Mark Olson is a founding member of The Jayhawks, the most acclaimed band to emerge out of the alt-country scene. He left the Jayhawks in 1996, after the release of the band's biggest-selling album, Tomorrow The Green Grass, but continued to record music with his new band, The Creekdippers, at his new home in the California desert.

In 2007 Mark released his first true solo album, The Salvation Blues. A deeply personal album, it also featured the long-awaited reunion with his former Jayhawks bandmate and writing partner, Gary Louris [who recently played LPR], on three songs.

In 2008 Mark and Gary got together and recorded an album Ready For The Flood, and toured the world extensively after its release for the better part of 2009.

Now it's 2010 and Mark's second solo album Many Colored Kite is scheduled for release on July 27, 2010 on Rykodisc.

Mark Olson will play Rockwood Music Hall's Stage 2 on Tuesday, June 15th at 7:30pm. Joining him will be guitarist/vocalist Ingunn Ringvold and special guest Jolie Holland. Tickets are on sale.

The new record is produced and engineered by Beau Raymond (Devendra Banhart, Little Joy, Mark Olson and Gary Louris) and features Neal Casal (of The Cardinals) and drummer Danny Frankel (Laurie Anderson, Bebel Gilberto, Fiona Apple, Madeleine Peyroux) with a guest spot by Vashti Bunyan.

All tour dates for Mark Olson, who has shows in the US and Europe scheduled, are below...

Continue reading "Mark Olson (of the Jayhawks) touring & releasing an album"

Influential UK folk singer Vashti Bunyan plays at 92YTribeca for one night only with Matteah Baim. She also appears, to talk, before a screening of Vashti Bunyan: From Here To Before, a doc about her, Friday (10/16) and Saturday.

Ticket Options:
# $15 live music performance on Fri, Oct 16.
# $12 screening only on Fri, Oct 16 or Sat, Oct 17.
# $22 for the Friday film screening and Friday live music performance.
# $22 for the Saturday film screening and Friday live music performance.

Do you want to go tonight? First person to email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Vashti) will get a free pair of passes to the whole thing.

Legendary UK folkie Vasthi Bunyan will be appearing at 92YTribeca in NYC for a live performance on Friday, October 16th, and with director Kieran Evans for two screenings of the documantary Vashti Bunyan: From Here To Before on October 16th and 17th. Tickets for the concert, film and both are on sale now.

From Here To Before is a feature length documentary that chronicles the story behind the writing of a classic 'lost' album and the re-emergence of its critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, Vashti Bunyan. Filmed and directed by Kieran Evans, this beautifully shot and wonderfully evocative film is a lyrical, modern day road movie that retraces Vashti's extraordinary journey from London to the island of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides of northern Scotland and sets it against the backdrop of her first high profile London concert.

Andrew Loog Oldham, Joe Boyd, Robert Kirby, Devendra Banhart, Max Richter and Adem Ilhan all appear in the film which premiered in London in October 2008.

Vashti videos (there doesn't seem to be a trailer...) and more info on the film, below...

Continue reading "Vashti Bunyan playing with her documentary in NYC "

The five-disc Robyn Hitchcock box set I Wanna Go Backwards is tops on my shopping list for tomorrow. The 5-disc set includes the 80's albums Black Snake Diamond Role, I Often Dream Of Trains, and Eye, as well as two discs of unreleased material, titled While Thatcher Mauled Britain Part 1 & 2. Stereogum features an mp3 of the title track, and Yep Roc is streaming the entire thing.

This week's other reissues include six Black Crowes discs, as well as Johnny Cash's American Recordings and American III. A Led Zeppelin greatest hits album, Mothership is available in a limited edition that includes two CDs and a bonus DVD. It is also streaming this week at AOL (along with the new live Os Mutantes).

Folk singer Vashti Bunyan's Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind: Singles and Demos 1964-1967 is a must-purchase for me along with the new Christine Fellows album, Nevertheless. What are you picking up this week?

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week"