Carry Me Back was produced by Ted Hutt (Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly). Hutt pushed the band in a whole new way that they hadn’t been pushed before. “Ted Hutt asked us to really dig deep as artists, as songwriters, to get to the heart of the matter of these songs and, especially, not to settle for anything less than their greatness,” recalls Ketch Secor of the band. Secor is also very proud of the result of the band’s songwriting efforts on the album, saying “For me, Carry Me Back is all about the songs, how they line up, intertwine, switch partners, and promenade home. Each of these songs was an accident waiting to happen.”

OCMS (Ketch Secor, Critter Fuqua, Kevin Hayes, Morgan Jahnig, Gill Landry, and Chance McCoy) will be hitting the road to tour the US this Summer in support of Carry Me Back. The tour begins on July 19 in Indianapolis, IN (prior to this show the band is headlining the ROMP Festival), and includes stops at New York City’s Central Park and the beautiful Fox Theater in Atlanta, amongst others. With most of their time spent on the road, OCMS has made a name for themselves as energetic performers with an unbridled spirit. It’s a live show not to be missed. “The greatness of an old-time string band lies in its performance,” Secor says. “The way it percolates, rattling itself almost to the edge. When you’ve got a top-notch studio like Sound Emporium, and 12 strong tunes in the works, and the time and patience it takes to get it right–that’s when great performances can be captured.” For a full list of tour dates, please see below. The Lumineers and Milk Carton Kids will provide support on a number of dates.

OCMS is also a part of the tour documentary Big Easy Express, which screened recently at the Nashville Film Festival. The movie documents last year’s Railroad Revival Tour, which featured OCMS on tour with Mumford & Sons and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros on a tour across the US, where the three bands travelled together on vintage train cars, playing rambunctiously fun shows at stops along the way.

Old Crow Medicine show have a long history of success, including sales totaling over 700,000 albums, a RIAA Gold-certified song with “Wagon Wheel,” an appearance on Austin City Limits, three performances on Late Night With Conan O’Brien, and multiple appearances on A Prairie Home Companion, various NPR programs and the Grand Ole Opry.

Old Crow Medicine Show Tour Dates

June 30 – Owensboro, KY @ ROMP Festival

July 19 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room

July 20 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

July 21 – Kansas City, MO @ The Crossroads

July 26 – Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre

July 27 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre

July 28 – Nashville, TN @ The Woods at Fontanel with Special Guests

August 1 – Richmond, VA @ Maymont Park w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest

August 2 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest

August 3 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest

August 4 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

August 6 – New York, NY @ SummerStage, Central Park w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

August 8 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

August 9 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

August 10 – Burlington, VT @ Waterfront Park w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

August 12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE w/The Lumineers

August 17 – Salem, VA @ Salem Civic Center w/The Lumineers

August 18 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre w/The Lumineers

August 19 – Charlottesville, VA @ nTelos Wireless Pavilion w/The Lumineers & Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three

August 23 – Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre w/The Lumineers & Milk Carton Kids

August 24 – Knoxville, TN @ The Tennessee Theatre w/ The Lumineers & Milk Carton Kids

August 25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Fox Theater w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

www.crowmedicine.com

www.facebook.com/OldCrowMedicineShow

The beautiful locale and luxurious accommodations at the Dreams Tulum brings the energy of the new American bluegrass story to new heights for Strings & Sol 2012. Located on the pristine beaches of Tulum, approximately 75 minutes south of Cancun in the Mayan Riviera – and 5 minutes from the ancient ruins – Dreams Tulum is a first-class, all-inclusive resort that boasts spacious suites, an incredible on-site spa, gourmet restaurants, beachfront palapas, and of course, stunning ocean views. Strings & Sol offers music fans a genuine luxury vacation featuring days relaxing on the beach with friends and nights listening to their favorite bands perform in paradise.

The all-inclusive luxury lodging packages for Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is available to just under 1000 lucky fans. A limited number of 4-Day Event Passes (w/o Dreams Tulum lodging) will also be available. These 4-Day Event Passes provide all-inclusive access to Dreams for the event, but allows for a limited number of fans looking for a more “off-the-beaten-path” paradise experience to make their own lodging accommodations in Tulum’s Hotel Zone.

Event details are as follows:
Rooms & 4 Day Event Passes go on sale to the general public beginning May 23rd at 12pm EDT at www.stringsandsol.com

Less than 400 rooms total at Dreams Tulum will be available for sale to the general public where the concerts take place. Pricing for the all-inclusive resort starts at $1049 per person for triple occupancy rooms, and $1199 for double occupancy rooms, with Oceanview rooms starting at $1499 per person. A limited number of rooms are available for families who wish to bring their children, with a complete Kid’s program offered by the resort. 4-Day Event Passes are $995 per person and include access to the concerts and the all-inclusive amenities at Dreams between the hours of 9am-4am.

Look for announcements to come including artist hosted activities and more!

For fans who wish to extend their stay, Cloud 9 Adventures is offering a special discounted rate for the nights before and after the event. Guests can add an additional three nights to their stay before the event and one night after the event for $199.00 a night per person.* These rates are available for December 9, 10, 11 & 16, 2012. For more information and to book a room, please visit www.stringsandsol.com.

*Pre / Post nights for the Presidential suites are subject to different rates and must be booked with Cloud 9 over the phone, based on availability.

Strings & Sol is presented by Cloud 9 Adventures www.cloud9adventures.com

BOND, Colo. — The first weekend of August will once again mark the arrival of YarmonyGrass at Rancho Del Rio and State Bridge Riverside Amphitheatre along the Colorado River. This year’s festival features the return of Railroad Earth, accompanied by Elephant Revival, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, members of String Cheese Incident and others, joining forces for Yarmony’s seventh annual get-together.

With an authentic atmosphere that is uniquely Colorado, YarmonyGrass looks to build on a tradition of unique musical collaborations, community spirit and an active mountain lifestyle, which both the festival’s artists and patrons have helped cultivate over seven years. Festival mainstay Railroad Earth, which previously played the event in 2008 and 2010, is among the performers that have personified the YarmonyGrass soundscape.

“Railroad Earth and YarmonyGrass have strong ties, and each has really evolved over the years. It means a lot to have them back,” said YarmonyGrass founder Andrew McConathy. “This year’s lineup once again features many of Colorado’s most beloved bands, while continuing a strong tradition of showcasing fresh acts from other parts of the country.”

Other confirmed performers include The Contribution, Honkytonk Homeslice, Poor Man’s Whiskey featuring Michael Kang performing “Dark Side of the Moonshine,” Todd Sheaffer, Danny Barnes, The Drunken Hearts, The Grant Farm, Sons of Fathers, Dead Winter Carpenters, Fruition, and The Tumbleweed Wanderers.

And of course, no YarmonyGrass would be complete without the late-night YarmonyGrass Joint Set, an impromptu collaboration of festival performers led by String Cheese Incident frontman Bill Nershi in which anything and everything can happen.

“After the bands have played their sets, the top pickers and singers get together for the Joint Set,” Nershi said. “The musicians bring their favorite songs to the jam. Players and fans push the limits and gravitate toward the bizarre.”

More than just a music festival, YarmonyGrass is held along the Colorado River with numerous activities taking place at Rancho Del Rio and State Bridge. Patrons have the option to immerse themselves and explore their surroundings via raft, stand-up paddleboard, kayak, bicycle and hiking trails. On-site camping is encouraged and included with purchase of a festival pass.

Carbone accurately sums up the YarmonyGrass adventure: “The river. The music. The vibe. The intimacy. It is simply the most unique festival experience there is,” he said.

For complete ticketing and lineup information, check out the official YarmonyGrass website at www.yarmonygrass.com. For up-to-date news and breaking announcements, “like” YarmonyGrass on Facebook.

YarmonyGrass 2012 lineup

Railroad Earth (2 sets)

Nershi’s Joint Set

Elephant Revival (Saturday & Sunday)

The Contribution

Honkytonk Homeslice (Bill & Jilian Nershi, Scott Law and Keith Moseley)

Poor Man’s Whiskey feat. Michael Kang performing “Dark Side of the Moonshine”

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Todd Sheaffer

Danny Barnes

The Drunken Hearts feat. Tim Carbone & Scott Law

The Grant Farm

Yarmony Creek House Band

Bonfire Dub and Friends

Sons of Fathers

Good Gravy

Dead Winter Carpenters

Fruition (2 sets)

Nathan Moore

Milkdrive

Bluegrass Delta Force

Tumbleweed Wanderers

Musketeer Gripweed

David Gans

Waiting On Trial

Kevin Watson

Olora Bros.

The Hawthorne Effect will release their full-length debut album Awakefulsleep on July 10th through Red Mist Records, and will be available in CD and Digital formats.

The Hawthorne Effect’s Awakefulsleep Tracklist:
01 All Wars Start This Way
02 The Same
03 Viva
04 Run
05 Anything
06 Drunk Mistake
07 Marry Him
08 Awakefulsleep
09 Devil Don’t Care
10 Goodbye

http://www.thehawthorneeffectmusic.com

During the day you can enjoy Puerto Rico’s largest in-ground, lagoon-style swimming pool while enjoying some pool side music or you can take one of the many exciting excursions around the island.

At night you will see your favorite band on a stage built right on the beach, just steps from the ocean and you will not miss a beat as we will have bar stations set up all around the event!

And the best part is only people who are booked at this resort will see the show… no more than 1000 fans! So come celebrate 25 years with Blues Traveler with us in Puerto Rico!

Blues Traveler is also excited to announce their special guests for this event will be DJ Logic who will be spinning tunes each evening following the concerts.

Pricing: Go here to see pricing and room rates for this very special and exclusive event

PROMOTIONS:
- Book By May 25th and SAVE $100 PER PERSON!
- Pay in full at time of reservation and receive an
ADDITIONAL $100 OFF per room!
(Offer ends May 31st)

All-Inclusive Inclusions:

The Gran Melia Puerto Rico will offer you the ultimate in luxury from your room to the wonderful cuisine.

Your 4-night all-inclusive price includes:
- Four night suite accommodations
- Three meals daily
- Unlimited snacks until 2 am daily
- All premium alcoholic beverages, beer, wine by the glass, soft drinks, juices and bottled water until 2 am daily
- Transfers to/from the San Juan International Airport
- Taxes
- Gratuities
- Maid Service
- Complimentary Wifi in public areas
- Light tennis and basketball courts
- Daily resort activities (including water aerobics, yoga, volleyball, board games, salsa & meringue dance classes & more)
- Fitness center
- Activities center and kids club
- Event specific:
• 1 ½ hour welcome cocktail reception
• 1 opening night performance (acoustic or similar)
• Two 3-hour full band concerts on the beach
• Autograph signing
• Farewell beach buffet
• DJ Logic will be spinning nightly immediately following the shows
• John Topper harmonica clinic
• Morning yoga with Ben
• Chan, Tad, Brendan & Ben will host a golf tournament*
• Chad ATV rainforest low-lands adventure excursion*
• Texas Hold ‘Em tournament with DJ Logic
• MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

To Book:
www.RockTheCaribbean.com/BluesTraveler
Call: 888-5-Lets-Rock or 610-795-7426
Email: BluesTraveler@RockTheCaribbean.com

The festival, which drew 2,500 diehard fans when it was last held in Arkansas in 2008 and a packed house for the first SXSW installment in 2010, follows a run of sold-out tour dates and the release of ‘Women & Work,’ Lucero’s highest-charting album to date. The Wall Street Journal praised their “hootin’ bar sound that recalls the asphalt sass of Boz Scaggs’ “Silk Degrees” and Bob Seger’s “Night Moves”" and Billboard called ‘Women & Work’ the band’s “tightest, most focused album yet.”

Lucero on the Web:
http://www.luceromusic.com

Directed by Reid Long, the video offers a behind-the-scenes look at Dr. John’s recent three weekend residency at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), where he performed with guests including Blind Boys of Alabama, Ivan Neville, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Irma Thomas. The residency also included a live performance of ‘Locked Down’ with Auerbach, to which The New York Times responded: “Physical and spiritual, earthly and supernatural, a memento mori and a promise of transcendence – all were aspects of Dr. John’s music for the night.”

Watch the “Revolution” music video on NPR.org: http://n.pr/JUIqBO

‘Locked Down’ was called Dr. John’s “best album in four decades” by Rolling Stone and has earned raves everywhere from Pitchfork and People to NPR and LA Times. On the heels of a triumphant set and surprise guest appearance with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at New Orleans Jazz Fest, Dr. John (a.k.a. Mac Rebennack) will take songs from ‘Locked Down’ across the US and Europe, appearing with his band The Lower 911 featuring Jon Cleary as well as Iron & Wine, Gov’t Mule, and more.

Dr. John 2012 Tour Dates:

June 1 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
June 2 – Augusta, NJ – Sussex County Fairground
June 5 – Portland, ME – The Asylum
June 6 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
June 7 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
June 9 – Charlotte, NC – Uptown Amphitheatre (w/ Gov’t Mule)
June 10 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Pavilion (w/ Iron & Wine)
June 12 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues (w/ Gov’t Mule)
June 13 – Raleigh, NC – Raleigh Amphitheater (w/ Gov’t Mule)
June 14 – Louisville, KY – Iroquois Amphitheater (w/ Gov’t Mule)
June 29 – Paddock Wood, UK – Hop Farm Festival
June 30 – Samois-sur-Seine, France – Django Reinhardt Festival
July 2 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
July 4 – Paris, France – La Cigale
July 5 – Stasbourg, France – Strasbourg Jazz Festivl
July 6 – Lugano, Switzerland – Lugano Estival Jazz
July 9 – Montreux, Switzerland – Montreux Jazz Festival
July 10 – Nice, France – Nice Jazz Festival
July 13 – Stuttgart, Germany – Jazz Open Stuttgart
July 15 – Cahors, France – Cahors Blues Festival
July 18 – London, UK – Under the Bridge
July 19 – London, UK – Under the Bridge
July 22 – Gateshead, UK – The Sage Gateshead
August 3 – Newport, RI – Newport Jazz Festival

http://www.nitetripper.com/

“Bonnaroo has always been about much more than four days on the farm in Manchester, TN,” said festival co-founder Jonathan Mayers.  “Our fans are virtually together all year long. We not only want to give our core community a great entertainment destination, but we want to reach the audience out there that thinks like us, but perhaps can’t always make the trip each June.”

Like the festival itself, besides music, a large part of the channel’s offerings will tap into Bonnaroo’s deep connection to comedy, film, adventure and the pursuit of artistic expression.  Bonnaroo 365 will also maximize the festival’s close relationship with talent and its strong social media footprint, creating a new bridge for fan access and appreciation.  Additionally, Bonnaroo 365 will be the exclusive home for backstage and behind the scenes content shot on-site at Bonnaroo, which takes place this year from June 7 – 10.

The approach to programming Bonnaroo365 will be similar to the production and curation that goes into planning the festival each year, where 80,000 gather to have Good Stuff delivered directly to them for four incomparable days and nights.  The exploration of new sounds and sights and a strong community will be the thread connecting the content on the channel, and, be it a surprise and unexpected performance, or perhaps a comedic adventure or simply exploring musical tastes, Bonnaroo 365 will engage and entertain, always with passion and joy, and all in the name of Bonnaroo, ‘good stuff’.

Series Announcements:

Back To The Farm:  The Bonnaroo Archives

This ongoing programming features some of Bonnaroo’s most epic live performances.  Phish,Mumford and Sons, My Morning Jacket, and Metallica are just a few of the artists to be included.  Never seen outside of the festival, these weekly performance rollouts will be complemented by curated YouTube playlists, social engagement with the Bonnaroo 365 community and interviews and commentary by those who have been influenced and inspired by our featured artists. The series begins with the My Morning Jacket performance from Bonnaroo 2011. It’s available now at http://youtu.be/0TGSgTg8Ek0 for seven days.

Janson Skivvy: Festival Director

Rhys Darby, who is most famous for his role as Murray in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, plays Janson Skivvy, the Bonnaroo Festival Director.  Now that he’s at Bonnaroo, he’s got big ideas — they’re just completely different from everything he planned.  From dropping in on bands to make their songs “better” to helping vendors and fans, Jensen’s rock and roll attitude has got it covered.

Adventures In: Mardi Gras

Directed by Casey Neistat (HBO’s Neistat Brothers, Nike Make It Count Film, and NY Times Op Ed videos) these mini-documentaries give a taste of the real New Orleans and Mardi Gras to the uninitiated.  The series features music, parades, parties, partyers and some true legends of New Orleans.  Neistat’s films are shot in a spontaneous style, allowing viewers to experience the event first-hand. Watch the Adventures In: Mardi Gras trailer here: http://youtu.be/xp_HVm1C0rk

#BonnarooGethard

Chris Gethard, Upright Citizens Brigade comedian and host of The Chris Gethard Show, will only perform at Bonnaroo if he can make it to Bonnaroo. And he can only make it to Bonnaroo through the miracle of human kindness.  Dropped on the west coast of America with no cash, credit cards or phone, his goal is to get to the festival in time for his show at 2am on opening night. Part Muppet Movie, part Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, his cameraman will give him periodic access to Twitter and Facebook so he can post his whereabouts along with video of his circumstances.  From there, it’s all up to the audience to follow his journey, invest in his well being, and actually try to help him. #BonnarooGethard announcement can be seen here: http://youtu.be/7EeFbcuI-qI

Its The Real

Since 2007, Eric and Jeff Rosenthal have become the go-to for immediate, on-point reactions regarding popular music and hip-hop culture, and now they’re taking their critically acclaimed sketch comedy series, Its The Real, to Bonnaroo.  Eric and Jeff will conduct interviews and produce content leading up to and on the grounds at the festival.  In the last year Eric & Jeff have hilariously interviewed musical artists like Stevie Wonder and Rick Ross, entertainers like Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino, and athletes like the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard, and the Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade.

Universally Speaking with Rob Cantrell

Life in Brooklyn is confusing, and it has NY comedian Rob Cantrell (Comedy Central, HBO, Last Coming Standing) contemplating bigger questions. Luckily, he is deeply tuned in to all the messages of the universe.  This connection allows him to communicate with random objects to reap the rewards of their sweet wisdom.    Will these encounters lead him to a deeper understanding of his unique existence or even greater state of confusion?  The answers are out there and only he can hear them.  Series features cameo appearances by Marina Franklin, Kurt Metzger, Greer Barns, and Robin Montague.

To help commemorate the anniversary and celebrate the indelible musical legacy of Graceland, Legacy Recordings will be offering several 25th Anniversary versions of Paul Simon’s Graceland on June 5th:

Special Graceland 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Box Set – a 2 CD/2 DVD set which including the remastered original album, the “Under African Skies” documentary film extended interviews, the original 1987 “African Concert” from Zimbabwe, three original music videos and the iconic “Saturday Night Live” performance of “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes.” The box set also features the audio narrative “The Story of ‘Graceland’” as told by Paul Simon, replicas of an original Graceland poster and a handwritten lyrics pad, plus a deluxe 80-page book featuring new and archival photos and interviews with Paul Simon.

The official Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition CD/DVD set – a two disc music and film set featuring the remastered original album with five bonus tracks and audio narrative “The Story of ‘Graceland’” as told by Paul Simon. The DVD features the “Under African Skies” film with extended interviews, three original music videos and “Saturday Night Live” performance of “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes.”

“Under African Skies” Blu-ray Disc – the feature documentary in state-of-the-art 5.1 sound with bonus extended interviews.

Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition Vinyl – This audiophile edition is remastered on 180-gram 12″ vinyl and includes an art-quality collectible Graceland poster and a download card with the full album plus three bonus tracks. It will be available beginning Saturday, April 21 at independent retailers worldwide participating in Record Store Day.

An ultra-deluxe Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition Box Set package – The ultimate Graceland set includes the boxed set, the 180-gram 12″ vinyl and a signed and numbered autographed commemorative poster–will be available direct-to-consumers during a limited time exclusive offer on the official Paul Simon website (www.paulsimon.com).

About “Under African Skies”
The story of the making of Graceland, and the controversy created when Paul Simon went to South Africa to record with local artists, is told in “Under African Skies,” the new full-length documentary from two-time Emmy, Peabody Award winner and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger (“Brother’s Keeper,” “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster,” the West Memphis Three/”Paradise Lost” trilogy) and producers@radical.media and A&E IndieFilms.

Featuring interviews with key anti-apartheid activists of the time and such musical legends as Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, David Byrne and Peter Gabriel, “Under African Skies” travels with Paul Simon back to South Africa, 25 years after his first visit, and recounts the making of the record, surveying from the vantage of history the turbulence and controversy surrounding the album’s genesis. His artistic decision to collaborate with African musicians created a new world musical fusion, combining American and African musical idioms while igniting an intense political crossfire, with Paul Simon accused of breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime.

‘Faith Not Fear‘ is a vocal offering with a vibrant message about overcoming the test and trials that all of humanity faces, but sometimes needs the encouragement to overcome. A song that Laura defines as “a kind of marching band anthem with a beat box tempo”, was co-written and produced by the two-time Grammy-award winning songwriter/producer SHANNON SANDERS (India.Arie/John Legend/Pink).  Shannon is also the producer for her upcoming LP.

The video, Directed/Edited by Alexander King of Synchronicity Media & Produced by
Ryan Hamblin of Brainstem Media, symbolically represents Laura’s journey. “Even shooting the video itself was a ‘Faith Not Fear‘ experience for me,” says Laura. “Especially being that it’s the first music video that I’ve ever done.”

From Laura’s stroll through a wooded path to her unscripted walk in some of Nashville‘s signature neighborhoods, this artist displays an uncanny strength and confidence, all the while ignoring the unwritten boundaries between contrasting social and economic environments. For Laura Reed, it is the perfect framework for her inspirational message—one that is more than a song; it’s her testimony.

“What my own life lessons have taught me is that faith is an action word,” says Laura. “It moves you forward knowing that everything works out just as it’s supposed to. We all experience fear; however, we’re all capable of overcoming it.”

This South African-born singer/songwriter,  performed globally as the front person for the now defunct Laura Reed and Deep Pocket . As an artist that has been captivating audiences for many years with  her “slow-cooked soul music recipe”, Laura Reed’s sound and style is reminiscent of iconic music trendsetters like Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and the late Amy Winehouse. Since the age of 16, Laura’s music has been seasoned by influences from her background work and global travels (15 countries and three languages thus far); her delivery has hints of Samba, Reggae and African beats. Laura’s musical resume is impressive,  filled with a wide range of artists and genres including George Clinton, Ike Stubblefield, Jewel, and Karl Denson.

“Laura has a rare combination of gifts-musical and spiritual,” states Sanders. “She reminds me that real music and real people still exist.”

“I don’t really have words to express how much I love Laura’s music,” says Worley. “It’s real, it’s authentic, it’s what the world needs.”

www.laurareed.com