News
Edited by Staff
5/2/08
Jammys Voting Closes at 8PM; Allie Kral, Chevy-Keller Duo Among Jammys Adds
Voting for the 7th Jammy Awards has outpaced all prior years. You still have time to participate, however, as polls remains open until 8PM EST. Visit Jammys.com and make your voice heard.
Meanwhile, a number of additional performers have been confirmed for the Jammys, which will take place at The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, May 7. Along with the world premiere of the Chevy-Keller Duo (Chase and Williams), other adds include Allie Kral, Nicholas Payton, Roy Haynes, Leslie West, Doug E. Fresh, Chali 2na. As in past years, the entire roster of performers will be revealed at the show.
The confirmed line-up also includes co-hosts Warren Haynes and Grace Potter, Booker T. Jones, Christian McBride, Fab Faux, Galactic, Glenn Tillbrook (Squeeze), HeadCount All-Stars, Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee, James Carter, Joe Russo, Jon Gutwillig, Kyle Hollingsworth of String Cheese Incident, Marc Brownstein, Matisyahu, Page McConnell, Rose Hill Drive, Sharon Jones, Tea Leaf Green and Todd Park Mohr.
A limited number of tickets remain on sale both at the box office and online. Please note, the show will start at 7:30 FIRM, so plan accordingly.
Matt McDonald To Leave Perpetual Groove
Keyboard player Matt McDonald will perform his final shows with Perpetual Groove at the group's Amberland Celebration later this month. Moreover, he will not appear with the group until Amberland which will take place in Lafayette, GA from May 23-25. Moving forward the group has announced that it will gig as a trio possibly adding guest players at select dates this summer.
McDonald address his departure in a post on his blog, stating:
After seven years of making music with Perpetual Groove it is time for me to leave the road. I’m writing this message to you—a personal note, not a press release. Without you all, we would never have lived this dream. For your support and your genuine love of our music, you have my eternal thanks.
This change in life will make it easier for me to be a good husband, son and father—for which I am grateful and excited. Because of this band I have friendships that will last a lifetime. Please stay in touch. And please know that I wish the rest of the band the best of luck at continuing this dream that Brock and Adam started over ten years ago now.
I want you to know that Amberland will be my final performance with Perpetual Groove. And have no doubt, it will be a good one. It is the perfect weekend to play my heart out, and say “see you later” to all of our friends and fans. I hope to see all of you there and on that long road to the middle…
Tonight Perpetual Groove will perform in Winston-Salem at Corpening Plaza.
A Study in Musical Contrasts: From Hanson to Thorogood For Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers
As if to underscore the eclectic nature of their band (and its latest release, Glassjaw Boxer) Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers are in the middle of a run of shows with an extremely divergent cast of fellow travelers. They are currently on The Walk Tour with Kate Voegele and Hanson (the band that first brought us "MmmBop" and since have gone on to be celebrated by many in the industry including Bob Weir, The Dust Brothers and Bono, who termed their music, "genius"). So far there have not been reports of any cross-pollinating between groups, but certainly this might happen before the tour concludes at the Carolina Theater in Durham, North Carolina May 7.
Kellogg and the Sixers will conclude their spring tour with two headlining dates featuring opening band the Sons of William. These will take place at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte May 8 and the Five Spot in Atlanta May 9 (the band's May 10 gig at Virginia's Ashland Coffee and Tea has been moved to August 14).
Then on May 16 they will change gears and begin a 15 date Canadian tour with George Thorogood at the Interior Savings Center in Kamloops, British Columbia.
"We're excited about doing both these tours so closely together" says Kellogg, "We feel equally comfortable in front of both audiences and they speak to different parts of our personalities. The common denominator of course being high energy live shows. I'm sure the first night will be a slight culture shock but we're a band that has built our whole artistic approach on taking chances each show and we enjoy the challenge."
The tour will hit Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Thunder Bay, Kitchener, Hamilton, Toronto, Kingston, Quebec City, Summerside and Halifax before concluding at the Moncton Coliseum in New Brunswick June 7. The band will also offer a special acoustic set at the Tarrytown Music Hall May 31. Dan Bern and Anthony DeCosta will also perform on this evening. Report by Rob Turner
Another Page for Panic
The second weekend of JazzFest officially kicked off yesterday and one early entry in the sit in department took place at New Orleans’ world famous Fairgrounds. During their first post-Katrina New Orleans appearance, Widespread Panic invited out once (and future?) Phish keyboardist Page McConnell to play on Bukka White’s “Fixin’ to Die.” Though McConnell is close friends with the Panic camp, and even appears on Space Wrangler, the keyboardist has not performed with the group since March of 1994. Later in the afternoon, Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr and the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians also sat in with Panic on a version of “Big Chief” that segued out of one of Panic’s drum segments. Later in the evening, McConnell jetted off to The Sugar Mill to participate in a late-night Monsta Jam.
Widespread Panic will perform at Houston, TX’s Showgrounds at Sam Houston Race Park this evening.
Galactic’s Pre-Jammys Conan Appearance
The night before performing at the 7th Jammy Awards Galactic will make their first appearance as a musical guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien show. The group will record their appearance the afternoon of May 6 and the show will air that night at 12:35/11:35 central. Galactic will be joined for this appearance by their lyrical comrade Chali 2na. For ticketing information, call the NBC ticket office at (212) 664-3056. As previously reported, Galactic will also play the official Jammys Post-Party at BB King’s Blues Club late Wednesday night.
Coffin Welcomes Umphrey’s McGee to Tennessee
Umphrey’s McGee first bonded with the Flecktones’ Jeff Coffin at events like Jam Cruise and on the Acoustic Planet tour and have used the saxophonist as an unofficial seventh member on several occasions since then (including its lauded New Year’s Eve performances). Last night, Umphrey’s performed near Coffin’s home at Knoxville, TN’s
Sundown in the City event and invited the saxophonist out once again for a handful of songs. Coffin emerged partway through the group’s set for a segue connecting
“Intentions Clear” with “A Halp Sleep” and at the end of the group’s set for the finale of
“Wife Soup.” Umphrey’s McGee will perform at New Orleans’ House of Blues this Saturday.
5/1/08
STS9 Confirms Late Summer Shows
STS9 has fleshed out some additional details regarding its summer tour in support of the album peaceblaster. As previously reported, the group will play a series of West Coast shows, culminating with the band’s annual appearances at Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks in early September. In addition to a fan club show at San Francisco’s The Independent on August 15 and a high profile gig Berkeley, CA’s The Greek Theatre on August 16, STS9 will perform at Portland, OR’s McMenamin's Edgefield on August 22 and Seattle’s Marymoor Amphitheatre on August 23 with special guests Blackalicious. After playing another fan club show at Boulder, CO’s Boulder Theatre on September 4, the sextet will headline Red Rocks on September 5 and 6, with Talib Kweli supporting on night one and both Ghostland Observatory and Bassnectar supporting on night two. Tickets for these fan club shows will only be available as two/three day passes with purchase of tickets to STS9’s much larger Greek/Red Rocks shows
As previously reported, STS9 will spend the month of July on the road with Umphrey’s McGee. The co-bill will feature extended sets by both bands, beginning with an appearance at Madison WI’s Willow Island Centre on July 10.
Porter, Benevento, Skerik and Vidacovich
For years George Porter Jr. and Johnny Vidacovich have hosted a weekly series of trio shows at New Orleans’ famed Maple Leaf with a who’s who of guests stepping in to round out their rotating third spot. With JazzFest in full swing this evening the bass/drums duo will expand to a quartet with the addition of Marco Benevento and Skerik. Porter will remain as busy as always this weekend, performing with both PBS and the New Orleans All-Stars at the Howlin’ Wolf this Friday and with the funky Meters at the same venue on Saturday. Finally, he will grace the Fairgrounds stage with the Snooks Eaglin Sunday afternoon, before performing with PBS at Howlin' Wolf’s 11th Annual Krewe of Zigaboo Sunday night.
AMJam Adds
Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Larry Keel and McMurray Farms, Ralph Roddenberry and Thunderdrums are among the latest additions to The Asheville Music Jamboree. These acts join an already stacked line-up that includes performances by Gov't Mule, Keller & The Keels, Burning Spear, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, The Lee Boys, Jason Isbell, James McMurtry, RAQ, Jamie McLean Band, the Afromotive, The Barrel House Mamas, Laura Reed and Deep Pocket, Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Kellin Watson and the New Familiars. As previously reported, the three-day event will return to Asheville, NC’s Deerfields Amphitheatre from May 23-25, combining “music, art, nature, friendship, and family” In addition the over 30 musical performances on a pair of stages, AMJam will also feature a mix of workshops, drum circles, parades, swimming, children’s activities, outdoor contests, campground performances, a craft village and fine dining (festival style of course!).
McConnell, Outformation, Col. Bruce & The Quark Alliance and Friends Join the Monsta Jam
As previously reported, this evening New Orleans’ The Sugar Mill will host a Monsta Jam that pledges to stretch from 8 PM until dawn. The late-night event will feature a number of prominent players, including Outformation, Col. Bruce & The Quark Alliance, Page McConnell, Jerry Joseph, Eric McFadden and funky Meters drummer Russell Batiste. One would imagine that the jam session may draw in some additional special guests as well. McConnell will also perform at the 7th annual Jammy Awards next Wednesday, May 7.
Give Us the Money Lebowski to Host Awesometown
Give Us the Money Lebowski will host the first annual Awesometown at Morrisville, PA’s Snipes Farm on May 9 and 10. In addition to the festival’s hosts, who have made a name for themselves throughout the Northeast as of late, the multi-band gathering will feature current New Groove Jammy nominees Scarecrow Collection and The Brew, as well as 2004 New Groove of the Year winner The Breakfast. Other confirmed acts include: Grimace Federation, Juggling Suns, Turbine, PUSH, Unexplained Bacon, Jimkata and Squirrelmaster, among others. Disco Biscuits drummer Allen Aucoin will also perform under his Dr. Fameus alias and very well may perform with the rotating Squirrelmaster line-up, with whom he has collaborated in the past.
A humorous message on the festival’s website also reveals the following about the first year event:
I know: you can’t quite place that feeling. Right? You want to say the name of it, but it’s different. It’s on the tip of your tongue, but keeps retreating back into your mind because you haven’t said the word before. Is there even a word to describe it?
I mean what do you call it? How do you describe the shooting star in your musical galaxy that illuminates your soul as you dance and twirl your way to a higher level of being? It’s the vibration of life that tickles your ear drums as you realize the real world is miles away and the only thing that matters is now. Well, that and “have they cleaned the port-a-johns this morning?”…but I digress.
Do you remember that blanket you had as a kid, that you can still smell whenever you think about how much fun you had being a kid? It’s kind of like that. You are wrapped in whatever that feeling is. I mean, look at yourself? Go over to the rear view mirror and look. It’s cool, I’ll wait. I have nowhere to go really, I am program.
See? Look at that smile. I mean, Jesus, how do the tips of your ears not hurt from that thing? You haven’t smiled like that in years. You’re glowing. A face with that much happiness on it should adorn some form of currency or a Wheaties box or even the hood of a blinged out 76 Chevy Impala. Hell, you could tell me my dog just died with that smile and I would probably feel like you just told me the greatest news in the history of history.
And get this: you are going to be smiling like that ALL WEEKEND.
You are amongst your closest friends today. The sky is the limit. The possibilities are endless. There is nothing you can do to deny it. You will have an amazing time, listening to amazing music, with amazing people. Shit, look at that! I just said amazing three times in one sentence. That’s how epic this will be.
Years from now children will gather around you and the room will go silent when you open up with the line: “you know I was at Awesometown.”
Wait, that’s it! Awesometown! That’s the word to describe how you feel right now. Someone should name a two day music festival after that…..oh wait.
Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life. This festival may come and go, but we will forever be in Awesometown. It is now part of you. On behalf of Give Us the Money Lebowski: we'd be honored and privileged to have you join us. You won’t regret it. I promise.
P.S.: My dog is okay right? I mean you are starting to make me wonder.
Telluride Bluegrass Confirms Nightgrass Line-Up
Telluride Bluegrass has confirmed a number of Nightgrass shows to compliment its daytime festivities. Yonder Mountain String Band will kick off the annual Nightgrass series with a performance at Telluride Conference Center on June 18. The Sheridan Opera House will then host many of the late-night festivities’ marquee offerings, including The McCoury Boys & Friends (6/19), Yonder Mountain String Band (6/20), Emmitt Nershi Band (6/21) and the Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile (6/22). Meanwhile Cadillac Sky (6/19), Uncle Earl (6/20) and The Duhks (6/21) will perform at the Fly Me to the Moon Saloon, while John Cowan & Darrell Scott (6/19), Spring Creek Bluegrass Band (6/29) and Steep Canyon Rangers (6/21) will hold court at Las Montañas.
As previously reported, the 35th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival will take place from June 19-22 featuring performances by Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Leftover Salmon, Ani DiFranco, Arlo Guthrie, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder and The Frames, among many others.
Keller Williams, Chevy Chase, Doug E. Fresh, Leslie West and Nicholas Payton Confirmed for the Jammys
A handful of additional artists have been added to the line-up for the 7th Jammy Awards. The latest round of artist additions includes: Keller Williams, comedian Chevy Chase, MCs Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) and Doug E. Fresh, guitar-icon Leslie West (Mountain), neo-bop jazz trumpetist Nicholas Payton and drum legend Roy Haynes. While most of the evening’s collaborations will remain a surprise until show time, we can reveal that Williams will perform with Chase, who actually played drums with Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in college.
These esteemed musicians join an already stacked line-up that includes co-hosts Warren Haynes and Grace Potter, Booker T. Jones, Christian McBride, Fab Faux, Galactic, Glenn Tillbrook (Squeeze), HeadCount All-Stars, Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee, James Carter, Joe Russo, Jon Gutwillig, Kyle Hollingsworth of String Cheese Incident, Marc Brownstein, Matisyahu, Page McConnell, Rose Hill Drive, Sharon Jones, Tea Leaf Green and Todd Park Mohr. As in years past, a number of surprise guests will likely grace the stage as well.
The 7th Jammy Awards will be held Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. Voting will close this Friday, May 2.
The Nocturnals Join Gov't Mule "After Midnight"
Gov’t Mule is currently routing towards New Orleans, where the quartet will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its Deepest End sessions at the Contemporary Arts Center this Friday and Saturday. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are along with the ride and will support the Mule at both its New Orleans gigs. On Tuesday night, the two groups also shared the stage at Tulsa, OK’s Cain's Ballroom. At the end of Gov’t Mule’s first set, Potter emerged for a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman” and, at the end of the night, Nocturnals guitarist Scott Tournet and local drummer John Hoff both sat in on a cover of Oklahoma hero J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight.”
Potter will open for Gov’t Mule at Houston, TX’s The Meridian this evening. She will also co-host the Jammys with Warren Haynes at the Theatre at MSG next Wednesday. For more on Haynes, please see our recent site interview.
4/30/08
Wilco, MMJ, Santana and Jack Johnson Partner with HeadCount
HeadCount has added a diverse mix of musicians to its current voter registration campaign, including Wilco, MMJ, Santana and Jack Johnson. The nonpartisan voter registration group, which was co-founded in 2004 by Pharmer’s Almanac scribe Andy Bernstein and Disco Biscuits bassist Marc Brownstein, will stage voter registration drives at over 1,000 concerts this year, with a goal or registering at least 100,000 voters. While HeadCount got its start in the jamband scene, teaming early on with bands like Phish, The Dead and Dave Matthews Band, the organization has recently partnered with a diverse mix of bands of bands, including John Mayer, Foo Fighters, Megadeth, Ani DiFranco and The Decemberists.
The non-profit group will have a presence at every U.S. concert on the Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson and John Mayer summer tours. “I believe we all have a responsibility to make our voices heard where we can, and encourage others to do the same,” said Dave Matthews. “We have worked with HeadCount since its beginning, and are very glad to see that other artists are now supporting the organization.” HeadCount registered 12,161 voters at Dave Matthews Band shows in the summer of 2004, an all-time record for a single concert tour.
“I can’t think of a better reason to put on a concert than to bring people together to create positive change,” said Jack Johnson, who recently launched his own social action campaign called “All at Once." “Registering to vote is a key component to our ‘All At Once’ message and we are very excited to have HeadCount on tour with us.”
HeadCount is the only national organization focused on registering voters at concerts, and will stage the largest event-based voter registration drive in the U.S. “There’s a deep connection between music and politics that we are trying to harness,” said Andy Bernstein, Executive Director of HeadCount. “Youth turnout more than doubled in the primaries. The same young people who go to concerts are turning out to the polls in record numbers.”
HeadCount will also have a strong presence at a number of music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Virgin Festival, Farm Aid, All Good and 10,000 Lakes.
“We’ve seen this develop from just being an idea to something that has widespread support across the entire music industry,” said Brownstein. “We’re working with small acts, huge acts, and everything in between, but the common thread is that all of them have very strong connections with their fans. That’s something we tap to get entire communities thinking about voting and registering to vote.”
Robert Randolph ‘Builds Music’ with Third Day, Switchfoot and Jars of Clay
Robert Randolph got his start performing at a New Jersey church and this summer the pedal steel ace will once again find a common ground between music and spirituality (as well as charity). Beginning in late August, Robert Randolph & the Family Band will play 23 shows on the Music Builds Tour along with Third Day, Switchfoot and Jars of Clay. All three groups began playing music on the Christian-rock circuit, before scoring much wider alt-rock audiences. $1 from each ticket sold will benefit Habitat for Humanity.
The extended outing will kick off at Detroit, MI’s DTE Energy Music Theatre and hit more major markets before coming to a close October 12 at Denver’s Pepsi Center. In many cities, the artists themselves will also engage in some hands on Habitat for Humanity work and raise additional funds for the organization through a variety of auctions.
Widespread Panic Confirms Summer Tour
Widespread Panic will kick off its summer tour on June 15 with its fifth appearance at Bonnaroo. From there the road warriors will head to California to play Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre (6/20-22) and San Diego’s Civic Theatre (6/24). The band’s summer tour will then gradually move east, making stops in Flagstaff, AZ (6/25), Morrison, CO (6/27-29), Kansas City, MO (7/1-2), Rothbury, MI (7/4), Toronto (7/5),
Ottawa, ON (7/6), Rochester, NY (7/8), Boston (7/10), Philadelphia, PA (7/11),
Masontown, WV (7/12), Knoxville, TN (7/14-15), Cleveland, OH (7/18) and Portsmouth, VA (7/19), before concluding at Charlotte, NC’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (7/25-26). The festival kings will also give Jack Johnson a run for his money with marquee spots at Outside Lands on August 24 and Jazz Aspen Snowmass from August 28-30.
For more on Panic, please read our recent interview with John Bell.
Justice, Devotchka, TV on the Radio, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Akron/Family and The Avett Brothers Confirmed for the Monolith Festival
Continuing with today’s focus on things festivals and/or Red Rocks, the Monolith Festival has confirmed its initial line-up. The second annual, multi-band gathering will return to Red Rocks from September 13-14, boasting an eclectic mix of indie-rock acts. Devotchka will headline the festival’s September 13 offerings, topping off a bill that also includes Silversun Pickups, Neko Case, Vampire Weekend, Mickey Avalon, Del the Funky Homosapien, Cut Copy, The Fratellis, Superdrag, The Kills, Holy Fuck, White Denim,
The Night Marchers, A Place to Bury Strangers, The Photo Atlas, The Hood Internet,
John Vanderslice, Darker My Love, Cameron McGill & What Army, Blitzen Trapper,
The Presets, Pop Levi, Pwrfl Power, The Morning Benders and Boyhollow. Dance-punk sensations Justice will then close things out on September 14, following performances by
TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, CSS, The Avett Brothers, Tokyo Police Club, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Akron/Family, The Bronx,
Tilly and the Wall, The Heavy, The Cribs, The Ting Tings, Airborne Toxic Event,
Bright Channel, Chester French, Grampall Jookabox, The Rosewood Thieves,
Hearts of Palm, The Giraffes and The Elms.
Gov’t Mule and Umphrey’s McGee Join RatDog and The ABB on the Rocks
Red Rocks is clearly the place to be this Labor Day. The legendary Morrison, CO amphitheatre will host two related performances the final weekend of August. On August 30, The Allman Brothers Band and RatDog will return to Red Rocks, a night before Gov’t Mule and Umphrey’s McGee hold court at the venue. Special discounted two-day tickets are now available. Both Red Rocks shows will be a part of HeadCount's Cents For Sense program, with $.50 from each ticket sold being donated to help fund voter registration. Umphrey’s McGee will also play a special acoustic show at Boulder, CO’s Fox Theatre on September 1.
Jackie Greene, The Black Keys and Kaki King Among Outside Lands Artist Adds
The first annual Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival has confirmed another round of artists and released its full daily-lineups. Lupe Fiasco, The Black Keys, Stars, Jackie Greene, Kaki King, Liars, Nicole Atkins & The Sea and Culver City Dub Collective will join the all-star roster, which will be headlined by Radiohead, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Jack Johnson. Single-day tickets for the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival will go on sale at 10am PST on Thursday, May 1st. As previously reported, the inaugural multi-faceted, three-day festival will take place in San Francisco's historic Golden Gate Park August 22 - 24, 2008.
4/29/08
Steve Winwood: 9 Lives and 4 Appearances On TV
Former Jammys Lifetime Achievement Award winner Steve Winwood will be making the rounds on television over the coming week. This Friday will see him perform on Good Morning America and then on Saturday, he'll jump over to NBC for an appearance on Weekend TODAY. The Late Show with David Letterman will be his Tuesday destination and then he will wrap up his TV tour with a May 7 appearance on The View. For more on Winwood and his his release Nine Lives be sure to check out the current Relix cover story.
Global Noize With Billy Martin, Oteil Burbridge, Karl Denson and Bernie Worrell
While the first weekend of Jazz Fest has wrapped up, music will continue unabated in the Crescent City. On Thursday at The Howlin' Wolf Jason Miles and DJ Logic will perform with their Global Noize project, drawing together Billy Martin, Oteil Burbridge, Karl Denson, Bernie Worrell, Christian Scott, Topaz and Carl Burnett as well. In addition, Russell Batiste will assemble a band with Eric Krasno, Leo Nocentelli and friends. As for the Howlin' Wolf, tomorrow night's show promises to be a memorable one as well, as the Megalomaniacs Ball features a line-up of Garage a Trois, the Stanton Moore Trio, Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle, Skeriks Maelstrom Trio and the Marco Benevento Trio with Matt Chamberlain and Reed Mathis.
Keith Moseley and Friends Added To Pangaea Benefit
Once again the Everyone Orchestra will host the Pangaea Project Benefit, which returns to Portland's Crystal Ballroom on May 16 and 17. The two shows will feature music from the Everyone Orchestra preceded by a performance from another act. On May 16 the Stanton Moore Trio featuring Will Blades and Will Bernard will open the night, while on the 17th it will be Keith Moseley and Friends. Joining Matt Butler and the EO over the two nights will be Steve Berlin,Jans Ingber, Michael Kang, Scott Law, Tye North and Jeff Sipe, with some additional players each evening. The Pangaea Project, which works with teenagers “from underserved neighborhoods in local and international service-learning projects. The Pangaea Project promotes the development of leadership skills, increases global awareness, and fosters a commitment to work towards social change, profoundly transforming both the participants and their communities.”
King Crimson: Return of the Beast
King Crimson will assemble once again for a series of multiple show runs in August. The Return Of The Beast Celebration shows will open on August 6-8 at Chicago's Park West. From there the quintet will travel to Philadelphia for gigs at the Keswick Theater on August 11 and 12. The tour will then wrap up with three nights in New York at the Nokia Theater on August 14-16. The King Crimson line-up for these dates will be Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto and Gavin Harrison.
Luther Dickinson Rejoins John Hiatt
Luther and Cody Dickinson backed John Hiatt on his 2005 release Master of Disaster, after which the brothers supported Hiatt on a number of a tour dates along with their North Mississippi Allstars bandmate Chris Chew. Although Luther has been quite busy of late, recording and gigging not only with the Allstars but also with the Black Crowes, he has long-expressed his deep respect for Hiatt as a songwriter and a performer. As a result, Dickinson found time to join Hiatt in studio for Same Old Man which is set for a May 27 release. Hiatt produced the release and Dickinson contributes guitar, mandolin and national resonator, while John’s daughter, Lilly, sings harmony, Kenneth Blevins contributes drums and Patrick O’Hearn is on bass. Hiatt will tour in support of the disc in July (while Luther will be gigging with the Crowes).
Bob Dylan To Join Wilco, Chuck Berry and Jack Johnson at Virgin Mobile Festival
The third installment of Baltimore's Virgin Mobile Festival will return on August 9 and 10. Bob Dylan will make his debut appearance at the festival which once again will take place at Pimlico Race Course. Dylan joins a roster of performers that includes Wilco, Chuck Berry, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Iggy & The Stooges, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Gogol Bordello and many others. In addition, the King of 2008 Summer Festivals, Jack Johnson, will be on hand as well. Tickets for the Virgin Fest will go on sale this Saturday, May 3.
4/28/08
Anne Marie Calhoun Fiddles With Panic
Earlier this spring, violinist Ann Marie Calhoun recently won a chance to play with the Foo Fighters on television as part of the My Grammy Moment contest (although may be better known around these circles for her performance of Phish's "Stash"). Over recent months she has guested with The Disco Biscuits and Yonder Mountain String Band. This past weekend, Calhoun experienced Widespread Panic. She performed with the group for much of its second set at Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh, adding fiddle to a segued sequence that included "Driving," "Surprise Valley," "Heaven" and "Driving Song." Next up for Calhoun is a May 10 appearance with Dave Stewart and Bob Geldof. On Tuesday Widespread Panic is in Columbia, SC at the Township Auditorium.
Familiar Collaborators Grace The McDowell Mountain Music Festival
In addition to our prior report from last night's show in Dallas, the two Jammy Award co-hosts hit the McDowell Mountain Music Festival over the past weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. Grace Potter on vocals and band mate, Nocturnal guitarist Scott Tournet, joined Warren Haynes and Gov’t Mule for their headlining set on Friday night with a rather rousing rendition of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River.” Later in the evening, during the encore, Robert Randolph, who earlier played his own incendiary 90-minute set with the Family Band to an enthusiastic desert crowd, sat in with the Mule on pedal steel guitar on a great extended version of “Soulshine.” Toubab Krewe, The Wailers, Blues Traveler and the John Butler Trio offered their own 90-minute sets on Saturday to close out the two-day festival. Report by Randy Ray
Marva Wright, Henry Butler, Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band Join The Blind Boys of Alabama To Celebrate Down In New Orleans
On Saturday night in New Orleans, The Blind Boys of Alabama were joined by some renowned musicians for a memorable evening of music. The night was inspired by Down In New Orleans, recorded in the Crescent City (a first for the Blind Boys of Alabama) which was released earlier this year. The venerable group wanted to shine a light on the struggles that still remain in the post-Katrina New Orleans.
"We might not be able to swing a hammer," says the remaining Blind Boys of Alabama founding member Jimmy Carter, "but we hope we can help inspire folks with a song."
They did just that at this special Tipitina's performance - as they reinterpreted several songs from Down In New Orleans and offered memorable renditions of some Big Easy classics. Marva Wright guested for "How I Got Over," and then she and the Blind Boys were joined by Dr. John to play "Make a Better World" in honor of the great New Orleans songwriter Earl King. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band joined for the gospel-flavored, "Uncloudy Day" and Henry Butler lent piano to "If I Could Help Somebody." Dr. John, Butler, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Blind Boys of Alabama all ultimately came together for a version of the New Orleans traditional, "Down By The Riverside."
After a break, pianist David Torkanowsky joined for four songs including "Spirit In The Sky." The Blind Boys would also be joined by Susan Tedeschi for "People Get Ready" and "Free At Last." The ensemble, not to mention the gospel theme, returned for the encore of "I'll Fly Away."
The four-time grammy award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama will tour Europe next, stopping in to perform at the City of Derry Jazz Festival in northern Ireland May 2nd, and they return to North America to kick off a Canadian tour May 23rd at the MTS Center in Winnipeg where they share the bill with George Thorogood. Their next public show in the United States will be with Pieta Brown at Kansas City's Folly Theater June 7. Report by Rob Turner
Jammys Co-Hosts Share Songs In Dallas, Award Voting To Close on Friday
Last evening, Gov't Mule's Mighty High Spring Tour carried the group to the Granada Theater in Dallas. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals opened the show and at the close of the first set, Potter and Nocturnals guitarist Scott Tournet sat in with the Mule on two Crosby Stills Nash & Young tunes: "Find The Cost of Freedom" and "Ohio." Next up for the two groups is a performance at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa on Tuesday.
Next Wednesday, May 7, Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes and Grace Potter will co-host the 7th Jammy Awards at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Voting for the Jammys is now underway and will conclude on Friday May 2 at noon EST.
Jackie Greene Live on FUV
Friend of Phil Lesh, Jackie Greene, will be on the air for an hour of conversation and performance at noon EST today, joining host Claudia Marshall on New York City's WFUV. Greene performed at the Highline Ballroom last night and will appear with Tim Bluhm this evening in the city. Greene, is touring through this coming week in support of Giving Up The Ghost and then will travel to Denver for a performance with Phil & Friends at the Fillmore on May 8 and 9. WFUV broadcasts in the New York City area at 90.7 and also streams live on the web.
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