Expansive, uplifting, and just downright beautiful, City Painted Gold is one of the most anticipated records of the coming year – at least amongst the loyal fans The Brothers Comatose had won while touring across the country in support of their past two releases.  Infused with a sense of relaxed, effortless virtuosity that can be found only among the true masters of their craft, The Brothers Comatose trade in a southwestern-tinged stringband Americana that might just become your new favorite record before you make it through the whole thing.

Yet walking lockstep with that undeniable top-flight musicianship is an easy humility. “It's just one, big, extended Morrison music party,” they say. Brothers Ben and Alex Morrison, guitar and banjo, and lead vocalists, front this rocking string band that has become a West coast headliner and national touring act in a mere handful of years. With bass­master Gio Benedetti and stellar accompanists Philip Brezina on fiddle and Ryan Avellone on mandolin, their high energy, audience engaging shows have caught fire with fans from San Diego to Seattle to Salt Lake to Silk Hope, NC and beyond.

“It all sort of started before we ever picked up instruments” explains Ben. “Our mom was in a folk quartet that sang beautiful songs in harmony. Alex and I would watch them rehearse for hours when we were kids.” Things fell dormant for a bit, until Ben caught a wild hare and bought an electric guitar and Alex happened upon a banjo that someone had left behind after their parents Morrison music parties.

The brothers learned a mess of classic rock covers, playing casually in our living room and around campfires (and at those famous Morrison music parties) for the next few years. Eventually their genre of choice drifted to broad-stoke Americana and a buddy asked them to come record a few tunes in his garage. Their friend Benedetti had been studying upright bass and they called him up for the session. He couldn't make that day but shortly after they all began playing together. They needed a few more good men to round out their sound, and the brothers put up fliers all around San Francisco. A few people answered, including Philip Brezina, at the time pursuing a Master’s degree in violin performance at the Conservatory of Music. “When he showed up, I thought, who the hell is this guy?” says Ben. “He's kind of a redneck but he's getting his masters in classical violin. Turned out to work pretty well.” Avellone had shared bills with the Brothers a few times over the years in other bands and was a perfect fit.  Ben called him up, and “next thing you know, he's our mandolin player.”

Soon enough they put the axe to the grindstone, releasing two critically acclaimed record in Songs From The Stoop (2010) and Respect the Van (2012). Those releases led to extended tours with Devil Makes Three, Yonder Mountain String Band and Lake Street Dive, which in turn led to their own headlining club tours and festival appearances including the likes of High Sierra, Delfest, BottleRock and Summer Meltdown.

When it came to write their next chapter, though, our now-seasoned road warriors returned to their home of fourteen years in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. “We wrote this album living in San Francisco as it was changing from a weird, art friendly mecca to a place that only super rich tech workers can afford” tells Ben. “Things started changing rapidly. Venues were closing down, and artist and musician friends moved away. What is San Francisco without its weirdos? That's what the song City Painted Gold is about and that's why it’s the name of this record.” Shortly after completing the record, The Brothers Comatose themselves joined the ranks of the displaced.

Yet the Brothers, as the arty weirdos we all wish we could be are wont to do, set out on a search for new horizons and the next great adventure. Change inspires creativity, and – not to get ahead of ourselves – if our heroes maintain their current trajectory we should all be really rather excited about what the future holds.

Stream it here:

https://soundcloud.com/tahoe-artists/sets/city-painted-gold-please-do-not-share/s-QsUBT

They are a study in contrasts.

Cara Luft, all earth mother, ebullient and engaging; and burly JD Edwards looking like a long-haul trucker in t-shirt and jean jacket, slightly intimidating (until you meet him). At first glance few would peg them for a highly creative musical partnership. Yet these two veteran singer/songwriters, with a dozen critically-acclaimed albums between them, have teamed up to form a dynamic new duo, The Small Glories.

Juno Award winner Cara Luft has earned a reputation as an exciting live performer, accomplished guitarist (she has been invited to perform at the prestigious UK International Guitar Festival), clawhammer banjo player, and insightfully honest songwriter. Luft combines her infectious personality and wild sense of humor with mesmerizing song craft. Fronting the JD Edwards Band since 2006, Edwards is a versatile singer/songwriter who has earned praise for his down home songwriting and superb vocal ability. A rivetingly energetic live performer and prolific songwriter, Edwards is a seasoned road warrior, and the real deal.

It’s a case of 1 + 1 = 3.

Their initial union came rather serendipitously. Residing in Winnipeg, each was aware of the other but it took venerated venue The West End Cultural Centre’s 25th anniversary event in October 2012 to bring them together. “The concept was to pair up artists who hadn’t played with each other,” Edwards explains. “We started rehearsing together,” recalls Luft, “and I realized this was what I’d been dreaming of for years; the way our voices fit together was incredible. I’m pretty sure I actually screamed ‘Holy s**t!’ from excitement.” The seeds of collaboration had been planted. However, individual commitments prevented the two from working together until the following year. Returning from a successful European tour promoting her recent album Darlingford, Luft found herself with free recording time at a new analog studio in Kelowna, BC. She instantly thought of Edwards. “I had to use the time or lose it, but I didn’t’t have any idea what I wanted to say. I didn’t have a story to tell. I had hit a wall.”

Writing and recording 2012’s Darlingford was a difficult experience for Luft; the pain of betrayal informed much of the album’s songs. She needed to change gears. “As an artist you can’t keep spinning your wheels,” she stresses. “I had been slogging it for years and progress had been incremental. Music had become a bit grueling.” Working with Edwards became the catalyst for that gear change. “When we started rehearsing together I fell in love with music all over again.” The two began recording and were immediately struck by the results.

“JD put his stamp on my songs and I put my stamp on his,” says Luft. “Then there are traditionals and covers that we melded together.” As for JD, “Cara brings a lot of great arranging to my music and more spirituality. It’s always important for artists to push yourself into a different realm of creativity and come out of it empowered and excited. That’s what we’re doing.”

Songs like “Home” (a collaboration between Luft, Edwards and Lewis Melville) and Woody Guthrie’s “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key”, both featuring Luft’s clawhammer banjo, have a warm, homespun charm to them, like old friends singing and playing together. Others, like “Fast Turning World” (by Luft, Edwards and Belly Hardy) and Edwards’ “Had I Paid” with its fiddle accompaniment are powerful musical statements.

The Small Glories has allowed Luft to finally put the long shadow of The Wailin’ Jennys behind her. “The Jennys was a very beautiful project but a bit too delicate,” she muses. “We created very sweet-sounding music, but this is more gutsy and honest and representative of who I am.”

Make no mistake, The Small Glories is no one-off flash in the pan. “We could continue going our own separate ways as artists and be fine,” Luft acknowledges, “but doing this together is far better. It’s all about being fulfilled in life and I’m very happy with this. It’s truly a partnership of equals. There’s something about the blending of our voices and the music that we make together that’s like nothing else I’ve done and I want to keep doing it.” Thank goodness for Small Glories.

Tooth & Nail Records is happy to announce that Substream has premiered the live video for “Cut & Run” from the forthcoming CIVILIAN record You Wouldn’t Believe What Privilege Costs (out October 21^st). Shot at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville, TN, the video offers an exciting glimpse of what the bands live show will offer. So, until they make it to your home town, catch CIVILIAN live right here:

On You Wouldn’t Believe What Privilege Costs - recorded at the legendary Sound Stage (Cash, Earle, Haggard, Dylan) in Nashville, TN - songwriter / vocalist Ryan Alexander casts a spotlight on the intersection of love, politics, science, hope, and nihilism. “I want people to know that what they think matters and that nothing meaningful should be off limits” he shares. “We should boldly sit at the table of ideas and share our stories. This is what it is to be human.”

An incredibly mature collection of songs, the road songwriter Ryan Alexander took to arrive at YWBWPC provides at least a hint of an answer to how we find ourselves faced with a record so simultaneously beautiful and uncomfortable.

Michal Menert is very pleased to announce that his new single “All You Get” can now be heard everywhere. “’All You Get’ is an affirmation to take life (with a grain of salt) and make it yours” says Menert. “A mantra for a disillusioned world waiting for someone else to save it, a comforting reminder that much of what we prioritize isn't as valuable as love & purpose.”

Get it all right here:

https://menertmusic.com/pages/all-you-get

Menert draws breath from the world that surrounds him, transmuting daily inspiration into music that is singularly his own. A youth steeped in a broad swath of both Eastern and Western musical traditions gives Menert a deep palate from which to draw; his passion for original analog sounds coupled with a vast knowledge of music history has given him a unique ability to pull from the global creative canon with ease. A multi-instrumentalist, he incorporates live guitar and keys into his final production for a full sound and rich feel.

Michal Menert’s debut solo album Dreaming of a Bigger Life was released in 2010, followed by 2012’s mega-LP Even If It Isn’t Right. In winter of 2015 Menert released the highly anticipated Space Jazz, followed by fall 2015’s debut release by his band Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics, 1.

In the live realm, Menert supplied sound design for Dead & Co tours in 2016 and 2017. Additionally, he supplied sound design on Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum rerelease in Fall 2016. Building on that relationship, Menert in both a featured performer and co-producer on Hart’s latest studio record, RAMU (released fall 2017.)

Menert’s reputation as a live performer continues to grow, as he brings his music to fans nationwide via both his septet, Michal Menert & The Pretty Fantastics, and his 22-piece all-star ensemble the Michal Menert Big Band. His collaborations have led to the formation of myriad ongoing side projects including Manic Menert (with Manic Focus), Half Color (with Paul Basic) & Club Scouts (with Mux Mool). Over the years Menert has shared the stage with musical luminaries including STS9, Bassnectar, Umphrey’s McGee, and more, and played legendary venues such as the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, The Gorge in Washington and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Michal Menert and the Pretty Fantastics are very happy to announce that their forthcoming LP From the Sea will be released on November 16th. With From the Sea, Menert and his band have crafted a musical salve for those suffering from the relentless stream of contemporary reality.
 
The record churns at the intersection of jazz, hip hop, and electronic music; following its own internal rhythm, it ebbs and flows between crystalline clarity and swirling opacity. Uplifting, yet laced with echoes of chaos and friction, From the Sea wraps itself around the listener like a Pacific coast shore break.    
 
Check out the four current singles:
 
https://spoti.fi/2IEyKDe
 
 Michal Menert and the Pretty Fantastics have succeeded in creating a both a profoundly beautiful piece of art and a thought-provoking work of philosophical poetry. “We too often move through life on autopilot. When we stop and look back it’s all a blur” explain Menert. “This record is an exploration of how seemingly inconsequential moments ripple through time and haunt us. I want to help people realize that they’re not the only ones confused about how this is all supposed to go down. It’s universal.”
 
As Menert co-produced the chart topping Pretty Lights album Taking Up Your Precious Time, it was natural that he was the first artist to join Pretty Lights Music. His debut solo album Dreaming of a Bigger Life was released in 2010, followed by 2012’s mega-LP Even If It Isn’t Right. In 2015 Menert released Space Jazz, and the debut by his band Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics, 1.
 
Menert’s reputation as a live performer continues to grow, as he brings his music to fans nationwide via both his septet, Michal Menert & The Pretty Fantastics, and his 22-piece all-star ensemble the Michal Menert Big Band. Menert has shared the stage with musical luminaries including STS9, Bassnectar, Umphrey’s McGee, and more, and played legendary venues including the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, The Gorge in Washington and Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
 
His collaborations have led to the formation of myriad ongoing side projects including Manic Menert (with Manic Focus), Half Color (with Paul Basic), and work with artists like Eliot Lipp, Mux Mool, Break Science, and more. Additionally, Menert handled sound design for the Dead & Co tours, and co-produced Mickey Hart’s 2017 LP RAMU as well as his 360 Surround Sound performance at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. Committed to a community driven approach to collaborative creativity, Menert works hand in hand with producers he chooses for his own record label, Super Best Records.

Mike Doughty is very pleased to announce that in celebration of 25th anniversary of the release of Soul Coughing’s debut LP Ruby Vroom he has decided to perform the record in full at dates all across the U.S.A. The tour begins February 20th at The Basement in Nashville, TN.

Presale tickets for the “Mike Doughty performs Soul Coughing’s Ruby Vroom” tour are available now at www.mikedoughty.com and will be on sale to the public this Friday.

Doughty will be joined on these dates by a cellist, bassist, and guitar player. While they will be performing Ruby Vroom in its entirety, in the original sequence, what the audience experiences will be different each night. “When I was looking for something to do between album cycles I decided to tour Irresistible Bliss in full” explains Doughty. “It was incredibly fun forcing myself to work within that structure. The decisions you make when putting together a set list are different from the ones you make when sequencing a record. This is like performing a single, hour-long piece of music.”

Rather than an exact replication of the studio recording, Doughty plans to use a variety of cues and hand signals to adjust the performance in real time. “Live we turn into a musical super-organism. We’re basically doing a real-time remix of the record at each show” tells Doughty. “It won’t not be a note-for-note performance. I’m very proud of the record we made; it’s the sonic embodiment of lower Manhattan in the early 1990’s. Yet there’s a whole other version of this record that lives in my head. I’m extremely excited to see how it evolves night after night.”

Doughty, founder and singer of Soul Coughing, has released 11 solo albums in the 21st Century, including Haughty Melodic and Stellar Motel, and a memoir, The Book of Drugs (he’s currently writing a second one). He makes electro tracks under the names UUL and Dubious Luxury; his opera Revelation was staged in conjunction with WNYC; he’s currently writing songs with Wayne Kramer from the MC5. He recently posted his 100th weekly new song for his Patreon subscribers. And, finally, he has three improvised-music bands in Memphis, where he lives: Moticos, Baby Men, and Spooky Party. 

Mike Doughty performs Soul Coughing’s Ruby Vroom:

*Special guest Wheatus to support all dates* 
 
2/20    Nashville, TN                         The Basement
2/21    Atlanta, GA                            The Earl
2/22    Charlotte, NC                         The Visulite Theatre
2/23    Asheville, NC                         The Grey Eagle
2/24    Raleigh, NC                           Motoroco
2/26    Richmond, VA                        Richmond Music Hall
2/27    Washington DC                     U Street
2/28    Philadelphia, PA                    Ardmore Music Hall
 
3/1      New York City, NY                 Bowery Ballroom
3/2      Boston, MA                           Brighton Music Hall
3/3      Portland, ME                         Port City Music Hall
3/5      Toronto, ON                          Horseshoe Tavern
3/6      Ann Arbor, MI                        The Blind Pig
3/7      Chicago, IL                           Sleeping Village
3/8      Milwaukee, WI                      Colectivo Coffee
3/9      Minneapolis, MN                   First Avenue
3/10    Omaha, NE                           The Waiting Room
3/12    Denver, CO                           Bluebird Theater
3/13    Salt Lake City, UT                 The State Room
3/15    Seattle, WA                           The Crocodile
3/16    Portland, OR                         Aladdin Theater
3/17    Reno, NV                               The Saint
3/19    Novato, CA                            Hopmonk Tavern
3/20    San Francisco, CA                Great American Music Hall
3/22    Los Angeles, CA                    Lodge Room
3/23    San Diego, CA                       Soda Bar
3/24    Phoenix, AZ                           Crescent Ballroom
3/26    Santa Fe, NM                         Meow Wolf
3/28    Dallas, TX                              Club Dada    
3/29    Houston, TX                           White Oak Music Hall
3/30    Austin, TX                              3Ten

After Funk is very pleased to announce that their debut LP Santa Barbara was released on February 22nd, 2019. “Face In The Crowd”, the first single, can now be heard here.

Poised and polished, Santa Barbara unfolds with an ease and elegance rare amongst even seasoned veterans. Drawing from a broad base, Santa Barbara nods to R&B, disco, jazz, soul, Latin, and, well, funk. Nothing feels contrived; these myriad modalities are stylistic colors in their compositional palette. Gilding above and grooving in-between it all is the records’ keystone; the velvet, dynamic voice of Yanick Allwood.

Before After Funk, Allwood (who also plays keys), drummer Jaime Rosenberg, guitarist Phil Tessis, and bassist Justin Bontje lived parallel lives steeped in music. Their paths first crossed at the University of Western Ontario. In 2014 they released a self-titled EP and hit the road. Word of their electric live show started to spread, and soon the band was playing alongside Snarky Puppy, Lettuce and more, and gracing the stage at major festivals such as Electric Forest, Harvest Jazz & Blues, and Evolve in Canada.

In 2015 the band released the ‘Til The Sun Comes Up' EP, followed by 2017’s FREAK single. In early 2018 After Funk completed their first coast to coast tour of North America. The bulk of Santa Barbara was written, rehearsed, and workshopped in the band’s house on Santa Barbara Road in Toronto.

In addition to the core quartet, the record features performances by: vocalists Kyla Charter (Alessia Cara, July Talk), Stacey Kay, and James Bailey (July Talk), bass clarinetist Jacob Gorzhaltsan (Jack Dejohnette), tenor saxophonist Julian Nalli (Fred Penner), trumpeter Tom Moffett (BadBadNotGood, Arkells), flautist and alto saxophonist Rob Christian, and Cuban percussionist Rosendo “Chendy” Leon (Sultans of String). The record was produced by Jeff Hazin (Yoko Gold) and mixed by Gabe Gallucci (Shawn Mendes).

An imminently engaging, fully-wrought record that takes the listener by the hand and sprints off into a heady journey, Santa Barbara is nuanced, articulate, and profoundly satisfying.

Fletcher’s Grove is very pleased to announce that their new LP Waiting Out The Storm will be available nationally on May 17th. Live dates in support of the record begin April 26th at Rock City Cake Company in Charleston, WV. The title track from the record can now be streamed via:
 
https://soundcloud.com/fletchersgrove/waiting-out-the-storm-1

Waiting Out the Storm is a lyrically driven journey through the diverse roads of contemporary folk-rock and Americana in Appalachia. Full of symbolic storytelling and twangy acoustic instrumentation, Fletcher’s Grove craft tunes that paint an emotionally immersive picture for the listener. From longing blues to energetic foot-stomping dancehall tracks and languid ballads, Waiting Out the Storm shows a cohesion that can only be achieved through virtuosity.
 
Fletcher’s Grove have been performing around West Virginia for close to ten years, with the initial group beginning when its members were still in high school. After finding some success with their debut record All the Way Home in 2009 and getting their feet wet in the regional scene, the group went through a few different lineup changes, releasing 2012’s Appalachian Reaction and 2015’s live album Twenty Fifteen during the process. The band settled into their current configuration prior to recording 2017’s Fletcher’s Grove.
 
Waiting Out the Storm features Ryan Krofcheck (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjitar), Wes Hager (guitar, flute), Matt Marion (vocals, percussion), John Inghram (vocals, bass), and Tommy Bailey (drums), with guest appearances by pedal steel/baritone guitarist Walt Sarkees, keyboardist Mitchell Sutton (Optimus Riff), and trumpeter Chris Tanzey (Kind Thieves, Black Garlic).  It was recorded at Bailey’s studio, Riot City Studios in Morgantown, West Virginia.
 
A well-crafted album, Waiting Out the Storm is a compelling meditation on our shared humanity.  Speaking to the innate desire to be recognized and represented, it thoughtfully presents a myriad of feelings throughout its melodic meanderings. Bailey sums it up eloquently; “great music teaches us a little something about the world we live in and maybe a little something about ourselves.”
 
CATCH FLETCHER’S GROVE LIVE:
 
4/26     Charleston, WV          Rock City Cake Company W/ guests Yarn – Charleston, WV
5/3       Albright, WV                Cheat River Festival
5/17     Masontown, WV         Domefest
6/2       Oak Hill, WV               Mountain Music Festival
6/15     St. Albans, WV           Yakfest
6/29     New Martinsville, WV     Back Home Appalachian Festival
7/6       Cascade, WV              Yonderville Music & Arts Festival

Mauro Iuliano is excited to announce his nominations for two Independent Music Awards. The categories he has been nominated in are: Best Producer for his EP Hidden Roots and best short form video for his song "Who Knows" - viewable via the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZFVNLT4j58

Listen to Hidden Roots:
 
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/iuliano/hidden-roots
 
Intimate vocals and cryptic lyrics float above an orchestral palette; electric and nylon string guitars counterbalance complex harmonies and spectral electronica. With his first EP, Hidden Roots, Iuliano unlocks a sonic door to a modern artistry that is both elusive and accessible. 
 
Born in Italy, Iuliano inherited both his mother’s inclinations toward culture and his father’s affinity for economics. Beginning his studies on piano, Iuliano --who was a fan of progressive rock, jazz and soul -- played in clubs, his keyboards augmented by sequenced backing tracks. 
 
He tells that a dream sparked a dramatic journey. “I dreamed that I was in a classroom, and horn players were performing one of my arrangements,” he recalls. He made this dream come true in the United States when he moved to Boston, MA to enroll at Berklee College of Music. “It was like everything that had been explained to me could now be applied – the concepts became bright and clear.” 
 
With his engineering and arranging expertise finely-tuned, Iuliano gravitated to the role of a producer. Having previously visited Thailand on holiday, he started collaborating and producing in all Southeast Asia. After a four-year experience in Malaysia where he directed a small label, he chose to launch his solo career as a world citizen.   
 
While the guitar is a prominent instrument on Hidden Roots, it is not the instrument Iuliano is really familiar with, but the one he utilizes to write songs. “It was a deliberate peculiar choice made precisely because of not being a guitar player. This push me to explore ideas until I find something interesting, and then I free style the melody,” he notes. “I begin with an accessible melody, but then introduce the listener to different scenarios that evolve from the original idea.” While the intricate backing vocals on the project are a study in harmonic sophistication, the lead vocals are rendered in a poignant falsetto. “I use a smaller voice to increase the sense of dynamics and details,” he explains.
 
While Iuliano always begins with a concept, he prefers to realize his muse serendipitously. “Accidents are a very big deal in music, but you have to be able to hear them,” he reveals. “Some people might take them as a mistake, but most of them will lead you, one way or another, to an interesting place. Normally, these are the places that I like to wander.”  
 
Having spent so much time arranging and producing for others, Iuliano’s personal vision as an artist comes full cycle with Hidden Roots. “It’s the sound that I’ve heard my whole life, together in one place,” he notes. “Everybody has a limit – sometime the wrong side of the limit keeps you from making music, but if you can go around it, it becomes a point of power. You can express yourself through your limits. It makes you different from other artists and it becomes your point of strength.” 

We Are Busy Bodies is very pleased to announce that “Running - Asibaleki / Sheroes Theme", the first single from the forthcoming BLK JKS LP Abantu / Before Humans (out 05.21) can now be heard everywhere via:

https://idol.lnk.to/RunningAsibaleki

Pre-order the album:

https://blk-jks.bandcamp.com/album/abantu-before-humans

The story of BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks) reads like a real life rock’n’roll legend. For a couple of years around the end of the 00’s, the enigmatic South African rock quartet was ascendant. “Discovered” by Diplo, they went on to befriend everyone from The Mars Volta to TV On The Radio. They played double bills with Squarepusher at South Bank (UK) and Femi Kuti at Irving Plaza (NYC). They recorded an EP named Mystery at Jimi Hendrix’s iconic Electric Lady Studios. This and a Fader Magazine cover feature led to the band signing with Secretly Canadian in 2009.

Their debut album After Robots went on to blow down the walls of rock'n'roll Jericho with its heady mix of post-apocalyptic African funk rock, jazz, kwaito, renegade dub, psych-prog, mbaqanga, and soul. Dave Grohl declared After Robots his favourite album of 2009.  A live collaboration with Alicia Keys at the 2010 World Cup Kick-Off Concert to an estimated audience of two billion and their song “Lakeside” being synched on EA Sports’ FIFA10 soundtrack led to Rolling Stone dubbing BLK JKS “Africa’s best new band”.

Just as quickly as they arrived, BLK JKS disappeared. After opening for Foo Fighters in 2014, Grohl inspired the band to forge on. Now, we are here in the future. BLK JKS finally re-enter the musical fray with their long-awaited new album Abantu / Before Humans. Their prequel to After Robots, Abantu is a surreal journey of an album, beaming with vision and power; yet it possesses a hauntingly vulnerable beauty.

There is a lot of important information stored and needing to be restored or preserved in this kind of narrow sonic crevice we are mining” says Mpumelelo Mcata (Guitarist). It's this commitment to cultural activism that encodes the musical DNA of Abantu / Before Humans.  The band declare as much on the new album's manifesto - we see on the cover art text that reads: "A complete fully translated and transcribed Obsidian Rock Audio Anthology chronicling the ancient spiritual technologies and exploits of prehistoric, post-revolutionary afro bionics and sacred texts from The Great Book On Arcanum by Supernal 5th Dimension Bound 3rd Dynasty young Kushites from Azania."

Wait up, what to make of such an arcane, unabashedly literary, sonic fiction? Simple. Back in 2009 BLK JKS had foreseen the future with After Robots. With Abantu / Before Humans BLK JKS have lit the flames that created the soundtrack for the nascent neo-Afropunk movement in their home country of South Africa… no doubt soon to spread across the world.

BLK JKS are:

Mpumelelo Mcata (Guitars & Vox)
Tshepang "RMBO" Ramoba (Drums & Vox)
Molefi Makananise (Bass & Vox)
Tebogo Seitei (Trumpet & Vox)

As the world awakens from the darkness of the global pandemic, many are looking to gather and share in the joy of live music. Kalan Wolfe and Keely Crow-Ka, of “The Shift,” have called on performers from across the country to come and join them at Departure Festival in Ford Washington on the weekend of August 6th, 7th and 8th 2021.

Tickets available at:
 
https://musicbytheshift.com/departurefestival

Keely Crow-Ka and Kalan Wolfe founded Departure Festival out of a determined desire to persevere through the hardships the COVID-19 pandemic has created. When performing with their band The Shift was no longer an option, the focus went inward.

Writing and recording took the place of touring, and soon they found themselves with a new album, Departure. Departure Festival was inspired by their desire to support other artists who they admire, in a communal environment where people can gather as restrictions ease.

“We are musicians first, and festival organizers second. We want to give back to the community who has supported us so much through these unprecedented times” says Wolfe. “Local vendors will be here in force, providing everything from delicious food from Hillside Catering, to jewelry, pottery and art. We have all taken an enormous blow from the pandemic, and we want to provide an opportunity for artists and creators to get back to their craft.”
 
Departure Festival will take place at Happy Meadows, an open pine forest, with both shady and sunny spots. There is plenty of room for camping, and RVs of any size are welcome. Organizers are working to minimize single use plastics at the event, and proceeds will benefit the Skalitude Honey Bee Sanctuary.
 
“We are passionate about the environment and social justice. We have selected artists that not only inspire us personally, but who we see doing the hard work it takes to make positive changes in the world” says Crow-Ka. “We also understand how hard covid has impacted us all, especially in the arts community. We are going to keep our prices low so that Departure Festival can be accessible to everyone.”
 
To preserve an atmosphere of gentle comradery, attendance will be limited 1000 tickets. Pre-sale tickets, which include camping, are $65 and can be purchased from the Departure Festival website at https://musicbytheshift.com/departurefestival

Artist and composer Graham Czach released the global collaborative project he conceived and brought to reality, “One Human”, on July 16th, 2021 in honor of the UN Nelson Mandela International Day weekend. The recording features performances from Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee), Juno award winner Alpha Yaya Diallo, Grammy award winner Dobet Gnahoré, Grammy award winner Al Walser, Greek superstar George Perris, New York City Opera soprano Tharanga Goonetilleke, and many more*.

The "One Human" project is an international initiative that seeks to foster global unity through music. The "One Human" song/video features 123 Artists from 110 Countries around the world. The proceeds raised through the release of the song and associated fundraiser will benefit UNICEF. “One Human” aims to spread a universal message of peace and solidarity, as well as help those in need by supporting UNICEF, the humanitarian organization working globally in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. UNICEF is working to slow the spread of COVID-19 and minimize its impact on children and communities worldwide.

"One Human" is a call, at a crucial time in history, for the international community to come together and rebuild relationships, diplomacy, and compassion. Through music, it tells the collective story that no matter what our differences are, we must all seek empathy and understanding for each other through the shared bond of co-existence and experiencing the human condition.

Czach specifically composed and arranged the song for a world orchestra. The One Human Orchestra features instruments from a myriad of cultures throughout history including Japanese Taiko drums, Indian sitar and santoor, West African djembe, Latin percussion, Scottish bagpipes, Arabic oud, European hurdy-gurdy and mandolin, as well as all the Western Classical instruments including trumpet, trombone, strings, and more. This is “world music” in the truest sense.

In June of 2020, during the height of the pandemic lockdowns and mass social unrest, Czach set out on a quest to gather contributions from as many countries of the world as possible. In the end, he was able to coordinate collaborations with 111 Vocalists/Artists from 110 countries and 17 Instrumentalists/Artists from 11 countries. The sound and feeling achieved with the building of the arrangement, instruments, and voices throughout the song is truly magical.

Czach explains the project, saying, "This song and video tell the story of all of us, and creates something special and unique in showing how we are so much stronger and better as a whole. By coming together as one, through compassion and the universal language of music, we can unite in a higher consciousness, as one people, to help solve our many crises in the world.”

"One Human" is socially conscious universal message-driven music that tells the emotional story of the human condition while progressively blending genres of rock, pop, classical, jazz, and world music into an original sound all its own. It will fill you with inspiration, leave a chill running down your spine, and bring a tear to your eye. Czach adds, "Hopefully this song and video will make you think differently, feel a stir in your soul that inspires you to contribute to the UNICEF fundraiser to help children in need, and reach out to connect with your fellow human beings, regardless of who they are or where they come from. We all are one. One Human."

A new six-song EP, RAAR by guitarist Ari Joshua, featuring Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton from Soule Monde and the Trey Anastasio Band is coming out November 16th. More gorgeous original psychedelic rock-jazz fusion tracks from the February 2021 recording sessions in Burlington, Vermont can be anticipated for intermittent release in the coming months, and a vinyl album is anticipated in 2022.

In the Winter of 2020-21, in the middle of the pandemic, Ari Joshua flew into the snowy city of Burlington, Vermont to collaborate with drummer Russ Lawton, organist Ray Paczkowski, and long-time Phish Vermont recording engineer Ben Collette. The excitement sparked an intense and healthy writing spree. Ari composed about 25 demos in all.

“As I climbed into an airplane with my two favorite guitars, and a checked suitcase full of audio toys, I knew it was gonna be a great adventure to travel to Burlington and track with these guys, but I had no way of knowing the level of magic and flow that would unfold.” (Ari)

Ari had already composed vocal tracks “Rae of Light” for his 90-year old grandmother Rae’s birthday, and “Gran-mama” for his deceased grandmother Granny Queenie. It was a treasured experience to record these two sentimental tracks at The Tank in Burlington with such wonderful musicians. [edit] Incidentally Granny Rae passed away this week and was able to hear the track and it brought her a lot of joy and helped her to transition to her next phase.

“When I arrived and we started to play, the chemistry and like-minded musical approach opened the doors to a memorable session that I will never forget,” says Ari. “These guys were a lot like me, just serious, and ready to get to work.”

The trio managed to record versions of all 25 demos; mostly brand-new compositions and concepts. “Star Lord” was originally named “Country Hoppin,” written while Ari was flying from the West Coast to the East Coast. He wrote “For Ray” for Ray Paczkowski to shine a light on his unique approach on the organ. “The Bernie Meme” was inspired by the viral photograph of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in his hand-crafted mittens during President Biden’s inauguration, which happened in conjunction with the dates in Burlington, Vermont. The creative vibrations of life rippled through musical hearts and hands in a Northeastern snow-covered studio. ‘Audio Bicycle Day’ pays tribute to the recording studio The Tank, which inhabits an old bicycle factory, and still has old gears, bike parts, and memorable decorations up around the property.

Grammy nominations; ‘Father Time’ a single from this band already released as well as 3 other Ari Joshua songs are on the ballot for Grammy nomination this year, also including ‘Eye’s Only’ feat Robert Glasper & KJ Sawka, and ‘Sat Watcha Wanna Say’ feat Delvon Lamarr & Skerik!

To support the release, The Ray, Ari and Russ (R.A.a.R) Trio just played two intimate late-night throw-downs on October 30th and 31st after Phish’s sets at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The shows at Notoriety Lounge on Fremont Street were the Trio’s first performance since recording during the pandemic in Burlington. The ensemble has a list of over 30 original songs to pull from (some of Ray ‘n’ Russ’ and some of Ari’s) covering all genres but rooted in the same solid groove fans of Soule Monde and TAB know well. The three singles from the project “Father Time,” “Rae of Light” and “Star Lord” are already available in all digital stores.

Attendees got to dance all night long. Ray on his usual analog heavy organ, clavinet, and Wurlitzer set up, Ari, an innovative singer-songwriter trained in jazz and ready to go in any direction, had a tasty set up of spooky soulful tones, and Russ held down the groove like a creative machine. Entrance to Notoriety Lounge (www.notorietylive.com) boasted a balcony view of the rotunda a hundred yards away from the lights of the Fremont Street strip was beautiful and it felt rather exclusive. Getting out of the MGM Grand maze is a challenge for anyone, and the journey to Notoriety through hundreds of thousands of glittering lights and the costumed crowds was a distracting obstacle course, so the terrific turn-out was amazing! Ray, Ari and Russ performed three killer sets of dance-friendly songs from both Soule Monde's albums and Ari's compositions including previously released 'Father Time' and songs from the soon to be released 'RAaR' six-song EP. Setlist for Saturday, October 30th 2021:

Set I - Strut, Star Lord, The Jodi Grind, Audio Bicycle Day (#6), Ollie, For Ray, The Nail Set II - Tinyland, Ellsies Song, Gramama, Bernard, Inertia, The Bernie Meme, Allah Uya, After Midnight, Mimi Digs It, Melodies Set III - The Jodi Grind reprise, Slide B, Introductions, The Bear Necessities, La Grange

It was a great place to see these players in a raw trio format. Most everyone came in costume, Ray, Russ and Ari were accessible to talk with, and the party was hopping until around 4am. Attributing the magic of Vegas, many ‘phans’ again powered through the night to come see RAaR. Many of the attendees had also come to the Saturday show and reported having had such a great time they had to come back for night two!

Setlist for Sunday, October 31st 2021:

Set I - Audio Bicycle Day (#6), Slide B, Miss Miriam, Afro Beat Song Set II - For Ray, Elsie’s Song, Burlington Coat Factory, Nail, Gramama Set III - The Jodi Grind, Bootsy Bonham, Inertia, Take a Little Sip, Ollie, Voodoo Chile (Slight Return), All Along the Watchtower

The audio files for the Vegas shows will be made available soon, at www.arijoshua.com and RAaR will most likely perform together again in 2022.

Ari began releasing songs from his Vault earlier this year, including original recordings with artists such as Robert Glasper, KJ Sawka and Delvon Lamarr from the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio; more to come from the Vault in coming months!

The pandemic allowed for Ari to shift his focus closer to where his heart is, which is to travel and spread expressions of love and joy through psychedelic jazz and rock. He’s most excited to share his work with the beloved passionate listeners of the jazz, and jam band music scenes where improvisation and compositional music is most appreciated.

For those unfamiliar, Ari is a Cape Town, South African born – American raised guitarist. After attending The New School in NYC. He is the founder and owner of The Music Factory, an online music lessons portal, and Seattle’s in person music school. The Music Factory is now almost 15 years running, employing close to 100 musicians since its inception. Music Factory teachers have taught over 40,000 lessons to students of all ages, and skill levels.

Visit www.arijoshua.com for video clips of past shows, the recent releases already out, merch, updates, and the soon to come RAAR EP out November 16th on all digital stores and streaming platforms. .

Additional quotes from guitarist Ari Joshua:

“With the pandemic in full swing I owe a great thank you to Trey Anastasio for opening the doors to a protocol to collaborate during his Beacon Theater run and for sharing these great players with the world.” “The eclectic multi diverse styles I write in work best with folks that can play or understand the jazz language but also can also serve the music with a knowledge of Rock, and African music. As odd as it sounds, even in the best of times, it’s hard to find the right people to work with in this style. Ray and Russ were able to interpret my music creatively and intuitively from the first or second take, it was a real joy to watch things unfold, they also where all about getting to business, I really felt as though I was with really like minded souls. From the first note of recording I could sense that Ray and Russ were a perfect musical fit, there was a shared respect and love for the music you don’t always find out there.”

“The songs are ordered in a palindrome, the EP title R.A.a.R (which stands for Ray, Ari, and Russ) is a palindrome. The lion art work is by Brian Steely, so RAAR is also like a lion’s Roar, my name also means lion, so there are little easter eggs in there. The order is a grandmother sandwich, the tribute songs on the ends, next in are two songs with the pure instrumental flavors, just the trio standing on it’s own, and the middle slots are both mix of the two worlds, some light vocal layers, with the organic instrumental stripped down trio featured throughout.”

Nikhil Bagga is very pleased to announce that his debut LP Leap of Faith can now be heard everywhere! Produced by Eric Lilavois (Ayron Jones, Saint Motel, Island Apollo), and featuring Ben Smith (Heart), Leap of Faith is a love letter to “thick guitar tones and the 90’s punchy alt rock of Teenage Fanclub and Matthew Sweet.” (Glide)

Only two years into his career, Bagga is winning over fans and critics alike with his undeniable charm and contagious enthusiasm. Deeply connected with music from a young(er) age, Bagga took up guitar at nine so he could learn to play along with his favorites: AC/DC, Ed Sheeran, Ayron Jones, and Queen. His first public performance was busking in San Diego - on his 10th birthday. Only 13 years old, he is a teenage human jukebox.

Bagga has performed at the SMASH Seattle “Songs of Hope” Benefit, the Big Table Benefit supporting restaurant workers impacted by COVID, and Russell Wilson’s Why Not You Foundation. With a gift for playing by ear and a passion for melodic exploration, Leap of Faith is an imminently engaging, effortlessly charming debut from an artist that has a (very) long career ahead of him.
 
No novelty, the record is imbued with the purity and joy that can only be found by embracing and fully inhabiting one’s true passion. A precious thing in its own right, Leap of Faith stands as a reminder that art created for its own sake can be truly freeing and cathartic. Let yourself inhabit Bagga’s musical world and watch the dark clouds drift away.

Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration is part of the Seattle Center Festál series and produced in partnership with the Asian Pacific Directors Coalition (APDC). The festival will take place in-person May 1, 12pm-5pm. Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration marks the beginning of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) of May in the Greater Seattle area. Asian Pacific Islander celebrations began in the 1970s, when student groups and coalitions at local high school and colleges organized events to showcase the rich heritage and diversity of their communities. This annual festival showcases the cultures, traditions, and history of Asian Pacific Islanders through art, music, and dance. For more information, visit: https://seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/festal/api-heritage-month-celebration

Shamanistic Jazz, Rock, Psych, guitarist, composer, and Music Factory founder Ari Joshua is very happy to announce that the doors to his deep and mighty vault are swinging open. For years, Joshua has been content in his role as a “musician’s musician”, and educator flying under the radar of the general public. This is a breakout year. After years spent writing and recording with some of this generation's greatest, Joshua has decided that it's time to get this art out into the world!

The next four tracks to be released are as follows:
 
09.17   “Waltz of a Thousand Stars (feat. Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski & Soule Monde)”
09.19   “Burlington Coat Factory (feat. Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski & Soule Monde)”
09.26   “Into the (.::Void::.) (feat. Billy Martin & Jason Fraticelli)”
10.10   “The Garden (feat. Billy Martin & Jason Fraticelli)”    
 
All 4 songs will be available to subscribers at https://arijoshua.com/music before the official release dates.
 
Deep introspection is the key unlocking Joshua’s vault. “This is a Vault in which I’ve been storing music for years” says Joshua. “New music just comes flowing out, and during the pandemic I realized there’s this pile of unreleased music waiting to be shared, gotta make room for what might come next.”

The process of sharing music is really healing. Something I learned in Woodstock working with Billy Martin and John Medeski is the awesome freedom of embracing perfection in the imperfection, to just surrender a bit. These songs are gifts, to the world and to myself. They don’t call it a release for nothing, it does feel like quite a release to know this music is finally getting to see its day in the light. I’m here to make a musical cosmic connection with humanity, and to do that this art needs to be sent out into the cosmos!”

Davy Knowles and his previous band ‘Back Door Slam’ have garnered rave reviews, national television appearances (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America), extensive triple-A radio airplay, and four top 5 Billboard Blues charting albums. As an in-demand blues man, he has appeared with The Who, Jeff Beck, Gov’t Mule, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joe Bonamassa, Sonny Landreth, and Joe Satriani among many others.

If you think you know Knowles from his prior work, If I Should Wander will come as a bit of a wonder. This is, in many ways, a simple record. Just a man and his guitar creating eloquent, confessional acoustic music that is breathtakingly beautiful.

Stream “The Only Son”: https://ingrv.es/the-only-son-umu-k

This first single tackles the interpersonal dialogue when deciding to leave home, family, and all he’s ever known to pursue his dreams and a life beyond the comforts and safety he’s known. The feelings of guilt and fear of failure of letting those closest to him down shine through amongst the somberly beautiful acoustic guitar playing reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”. This first installment lays the groundwork for the emotions present throughout the rest of the album, and the raw, personal insight into the life of an artist attempting to balance his personal ambition with being the best son, husband, and father he can.

It's fair to consider If I Should Wander less an album and more a diary set to music. For the very first time in his career the songs came flowing out - one after the other, and in the order they appear on the finished album. While this music is in a radically different style than anything Knowles had previously written, it comes straight from his creative center- and his heart.

In keeping with the way these songs were written, and what they were written about, Knowles decided to record these at home, in his own little music room. Close, personal, intimate. More like a confessional than a recording. No frills, no trickery, and just one microphone. So turn down the lights, sit back, and bathe in the sound of Davy’s immaculate playing on an acoustic guitar, free from amplification or accompaniment.

Davy Knowles on tour (more dates to be announced soon):

April 29            Amherst, MA               The Drake
April 30            Lima, NY                     Fanatics
May 1              Lima, NY                     Fanatics (Night 2)
May 2              New York, NY              Iridium
May 3.             New York, NY              Iridium (Night 2)
May 5              Fall River, MA              Narrows CFA
May 6              Pawling, NY                Daryl's House
May 13            Portsmouth, NH          Jimmy's
June 25           Annapolis, MD            Ram’s Head
June 28           St Augustine, FL         Café 11
June 29           Sanford, FL                 The Alley
June 30           Boca Raton, FL           Funky Biscuit
August 29        Omaha, NE                 The Waiting Room*
August 30        Sioux Falls, SD           The District*
August 31        Fargo, ND                   Fargo Theatre*
September 1   Minneapolis, MN         Dakota Jazz Club*
September 2   Bayfield, WI                 Big Top Chautauqua*
 
* - w/ Donavon Frankenreiter & Devon Allman

Blind Owl is very pleased to announce that Chest Fever - keyboardist Jody Bagley, guitarist Dan Cervantes, and bassist Blake Dean of the San Diego Music Award winning rock band Mrs. Henry, organist Doug Organ, and drummer Allan Ritter - are releasing a full live recording of the iconic LP Rock Of Ages on July 7th, capturing the magic of their 2022 tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release.

Pre-save ““Old Dixie > Great Divide”: https://lnk.to/dixiedowngreatdivide

The Band left behind a timeless legacy of unforgettable music and a vast catalog of fabled songs. Band members Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Robbie Robertson embodied a musical alchemy that has been firmly cemented in myth and legend. Their impact on rock music and culture is permanently etched in the hallowed halls of American history.

Officially approved by Robbie Robertson, Chest Fever is comprised of keyboardist Jody Bagley, guitarist Dan Cervantes, and bassist Blake Dean of the San Diego Music Award winning rock band Mrs. Henry, rounded out with organist Doug Organ, drummer Allan Ritter, are releasing a full live recording of the iconic LP Rock Of Ages in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the seminal release.

“We set out from the get-go to interpret these songs rather than recreate or pay tribute” explains Bagley. Dean continues, “Like Leonard Bernstein, the goal is to bring to life compositions from one of the great catalogs in the history of music. We like to say at every show: “We are a band playing the Band’s music.” Our band is Mrs. Henry, performing as Chest Fever. It’s like Bruce Wayne by day and Batman by night.”

The shows, from which the performances featured on Rock Of Ages were taken, took place towards the end of a long tour. “Every show was different and had its own life force to it” says Cervantes. The final show of the three-week US/Canadian tour was in Brooklyn, NY on August 15th - the actual 50th anniversary release of Rock Of Ages. After two months of last-minute bookings, routings, Covid positives, Bus breakdowns, organ breakdowns and everything else in the book of a 21st century rock n roll band, the fates smiled and gave the band a day off at a family lake house. Cold water by day and a campfire by night recharged the band, and the chemistry for the New York show was dialed. Or as Canada’s favorite organist / drummer Doug Organ puts it, “the band was really cookin’!”

To be clear, while Chest Fever is reinterpreting another group's songbook, they are far from a cover band. “We consider it an honor to be performing this music live and having the opportunity to carry the torch of The Band” tells Cervantes. “Rock Of Ages is by many considered to be the definitive live album by the group. This is for the actual fans and diehards.” While The Band often gets put into the jam-band “crunchy” category along with the likes of The Grateful Dead or The Allman Brothers, there was certainly a sense of fluidity that permeated their live performances. “The way the songs themselves are played is interpreted on a night-to-night basis” says Ritter. “The parts are all there, but the way they come together fits into this cosmic space of melodies talking to one another and moving in and out of the music.” Indeed, even the famous horn arrangements originally done by Allan Toussaint were reinterpreted by Chest Fever’s orchestral horn/string arranger Jesse Audelo.

While we can no longer vibe to Robertson and crew through a haze of smoke and the cheer of the crowd, through the inspired work of this modern band of brothers we can still drink deep from the well of cosmic creativity that opened to us all. These recordings capture the magic of gifted players locked deep in the groove, magic crackling through the hot summer night. As Organ puts it, “turn it up loud when you’re listening, and it’s like being there. ;)”

Recently featured on an episode of The Band: A History podcast, members of Chest Fever were interviewed about the origins for the project. The seed for Chest Fever was born out of Mrs. Henry’s sold-out November 2021 show "Mrs. Henry Presents The Last Waltz" at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA. It was there, playing alongside legendary musicians such as Eagles collaborator and hit songwriter Jack Tempchin, violinist Scarlet Rivera of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, solo artist/Black Crowes member Marc Ford, and local hero Isaiah Mitchell, that the idea took flight.
 
Chest Fever is a melting pot of rock and roll, a deep musical exploration of a vast catalog steeped in storytelling, told through the prism of the American Mythos and the cosmic spirit of the West Coast. From The Band and Bob Dylan’s collaborative home recordings, The Basement Tapes, through Music From Big Pink and The Last Waltz. The thread connecting all of this music is a storytelling tradition that runs through all the known corners of an “old weird America”, as noted by scholar Greil Marcus. Chest Fever is the next step in this tradition, moving the legacy of The Band forward into the 21st century. The stories, legend and community of The Band live on through the passion and magic of Chest Fever, newly embodied in the live performance and burning energy they bring to every stage.

Flatiron Recordings is thrilled to announce the release of a full-length album, The Prize, by the talented Hannah Wicklund, scheduled for January 12th, 2024. In addition, fans can now enjoy her latest single, “Hell In The Hallway,” available on all major streaming platforms.

“Hell In The Hallway,” co-written by Hannah Wicklund and Stevie Aiello of 30 Seconds to Mars, serves as the haunting fourth single from The Prize. The track weaves a narrative of resilience and strength, urging listeners to persist through challenges and silence the deceptive whispers that seek to mislead.

Listen to “Hell In The Hallway”:

• Vydia
• Apple Music

Preorder / Presave The Prize:

• Hannah Wicklund's Official Store
• Vydia

The Prize features an array of songs that have matured over time, akin to siblings growing up together. The tracks were crafted in Wicklund's childhood home and refined across the country, culminating in a record that exemplifies raw feminine power and determination. The album showcases soaring melodies, anthemic choruses, and a captivating blend of musical influences.

Sam Kiszka of Greta Van Fleet contributes his talents on bass, keys, and organ, while Daniel Wagner, also of Greta Van Fleet, joins on drums. Together, they help to bring Wicklund's vision to life, creating an album that resonates with listeners on multiple levels.

Beyond her musical talents, Wicklund is a multimedia creative who navigates seamlessly between music and visual art. Each track on The Prize is accompanied by a large-scale oil painting, with each piece contributing to a cohesive visual narrative set in a castle floating on a cloud.

Both the music and visual art of The Prize explore the journey into womanhood, addressing themes of self-trust, empowerment, and the universal experience of growth and self-discovery. “This album was so radically healing for me, and I hope it can inspire and perhaps play a role in someone else’s story,” says Wicklund. “I want us all to remember, it can be lonely and is never easy ‘doing the work’, but we are each worthy of our own love, time, and dedication.”

Hannah Wicklund is currently opening for Devon Gilfillian, and she will be joining Greta Van Fleet for the European and UK leg of their Starcatcher tour in November.

About Hannah Wicklund: Hailing from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Hannah Wicklund has been immersed in music from a young age. She formed her first band at just 8 years old, and by sixteen, she was touring and making a name for herself. Wicklund has graced the stages of prestigious festivals like Firefly Music Festival, Shaky Knees Music Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Summerfest, and Kaboo Del Mar. She has toured extensively, supporting artists like Marcus King and Greta Van Fleet. Her debut LP, Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones, was released in 2018 under her own label, Strawberry Moon Records.

Flatiron Recordings is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated release of Long Distance Love - A Sweet Relief Tribute to Lowell George, scheduled to hit the shelves on May 17th, 2024. This heartfelt homage to Lowell George, the guitar virtuoso, vocalist, and songwriter of Little Feat, promises to be a remarkable addition to music enthusiasts' collections. Preorders for this exceptional album are now available here.

Featuring a stellar lineup of artists including Elvis Costello, Ben Harper, and Dave Alvin, this collection comprises 25 tracks that breathe new life into George's timeless classics and lesser-known gems. From the soulful rendition of "Long Distance Love" by Elvis Costello to the electrifying performance of "Roll ‘Um Easy" by Ben Harper, each track pays homage to George's unparalleled talent and enduring legacy.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Trouble - Mike Viola
2. Cold, Cold, Cold - Joachim Cooder
3. Long Distance Love - Elvis Costello
4. Heartache - Bedouine
5. I’ve Been The One - Bhi Bhiman
6. Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor - Miles Tackett
7. Be One Now - Lady Blackbird
8. Love Needs A Heart - Madison Cunningham
9. Easy To Slip - Jonah Tolchin
10. Dixie Chicken - Eleni Mandell and Milo Jones
11. Roll ‘Um Easy - Ben Harper
12. Lafayette Railroad - Larry Goldings
13. 6 Feet Of Snow - Jack Shit
14. Cheek To Cheek - Gaby Moreno
15. Two Trains Running - Chris Seefried
16. China White - Chris Stills
17. A Apolitical Blues - Dave Alvin
18. Feats Don’t Fail Me Now - Sugaray Rayford
19. Sailin’ Shoes - Taylor Goldsmith
20. Spanish Moon - Inara George
21. Rocket In My Pocket - Sam Morrow
22. Willin’ - Jonathan Wilson
23. Teenage Nervous Breakdown - The Bird and the Bee
24. Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie - Andras Jones
25. 20 Million Things To Do - Gus Seyffert

Born in Hollywood, California, Lowell George's musical journey began as a member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention before co-founding Little Feat with Bill Payne. Over his seven-year tenure with the band, they produced eight albums that continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Although George's untimely passing in 1979 left a void in the music industry, his spirit lives on through the timeless melodies and heartfelt lyrics showcased in this album.

In collaboration with Sweet Relief, an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to struggling musicians and industry professionals, Long Distance Love serves as a testament to the enduring impact of Lowell George's musical legacy. With each purchase, fans not only honor George's contributions to the world of music but also support a noble cause that uplifts and empowers artists in need.

Long Distance Love - A Sweet Relief Tribute to Lowell George is more than just an album; it's a celebration of an icon whose influence transcends generations. As listeners embark on a musical journey through George's storied career, they are reminded of the profound power of music to inspire, heal, and unite.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT EVER KIPP / TINY HUMAN EVER@TINYHUMAN.COM – 206.466.6796

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is very pleased to announce their participation in “PLAYED, WORN, & TORN II,” the seminal music memorabilia event taking place Wednesday, November 20th and Thursday, November 21st live at The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at The Historic Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN and online at http://www.Juliensauction.com. A preview at Hard Rock Cafe® in Times Square, New York of their public exhibition featuring many of the highlights of the auction runs through November 3rd, as well as an exhibition at The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at The Historic Municipal Auditorium that will run up until the auction.

The sale of 62 incredible guitars made by the world’s finest brands from Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, Ibanez, Danelectro, Epiphone to Guild, as well other one-of-a-kind musical objects signed by a who’s who of music icons will benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, the 501-C3 nonprofit charity that provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems.

Highlights include: Dolly Parton Malibu Player Guitar, Steve Vai’s Ibanez Jem Jr.; Alice Cooper Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic; John Mellencamp Fender Player Telecaster; Keith Richards Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster; Norah Jones Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster; Peter Frampton Gibson Standard Black; Slash Gibson Slash Model; Duran Duran vinyl of ”Danse Macabre”; Pixies Squier Affinity Telecaster; Phish signed poster; James Taylor Martin GPC-X2E; Mark Knopfler Fender American Vintage II '61 Strat in Fiesta Red; Graham Nash Fender CD-60; as well as signed instruments from Bonnie Raitt, Living Colour, Scotty McCreery, John Mayer, Nile Rodgers and more.

JULIEN’S AUCTIONS EXHIBITIONS

Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum 401 Gay Street Nashville, Tennessee 37219
Monday, October 21st-Friday, November 22nd
Daily: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central Time daily

LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION

Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum 401 Gay Street Nashville, Tennessee 37219
“Played, Worn, & Torn II”

Wednesday, November 20th
Session: 7:00 p.m. Central Time (evening)

Thursday, November 21st
Session: 10:00 a.m. Central Time (day)

For more information please email - info@juliensauctions.com, call 310-836-1818, or visit Juliens Auctions.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides services and financial assistance for all types of career musicians and music industry professionals. Grant recipients include recording artists, club and session musicians, composers & songwriters from across the country, road crew, agents, managers and many others. Sweet Relief grants are earmarked for medical and vital living expenses, including insurance premiums, prescriptions, medical treatment and operative procedures, housing costs, food costs, utilities, and other basic necessities.

Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
Joe Chambers was an accomplished musician and songwriter, and, as a couple, Joe and Linda Chambers opened a chain of guitar stores, Chambers Guitars. The couple co-founded and opened the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in 2006 on 6th Avenue South. They relocated to what is now known as the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at Nashville’s Historic Municipal Auditorium in 2013 and also houses the GRAMMY Gallery. The museum, revered by artists including Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Garth Brooks, and Neil Young, and recently added exhibits featuring Glen Campbell, Alan Parsons, Marshall Tucker Band and drummer, Stan Lynch. The mission of the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum is to honor all great musicians regardless of genre or instruments. This is done by exhibiting the actual instrument they used to record some of the most iconic songs in recorded history. Not only does the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum entertain local and international visitors but also educates them about the musicians who actually played on the “soundtracks of their lives.” The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum is a 501 (c) (3) charity organization.

Julien's Auctions
For the moments that matter.
You know that moment when the lights dim, right before your favorite band starts playing? Or that feeling right before the credits roll on a movie that changed your whole world in an instant? The air is charged with anticipation and words are never going to do it justice because you just really had to be there.

At Julien's, we exist to bring those moments back into your life through iconic artifacts and one-of-a-kind collections. Whether collaborating directly with artists, partnering with legendary estates, or working closely with discerning collectors, our auctions make culture pop with the promise of discovery and reconnection. From Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Ringo Starr to Lady Gaga, Banksy, and Kurt Cobain-from LA to the world, we are where originals find their kind.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is proud to announce the launch of the John Langenstein Fund, a dedicated effort to support an individual who has been a cornerstone of the live music industry for nearly four decades. John Langenstein’s extraordinary career includes working with iconic artists such as Jackson Browne, Phish, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, as well as contributing to some of the most notable music festivals and events in the world.

In July of this year, John faced significant health challenges, including multiple seizures and two strokes. These events have left him hospitalized and unable to work, with a long recovery journey ahead. Despite these hardships, John remains optimistic about returning to the music world in 2025.

To assist John during this critical time, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund has established the John Langenstein Fund, enabling fans, friends, and colleagues to contribute to the medical and living expenses he and his family are currently navigating.

A Letter from John Langenstein:
In his own words, John shared the impact of his health challenges and his gratitude for the support he has received:

"Good day, my name is John Langenstein. I am 65 years old and have been traveling on rock tours since 1987. I have had the honor of being with Jackson Browne (37 years), Phish (18 years), and Crosby, Stills & Nash for 7 years, including two world reunion tours with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

This year has been particularly challenging. On July 10th, I suffered multiple seizures and two strokes. I was hospitalized for 10 days and have been relearning some of life’s basics during my recovery. While I am making progress, I face ongoing medical challenges and expenses, compounded by my inability to work. My wife, Joy, who has been battling cancer for three years and is now in remission, also faces potential surgeries in the near future.

We are deeply grateful for any assistance during this time as we work toward healing and stability. I hope to return to work by January 2025 and reunite with the industry and community I love so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support."

How to Help:
Donations to support John can be made via Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Contributions will help cover vital medical and living expenses, including rent, utilities, and healthcare needs.

About Sweet Relief Musicians Fund:
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to career musicians and music industry professionals in need, offering grants for medical expenses, housing, food, and other basic necessities. The organization is committed to ensuring that those who bring music to our lives have the support they need during difficult times.

Join us in giving back to a man who has given so much to the music world. Together, we can help John Langenstein return to health and the industry he has so profoundly impacted.

Media Contact:
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
info@sweetrelief.org
www.sweetrelief.org

Donate Now:
John Langenstein Fund

Label 51 Recordings is very happy to announce that Night Crickets (David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets), Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes) and multi-instrumentalist Darwin Meiners) are gathering for their first-ever live performance. Taking place on May 4th, 2025, at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, they will be joined by labelmates Prairie Prince, Mojave Phone Booth (Toby and Mitch from Snake River Conspiracy), Rain Parade, Frightwig, and Screaming Bloody Marys.
 
Tickets are available now via http://bit.ly/3FsnQ4P

Night Crickets spearhead a loose collective of like-minded creative souls whom, through sheer tenacity and a burning desire to collaborate and create, transcend the restrictions of space and time. On their new LP How It Ends (?), David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets), Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes) and multi-instrumentalist Darwin Meiners – along with special guests Willem Dafoe, Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), and composer / musician / performer Ego Plum - snake slinky melodies through nocturnal atmospherics, drawing you into a world built on poetic, painterly lyricism. Complementing the music, one finds the haunting work of contemporary artists Mark Gleason on the cover and a spectacular inner gatefold collage by Penny Slinger within.

Co-founder of both legendary art-rock group The Tubes and rock icons Journey, drummer Prairie Prince has recorded and toured with the likes of George Harrison, Mick Taylor, Ron Wood, Ray Cooper, Chris Isaak, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Glen Frey, Richard Marx, John Fogerty, Tom Waits, Dick Dale, and the reformed “Jefferson Starship”, with original members, Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, Jack Casady, and Papa John Creach. After four records and several world tours, Prairie continues as their drummer. Performances and a double/live release with Grateful Dead Bassist Phil Lesh, and a record with longtime friend and former Tubes and Grateful Dead member, Vince Welnick (Missing Man Formation), brought acclaim from a unique base of music fans.

Together, Tobey Torres-Doran and Mitchell J Doran of Snake River Conspiracy have crafted a perfect soundtrack to late nights – and early mornings - with their work as Mojave Phone Booth. At turns thundering, sensual, and cathartic, the otherworldly soundscape of Hollow the Numbers is built on a strong foundation of eminently engaging songwriting. The record is a psychedelic tinged journey through multiple production styles and techniques. It weaves together sounds from avant-garde electronic, industrial, 70s jazz fusion, sci-fi/horror soundtracks, and goth/synth pop into a potent, compelling mix.
 
Matt Piucci and Steven Roback have been writing songs together since 1981, and are co-founders, along with David Roback, of Rain Parade. Their debut album, Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, is noted as an influence by the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Ride, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, and The UK Charlatans, among many others. Last Rays Of A Dying Sun (2023) features the original 80s members Piucci, Roback and Thoman alongside guitarist Derek See (the Gentle Cycle / Chocolate Watch Band / Dean & Britta), drummer Stephan Junca (The Hellenes, Billy Talbot, boatclub), and vocalists Debbi and Vicki Peterson (The Bangles). 2024 release Last Stop On The Underground features appearances by Greg and Thom Moore, and Bill Swan of Beulah.
 
Since forming in San Francisco in 1982, Frightwig have been wielding joy and smashing the patriarchy. With life-changing live shows, Frightwig became a formative influence on the Riot Grrrl movement and paved the way for the likes of Hole, L7, and Lunachicks, among others. The band’s cult-favorite albums Cat Farm Faboo and Faster, Frightwig, Kill! Kill! captured the hearts of fellow freaks and outcasts. Over the span of their extensive career, they have shared the stage with Dead Kennedys, Sonic Youth, Lydia Lunch, L7, SWA, and Bikini Kill. Now they have returned with their Label 51 Recording debut We Need to Talk…, continuing a legacy forty years in the making.
 
San Francisco Bay Area punk band Screaming Bloody Marys debut Get In, Get Off, Get Out (produced by and featuring Dead Kennedys’ very own East Bay Ray) would chart at The Virgin Mega in San Francisco and New York for 5 weeks upon initial release. Founded in late 1988 during the grunge era, Screaming Bloody Marys (SBM) have shared bills with Dwarves, The Supersuckers, L7, Soundgarden, The Didgits, The Gargoyles, Raw Power, MDC, Lagwagon, The Vibrators, UK Subs, Flesheaters, Johnny Thunders, and more. In 1997, while working on the follow-up record, the band imploded and broke up. Then, in 2015, at the request of Dick Manitoba, SBM performed at The Dictators reunion along with D.O.A at Slims in San Francisco. The show was a success, and it rekindled the band’s passion for live performance. Originally a CD-only release, Get In, Get Off, Get Out has been reissued digitally and on vinyl via Label 51 Recordings.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT HTTPS://LABEL51RECORDINGS.COM

Think:X, the genre-defying musical collective that reimagines the work of Pink Floyd through a darker, heavier lens, is happy to announce their fall U.S. tour run. Presented by Anatomy of Sound, the tour begins in Washington, DC on October 5th. Tickets go on sale at 10am eastern on Friday May 23rd.
 
More information is available at https://www.thinkxofficial.com/

More than a band, Think: X is an experience—blending electrifying live performances with deep improvisation and a bold reinterpretation of one of rock’s most iconic catalogs.
 
At the core of Think: X is Scott Page, renowned saxophonist and guitarist best known for his work with Pink Floyd, Supertramp, and Toto. With a career steeped in groundbreaking live production and multimedia innovation, Page brings both sonic mastery and visionary leadership to the project.
 
Joining him is Grammy-winning powerhouse vocalist Roberta Freeman, whose career spans collaborations with Pink Floyd (The Wall tour), Guns N’ Roses, and a wide range of legendary acts. Freeman’s soulful, expansive voice lends the music new emotional dimensions, capable of both raw power and delicate nuance.
 
The band features a powerhouse lineup of rock heavyweights:

    Kenny Olson, original guitarist for Kid Rock, known for his fiery blues-rock style and commanding stage presence, was in the first line up of Experience Hendrix
    Norwood Fisher, founding member of Fishbone, brings a deep, genre-bending groove rooted in funk, punk, and jazz traditions.
    Stephen Perkins, drummer for Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros, delivers polyrhythmic intensity and a rhythmic storytelling sensibility that drives the band’s dynamic energy.
    Will Champlin, Grammy-winning songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, adds rich melodic textures and soaring vocals. Son of Chicago’s Bill Champlin, and known for his work with One Direction, Will blends pop sensibility with a rock foundation.
    Derek Day, an explosive young guitarist and vocalist, infuses the group with theatrical flair and modern edge, bridging the gap between classic and contemporary rock. Day’s debut album is out this summer via Label 51/Flatiron Recordings.

 
Think: X does not merely perform—they transform. With a focus on bluesy arrangements, jazz-inflected improvisation, and a deeply collaborative spirit, the group pushes the boundaries of live performance. It’s an invitation to explore the shadowy, soul-stirring corners of Pink Floyd’s legacy—reborn through the voices and visions of some of rock’s most compelling artists.

THINK:X – THE COMFORTABLY KNOWN TOUR (PRESENTED BY ANATOMY OF SOUND):

October:
 
5 – Washington, DC               Jamming Java
6 – Philadelphia, PA               City Winery
7 – Boston, MA                      City Winery
8 – New York, NY                   Cafe Wha (two sets)
9 – Asbury Park, NJ               Wonder Bar
11 – Rochester, NY                Montage Music Hall
12 – Detroit, MI                       The Token Lounge
13 – Pittsburgh, PA                City Winery
14 – Cleveland, OH                The Music Box
15 – Chicago, IL                      Martyrs
19 – Asheville, NC                  Orange Peel
20 – Atlanta, GA                     City Winery

GOOD DUCK records is very pleased to announce that Paradise, the new long-player from The Addis Revolution, is now available everywhere. Encompassing everything from dancehall to lambada and deep apocalyptic Reggae-Rock, the album was recorded over the past two years on the island of St. John with expat and former Northern California producer/engineer Allen Clapp (The Orange Peels). 

Find Paradise and more at https://goodduckrecords.com/

Warren “Addis” Smith is a singer, songwriter, and performer native to the Virgin Islands who began his musical life when he joined his high school Steel Orchestra. After finding success in the Virgin Islands, Addis moved to the mainland to take his career to the next level and beyond by joining The New Horizons Band / Hot Like Fire. As a solo artist, he has performed at and shared the stage with the likes of The Harlem Pop Ensemble, New York Multi Cultural Festival, The Mighty Sparrow, Berkley Music Ensemble, Mutabaruka, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, Toots, Ziggy and Stephen Marley, Andrew Tosh, Black Uhuru, Junior Reed and many others. When not on stage performing, Addis is a Host / Co-Host for some of the area's biggest and greatest events: The Charlemont Reggae Festival, The Hartford Jerk Festival, and The River Front Music Festival.

Following the success of his third solo album No Compromise – which  garnered three Grammy Award Ballot considerations - he formed The Addis Revolution in 2012. Their 2013 single “People of the World” found heavy radio rotation in Jamaica and Canada, which was followed by the 2015 single “Beautiful Thing”. 2017 saw the release of The Great Escape EP, which garnered an additional three Grammy Award Ballot considerations, two in the “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance" category as well as one for “Best Pop Vocal Album” 

Paradise is a whirlwind of Caribbean influences, all focused through the granular mind of Sir Addis. Details become sweeping statements, and the big picture becomes not just planetary, but universal. Songs about growing up, falling in love, surviving, and even the End of the World sit side by side in elegance and grace. It’s all held together by a voice that is as compelling as it is commanding. 

Welcome to the Addis Revolution!