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Bo Bice TV Continues

Bo Bice hits Los Angeles for new run of television appearance that will include performances and interviews as well as stop at the American Idol finale.

The season four alum released a new album, 3, on Saguaro Road Records last week with the first single, "You Take Yourself With You," already being heard on radio stations throughout the country.

While in Los Angeles, Bo will perform special acoustic versions of his new songs for E! Entertainment Television, the McDonald's in-store video Music Magazine (running in June), LATimes.com, the KTLA Morning News on May 25th, The Game Show Network's GSN Live show on May 26th and nationally syndicated ABC television show On The Red Carpet. - more on this story

Camu Tao's Final Album To Be Posthumously Released This Summer

Legendary MC, producer, and singer Camu Tao, whose life was tragically cut short on May 25th, 2008 after a protracted battle with lung cancer, will have his debut solo album and final statement, King of Hearts, posthumously released on August 17, 2010 as a collaborative release between Fat Possum Records and Definitive Jux.

Jaime "EL-P" Meline issued this letter about the release: Two years ago today Tero "Camu Tao" Smith died after a grueling battle with cancer. He was a friend, a son, a brother, a groom to be and last but not least a brilliant producer, singer, rapper and entertainer. Words can not express the heartache that has been felt in the wake of his passing by those who loved and respected him.

For two years I have written about Camu on this day. Not a day has gone by that we, his family, friends and fans, haven't thought about him. About who he was, what he did and what he never got the chance to do. About the talent he never got to truly share with the world and the love he did. For over four years I have hoped to make the following bittersweet announcement - more on this story

Punch Brothers Playing With Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers

Punch Brothers (featuring Chris Thile) will join Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers for a select series of shows this spring/summer.

Punch Brothers return with their second album, Antifogmatic, June 15 on Nonesuch. The record is the follow-up to the band's highly praised 2008 debut, Punch.

A special deluxe edition of the album will also be available. Included in this package is a four song instrumental EP, All of This Is True, as well as a seven song DVD, Live from the Lower East Side: It's p-Bingo Night!, which was filmed during the band's residency at NYC's The Living Room. Pre-orders of both the standard and deluxe editions are available now at www.nonesuch.com and www.punchbrothers.com. The first 500 orders of the deluxe edition will include an autographed official Punch Brothers cocktail recipe guide. - more on this story

Karen Elson Releases Debut, New Video and Tour Dates

Karen Elson released her first album, The Ghost Who Walks via Third Man/XL Recordings yesterday. Recorded at Third Man Studios with Jack White as producer, Karen's solo debut features 11 original compositions which were all written following her 2005 relocation from New York City to the city of country music, Nashville, TN.

From tormented blues laments to hauntingly beautiful folk-infused melodies with a traditional country twang, The Ghost Who Walks is a striking combination of Elson's storied musical background, coupled with her newly found Nashville roots.

Karen Elson has also announced the debut video release for the lonesome, traditional folk/country inspired ballad "Cruel Summer" - more on this story

Anthony Smith Releases Love Is Love Is Love Video

Anthony Smith unveils the new video for his chart rising single "Love Is Love Is Love," this week.

Director Marcel Chagnon (Clay Walker, Jessica Andrews) captured the essence of this sure-to-be summer anthem, taking the shoot down to the beaches and open waters of the Bahamian Islands.

"I had such a blast shooting this video and I think it embodies the spirit of the song perfectly." says Smith. "It's happy, it's fun and it's carefree. It's going to make you move, and it's going to make you react and feel something. I am excited for people to see it. I want them to react, I want them to smile." - Watch it here

Apollo Brown's Streets Won't Let Me Chill Remix

To celebrate the release of his new album, The Reset, which came out this week, Apollo Brown is excited to give fans another treat from the album, this time the "Streets Won't Let Me Chill Remix."

For the track, Apollo Brown remixed Diamond District's "Streets Won't Let Me Chill," originally produced by Oddisee and featured on the group's debut In The Ruff, and provides a darker perspective on the song when compared to the original's brass-lined soul beat.

The James Brown drum break, which Apollo uses along with an eerie guitar riff, creatively compliments vocals from Oddisee, yU, and X.O. "I wanted the remix to have the same gritty feel to it. The original is drum heavy to me so I wanted to keep that going with a classic drum break. You can't go wrong with 'funky drummer'", says Apollo. "I picked something that I know I could have done a lot of justice to. The lyrics on that song are ill as hell." - Get it here

Richard Thompson's Dream Attic Coming In August

Richard Thompson returns with Dream Attic, a collection of 13 new songs, due out August 31 on Shout! Factory.

Penned during a short and inspired burst of creative outpouring, Thompson captured the awesome energy of his live show by recording the album in front of an audience. "I don't think musicians playing on their own are particularly interesting, it's only when they play in front of an audience that something interesting happens," Thompson said in an interview at the show.

The songs were performed during a West Coast tour in February of this year, and the bulk of the performances that made the album come from three shows at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. A special edition of the set containing a second disc of all 13 demos will be available exclusively - more on this story

Playing For Change With Baaba Maal At The Hollywood Bowl

Playing For Change will perform with Baaba Maal at KCRW's World Festival at The Hollywood Bowl on June 20. This incredible bill also includes Brooklyn-based prog rockers Yeasayer, soul rebels from the southern Sahara desert Tinariwen and the tropical Afro-Pop sounds of Fool's Gold.

The Playing For Change band, which consistent of 10 musicians from around the globe, are performing select dates for the first time since their triumphant 2009 world tour to celebrate their upcoming release. - more on this story

Bobby Long Announces Summer Tour

Bobby Long returns to the road this summer for a combination of solo acoustic shows and a series of dates at which he will be backed by a band for the first time since arriving on American shores just over a year ago.

Long, who has been working on his recording debut album backed by studio musicians, has been anxious to bring this new dynamic to his live appearances and is looking forward to giving his hauntingly personal songs added depth and dimension.

The first of Long's band shows will be at New York's Highline Ballroom on Tuesday, June 15, followed by three other dates in the Northeast and a run of west coast dates in early July. His band is comprised of musicians he met while on a short run of US shows this May. In between the full band dates, he will perform solo. - more on this story

Frank Nitt Releases Debut Solo EP

MC Frank Nitt of Frank-n-Dank, has teamed up with L.A. rap dons for a six-track EP that transcends styles, proving that Frank Nitt holds the verbal dexterity to rock over any beat.

The EP is being released by the legendary label, Delicious Vinyl, known for their classic releases from The Pharcyde, Masta Ace, Tone Loc, and many more. Frank Nitt's Jewels in my Backpack hits virtual shelves today.

The beauty of Jewels is in the organic chemistry of Terrace Martin and Frank Nitt's fusion of sound and style. A highly accomplished producer, Martin has arranged tracks for such artists as Snoop, Talib Kweli, and Warren G to name a few. - more on this story

Projektfest Returns

Projekt label-founder Sam Rosenthal has resurrected the Projektfest. The music festival will happen in Philadelphia on July 30 and 31 for Projektfest.

This will be the 9th label festival and the first since 2002. Projektfest'10 will be a weekend of dark rock and indie music at the legendary Trocadero Theatre.

"I've navigated the waters of the music industry for most of my adult life," Sam says. "I love what I do, and I've got it to the point where the label is fun to work at and provide a minimal amount of drama. I am releasing Projekt's 245th CD this year, I have not succumbed to the downward spiral that prevades most of the industry. Actually, the label is more profitable than ever. Why? Because we love what we do and we keep in touch with our fans. People have this idea that musicians are aloof and unapproachable. My idea behind the festival to break down the barriers and bring the fans and bands together." - more on this story

Flights and Sounds of Summer Festival at Orange County Great Park

Music and dance concerts, including proven favorites and unexpected discoveries, make up the third season of the "Flights and Sounds of Summer" festival at the Orange County Great Park.

More than 25,000 people enjoyed last year's concert and dance series that included eclectic, engaging performers on a stage under the stars. The "Flights and Sounds of Summer" festival is presented by the Orange County Great Park Corporation in partnership with Irvine Barclay Theatre.

The 2010 summer line-up includes a wide variety of first-rate artists, including a return engagement from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, one of last year's most popular performers. Friday night dance parties and Saturday night concerts run every weekend in August and September. - more on this story

Emii Releases Digital EP

Due to the overwhelming success of the single "Magic," Emii released her debut 5 song E.P. yesterday!

Her hit single "Magic" is being played on radio stations around the country! With KISS Chicago reaching over 2 million on-air listeners and her music video reaching over 1.4 million views, being played on MTV's LOGO NewNowNext PopLab and being featured on MSN Popaholics which receives over 40 million unique monthly visitors, Emii is a force to be reckoned with.

"Magic" took the #1 spot for Musicians on YouTube for the week, #3 spot for Music, and the #22 spot for Most Viewed Overall videos. The video was also #6 as Top Favorites in Music and #40 Top Favorites Overall. The video made such an impression that even Lady Gaga and Rihanna subscribed to Emii's YouTube channel - more on this story