No Depression Festival

The festival will take place Saturday, July 11, 2009, at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington, just outside Seattle. The all-day event will feature Gillian Welch, Iron & Wine, Patterson Hood & The Screwtopians, Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, a Seattle roots-music all-star revue, and Zee Avi.

No Depression launched as a quarterly (and then bimonthly) magazine in Seattle in 1995, and quickly became known as the foremost journalistic authority for roots-music genres ranging from alternative-country to singer-songwriters to bluegrass to trad-leaning indie acts, and beyond. - more on this story

Daryl Hall Looks Back To A Year-And-A-Half Of Live From Daryl's House

PR reports: A year and a half ago, Daryl Hall launched his monthly webshow Live From Daryl's House with an eye towards opening up the music-making process to his fans by collaborating with both established artists who've had an impact on his music and new artists that have, in turn, been influenced by him.

This month, Daryl takes a look back at the previous 18 episodes, featuring musical highlights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, in a brand-new episode which debuts May 15 at www.livefromdarylshouse.com, where it can be seen along with archived footage of past episodes.

"It's been an incredible run so far, and this is just the beginning," says Daryl about the experience. "This has been one of the most rewarding musical experiences of my life working with all these different people and sharing it with the world." - more on this story

Stevie Wonder To Rock Jazz Fest

PR reports: The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal is extremely proud to offer their loyal fans another gorgeous gift as part of this 30th anniversary: a very special free outdoor concert by American music giant Stevie Wonder, in his first-ever visit to the Festival.

Alain Simard has dreamt of the show for years, the programming team has regularly discussed it, and it's finally a reality! There's a palpable excitement in the air as we all eagerly await this Grand événement General Motors that's guaranteed to enter the history books! Stevie Wonder will literally launch the Festival's 30th anniversary celebrations when he opens the brand-new Place des Festivals this Tuesday, June 30 at 9:30 p.m. on the General Motors stage.

For this very special evening, giant screens will be deployed on other stages throughout the Festival site, transmitting the exceptional event live to what promises to be a monumental public gathering! - more on this story

Maia Sharp Releasing New Album

PR reports: Acclaimed singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Maia Sharp returns with Echo, her fourth full-length solo album, set for release on August 11th.

The poignant lead single, "John Q. Lonely," goes to radio in mid-June, and it's one of two album songs that fans can download for free now at legendary producer Don Was' page on the innovative website, www.mydamnchannel.com

Sharp initially met Was when Bonnie Raitt asked her to do harmonies on a track for a movie. Maia, who wrote three songs for Raitt's 2005 album, Souls Alike, and toured with her, joined Was and Raitt in the studio and immediately hit it off with the GRAMMY award-winning producer, who invited Sharp to take part in a www.mydamnchannel session. Intrigued by the concept - an artist records two songs in one day, ending at the stroke of midnight, and the results, no matter how rough, are posted to the site - she agreed. The sessions were so successful that Was signed on to produce her new album. - more on this story

School of ShipRocked

PR reports: What do a group of musically inclined kids and Queensryche have in common? They are all about to get ShipRocked! More than a dozen students from The Paul Green School of Rock Music in Kansas City, Missouri will join Queensrÿche, Tesla, Skid Row and many more onboard ShipRocked: a five day rock and roll cruise to Jamaica and Grand Cayman, departing from Fort Lauderdale on November 15th. During the cruise, the kids will not only get to hang out with their musical mentors, but they will also get to perform onboard for them...twice!

The students from the School of Rock are singing for their supper and raising money to attend this special cruise. "American Idol" winner and Kansas City native David Cook recently lent his support by autographing a Les Paul guitar donated by Gibson for a special raffle - tickets are only $5 each, and can be purchased at any Kansas City School of Rock show or by calling (816) 842-ROCK.

Not to be outdone, Queensrÿche recently dropped by the school for a quick photo-op and mini-concert to help raise awareness for the fundraiser, performing three songs before being joined by the school's "house band" for an additional three tracks. - more on this story

Albert Collins Live Release Named Historical Album Of The Year

Kayos reports: The honors just keep coming for Eagle Rock Entertainment in 2009. The 30th Annual Blues Music Awards named the Albert Collins: Live at Montreux 1992 CD (released March 4, 2008) as "Historical Album Of The Year!"

Held Thursday, May 7 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN, the Blues Music Awards brings together performers, industry representatives and fans to celebrate blues music and the impact it has had on American culture. Acquiring such success at this event is truly an honor, and Eagle is proud to accept this award.

"It is gratifying that the blues community understands the great work we are doing with our partner, The Montreux Jazz Festival in bringing the highest quality performance series from this esteemed festival to the home entertainment market. This award is a wonderful acknowledgement of respect to Albert Collins' legacy in the blues world," states Mike Carden, President of Operations North America, Eagle Rock Entertainment. - more on this story

Bad Veins Set Release

PR reports: Bursting forth with lush orchestration, fuzz-filled melodies and infectious, Technicolor pop, Bad Veins' debut full-length album will be released July 21 on Dangerbird Records. Having already made a name for themselves with their highly talked-about shows and acclaimed self-released 4-song demo, the eponymous LP marks the first official release for the Cincinnati-based duo of Benjamin Davis (vocals, guitar, keys) and Sebastien Schultz (drums).

Produced and mixed by Justin Bailey of the Black Iris Collective, a coalition of indie musicians who compose music for ads, Bad Veins was taken under the collective's wing free of charge, proving to be a labor of love. While Davis recorded a majority of the album in his home studio in Cincinnati, Schultz tracked the drums in Richmond and together, they mixed the album in Los Angeles.

Beginning with the symphonic, widescreen pop of "Found," complete with Schultz's marching band drums, blasting horns, swelling strings and Davis' confident howl, the 10-track album is a true testament to the duo's ingenuity and innate songwriting abilities. Sounding more like a full-blown indie-rock orchestra than a two-man operation, the songs were all written and arranged by Davis. While they received some assistance in the studio from friends who laid down horns on several compositions, Davis and Schultz fully realize their songs live with the help of their "unofficial" third member, Irene, a 1973 Pioneer reel-to-reel tape machine responsible for playing back many of the lush background mixes. - more on this story

Vh1's Free Radio Lines Up Special Guest for Season Finale

vh1 reports: Actor and comedian Lance Krall plays KBOM's hilariously moronic (and extremely popular) morning DJ in VH1's "Free Radio." This season, Lance's continued ridiculous antics in the radio booth humored celebrity guests and viewers across the country.

In the May 21st finale, our dim-witted hero and the KBOM staff welcome their last three unsuspecting guests.

From dogs humping John Stamos and Darth Vader imitations with Dominic Monaghan, to accidentally super-soaking Tony Hawk with urine, Lance set up uniquely comedic interviews over the last seven episodes at the expense of co-host Anna. His clueless endeavors did not end off the air either. With the help of his bizarre manager Shelton, Lance worked with a body double of no resemblance, turned a stray dog into the station's mascot, ruined a sponsored picnic and became a viral celebrity. - more on this story

Stoner Rock Vets Sleep Revisit Holy Mountain

Earache reports: Legendary Californian stoner rockers Sleep's classic album, Sleep's Holy Mountain, has been reissued and is out now in Europe.

Sleep helped define the term "stoner rock" with the release of Sleep's Holy Mountain in 1992 and have since earned legendary status, despite splitting in 1995. The band members have since gone on to form Om and High On Fire.

This past weekend, Sleep reunited for a special one-off appearance at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Minehead in the UK, where the band performed Holy Mountain in it's entirety. - more on this story

. Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights - Movie Theater Haiku (a masque of backwards ballads, a picturesque burlesque)

One thing I can say for Chris Robley (aside from the fact that he has created the longest album title I can recall since Fiona Apples When the yada yada yada) is that you wont hear too many albums like his. (3.5 stars) - Read the full Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights - Movie Theater Haiku (a masque of backwards ballads, a picturesque burlesque) review

. Seance - Awakening of the Gods

Séance's long-awaited record created some hype since many other disbanded factions have returned. This one, however, lacks the usual disappointment of comebacks- Seance delivers their promised product - Read the full Seance - Awakening of the Gods review

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