On September 14th, Justin Townes Earle will put out Harlem River Blues, his third record, on Bloodshot Records. About the NY-centric title, the Nashville-transplant told Paste, "I drove over the Harlem River one time and it was just the most desolate-looking thing I'd ever seen...it's just the nastiest body of water you've ever seen in your life. And I guess it just kind of inspired me a little bit."

Earle co-produced it with friend Skylar Wilson, and it's got guest spots by Jason Isbell, Calexico's Paul Niehaus, Old Crow Medicine Show's Ketch Secor and dad Steve Earle.

Justin Townes Earle will play a Gone to Governors show, along with Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band and Dawn Landes & the Hounds on August 8th (one day after Local Natives play there). That free NYC show is at 8pm (doors at 6pm) but Governors Island is open all day (ferrys start at 10am).

Justin was on the recent CD celebrating John Prine, who has his own Island show a month later.

The NYC show is part of Justin Townes Earle's larger tour, which has dates ploted out through October (much of which are with Jessica Lea Mayfield). All tour dates (including Newport Folk Fest) and live videos (plus an informative 'What's In My Bag?' segment) are below...

Continue reading "Justin Townes Earle - new album & 2010 tour dates"

DOWNLOAD: The Morning Benders - Cold War (Wallpaper. Winter Remix) (MP3)

Caribou @ Bowery Ballroom (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

What is now being considered the full lineup for the ten-show, Converse-sponsored "Gone to Governors" series at Governors Island is almost complete (openers still TBA). There are ten shows total - seven of which are on Saturdays. One is on a Friday. Two are on Sundays (one of which is July 4th). All except Local Natives on August 7th are free.

The lineup's latest additions include co-headliners Caribou & Phantogram with The Chain Gang of 1974 (July 16th), and Josh Ritter with openers Justin Townes Earle and Dawn Landes (August 8th).

Here's the whole thing:

1. June 05 - Yeasayer, Keepaway, Delicate Steve
2. June 19 - The Morning Benders, Freelance Whales & TBA
3. July 03 - Portugal. The Man & TBA
4. July 04 (Sunday) - She & Him
5. July 10 - Lucero & TBA
6. July 16 (Friday) - Caribou, Phantogram, The Chain Gang of 1974
7. July 17 - Dr. Dog & TBA
8. Aug. 07 - Local Natives & TBA ($10 ticket)
9. Aug. 08 (Sunday) - Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Justin Townes Earle, Dawn Landes & the Hounds
10. Aug. 14 - Neon Indian & TBA
11. Aug 15 - Dr. Dog

The doors are at 6pm, show at 8pm for all shows (except for the afternoon She & Him show, which has doors at noon, show at 4pm). I originally thought there would be shows every Saturday, but I'm told this is it (for now anyway).
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/06/dr_dog_governor.html
Ferry service to Governors Island for the "Gone to Governors" shows is free. As previously reported the series is being co-produced by Bowery Presents, Highline Ballroom and Mad Dog Presents with Converse and event partner Water Taxi Beach. BrooklynVegan is the media sponsor.

The shows will be held at the Beach at Governors Island, one of three venues on the Island. The others are Colonel Row (where Passion Pit will be playing, for instance) and South Island Field (which'll host M.I.A./HARD NYC). Michael Franti & Spearhead w/ Trombone Shorty kicks off the season of pay-shows at the Island with a Thursday, June 3rd performance there.

The Morning Benders will headline the second show in the series on June 19th, and they just released new song "Go Grab A Stranger," a Big Echo b-side currently available as a limited tour 7", streaming below. A remix of their song "Cold War" by Oakland act Wallpaper is available above.

"Go Grab A Stranger" and more info on the Gov. Island shows are below...

Continue reading "Gone to Governors - full 10 mostly-free show lineup (Caribou, Phantogram, Josh Ritter, She & Him & Local Natives included)"

Memorial Day Weekend officially opened the summer, and for those in the Pacific Northwest it also brought Sasquatch Music Festival (pictures from all three days are coming soon). Now the lineup for its Labor Day cousin, Bumbershoot 2010, has been announced. That fest, happening at Seattle, WA's Seattle Center September 4th-6th, will include headliners Bob Dylan, Mary J. Blige, Weezer, Hole, Rise Against, Neko Case, The Decemberists, J. Cole and "one more very special guest to be announced soon."

Tickets (including non-Mainstage 'economy' passes) are on sale now. The rest of the lineup (by day) for the seven-stage festival is posted below...

Continue reading "Bumbershoot 2010 lineup (Bob Dylan... Hole... Mary J Blige)"

As previously mentioned, My Morning Jacket landed some opening slots on the current Tom Petty tour including August 24th in NJ (though not MSG). Tickets for the tour are currently on sale (some with no service fee).

My Morning Jacket now has new dates that include Canandaigua, NY (outside Rochester) on August 28th (tickets on sale Friday at noon) and Philly on August 29th. On those headlining dates "the guys will be donating $1 from each ticket to a local charity." All dates and the list of charities are below.

Before those, Jim James will be a part of the Appalachain Voices tour with Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore in July. That includes a July 30th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets are on sale Friday.

You can also catch Yim Yames on May 26th performing with John Prine on Letterman. MMJ is among those who contributed to a new Prine tribute album entitled Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Gayngs, Deer Tick, Josh Ritter, Conor Oberst, Drive By Truckers, Those Darlins and others have tracks on the CD too.

The full tribute tracklist, a video of J Vernon covering Prine at the Haiti benefit @ MHOW, and all MMJ tour dates, below...

Continue reading "My Morning Jacket announce more tour dates, contribute to John Prine tribute CD"

Newport Folk Festival 2009 (more by Jim Brueckner)

Newport Folk Festival will be happening again at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, on July 31st and August 1st. The fest will also host a Friday night show on July 30th at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino.

The lineup so far includes Levon Helm's Ramble on the Road, John Prine, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, The Swell Season, Andrew Bird, The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Doc Watson & David Holt, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Calexico, Blitzen Trapper, Richie Havens, Sam Bush, The Low Anthem, Tim O'Brien, The Felice Brothers, Justin Townes Earle, Tao Seeger Band, A.A. Bondy, The Punch Brothers with Chris Thile, Dawes, Nneka, Horse Feathers, Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three, Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore, Sarah Jarosz, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, O'Death and Liz Longley.

Tickets are on sale.

Here are pictures from DAY ONE and DAY TWO of last year's fest. Videos from last year and the list of the artists playing this year, by day, is below...

Continue reading "Newport Folk Fest 2010 - initial lineup, dates & tickets "

Pete Seeger @ Clearwater Festival 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Clearwater Festival, the annual benefit for the Hudson River environmental group of the same name, will be happening this year at Croton-on-Hudson's Croton Point Park on June 19th & 20th. Pete Seeger, the non-profit's founder, plays every year - joining him this year will be Steve Earle, Rhett Miller, Joan Osborne, Buckwheat Zydeco, Felice Bros and more. More of the initial lineup is below. Tickets to the fest are on sale (and currently almost half the door price). Pictures from last year's day one are HERE and day two are HERE.

A bit farther Upstate in Hunter, NY, the three-day Mountain Jam will be happening June 4th-6th. The lineup for that includes Gov't Mule, Levon Helm & Friends, Drive-By Truckers, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Avett Brothers, Dr. Dog, Les Claypool, Jay Farrar (of Son Volt), These United States, Justin Townes Earle (note dad, playing above) and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band (the same, except grandpa). The full current lineup is below, and tickets are on sale.

Later this summer (in July), Camp Bisco will be in Mariaville, NY.

Lineups so far for both fests are below...

Continue reading "Mountain Jam (6/4-6) the Clearwater Festival (6/19-20) have announced initial 2010 NY concert lineups & tickets "

DOWNLOAD: Sweet Apple - Do You Remember (MP3)

Thurston w/ Sonic Youth @ MHOW in November (more by Lori Baily)

Society's Ills: In 1994 Society's Ills (Moore, Cadena, Watt, Markey) made their world premier with the now coveted "Skins, Brains, and Guts" release - a slab that managed to cram (9) 7 seconds covers onto one 7". In 2010, the band is back and once again fronted by Thurston but he brings with him a new crue of slayers to launch the hardcore fury:

Thurston Moore: Vocals
J Mascis: Guitar
Don Fleming: Guitar [SY producer & Velvet Monkeys/Gumball frontman]
Andrew W.K.: Bass
Awesome Allison: Drums [from Awesome Color]

This set is their first, but don't worry if you miss it cause I'm sure we can put this together again in another 15 years! [Ecstatic Peace]

Society's Ills play in addition to Thurston Moore solo, Talk Normal, The Entrance Band, Violent Soho, the Slits' Viv Albertine, Awesome Color, Jemina Pearl and more at the Ecstatic Peace SXSW Showcase happening Friday, March 19th at Red 7 in Austin. Curious about Society's Ills? Their version of 7 Seconds' "I Hate Sports" is below.

J Mascis will also be playing at SXSW with Sweet Apple, who are playing Mercury Lounge on April 20th. One of their SXSW sets will be at the showcase for TeePee Records, who are putting out the Sweet Apple debut, Love & Desperation, a track from which is above. That show is Thursday, March 18th at Habana Calle 6, and also on the bill are Priestess, Iron Age, Nebula, Naam, Imaad Wasif and more. Full details and a poster are below. Tee Pee Records has also teamed up with BrooklynVegan and Chronic Youth for another day party taking place on Saturday, March 20th in Austin. This is the first we've mentioned it. Stay tuned for more info.

Lou Barlow will also be at SXSW (backed again by The Missingmen) - one of his shows will be the Merge Records showcase at Cedar Street Courtyard on March 18th also featuring Let's Wrestle, She & Him, and others. Full lineup below. For She & Him it's one of two official SXSW shows. They also play Saturday night (March 20th) at Auditorium Shores (with Justin Townes Earle & TBA). Cheap Trick play the same slot at Auditorium Shores one night earlier.

Merge's showcase mentions that one slot will be filled by "Special Guest". We don't know who that is, but we'd have to guess Superchunk is a strong possibility since Mac & Laura have a speaking engagement (in a bookstore) on March 17th, and another one (official SXSW) at the convention center on March 19th (with Michael Azerrad), and the band is on the bill of the Village Voice day party happening at La Zona Rosa the afternoon of March 19th (with the xx, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Surfer Blood). It's definitely not Spoon who play the NPR show at Stubb's on March 17th with Deerhunter (their tour-mates) and The Walkmen.

Society's Ills Bassist Andrew W.K. will also be performing separately (and speaking) at SXSW (and at MtyMx in Mexico).

Kim and Thurston are playing with the Plastic Ono Band in their two-night Brooklyn Academy of Music run. They were at the dress rehearsal (aka the first night) last night (2/16). BV photographer Greg Cristman was in the audience and told us, "One definite highlight was Thurston and Kim played with Yoko as a trio and did a killer version of Mulberry from Unfinished Music No. 2 while the film Fly was projected on a huge screen behind them!" - a (poor quality) video clip of one of the other songs is below.

Full lineups for the showcases and videos are below...

Continue reading "Thurston Moore (& Kim) rehearsed w/ Yoko @ BAM, recreating Society's Ills (w/ Mascis, WK), appearing @ SXSW (like She & Him, Merge Records, Tee Pee...) "

Lucero @ Webster Hall in October (more by Tim Griffin)

Lucero are currently touring through the South with Glossary, a band that features Lucero's Todd Beene. Earlier in February, Glossary put out their sixth album Feral Fire, which is their first on Lucero's Liberty and Lament label (part of East West Records owned by Warner). That label also released frontman Ben Nichols' The Last Pale Light in the West, a seven-song album inspired by Cormac McCarthy's book Blood Meridian (Feral Fire also comes from a McCarthy line). Lucero's last, 1372 Overton Park, came out on Universal last October.

Lucero's current tour figures into SXSW, where one of the band's shows will be a free BrooklynVegan day party at Club DeVille on Friday March 19th (not to be confused with the official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase on the night of March 17th at the same venue). More details on both are forthcoming.

They're also coming to New York for a show on Tuesday, March 30th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 12th at noon.

Two days after that show, they're in Philly for a two-night stand with Drive-By Truckers and Langhorne Slim. They'll also be at Bonnaroo in June

All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Lucero playing MHOW a BV party @ SXSW & other tour dates"

Sweetheart Rodeo, the third full-length album from acclaimed Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Dawn Landes, will be available January 19 on Cooking Vinyl. The release is already receiving acclaim in the U.K.-Q magazine declares "Her sweet vocals and country-ish musical tilt recall Cat Power, but with a fresh and affirming, rather than jaded, worldview," while Uncut calls the music, "feathery acoustic songs that shuffle and sway beautifully." In support of the release, Landes will join acclaimed musician Justin Townes Earle on the road in January and February for a series of special show dates.

The new Dawn Landes (recently married to Josh Ritter) album is great, and so we're proud to present the record release party, aka the NYC date of the tour which is January 22nd at Mercury Lounge. Justin doesn't play that show - instead there will be a different (TBA) opener for the early show which is on sale now. All dates with the new album cover art below...

Continue reading "Dawn Landes - new album & 2010 tour dates (including a BV-presented record release show in NYC)"

Dan Dyer @ Terminal 5...the JFK one 5/22 (jetblueflickr)

JetBlue will be hosting a concert series, Live from T5, from inside JFK airport's new Terminal 5 building. The six-month, 12-date concert series will "feature hand-picked emerging artists from around the U.S. as well as bands chosen based on public votes in a national online competition hosted by OurStage.com." Which means you can apply to play at the airport.

The series kicked off with a show by Dan Dyer at the airport on May 22nd. Its upcoming schedule includes Nicole Atkins (June 26th/today), American Princes and Justin Townes Earle. Three dates are set aside for "contest winners," and three more will be booked by concert promoter Superfly Productions.

About that contest..

Based on votes, five artists will win a spot during 'Live from T5' by uploading original music to www.OurStage.com/go/jetblue; grand prize winner will also open for a headlining act at Bowery Presents' Terminal 5 or another New York City venue.

As you can read, the other Terminal 5 (a Bowery Presents venue in Manhattan) is involved too, but only to possibly host the top contest winner. Confusing, I know.

Schedule of JFK concerts, and all Nicole Atkins tour dates, below...

Continue reading "JetBlue concerts at Terminal 5 @ JFK airport (and the venue)"

Old Crow Medicine Show + David Rawlings & Gillian Welch @ Town Hall (muzikspy)

Old Crow Medicine Show, Dave Rawlings Machine (feat. Gillian Welch), The Felice Brothers and Justin Townes Earle will join together for the Big Surprise Tour, a revue-style show that'll travel for two weeks this August.

Shows will be composed of two 90-minute sets broken up by an intermission. In a free form ramshackle flow the bands and artists will share the stage, taking part in each other's songs, resurrecting old standards, and playing newly written collaborative material as they go.

The tour hits NYC Thursday, August 6th, with a show at the Beacon Theatre. Tickets are now on presale (password = metro) ; general sale starts Friday, June 12th at 9am.

There are also plenty of chances to catch each of the acts this summer before the Big Surprise Tour starts. Old Crow Medicine Show will be at the Clearwater Festival on June 20th and will open two nights for the Dave Matthews Band at the Jones Beach Theater on July 21st and 22nd. The Felice Brothers are currently touring the West Coast -- they'll play the Surf Lodge in Montauk on July 11th. The Dave Rawlings Machine (featuring Gillian Welch) performs at the Newport Folk Fesival on August 2nd, where Welch plays her own set one day prior. Justin Townes Earle appears at Bonnaroo on June 12th.

All tour dates and Big Surprise poster, below...

Continue reading "Big Surprise Tour w/ Old Crow Medicine Show, Justin Townes Earle, David Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Felice Brothers"

Justin Townes Earle went into the same business as his father. Steve Earle, the acclaimed singer and songwriter, passed on a lifetime's worth of advice about music and rebellion.

Justin says his father wasn't easy to rebel against.

"I could have become a Republican," he says. "That would've really pissed him off."

Instead, says his dad, Justin took up golf. Steve says Justin would hit golf balls in the front yard, just to irritate him.

But Justin says that no one in his family -- on either his mother's or his father's side -- discouraged him from playing music. He was in trouble a lot when he was young, but Steve Earle says he recognized his son's behavior.

"I knew what this looked like," he says. "I couldn't do anything else." [NPR]

Check out sessions with Justin on Laundromatinee and Daytrotter.

Justin Townes Earle's next NYC gig is at Beacon Theatre on May 15th. He's opening for John Prine. But you can also catch him tonight (5/1) at Maxwell's in Hoboken. All dates below...

Continue reading "Justin Townes Earle - 2009 Tour Dates (Maxwell's tonight)"

They are the only local team in any high school sport this season to carry a perfect record. The boys' soccer team from Coachella Valley High School is also ranked as one of the best in Division III.

And that says something.

The Arabs, who won the CIF championship two years ago in Division IV, have been elevated to Division III this season and are the only team to post an unblemished record in the Top 10 as ranked by the Southern California Soccer Coaches Association.

Two years ago, in coach Adrian Barragan's first season, the Arabs were not perfect, but they won it all, finishing at 20-3-2.

Can Coachella Valley make another run?

Senior standout Enrique Cardenas thinks he and his teammates can. [The Desert Sun]

Coachella 2009 festival tickets are on sale (@ noon).

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Peter Bjorn and John shows coming up at Music Hall of Williamsburg and Webster Hall.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Ra Ra Riot show at Webster Hall.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Handsome Furs show happening at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for both White Lies / Friendly Fires / Soft Pack shows at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Dan Deacon show coming up at Bowery Ballroom. He also plays a $3.00 solo show in Brooklyn Friday/tonight.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for all three Of Montreal shows happening at Music Hall of Williamsburg in April.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Bat For Lashes shows coming up at Bowery & MHOW.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Tallest Man on Earth show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale for the Week That Was show at Mecury Lounge.

The Ting Tings added a March 15th MHOW show. Tickets are on sale (@ noon). They moved their Webster Hall show to Terminal 5 (like Lady Gaga before them).

Justin Townes Earle is playing Mercury Lounge on March 3rd. Tickets are on sale (@ noon).

Tickets are on sale for the show Camera Obscura is playing at the Bell House.

Yacht Rock will be at The Bell House on February 27th. Tickets are on sale.

Yacht Rock episode 1 video below...

Continue reading "Coachella, Handsome Furs, Bat for Lashes, Peter Bjorn & John, Of Montreal & other tickets on sale"