The 10th Anniversary ACL Festival line-up is on the books. Stevie Wonder, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Coldplay, My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Nas & Damian "Jr Gong" Marley and Cee Lo top the bill of the over 130 bands. Bright Eyes, Social Distortion, Empire of the Sun, Santigold, Pretty Lights, TV On The Radio, Skrillex, Big Boi and Randy Newman are also on tap to rock September 16-18.

3-Day passes are sold out. 1-Day passes go on sale at 10am. Full lineup below...

Continue reading "Austin City Limits 2011 festival lineup is here, tickets on sale"

DOWNLOAD: Ivan & Aloysha - Glorify (MP3)

"What is an Alyosha?" - Mark Simanoh

"Named after the main characters in Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov, the name Ivan & Alyosha is apt for a band cutting its teeth. As Ivan in Brothers Karamazov moves through the novel with doubts, Ivan & Alyosha navigate the indie rock world contemplating their path as a band. Lead singer and founder of the band Tim Wilson says he writes songs about what's current in his life. He recently married and had a son. Songs like "Living for Someone" and "Fathers Be Kind," reflect the age-old struggle of trying to balance the desire to make music with the pull of home and family." - says their bio

Seattle's Ivan & Alyosha are hard not to like, that is if you're not offended by the type of noise that bands like Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Delta Spirit and Local Natives make. Download the MP3 above, listen to the songs streaming at their MySpace, pick up their new EP entitled Fathers Be Kind, and check them out live on tour right now.

If you happen to be in NYC, that means you can see them live at Bowery Ballroom tonight (3/3) (they're first of three on the Bobby Long show), and at Living Room on Friday (3/4) (they open for Steve Wynn).

All tour dates and some songs and videos below....

Continue reading "Ivan & Alyosha are here -- 2011 tour dates, MP3 & videos"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Alex Winston - Sister Wife (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Alex Winston - Medicine (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Alex Winston - Choice Notes (Tomb Crew Remix) (MP3)

Alex Winston

Detroit singer-songwriter Alex Winston is starting the new year with a few shows before heading out to Europe in February. She'll be in Brooklyn tonight, January 9th, at Public Assembly for the Communion launch party with Emil & Friends, Marques Toliver, Pearl and The Beard, Bobby Long, and Simone Felice. Alex is the headliner, and there will be DJ sets by The Knocks, Neon Gold and Sean Glass.

Communion (not to be confused with the old Tuesday night party at Limelight) is a music community in London founded by Ben Lovett (Mumford & Sons), Kevin Jones (Cherbourg) and producer Ian Grimble and has been responsible for showcasing emerging and established British music. The Public Assembly show on January 9 is Communion's debut showcase in New York. It's fitting that Alex Winston is performing at the first showcase, considering she covered Mumford & Sons' "The Cave" for her Covers EP.

Winston was also at Public Assembly for the Neon Gold/Chess Club Showcase this past CMJ. I caught her at that show. Winston takes strong inspiration from Motown girl groups and crafts nostalgic pop songsm but she sets herself apart from her predecessors, by using the pop song formula to showcase more thought provoking lyrics. Her stage persona shifted from dramatic to funny multiple times and she never fails to deliver as a vocalist or performer. Winston has yet to release an album, but that will change on March 8th when her debut, "Sister Wife" is released by HeavyRoc. The Mini LP was produced by The Knocks and Charlie Hugall. Download two tracks from that album (one remixed) above.

All dates and the Communion flyer below...

Continue reading "Alex Winston releasing 'Sister Wife' (MP3), playing Communion (Ben Lovett's new series of showcases in Brooklyn)"