a kitchen heavy with the leftover heat of an August day and a table crowded with drinks, of arguments and first loves and first heartbreaks, of not living up to your potential, of breaking promises, of being human.”

Radio Waves follows the release of his critically-acclaimed 2023 LP Slow Lightning that was met with acclaim from American Songwriter, Holler, Magnet Magazine, Glide Magazine, NYS Music and The Alternate Root, who called it ”a record that doesn’t sound like anything but itself.”

Radio Waves tracklist:
1. Car Crash
2. Savages
3. Heart Attack
4. Shameless
5. Catching You
6. Ghost featuring Two Runner
7. Wasting Some Time
8. Hills
9. Drive
10. The Devil
11. Start Again

European Tour:
3/7 – Paris, FR – Supersonic Records (SOLD OUT)
3/8 – Saint-Germain-en-Laye, FR – La Clef
3/10 – Antwerp, BE – Rock Lobster (SOLD OUT)
3/11 – Brussels, BE – Rotonde 
3/12 – Ramsgate, UK – Ramsgate Music Hall
3/13 – London, UK – The Garage
3/14 – Manchester, UK – Gullivers (SOLD OUT)
3/15 – Norwich, UK – Norwich Arts Centre
3/16 – Brighton, UK – Komedia Studio
3/18 – Nijmegen, NL – Merleyn (SOLD OUT)
3/19 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg
3/20 – Groningen, NL – Der Aa-Theater
3/21 – Cologne, DE – Gebäude 9
3/22 – Berlin, DE – Neue Zukunft

Radio Waves Album Release Tour:
5/8 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street
5/9 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
5/13 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle
5/14 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
5/15 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood
5/16 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5
5/17 – Nashville, TN – Row One Stage
6/12 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda's
6/13 – Boston, MA – Brighton
6/14 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse
6/15 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
6/17 – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz
6/18 – Ottawa, ON – Rainbow Bistro
6/19 – Toronto, ON – Sound Garage
6/21 – Andes, NY – Andes Hootenanny

Today, 9x GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist, producer, composer, bandleader, arranger, educator, broadcaster, and artistic director Christian McBride—widely regarded as the most versatile figure in jazz—introduces his newest ensemble, Christian McBride & Ursa Major. The group features an extraordinary lineup of rising stars: saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King, and drummer Savannah Harris. With their debut single, “More Is,” McBride showcases the next generation of jazz virtuosos, delivering an adventurous, genre-defying musical journey that only a master of his caliber can orchestrate.

Listen to Christian McBride & Ursa Major “More Is”

“I’m so thrilled to finally have some music out from my new band of young giants, Ursa Major, and to be releasing it in digital and 45 format,” says McBride. “I’ve been playing with this group on the road for the past two years and we’ve gotten to be a tightly knit unit. They are truly the finest of jazz’s contemporary generation. Drummer Savannah Harris wrote ‘More Is’ and it’s an audience favorite on the road. The combination of Savannah’s incredible groove with that infectious melody makes this track hard to beat.”

Savannah Harris is a drummer, composer and producer who’s performed and recorded with artists like Helado Negro, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Standing on the Corner, Jason Moran, Ambrose Akinmusire, Terrence Blanchard, Billy Childs, Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, and Aaron Parks. Virtuosic pianist Michael King has performed with DeeDee Bridgewater, Theo Croker, Bobby Watson, Kevin Eubanks, Dave Liebeman, Gary Bartz, Billy Hart, Joel Frahm, Rufus Reid, and Antonio Hart. Saxophonist, bandleader, composer, and educator Nicole Glover has released solo album’s like 2024’s Plays, and she’s an integral member of the supergroup ARTEMIS. Ely Perlman is a guitarist, composer, and producer who has collaborated with Shai Maestro and Ben Wendel, leads a jazz quartet highlighting his compositional vision, and is lead singer for the indie band SWIMS.

Christian McBride & Ursa Major are touring the US this spring, and a 7” vinyl release for “More Is” will be released on April 16. Preorder is available HERE. 

Christian McBride & Ursa Major Tour Dates:
03/16 - Frenchtown, NJ - Artyard
03/17 - Philadelphia, PA - City Winery
03/18 - Kingston, NY - Assembly
03/19 - Albany, NY - The Swyer Theatre at The Egg
03/22 - San Francisco, CA - Miner Auditorium (SFJAZZ Center)
03/23 - San Francisco, CA - Miner Auditorium (SFJAZZ Center)
03/24 - Santa Cruz, CA - Kuumbwa Jazz Center
03/27 - Seattle, WA - Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
03/28 - Seattle, WA - Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
03/29 - Seattle, WA - Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
03/30 - Seattle, WA - Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
04/16 - Hanover, NH - Hopkins Center for the Arts
04/22 - Grand Rapids, MI - St. Cecilia Music Center
04/23 - Traverse City, MI - The Alluvian
05/02 - New York, NY - Jazz at Lincoln Center
05/03 - New York, NY - Jazz at Lincoln Center 

About Christian McBride:
Christian McBride is a nine-time GRAMMY-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. He is the Artistic Director of the Christian McBride’s World at Sea cruise, the historic Newport Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. McBride is also a respected educator and advocate for youth, and serves as Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to artistic directing and consistent touring with his ensembles, he hosts NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” and "The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian" on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always part of the music. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him.

International singer-songwriter, actor and activist ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO joined nine-time GRAMMY winning bassist and composer CHRISTIAN McBRIDE for the RALPH PUCCI 9th Annual Jazz Set, The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian® on March 6, 2025. The evening benefited JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, the nationally-acclaimed nonprofit that uses the power and legacy of jazz to give young people an artistic edge, providing access to world-class arts education and live performances, no matter what their financial constraints. 

Angélique Kidjo—an electrifying artist who usually graces grand stages across the globe – brought her dynamic presence to an intimate evening at Ralph Pucci International in New York City, set against the iconic backdrop of Frank Stewart’s masterful jazz photography.

“I don't need to tell you how special Angélique Kidjo is, and what a force of nature she is,” said McBride. “If you've ever seen the great Angélique Kidjo live in concert, she's like the human tornado. She just swoops everybody up with her energy and her musicality.”

The evening hit one high note after another, delivering Kidjo’s powerful message of joy and respect. While introducing her song “Kelele,” Kidjo explained: “This song is about education. When you have the luck to go to a good school, and you have a degree, you can find a future. But for a child to be educated, it takes a whole village. And this song is to thank people who believe in investing in education, because with education we create a better world for all.”

In front of an intimate audience of 200, Kidjo and McBride delivered inspirational performances of some of Kidjo’s other hits like “Choose Love,” “Bemba Colorá,” and “Afirika,” alongside renditions of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” and Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” Kidjo gave a special recognition to her long time collaborator and founding member of Talking Heads, David Byrne who was in the audience. 

Students from JAZZ HOUSE Montclair’s Blue Notes Choir, the Soulful Voices Choir from JAZZ HOUSE NYC, and members of Kidjo’s band accompanied her and McBride for much of the performance, getting the audience on their feet for several songs. McBride once again proved why he is not only one of the most in-demand artists of his time—seamlessly bridging genres—but also a highly sought-after host. 

Funds raised from this one-night-only event enable the JAZZ HOUSE to continue offering life-changing opportunities for all students from diverse backgrounds, strengthening its tuition assistance programs, expanding work in underserved schools, and supporting the growth of programs for career development, CHiCA Power and access to transportation, private lessons instruments for young people who would be sitting on the sidelines.

“When Christian and I were thinking about this evening, we wanted an artist to speak to the values that this organization was built on,” said JAZZ HOUSE founder + president Melissa Walker. “And Angélique, you answer that call, crossing all borders. You are about unity, harmony, and love. And we join you in choosing love.”

Each year, Ralph Pucci transforms the 30,000 square-foot New York art and design gallery into a jazz club, and JAZZ HOUSE Artistic Director Christian McBride invites a special guest to perform and converse with him for a truly unique and intimate musical evening. Angélique Kidjo is the latest icon to have performed at the annual event, now in its ninth year, with past artists including Sting, Norah Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Laurie Anderson, Gregory Porter, John Pizzarelli, and Esperanza Spalding.

“This event has come a long way,” said Pucci. “Nine years ago when we did our first one, Melissa and I did the chairs, and Christian did the sound check. So it's come a long, long way, raising over $2.5M since we began our jazz evenings in support of providing access to music education for kids which is pretty incredible. Thank you to everybody who supported this effort.”  

Legendary musician, artist, record label executive, and philanthropist Herb Alpert has announced a special 60th Anniversary Edition of his seminal album Whipped Cream & Other Delights will release on April 25th, 2025. Renowned as one of the most popular and influential albums in the history of American music, Alpert will celebrate the album’s monumental anniversary by re-releasing the album as a special vinyl picture disc featuring the iconic and enduring album cover image that has been imprinted in the collective consciousness of pop culture for decades. The album has been remastered from its original analog tapes and will be pressed on high quality, 180-gram vinyl. Listeners will revisit some of Alpert’s biggest hits, including “Whipped Cream,” “Lollipops and Roses,” “Ladyfingers,” and “A Taste of Honey,” which won the GRAMMY for Record Of The Year upon the album’s original release.

Pre-Order Whipped Cream & Other Delights (60th Anniversary Edition) Vinyl HERE

“60 years ago in late February 1965, I went into Gold Star Recording Studio in Los Angeles to record what would become my 4th album, Whipped Cream & Other Delights,” stated Alpert. “I never went in with the thought of making an iconic album that people would still be listening to in 2025. I approached the making of this album as I do every single time that I record, which is to find great songs that touch me and to then work with really great musicians that can help paint the picture and create the vibe and feel that I am looking for. I have always made music for my own enjoyment. The album's collection of songs touched me and I remember listening in the studio to the final mixes as they were being sequenced into the final album form and thinking, ‘I really love this.’ And, who knew the album cover would be so iconic?”

Originally released in April 1965, Whipped Cream & Other Delights became an instant classic and spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Albums Chart in 1965 and three weeks at #1 in 1966. It was supplanted at #1 by Alpert’s follow-up albums Going Places and What Now My Love later that year. From November 1965 to November 1966, his albums held down the #1 spot on the Billboard album chart for 23 weeks. He sold 13.3 million records in the US that year alone, ultimately out-selling The Beatles. Alpert would go on to win five GRAMMY Awards across 1965 and 1966, including Record of The Year (“Taste of Honey”), Best Instrumental Performance (“Taste of Honey” and “What Now My Love”), and Best Instrumental Arrangement (“Taste of Honey” and “What Now My Love”).

The anniversary edition of Whipped Cream & Other Delights arrives after Alpert recently reformed his iconic Tijuana Brass Band for the first time in over 40 years for a series of US tour dates this year. The tour kicked off earlier this month with sold out shows in Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky. Upcoming stops will include Detroit, Buffalo, Boston, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Denver, and more, with several shows already sold out and tickets going fast. With an all-new lineup, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights commemorates over six decades of historic releases, performing hits like “The Lonely Bull,” “Spanish Flea,” “Taste of Honey” and “This Guy’s In Love With You.” The tour will also include back-to-back once-in-a-lifetime performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater on March 31st and April 1st celebrating Alpert’s landmark 90th birthday. See below for the full list of tour dates with many more to be announced throughout the year. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE.

Last fall, Alpert marked another extraordinary milestone in his storied music career with the release of his 50th studio album titled 50. The album also commemorates another significant landmark as it celebrates 50 years of marriage to his wife, collaborator, and touring partner, Lani Hall; their golden anniversary. 50 debuted at #4 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart, #17 on the Billboard Jazz Chart, and #1 on the Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and has continued to claim the top spot for three weeks in a row and counting.

Alpert sat down with The New York Times at his home in Malibu and discussed 50, his iconic career, his marriage to Lani, touring, and his work as an artist/sculptor. Of the new album, they raved “The sound he got from his instrument - clean in tone, tidy in arrangement and joyous in character - also speaks of consistency. From the first note of the opening track, ‘Dancing Down 50th Street,’ his playing evokes the brisk and flirty mood of his ‘60s hits, from ‘A Taste of Honey’ to ‘Spanish Flea,’ a sound that represents midcentury modern culture as eloquently as an Eames chair or an Ossie Clark frock.” 50 also earned critical acclaim from NPR, Billboard, Associated Press, Paste, and Stereogum who raved “The legendary trumpeter Herb Alpert has had one hell of a life in music…He’s still going now. Amazing.”

For almost three-quarters-of-a-century, Alpert has always had the rare gift of being able to reach the greatest possible group of people through inhabiting an inimitable artistic voice. He has maintained and reshaped his sound through constant practice, recording, and performing (he continues to tour internationally, playing dozens of shows every year). With his eye invariably set on the future, Alpert is already turning over ideas for multiple upcoming albums. The sentiment crystalizes how one of popular music’s truest originals continues to find ways to connect and reconnect with himself and his audience. It is through his love of artistic kernels of inspiration—a couple of bars, a chord, a suggestive brushstroke—that seem to cut across time.

Whipped Cream & Other Delights (60th Anniversary Edition) Track List:

SIDE ONE

01) A Taste of Honey

02) Green Peppers

03) Tangerine

04) Bittersweet Samba

05) Lemon Tree

06) Whipped Cream

SIDE TWO

07) Love Potion No. 9

08) El Garbanzo

09) Ladyfingers

10) Butterball

11) Peanuts

12) Lollipops and Roses

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights Tour Dates:

03/25 - Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre (sold out)

03/26 - Akron, OH @ Goodyear Theater (sold out)

03/28 - Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo State Performing Arts Center (sold out)

03/29 - Boston, MA @ Shubert Wang Theatre (sold out)

03/31 - New York, NY @ Jazz at Lincoln Center - Rose Theater (sold out)

04/01 - New York, NY @ Jazz at Lincoln Center - Rose Theater (sold out)

05/11 - Grand Rapids, MI @ DeVos Performance Hall (low ticket alert)

05/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Byham Theater (sold out)

05/13 - Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre

05/15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Miller Theater (low ticket alert)

05/16 - Tysons, VA @ Capitol One Hall (sold out)

06/19 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Capitol Theatre (low ticket alert)

06/20 - Las Vegas, NV @ Encore Theater at the Wynn (low ticket alert)

06/22 - Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre

06/23 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Pikes Peak Center

08/01 - San Antonio, TX @ Tobin Center for the Arts

08/02 - Dallas, TX @ Winspear Opera House

08/03 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Rose State College Performing Arts Center

08/05 - Kansas City, MO @ TBA

08/06 - St. Louis, MO @ Touhill PAC (low ticket alert)

08/07 - Carmel, IN @ The Palladium (low ticket alert)

08/09 - Chicago, IL @ Harris Theater (low ticket alert)

10/02 - Winnipeg, Canada @ TBA

10/03 - Minneapolis, MN @ TBA

10/05 - Sioux Falls, SD @ TBA

10/06 - Milwaukee, WI @ TBA

10/07 - Omaha, NE @ TBA

11/09 - Seattle, WA @ TBA

11/10 - Portland, OR @ TBA

11/12 - Santa Rosa, CA @ TBA

11/13 - Sacramento, CA @ TBA

11/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ TBA

Today, acclaimed guitarist and Wilco member Nels Cline released Consentrik Quartet, his fourth album for Blue Note Records. The release is the eponymous debut of the guitarist’s band comprising saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, bassist Chris Lightcap, and drummer Tom Rainey. By turns swinging, grooving, bracing, mesmeric, and quietly stunning, the album spotlights the ensemble’s profound chemistry as well as Cline’s versatility as both a player and a writer. Consentrik Quartet is available on Blue Note Store exclusive color vinyl, black vinyl, CD, or digital. 

Listen to Consentrik Quartet

This spring, Nels Cline will be touring the Northeast with Consentrik Quartet, including April 14 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. The band will also be celebrating the album release with a performance at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 30. Cline will in fact be making four appearances at the festival this year including performances with eucademix (March 28) and Jenny Scheinman (March 29), as well as the first live show by an expanded version of The Nels Cline Singers (March 28) since the release of Share The Wealth in 2020. Full list of tour dates below, or visit nelscline.com/shows for more info.

Cline’s range is undeniable. Think of how he elevates the songs of Jeff Tweedy as a member of Wilco, or the diverse musical terrain he’s traversed on his albums for Blue Note Records over the past decade — from the gorgeous, sweeping mood music of Lovers featuring lush arrangements by Michael Leonhart to the wide-open sonic audacity of Share The Wealth, the latter featuring his longtime group the Nels Cline Singers.

Consentrik Quartet also underscores his ceaseless appetite for and encyclopedic knowledge of great improvised music: Committed jazz observers might hear echoes of the guitar/sax frontline attack and programmatic scope of the John Scofield/Joe Lovano quartets, as well as the soft-spoken intensity and seamless blend of composition and improvisation that defined the various iterations of the Jimmy Giuffre 3. It also calls to mind adventurous 1960s Blue Note classics by Andrew Hill, Eric Dolphy, and others. In fact, Consentrik Quartet feels at times like a roadmap to Cline’s rich and considered palette of influences.

Of course Cline, a genial and generous man, can’t help but channel praise toward his empathetic bandmates. Compared to his often-otherworldly Singers, he explains, the Consentrik Quartet is “much more of a jazz group, if I dare use that word. I wanted to have the music reflect the players, and have the players come forth so that everybody is able to hear them and enjoy their lucidity and their mastery.”

To start, “I’ve got one of the greatest drummers on the planet in the band” in Tom Rainey, says Cline. Rainey, probably best known for his work with Tim Berne and Laubrock, his spouse, is that rare avant-gardist who can expertly color and improvise freely, then swing with old-school ferocity. Lightcap has earned acclaim for his original music and his collaborations with Regina Carter, Craig Taborn, Joe Morris, Matt Wilson, and other luminaries, and Cline praises the vast reach of his skills.

A superb avant-gardist whose music is equally challenging and alluring, Laubrock has left Cline dumbstruck over the years as a co-leader with Rainey and in groups like guitarist Mary Halvorson’s octet. “I heard her negotiating these perplexing chord changes in that band, with this amazing combination of great facility but also a kind of intimacy,” he says. “Honestly, when I listen to her playing on the Consentrik record, I’m consistently blown away. To me, it sounds like it’s her record because of how she shines.”

The pandemic figures heavily into the Consentrik story. Cline first assembled these musicians six years ago, for a free-improvisation set at the Brooklyn outpost of John Zorn’s venue The Stone. Soon after, Cline became aware of a commission and grant opportunity through the renowned Philadelphia arts organization Ars Nova Workshop, to compose new music and tour it in the Eastern U.S. “So I wrote about why I thought this was something I’d want to do, and I got the grant,” Cline says. “And then the pandemic hit.”

Cline estimates he wrote half of this material during lockdown, first in Brooklyn and then in rural upstate New York, where he and his wife relocated. “Suddenly,” Cline recalls, “we were enveloped in silence.” The respite afforded Cline the bandwidth to immerse himself in writing, and to think in a diligent way about what the Consentrik aesthetic could be. “Initially, for myself anyway, my sonic palette, I was looking at a more conservative approach—a little more traditional, I guess you’d say.” But Cline’s imagination, it turns out, is too fertile to be hemmed in by artistic parameters—even if he sets them himself. “Over time, I found myself looping and writing funkier grooving tunes,” he says.

This new release is also, in many ways, a love letter to the Brooklyn improvised-music scene that he became a vital player in well over a decade ago. And though he no longer lives in the borough, his allegiance to the creative musicians Brooklyn nurtures remains steadfast.

“My dream starting in the mid-’70s was to live in New York City and play music there,” Cline reflects. “I didn’t do it until 2009, when I met Yuka [Honda], and I thought, ‘Whoa—I guess I’m finally doing this.’ But I was very happy to be a part of this community. And I’m still happy about it.”

April 2025 - Consentrik Tour 
3/30 - Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears
4/7 - Portsmouth, NH @ The Press Room
4/8 - Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
4/9 - Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
4/10 - Nashua, NH @ Nashua Center for the Arts
4/11 - Marlboro, NY @ The Falcon
4/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ Solar Myth
4/14 - New York, NY @ LPR

Today, Reed Turchi, the Brooklyn-based musician, producer, and poet shared a new single “Lay My Burden Down,” a resolute track that looks ahead to a time when all our earthly trials and tribulations come to an end. He’s also shared a live video of him and his band performing the new track. The song is the second to be released from Turchi’s forthcoming album World On Fire, out on May 30. Turchi also announced a number of tour dates in support of the album, including a hometown album release show at Barbes in Brooklyn, NY on May 30. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website. Preorder World On Fire via Bandcamp.

Listen to “Lay My Burden Down” / Watch “Lay My Burden Down” Live Video

“‘Lay My Burden Down’ asks the question ‘Watchya gonna do when the world's on fire?,’ which is the lyrics this album was born from,” explains Turchi. “That question is also what's at the core of why this album came to exist: Faced with life-threatening illness and major relationship upheaval, this song — this music — is what I turned to as my own personal worlds were set aflame. Fire is maybe the most essential thing between humans and the great beyond. It's what we stare into, it's what we uniquely learned to utilize, and it's what, of course, eventually comes for us all. When I sing this song I try to acknowledge all of that — why it matters to embrace humanity, but also to recognize the ultimate smallness of our existence. I'm going home. Lay my burden down. This song is as elemental as could be, and for now I'm just doing my best to carry the torch (in this case, from Fred McDowell's slide-playing style) to whoever and whatever comes next.”

“Lay My Burden Down” follows lead single “Get Back Train,” released last month alongside a live performance video of Turchi and his band performing the song. “‘Get Back Train’ is a song as old as sound itself—or at least recorded filaments,” Turchi told Magnet Magazine. “My version is an amalgamation of Mississippi Fred McDowell and Luther Dickinson, plus sounds and spaces of my own… We recorded ‘Get Back Train’ in the dark—the band isolated to emphasize the night around us, just like listening to those distant trains. It’s the sound of something coming around the bend or, maybe, the sound of someone coming home again.”

World On Fire is a collection of vintage blues and spiritual tunes Turchi picked up along the way on his circuitous route through the music industry. Some of the songs are traditional with no documented authors, others performed by so many artists with so many variations over the years that it’s impossible to pin down any definitive version, but on World On Fire, Turchi makes each his own with striking honesty and intimacy.

Hailed by the Oxford American as an artist “beyond genre constraints,” Turchi first became fascinated with the sound of the North Mississippi Hill Country blues as a teenager. After graduating from UNC, where he studied under former NEH chairman and esteemed folklorist William Ferris, Turchi launched a label to release albums he’d recorded by the likes of Kenny Brown and Joe Ayers. The buzz soon led him to an A&R/production gig at the legendary Ardent label and studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

“I never really felt like there was much difference between recording other artists and recording myself,” says Turchi, who would later move from Memphis to Nashville. “It was always about chasing a sound and a spirit, about trying to create an atmosphere where something real could be communicated.”

Turchi has since built his own career as an artist, earning praise everywhere from Rolling Stone to American Songwriter and touring relentlessly around the US and Europe behind a series of critically acclaimed albums. After the pandemic ground things to a halt in 2020, Turchi returned to the road in the fall of 2021, only to be derailed again, this time by a mysterious medical condition. It took over 2 years before doctors finally diagnosed Turchi with a rare form of Crohn’s Disease, they prescribed a mind-bending steroid regimen to help heal the open wounds and ulcers that had wrought havoc on his intestines. “When you lie awake from pain that many nights in a row, you start to ask yourself what really matters,” he reflects. “You start to get down to the core of the human experience and what it is you want to communicate.”

That sense of clarity is striking on World On Fire, a direct, plainspoken reflection on loneliness and isolation, on the search for comfort and connection in a world that feels colder and more uncaring by the day. “In a lot of ways, this record feels like the culmination of everything I’ve done so far,” Turchi reflects, “but it also feels like a new beginning. I can hear myself turning a corner and, for the first time, knowing who I am and where I’m headed.”

World On Fire Tracklist:
1. Walk With Me
2. When You’ve Got A Good Friend
3. Get Back Train
4. Lay My Burden Down
5. Don’t Leave Me Baby
6. Backdoor Man
7. 51 Highway
8. Someday Baby
9. Reprise

Tour Dates:
April 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
April 25 – Prescott, AZ – Raven Cafe
April 26 – Prescott, AZ – The Fairweather Social Club
April 27 – Prescott, AZ – The Fairweather Social Club
April 30 – Hollywood, CA – The Hotel Cafe
May 1 – Rio Nido, CA – Rio Nido Roadhouse
May 2 – Bolinas, CA – Smiley's Saloon
May 3 – Petaluma, CA – Ernie's Tin Bar
May 30 – Brooklyn, NY – Barbes 

Today, ‘90s alt-rock icons the Spin Doctors released “The Heart of the Highway,” the third single from their upcoming LP Face Full of Cake, out April 11 via Capitol Records. Tackling the transient nature of life as an artist, the song is drenched in psychedelic guitars and zigzaging percussion – all tied together by Chris Barron’s unmistakable vocal delivery. 

Next month, the band will play a special album release show at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl on April 12 followed by a four-night residency at Park City’s Egyptian Theatre in June and appearances at major festivals like Boston Calling, Bourbon & Beyond and Oceans Calling. This summer, they’ll also hit the road for a tour with Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms. For a full list of shows, please see below or visit spindoctors.com.

Pre-order/pre-save Face Full of Cake

“One of the ongoing themes of this band is the juxtaposition of living your dream and doing what you love,” says Barron. “But paying the price of being away from home and the people that you love in order to do that. The song is a bit of a poem about how it feels to be far from home.”

From the album, the band has shared the nostalgic “Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven,” which imagines an afterlife where the beer stays cold and the amps go up to 11, and “Still A Gorilla” which showcases a noisier, heavier sound and garnered praise from Rolling Stone who said the song is “genuinely surprising and fun, led by a marauding fuzzed-out riff.” The upcoming LP marks their debut on Capitol Records and the first Spin Doctors record with new bassist Jack Daley who joined the band full-time in 2021, rounding out the four-piece including Barron, guitarist Eric Schenkman and drummer Aaron Comess. Recorded at Daley’s Asbury Park, NJ studio, the album features a combination of the easy-going hook-forward songs and freewheeling jam sensibilities they’ve always exhibited with bluesy funk flavor and straightforward rock’n’roll.

“Spin Doctors fans are going to be knocked out by this new record,” shares Barron. “It’s got that vintage Spin Doctors sound of ear candy and denser material that harkens back to Pocket Full Of Kryptonite but with years of experience under our belts.” 

Formed in 1988 in New York City, Spin Doctors’ full-length 1991 debut Pocket Full of Kryptonite sold over ten million copies across the world and spawned two massive singles: “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” which reached number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and the now ubiquitous Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten hit “Two Princes,” which was the No. 1 Rock radio hit of 1993 and was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group at the GRAMMYs. They’ve appeared on SNL, played major festivals like Glastonbury and opened for The Rolling Stones. And after three decades and nearly two thousand shows, Spin Doctors remain as committed as ever.

Tour Dates:
April 8 – Green Cove Springs, FL – Clay County Fairgrounds %
April 11 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun % 
April 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl %
April 18 – Niagara Falls, NY – Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino %
April 19 – Niagara Falls, NY – Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino %
May 17 – Richardson, TX – Wildflower Arts & Music Festival ^
May 23 – Boston, MA – Harvard Athletics %
May 23 – Moses Lake, WA – Moses Lake Spring Fest ^
May 25 – Allston, MA – Boston Calling Festival ^
May 31 – Baltimore, MD – Never Early Fest ^
June 5 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
June 6 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
June 7 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
June 8 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
July 4 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
July 5 – Hays, KS – Wild West Festival ^
July 6 – Omaha, NE – The Astro Amphitheater #
July 7 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre #
July 11 – Rochester, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre #
July 12 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights #
July 13 – Creighton, PA – Iron City Stage #
July 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre #
July 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort – Ovation Hall #
July 21 – Harrington, DE – Delaware State Fair #
July 25 – Prior Lake, MN – Ribfest ^
July 26 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival #
July 27 – Green Bay, WI – Capital Credit Union Park #
August 7 – Chesterfield, MO – Chesterfield Amphitheater #
August 8 – Sedalia, MO – Missouri State Fair Campground #
August 9 – El Reno, OK – Lucky Star Amphitheater #
August 14 – Las Vegas, NV – Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa #
August 15 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre #
August 16 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park #
August 19 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery #
August 21 – Ridgefield, WA – Ilani Cowlitz Ballroom #
August 22 – Seattle, WA – TBA #
August 23 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest #
August 25 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Pavilion #
August 26 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #
August 30 – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort #
September 4 – Andover, KS – Capitol Federal Amphitheater #
September 5 – Thackerville, OK – Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino and Resort #
September 6 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater #
September 12 – Albertville, AL – Sand Mountain Amphitheater #
September 13 – Peachtree City, GA – Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater #
September 14 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Festival ^
September 26 – Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling ^

% - Headline 
# - with Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms
^ - Festival

Face Full of Cake Tracklist
1. Boombox
2. Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven
3. Still A Gorilla
4. The Heart Of The Highway
5. Double Parked
6. I Liked You Better When Your Butt Was Big
7. The Buddha On The Lawn 
8. She Don’t Love Me Anymore (Anymore)
9. I’m The Man (You Got) 
10. While You’re Holding The Moon (Over Me)
11. She Stands Alone

Today, New York-based artist The Bones of J.R. Jones releases his new single “Shameless,” the latest offering from his sixth studio album Radio Waves, due out June 20 via Tone Tree Music. The brooding new song arrives with a neo-noir-inspired music video, produced by Blackhorse Lowe (Reservation Dogs) and Bryan Norvelle with Anora Cinematographer Drew Daniels as Director of Photography, and tells the story of a lover's betrayal. Holler praised the track and its cinematic visual, saying, “Falling somewhere between the widescreen Americana of Roy Orbison and the spare, clean-limbed moody alt-rock of The National, the song sounds like the soundtrack to a late night drive through a neon light desert town.”

Watch the Official Video for “Shameless”

Stream “Shameless”

“‘Shameless’ is taking the long way home to retread your past,” says The Bones of J.R. Jones (aka Jonathon Linaberry). “The inevitable inner conflict and perhaps guilt that rise up from past decisions, that were maybe made in haste and in passion. I think we all struggle with the ‘what could have been’ question. What arrogant fool can’t look back and wonder? I am just trying to recognize that in this song.”

On the music video: “I have always been drawn to an unsatisfying ambiguous ending. Endings that are never explained, nor make sense in the straight line of a narrative. I think because much of life feels this way. We never get to make sense of so many things. Human nature isn't logical … it just doesn't work that way. It's chaos and we do our best to control it. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail. It's this recognition that makes the noir genre so appealing and that's what we tried to create here in three short minutes.”

"The inspiration for ‘Shameless’ came from an idea based on the all tracks provided by J.R.,” says Producers Blackhorse Lowe and Bryan Norvelle. “We thought of the throughline to a story being told from the perspective of the character for each one of the tracks, and landed on this neo-noir mish-mash, somewhat in the vain of Lost Highway and No Country for Old Men. We wanted to write a story that could fit the emotional tone of the track — like a soundtrack; reflecting visually but not necessarily verbatim with the lyrics.”

“Shameless” follows the meditative “Savages,” which Magnet Magazine called “An intoxicating first dip into Radio Waves…” The 11-song collection was produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Robbie Lackritz (Feist, Bahamas), and marks Linaberry’s first time working with an outside producer. Moody and hypnotic, Radio Waves is steeped in the sonic landscape of the ’80s and ’90s as it excavates the past with equal parts nostalgia and curiosity. Linaberry reflects, “I found myself missing what it felt like to have an album change your life, to listen to your cassette of Born In The U.S.A. so many times you have to wind the tape back up with a pencil.”

Linaberry set out to tap back into that magic on Radio Waves, writing songs steeped in the sounds and stories of his own coming of age. He tuned out the modern world in favor of stark, lo-fi demos built around fingerpicked guitars and old-school electronics. “These songs live in the night,” Linaberry says. “It’s the sound of a kitchen heavy with the leftover heat of an August day and a table crowded with drinks, of arguments and first loves and first heartbreaks, of not living up to your potential, of breaking promises, of being human.”

Radio Waves follows his critically-acclaimed 2023 LP Slow Lightning that was met with acclaim from American Songwriter, Glide Magazine, NYS Music and The Alternate Root, who called it ”a record that doesn’t sound like anything but itself.” In March, he wrapped up his largest European tour to date with multiple sold-out shows, thanks to his dedicated following with more than 650,000 unique monthly listeners on Spotify alone. In recent years, the independent artist’s music has been used in a slew of films and television shows including True Detective, Suits, Daredevil, Longmire, and Graceland.

This spring and summer, The Bones of J.R. Jones will hit the road for an extensive U.S. tour that will make stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville and many more. Below please find a full list of tour dates or visit his website. 

Radio Waves Tracklist:
1. Car Crash
2. Savages
3. Heart Attack
4. Shameless
5. Catching You
6. Ghost featuring Two Runner
7. Wasting Some Time
8. Hills
9. Drive
10. The Devil
11. Start Again

Radio Waves Album Release Tour:
5/8 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street *
5/9 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge *
5/10 – Ithaca, NY – Hangar Theatre
5/13 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle *
5/14 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 *
5/15 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood *
5/16 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 *
5/17 – Nashville, TN – Row One Stage *
6/12 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda's +
6/13 – Boston, MA – Brighton +
6/14 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse +
6/15 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground +
6/17 – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz +
6/18 – Ottawa, ON – Rainbow Bistro +
6/19 – Toronto, ON – Sound Garage +
6/21 – Andes, NY – Andes Hootenanny

* with Ruen Brothers
+ with Nigel Wearne

Today, alt-rock icons the Spin Doctors released new album Face Full of Cake, their first LP in 12 years and their first on Capitol Records. They’re also sharing the light-hearted roller derby-inspired video for new single “Boombox,” the album’s punchy opening track which harkens back to classic Spin Doctors with its infectious energy, hard-hitting guitar and the unmistakable staccato vocal stylings of lead singer Chris Barron. 

On the new music video, Barron shares, “We got back with Rich Murray who did the ‘Two Princes’ video and went to Asbury Park where we recorded the record. We were going for the vibe of that TikTok with the guy drinking Ocean Spray on a skateboard to that Fleetwood Mac tune, but it blossomed into its own story with a thrift store and roller derby chicks. And Rich managed to make the band look really cool.” 

Ahead of the band’s release show at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl tomorrow, they appeared on Pix11’s New York Living. This summer, they’ll play a four-night residency at Park City’s Egyptian Theatre, appear at major festivals like Boston Calling, Bourbon & Beyond and Oceans Calling and hit the road for a tour with Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms. For a full list of shows, please see below or visit spindoctors.com.

Watch/embed the official video for “Boombox” via YouTube

Listen to Face Full of Cake

“Boombox” follows a series of pre-release singles including  “Still A Gorilla”, which garnered praise from Relix, Ultimate Classic Rock and Rolling Stone who praised the song’s “marauding fuzzed-out riff.” The upcoming LP marks their first with new bass player Jack Daley who joined the band full-time in 2021. Recorded in Asbury Park, the fabled incubating ground of Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band’s epic, Born To Run, Spin Doctors cut Face Full Of Cake by the wintry shores of New Jersey, cloistered in the creative atmosphere of Daley’s studio Dug Deep Productions. Engineered and mixed by Grammy Award winning maestro, Roman Klun, the album features a combination of the easy-going hook-forward songs and freewheeling jam sensibilities they’ve always exhibited with bluesy funk flavor and straightforward rock’n’roll.

“The takes you hear on Face Full Of Cake are the first couple of times we’d played these songs together,” shares drummer Aaron Comess. “There’s an ease and freshness to these tracks because you can hear us basically hearing them for the first time. Even in this current time of short attention spans and short social media posts, we wanted to make an eclectic record meant to be listened to from top to bottom.” 

Guitarist Eric Schenkman adds: “It was a really low pressure kind of situation. We weren’t expected to produce ‘THE record,’ and we were enjoying the time, enjoying each other, and the record’s just got a free wheeling, truthful, fun, engaged kind of vibe to it and it’s getting this really great reaction.”

Formed in 1988 in New York City, Spin Doctors’ full-length 1991 debut Pocket Full of Kryptonite sold over ten million copies across the world and spawned two massive singles: “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” which reached number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and the now ubiquitous Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten hit “Two Princes,” which was the No. 1 Rock radio hit of 1993 and was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group at the GRAMMYs. They’ve appeared on SNL, played major festivals like Glastonbury and opened for The Rolling Stones. And after three decades and nearly two thousand shows, Spin Doctors remain as committed as ever. 

Tour Dates:
April 11 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun % 
April 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl %
April 18 – Niagara Falls, NY – Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino %
April 19 – Niagara Falls, NY – Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino %
May 17 – Richardson, TX – Wildflower Arts & Music Festival ^
May 23 – Boston, MA – Harvard Athletics %
May 23 – Moses Lake, WA – Moses Lake Spring Fest ^
May 25 – Allston, MA – Boston Calling Festival ^
May 31 – Baltimore, MD – Never Early Fest ^
June 5 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
June 6 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
June 7 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
June 8 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre %
July 4 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
July 5 – Hays, KS – Wild West Festival ^
July 6 – Omaha, NE – The Astro Amphitheater #
July 7 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre #
July 11 – Rochester, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre #
July 12 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights #
July 13 – Creighton, PA – Iron City Stage #
July 18 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre #
July 19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort – Ovation Hall #
July 21 – Harrington, DE – Delaware State Fair #
July 25 – Prior Lake, MN – Ribfest ^
July 26 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival #
July 27 – Green Bay, WI – Capital Credit Union Park #
August 7 – Chesterfield, MO – Chesterfield Amphitheater #
August 8 – Sedalia, MO – Missouri State Fair Campground #
August 9 – El Reno, OK – Lucky Star Amphitheater #
August 14 – Las Vegas, NV – Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa #
August 15 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre #
August 16 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park #
August 19 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery #
August 21 – Ridgefield, WA – Ilani Cowlitz Ballroom #
August 22 – Seattle, WA – TBA #
August 23 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest #
August 25 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Pavilion #
August 26 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #
August 30 – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort #
September 4 – Andover, KS – Capitol Federal Amphitheater #
September 5 – Thackerville, OK – Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino and Resort #
September 6 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater #
September 12 – Albertville, AL – Sand Mountain Amphitheater #
September 13 – Peachtree City, GA – Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater #
September 14 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Festival ^
September 26 – Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling ^

% - Headline 
# - with Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms
^ - Festival

Face Full of Cake Tracklist
1. Boombox
2. Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven
3. Still A Gorilla
4. The Heart Of The Highway
5. Double Parked
6. I Liked You Better When Your Butt Was Big
7. The Buddha On The Lawn 
8. She Don’t Love Me Anymore (Anymore)
9. I’m The Man (You Got) 
10. While You’re Holding The Moon (Over Me)
11. She Stands Alone
12. When You Got Turmoil In Your Mind

Today, rising country artist Jesse Daniel releases new single “Time Well Spent For A Man” featuring Charles Wesley Godwin. A heartfelt reflection on taking stock of what’s important in life, the song reunites the two singer/songwriters after touring together last year. The track appears on Daniel’s upcoming LP Son of the San Lorenzo out June 6 via Lightning Rod Records.

Listen to “Time Well Spent For a Man (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin)” 

Stream/embed “Time Well Spent For a Man (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin)” via YouTube

Pre-save/pre-order Son of the San Lorenzo

Daniel shares, “This song was written by Northern California songwriter Nick Foster. It is an ode to father time. To me, it’s also about focusing on the meaningful things in life. On our deathbed, we’ll remember raising our children, our spouse’s kiss, time spent doing what we loved, as opposed to how many hours we logged in the office. I loved the message of this song and felt compelled to record it. Charles Wesley Godwin came to mind with the subject matter. He’s a family man and an incredible songwriter himself. His vocals really helped add to the depth of the whole thing.”

From the album, Daniel has already shared the hopeful and soulful first single “My Time Is Gonna Come,” which was called a “joyful ode to self-reflection, prosperity and the future” by Country Central in an 8/10 review and garnered additional praise from American Songwriter, Whiskey Riff, Holler, All Country News and more. Recorded live to tape at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, the 11-song collection offers up a candid accounting of Daniel’s remarkable journey, from his early years hitchhiking in the shadow of the Santa Cruz Mountains to his tumultuous adolescence and battles with addiction, to the people, and music, that ultimately saved his life. Taking shape while he was on the road last year, the album expands on his sound in a way that wears its influences on its sleeve, from the California country of the Eagles and the Flying Burrito Brothers to classic rock like Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers. In addition to the Charles Wesley Godwin feature, it includes instrumentation from Charlie McCoy, Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Peter Keys and SteelDrivers banjo player Richard Bailey.

Last year marked a turning point for Daniel’s career, beginning with creating the theme song to comedian Dusty Slay’s Netflix special Workin’ Man that was released in January. He then released his critically-acclaimed album Countin’ The Miles which garnered praise from Billboard, Texas Monthly, Cowboys & Indians, Bandcamp, BrooklynVegan, Whiskey Riff, No Depression, Holler and many more. The album went on to debut in the top 30 on the Americana Radio Chart and led to a tour supporting Godwin. To close out the year, he released a duo of collaborative singles with Benjamin Tod which was followed by a co-headline tour. 

He will also perform a hometown album release show on May 31 on his home turf at the Felton Redwood Mountain Faire in Felton, CA. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website. 

Son of the San Lorenzo tracklist:
1) Child Is Born
2) Son of the San Lorenzo
3) He
4) The Ballad of Love Creek
5) One’s Too Many (And A Thousand Ain’t Enough)
6) Jodi
7) Mountain Home
8) Time Well Spent For A Man (feat. Charles Wesley Godwin)
9) Crankster
10) My Time Is Gonna Come
11) The End

Tour Dates:
5/31 – Felton, CA @ Redwood Mountain Faire 2025
6/21 – Itajaí, Brazil @ The Ranch Truck
6/26 – Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob’s 
6/27 – New Braunfels, TX @ Gruene Hall
7/8 – Hamburg, Germany @ Nochtspeicher
7/9 – Groningen, Netherlands @ De Oosterpoort
7/10 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ TivoliVredenburg
7/11 – Lille, Belgium @ Sjock Festival 2025
7/12 – Breim, Norway @ Stiftinga Norsk Country Treff
7/16 – Köln, Germany @ Die Kantine
7/17 – Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands @ Zwarte Cross 2025
7/18 – Eging Am See, Germany @ Pullman City Western Town
7/20 – Balzers, Liechtenstein @ Burg Gutenberg
10/10 – Rockhampton, Australia @ Great Western Hotel
10/11 – Mareeba, Australia @ Mareeba Rodeo
10/12 – Mareeba, Australia @ Mareeba Rodeo
10/15 – Petrie Terrace, Australia @ Lefty's Old Time Music Hall
10/16 – Cronulla, Australia @ Brass Monkey
10/17 – Paddington, Australia @ Paddo RSL
10/18 – Archies Creek, Australia @ The Archies Creek Hotel
10/19 – Brunswick, Australia @ Brunswick Ballroom
10/24 – Fremantle, Australia @ Honky Tonk Blues
10/25 – Harvey, Australia @ Harvey Dickson's Country Music Centre

Omnivore Recordings has announced Vince Guaraldi’s Oh, Good Grief! will be getting a reissued released on CD and yellow vinyl on May 30. 

Many people got to know Vince Guaraldi through his 1963 Grammy®-winning song, “Cast Your Fate To The Wind,” or via Sounds Orchestral’s Top-10 cover of it two years later. Lee Mendelson heard Guaraldi’s version when working on a Peanuts documentary, and contacted Guaraldi asking him to score it. Although the documentary never aired, that’s when Guaraldi composed “Linus and Lucy” and all the other songs included on his 1964 album, Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. A year later in 1965, Mendelson once again tapped Guaraldi to score the upcoming Peanuts Christmas special.

It was a match made in television and musical history. With songs like “Linus And Lucy,” the special was a hit and for over five decades, not a holiday season went by without a network airing of the television classic. So potent and successful was the Peanuts/Guaraldi combination that Guaraldi went on to score a total of 15 Peanuts television specials and the first feature film.

In 1968, Vince made a label switch from his long-time home, Fantasy Records, to his new label, Warner Bros. Records. For his inaugural album, he decided to re-interpret his Peanuts classics on Oh, Good Grief! In addition to the instantly recognizable Guaraldi sound of piano, bass, and drums, this time he added electric guitar and electric harpsichord to the mix. The record was a smash hit.

Omnivore Recordings is proud to once again present the album the way the world first heard it—as stated on the original album’s back cover, “on shiny black vinyl.” Well, actually, this special pressing is “on shiny yellow vinyl!” Mastered by multi-Grammy winner Michael Graves, this timeless album has never sounded better. In addition to this special vinyl pressing, we now have this classic album available on CD for all shiny disc lovers.

Join Charlie Brown and his friends on this classic release, once again on vinyl—Oh, Good Grief!

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/qSNHkGznSIQ

Pre-order: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/oh-good-grief

Oh, Good Grief! Tracklist:

SIDE ONE:

1. Linus And Lucy

2. You’re In Love, Charlie Brown

3. Peppermint Patty

4. Great Pumpkin Waltz

SIDE TWO:

1. It’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown

2. Oh, Good Grief!

3. Red Baron

4. Rain, Rain Go Away

Today, the Grateful Guitars Foundation announces the Dark Star Orchestra - Grateful Guitars Foundation Benefit, an exclusive pre-show VIP reception before Dark Star Orchestra’s performance at the iconic Rooftop at Pier 17 on Friday August 15. This intimate benefit event will support GGF’s mission to commission world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music and to fund music education programs. Show & VIP tickets go on sale this Friday April 25, and there are only 100 VIP tickets available. 

Buy tickets here

The benefit will take place in the midst of Dark Star Orchestra’s extensive tour, which was announced today, and it will feature meet & greet with members of DSO, rare gear on display – including Jerry Garcia’s Alligator guitar, – a silent auction featuring extraordinary memorabilia, an exclusive VIP swag package and curated food & drink. 

“Dark Star Orchestra and Grateful Guitars Foundation have joined forces several times over the years, including at last year’s Jubilee and celebrating the 40th of 7/13/84 at the Greek in Berkeley,” said Andy Logan, founder of Grateful Guitars. “We are so thrilled to partner with DSO for the first time in New York City and cannot wait to celebrate this music with all the fans at the gorgeous Pier 17. We are eternally grateful to DSO for partnering with us to make this a benefit for GGF, so that we can bring music education to future players and gift instruments to ensure jam music lasts in perpetuity." 

Lead guitarist and vocalist for Dark Star Orchestra Jeff Mattson adds: “We are so excited to be doing a benefit for the Grateful Guitars Foundation in my hometown of New York City. The generosity and benevolence of Andy Logan and the GGF has benefited Dark Star Orchestra and so many fine musicians, and the work they are doing to help underserved young people with music education is invaluable and sadly missing in today’s education programs.” 

This event follows GGF’s second annual benefit concert last year at San Francisco’s famed Great American Music Hall on August 13 – 49 years to the day since the Grateful Dead’s legendary performance at the venue. Last year, GGF also released the compilation Grateful: The Music Plays the Band, a seventeen-track collection of some of the finest Grateful Dead songs performed by key members of the band’s greater musical community including Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company), DSO and more. Learn more about the Grateful Guitars Foundation at https://gratefulguitars.org/. 

About Dark Star Orchestra
Performing to critical acclaim for over 25 years and over 3300 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience. Dark Star Orchestra has performed throughout the entire United States, including a sold-out debut at Colorado’s Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, plus shows in Europe and the Caribbean with the band touching down in seven different countries and at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, Milwaukee's SummerFest, The Peach Music Festival, Jam Cruise, Wanee Festival, SweetWater 420 Festival, Mountain Jam and many more. Dark Star Orchestra also hosts its own annual music festival titled the Dark Star Jubilee, currently in its eighth year, where DSO headlines all three nights and are joined by a mix of established and up and coming national touring acts. The band has featured guest performances from six original Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Vince Welnick, Tom Constanten and even toured with longtime Dead soundman, Dan Healy. Other notable guests have included Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish, Keller Williams, Warren Haynes, Steve Kimock, Peter Rowan, Ramblin' Jack Elliot and many more.

About Grateful Guitars Foundation
Grateful Guitars Foundation is a 501-c3 nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond. We identify musicians who thrive in live settings and we secure the gear they need to reach their fullest musical potential. Through the powerful connection between the skilled player and the highest quality instrument, our aim is to ensure that jam band music thrives for generations of live music fans. Additionally, Grateful Guitars Foundation board members share actual and replica Grateful Dead instruments and gear from their personal collections with players in the community. We are also rolling out a program seeking to support music instruction in schools to seed the next generations of talented players in the Bay Area and beyond.

Ashley Monroe announced her sixth studio album Tennessee Lightning will be released August 8. Recorded in the wake of Monroe’s transformative bout with cancer, the 17-song collection documents her remarkable journey as a celebration of life, love and the healing power of music. Along with the announcement, the 3x GRAMMY nominee shares her new single “The Touch” (feat. Marty Stuart), a smoldering love song complete with a dreamy guitar riff from Stuart on guitar and Shelby Lynne on bass. In the spirit of true collaboration, Tennessee Lightning also includes contributions from special guests T Bone Burnett, Brittney Spencer, Waylon Payne, Brendan Benson, Butch Walker, Karen Fairchild and Armand Hutton.

Watch the Visualizer for “The Touch” (feat. Marty Stuart)

Stream “The Touch” (feat. Marty Stuart)

Pre-order / pre-save Tennessee Lightning

“‘The Touch’ is the first song I ever wrote with the incredible Marty Stuart,” says Monroe. “It was storming so loud that day, and we could feel the electricity just hanging in the air. He played that guitar lick, and my heart melted. I’ve always been a fan of timeless love songs. So honored to have Marty write this one with me and play on it! I’m also so proud to have Shelby Lynne on bass! What a band!”

Stuart added, “‘The Touch’ is a majestic song. When Ashley and I were recording the words and music onto our cell phones moments after we'd finished writing it, the Nashville sky filled with thunder. The windows in the room where the song came to life rattled like bones. We laughed and took that as a sign that God liked the song. Lightning in a bottle if you will. I didn't think any performance of the song could get any better than our inspired working version. Ashley's formal recording, however, takes the song up into the clouds and commands time to stand still. The harmonies are glorious. ‘The Touch’ is four minutes and fifty-one seconds of pure magic. The kind of song we long for.”

Co-produced by Monroe with GRAMMY-winning producer/engineer Gena Johnson (John Prine, Jason Isbell), Tennessee Lightning is a sprawling epic spanning from the innocence of childhood and the grief of loss to the thrill of romance and the joy of motherhood. Teaming up once again with Johnson, the pair weaved together strands of country, folk, blues, soul and dreamy bedroom pop. The result is a rich, multifaceted meditation on identity, purpose, and meaning from an artist who’s learned to see herself — and the world around her — in a whole new light following a life-altering diagnosis.

“When I got diagnosed with lymphoma and started my treatment, I stopped writing, I stopped hearing melodies, I stopped thinking about songs at all,” Monroe recalls. For six months, she focused almost exclusively on her recovery and her family as she underwent a grueling regimen of injections and transfusions.

“When I finally went into remission, I could feel the life and the music start flowing in my veins again,” she explains. “It was like a flood, just this rush of inspiration.” Along with that inspiration came a newfound clarity and gratitude, as well as a vision for this new album.

“I feel like I’ve emerged from these last few years with a pretty profound perspective shift. I’ve learned to be more in the moment, to appreciate what’s right in front of me and enjoy every second I get to spend doing what I love with the people I care about.” In the end, that’s what Tennessee Lightning is all about: transcendence in the face of struggle, community in the face of isolation, love in the face of fear.

“The Touch” follows the release of three album tracks including the ethereal “There You Are,” the revved-up “Hot Rod Pipe Dream” and the shimmering “Risen Road.” Monroe’s recent work has been lauded by American Songwriter, CMT, Stereogum and People Magazine, who interviewed her about this musical “fresh start.” Tennessee Lightning follows Monroe’s 2021 album Rosegold, which received widespread acclaim from the Nashville Scene, No Depression, Vulture, Paste Magazine, Garden & Gun, Stereogum and many more. 

On July 25, Monroe will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of her GRAMMY-nominated 2015 album The Blade with a one-night-only show at Nashville’s The Basement East, where she will perform the record in its entirety. For tickets and more information, visit ashleymonroe.com.

Tennessee Lightning:
1. I’m Gonna Run (feat. T Bone Burnett) (Ashley Monroe, Sally Barris)
2. Risen Road (Ashley Monroe, Brendan Benson, Waylon Payne)
3. Closer (Ashley Monroe, Ashley Ray, Ben West)
4. The Touch (feat. Marty Stuart) (Ashley Monroe, Marty Stuart)
5. Magnolia (Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Brendan Benson)
6. My Favorite Movie (Ashley Monroe, Vince Gill)
7. Hot Rod Pipe Dream (Ashley Monroe, Brendan Benson)
8. Amen Love (Ashley Monroe, Ashley Ray, Summer Overstreet)
9. Moth (Ashley Monroe, Carter Faith, Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander)
10. Bitter Swisher Sweet (feat. Brittney Spencer) (Ashley Monroe, Emily Landis, Logan Wall)
11. You and Me (Jay Robinson)
12. Recover (feat. Karen Fairchild) (Ashley Monroe, Karen Fairchild, Ashley Ray, Andrew Petroff)
13. There You Are (Jessi Alexander, Margaret Findley, Sally Barris)
14. Blown Away (feat. Brendan Benson) (Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty)
15. That’s No Way To Say Goodbye (Leonard Cohen)
16. Moon Child (Ashley Monroe, Andrew Petroff, Meg McRee, Tenille Townes)
17. Jesus Hold My Hand (feat. Armand Hutton) (Albert Brumley)

Today, New York-based artist The Bones of J.R. Jones releases his new single “Car Crash,” which appears on his upcoming sixth studio album Radio Waves, out June 20 via Tone Tree Music. Offering a bittersweet embrace of life’s imperfections, the tender new song arrives with a dreamy live performance video that was shot inside a car driving through New York’s scenic Catskills.

Watch the Official Live Performance Video for “Car Crash”

Stream “Car Crash”

“‘Car Crash’ was born out of the recognition, I think that we will all experience as we get older, that life/love will always be beautifully imperfect,” says The Bones of J.R. Jones (aka Jonathon Linaberry). “It’s a disaster. It’s a car crash. But something that I like to think we always yearn for. I think there is some part of us that wants it to hurt. If it does, you know it means something – and that’s all we ever really want. It’s accepting the imperfections of what’s in front of you and giving in to that.”

On the video: “I think we shot this in two takes along a rural road between Bloomville and Delhi, NY in the western Catskills. We found a good stretch of road, did a dry run and did our best not to muck it up. Hannah (the driver) was a trooper and maintained that boat of a car at about 25 mph in 55 mph zone, mainly because the engine and road noise got too loud the faster we went. We got lucky on the second take. No cars, no potholes and for the most part, a good performance. The real star of the video though was the car: a 1991 Ford Crown Victoria. It instantly reminded me of my childhood and smelled exactly like you think it should – some oddly sweet scent of nostalgia that would make you think of your grandparents. A shout out to the heroes of the day: Dave Kopach for lending us the car and to Phil Schawel for mixing my horrendously mic'ed video.”

“Car Crash” follows the “intoxicating” (Magnet Magazine) lead single “Savages" and the brooding “Shameless,” which Holler described as “Falling somewhere between the widescreen Americana of Roy Orbison and the spare, clean-limbed moody alt-rock of The National.” Radio Waves was produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Robbie Lackritz (Feist, Bahamas), and marks Linaberry’s first time working with an outside producer. Moody and hypnotic, the 11-song collection is steeped in the sonic landscape of the ’80s and ’90s as it excavates the past with equal parts nostalgia and curiosity. Linaberry reflects, “I found myself missing what it felt like to have an album change your life, to listen to your cassette of Born In The U.S.A. so many times you have to wind the tape back up with a pencil.”

Linaberry set out to tap back into that magic on Radio Waves, writing songs steeped in the sounds and stories of his own coming of age. “These songs live in the night,” he says. “It’s the sound of a kitchen heavy with the leftover heat of an August day and a table crowded with drinks, of arguments and first loves and first heartbreaks, of not living up to your potential, of breaking promises, of being human.”

Radio Waves follows Linaberry’s critically acclaimed 2023 LP Slow Lightning, which was met with praise from American Songwriter, Glide Magazine, NYS Music and more. In March, he wrapped up his largest European tour to date with multiple sold-out shows, thanks to his dedicated following with more than 650,000 unique monthly listeners on Spotify alone. In recent years, the independent artist’s music has been used in a slew of films and television shows including True Detective, Suits, Daredevil, Longmire, and Graceland.

This spring and summer, The Bones of J.R. Jones will hit the road for an extensive U.S. tour that will make stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville and many more. Below please find a full list of tour dates or visit his website. 

Radio Waves Tracklist:
1. Car Crash
2. Savages
3. Heart Attack
4. Shameless
5. Catching You
6. Ghost featuring Two Runner
7. Wasting Some Time
8. Hills
9. Drive
10. The Devil
11. Start Again

Radio Waves Album Release Tour:
5/8 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street *
5/9 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge *
5/10 – Ithaca, NY – Hangar Theatre
5/13 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle *
5/14 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 *
5/15 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood *
5/16 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 *
5/17 – Nashville, TN – Row One Stage *
6/12 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda's +
6/13 – Boston, MA – Brighton +
6/14 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse +
6/15 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground +
6/17 – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz +
6/18 – Ottawa, ON – Rainbow Bistro +
6/19 – Toronto, ON – Sound Garage +
6/21 – Andes, NY – Andes Hootenanny

* with Henry Stansall of Ruen Brothers
+ with Nigel Wearne

Today, GRAMMY-nominated classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin released “Beautiful Day” featuring R&B legend Lalah Hathaway, the final single from their album Full Circle (out this Friday). Produced by Phil Beaudreau (Dr. Dre, Justin Bieber, The Game), the album marks a bold new chapter for the genre-defying duo. Today the duo also announced an extensive fall US tour, full list of dates are below. 

Listen to “Beautiful Day” featuring Lalah Hathaway

”‘Beautiful Day’ is a reminder that no matter the chaos that surrounds us, there is always beauty in the present moment,” says Black Violin’s Will Baptiste. “It’s about choosing to see the light, embracing the small joys, and grounding ourselves in the life that’s happening right now.” 

Black Violin members Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus met on the first day of orchestra class in 1996 at Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. (Baptiste originally wanted to play saxophone in the band, but the orchestra teacher got him assigned to his class after winning a golf bet with the band instructor.) Classically trained by day, they faithfully put on their headphones and listened to the hottest rap records each night. They went to different colleges—Marcus attended Florida International University and Baptiste went to Florida State—but then reconvened, moved into an apartment together, and started trying to produce other musicians.

They developed an act covering hip-hop songs on their violins, which became popular in local clubs. Two years after sending in a tape to Showtime at the Apollo, they were invited to appear on the show—which they won, and kept winning. They were approached by the manager of Alicia Keys, who asked them to perform with the singer at the Billboard Awards. Other offers followed—they toured with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, opened for the Wu-Tang Clan, and worked with the likes of Alessia Cara, 2 Chainz, and Lil Wayne. All the while, Black Violin continued touring non-stop (playing as many as 200 shows a year) and released two independent, self-financed albums before putting out the acclaimed Stereotypes in 2016, followed by 2019’s Take the Stairs, which was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2020 GRAMMYs. 

Black Violin has always been about taking things further, exceeding expectations, challenging conventions. The duo has steadily built a devoted following and a diverse touring base— culminating in such triumphs as two sold-out shows at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, and appearances on the Today Show, CBS Mornings, and PBS Newshour—while occupying a musical lane that’s entirely its own.

Black Violin’s work extends far beyond the stage, reaching deep into communities nationwide with numerous free performances for students and hands-on engagement with youth symphonies and community centers. Through collaborations with local and national education programs such as Turnaround Arts, Baptiste and Marcus connect with more than 100,000 students throughout the year, including low-income and Title 1 schools, and adopted Bethune Elementary, in Florida’s Broward County (near where they grew up) to initiate an ongoing mentorship program. In 2019, the duo launched the Black Violin Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by working with them in their communities to provide access to quality music programs that encourage creativity and innovation.

Full Circle finds Black Violin 20 years into their career, arriving back where they began—only now with the clarity that comes from experience. This new chapter is both a reckoning and a renewal, as they confront their past selves while evolving beyond them. The songs feel like natural extensions of their early work—refined, redefined, and charged with the paradox of returning and progressing all at once.

Tracklisting:
1. The Illest
2. Live My Life
3. Drama
4. King
5. The Walk
6. To The Top
7. Smoke
8. Beautiful Day (ft. Lalah Hathaway)
9. Joy
10. Black Box

Black Violin - Full Circle Tour - 2025
05.02 — Paducah, KY — The Carson Center 
05.03 — Fort Smith, AR — TempleLive
05.04 — Dallas, TX — Majestic Theatre 
05.06 — Lawrence, KS — Leid Center of Kansas 
05.08 — Toledo, OH — Toledo Cultural Arts Center 
05.09 — Bay Harbor, MI — Great Lakes Center for the Arts 
05.10 — Flint, MI — Capitol Theatre 
07.25 — Newport Beach, CA — Back Bay Amphitheatre 
07.26 — Del Mar, CA — The Sound
09.25 — North Bethesda, MD — Music Center at Strathmore
09.27 — York, PA — VENUE TBA 
09.28 — Lynchburg, VA —  Historic Academy Theatre at Academy Center of the Arts
09.30 — Charlottesville, VA — The Paramount Theater
10.01 — Patchogue, NY — Patchogue Theatre
10.02 — Keene, NH — The Colonial Theatre
10.03 — Red Bank, NJ — Count Basie Center
10.04 — Worcester, MA — The Hanover Theatre
10.05 — Albany, NY — The Palace Theatre
10.08 — Eau Claire, WI — Pablo Center at the Confluence
10.09 — Milwaukee, WI — Uihlein Hall
10.10 — Dayton, OH — Schuster Center
10.11 — Rockford, IL — Coronado Theatre
10.30 — Austin, TX — The Long Center
11.02 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
11.03 — San Antonio, TX — HEB Performance Hall
11.07 — Hampton, VA — Jazz Legacy Festival
11.08 — Durham, NC — DPAC
11.09 — Bethlehem, PA — Musikfest Cafe
11.11 — Pittsburgh, PA — Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland
11.12 — Champaign, IL — Virginia Theatre
11.13 — Pontiac, MI — The Flagstar Strand Theatre
11.14 — Columbus, OH — Palace Theatre
11.15 — Cleveland, OH — KeyBank State Theatre
11.16 — Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre
04.16 — Mesa, AZ — Ikeda Theater

Today, acclaimed Detroit singer-songwriter Ethan Daniel Davidson released “Your Old Key,” the latest single to be shared from his forthcoming album Cordelia, which will be released on May 30. Glide Magazine featured the track saying it’s “an easygoing work of pedal steel-laden folk-rock that showcases Davidson’s penchant for writing thoughtful songs in a literary vein… it serves as a reminder that Davidson continues to be a talented and perhaps underrated songwriter.”

Listen to “Your Old Key”

"She was particularly talented in terms of home improvement,” states Davidson. “Probably the best carpenter I've ever met––was able to make doors out of a single piece of wood without warping. She was so good that she built a whole new house for herself while I was out getting the paper. I have the key, but it doesn't work for the door anymore. I'm not even sure where the house is, actually. I made this song up on the spot as we recorded it a dozen years ago for the Silvertooth album. Sometimes these things just kind of come out of you.”

Cordelia finds the veteran singer-songwriter exploring new creative territory while continuing down the beguiling and wondrous road that his discography has charted thus far, which over the years has been praised by NPR Music, All Music, American Songwriter, Magnet Magazine and many more. It’s as lush and deeply felt as Davidson’s music has ever been, with countrified balladry and unvarnished blues accompanying this journeyman’s philosophical explorations and ruminations on his past, present, and future.

Cordelia follows 2022’s gorgeous Stranger, which marked both a conclusion and a new beginning after a decade-plus of fruitful creative collaboration with Warren Defever of experimental rock legends His Name Is Alive (who Davidson is continuing to collaborate with on future projects as well). “I was overdue to start all over again with a bunch of new people,” Davidson explains. But sometimes a change of scenery is needed for a spell, and so as Davidson was armed with an array of songs he had in his arsenal largely from a COVID-era songwriting span, he reached out to producer David Katznelson for some ideas on who to work with, who in turn recommended North Mississippi Allstars frontman Luther Dickinson as the perfect co-producer alongside Katznelson.

Joining Davidson and Dickinson on Cordelia: bassist and Emmylou Harris collaborator Byron House, drummer Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, John Cale), and multi-instrumentalist Rayfield “Ray Ray” Holloman, who contributed pedal steel and piano across the record.

Cordelia was sonically inspired by Davidson’s love for the raw blues records that storied label Fat Possum were releasing in the 1990s. “I've always been a fan of that hill-country punk blues,” he explained. “That's not the kind of music I do, but it always had a big impact on me, and I knew Luther would be a good guy to translate these songs and put a real good band together.” 

The album’s namesake is inspired by the titular daughter featured in Shakespeare’s classic tragedy King Lear, who Davidson finds a sense of personal kinship with.

“My adopted father was a great guy, but by the end of his life, he had a lot of sycophants gathered around him when he was in declining health,” he recalls. “I came to feel like Cordelia, because I wasn’t around him for his money—it was because I was this kid that he took in and took care of, and I loved him for it.”

A unique perspective, for certain—and reflective of not only Cordelia but Davidson’s career as a whole thus far, which has found him on an eternal search for self as well as for the communal aspect of others. ”I write these songs because I'm trying to meet people and have real relationships,” he explains. “I want to find people with whom I share a common language. That's what I'm interested in doing, and if music is a vehicle for that, then that's why I continue to do it.”

Cordelia Tracklist:

1. I Know My Rider Knows My Name

2. Heart First Into Heartache

3. Gasoline

4. Leaving Soon

5. Your Old Key

6. Along In The Wind And The Rain

7. Someone’s Asking For You

Omnivore Recordings and Seeker Music will release an expanded edition of GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Christopher Cross’s iconic self-titled debut album on Digital, with the CD and double-Vinyl arriving June 20. The new edition features never-before-heard material for the first time ever, including previously unreleased demos and bonus tracks recorded during the album’s sessions. Originally released in 1979, Christopher Cross introduced the world to classics like “Ride Like the Wind” and “Sailing,” and went on to sweep the GRAMMYs, winning Album, Song, and Record of the Year, as well as Best New Artist (only ever done since by Adele and Billie Eilish).

Produced by frequent Steely Dan-sideman Michael Omartian, the sounds on this album put “soft rock” (or what much later became known as “yacht rock”) high upon the charts. Cross’ debut album spawned four Top 20 hits including “Never Be The Same” (#15), “Say You’ll Be Mine,” with Nicolette Larson on background vocals (#20), and the #1 smash “Sailing” which was awarded both Record and Song of the Year Grammys. The album went 5x Platinum.

On February 25, 1981, Christopher Cross achieved something no one had ever done before at the music industry’s annual gathering to recognize the best in music, the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards. Cross swept the “Big Four” awards which included not only Best Record and Best Song, but also Best Album and Best New Artist. In total, Cross and his stellar debut album collected five of the six Grammys for which they were nominated.

Over 45 years after this unprecedented achievement, Omnivore Recordings is proud to release an expanded edition of Christopher Cross. In addition to the Bernie Grundman mastered original album, this deluxe edition includes 11 extra tracks, including seven previously unissued demos from the original recording sessions painstakingly restored by multi-Grammy Award winning engineer Michael Graves.

The new expanded edition features the original 9-track album plus early versions of “Say You’ll Be Mine ” and “Ride Like the Wind,” as well as the Japan-only single “Mary Ann” and heartfelt outtakes like “Passengers” and “Smiles of Angels,” and several more. The collection also includes Japanese-only A-Side, three songs never issued before—“What Am I Supposed To Believe,” “Smiles Of Angels” and “Passengers,” demos of classic album tracks, and new liner notes by music journalist (Crawdaddy, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Creem, etc.), Gene Sculatti who also served as the editorial director at Warner Bros. Records. His notes are informed by a fresh interview with the album’s producer, Michael Omartian.

Christopher Cross is a classic album that has truly stood the test of time. Now fans can explore the development of the album for the first time with the expanded edition of this towering musical achievement.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/4PWoHdPY6b8

Pre-order: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/christopher-cross

Christopher Cross (Expanded Edition) Tracklist:

1. Say You’ll Be Mine

2. I Really Don’t Know Anymore

3. Spinning

4. Never Be The Same

5. Poor Shirley

6. Ride Like The Wind

7. The Light Is On

8. Sailing

9. Minstrel Gigolo

10. Mary Ann 

11. Say You’ll Be Mine (Demo)

12. I Really Don’t Know Anymore (Demo)

13. Parade (Demo)

14. Smiles Of Angels (Demo)

15. What Am I Supposed To Believe (Demo)

16. Ride Like The Wind (Demo)

17. The Light Is On (Demo)

18. Passengers (Demo)

19. Say Goodbye To Mary Ann (Demo)

20. Sailing (Demo)

Today, the Colorado-based alt-country rock band Gasoline Lollipops release their new single “Holy Rebel” from upcoming LP Kill The Architect, out June 13 via ALP Recordings. Produced by longtime Los Lobos member Steve Berlin, the album tackles our struggle for balance and connection in the midst of political turmoil. “Holy Rebel” showcases the band’s heavier side with frontman Clay Rose’s gravely baritone confronting the evil that lives within us over a dark and menacing sonic landscape. 

Listen to “Holy Rebel” 

Pre-save Kill The Architect

About the new track, Rose shares: “‘Holy Rebel’ is a slowly writhing fever dream. A man locked in the coils of his constricting mind. A god, a devil, an ego, and a spirit. The constant pressure of morality and instinct squeezes them into a singularity at the bottom of a black hole. The Big Bang is imminent, and the conclusion of Holy Rebel makes it felt.” 

From the new album, the band has already released the reflective first single “Humanity” and its frenetic official music video. Taking shape as Rose composed music for Sam & Delilah, a psychedelic country ballet based upon the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah, the record tackles the duality of human nature – good and evil / light and dark – and how balance is only achieved when we accept both sides of the coin into ourselves. This is also reflected in the LP’s sound, with many of the songs firmly rooted in the band’s folk and country influences (like “Humanity”) and the other half owing more to the noisy punk rock Rose grew up listening to (with “Holy Rebel” being a prime example of this).  

Kill the Architect was recorded with Berlin at Dockside Studio in Lafayette, Louisiana from a series of live-in-the-studio performances. In addition to Berlin, the album features appearances from a number of Rose’s friends and musical collaborators including GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, Fruition’s Mimi Naja, Phoebe Hunt and Rose’s mother Donna Farar, a longtime Nashville songwriter. Formed in the early 2000s as a cow-punk duo, the Gasoline Lollipops’ hometown following in Colorado eventually began to expand and so did their lineup which currently includes Don Ambory, Scott Coulter, Brad Morse and Kevin Matthews. 

Kill The Architect Tracklist
1. Tennessee Nights
2. Holy Rebel
3. Mercy
4. Honeysuckle And Poison Oak
5. Horse Or The Cart
6. Kill The Architect
7. Humanity
8. Come Here To Die
9. Black Hole
10. Elvis
11. Working For The Devil
12. The River

Today, acclaimed vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and pianist Bill Charlap, two of the most highly respected figures in the world of jazz, announced their collaborative new recording, Elemental, to be released on June 13 through Mack Avenue Records. On the album Bridgewater and Charlap curate a repertoire that only they can present: exploring a deep understanding of jazz tradition alongside impeccable phrasing and a once-in-a-generation dynamic range.

Along with the announcement Bridgewater and Charlap shared lead single, “Honeysuckle Rose,” the perfect introduction to this unique pairing, showcasing their natural chemistry as Bridgwater’s gravity-defying vocal leaps dance atop Charlap’s jaunty, percolating piano lines.

Listen to “Honeysuckle Rose”

“Fats Waller was a playful musician and wrote lyrics that reflected this characteristic,” explains Bridgewater. “Bill and I wanted to emulate this quality on ‘Honeysuckle Rose,’ hence our approach. We’re skipping, holding musical hands, whistling, playing hide and seek, taking gentle jabs at each other like children on a playground, all in the moment, unrehearsed, improvised in real time.”

Ask any true jazz fan to draw up a list of the greatest vocalists of the modern era and the name Dee Dee Bridgewater will inevitably appear at the top. Repeat the exercise for contemporary pianists and you’ll just as assuredly see Bill Charlap on the short list. Draw a line between the two however, and the most dedicated aficionado would have no chance of predicting the outcome. The prospect of a collaboration proved daunting even to Bridgewater and Charlap themselves, who had never worked together prior to their first meeting live on stage in 2019.
 

The initial idea for the collaboration was Bridgewater’s, and appropriately for a project that has taken on such a mystical aura, it arrived like a bolt out of the blue. “I hear voices,” the singer explains. “I woke one morning and a voice said, ‘Bill Charlap.’ I was really quite dumbfounded because it seemed like such an unlikely pairing for me.”
 

But one thing that Bridgewater has learned over the course of her remarkable, nearly six-decade career is to trust in that voice. Her broad-ranging successes speak for themselves: three GRAMMY® Awards, a Tony Award, NEA Jazz Master honors, a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, and the 2024 Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award, to name a few of her myriad accolades.
 

“I have always been and continue to be a huge fan of Dee Dee Bridgewater,” Charlap says. “I was delighted at the prospect of us working together, but I assumed she would be guesting with my trio. When I was told no, Dee Dee wanted to do this as a duo, all of a sudden a bunch of lights went on.”
 

Charlap of course is no stranger to working with incredible singers. He won a GRAMMY® Award in 2016 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, his acclaimed album with one of the all-time greats, Tony Bennett. He’s also recorded with Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, Ann Hampton Callaway, Freddy Cole, Carol Sloane, and two beloved albums with his mother, cabaret and jazz singer Sandy Stewart.
 

The pair scheduled a few exploratory concerts to determine whether they in fact did possess that ever-elusive chemistry. The results were more exhilarating than the two had dared hope.
 

“My perception and my understanding of Bill changed completely after we got together,” Bridgewater explains. “I knew that he was steeped in the American songbook, but I did not know the degree of his extreme knowledge. I was blown away by Bill's sensitivity as a pianist, his wealth of knowledge and the references that he can call upon when he's playing. I mean, he's an encyclopedia. I have never before in all of my years worked with a musician with whom I could so completely relax and be myself.”
 

Charlap is quick to return the compliments. “Dee Dee Bridgewater is a giant of a musician,” he says. “A brilliant vocalist, but just as much an actor, just as much a storyteller, just as much a risk taker. All of that is together in equal parts, with each piece stepping out into the following spot at different moments. That makes her unlike anybody else historically.”

Elemental hints at the profound virtually subatomic level on which these two brilliant GRAMMY® Award-winning artists connect. In a relatively short but fruitful period of time – interrupted but not derailed by the pandemic – they have forged a camaraderie that soars past the chemical to the alchemical.

“The two of us have discovered a kind of musical melding that is completely inexplicable to the untrained ear,” says Bridgewater. “We’ve become a gentle force of nature, and people are astounded when they encounter it.”

That force was on full display at the duo’s recent performance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, where they captivated audiences and critics alike. Bridgewater and Charlap have a few more performances lined up in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles before Bridgewater heads out on her We Exist! Tour across Europe. See full list of tour dates below, which also includes a duo performance at the Charlie Parker Festival in New York City on August 24.

Elemental Tracklist:
1. Beginning to See the Light
2. Mood Indigo
3. Honeysuckle Rose
4. Here’s That Rainy Day
5. Love for Sale
6. ‘S Wonderful
7. In the Still of the Night
8. Caravan

Dee Dee Bridgewater US Tour Dates:
May 9-11 – Washington, DC – Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival *
May 19 – New York, NY – 92nd St Y
June 12 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place *
June 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl * - ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
August 24 – New York, NY – Charlie Parker Festival *

* = duo performances with Bill Charlap

Dee Dee Bridgewater’s We Exist! Tour:
July 1 – Vienne, France – Jazz à Vienne
July 3 – Toulouse, France – Toulouse Festival
July 4 – Santa Cruz, Canary Islands, Spain – Tenerife Auditorium
July 5 – Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain – Jameos del Agua Auditorium
July 6 – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain – Pérez Galdós Theatre
July 8 – Oestrich-Winkel, Germany – Seebühne Schloss Vollrads
July 9 – Vannes, France – Vannes Echos Jazz
July 11 – Merano, Italy – KIMM + Master Class
July 12 – Marseille, France – Marseille Jazz Des Cinq Continents
July 16 – Weimar, Germany – Schallkultur Festival
July 19 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Kurpark Wiesbaden
July 20 – Freiburg, Germany – Zelt Musik Festival
July 23 – Vilnius, Lithuania – Midsummer Vilnius Fest
July 25 – San Sebastian, Spain – San Sebastien
July 26 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau de la Musica Catalana
July 27 – Gdynia, Poland – Ladies Festival
July 29 – Fano, Italy – Jazz by the Sea

Omnivore Recordings has announced a new CD set of performances from Buck Owens And His Buckaroos titled Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974, to be released on June 27. The 3-CD set includes 78 live performances, 75 of which will appear on CD for the first time, plus 25 previously unissued tracks in the US, and 20 more previously unissued anywhere in the world. The packaging contains a 56-page book featuring photos and an extensive essay from Grammy-nominated writer/producer Scott B. Bomar.

There is no doubt Buck Owens and His Buckaroos were one of the biggest acts in the world from 1964–1974. Not only were they topping the music charts, they were filling concert halls worldwide. They were such a popular concert draw that many performances were recorded and released only in the corresponding foreign market. Unfortunately, much of that material never saw the light of day outside the country in which it was released. Until now.

Adios, Farwell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964–1974 is the first comprehensive  look at Buck and the Buckaroos’ status as perhaps the greatest live country band during this revolutionary time in music. The collection features the recently discovered The Exciting Sounds Of Buck Owens And His Buckaroos Live From Richmond, Virginia, 1964 (on CD for the first time), plus tracks from the international releases Buck Owens’ Show In Japan, Live In New Zealand, and Buck Owens’ Show “Live” At The Sydney Opera House, as well as the US Top 10 albums The Buck Owens Show–Big In Vegas and Live At The Nugget.

What makes this chronological journey through Buck and his Buckaroos on stage even more essential is the addition of 20 performances available for the first time anywhere: sets from Macys 7th Avenue store from 1967, the 1973 Buck Owens Golf Tournament Dinner, and a 1973 Toys For Tots benefit at the Bakersfield Civic Auditorium.

With mastering and restoration from multiple Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves, Adios, Farwell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964–1974 is the definitive look at a catalog and career that remains untouched, unrivaled, and unbelievably important to popular music and culture.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/kC1dt3-e490

Pre-order: https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/adios-farewell/

Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974 Tracklist:

DISC 1

The Exciting Sounds Of Buck Owens And His Buckaroos Live From Richmond, Virginia, 1964

1. Intro

2. Act Naturally

3. Love’s Gonna Live Here

4. Together Again

5. My Heart Skips A Beat

6. Band intros

7. Orange Blossom Special

8. The Streets Of Laredo (The Young Cowboy)

9. I Don’t Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)

10. Close Up The Honky Tonks

11. Mexican Polka / Buck’s Polka

12. Truck Drivin’ Man

13. A-11

14. Release Me

15. Hello Trouble

16. I Don’t Hear You

17. Dang Me

18. Hello Walls No. 2

19. Long Tall Texan

20. Twist And Shout

Macy’s, 1967

21. Intro

22. Act Naturally

23. Buck talks to the audience

24. Together Again

25. Sam’s Place

26. Buck’s welcome & band intros

27. Orange Blossom Special

28. Leave Me Something To Remember You By

29. Round Hole Guitar

30. Tokyo Polka

31. Steel Guitar Polka

32. Medley: Crying Time/Don’t Let Her Know

33. Waitin’ In Your Welfare Line

34. Medley: My Heart Skips A Beat / I Don’t Care (Just As Long As You Love Me) / Love’s Gonna Live Here

35. Medley: Think Of Me / Where Does The Good Times Go

36. Medley: Tiger By The Tail / Open Up Your Heart

37. Medley: Under Your Spell Again / Above And Beyond / Excuse Me (I Think I’ve Got A Heartache) / Foolin’ Around / Hello Trouble / Truck Drivin’ Man

DISC TWO

Big In Vegas, 1969

1. Intro

2. Big In Vegas

3. Las Vegas Lament

4. Together Again

5. I’m A Natural Loser

6. Catfish Capers

7. Rovin’ Gambler

8. Along Came Jones

9. We’re Gonna Let The Good Times Roll

Live At The Nugget, 1971

10. Intro

11. Good Ole Mountain Dew

12. Nugget Lament

13. Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms

14. Buck talks to the audience

15. Ruby (Are You Mad)

16. We’re Gonna Get Together

17. I’ll Still Be Waiting For You

18. Johnny B. Goode

Golf Tournament, 1973

19. Buckaroo

20. Buck Owens intro

21. Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms

22. Buck talks to the audience

23. Big Game Hunter

Toys For Tots, 1973

24. Y’all Come

25. Tall Dark Stranger

26. Together Again

27. Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms

28. Big Game Hunter

29. Johnny B. Goode

DISC THREE

The 1974 International Tour Highlights

1. Y’all Come

2. Your Daddy Was A Preacher (And Your Mama Was A Dancing Girl)

3. Big In Vegas

4. Roll Over Beethoven

5. Talk & jokes

6. Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms

7. Medley: Act Naturally / Together Again / Love’s Gonna Live Here / Waitin’ In Your Welfare Line / Sam’s Place / Cryin’ Time / I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail

8. Green Onions

9. Duelin’ Banjos

10. Orange Blossom Special

11. Cajun Fiddle

12. Medley: Diggy Liggy Lo / Louisiana Man

13. On The Cover Of The Music City News

14. Made In Japan

15. Georgia Pineywoods

16. Dust On Mother’s Bible

17. Jackson

18. Somewhere Between You And Me

19. Looking Back To See

20. You’re Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning

21. Johnny B. Goode

22. Good Ole Mountain Dew

23. Ruby (Are You Mad)

Blue Note Records has announced the July 11 release of Openness Trio, the debut album by a unique collective comprised of guitarist and producer Nate Mercereau, saxophonist Josh Johnson, and percussionist Carlos Niño. Free-thinking creators who bring a depth of experience from wide-ranging collaborations with the likes of André 3000, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kamasi Washington, Shabaka, Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, and many more, the trio presents a profound musical offering.

The album is five recordings from five different sessions all around Los Angeles and Ventura County – outdoors in the hills of Ojai with a view of the Topatopa Mountains, an intimate living room setting in Elysian Park, in an Oak Tree Cathedral at the Churchill Orchard in Ojai, a Garden of Electronics in the courtyard of an Echo Park home, and a recording session under a pepper tree at Elsewhere in Topanga Canyon. Listen to the lead track “Hawk Dreams.”

“Openness Trio is a title that could easily be the name of this group,” says Mercereau. “‘Openness’ is the ideal word and description for what is happening here. Listening, Immersive Emoting, Deep Communication, Discovery, Trust, Exploration, and arriving to the moment to witness and share where we are, where we are going, and where we've been – these are all things that allow our music to happen in the way that it does.”

“It is very rare to feel so able to trust anyone so much, it expands your trust and awareness of yourself, and your sense of being trustworthy,” says Niño. “My favorite thing about playing with this Trio is in the Title: Openness. The totally psychic communication, connection that we have together is electric and deeply nourishing, invigorating… It is Open.”

“The trio's title speaks to the music and so much more,” says Johnson. “The trio and its members have expanded my perceptions in and outside the music. For me, it's reinforced prioritizing beauty and deep care of the music. I remember so fondly being together and playing in the Ojai orchard in early 2021. It was the first time I'd played music with people in a long time, and I remember feeling so so connected. The trio became 3D to me that day - soaring from the start.”

Marking the centennial of his birth, Omnivore Recordings will release an expansive collection celebrating the genius of Doc Pomus, the legendary songwriter behind classic hit records that shaped rock n’ roll including Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas," Ray Charles' "Lonely Avenue" and The Drifters' "This Magic Moment.”

The 6-CD box set, You Can’t Hip A Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos, compiling a treasure trove of never-before-heard Doc Pomus demos will be released on August 15. The set includes performances from Pomus himself, longtime writing partner Mort Shuman, and a who’s who of legendary figures key to the development of rock n’ roll including Ellie Greenwich, Scott Fagan, Peter Anders, Mickey Baker, Phil Spector, King Curtis, Titus Turner, Toni Wine, Bobby Andriani, and many more.

To accompany today’s announcement, Omnivore Recordings has released a first glimpse of the collection with “Viva Las Vegas (demo),” performed by Mort Shuman.

Listen to “Viva Las Vegas (demo)”

A larger-than-life almost mythic figure in rock ‘n’ roll lore, Jerome Solon Felder—better known as Doc Pomus—was born June 27, 1925, in Brooklyn, growing up crippled by childhood polio. After buying Big Joe Turner’s “Piney Brown Blues” at a local record shop, his world was irrevocably altered, starting a lifelong obsession with blues music and writing songs. Adopting the alias Doc Pomus—a nod to St. Louis bluesman Doctor Clayton—he performed at Greenwich Village clubs from the mid-‘40s to mid-‘50s, then transitioned to songwriting. His first hit as a writer came in 1956 with Ray Charles’ “Lonely Avenue.”

Inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, Pomus, alongside his most trusted collaborator Mort Shuman, created one of the most enduring catalogs of the Brill Building era, including “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “A Teenager in Love,” and “This Magic Moment,” along with a number of songs specifically written for Elvis Presley, among them “Viva Las Vegas,” “Little Sister,” and “Surrender.”

The six CD set contains 165 individual demos, many featuring Doc’s partner Mort Shuman on vocals and piano. The project began when Doc’s daughter Sharyn Felder discovered a closetful of demos while organizing her father’s archives. “I didn’t want them to end up in some dusty closet, never to see the light of day,” explains Sharyn, who contacted Cheryl Pawelski, co-founder of Omnivore.

“A project like this doesn’t come along very often,” says Pawelski. “I’m always grateful when someone like Sharyn entrusts me to help shape the legacy of a great figure like Doc Pomus. He had to overcome so much in his life just to get to the place where he could be the great writer he was, expressing that heartbreak and yearning.”

The CD-set package also includes a hardbound book which features a track-by-track analysis by Felder and Pawelski, along with essays by Felder, critics Geoffrey Himes and Peter Guralnick (one of Doc’s closest buddies), as well as TV producer/writer/historian Eddie Gorodetsky.

“What’s so impressive is the depth and breadth of Doc’s catalog,” Pawelski exclaims. “The demos he made with Mort were open to interpretation in any number of styles, which they had to be. The most fascinating, to me, are the ones that got left behind, the what-ifs, the songs that never saw the light of day… We want to bring those hidden gems to light.”

“Doc often claimed to have written more than 1,000 songs,” adds Felder. “Now I think he might have been underestimating. In the past few years, I’ve discovered demos for hundreds of songs I never even knew existed. He was the consummate songwriter in that he could write for any occasion or artist.”

After Alex Halberstadt’s critically acclaimed 2007 biography, Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus and the Sharyn Felder-produced 2012 documentary A.K.A. Doc Pomus, there are further plans for a feature biopic as well as a planned box set sequel covering his later collaborations in the ‘70s and ‘80s with Dr. John, Willy DeVille, B.B. King and Lou Reed.

“The hope is my dad’s songs will be rediscovered, that people will get turned on to some they never knew,” Felder concludes.

Doc himself describes his thoughts on songwriting in a recorded interview, which appears on Disc Six in the collection. “There are always ideas deep inside me,” he says. “To me, it’s always a question of bringing them out. Sometimes a little event might be the catalyst, or a word might be the catalyst.  I have an amazing ability to meet women and get very crazy, and that’ll stimulate me into writing a couple of songs.”

For both long-time Doc Pomus fans and those about to discover him for the first time, “This Magic Moment” is here.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/mxG2GeBUZm8

Pre-order and view tracklisting: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/you-cant-hip-a-square

Julien’s Auctions, the world's leading celebrity auction house, will host their highly anticipated MUSIC ICONS sale tomorrow, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 live from Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. The listings are live now at juliensauctions.com.

Hosted at the world-famous Hard Rock Cafe, Julien’s unites the most electrifying, genre-defying treasures of rock and roll history into a single, unforgettable event. With the return of its legendary MUSIC ICONS auction, collectors are granted a once-in-a-lifetime chance to claim pieces from the most iconic names in music. 

“This incredible collection brings together the instruments, fashion, and personal items that shaped the soundtrack of our lives — from the guitars that changed music history to the unforgettable looks worn by the world’s biggest stars," said Martin Nolan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions. “It’s a celebration of artistry, legacy, and the timeless power and endless enjoyment of music.”

The sale includes several important guitars played on stage and in studio by revered musicians such as; Eric Clapton, Kurt Cobain, Brian May, Johnny Cash, Melissa Etheridge, Bob Dylan, Ronnie Wood, Django Reinhardt, Jack White, Noel Gallagher, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Yngwie Malmsteen, Slash, Angus Young, Randy Bachman, Richie Sambora and more. It also features gear used by artists including AC/DC, Aerosmith, Frank Zappa, Neil Young, Roxy Music, Rascal Flatts, The Eagles, Nirvana, The Ventures and so many more.

Alongside the historic guitars is a stunning array of ensembles worn by revered style icons such as: Cher, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Barbra Streisand, Jimi Hendrix, Chrissie Hynde, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Janet Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Amy Winehouse, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Christine McVie, Betty Davis, Karen Carpenter, Freddie Mercury and Britney Spears, along with additional personal effects and jewelry.

Rare handwritten works from David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Noel Gallagher, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Madonna and more are also included in the auction. Find a full list of items with photos and descriptions via Julien’s Auctions website. Watch the trailer for the auction HERE. 

Omnivore Recordings, in association with The Jeffrey Foskett Estate, is very proud to announce the release of Something There – Remembering Jeffrey Foskett, to be released on July 11. They’ve also shared the album track “Mary Honey” which features Brian Wilson.

Listen to “Mary Honey”

A loving tribute to the voice of an angel, this 25 song collection contains several key Foskett recordings (“I Live For The Sun,” “Everybody,” “Something There”), rare alliances with Robert Lamm of Chicago and Christopher Cross, and previously unissued collaborations with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, America, and Los Straitjackets. The album also includes “Splash City (A Capella),” a special recording produced for an episode of Full House, which Foskett appeared in, featuring John Stamos with all backing vocals performed by Foskett (watch the clip HERE, Foskett is second from the right). More than half of the recordings are previously unissued.

Born and bred in the Golden State of California, Jeffrey Foskett and his angelic voice were destined to be part of the California Sound forever. An early acolyte of The Beach Boys and the music of Brian Wilson, Foskett was serendipitously “discovered” by Beach Boys lead singer, Mike Love, in a bar in Santa Barbara in the early 1980s. Foskett would later describe this “chance meeting” as “opportunity knocking” and he seized it with every ounce of talent he possessed.

Soon after meeting Love, Foskett joined The Beach Boys on the road. Very quickly, his soaring falsetto and incredible musical talent earned him the title of “Vice-Principal” as he assisted Hawthorne’s favorite sons with their late ’80s resurgence (Live Aid, “Kokomo”). This experience led him to many further opportunities and ultimately led him to lead Brian Wilson’s touring band in the 1990s.

Along the way, Foskett himself was creating original music and unique collaborations which led to several solo projects, all critically acclaimed. In the late ’90s, as musical director and confidante, Jeffrey stood by Brian Wilson’s side to attend to some unfinished business . . . the completion of Wilson’s legendary opus, Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE and its accompanying tour.

In 2012 Foskett was also instrumental in reuniting The Beach Boys for their widely successful 50th Anniversary tour and reunion album That’s Why God Made The Radio. Sadly, after a lengthy battle with throat cancer, Jeffrey Foskett passed away in December of 2023.

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/gU2MwpwsKqE

Pre-order: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/something-there

Something There – Remembering Jeffrey Foskett Tracklist:

1. Tell Me – The Pranks *

2. Barbara Ann – Mike Love’s Endless Summer Beach Band *

3. Splash City (A Cappella) *

4. I Live For The Sun

5. Something There

6. Thru My Window

7. Mary Honey – Jeffrey Foskett with Brian Wilson *

8. Summer Love (A Cappella) *

9. You Remind Me Of The Sun (Alternate Version) *

10. Remembering (Alternate Version) – America *

11. Cool And Gone

12. Simple – Christopher Cross

13. Sunshine All The Time (A Cappella) *

14. The Word Go (Alternate Version) – Jeff Larson & Jeffrey Foskett *

15. I Wanted You To Know – Gary Griffin with Jeffrey Foskett

16. Feeling Just The Way (Alternate Acoustic Version) – Jeffrey Foskett with Henry Kapono *

17. Everybody

18. Little G.T.O. – Los Straitjackets with Jeffrey Foskett *

19. Hurting Each Other (A Cappella) *

20. Living Alone – Jeffrey Foskett with Robert Lamm

21. Everything I Need – Jeffrey Foskett with Brian Wilson

22. Crying – Papa Doo Run Run

23. She’s The One I Know – Jeff Larson with Gerry Beckley *

24. I Can Hear Music (Acoustic Version) – Katie Foskett *

25. Love Me Do/From Me To You – David Pack & Jeffrey Foskett *

All songs performed by Jeffrey Foskett except where noted

* Previously Unissued

Today, the Indiana-born, Nashville-based rising star Stephen Wilson Jr. announces a fall run of his wildly successful sold-out søn of dad tour including performances at The Warfield in San Francisco, The Wiltern in Los Angeles and his largest hometown headline show to date at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium on November 23. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m local time, with an artist presale beginning on Tuesday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m. local time. This will follow his extensive run of shows with HARDY on his Jim Bob World Tour, three shows supporting Eric Church at Red Rocks in July, and a handful of festival performances this summer including his Newport Folk Festival debut. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit stephenwilsonjr.com.

Stream/download søn of dad (deluxe)
Order søn of dad (deluxe) on vinyl

Last month, Wilson Jr. released the “Star Spangled Banner (Live from the 2025 NFL Draft)” on streaming platforms following his “understated but hypnotic” (Rolling Stone) performance of the national anthem at this year’s NFL Draft. He also released the gritty music video for “Cuckoo” starring HARDY + Joey Breaux, as well as a deluxe edition of søn of dad, his critically-acclaimed debut double album. Featuring two new tracks taken from his viral Live at the Print Shop performance – the moving dedication to his late father “I’m A Song” and a gripping reinterpretation of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” – the album also included 10 acoustic versions of fan favorites from the LP. The Tennessean also named Wilson Jr. as one of the Top Nashville artists to watch in 2025, following his late year appearances on Bert Kreischer’s Bertcast and The Dan Patrick Show.

In 2024, Wilson Jr.’s career skyrocketed with his late night television debut on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, followed by performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s #LateShowMeMusic series and Later… with Jools Holland. Last fall, CBS News’ Jeff Glor traveled to Nashville for Wilson Jr.’s first major television interview, which was followed by a performance of three songs on CBS Saturday Morning.

2025 Tour Dates:
6/11: Bergen, NO - Bergenfest * 
6/12: Oslo, NO - Parkteatret Scene # (SOLD OUT)
6/14: Kværndrup, Denmark - Heartland Festival *
6/15: Hamburg, DE - Gruenspan # (SOLD OUT)
6/16: Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso # (SOLD OUT) 
6/18: Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso #
6/22: Belfast, UK - The Telegraph Building # (SOLD OUT) 
6/23: Dublin, IE - The Academy # (SOLD OUT) 
6/25: Glasgow, UK - SWG3 Galvanizers # (SOLD OUT) 
6/26: Manchester, UK - O2 Ritz # (SOLD OUT) 
6/27: Bristol, UK - SWX # (SOLD OUT) 
6/30: Brighton, UK - Chalk # (SOLD OUT) 
7/1: London, UK - O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire # (SOLD OUT) 
7/11: Cavendish, PE - Cavendish Beach Music Festival *
7/14: Morrison, CO – Red Rocks %
7/15: Morrison, CO – Red Rocks %
7/16: Morrison, CO – Red Rocks %
7/18: Big Sky, MT – Big Sky PBR #
7/19: Pocatello, ID – The Port #
7/20: Boise, ID – Revolution Concert House #
7/22: Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory # (SOLD OUT) 
7/24: Billings, MT – Pub Station # (SOLD OUT) 
7/25: White Sulphur Springs, MT - Red Ants Pants *
7/27: Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival *
8/2: Brownstown, IN - Jackson County Watermelon Festival *
8/8: Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Folk Festival *
8/10: Boots and Hearts Music Festival *
8/14: Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center ^
8/15: Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford Premier Center ^
8/16: Somerset, WI - Somerset Amphitheater ^
8/21: Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena ^
8/22: Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre ^
8/29: Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheater ^
8/30: Hartford, CT - Xfinity Theatre ^
9/4: Syracuse, NY - Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview ^
9/5: Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion At Star Lake ^
9/6: Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium ^
9/11: Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater ^
9/12: Birmingham, AL - Coca-Cola Amphitheater ^
9/13: Simpsonsville, SC - CCNB Amphitheatre ^
9/18: Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre ^
9/19: Tampa, FL - MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre ^
9/20: West Palm Beach, FL - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre ^ 
9/24: New York, NY - Madison Square Garden ^
9/27: Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom #
10/2: Richmond, VA - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden #
10/4: Clarksburg, WV - Clarksburg Amphitheater #
10/5: Ocean City, MD - Country Calling Festival *
10/10: Fort Smith, AR - Peacemaker Festival *
10/22: Seattle, WA - The Showbox #
10/23: Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo #
10/25: Kennewick, WA - Toyota Center #
10/26: Portland, OR - McMenamins Crystal Ballroom #
10/28: San Francisco, CA - The Warfield #
10/29: Sacramento, CA - Channel 24 #
11/1: Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern #
11/2: Del Mar, CA - The Sound #
11/8: Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre #
11/9: Miramar Beach, FL - Whiskey Moon *
11/14: Memphis, TN - Graceland Soundstage #
11/15: Louisville, KY - The Louisville Palace #
11/20: Columbia, SC - Township Auditorium #
11/23: Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium #
12/11: Las Vegas, NV - The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan #

^ - Supporting HARDY 
% - Supporting Eric Church
* - Festival
# - Headline

Today, the Grateful Guitars Foundation (GGF) announces that they will present Oteil Burbridge with a Doug-Irwin Certified “Dire Wolf” bass by luthier Bill Asher at the AEG + 97.3 KBCO Present Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 6. In addition to Burbridge, the event will feature appearances from Melvin Seals, Jacklyn LaBranch, Tom Hamilton, Duane Trucks and Lady Chi. GGF will also present a $5,000 financial gift to Can’dAid at Red Rocks in honor of the gift -- specifically earmarked for their arts & music education program.

Find more information and buy tickets for the event here: https://www.axs.com/events/904269/jerry-garcia-symphonic-celebration-ti…;

The bass will be based off of the legendary Doug Irwin “Wolf” guitars, and it will mark the first-ever bass in the Wolf style. Originally built in 1973, the Wolf guitar was revolutionary in its design, incorporating features that were highly innovative at the time. It became a key part of Garcia’s sound during the Grateful Dead’s heyday in the 1970s, and it was frequently used during some of the band’s most important performances.

“As a Grateful Dead fan, I fell in love with Doug Irwin’s Wolf watching Jerry Garcia play it in The Grateful Dead Movie as a teen and was blown away when I got to see Jerry playing it live many times in 1989,” shares GGF Founder Andy Logan. “The wonderful rich tones and sustain come from the innovative ‘hippie sandwich’ and through-neck design, and we are so thrilled that master luthier Bill Asher has created a custom six string bass version called Dire Wolf for our hero Oteil Burbridge. All of us at Grateful Guitars cannot wait for all the fans to be moved by similar sweet tones with the additional thundering bottom end from the new Dire Wolf bass in Oteil’s skilled hands.” 

Oteil Burbridge is a two-time GRAMMY-winning bassist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. First gaining national recognition in 1991 as a founding member of the cult classic band Aquarium Rescue Unit, led by Col. Bruce Hampton, he then joined the Allman Brothers Band in 1997 before their retirement in 2014. Since 2017, he has played with Dead & Company. 

Earlier this year, GGF lent Burbridge a replica of Phil Lesh’s Mission Control #2 Bass to play at the Sphere with Dead & Co. The signed bass is the marquee item in the Annual Grateful Guitars Foundation Benefit Auction, which will run through the Dark Star Orchestra Grateful Guitars Foundation Benefit at Pier 17 NYC on August 15. Interested bidders can find the auction here.

About Grateful Guitars Foundation
Grateful Guitars Foundation is a 501-c3 nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond. We identify musicians who thrive in live settings and we secure the gear they need to reach their fullest musical potential. Through the powerful connection between the skilled player and the highest quality instrument, our aim is to ensure that jam band music thrives for generations of live music fans. Additionally, Grateful Guitars Foundation board members share actual and replica Grateful Dead instruments and gear from their personal collections with players in the community. We are also rolling out a program seeking to support music instruction in schools to seed the next generations of talented players in the Bay Area and beyond.

Today, the nationally recognized nonprofit organization JAZZ HOUSE KiDS announced the full lineup of the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL Soundcheck Series in June, July, and August, as part of the 2nd annual Wellmont Arts Plaza Outdoor Concert Series featuring 10 free summer concerts.

Presented in collaboration with Wellmont Theater and New Jersey Hall of Fame, the free, all-ages MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST Soundcheck Series kicked off in Wellmont Arts Plaza on June 1 with JAZZ HOUSE’s top student ensembles and will continue in June, July, and August with Big Band Night (June 12), the genre-blurring jazz trio New Jazz Underground (July 30), and acclaimed Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martínez (August 20). Previously announced Wellmont Arts Plaza concert highlights include DJ Logic & Friends (June 25) and Grateful for Biggie (July 9).

Located right outside the Wellmont Theater, the new Wellmont Arts Plaza has hosted numerous live events on its built-in stage since its completion. Attendees can enjoy unforgettable nights of entertainment in the heart of Montclair. Shows are entirely free and do not require prior registration. More information on each event can be found here.

“The Wellmont Theater and NJ Hall of Fame are thrilled to partner with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS for their Soundcheck Series and the Wellmont Arts Plaza Outdoor Concert Series. JAZZ HOUSE has long been a cornerstone of our local music and arts community, fostering the next generation of talented musicians and enriching our cultural landscape. We are proud to support their mission and look forward to many more years of collaboration.” — David Genova, Owner, Wellmont Theater

“This summer, our collaboration at Wellmont Arts Plaza embarks on an exhilarating journey of musical discovery, celebrating a diverse array of genres alongside our MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST Soundcheck Series. Featuring powerhouse headliners like New Jazz Underground and Pedrito Martínez, the series highlights some of the most dynamic voices shaping today’s jazz scene. In a time of uncertainty for arts support, we remain steadfast in our mission—championing the next generation of young musicians. Throughout the festival season, our exceptionally talented JAZZ HOUSE students will take the stage, ensuring that the future of jazz remains vibrant and strong. And, as always, we know our cherished, arts-loving community will be there to uplift and celebrate with us.” — Melissa Walker, Founder & President of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and the brainchild of the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST

Looking Ahead: MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL Downtown Jamboree + Block Party

The summer-long series culminates on September 13 with the annual MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL Grand Finale—the Downtown Jamboree and Block Party—produced by JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. Now in its 16th year, the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL is the largest free jazz festival in the greater NYC region, welcoming 26,000 music fans to Montclair. Initial headliner announcements include saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, melding jazz, R&B, and funk; powerhouse vocalist Jazzmeia Horn; and Christian McBride & Ursa Major, the nine-time GRAMMY winner’s bold, multigenerational quintet. McBride is JAZZ HOUSE Artistic Director and Curator of the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST.

Back by popular demand, the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL will feature a giant Block Party when DJ Brother Mister (a.k.a. Christian McBride) and special-guest DJs take over the September main stage for a dynamic funk-and-soul dance party.

The current calendar appears below, with more announcements soon to be revealed.

Celebrated Newark, New Jersey, native, centennial artist, and face of the 2025 MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL, revered saxophonist James Moody is depicted in the festival artwork by visual artist-in-residence Andres Chaparro. In 2011, his wife, Linda Moody, founded the James Moody Scholarship in memory of her late husband. Partnered with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, this award provides a $10,000 scholarship for an outstanding graduating senior heading to college who embodies the qualities that the NEA Jazz Master expressed throughout his life and music—musicianship, creativity, leadership, and community involvement.

JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has launched an “All Access Pass” membership program for individuals and local businesses, offering special benefits during the festival and year-round access to JAZZ HOUSE events, including perks at the 2025 MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST Soundcheck Series concerts this summer in Wellmont Arts Plaza and the Downtown Jamboree and Block Party in September. For more information, visit www.montclairjazzfestival.org.
Media Resources Folder

Wellmont Arts Plaza Takeover: Outdoor Concert Series Schedule

Wednesday, June 25 | 7:00–10:00 PM
   DJ Logic & Friends, featuring Cyro Baptista, Billy Martin, Brian Marsella & Jason Fraticelli

Wednesday, July 9 | 7:00–10:00 PM
   Grateful for Biggie: A Fusion of The Notorious B.I.G. & Grateful Dead

Wednesday, July 30 | 7:00–9:30 PM
   MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST Soundcheck Series
   New Jazz Underground

Thursday, August 7 | 7:00–10:00 PM
   Glass Houses — The Billy Joel Concert Experience
   w/ All Fired Up — The Pat Benatar Experience

Saturday, August 16 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
   MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST Summer Explosion
   Featuring 150+ students from the JAZZ HOUSE Summer Workshop

Wednesday, August 20 | 7:00–9:30 PM
   MONTCLAIR JAZZ FEST Soundcheck Series
   Pedrito Martínez

Today, the Colorado-based alt-country rock band Gasoline Lollipops release their new album Kill The Architect via ALP Recordings. Produced by longtime Los Lobos member Steve Berlin, the album tackles our struggle for balance and connection in the midst of political turmoil. Earlier this week, the band also released the semi-autobiographical video for “Tennessee Nights,” which charts frontman Clay Rose’s brief rendezvous with a couple of drug-running hopeless romantics in the hills of Tennessee.

Watch the music video for “Tennessee Nights” via YouTube

Listen to Kill The Architect

“The music video for ‘Tennessee Nights,’ as well as the song itself, handles the heavy with a light touch,” shares Rose. “The song concerns a short period of time preceding my first, long stint of sobriety. I spent that time in Nashville with two colorful characters, Travis and Caroline. We were reckless and dangerous, drugged and deluded enough to think we were on a never ending rollercoaster ride. It turned out to be a trap door to Hell, but until we realized that, it was some of the best  fun we’d ever had. The video leans into the cheerful delusion of escape, and the immortal hubris of youth. No Coast Productions was amazing to work with, and we had a blast making the video. The best part? Unlike the history we were reporting, at the end of the shoot, there was nothing to escape. Thank evolution for change, and thank God for LSD.” 

From the new album, the band has already released the menacing “Holy Rebel”, which saw Rock and Roll Globe liken the group to “Lucero, Sixteen Horsepower and even Violator-era Depeche Mode.” Meanwhile, the reflective first single “Humanity” and its frenetic official music video was lauded by Riff Magazine for its “bluesy, punk-inspired alt-country rock” sound.

Taking shape as Rose composed music for Sam & Delilah, a psychedelic country ballet based upon the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah, Kill The Architect tackles the duality of human nature – good and evil / light and dark – and how balance is only achieved when we accept both sides of the coin into ourselves. This is also reflected in the LP’s sound, with many of the songs firmly rooted in the band’s folk and country influences (like “Humanity”) and the other half owing more to the noisy punk rock Rose grew up listening to (with “Holy Rebel” being a prime example of this).   

“As humans, we've separated ourselves based upon our beliefs and the identities we've created,” shares Rose. “Those things might have weight, but ultimately, it's not real. It's fleeting. It goes away when you go to sleep. It's not worth dying for, and it's certainly not worth killing for. If you've gotta kill something, kill your identity and be liberated. That's what Kill the Architect is about.

Kill the Architect was recorded with Berlin at Dockside Studio in Lafayette, Louisiana from a series of live-in-the-studio performances. In addition to Berlin, the album features appearances from a number of Rose’s friends and musical collaborators including GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, Fruition’s Mimi Naja, Phoebe Hunt and Rose’s mother Donna Farar, a longtime Nashville songwriter. Formed in the early 2000s as a cow-punk duo, the Gasoline Lollipops’ hometown following in Colorado eventually began to expand and so did their lineup which currently includes Don Ambory, Scott Coulter, Brad Morse and Kevin Matthews. 

Kill The Architect Tracklist
1. Tennessee Nights
2. Holy Rebel
3. Mercy
4. Honeysuckle And Poison Oak
5. Horse Or The Cart
6. Kill The Architect
7. Humanity
8. Come Here To Die
9. Black Hole
10. Elvis
11. Working For The Devil
12. The River

Today, nine-time GRAMMY® Award winner Christian McBride announced the upcoming release of Without Further Ado, Vol. 1, a new album featuring his acclaimed big band and an all star cast of special guests. Following up his big band’s GRAMMY® Award winning 2020 release For Jimmy, Wes & Oliver, the new release employs a jaw-dropping array of talent, featuring Sting, Andy Summers, Samara Joy, Dianne Reeves, José James, Cécille McLorin Salvant, Jeffrey Osborne, and Antoinette Henry to bridge eras with elegance and groove, reaffirming McBride’s status as a champion of jazz past, present and future. The album will be released on August 29 via Mack Avenue Records, and is currently available for preorder here. McBride has also released the track “Murder By Numbers,” reuniting Sting with his bandmate Andy Summers for the first time since The Police’s 2007-2008 reunion tour. The Christian McBride Big Band takes the band’s iconic song to new heights. 

Listen: Christian McBride Big Band “Murder By Numbers (Feat Sting & Andy Summers)”

“I am absolutely thrilled to have Sting and Andy Summers — two-thirds of one of the most influential bands in history, The Police — join me for one of their songs,” says McBride “Sting continues to evolve gracefully as an artist, and Andy still plays with the sophisticated fire and grit he has always possessed. A huge thank you to both of them, as well as to the remarkable Pedrito Martinez, for bringing that special ‘thang’ that only he can provide.”

Having played with artists ranging from Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis to Billie Eilish and Celine Dion, several of McBride’s artistic paths converge on Without Further Ado creating an electrifying collection of reimagined classics and surprises. The inspiration and many of the arrangements for the album grew out of the annual NJPAC Gala, for which the Big Band has served as house band and McBride as musical director since 2012. “We've always invited a bunch of great singers to come and perform at the Gala,” McBride says, “and as musical director, I’m responsible for arranging all of the music. After so many years of writing big band charts for these incredible singers, I realized that I had stacks of music that had only been played once. This has been a fantastic opportunity to finally record some of these arrangements and to play them with some of my favorite singers.”

If there is any doubt that we are living through a vocal jazz renaissance, the multi-generational line-up of singers McBride has assembled for Without Further Ado, Vol. 1 definitively settles that debate. From Samara Joy’s breathtaking version of the jazz standard “Old Folks,” to Jeffrey Osborne’s reinterpretation of  his band L.T.D’s 1977 number one hit “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again,” Without Further Ado, Vol 1 is like a vocal all-star game that’s heightened by the elegance and fire of the Christian McBride Big Band. 

Ahead of the album release, the Christian McBride Big Band will be performing at the Newport Jazz Festival on August 3, where they’ll be performing some of the new music from the album. In 2026 he will launch the first ever McBride’s World at Sea cruise, featuring performances with all of his critically acclaimed bands and loads of special guests onboard.

About Christian McBride:
Christian McBride is a nine-time GRAMMY®-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader. He is the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Art Center’s TD James Moody Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. McBride is also a respected educator and advocate for youth, serving as Artistic Director of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to artistic directing and consistent touring with his ensembles, he hosts NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” and “The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian” on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always part of the music. From jazz to R&B, and pop/rock and hip-hop/neo-soul to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him. McBride’s 2024 album But Who’s Gonna Play The Melody? was recorded with renowned bassist, composer, and seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Edgar Meyer. Released via Mack Avenue Records, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart.

James McMurtry released The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy via New West Records. The 10-song collection was co-produced by McMurtry & Don Dixon (R.E.M., The Smithereens) and is his first album in four years. The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy features appearances by Sarah Jarosz, Charlie Sexton, pat mAcdonald, Bonnie Whitmore, Bukka Allen, and more alongside his trusted backing band—BettySoo on accordion & backing vocals, Cornbread on bass, Tim Holt on guitar, and Daren Hess on drums. Met with universal acclaim, Rolling Stone called him “One of America’s greatest living songwriters” while Texas Monthly said “The consistency of such evocative, specific details has earned McMurtry the prestigious designation of songwriter’s songwriter. He is the type of performer other musicians revere, cite as an influence, and love to collaborate with…” Mojo Magazine awarded the album 4 Stars while Uncut Magazine called it in their 9/10 review, a “Masterful set from the distinguished folk-blues Texan.” Americana Highways said “McMurtry continues to prove that few songwriters—inside or outside Americana—can match his lyrical precision. Like John Prine at his sharpest or Guy Clark at his most plainspoken, McMurtry writes with clarity, compassion, and a healthy dose of bite. The Black Dog finds him at the peak of his powers—wiser, wearier, and unflinchingly honest.”

Today, Garden & Gun magazine premiered the album in its entirety alongside a Q&A with McMurtry. Hear The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy in full, a day ahead of its official release HERE. 

As varied as they are, McMurtry’s new story-songs find inspiration in scraps from his family’s past: a rough pencil sketch by Ken Kesey that serves as the album cover, the hallucinations experienced by his father, the legendary writer Larry McMurtry, an old poem by a family friend. A supremely insightful and inventive storyteller, McMurtry teases vivid worlds out of small details, setting them to arrangements that have the elements of Americana but sound too sly and smart for such a general category. Funny and sad often in the same breath, The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy adds a new chapter to a long career that has enjoyed a resurgence as young songwriters like Sarah Jarosz and Jason Isbell (who is namechecked on the new album) cite him as a formative influence. 

For The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy, McMurtry called on his old friend Don Dixon, who produced his third album, Where’d You Hide the Body?, back in 1995. He says, “A couple of years ago I quit producing myself. I felt like I was repeating myself methodologically and stylistically. I needed to go back to producer school, so I brought in CC Adcock for Complicated Game, and then Ross Hogarth did The Horses & The Hounds. It seemed natural to revisit Mr. Dixon’s homeroom. I wanted to learn some of what he’s learned over the last thirty years.” McMurtry and his band worked to create something that sounds spontaneous, as though he’s writing the songs as you hear them. They were open to odd experiments, weird whims, and happy accidents. In addition to his original compositions, the album features a pair of covers as bookends, “Laredo (Small Dark Something),” an opioid blues & testimony from a part-time junkie losing a weekend to dope by Jon Dee Graham, and Kris Kristofferson’s “Broken Freedom Song.” McMurtry says, “Kris was one of my major influences as a child. He was the first person that I recognized as a songwriter. I hadn’t really thought about where songs come from, but I started listening to Kristofferson as a songwriter and thinking, How do you do this? Kris had just passed not too long before we recorded ‘Broken Freedom Song.’” 

Once the album was mixed, mastered, and sequenced, McMurtry recalled a pencil sketch he had found a few years earlier in his father’s effects. It seemed like it might make a good cover. “I knew it was me, but I didn’t realize who drew it. I asked my mom and my stepdad, and finally asked my stepmom, Faye, who said it looked like Ken Kesey’s work back in the ‘60s. She was married to Ken for forty years.” The Merry Pranksters—Kesey’s roving band of hippie activists and creators—stopped by a couple of times to visit Larry McMurtry and his family. “I don’t remember their first visit, the one documented in Tom Wolfe’s Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. I was too young, but I do remember a couple of Ken’s visits. I guess he drew it on one of those later stops. I remembered it and thought it would be the perfect art, but I had to go back through the storage locker. It’s a miracle I found it again.” It’s a fitting image for an album that scavenges personal history for inspiration. 

Known for his powerhouse performances, McMurtry tours year-round. He’ll be in Seattle, WA tonight for the first of two consecutive nights at the Tractor Tavern and his tour dates in support of the new album feature stops at The Bluebird Theater in Denver, Le Poisson Rouge in NYC, World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, and more. Please see tour dates, with more to be added, below. 

“You follow the words where they lead. If you can get a character, maybe you can get a story. If you can set it to a verse-chorus structure, maybe you can get a song. A song can come from anywhere, but the main inspiration is fear. Specifically fear of irrelevance. If you don’t have songs, you don’t have a record. If you don’t have a record, you don’t have a tour. You gotta keep putting out work.”

James McMurtry’s The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy will be available across digital platforms, compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited khaki color vinyl edition, as well as a limited compact disc edition, both signed by McMurtry will be available via Independent Retailers. A limited blue color vinyl edition, as well as a limited compact disc edition, both signed by McMurtry are available NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS. 

The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy Track Listing: 

1. Laredo (Small Dark Something)
2. South Texas Lawman
3. The Color of Night
4. Pinocchio in Vegas
5. Annie
6. The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
7. Back to Coeur d’Alene
8. Sons of the Second Sons
9. Sailing Away
10. Broken Freedom Song

James McMurtry On Tour: 

6/19 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
6/20 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
6/21 - The District Bar - Spokane, WA
6/22 - Great Northern - Whitefish, MT
6/24 - Zootown Arts Community Center - Missoula, MT
6/25 - The ELM - Bozeman, MT
6/26 - The Commonwealth Room South - Salt Lake City, UT
6/27 - Aggie Theatre Fort - Collins, CO
6/28 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
6/29 - Wave - Wichita, KS
8/15 - Fitzgerald's - Berwyn, IL
9/4 - Proud Larry's - Oxford, MS
9/5 - Saturn - Birmingham, AL
9/6 - 40 Watt Club - Athens, GA
9/7 - Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC
9/9 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC
9/10 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
9/11 - Bijou Theatre - Knoxville, TN
9/12 - Woodward Theatre - Cincinnati, OH
9/13 - The Athenaeum Theatre - Columbus , OH
9/14 - Magic Bag - Ferndale, MI
9/16 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON
9/17 - Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall - Pittsburgh, PA
9/18 - Birchmere - Alexandria, VA
9/19 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
9/20 - Le Poisson Rouge - New York, NY
9/21 - The Annex - Norfolk, VA
9/23 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC
9/24 - Capitol Theatre Macon - Macon, GA
9/25 - Standard Deluxe: Little House Concert - Waverly, AL
9/26 - Saenger Theater - Hattiesburg, MS
9/27 - Chickie Wah Wah - New Orleans, LA

 Today, Omnivore Recordings announced the 50th anniversary expanded edition of Hearts, America’s fifth album for Warner Bros. Records and second with legendary producer Sir George Martin, out on August 8.

1975 was a watershed year for the band having established themselves as true hitmakers. Their previous album Holiday (and first with Martin) delivered two Top 5 hits (“Tin Man” and “Lonely People”) and the follow-up Hearts did not disappoint with three Top 40s including the summer favorite, “Sister Golden Hair,” the band’s first #1 since their debut album’s “A Horse With No Name” in 1972.

Working with Martin proved essential for the band’s creative growth with all three members (Beckley, Bunnell and Dan Peek) contributing strong material; each charting hit singles. As Beckley would reminisce in a new interview for this album’s notes, “we learned an immense amount from them (Martin and famed Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick) that we applied the minute we started on Hearts.”

Omnivore’s expanded edition celebrating the 50th anniversary of this Top 5 charting, Gold-certified album includes six bonus tracks with five previously unissued alternate versions. Experience the beautiful harmonies on the vocal and string mix of “Daisy Jane,” an alternate acoustic mix of the plaintive “Old Virginia,” plus the CD debut of the Spanish language version of “Sister Golden Hair” (“Con Tu Pelo Tan Dorado“).

As Gerry Buckley said “Hearts was built to last” and is still as fresh and engaging as ever!

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/vDs5Veg9phM

Pre-order: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/hearts

Hearts Tracklist:

1. Daisy Jane

2. Half A Man

3. Midnight

4. Bell Tree

5. Old Virginia

6. People In The Valley

7. Company

8. Woman Tonight

9. The Story Of A Teenager

10. Sister Golden Hair

11. Tomorrow

12. Seasons

Bonus Tracks

13. Midnight (Vocals & Orchestra)

14. Old Virginia (Acoustic Version)

15. People In The Valley (Alternate Version)

16. Daisy Jane (Vocals & Strings Mix)

17. Seasons (Vocals & Orchestra)

18. Con Tu Pelo Tan Dorado (Spanish Version Of “sister Golden Hair”)

* Tracks 13–17 Previously Unissued

* Track 18 First Time on CD