Troubadours Join Together to Promote Autism Awareness Month

A world-class collection of troubadours are banding together to support Autism Awareness Month in April through Songs of the Spectrum, an all-star album of original songs about autism set for release Tuesday, April 6, 2010 through SingSOS, a new nonprofit organization formed to enlist the power of music to spread the word about autism.

Jackson Browne, Dar Williams, Marshall Crenshaw, Jonatha Brooke, Teddy Geiger, Ari Hest, Dan Bern, Richard Julian, Ollabelle, Valerie Carter, Don Dixon & Marti Jones, Christina Courtin, and Mike Viola, Kelly Flint and The Cucumbers comprise the cast of established and emerging artists singing songs expressing the journey of heartbreak to the unexpected joy and understanding that comes from encountering the world of autism.

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Runrig Joins Hall of Fame and Festival Program for 2010

One of Scotland’s most renowned Gaelic music artists, Runrig, has been confirmed to play at this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival. The news comes as the band is listed as one of the festival’s first inductees to its new Hall of Fame.

This year is the festival’s 15th anniversary and it will see Runrig‘s first performance there since 2005, and their major Scottish summer show for 2010.  The four days of music, which takes place in Stornoway and surrounding communities (14th-17th July), will culminate in Runrig headlining the programme on the Saturday night.

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Putumayo Re-Releases Albums for Haiti

In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Putumayo is re-releasing French Caribbean and our children’s CD Caribbean Playground and will be donating 100% of our proceeds from the sale of each CD to the Red Cross for Haitian relief throughout 2010. These CDs are available at retailers around the world and online at www.putumayo.com.

In 1976, I had the extraordinary experience of visiting this unique country and became a fan of its music, art and people. As a resident of New Orleans, I’ve witnessed how a city can come back from virtual ruin. Haiti will rise again!

Dan Storper Founder/CEO

Submitted by Putumayo

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New Wave of English Folk Combines Trad & Bold Adventure

An original member of Fairport Convention, songwriter Richard Thompson, a direct musical descendent of English folk music, affirms, “Every song we write now is built on those that have gone before, and the more you know about the old music, the richer the pleasure you take from all music.”

Looking for a New England, an exciting and provocative assemblage of Britain’s most critically acclaimed new wave of English folk artists continues this tradition and will be arriving on America’s shore for two special performances in March. All of the featured acts are on the vanguard of the emerging scene and performers such as Jim Moray, the artist The Daily Telegraph calls “the greatest leap forward in folk for 30 years’, are helping to take British folk mainstream. Other performers include Olivia Chaney, Jackie Oates, Trembling Bells and Gadarene.

Looking for a New England will only have two Stateside appearances. On Tues., March 16th at Webster Hall Studio, 125 E. 11th, 212-353-1600 and then Fri., March 19^th at SXSW/ St. Davids Church, 301 E. 8^th St..

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Blues Foundation Announces 2010 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees

The Blues Foundation has announced the inductees for the Blues Hall of Fame in 2010, including Louisiana-born, Chicago-based bluesman Lonnie Brooks, blues singer and harpist Charlie Musselwhite and singer, songwriter, guitarist and social activist Bonnie Raitt.

Among the other individuals that are being recognized by the Foundation this year include “The Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy, jug band pioneer Gus Cannon and Cannon’s Jug Stompers, and the writer of many great “drinking songs,” including “One Scotch, One Whiskey, One Beer,” Amos Milburn.

American roots music writer Peter Guralnick and the legendary host of the King Biscuit Time program on KFFA radio in Helena, Arkansas Sonny Payne, are the non-performers being inducted this year. Sam Charters’ groundbreaking research on the blues in the 1950s and ’60s resulted in several books including this year’s Classics of Blues Literature inductee – The Bluesmen.

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Diasporic Ecstasy: The 25th Jewish Music Festival

From Berlin to Buenos Aires, from the melodies that bring ecstasy, to cool jazz and hot klezmer, the 25^th Jewish Music Festival has embraced the entire multifaceted world of Jewish experience and let it sing.

The Festival captured an elderly Ukrainian Yiddish singer’s work on the fly and inspired a new generation of artists. It produced a staged reading of the only 19^th-century opera on Jewish themes (La Juive), anda Czech children’s opera (Brundibar) produced by the inmates of the Jewish concentration camp at Terezin. It’s seen world-premiere collaborations, and even a marriage proposal on stage.

Now celebrating its twenty-fifth year, this year’s Jewish Music Festival (March 20-29, 2010 and July, 2010) explores the sacred resonances of world Jewish music at venues mostly in downtown Berkeley in March and downtown San Francisco in July, with West Coast and U.S. premiere performances by Diaspora Redux, Lorin Sklamberg, and Susan McKeown. The celebration continues in July, when the Festival will present several multimedia arts events to mark its quarter century, including the world premiere of a JMF commissioned piece, Dan Plonsey’s Bar Mitzvah.

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Stax Records Releasing Stax Number Ones

Stax Records is where Southern soul became a global force in music. The label, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, gave rise to a number of stars – many hailing from its Southeast Memphis neighborhood. During the ’60s and into the ’70s, Stax studio was a wellspring of hit records that topped both the R&B and pop charts. On March 30, 2010, Stax Records – now operating within Concord Music Group – will release Stax Number Ones, a compilation of 15 chart-topping hits by Stax’ best-known artists.

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American Patchwork by Anders Osborne due in April

Alligator Records is proud to announce the signing of award-winning guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Anders Osborne. Osborne’s Alligator Records debut album, American Patchwork, is a moving collection of soul-baring roots rock, blues and ballads. Many of the songs on American Patchwork deal with healing and redemption, spirituality and acceptance. Often compared to Townes Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison, Osborne is an exceptional and singular talent. Paste Magazine says, “Osborne has an impossibly great voice and the songs to match.” American Patchwork will be released on April 27, 2010.

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Delfest and Delfest Academy 2010

For the second consecutive year, Delfest 2010 will be preceded by a Bluegrass Academy featuring some of the most accomplished musicians on the planet.  Delfest Academy 2010 will take place May 25-27, 2010 with the festival beginning on the 27^th and ending on the 30^th.

The 2010 Delfest Academy will consist of a friendly, encouraging, and intensive three-day learning experience with a group of some of the finest musicians in bluegrass: mandolinist Ronnie McCoury, banjo player Rob McCoury, fiddler Jason Carter, bassist Alan Bartram, and Ronnie Bowman on guitar.

As members of the Del McCoury Band, Rob, Ronnie, Alan and Jason have won IBMA’s Entertainer of the Year award nine times. Oxford American called them “The best Bluegrass band in the world. Period.” Ronnie Bowman’s bluegrass and songwriting credentials would fill up a notebook from his stint with the Lonesome River Band, leading his own band and writing two #1 country radio hits. With sterling credentials as celebrated performers, plus years of experience teaching at various workshops and festival academies such as Rockygrass and Wintergrass, these enormously gifted musicians will create an environment for learning unlike any other.

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Wear Black for Johnny Cash

Help celebrate what would have been Johnny Cash‘s 78th birthday on Friday, February 26, the day that his final studio album, American VI: Ain’t No Grave (American Recordings/Lost Highway), is officially released, and Wear Black for Johnny.

Fans from all over the world are being invited to help celebrate Johnny Cash’s life, music, and the enduring voice he gave to the poor and beaten down by posting pictures of themselves wearing black on February 26. More information as well as links to join the Facebook event (to post photos), follow on Twitter, and to hear the first single, “Ain’t No Grave,” can be accessed online. Participants will be eligible to win a copy of the new American VI: Ain’t No Grave, plus his amazing 5-CD box set, Unearthed (5CD). The lucky winner will be chosen at random on March 12, 2010.

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