Now a three-time Grammy winner, Levon Helm, former drummer of the Band, took the award for best Americana album last night, with his record Ramble at the Ryman.

Unfortunately, Helm was unable to attend the awards show due to an undisclosed "medical procedure" which also forced the postponement of his February 10th show at the Wellmont Theater in NJ. He's also sitting out of the next Midnight Ramble. His site reads: "Levon will be undergoing a medical procedure that will necessitate his absence from the February 25th Ramble. We wish him the best and we know he will have a speedy recovery. We'll continue with the normal Ramble schedule with special guests joining the band." We also wish him the best and a speedy recovery!" The last Ramble happened on 2/4 (they've been on a break since).

Things are looking good though because tickets are already on sale for a makeup NJ show taking place April 6 at The Wellmont Theatre. All tickets purchased for the canceled performance will also be honored at the show in April. Levon's next scheduled show is March 2nd in MA. All dates are listed below.

Opening for Helm at Wellmont, is Deer Tick, who will also be headlining their own NJ show at The Stone Pony on April 20 (tickets).

All Levon Helm, and all Deer Tick tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Grammy-winning Levon Helm recovering from a procedure, schedules new NJ show; Deer Tick too (dates)"

Justin Vernon & My Morning Jacket before the Grammys (by dariusjagjag)

Someone from Jagjaguwar tweeted the above picture not long before Justin Vernon shouted out "Jagjaguwar" to end his acceptance speech at the Grammys pre-show this evening (2/12).

Bon Iver won "Best Alternative Music Album", beating out Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Foster the People & Death Cab Cab For Cutie. Other pre-telecast winners include Adele, Foo Fighters (who beat Mastodon, The Decemberists and TV on the Radio), Skrillex (who won three already and beat Cut Copy, Robyn, Deadmau5 and others), Kanye West (who also won three already), The Civil Wars (who won two already and beat Fleet Foxes), Levon Helm, Alison Krauss, Tinariwen, Louis CK, Cee-Lo, and Booker T Jones who won "Best Pop Instrumental Album" for the 2nd time, and nervously thanked Biz Markie, Questlove, Gabriel Roth (of Daptone Records), Matt Berninger (of the National), and Lou Reed.

Arcade Fire also won another Grammy already (for Best Recording Package).

A Numero Group Syl Johnson release was up for two Grammys but lost in both categories.

And that was just all the stuff they don't show on TV. The regular show with all the big awards (and possibly more for Bon Iver) starts at 8pm EST, Whitney Houston tribute included.

UPDATES:
* Jack Black makes "indie cred" joke that includes "Bon Iver" while introducing Foo Fighters
* Denise from PS22 in Adele commercial

Levon Helm at Summerstage in Central Park (more by Chris La Putt)

The Band's Levon Helm will step outside of his weekly Midnight Ramble for a show at Wellmont Theatre on February 10th with Peter Wolf. Tickets are currently on AMEX presale and go on regular sale Friday 11/18 at noon. The show, along with a pair of dates that he has lined up at Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston, NY (11/18 and 5/25) are his only non-Midnight Ramble dates announced thus far. Full tour schedule is below.

Meanwhile, the Midnight Ramble continues this weekend with special guest Hook Herrera and on 12/3 Helm will welcome Jimmy Vivino (of Conan's Basic Cable band) and Dawes. Tickets for that show, and all others are still available (either seated or Standing Room Only).

Dawes will also head down to NYC & NJ that same week. Both Maxwell's shows, which Robert Ellis is opening, are now sold out though. You can catch Robert Ellis though during a tour with John Doe that hits City Winery on December 4th. For the X man, it's one of many gigs that will be keeping him busy through New Year's Eve.

All Levon and Dawes and Robert Ellis and X dates and a video below...

Continue reading "Levon Helm, Dawes, Robert Ellis & John Doe shows (dates)"

photos by Chris La Putt

"Dear friends, Yes. That was me singing with Levon Helm & Emmylou & so many friends in Central Park. One of those nights you hold onto." - Tift Merritt

Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris and Hayes Carll played Summerstage last night (7/18). Pictures from that show are in this post.

During Levon Helm's set, David Bromberg played on "Tongue" (a Bromberg song that Levon recorded with him) and Emmylou Harris helped perform "Evangeline", and then Harris, Hayes, Bromberg, Joan Osborne, Tift Merritt, Shawn Colvin and others joined the band for a performance of The Band's "The Weight." We don't have pictures of that part, but you can watch a video of it below.

"The Weight", as usual, was the last song in Levon's set. You can check out the full written setlist below though note they actually opened with "Ophelia" and didn't play "Wheels".

Setlist, video and pictures below....

Continue reading "Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, Hayes Carll & friends played Summerstage (pics, video, setlist)"

Mavis Staples @ the Bell House in January (more by Jacob Blickenstaff)

"Mavis Staples has no doubt about why the good Lord put her on this Earth.

"I was put here to sing," she said. "I was put here to spread the word. To bring ya'll a message. To inspire you. To motivate you. You know, that's what Mavis is about. That's my life."" [CBS News]

Continue reading "Mavis Staples playing festivals & other shows (dates)"

Tickets vanished quickly from Emmylou Harris's upcoming intimate gig at Bowery Ballroom on April 26, her Hard Bargain release party. But now comes word that she'll swing back into the NYC area to play a bigger show this summer, and with the Levon Helm Band and Hayes Carll. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wed at noon for the 7/18 date at Central Park Summerstage, a benefit for free shows at the space.

Like Harris, Hayes Carll is also scheduled to play NYC at Bowery Ballroom soon. Tickets are still available for his 4/22 show that is part of a tour with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Shovels & Rope.

Hayes Carll played Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, NY earlier this year. Upcoming Ramble guests include Tao Rodriguez Seeger, Warren Haynes, Garland Jeffreys, Kinky Friedman, and Jeffrey Gaines. Tickets are still available for many of the weekly shows.

Emmylou Harris is also scheduled to play as part of two nights in celebration of Kate McGarrigle at Town Hall. Tickets are still available for both the 5/12 and the 5/13 show. Harris recently swung by SXSW to play shows in support of Hard Bargain, stopping in with the Carl Bernstein of the Indie Rock world (Ted Leo) for an IFC interview. Watch Ted discuss Black Flag with Emmylou who also performs, and all dates, below...

Continue reading "Emmylou Harris playing Summerstage w/ Levon Helm & Hayes Carll (and other tour dates)"

"The 2011 Solid Sound lineup thus far: Wilco (Fri. & Sat.), the Levon Helm Band, Thurston Moore, Syl Johnson & the Sweet Divines, Here We Go Magic, Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Pillow Wand (Nels Cline/Thurston Moore duo), Handsome Family, Liam Finn, Sic Alps, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Glenn Kotche, Pronto, the Autumn Defense, Comedy Cabaret curated by John Hodgman featuring Wyatt Cenac, Eugene Mirman & Morgan Murphy, plus the return of the Story Pirates -- all at the largest contemporary art museum in the country with the backdrop of the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts."

Jason Isbell at Bowery Ballroom(more by Fresh Bread)

Hayes Carll and Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit will team up for a string of co-headlining dates including Bowery Ballroom on April 22nd. Tickets for the NYC show go on AMEX presale at noon (1/26) and regular sale on Friday. Both Carll and Isbell are preparing to release new LPs in the next three months. Carll is prepping to release KMAG YOYO on 2/15 (preorder) and Isbell has Here We Rest due on April 12th.

The Bowery show is one of three NYC-area dates scheduled for Hayes Carll. He'll also appear at Montclair's Wellmont Theater on Feb 11th in support of Levon Helm Band (tickets) and at Housing Works on Feb 15th (the day that KMAG YOYO comes out, tickets). The day after the Wellmont show (2/12) Carll will head up to Woodstock to play Midnight Ramble with Helm, tickets are still available.

Meanwhile, Jason Isbell's OLD unit, Drive-By Truckers, will play Bowery Ballroom on Feb 15th, a much smaller room than they played in their last go-around. Tickets are on sale at noon. The show is one of two record release parties for Go-Go Boots, DBT's new LP which is available for preorder now. The second will go down on March 7 in LA at the Troubadour. Trade your email address for a download of "Used To Be A Cop" from Go-Go Boots now.

All tour dates and some video from Hayes Carll's performance on the Tonight Show a few days ago, are below.

Continue reading "Drive-By Truckers playing Bowery (and LA), Jason Isbell touring w/ Hayes Carll (who is also playing w/ Levon Helm) "

Alejandro Escovedo at City Winery (more by Chris La Putt)

Alejandro Escovedo is spending the days leading up to Christmas on the road. He'll be in Norfolk, CT tonight (12/15) as part of a string of dates that will lead him to The Rubin Museum of Art on Friday (12/17). Tickets are still available. From there Escovedo will head to north to Woodstock to play a sold out show at Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble on 12/18, and hopefully Helm will be in attendance:

Levon Helm, the longtime Woodstock resident, former drummer for The Band and two-time Grammy winner, has been hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery.

Helm's manager, Barbara O'Brien, told the sold-out crowd at Saturday night's (12/12) Midnight Ramble house concert at Levon Helm Studios that the 70-year-old Arkansas native has been hospitalized in New York City. The show went on, with Levon Helm Studios Chief Engineer Justin Guip filling in on drums. Guip often sits in on a few tunes at each Ramble, the Saturday night shows Helm holds at his home studio several times a month.

"Levon came down with a little bit of a cold this week and because he's got COPD, a little bit of a cold to you and me is a lot more serious for him," O' Brien said. "...We took him to the hospital today. He's going to be fine. He's in the city. He's with his specialist, but he's not going to be here tonight....He is so upset that he can't be here." [Poughkeepsie Journal]

On a related or should I say relative note, Alejandro Escovedo's neice Sheila E will be in NYC the day after Escovedo (on 12/18 while he is upstate) to play with her old friend Prince at the sold-out Madison Square Garden. Prince kicks off his NYC area run tonight (12/15) at the Izod Center in NJ. Tickets are still available.

Alejandro Escovedo dates and some videos below.

Continue reading "Alejandro Escovedo on tour, Levon Helm hospitalized but ok"

Yelawolf crowd @ Terminal 5 (more by Brook Bobbins)

Tickets go on general sale at noon for the December 30th Drive-By Truckers show at Brooklyn Bowl. Tickets are still on sale for their New Years Eve show at Terminal 5 too.

Tickets for the Roots at B Bowl on New Years Eve are sold out, but you can still buy your way in to Questlove's DJ set taking place one night earlier after the Drive-By show..

The Pietasters play Brooklyn Bowl on February 12th. $5.00 Tickets are on sale.

The Funky Meters, which is the continuation of The Meters, Art Neville and George Porter included, will play three nights at Brooklyn Bowl in February. Tickets go on sale at noon for February 15th, February 16th and February 17th.

Yelawolf just played as part of a big Thanksgiving weekend bill at the big Terminal 5. You can catch him in a more intimate and headlining setting when he plays SOB's on December 22nd for just $10.

Nicki Minaj played a huge NYC show on Thanksgiving. She plays another one ON CHRISTMAS, but this time up at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx. Tickets are on sale.

Levon Helm just played two big shows at Beacon Theater in NYC. He and his band return to the area to play The Wellmont Theater in Montclair on February 11th. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.

Tickets go on AmEx presale at noon for the Bright Eyes show at Radio City Music Hall.

Tickets are on presale for the upcoming Allman Brothers shows at Beacon Theater.

photos by Matthew Eisman

At the Beacon Theatre [on Friday, 11/26], Levon was hoarse--at times he seemed to barely be able to talk. However, his band picked up the vocals, with him giving most of his energy to playing the drums and mandolin. At this stage in his career, all Levon Helm has to do is turn and smile at the audience to get a huge reception. He has that much charisma.

The [Bob] Dylan legacy was rich at Friday's concert. Levon was Dylan's oldest former sideman. Larry Campbell, Dylan's former lead guitarist, now plays and sings with Levon. Brian Mitchell, who played keyboard and accordion at the Beacon, can be heard throughout Bob Dylan's version of "Return To Me"... The connections of the music and people go on and on.

Opening and then playing frequently during Levon's set was Steve Earle, a prolific rock and country singer, songwriter and producer. Earle was simply fantastic, especially in a tribute to New Orleans that included This City and Mardi Gras. At Saturday's show, Earle will be replaced by Bettye Lavette. She has some big shoes to fill.-[Frank Beacham's Journal]

"With just acoustic guitar and a little later a a bouzouki, Earle was an objective lesson on how to construct and perform a wow of a show. Steve, looking like a homeless Santa Claus, opened with sure shot "I Feel Alright" and continued with the manifest destiny sneer "You Know The Rest" and two songs later dug deep deep into his back catalogue and pulled out "Someday"." [rock nyc]

Continue reading "Levon Helm played Beacon Theatre w/ Steve Earle (pics)"

poster art via Emblem Studio

WHAT. A. SHOW.

If I could have made it to any of the T5 shows (which I can't) it would have been TFF so I was so happy they played a bunch of tunes from that on Friday. They Ran had an incredible outro which some wailing falsetto. I've never been much of a Butch Cassidy fan, but this live version made me appreciate it so much more (the sounds Tommy was getting out of his bass were incredible). I was really hoping for a Dondante and it was great to hear this song after a few shows without it.

The encore was a thing of perfection for me, but hell the whole show was perfect! Phone Went West is a great song to "end" the show on before a rippin' One Big Holiday. I was right in front of Carl and got blasted with confetti during OBH, a great touch.

There was a point during the encore when I realized how wonderful my life was as I stood holding my woman watching my favorite band in the world play the best setlist I've ever seen.

LONG LIVE THE JACKET
[classicrocker623]

FIVE NIGHTS @ TERMINAL 5 IN NYC
10/18 - MMJ plays The Tennessee Fire, Dungen opens
10/19 - MMJ plays At Dawn - Hacienda opens
10/20 - night off, Carl Broemel plays Joe's Pub
10/21 - MMJ plays It Still Moves - Elvis Perkins in Dearland opens
10/22 - MMJ plays Z - Holly Miranda opens
10/23 - MMJ plays Evil Urges - Everest opens

You can also try your luck winning a pair of tickets. I have one pair to "Tennessee Fire" and one pair to the "Z" show. Details below.

Before Maine, like Gorillaz before them, My Morning Jacket played an hour set "Live on Letterman". Watch the whole thing below.

Between Maine and NYC, My Morning Jacket stopped by Levon Helm's Ramble (Saturday night) where they played a 10-song set in addition to jamming with Levon. The setlist from that show, the Maine show (with videos), the Letterman show (with video), and contest details, below....

Continue reading "My Morning Jacket kicking off 5-night run (win tix), christened Maine's State Theatre, played Live on Letterman (video)"

The gradual return of Levon Helm to singing and performing since undergoing throat cancer surgery in 1998 had a tremendous payoff Sunday night (8/15) at the Greek Theater, where the Band's drummer and Southern spirit responded to an admiring crowd with a dazzling two-hour concert.

Helm's presence -- at 70, he's still a ferocious drummer -- was cheered as much as the top-notch music-making; this show was a celebration of a creative life, of multiple strains of American music and of one man's determined will to soldier through adversity.

Sunday's show at the Greek [in Los Angeles] is the farthest west Helm and his 10-piece band band, led by guitarist Larry Campbell, have traveled since Helm returned to performing a little more than six years ago. In early 2004, he converted his Woodstock, NY, barn into a concert venue for the so-called "Midnight Ramble," asking, essentially, for fans to come to him, where they would be treated to an informal musical gathering with his band and esteemed guests. -[Soundspike]

Those in the mood for a road trip can head to Woodstock to check out Levon Helm at one of his Midnight Ramble sessions. Taking place fairly often (sometimes weekly), the space will also host Steve Earle (10/9, 10/23) and My Morning Jacket (10/16, before they play Terminal Five x5) in the coming months.

Full tour dates and some vids of the man at Midnight Ramble are below...

Continue reading "Levon Helm schedules more shows (openers & ramble guests include Steve Earle and Bettye Lavette)"

Outside Lands 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

San Francisco's Outside Lands Festival 2010 takes place in Golden Gate Park from August 14th-15th. Headlining acts for the fest include Kings of Leon, Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, The Strokes, My Morning Jacket, Phoenix, Social Distortion, Levon Helm and Al Green. Other acts include Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, The Budos Band, Dawes, Gogol Bordello, Cat Power Janelle Monáe and Tokyo Police Club. The full lineup (which will be added to) is below.

Two-day passes go on sale Tuesday, June 2nd at 1pm EST. Single day tickets go on sale Sunday, June 6th.

Check out pictures from all three days of Outside Lands 2009 (which as you may have figured out was one day longer than this year's).

A video trailer for this year's fest and the lineup is below...

Continue reading "Outside Lands 2010 lineup announced"

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 "

North Carolina's singing senator has recorded a song critical of the marijuana and alcohol citations filed against members of singer-songwriter Willie Nelson's band in January.

"It just looks like a special effort was made to go on that bus and cite them with marijuana," said state Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-Duplin.

The song, called "Leave the Man Alone," refers to the Jan. 28 citations issued to six members of Nelson's band on either possession of marijuana or possession of non-tax-paid alcohol. The band's bus was outside the Duplin County Events Center in Kenansville.

Nelson canceled the show that evening. His staff said the show was canceled because the musician's hand was hurting. But one woman who was at the canceled concert said practically no one believes that was the real reason.

"I don't think it was his hand at all," said Sylvia Hawes, 70, of Rose Hill. She said she believed the alcohol and marijuana charges prompted the cancellation. [Jacksonville Daily News]

Willie has shows booked around the country. His full schedule is posted below...

Continue reading "Willie Nelson & The Family playing Radio City Music Hall w/ Levon Helm & other 2010 Tour Dates"

Brooklyn, NY - 2/26/10 (davidfg)

Levon Helm (with special guest Donald Fagen) and The Duke and The King were set to share a bill at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ tonight (2/26), but "Due to weather conditions - tonight's show postponed to Friday March 12th". Tickets are on sale if you don't have one already.

Eclectic rocker Neil Young, who has made no secret of his disdain for the Grammys, finally won a coveted trophy on Sunday for the first time in a career spanning almost 50 years.

Fittingly, the Canadian singer/songwriter was honored for a long-delayed boxed set collecting more than 120 tracks from his early days.

"Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972)" won the Grammy for best art direction on a boxed or special limited-edition package. Young, 64, shared the award with fellow art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo.

"Thanks a lot, everybody," Young said as he accepted his statuette.

He also competed for best solo rock vocal Grammy but lost to Bruce Springsteen, whose career total rose to 20.

On Friday he was honored by the music industry at its annual MusiCares charity fundraiser in recognition of his annual concerts for the Bridge School for disabled children.

The 10-disc "Archives" boxed set has been in the works for years, with Young frequently delaying its release so that technology could catch up with his vision. It boasts studio and live tracks, demos, outtakes and other rarities, as well as videos and the first digital release of his directing debut, "Journey Through the Past."

Fans have the choice of three configurations: CD, DVD and Blu-ray -- the most expensive at more than $200. [Reuters]

Continue reading "full list of 2010 Grammy Award Winners (Phoenix, Stephen Colbert, Kings of Leon, David Byrne, Leonard Cohen & more) "

Steely Dan's Donald Fagen will be joining Levon Helm at Terminal 5 on Thursday. It's also a chance to see Okkervil River who are opening for the show. Tickets are still on sale.

Okkervill River's Will Sheff (recently seen covering Fleetwood Mac) contributed to the new Norah Jones album.

Puss n Boots (aka Sasha Dobson, Catherine Popper, and Norah Jones (not Avril Lavigne as listed on Mercury Lounge's website) are opening for Doveman and friends at Mercury Lounge on January 12th. Tickets are still on sale. As previously mentioned, Doveman band member Sam Amidon opens that show too.

Tickets are also now on sale for the two "Doveman + Peter Pears : An Evening With Thomas Bartlett and Nico Muhly" shows at The Kitchen.

Norah Jones, Sam Amidon, Nico Muhly, and members of the National are among those who contributed to the new Doveman album.

Doveman, Sam Amidon and Nico Muhly are playing this year's Big Ears Fest which is curated by a member of the National.

Sam Amidon was reportedly "backed by Doveman, Beth Orton, Final Fantasy + Shazad Ismaily" at Rockwood Music Hall the other night.

Final Fantasy is not called Final Fantasy any more. Tickets are still on sale for the Owen Pallett show happening at Bowery Ballroom on January 18th.

Beth Orton and Shazad (who also plays in Doveman) both contribute to Sam's forthcoming album.

Beth Orton has some shows coming up of her own too. Video of Sam and Beth performing together in London, below...

Continue reading "Donald Fagen, Levon Helm, Puss n Boots, Norah Jones, Doveman, Sam Amidon, Beth Orton, etc (dates, tix & stuff)"

Levon Helm

The Levon Helm Band will be departing from their weekly "Midnight Ramble" gig at Helm's Studio in Woodstock for a show at NYC's Terminal 5 on Thursday, January 7th, 2010. Joining them at this show be Okkervil River (currently their only scheduled show). Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 6th at noon.

Okkervil River's last full band show in NYC was January '09 at the then-new-venue Bell House. The band recently appeared on an episode of Austin City Limits with M. Ward. A clip of them performing the song "Unless It's Kicks" from that is posted below.

Okkervil River's Will Sheff is one of the songwriters that collaborated with Norah Jones on her new album, The Fall, out November 17th on Blue Note. The record also includes co-writing contributions from Ryan Adams and frequent Jones partner Jesse Harris, guitarwork from Marc Ribot and Smokey Hormel, and keys from Roots member James Poyser. It's streaming in full at NPR.

The ACL video and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Okkervil River playing NYC w/ Levon Helm Band (dates), Will Sheff contributed to new Norah Jones album (streaming)"

Elvis Costello @ Bonnaroo 2009 (more by Graeme Flegenheimer)

SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH... fuses the best elements of talk and music television and invites viewers to enjoy an intimate conversation between host Costello and his guests, punctuated by rare musical performances by Costello, his guests and a wide variety of musicians.

Sundance Channel in the US, along with CTV in Canada have picked up the show for a second season, with taping scheduled at New York City's famed Apollo Theatre at the end of September.

Continue reading "Elvis Costello taping 2nd season Spectacle shows @ the Apollo - get tix (Neko Case, Levon Helm, Ray Lamontagne...)"

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals @ Prospect Park in August (more by Chris La Putt)

Weekly Davespeak: I understand you have another album planned with T-Bone [Burnett] this year..

Grace Potter: Actually, we've already finished the record. We were in L.A. for a little under two months. We recorded the entire album in a very amount of time. It is coming out in October.

The band will be on tour with Brett Dennen this fall. That jaunt includes a November 20th show at Terminal 5. Tickets for the whole tour are on presale now. Tickets for the NY show are also on AmEx presale. General sale starts September 11th at noon.

Grace Potter's last NYC show was with Deer Tick in Prospect Park. Deer Tick also just announced yet another NYC show.

The band has post-tour plans for a four-night New Years Eve run in their homestate of Vermont, a January gig at Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, and a show after that in Jamaica (not Queens) with Gov't Mule (Grace is very popular in the jam band scene). All upcoming tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - 2009 tour dates (Terminal 5)"

"Veterans of the original Woodstock festival, including Levon Helm, Paul Kantner and Country Joe McDonald, have organized a scheduled flashback of sorts: they and several other musicians who performed at that 1969 concert will play a new show on Aug. 15 to celebrate the festival's 40th anniversary, The Associated Press reported. The new concert, whose lineup also includes the Woodstock alumni Big Brother and the Holding Company, Ten Years After, Canned Heat and Mountain, will be held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in upstate New York, where the first Woodstock festival took place. Mr. Helm, who played at Woodstock as a member of the Band, will be appearing with his Levon Helm Band, and Mr. Kantner, who performed at Woodstock with Jefferson Airplane, will appear at the anniversary concert with the upgraded Jefferson Starship." [NY Times]

!!! is playing ACL 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

"The 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival will showcase a diverse blend of acts both fresh and familiar at the eighth edition of the event in Zilker Park October 2-4. Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and Beastie Boys are performing for the first time at the Festival, with Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7, and Thievery Corporation returning to Zilker Park once again. John Legend, The Dead Weather, and The Levon Helm Band will also make their ACL Festival debut, while Austin's own Ghostland Observatory will no doubt deliver another memorable set for festival goers.

With over 130 artists on this year's bill, the list of acts awes at each note with the likes of Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Toadies, Flogging Molly, The B-52s, Lily Allen, Citizen Cope, Arctic Monkeys, The Decemberists, Coheed and Cambria, Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, and many more.

In the tradition of the TV show from which it was born, the Festival has always aimed to offer musical discovery for the fans. The 2009 lineup is rich with pop, country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, indie rock, hip-hop, and gospel, to name a few, spanning cultures and countries from New Orleans to Venezuela to France."

Continue reading "ACL (Austin City Limits) - 2009 festival lineup announcement"