George Winston grew up mainly in Montana, and also spent his later formative years in Mississippi and Florida. During this time, his favorite music was instrumental rock and instrumental R&B, including Floyd Cramer, the Ventures, Booker T & The MG's, Jimmy Smith, and many more. Inspired by R&B, jazz, Blues and rock (especially the Doors), George began playing organ in 1967. His latest solo piano release is LOVE WILL COME – THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI, VOL. 2 (released 2/2/10), which features compositions by the late jazz pianist, including pieces from the Peanuts® TV specials. George is presently concentrating mainly on live performances, and most of the time he is touring playing solo piano concerts (the Summer Show or the Winter Show), solo guitar concerts, solo harmonica concerts, and solo piano dances (with R&B and slow dance songs). He is also studying the playing of the great New Orleans pianists Henry Butler, James Booker, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, and Jon Cleary, and he is also working on interpreting pieces on solo piano by his favorite composers, including Vince Guaraldi, Professor Longhair, the Doors, Frank Zappa, Randy Newman, Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, Laura Nyro, Al Kooper, Dr. John, Henry Butler, James Booker, Jon Cleary, Ralph Towner, Arthur Lee, Milt Jackson, John Hartford, Oliver Schroer, Taj Mahal, Philip Aaberg, and others, to play at concerts, and at his solo piano dances.

Asia's debut album exploded onto the music scene in March 1982 with several Top 10 singles and sales exceeding 7 million copies. This "supergroup", featuring bassist/vocalist John Wetton, drummer Carl Palmer, keyboardist Geoff Downes, and guitarist Steve Howe, was the logical successor to their collective bands of the 70s - Yes, ELP, King Crimson, and The Buggles. The group came together in the spring of 1981. John Wetton's acclaimed progressive rock band UK had collapsed a few years earlier. With the help of manager Brian Lane, he wanted to form a new group with guitarist Steve Howe, best known for his work with British Prog superstars, Yes. Drummer Carl Palmer came into the fold next, having just completed a decade of platinum releases and sold out tours with Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Keyboardist Geoff Downes, who replaced Rick Wakeman in Yes for the Drama album, had previously been half of the pop duo The Buggles. They stormed the charts in 1979 with the timeless classic "Video Killed The Radio Star".

Look no further than the title track of their new Vanguard debut album The Bear to understand Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers. As the band sings passionately, "Sometimes you get The Bear, sometimes The Bear gets you. Sometimes you're gonna win, sometimes you're gonna lose… but you know in the end – there's no apologies!" Many bands talk about "keeping it real," but in The Sixers' case, they mean it. "We're not up there projecting a personality we can't believe in. I think it's important to go with the feel of each moment and take chances. If that means we get out of synch or sing out of key once in a while, so be it. The crags are cool because they're interesting." That explains why producer Tom Schick (Norah Jones, Ryan Adams, Rufus Wainwright) signed up for the new record. "Each person in The Sixers really adds a lot," he says. "They're so locked in with each other. Stephen is definitely the leader of the gang, but everybody has their say," he adds of the roles played by Boots Factor and Kit Karlson. "They rise and fall together. It's amazing to watch them work."

Mark Kozelek has recorded six studio albums with Red House Painters, four solo albums, and two with Sun Kil Moon. In February 2007, Caldo Verde Records reissued the first Sun Kil Moon album Ghosts of the Great Highway with reworked packaging and a six song bonus CD featuring two versions of Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere,” alternate versions of “Carry Me Ohio” and “Salvador Sanchez,” a radio performance of “Gentle Moon” and the previously unreleased instrumental, “Arrival” recorded for the movie The Girl Next Door. Originally released on November 3, 2003, Ghosts of the Great Highway received superlative reviews, moved quickly to the 1 on college radio and has become one of singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek’s most loved and best-selling albums of his 14 year career. Mark recently recorded music for the movie Fairwell Bender, had two songs from his Tiny Cities album featured on The O.C. and collaborated with Kristina Faragher on a 7 minute film entitled Gaping Mouth, currently part of the exhibit Yosemite, Art of an American Icon. Ghosts tracks “Carry Me Ohio” and “Lily and Parrots” were featured in the Steve Martin film Shopgirl, in which Mark plays the role of a lead singer in a fictitious rock band. Mark also contributed several tracks to several compilations. His version of Will Oldham’s “New Partner” is included on CD entitled I Am A Cold Rock, I Am Dull Grass. Sun Kil Moon’s version of Neil Diamond’s “Kentucky Woman” is featured on Songs from the Brown Hotel which also features Elvis Presley and Nancy Wilson. The original composition “Leo and Luna” appears on a Canadian Compilation entitled See You on the Moon. A live version of “Have You Forgotten” will be featured in the soundtrack The Trials of Darryl Hunt.

Look no further than the title track of their new Vanguard debut album The Bear to understand Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers. As the band sings passionately, "Sometimes you get The Bear, sometimes The Bear gets you. Sometimes you're gonna win, sometimes you're gonna lose… but you know in the end – there's no apologies!" Many bands talk about "keeping it real," but in The Sixers' case, they mean it. "We're not up there projecting a personality we can't believe in. I think it's important to go with the feel of each moment and take chances. If that means we get out of synch or sing out of key once in a while, so be it. The crags are cool because they're interesting." That explains why producer Tom Schick (Norah Jones, Ryan Adams, Rufus Wainwright) signed up for the new record. "Each person in The Sixers really adds a lot," he says. "They're so locked in with each other. Stephen is definitely the leader of the gang, but everybody has their say," he adds of the roles played by Boots Factor and Kit Karlson. "They rise and fall together. It's amazing to watch them work."

The new decade is shaping up to be a very busy and productive time for Modern English. Not only is 2010 the 31st anniversary of the long-running alternative pop-rock/post-punk band, but also, 2010 marks the release of Soundtrack-Modern English's first new album since 1996's Everything Is Mad-as well as the reunion of most of their classic 1980s lineup for an extensive tour. This year, four veterans of Modern English's early years-lead singer Robbie Grey, guitarist Gary McDowell, bassist Mick Conroy and keyboardist Stephen Walker-are hitting the road together for the first time since the mid-1980s; a second guitarist, Steve Walker (who plays on Soundtrack and should not to be confused with the keyboardist) will also be part of the lineup.

Look no further than the title track of their new Vanguard debut album The Bear to understand Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers. As the band sings passionately, "Sometimes you get The Bear, sometimes The Bear gets you. Sometimes you're gonna win, sometimes you're gonna lose… but you know in the end – there's no apologies!" Many bands talk about "keeping it real," but in The Sixers' case, they mean it. "We're not up there projecting a personality we can't believe in. I think it's important to go with the feel of each moment and take chances. If that means we get out of synch or sing out of key once in a while, so be it. The crags are cool because they're interesting." That explains why producer Tom Schick (Norah Jones, Ryan Adams, Rufus Wainwright) signed up for the new record. "Each person in The Sixers really adds a lot," he says. "They're so locked in with each other. Stephen is definitely the leader of the gang, but everybody has their say," he adds of the roles played by Boots Factor and Kit Karlson. "They rise and fall together. It's amazing to watch them work."

Starting in 2010, The Adam Carolla Show has been playing to sold out audiences on stages all around the country. The show features Adam performing his trademark comedy bits such as "What Can't Adam Complain About" and "Why I Hate LA" together with a hilarious presentation featuring pictures and video of all the great stories fans have come to love about Adam and his buddies growing up in North Hollywood. Celebrities often join the show as well to be interviewed by Adam via Skype from locations all over the world. The Adam Carolla Show remains the internet's most downloaded daily broadband show since its debut in March of 2009... #1 on iTunes with over 150,000 daily listeners, Adam Carolla is the only star in Hollywood who puts out fresh content every day on his own website – AdamCarolla.com. Guests have included Alec Baldwin, Danny DeVito, Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, Jay Mohr and scores of the funniest comedians working today.

Starting in 2010, The Adam Carolla Show has been playing to sold out audiences on stages all around the country. The show features Adam performing his trademark comedy bits such as "What Can't Adam Complain About" and "Why I Hate LA" together with a hilarious presentation featuring pictures and video of all the great stories fans have come to love about Adam and his buddies growing up in North Hollywood. Celebrities often join the show as well to be interviewed by Adam via Skype from locations all over the world. The Adam Carolla Show remains the internet's most downloaded daily broadband show since its debut in March of 2009... #1 on iTunes with over 150,000 daily listeners, Adam Carolla is the only star in Hollywood who puts out fresh content every day on his own website – AdamCarolla.com. Guests have included Alec Baldwin, Danny DeVito, Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, Jay Mohr and scores of the funniest comedians working today.

"I just want to be myself, you know?" says Justin Nozuka. The briefest of nervous laughter, and a wry grin, say what he can't say for himself: There is such a thing as too much introspection, even for a guy who's made his mark by being candid and reflective. That irony is informed by the old soul behind 21-year-old Nozuka's fresh-faced countenance, and the duality is striking. New York-born, Canadian bred Nozuka is young enough to have interview jitters, but sufficiently wise to recognize when he stands to sound, well, full of it. So he's ever vigilant, lest his character fall out of tune with who he wants to be: "I don't wanna create [an inflated image of myself]." Yeah, 'cause that's someone else's job. Nozuka's charge is to craft songs that make his listeners feel like they were up all night together and shared sleep-deprived confessions. The first collection of these, Holly (Coalition/Glassnote Records), is named for Nozuka's highly supportive mother, and came out when Nozuka was just 19. He penned the first songs, "Supposed to Grow Old" and "I'm in Peace," when he was fifteen, and wrote the rest between age 16 and 17, but the press marveled at his mature sound and vision, calling Nozuka "as soulful and wise as blues greats four times his age." His follow-up, You I Wind Land And Sea, will cement and further define that reputation-even as Nozuka endeavors to stay grounded amid copious praise of Holly and his performances on tour and television (VH1's You Oughta Know, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America NOW, mtvU Woodie Awards).

Kina started playing shows at the age of four in front of her stuffed animals. Now she plays in front of people, though it wasn't the quickest transition for the admittedly shy songstress. While attending college at USC, Kina often retreated to the secluded Stairwells around campus where she could write and sing without being heard. Protected by their quiet confines, she found a safe haven and a creative outlet for her music. Armed with a guitar and a cup of tea, Kina wrote in every stairwell she came across. And it was within these Stairwells that she developed her confidence as a songwriter and her poise as a performer. In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video for "Message From Your Heart" aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers (or 194 million eyeballs, depending on how you're keeping track) and she walked away with a record deal. Kina independently released her first full-length album, Stairwells, on February 23, 2010. Her music is both sweet and melancholy, but always filled with hope. She'd want you to know that she saves drowning honeybees from pools whenever she gets the chance.

"Arabs Gone Wild" is an international comedy sensation. Featuring Dean Obeidallah and Aron Kader (stars of Comedy Central's "Axis of Evil" special) and Maysoon Zayid (the top Arab-American female comedian), "Arabs Gone Wild" tackles everything from politics to pop culture to crazy Arab mother-in-laws. All three comics have been showcased in comedy clubs throughout the country and the world, as well as on the big and small screen. With special guest: Jimmy Goson

Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal. Signing to Columbia records in 1969 called largest solo artist deal of it's time, Johnny immediately laid out the blueprint for his fresh take on classic blues a prime combination for the legions of fans just discovering the blues via the likes of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Constantly shifting between simple country blues in the vein of Robert Johnson, to all-out electric slide guitar blues-rock, Johnny has always been one of the most respected singers and guitar players in rock and the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock (a la the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd.) Throughout the '70s and '80s, Johnny was the unofficial torch-bearer for the blues, championing and aiding the careers of his idols like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Today Johnny Winter is enjoying an unparalleled resurgence performing to sold out shows worldwide even after a long life full of honors and accomplishments such as a triumphant appearance at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival with Derek Trucks, Buddy Guy and Clapton that has been immortalized on the Emmy award winning DVD. His recent Grammy nominated "I'm A Bluesman" disc on Virgin/EMI, has only added to his Texas-sized reputation.

Native sons of Tulsa, Oklahoma, HANSON has been making music together for nearly two decades. Thirteen years ago, their out-of-the-blue, soul-inspired brand of American pop-rock‘n’roll was introduced to the world. Unaffected by charts or fads, they’ve spent more than a decade building a community of fans connected to one another and fueled by the energy and craftsmanship of three brothers and their music. Their fifth studio album, Shout It Out, is set to be released on June 8th 2010 on their label 3CG Records. They deliver a powerful group of soulful, melodic tunes that will leave you with a contagious sense of optimism for the future and welcomed reminiscence for American rock ‘n’ roll. Shout It Out is a collection of finely crafted, R&B-flavored pop-rock, a homage to the music that inspired HANSON when they started out. The album produced and written exclusively by the band is augmented with special guests: Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt, who played on some of Motown’s greatest hits, and horn arranger Jerry Hey, who worked with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire and many more.

The first sound you'll hear on oh little fire is a high-pitched keening, like the shrieking of an unattended phone, or the distant skirling of a ghost on a winter night. Suddenly, Sarah Harmer's band kicks in, with drums propelling a gust of rock more forceful than anything she's played since her mid-'90s days with rambunctious Kingston rockers Weeping Tile. She sings with a sense of purpose: "A new wind will blow through everything / Through everything I know." On oh little fire, her first album in five years, Harmer sounds reinvigorated and positively charged. In the years after touring her last studio release, the Polaris Prize-nominated I'm a Mountain, she set music aside to focus on political and environmental campaigns, helping to shepherd PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Land), the organization she co-founded. Only on occasion did she venture into the studio, lending backup vocals to artists such as Neko Case, Howie Beck, and Great Lake Swimmers. Her own music and lyrics were waiting for the opportune time to burst out: as she sings on "Careless," "All the words that I've held too close to my chest / Are calling on me now to get through."

Rarely is an artist capable of touching the hearts and souls of people of all ages, cultures, and diverse musical backgrounds as RONI BENISE. Armed with his Spanish guitar, an amazing world class band of musicians, and elaborately choreographed dancers, NIGHTS OF FIRE! captures world music at its best, with a show that appeals to the hearts and souls of people of all ages, cultures and musical backgrounds. Audiences thrill to his unforgettable concerts that unite his passionate music with elaborately choreographed stage shows. Just as his fiery melodies and high-energy rhythms weave a stunning tapestry of emotions, RONI has always charted his own distinctive path. Since the age of eleven (when he received his first guitar) he practiced relentlessly, completely self-taught, mastering a variety of different styles that were eventually to become his own unique sound. Though unable to read a single note, he began composing original works with powerfully emotional arrangements that are both wild and refined, producing a sound that is as edgy and exotic as it is romantic and sensual. "I'm always inspired by places I've traveled," says BENISE, "so I'll try to capture the essence and beauty of the different places in my melodies. It's truly like painting on air--creating colors and lush soundscapes that take people (and me) away to a safe place with no prejudice and no boundaries."

There’s a great scene in The Last Waltz – the documentary about The Band’s final concert – where director Martin Scorsese is discussing music with drummer/singer/mandolin player Levon Helm. Helm says, “If it mixes with rhythm, and if it dances, then you’ve got a great combination of all those different kinds of music: country, bluegrass, blues music, show music…” To which Scorsese, the inquisitive interviewer, asks, “What’s it called, then?” “Rock & roll!” Clearly looking for a more specific answer, but realizing that he isn’t going to get one, Marty laughs. “Rock & roll…” Well, that’s the way it is sometimes: musicians play music, and don’t necessarily worry about where it gets filed. It’s the writers, record labels, managers, etc, who tend to fret about what “kind” of music it is. And like The Band, the members of Railroad Earth aren’t losing sleep about what “kind” of music they play – they just play it. When they started out in 2001, they were a bunch of guys interested in playing acoustic instruments together. As Railroad Earth violin/vocalist Tim Carbone recalls, “All of us had been playing in various projects for years, and many of us had played together in different projects. But this time, we found ourselves all available at the same time.”

There’s a great scene in The Last Waltz – the documentary about The Band’s final concert – where director Martin Scorsese is discussing music with drummer/singer/mandolin player Levon Helm. Helm says, “If it mixes with rhythm, and if it dances, then you’ve got a great combination of all those different kinds of music: country, bluegrass, blues music, show music…” To which Scorsese, the inquisitive interviewer, asks, “What’s it called, then?” “Rock & roll!” Clearly looking for a more specific answer, but realizing that he isn’t going to get one, Marty laughs. “Rock & roll…” Well, that’s the way it is sometimes: musicians play music, and don’t necessarily worry about where it gets filed. It’s the writers, record labels, managers, etc, who tend to fret about what “kind” of music it is. And like The Band, the members of Railroad Earth aren’t losing sleep about what “kind” of music they play – they just play it. When they started out in 2001, they were a bunch of guys interested in playing acoustic instruments together. As Railroad Earth violin/vocalist Tim Carbone recalls, “All of us had been playing in various projects for years, and many of us had played together in different projects. But this time, we found ourselves all available at the same time.”

In 2002 David Longstreth released The Graceful Fallen Mango under his own name. A year later, The Glad Fact reintroduced his experimental rock project as "Dirty Projectors," a moniker he's kept longer than any particular lineup. Longstreth and a revolving cast of collaborators have since released four full lengths, a compilation of cassettes, and three EPs: From The Getty Address's electro-infused Don Henley-themed opera to Rise Above's rewriting of Black Flag's Damaged from memory (grafting of African musical ideas to punk rock fantasies), Longstreth has, in the words of Battles' Tyondai Braxton, "forged his own path with authority and an inexhaustible urgency." Album five, Bitte Orca, is Dirty Projectors' most complete effort to date. Reprising the lineup of Amber Coffman (vocals, guitar), Angel Deradoorian (vocals, keyboard, guitar, bass), and drummer Brian Mcomber from 2007's Rise Above, Bitte Orca also adds bassist Nat Baldwin and vocalist Haley Dekle to the fold, resulting in what sounds like Dirty Projectors' first fully collaborative band record. In fact, it features the first solo vocal pieces by Coffman (R&B anthem "Stillness Is The Move") and Deradoorian (elegantly spare, stringed "Two Doves"). Each was written especially for the singer, representing her specific temperament.

In 2002 David Longstreth released The Graceful Fallen Mango under his own name. A year later, The Glad Fact reintroduced his experimental rock project as "Dirty Projectors," a moniker he's kept longer than any particular lineup. Longstreth and a revolving cast of collaborators have since released four full lengths, a compilation of cassettes, and three EPs: From The Getty Address's electro-infused Don Henley-themed opera to Rise Above's rewriting of Black Flag's Damaged from memory (grafting of African musical ideas to punk rock fantasies), Longstreth has, in the words of Battles' Tyondai Braxton, "forged his own path with authority and an inexhaustible urgency." Album five, Bitte Orca, is Dirty Projectors' most complete effort to date. Reprising the lineup of Amber Coffman (vocals, guitar), Angel Deradoorian (vocals, keyboard, guitar, bass), and drummer Brian Mcomber from 2007's Rise Above, Bitte Orca also adds bassist Nat Baldwin and vocalist Haley Dekle to the fold, resulting in what sounds like Dirty Projectors' first fully collaborative band record. In fact, it features the first solo vocal pieces by Coffman (R&B anthem "Stillness Is The Move") and Deradoorian (elegantly spare, stringed "Two Doves"). Each was written especially for the singer, representing her specific temperament.

Midnight Souvenirs...the hidden passion of a secret love behind closed doors...whispers in the dark, long after the lights go down low...melodies drifting in from a downtown honky-tonk. It's the beginning...or the end...and anything goes. Midnight Souvenirs (Verve/UMe) Peter Wolf's seventh solo album, is a continuation of the singer-songwriter's distinctive and eclectic tales that brighten and interpret a world gone noir. Following in the tracks of Wolf's Sleepless, which was honored by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the '500 greatest albums of all-time,' the new collection gives hope to the love-wounded and promises "there's still time for the midnight wine", even if "sometimes you heal, sometimes you're scarred." Featuring duets with country legend and national treasure Merle Haggard, the soulfully transcending and dynamic Grammy award winner Shelby Lynne and the haunting and majestic voice of Neko Case, Midnight Souvenirs integrates and embraces rock, R & B, blues, folk and country in a way that has distinguished Wolf's storied career. Measurable are his decades as the leader and frenzied focal figure of the J. Geils Band, which whom he showcased his talents on such hits as "Centerfold", "Freeze Frame", "Love Stinks" and "Musta Got Lost." Wolf's musical roots precede rock and roll, and are personally entwined with friendships and performers such as the late Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Aretha Franklin and Van Morrison. His talents have continued into the music of tomorrow with tours and on-stage antics with the Rolling Stones, U2, Kid Rock, and Bruce Springsteen.

Founded in the US in 2004 by virtuoso Russian Roma guitarist, dancer and vocalist, Vadim Kolpakov, Via Romen has performed to glowing reviews across North America and has established itself as the continents premier Nuevo Russian-Romany (Gypsy) group. The Romany (Gypsy) musical legacy is most notably characterized by its clever synthesis of known musical genres with the lesser known or unknown. Via Romen is the embodiment of this legacy, of lacing tradition with novelty and offering unprecedented interpretations of that which we already know. Their music and dances, drawn from a vast repertoire originating in Eastern and Western Europe and enriched by jazz, Jewish, and Latino styles, enchant audiences with intricate improvisations, catchy tunes, and flashy footwork. Despite of being rooted in Russian-Romani tradition, their music is modern, innovative, and fresh. Two of the band members, Vadim Kolpakov and Arkadiy Gips, were part of Madonnas Sticky & Sweet 2008/2009 tour as part of the Kolpakov Trio. Via Romens new CD, My Two Homes, is coming out in 2010. Via Romen band consists of four members Vadim Kolpakov (Russian 7-string guitar, dance and vocal), Arkadiy Gips (violin and back-vocal), Alex Gorodezky (6-string guitar and bass), and Petra Gelbart (vocal, accordion and dance). In addition, Via Romen features dancer and choreographer Marina Shanefelter and a guest artists. The band is also available for a various occasions such as weddings, corporate events, private parties, bar/bat mitzvahs and other celebrations.

Just back from a USO Tour of Iraq and Afganistan, comedian Kathleen Madigan learned she's entirely too short to be involved in combat and that being in the military is nothing like the commercials on television. She made the monumental trip and performed with Kid Rock, Lewis Black and Kellie Pickler. In addition to trying to look serious in combat gear, Madigan is packing 2009 with more tour dates and television appearances. In addition to performing in theaters, festivals and on talk shows, Madigan, dubbed by Jay Leno as "one of the funniest female comics," is currently writing, producing and performing on Lewis Black's "The Root of All Evil," on Comedy Central and producing and appearing on an upcoming History Channel special "The History of the Holidays" to air in the fall of 2009. The American Comedy Award winner for "Best Female Comedian" has already taped two more shows for VH1 to air in 2009 and will be recording another CD and DVD.

Electric Hot Tuna featuring Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Skoota Warner and Barry Mitterhoff - From their days playing together as teenagers to their current acoustic and electric blues, probably no one has more consistently led American music for the last 50 years -- yes! -- than Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, the founders and continuing core members of Hot Tuna. The pair began playing together while growing up in the Washington D.C. area, where Jack's father was a dentist and Jorma's father a State Department official. Along the way, Jorma became enamored of, then committed to, the finger-picking guitar style exemplified by the now-legendary Rev. Gary Davis. Jack, meanwhile, had taken an interest in the electric bass, at the time a controversial instrument in blues, jazz, and folk circles. Jorma and Jack certainly could not have imagined, let alone predicted, where playing would take them. It's been a long and fascinating road to numerous exciting destinations. Two things have never changed: They still love to play as much as they did as kids in Washington D.C., and there are still many, many exciting miles yet to travel on their musical odyssey.

Cowboy Junkies began their singular journey in 1985 when Michael Timmins (guitar), Peter Timmins (drums) and bassist Alan Anton, one of Michael's oldest friends, began jamming in a garage. Michael and Alan had tried their luck with a couple of other bands, Hunger Project and Germinal, and had recently returned to Toronto after several years in New York and London. The next step was to find a singer. "I never wanted to be a musician," Margo Timmins confides, "but one day Mike asked me to sing. I said yes, but only if I didn't have to do it in front of the other guys. So I sang with Mike for a couple of days, and then he asked, ‘Um, do you think it'd be okay if we brought the other guys in now?' I said, ‘Well, okay. I guess so, I mean, if we have to.'" Recorded with a single microphone in Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity in one 14-hour session - at a cost of $250 - The Trinity Session featured spare, lilting originals alongside Jennings, Williams and Patsy Cline covers, as well as a haunting version of the Velvet Underground classic "Sweet Jane." With "Sweet Jane" getting considerable airplay on college and commercial radio and reviewers lauding the band's fresh sound, word soon began to spread. Before long, the Junkies had signed to RCA Records, which reissued The Trinity Session to a wider audience and platinum sales. Cowboy Junkies returned to Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity for a day in November 2006, joined by Ryan Adams, Natalie Merchant and Vic Chesnutt to revisit the repertoire of The Trinity Session in celebration of the original recording's 20th anniversary. Captured by filmmakers, Pierre and Francois Lamoureux, the resulting documentary, Trinity Session Revisited, was released as a DVD/CD to overwhelming critical response.

The Corin Tucker Band (comprised of the former Sleater-Kinney frontwoman backed by Sara Lund of Unwound and the Golden Bear’s Seth Lorinczi) are hard at work mixing their debut record right now which is set to be released on October 5th on Kill Rock Stars. Aside from a few Eddie Vedder collaborations, this is the first we’ve heard from her since Sleater-Kinney took a break in 2006. The Corin Tucker Band will support the album with a short West Coast tour following its release (starting with the Aladdin Theater on October 7!)

Greg Brown was born in the Hacklebarney section of southeastern Iowa and raised by a family that made words and music a way of life. His seasoned songwriting, storytelling, and music are deeply rooted in that place. He moves audiences with warmth, humor, a thundering voice and his unpretentious musical vision. His mother played the electric guitar, his grandfather played the banjo, his grandmother was a poet, and his father was a Pentecostal preacher. Greg’s youth was spread across a map of the Midwest as they moved between churches (and even denominations), but music was always a staple. Gospel and hymns, classical, hillbilly, early rock and roll, country, and blues coalesced into a simmering stew of sound. Greg studied classical voice and piano as a child and also sang with choirs and in state competitions. At six he took up the pump organ and at twelve he learned the basics of guitar from his mother (who was also an English teacher—so books and poetry were always around the house). Greg continues to stay busy writing and performing, and with the release of his new album The Evening Call, he will be performing at festivals and theaters across North America. When not on the road, he splits his time between Iowa and Missouri with his children and wife Iris DeMent.

"Variety for the ears, Vaudeville for the mind", Portland's own eclectic radio variety show recorded here at the Aladdin and aired on OPB radio throughout the state, is back for another season of intellect meets irreverence; interviews with intriguing meets oddball, extraordinary musical guests; original sketch comedy with Faces for Radio Theater, and house band Ralph Huntley and the Mutton Chops. Billed by the Oregonian as "the retro-hip kid sister of A Prairie Home Companion," why don't you come on down and see what all the fuss is about? www.livewireradio.org for schedule and information.

Greg Brown was born in the Hacklebarney section of southeastern Iowa and raised by a family that made words and music a way of life. His seasoned songwriting, storytelling, and music are deeply rooted in that place. He moves audiences with warmth, humor, a thundering voice and his unpretentious musical vision. His mother played the electric guitar, his grandfather played the banjo, his grandmother was a poet, and his father was a Pentecostal preacher. Greg’s youth was spread across a map of the Midwest as they moved between churches (and even denominations), but music was always a staple. Gospel and hymns, classical, hillbilly, early rock and roll, country, and blues coalesced into a simmering stew of sound. Greg studied classical voice and piano as a child and also sang with choirs and in state competitions. At six he took up the pump organ and at twelve he learned the basics of guitar from his mother (who was also an English teacher—so books and poetry were always around the house). Greg continues to stay busy writing and performing, and with the release of his new album The Evening Call, he will be performing at festivals and theaters across North America. When not on the road, he splits his time between Iowa and Missouri with his children and wife Iris DeMent.

Gaelic Storm are a "whirlwind ruckus" (Village Voice) who tour worldwide for at least two hundred days out of every year. On the new album 'Cabbage' (August 3, Lost Again), the band brings influences from rock, bluegrass, Jamaican, African and Middle Eastern music that may surprise those expecting traditional Celtic music. Not only does their instrumentation include fiddle, accordion and pipes, but also the bouzouki, mandolin and an array of drums including the Malian djembe, the Middle Eastern doumbek, the Brazilian surdo, and the Cuban cajón, as well as the Irish bodhrán. According to front man Patrick Murphy, the infectiously catchy first single "Raised on Black and Tans" is about Irish-Americans who have never been to Ireland but feel it's in their blood. Murphy himself was born in Cork, Ireland, while Steve Twigger, his Gaelic Storm co-founder, is a native of Coventry, England. Growing up in the UK, Twigger listened to the Specials and Madness, which can be heard in the syncopated ska beat of the album's Americana gem "Green Eyes, Red Hair." Gaelic Storm's 2008 'What's the Rumpus?' hit #1 on both the Billboard and iTunes World Album charts.

Having spent the last two years touring the world in support of their critically acclaimed debut – A Book Like This – Angus and Julia Stone return with their eagerly anticipated sophomore release Down The Way. On Down The Way they make their debut as producers, and develop their sound without losing the spirit of their debut. There’s been a subtle shift in gear, evidence of a growing confidence - the music gravitates from sparse to rich and textured arrangements yet never loses its etherealness and charm. Travelling has been an integral part of the Stone's musical story so it's not surprising they opted to record in a number of diverse locations around the globe - an old sawmill on the river banks of Fowey, Cornwall, a studio in Brooklyn, a water tank in Coolangatta, their second home - London - and Queens in New York. Once again the duo share song-writing duties – their individual styles juxtaposing yet complimenting the other. Themes of lost love and yearning weave through Down The Way, which opens with the epic and rich tapestry of "Hold On."

From filling clubs across the nation to being seen weekly as a regular guest on Chelsea Lately, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest start performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. His infectiously explosive energy on stage, insightful jokes and family inspired humor cross all boundaries and led Daily Variety to name him one of the “10 Comics to Watch”. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Jo credits his mother for his comedic and acting talents. Growing up, his mother constantly encouraged him to take part in school talent shows or present impromptu performances for his family and friends. This encouragement led to the Las Vegas coffee house, then a move to Los Angeles, and finally a performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2005. He became one of a select few to ever receive a standing ovation on the show. Since his Tonight Show performance, Jo was part of Carlos Mencia’s “Punisher Tour” in 2006. He has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, BET’s Comic View, Jamie Foxx Presents: Laffapalooza, and appeared in various VH1 I Love the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s episodes. His Comedy Central special “Don’t Make Him Angry” aired in January, 2009 and is now available on DVD. He is a regular featured comedian at the world famous Improv, tours the college circuit nationwide and performs in comedy clubs both in the US and internationally. Jo lives in Los Angeles.

Recoil is the project of Alan Wilder, formerly of Depeche Mode. Alan is a classically-trained musician and renowned contemporary music producer. Recoil was born in 1986 as a two-track experimental EP. An album, 'Hydrology', soon followed in 1988 and both were eventually re-issued by Mute Records on CD as 'Hydrology plus 1+2'. These early Recoil recordings revealed Wilder’s position as a pioneer in the newly emerging world of sampling technology. Soon after recording the most successful Depeche Mode album to date - ‘Violator’ - he returned to the Recoil projectfor his next album,‘Bloodline, in 1991 & the albums continue to this day. Recoil returned in 2007 with its 5th full studio album. Entitled 'subHuman', it was released in Europe and in the US. Collaborating that time was Blues-man Joe Richardson - born in Southern Louisiana, Richardson offered a unique commentary on conflict, religion, incarceration and personal struggle. English singer Carla Trevaskis, a songwriter in her own right, brought an expressive range and control having worked with many diverse artists. Now, in conjunction with his recently released ‘Selected’ album and for the first time since Alan’s Mode departure, following a series of hugely successful European dates, Recoil is venturing out on the road again to continue the 'Selected Events' tour 2010 - entitled 'A Strange Hour' with Alan Wilder & Paul Kendall.

Since they met in a Cambridge folk club 9 years ago, The Weepies have progressed from an indie duo playing house concerts, to ranks on the Billboard Charts. Though they now have sales in the hundreds of thousands, the Weepies have kept a surprisingly low profile; they haven't toured at all since 2006. "Our son was born right as we finished Hideaway," (Nettwerk, 2008) says Steve Tannen. "Touring was out. It was a huge change from the 180 shows of the Say I Am You release (Nettwerk, 2006)." The band was kept in the spotlight by dozens of uses in TV shows and films, including a prominent campaign ad for Barack Obama. "It was pretty surreal to stay at home while the music went out into the world," adds Deb Talan. "But staying at home got us back into writing that much more quickly." Crystallizing their organic acoustic sound and pop harmonies, the California duo has come up with their deepest, most accessible record yet. Third in a trilogy for Nettwerk Records, The Weepies once again worked with drummer Frank Lenz, guitarist Meg Toohey and string player Oliver Kraus, adding bass legends Tony Levin and Larry Klein to the mix. "This is the most fun we've had making a record," says Deb. "We took as much time as we needed at every step, and taking that pressure off made the whole thing a little lighter."

Enjoy an evening of great stand-up comedy with the finalists from NBC’s popular laughfest “Last Comic Standing,” as the official NBC tour comes to Portland, OR. The tour will make a stop at the Aladdin Theater on October 22nd at 7pm & 10pm. The seventh season of NBC's Emmy-nominated competition series "Last Comic Standing" – hosted by Craig Robinson (NBC's "The Office") - will air this summer on NBC The series premiers on Monday June 7. The “Last Comic Standing Live Tour” will feature the finalists from the popular series. As with previous seasons, talent scouts in Los Angeles and New York will watch performances from aspiring and professional comedians. In addition to the open casting calls, "Last Comic Standing" will invite some of the best and brightest comics from all over the country to participate in the competition.

She & Him make music for an eternal springtime, when the temperature is warm enough to go riding with the top (or at least the windows) rolled down and the radio turned up. They occupy an alternate universe where the saddest of songs feel as warm as sun showers; the rain may be coming down, but somewhere nearby, everything looks bright. What began as a fascinating, no-strings attached collaboration evolved into a bona fide, touring band, and She & Him are here to stay. Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward are as comfortable and complementary a musical pair as Les Paul and Mary Ford. Deschanel and Ward's seemingly unlikely pairing-the effervescent actress-singer and the sought-after yet self-effacing guitarist-proved to sound absolutely right. When the Volume One was finished, they didn't so much announce themselves as simply step up to the mic and start playing. Their choices of band moniker and album titles were deliberate; as Deschanel told the New York Times: "I wanted a name that was very humble, modest and anonymous." Matt agrees: "We wanted the music to come first, which sort of explains the band name as well as the names of the records. The songs are what we want people to remember."

Since they formed in December 2007, the members of Mumford & Sons have shared a common purpose: to make music that matters, without taking themselves too seriously. Four young men from West London in their early twenties, they have fire in their bellies, romance in their hearts, and rapture in their masterful, melancholy voices. They are staunch friends - Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane - who bring their music to us with the passion and pride of an old-fashioned, much-cherished, family business. They create a gutsy, old-time sound that marries the magic of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with the might of Kings Of Leon, and their incredible energy draws us in quickly to their circle of songs, to the warmth of their stories, and to their magical community of misty-eyed men.

Enjoy an evening of great stand-up comedy with the finalists from NBC’s popular laughfest “Last Comic Standing,” as the official NBC tour comes to Portland, OR. The tour will make a stop at the Aladdin Theater on October 22nd at 7pm & 10pm. The seventh season of NBC's Emmy-nominated competition series "Last Comic Standing" – hosted by Craig Robinson (NBC's "The Office") - will air this summer on NBC The series premiers on Monday June 7. The “Last Comic Standing Live Tour” will feature the finalists from the popular series. As with previous seasons, talent scouts in Los Angeles and New York will watch performances from aspiring and professional comedians. In addition to the open casting calls, "Last Comic Standing" will invite some of the best and brightest comics from all over the country to participate in the competition.

This fall comedian Mike Birbiglia brings an entirely new hour of his smart, comedic storytelling to more than 15 cities on his "Painfully True Stories" Tour. The tour kicks off October 12th in celebration of the release of his first book, Sleepwalk With Me And Other Painfully True Stories. Over the past 10 years, Mike Birbiglia's name has become synonymous with smart, comedic storytelling. Mike reached new heights in 2009, when his off-Broadway show, Sleepwalk With Me, became a critical and commercial success. The New York Times called it "simply perfect," and Time Out New York named it "Comedy of the Year." A favorite on Comedy Central, Mike has three stand-up specials, including his critically acclaimed one-hour special, "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing." A regular contributor to The Bob & Tom Radio Show and This American Life on Public Radio International, Mike has also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The View, and The Late Show with David Letterman. In 2009 The Onion AV Club named Mike's Comedy Central Records release "My Secret Public Journal Live" one of the "Best Comedy Albums of the Decade." The Boston Globe has called Birbiglia's storytelling, "as honest as any Richard Pryor confession, and as engaging and inclusive as an old Bill Cosby record." Limited promotion: anyone who purchases a ticket gets a signed copy of Mike's new book "Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories" with their ticket night of show.

Can a wheel reinvent itself while it's still rolling? Sounds like an impossible task -- but you never want to say "impossible" to Asleep at the Wheel, the famed western-swing, boogie, and roots-music outfit that's, amazingly, still on the upswing. That's saying something, too, considering the group's been around for 40 years, turning out an incredible 25+ albums while playing an unrelenting schedule of one-nighters that would make a vaudevillian dizzy. "In terms of how many people we played for, what we accomplished, and how much money we made - well, we didn't make any money - this year was absolutely our best year ever," says Wheel founder and front man Ray Benson with a chuckle. And even as the Wheel rolled on, the reinvention had begun. These days, the reinvented Wheel is also rolling down a couple of new avenues. One involves to the critically acclaimed musical play, A Ride With Bob, which stars Benson as himself -- encountering the ghost of Bob Wills on a tour bus - Roberts as the young Wills, and McQueen as Minnie Pearl and other famed entertainment figures, with the rest of the band members featured as well. The Wheel's new look is also spotlighted in several new discs - the first called, appropriately enough, Reinventing the Wheel. The 12-cut celebration of American - particularly Southwestern - music features guest appearances by gospel's Blind Boys of Alabama (with a splendid reworking of the old Wills tune "The Devil Ain't Lazy") and banjoist Rolf Sieker, along with lead vocals by McQueen and Roberts as well as Benson, whose voice has been synonymous with Asleep at the Wheel for decades. The second is 2009's Willie and the Wheel; a collaboration with Willie Nelson that was originally envisioned by famed producer Jerry Wexler in the 1970s.

How did Trailer Park Boys become reality? After the 1998 short Mike Clattenburg made which was loosely based on the characters of Ricky and Julian; and after the well-received low budget (or more accurately "no budget") 72 minute movie called Trailer Park Boys which appeared at the Atlantic Film Festival in 1999. Clattenburg was approached by Producer Barrie Dunn. Barrie was passionate about a television series he saw buried in the original Trailer Park Boys movie. He was passionate about his vision he even called the series "groundbreaking..." together (along with Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay) they brainstormed the outlines for thirteen, one-hour long episodes. In November of 1999 Dunn and Clattenburg traveled to Toronto to pitch the idea they were turned down by one network. But on a spur-of-the-moment decision, on their way back to the hotel room, they decided to cold call showcase. Showcase at the time was rumored to be interested in starting original productions and the execs there were intrigued. They sent Dunn and Clattenburg back to Halifax with a commitment and instructions to bring on another producer with more experience. Together they enlisted Michael Volpe and Trailer Park Boys found a home; and thanks to the foresight of showcase execs and the support of various television funding programs the first six half-hour episodes were made.

With planned performances at a number of large, elegant venues-including two nights at New York's fabled Beacon Theatre and a night at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles-Sufjan Stevens is set to hit the road for an extensive North American tour in fall 2010. The performances will feature fully realized versions of the songs initially debuted during a late 2009 tour of small clubs in which Stevens workshopped several works-in-progress. "In his new songs," The New York Times notes of one of Stevens' fall 2009 Brooklyn performances, "love leads him to improvisation, chaos and spasms of rhythm, all precisely dolloped out." Stevens will tour with his large ensemble performing alongside a full production including projections. Sufjan Stevens has released eight studio recordings since 2000 including the critically acclaimed Michigan and Illinois (the latter named the "Best Album of the Decade" by Paste); a 5-EP Christmas box set; Enjoy Your Rabbit, an instrumental electronic song cycle based on the animals of the Chinese Zodiac; and the aforementioned The BQE. Run Rabbit Run, a recording of Enjoy Your Rabbit rearranged for the Osso String Quartet, was released in 2009 via Asthmatic Kitty. Stevens has also collaborated with The Danielson Famile, Rosie Thomas, Denison Witmer, My Brightest Diamond and many others.

Hot Rize has marked over 30 years in the bluegrass history book. Following the untimely passing of guitarist Charles Sawtelle in 1999, the band reorganized in 2002 with Bryan Sutton on guitar and has continued to play several shows each year, delivering its high-energy, soulful, and unique sound to fans old and new. Though many years from its full-time touring period of 1978-1990, Hot Rize has kept its legend growing by delivering first-class music and entertainment as only it can. The traditional-yet-progressive Colorado band started its 12 years of full-time performing in January, 1978. The group named itself after the secret ingredient of Martha White “self-rising” flour, the product Flatt & Scruggs promoted in the 50s and 60s Original band members were Tim O'Brien on lead and harmony vocals, mandolin and fiddle; Pete Wernick on banjo and harmony vocals; Charles Sawtelle on guitar, harmonies and lead vocals. Mike Scap, the group's original guitarist, departed after three months and was replaced by Nick Forster on bass, with Sawtelle switching from bass to guitar. Forster also became the group's emcee and main harmony singer.

Harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite's life reads like a classic blues song: born in Mississippi, raised in Memphis and schooled on the South Side of Chicago. A groundbreaking recording artist since the 1960s, Musselwhite continues to create trailblazing music while remaining firmly rooted in the blues. His worldly-wise vocals, rich, melodic harmonica playing and deep country blues guitar work flawlessly accompany his often autobiographical and always memorable original songs. Living Blues says, "Musselwhite's rock-solid vocals creep up and overwhelm you before you know it. He plays magnificent harp with superb dexterity and phrasing. The results are amazing." Over the last 43 years Musselwhite has released over 30 albums. Three of those - 1990s Ace Of Harps, 1991's Signature and 1993's In My Time - were recorded for Alligator Records and remain among his best-selling titles. Now, Charlie Musselwhite returns to Alligator with The Well. With musical flavors from Mississippi to Memphis to Chicago, The Well is steeped in the music of Charlie's youth - country and city blues as well as rockabilly and gospel - the music that inspired his signature sound. The fresh, new songs speak from his decades of experience, hard living, and his triumph over adversity. The Well is the first full-band recording in Musselwhite's long career for which he wrote or co-wrote every track on the album, and it is the most personal and the emotionally deepest cycle of songs he has ever created. The revealing, autobiographical songs recall specific events and places in Musselwhite's amazingly colorful life. His conversational vocals and masterful harmonica work are perfectly matched with the stories he tells and the near-telepathic musicianship behind him. Simply put, The Well is Charlie Musselwhite at his very best.

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Marc Cohn has been obsessed with pop music for as long as he can remember: "I was hooked from day one. My older brother had a band that rehearsed in our basement, so I heard Bacharach, The Beatles, Ray Charles, and Motown coming up through the floorboards from the time I was six years old. By the time I was eleven though, the Beatles were breaking up and singer-songwriters were breaking through, and a lot of that music really resonated for me." 1970 was a milestone for Marc – and for pop culture at large, given the unprecedented range of notable artists who made the charts that year. It was the momentous beginning of a new decade, and Cohn himself was moving closer to the precipice of young adulthood. The songs of that eventful year would stick with him forever, the way they would with anyone of a tender age just discovering the deeper meanings and life lessons – the romance, the sex, the sadness, the fun -- to be gleaned from a seemingly simple pop tune. Collaborating with longtime producer-arranger-multi-instrumentalist and fellow Grammy Award winner John Leventhal, Cohn doesn't merely recreate the sounds of this storied time. On Listening Booth:1970, he transforms songs from such artists as Cat Stevens, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Smokey Robinson, Creedence Clearwater Revival and even Bread into tracks that are warm, soulful, more than a little sexy and full of easy-going charm. These highly personal interpretations say as much about Cohn's own history – his experiences, his memories, his inspirations – as about the legacy of these songs. They've been so creatively and confidently re-imagined, and sung with such feeling, they practically feel brand new.

Tyrone Wells has delivered an epic pop/rock album with his second major label effort, Remain. Pursuing a more collaborative process and having added a more lush production to his singer- songwriter roots, the new album proves to be a great showcase for his powerful and emotional voice. The Spokane, WA native's desire to 'open up the process' found him traveling to London to work with a circle of songwriters/musicians who aligned with Wells' musical direction. "Half of the album was done in London and the other half completed here in the states," says Wells. "I didn't know what kind of record I was going to make before I got to London, but something just seemed to click while I was there that really defined what I wanted to do with this album." Invoking a cathartic creative process from the very beginning for Remain, the songwriter penned an astounding 60 songs for the record. Tyrone worked with songwriter/producer Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, James Morrison) and Iain Archer (UK indie artist and Snow Patrol co-writer) in the UK, and Tim Myers (formerly of OneRepublic), David Hodges (formerly of Evanescence) and Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon) in the U.S. Creating a work that manages to be more guitar-edged than previous Wells' efforts - but still unabashedly soul-baring - he appreciated huddling with collaborators like Terefe, who - like Wells - is a big believer in trusting one's instincts. "We had great chemistry together." "Losing Ground," one of a handful of production/songwriting collaborations between Wells and Terefe, was written and demoed in less than 3 hours during their first writing session together.

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Marc Cohn has been obsessed with pop music for as long as he can remember: "I was hooked from day one. My older brother had a band that rehearsed in our basement, so I heard Bacharach, The Beatles, Ray Charles, and Motown coming up through the floorboards from the time I was six years old. By the time I was eleven though, the Beatles were breaking up and singer-songwriters were breaking through, and a lot of that music really resonated for me." 1970 was a milestone for Marc – and for pop culture at large, given the unprecedented range of notable artists who made the charts that year. It was the momentous beginning of a new decade, and Cohn himself was moving closer to the precipice of young adulthood. The songs of that eventful year would stick with him forever, the way they would with anyone of a tender age just discovering the deeper meanings and life lessons – the romance, the sex, the sadness, the fun -- to be gleaned from a seemingly simple pop tune. Collaborating with longtime producer-arranger-multi-instrumentalist and fellow Grammy Award winner John Leventhal, Cohn doesn't merely recreate the sounds of this storied time. On Listening Booth:1970, he transforms songs from such artists as Cat Stevens, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Smokey Robinson, Creedence Clearwater Revival and even Bread into tracks that are warm, soulful, more than a little sexy and full of easy-going charm. These highly personal interpretations say as much about Cohn's own history – his experiences, his memories, his inspirations – as about the legacy of these songs. They've been so creatively and confidently re-imagined, and sung with such feeling, they practically feel brand new.

AJ Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle have been performing this remarkable tribute to the music of "Simon & Garfunkel" for more than a decade and their sold out shows prove the effect on their audiences is undeniable. A chance meeting in 1991, in a local club in Bethlehem, PA, brought these two talented artists together. A brief introduction and moments later they were blending their voices as if they had been performing together for a lifetime. AJ's warm baritone and Jonathan's soaring tenor combine flawlessly to capture the essence and magic of "Simon & Garfunkel's" sound of the early years in Greenwich Village. With a quiet stage and an acoustic guitar, A.J. and Jonathan re-create the memories of the classic hits and obscure songs of "Simon & Garfunkel." Discover why audiences are cheering for this duo as they capture - the magic of "Simon and Garfunkel."

With more than twenty years as a stand-up, Louis C.K. is one of the most honest and respected comedic voices of his generation, finding success in television and film as well as the live stage. Louis' new FX series, Louie, premiered to rave reviews on June 29 airing on Tuesdays at 11:00 PM. Louis is executive producer, writer, director, editor and star of the series based on his life as a stand-up comic and single father of two living in New York City. Louis' stand-up concert film, Louis C.K.: Hilarious, premiered at The Sundance Film Festival in January as the first stand-up concert film presented at Sundance. Directed by Louis, the film received rave reviews with Variety declaring, "Standup comedy cinema has a new star in Louis C.K.: Hilarious." In July, Louis was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special for his second hour special, Louis C.K.: Chewed Up. Louis has starred in two HBO One Night Stand stand-up specials, a Comedy Central Presents special and HBO's 25th Anniversary Young Comedians special.

With more than twenty years as a stand-up, Louis C.K. is one of the most honest and respected comedic voices of his generation, finding success in television and film as well as the live stage. Louis' new FX series, Louie, premiered to rave reviews on June 29 airing on Tuesdays at 11:00 PM. Louis is executive producer, writer, director, editor and star of the series based on his life as a stand-up comic and single father of two living in New York City. Louis' stand-up concert film, Louis C.K.: Hilarious, premiered at The Sundance Film Festival in January as the first stand-up concert film presented at Sundance. Directed by Louis, the film received rave reviews with Variety declaring, "Standup comedy cinema has a new star in Louis C.K.: Hilarious." In July, Louis was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special for his second hour special, Louis C.K.: Chewed Up. Louis has starred in two HBO One Night Stand stand-up specials, a Comedy Central Presents special and HBO's 25th Anniversary Young Comedians special.

Most artists would bristle at the term self-indulgent, but Keller Williams often invokes it in describing his own approach to music. To Williams, being self-indulgent means creating music that satisfies him - if he likes what he's produced, he figures, then his audience is more likely to embrace it too. If he's not happy with it, why would they be? And so, when Williams describes his first-ever all-covers collection, the amusingly titled Thief, as "self-indulgent, like all of my albums," that signifies not an inwardly pointed diss but a thumbs-up from one of the most tireless musical seekers around. Recorded with the Keels - husband and wife duo Larry and Jenny Keel - Thief is a sequel to the trio's 2006 collaboration Grass, and to those of us on the receiving end, there's nothing self-indulgent about it. If anything, it's about as accessible and welcoming a record as Keller's ever made. Granted, Thief does require a certain amount of blind faith on the part of the listener: This is, after all, an album that includes songs originally written and recorded by as wildly diverse an assemblage as anyone's ever likely to dream up, from Amy Winehouse ("Rehab") to the Grateful Dead ("Mountains of the Moon"), the Butthole Surfers ("Pepper") to Kris Kristofferson ("Don't Cuss That Fiddle," which opens the album, and "The Year 2003 Minus 25," which closes it). All over the place, yup, but that's the way Williams likes it. And in his hands it all makes sense - like everything he's ever touched, whether from his own pen or someone else's, it all becomes Keller Williams music.

Basia is emerging with her strongest work yet, It's That Girl Again, an album that brings her trademark global pop/jazz sound into today. From the first track "If Not Now Then When" - the bouncing melody, soaring horns, and the feeling that you've landed in a small fiesta - it's as though she has never been away. Basia and her collaborator Danny White have always drawn from timeless influences: the rhythms and styles of Latin music, the sound of classic American soul and R&B, and the polish of '50s and '60s jazz; yet the sound is undeniably fresh. There is nothing about this album that is stuck in the past, rather it presses forward, building upon their many accomplishments during the course of their career.

After more than 15 years making music, it’s obvious Ohio duo Over The Rhine is in it for the long haul, and for keeps. Their commitment is underscored by their latest, The Trumpet Child, and its opening track, “I Don’t Wanna Waste Your Time,” a manifesto of sorts for the artists recently named to Paste magazine’s list of 100 Best Living Songwriters. Look no further than the lyrics to this track for what animates Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, the married couple at the heart of Over The Rhine: “I hope this night puts down deep roots / I hope we plant a seed / ‘Cause I don’t wanna waste your time / With music you don’t need.” “Believe me, we don’t want to waste anybody’s time,” elaborates Detweiler. “When we stop believing we’re doing our best work, we’re done. Every song has to be good, every record has to be great, every concert has to have some spiritual significance—something that we can’t quantify, something bigger than all of us.” Over The Rhine may not be a household name, but to call the act’s followers “fanatical” would understate the point, and they’re not shy about converting the curious. Why? For starters, there’s Bergquist’s torchy, devil-may-care voice, brimming with Midwestern soul, unafraid to lay bare every emotional resonance. And again, there’s the life-and-death commitment dripping from her every word. “I’m either into it or I’m not, because there’s no faking it with me,” Bergquist notes. “Life’s way too short for that.”

Go to enough extremes and you’ll find a kind of balance. Until now, The Frames’ music favoured bi-polar swings, violently loud on one song, violently quiet the next. On Burn The Maps, their fifth studio album, the band have reconciled their various personalities into one volatile organism, synthesizing gorgeous melancholy with full-blown anger. If 2000’s For the Birds seemed to capture the Dublin/Chicago quintet playing in a small room with nobody watching, Burn The Maps turns on the arc lamps. Served by their most faithful production job yet (courtesy of ex-guitarist Dave Odlum and new guitarist Rob Bochnik, who formerly spent eight years working at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studio) and recorded in Black Box studios in France, the new record is a skilful mix of widescreen scale and magnifying-glass detail, sort of like putting a Herzog still under a microscope.

Location has always been significant to the Books: Paul de Jong and Nick Zammuto began collaborating while living in New York City over ten years ago. The Way Out, the Books' fourth full-length album - their first since 2005's Lost and Safe - has, from its start, also been shaped by location: the positioning of two books on a shelf, their titles cast in the same font, caught de Jong's eye at a Salvation Army thrift store in Cincinnati while on tour; it was there the duo found an album title and a path to explore. The two have now settled with their respective new families north of New York City, and work from their home studios - de Jong from a converted bookstore in New Lebanon, NY, and Zammuto from a converted tractor garage in Readsboro, VT. They meet often in a small office located on the campus of Mass MOCA, the renowned contemporary arts museum in North Adams, MA. The title The Way Out means many things, of course, but the primary meaning is quite literal. All of the sample material, the signature elements of their records, are drawn from outdated media - obscure, private-press LPs, VHS tapes and audio cassettes, which are being land-filled en masse; these recordings - literally on their way out - are rescued from certain extinction and given new life as the foundation for absurd (and absurdly beautiful) sound art disguised as abstract pop songs.

The Posies - Shot through with widescreen majesty, marked by a vast musical breadth and scope, as well as an endless supply of haltingly beautiful melodies, The Posies' seventh and latest album, Blood/Candy,, should shatter any narrow perceptions of the band, once and for all. Following a professional and personal split between Auer and Stringfellow at the end of the '90s, the second act of The Posies' career began with 2005's triumphant reunion effort, Every Kind of Light. The group's first studio album in nearly a decade was a musically plangent and lyrically politicized album — informed heavily by the foibles of the Bush Administration and the Iraq War - that reintroduced The Posies to the world in grand fashion. In the ensuing years, the band members pursued various projects on their own, spread throughout the world, with Stringfellow working from his homebase in France, Auer settling in Seattle, drummer Darius Minwalla in Vancouver, Canada, and bassist Matt Harris in California. Writing together once again, Auer and Stringfellow began crafting a new batch of The Poises' material during the fall of 2009. Blood/Candy was eventually birthed during a furious ten-day session the following spring, as the band decamped to El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain and the famed Paco Loco Studio. A veritable treasure trove of classic gear and worldly ambience, a hothouse atmosphere permeated the sessions, helping push The Posies into heretofore uncharted musical waters. Brendan Benson - Late afternoon, Miami, and Iggy Pop and I were standing watching for a manatee that occasionally swims up along the river at the end of his garden. Pop was bare-chested in cerise trousers, talking about Brendan Benson. "Well you know Brendan," he said, "you how Brendan is, how Brendan sounds…" and as he spoke he waved his hand, stirring the warm air. He was telling me why he had invited Benson to sing on a track on the Stooges' 2007 album the Weirdness. "I wanted a sweet, clean, effortless American voice on that particular chorus," he explained, as we looked down the river. "And Brendan had the voice." It wasn't until this moment that I truly realised the Americanness of Brendan Benson. This year's offering, My Old, Familiar Friend, gathers together all of these influences - the Americanness, the Anglophile twist, the geography, the rock and the pop to create something truly exceptional. Recorded in Nashville and London, mixed in LA, produced by Gil Norton (Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters) and mixed by Dave Sardy (The Rolling Stones, LCD Soundsystem, Oasis) it is a marriage of passion and perfectionism, an illustration of all that is special about Benson - from the glimmer of "Feel Like Taking You Hom"e to the "Motown" swoon of Garbage Day.

In darkened rooms, smokey concert halls or hazy laseriums, fans continue to discover the music of Pink Floyd. From the hypnotic psychedelia of Syd Barrett to the first heartbeats of Dark Side of the Moon to the dramatic fall of the Wall, Pink Floyd has continued to mesmerize its audiences for over four decades. HOUSE OF FLOYD, a reverent tribute to Pink Floyd, captures the intoxicating sights and sounds of the original for even the most discriminating fan. HOUSE OF FLOYD pays the highest tribute to the original by accurately recreating all of the nuanced musical complexity and powerful visual imagery of Pink Floyd. The result of this obsessive attention to detail is a total Floyd production...music, lights, lasers and video. HOUSE OF FLOYD will transport you back to that mystical moment when you first discovered the enthralling world of Pink Floyd. *Minors in balcony for this performance*