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Lady Gaga is expected to announce a 2010 arena tour, following her current run of dates overseas. Billboard reports that Gaga will play arenas in Europe in the spring, with a North American arena tour in the summer. more -

Josh Ritter Announces Album and Mini Tour

So Runs The World Away, the new album from Josh Ritter, will be released May 4 on Pytheas Recordings. This is the fifth full-length recording from Ritter, who has been widely heralded by critics and fans alike. Of the Idaho-native, Paste magazine declares, "Put simply, Ritter is the most gifted interpreter of Americana, as an arranger and a lyricist, working today."

Recorded over 15 months at the Great North Sound Society in Maine, with additional recording at Brooklyn's Saltlands Studio, So Runs The World Away continues Ritter's longtime collaboration with producer and keyboard player Sam Kassirer. Additionally, the album features the return of Ritter's core line-up of touring bandmates: Zack Hickman, Austin Nevins and Liam Hurley.

Of the record, Ritter says, "I think of the songs on So Runs the World Away like pictures painted in oil on large canvasses. It's a record preoccupied with the extremes of scale, from infinitesimal particles to the nearly incomprehensible distances between the head of a pin and a nebula. Where the songs felt large to me, I wanted them to be huge, both musically and lyrically. I wanted them to feel like the steel hulls of massive ships sliding by deeply from below. Where they were small, I concentrated in on the smallest details that I could and we tried to make the music and the words work together. I love writing, and this was the most fulfilling record I've yet written." - more on this story

Jennifer Knapp Returns with New Album and Tour

(Submitted News) Grammy nominated, Dove Award winning Jennifer Knapp returns from a seven year hiatus with a new album, Letting Go (Graylin/RED/Thirty Tigers) on May 11th 2010. This spring she will preview her new music on a co-headline tour with Derek Webb kicking off on March 5th in New York City (tour dates below) and she will also join this summer's Lilith Fair tour.

Fans can pre-order the album on tour and receive an exclusive CD of acoustic demos from the record. Recorded in Nashville, Letting Go is produced by Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Martha Wainwright, Amy Grant) and features ten intimate folk, country tinged rock songs showcasing her astonishing straightforwardness and spirituality.

"It is a humbling honor to have such devoted fans that have waited for my return to writing and performing," explains Jennifer Knapp. "For me, it is the refuge of quiet places that has always birthed the depths of sincerity that music unveils. In the end, no song carries it's full voice until it has been shared. It is truly overwhelming to have the opportunity to reemerge with a fresh vision and passion knowing that lovers of music are there to share the joy." - more on this story

The Fratellis' Jon Lawler New Project Codeine Velvet Club Sets Debut Release

Codeine Velvet Club, the new musical project from The Fratellis' Jon Lawler and singer/songwriter Lou Hickey, will release their self-titled US debut April 6th on Dangerbird Records.

The collaboration began when Lawler, taking a break from whirlwind touring and recording with The Fratellis, teamed up with Hickey to work on a track - the jazz-noir, big-band duet titled "Vanity Kills" - for her record.

The song inspired the duo to embark on a full-fledged project together. The resulting album features an elegant orchestral score written by Mick Cooke of Belle & Sebastian, backing vocals by the Gospel Truth Choir and strings parts recorded by renowned classical musicians, including legendary trumpeter Derek Watkins. - more on this story

Julian Berntzen To Appear At SWSW

At this year's SXSW, don't miss Norwegian singer-songwriter Julian Berntzen as he adds to the abundance of diversity.

Hailing all the way from Bergen, Norway, Berntzen is sure to capture crowds with music from his award winning concept album Waffy Town, as well as his latest album Rocket Ship Love.

With about fifteen years of experience, Julian Berntzen specializes in writing and composing all of his music, as well as playing most of the instruments recorded. - more on this story

Marching Band Set Release

Sweden's Baroque indie-pop masters Marching Band is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of their new album, Pop Cycle, in May 2010 on U & L Records.

Pop Cycle is the follow up to the band's debut album Spark Large, also released on U & L Records. Working in Stockholm with the legendary Swedish producer, Jari Haapalainen (Ed Harcourt, Camera Obscura, The Concretes), they emerged after recording for an intense six months (including the two most miserable winter months) with a new album that is a bit darker than their debut while still possessing the band's trademark billowy sound.

Marching Band is a duo consisting of Jacob Lind and Erik Sunbring from Linköping, Sweden who have a knack for crafting beautiful pop songs with intricate melodies and complex arrangements. - more on this story

Kam Moye Forever Fresh

North Carolina's own, Kam Moye aka Supastition, teams up with up and coming Bay Area director, Charles Barcelona (Homegrown Outfitters/Right Lane Ent) for the Marco Polo-produced banger, "Forever Fresh." The video is done documentary-style and showcases Kam in various behind-the-scenes clips, past videos, and show footage from performances in the U.S. and abroad.

The rest of the video was shot on location in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The song itself is reminiscent of the former Supastition sound with Kam spitting rapid fire, while still dropping jewels like "I'm what happens when a child prodigy grows up." Marco Polo's head nodding production shines brilliantly throughout the track triumphant horn stabs and classic boom bap drums leave the perfect backdrop for Kam's ferocity. "Forever Fresh" is the b-side to Kam Moye's official second single and album title track, "Splitting Image."

Also, be sure to also check out Kam's appearance on the official Wake Up Show Anthem 2010, which also features appearances from Tajai of Souls Of Mischief, Crooked I, Tech N9ne, The RZA, Ras Kass, B-Real, and more. - watch it here

Gerald Clayton Album Release and Tour Plans

The New York Times predicted that we would "be hearing more about (Gerald Clayton)" in the near future elaborating "there just aren't a lot of pianists who have so much organized at such a young age." Jazz.com noted "Clayton's apparent skills as a composer foreshadow the impact that he will have on jazz in the years to come." Well the time has come…it is now! His solo debut Two-Shade was released in 2009 through AristShare and was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Improvised Jazz Solo" for his solo on the track "All of You". Two-Shade will see its major label debut February 9th on Emarcy with tour dates in select cities across the U.S. (see dates below)

At just 25, Clayton performs with the ease of a veteran Jazz musician and has worked with some of the top musicians in the field such as Roy Hargrove, Diana Krall, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, Lewis Nash, Al Foster and The Clayton Brothers (which includes his father the bassist John Clayton and his uncle saxophonist Jeff Clayton). Showing he is one of the leaders of the new generation of young Jazz musicians, Clayton has branched out on his own to form the Gerald Clayton Trio featuring Justin Brown (drums) and Joe Sanders (bass). Proving he is a force to be reckoned with in the Jazz community, Clayton continues to challenge himself. "I have listened to lots of different musical styles as long as I can remember. I continue to absorb all these influences and in doing so create my own voice—by combining their forces into a harmonic whole…I seek to blend the various styles and sounds I love."

Two-Shade showcases 10 of Clayton's original compositions as well as his Grammy-nominated interpretation of Cole Porter's "All Of You" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma". Other stand-out tracks include the hip-hop inspired "Two Heads One Pillow", the catchy upbeat "'Scrimmage" and the contemporary sound of "Casiotone Pothole". - more on this story

Country Thunder TV

Country Thunder music and camping festivals, held in Florence, Arizona April 14-17 and Twin Lakes, Wisconsin July 22-25 will showcase on Great American Country television network again this year. GAC will be on hand at both four-day festival events - visiting with country music stars and their fans for GAC Nights and GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown. (Actual airdates / times TBD)

In Arizona April 14-17: Wednesday's kickoff party in the Howlin' Coyote Saloon will be led by country-newgrass giants The Grascals with their 'Rowdy Friends' tour partner Eric Church, followed by party master Neal McCoy. Thursday the party train keeps chugging with Collin Raye and JoDee Messina. The evening will be complete with memorable performances from Gary Allan and Miranda Lambert. Friday won't disappoint, with newbie favorites Love & Theft followed by the power-trio of the Trailer Choir. Better get your boots on 'cause Randy Houser and Luke Bryan will follow, and Hollywood Hitmaker Kevin Costner is bringing his band Modern West to entertain as well. Your weeknight will be complete, once KEITH URBAN hits the stage! Saturday brings CT vet Jason Jones to the stage, then introducing newcomers Kate & Kacey and Gloriana. Big & Rich's Big Kenny takes the dinner set with a true legend to follow, Willie Nelson! Ending the weekend with a BIG Bang – KIIIIIID ROCK! Bring a wheelchair… you might need it when we're done… - more on this story