Video: The Love Language plays new songs on tour

The Love Language have been hard at work on their third album and have been playing some fantastic sounding new tunes on tour.

Check out videos of four new songs below which they played in Asheville, Atlanta and Charlotte. The titles on two of the songs are listed as "Come To Us" and "Stay Right Where You Are" (the accuracy of which we can't confirm).

The Love Language don't have any shows scheduled right now, but we can expect them to return to their road dog status once the new album is done and hits shelves.

The Feelies announces 2012 tour, coming to Carrboro

After a 16-year break, New Jersey rock band The Feelies reunited in 2008 and then released their first new album since 1991 last year, titled Here Before.

A few 2012 tour dates have been announced and they include a stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, September 15. Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, April 4 via Etix for $18.

Stream the song "Should Be Gone" from The Feelies' new album below.

The English Beat announces 2012 tour, coming to Carrboro

British ska band The English Beat will be on the road touring with Squeeze in April, but they'll play plenty of headlining dates along the way including a stop in the Triangle the night after their final show with Squeeze.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, April 29. Archbishops of Blount Street will open. Tickets will go on sale soon via Etix for $17.

Check out the band performing the classic "Save It For Later" for Fearless Music in 2009 below.

Bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs dies at 88

Earl Scruggs, North Carolina-born bluegrass legend, died this morning in a Nashville hospital. He was 88.

Scruggs transformed banjo music with his three-finger picking style when he was hired to join Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1945. He went on to a long and successful career, including two Grammy awards and induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

You've heard Scruggs' work whether you're a bluegrass fan or not — he, Jerry Scoggins and Lester Flatt recorded "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" for The Beverly Hillbillies in 1962.

Los Campesinos! announces 2012 tour, coming to Carrboro

British indie pop band Los Campesinos! is hitting the road this summer in support of their latest album, Hello Sadness, released in November.

The tour will bring the band back to Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, June 27. Ticket information is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Check out the music video for "Songs About Your Girlfriend" from Hello Sadness below.

Win tickets to of Montreal at Cat's Cradle

Athens-based indie rock outfit of Montreal have hit the road in support of their latest release, Paralytic Stalks, and will play Cat's Cradle on Wednesday, April 4.

To enter to win a pair of tickets to the show, email trianglemusiccontests at gmail dot com with "of Montreal tickets" in the subject line no later than noon on Friday, March 30. We will select and notify a winner that afternoon. One entry per person, please. Congratulations, Katie B.!

Tickets to the show are $17 via etix. Lonely Dear and Kishi Bashi will open the show.

Sunn O))) to play Hopscotch Festival in September

Just like last year when Swans was announced, Hopscotch Music Festival has made its first announcement for the 2012 festival ahead of the main lineup release which is coming on April 18.

West coast drone metal band Sunn O))) will be playing the festival on Saturday, September 8, in a big new room added for this year's event. They'll play the 2,277 capacity Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center which will surely have its walls rattled. The band will play as a quartet at the show.

Check out the song "Big Church [Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért]" from the band's latest album Monoliths and Dimensions below.

Gang Gang Dance to play NC Museum of Natural Sciences Celebration

The new wing of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the Nature Research Center, will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, April 20, with a 24-hour celebration which will feature a late night performance by New York experimental dance band Gang Gang Dance presented by the Hopscotch Music Festival.

The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on April 20 and will feature a variety of street performers, internationally renowned scientists, musicians and even aerialists. Gang Gang Dance will perform at 11:30 p.m.

Gang Gang Dance's latest album, Eye Contact, was released last year. Check out the band's 4AD Session performance below which features songs from the album.

Video: The Avett Brothers perform at Racing the Cure

Only a lucky few actually got into Kings Barcade on Friday night to see a rare club performance by The Avett Brothers, but thankfully, some of them were kind enough to videos of the set on YouTube.

Check out the set list according to fans on The Avetts message board below along with videos of "Murder in the City," "When I Drink," "Cigarettes & Whiskey," "Go To Sleep" and "In the Curve." It looks like folks had a great time for a great cause.

Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms & more join forces for 'Summerland' Tour

If one 1990's package tour isn't enough for you this summer, fear not, because another gang of bands of the era are teaming up for a big summer tour. This one is dubbed the Summerland Tour and will feature Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit and Marcy Playground.

The tour will stop at the Raleigh Amphitheater on Saturday, July 14. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 14 via Ticketmaster.

Check out a pair of "classic" videos from Everclear and Sugar Ray below.

Racing the Cure benefit brings local music community together

Friday night was quintessentially North Carolinian. Super stars came back to their roots, The Tar Heels and the Wolfpack battled in the Sweet 16, and a music community used its powers to support Oliver Gant, a young boy battling cancer. The event raised over $45,000 from ticket sales and a silent auction.

Fans of The Avett Brothers began lining up outside Kings Barcade before noon to catch the trio in a rare rock club performance. This meant that Kings was out of the question for most of the benefit’s attendees, but many devoted fans continued to stand in line in hopes of nabbing a spot for the midnight performance.

Record Store Day 2012 is coming with tons of exclusive releases

Record Store Day is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and has continued to grow larger every year. This year's big day is Saturday, April 21, and the massive list of exclusive releases has just been announced, which features quite a few local acts and others with local ties.

There will be exclusives from Bowerbirds, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Hiss Golden Messenger and Ryan Adams, as well as releases from local labels Merge and Yep Roc including Arcade Fire, Destroyer, Jukebox the Ghost, M. Ward, Paul Weller and Richard Buckner. Check out the details of all of the aforementioned releases below and check out the full list of releases HERE.

Win tickets to Delta Spirit at Cat's Cradle

San Diego indie rockers Delta Spirit have hit the road in support of their latest, self-titled, album, and will make a stop at Cat's Cradle on Tuesday, April 3.

To win a pair of tickets to the show, email trianglemusiccontests at gmail dot com with "Delta Spirit tickets" in the subject line no later than Tuesday, March 27, at noon. We will select and notify a winner that afternoon. One entry per person, please. Congratulations, McKenna C.!

Tickets to the show are $12 in advance via etix,  $14 day of. Waters will open. Stream Delta Spirit in its entirety HERE.

[UDPATE] Drake announces 2012 'Club Paradise' tour dates, coming to Raleigh

Canadian hip-hop and R&B star Drake is taking his successful Club Paradise tour to big outdoor amphitheaters this summer, and unlike the last tour which brought him to Greensboro, this time he'll play the Triangle.

As you may have already deduced, Drake will play the Time Warner Cable Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 22. J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and French Montana will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 31 via the usual big outlets.

[UPDATE: Drake's concert at Time Warner Cable Pavilion has been postponed to June 19 20 (the date has been updated a second time and is now schedule for June 20). Tickets for the original date will be honored for the new date. A spokesperson for Drake said that the postponement of the Raleigh show as well as the Virginia Beach show is "Due to an unforeseen personal family matter."]

Justin Vernon's label to reissue 'It's All Aquatic' by Amateur Love

Chigliak, the record label launched by Grammy winner Justin Vernon earlier this year, is set to rerelease the 2003 debut album from Amateur Love, the since-defunct band from Eau Claire, Wisc., featuring Megafaun members Brad and Phil Cook along with Josh Scott and Brian Moen.

It's All Aquatic will be released on vinyl and digital formats on May 22. The vinyl version will include previously unreleased recordings from the band. View the album's track list and download or stream the song “Con/A Sweat/Cat” below.

Rhett Miller announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro

The Old 97's were just in Carrboro at the Cat's Cradle in January and now frontman Rhett Miller is planning to make his way back to play a much more intimate venue promoting his forthcoming solo album, The Dreamer, out on June 5.

Miller will play the ArtsCenter on Thursday, May 17. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 23 via Etix for $16.

Stream the song "Out of Love" from The Dreamer below. You can download the song HERE with a working email address.

Gavin DeGraw & Colbie Caillat announce 2012 tour, coming to Raleigh

If you're looking for some adult alternative to jam out to as the weather gets warmer, you're in luck, because singer-songwriters Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat are teaming up for a spring/summer tour.

The pair will stop at the Raleigh Amphitheater on Tuesday, June 12. Andy Grammar will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 31 via Ticketmaster.

DeGraw's latest album Sweeter was released in September. Check out the video for the album's title track below. Caillat's latest album All of You was released in June. Check out the video for "All of You" from the album below.

Duran Duran announces summer dates, coming to Durham

English new wave rockers Duran Duran are coming stateside this summer on their All You Need is Now Tour and will be making a stop in Durham.

The band will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, August 21. Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 30, at 10 a.m. via the DPAC box office and Ticketmaster for $58 to $128.

Duran Duran's latest album, All You Need is Now, was released in March 2011. Check out the music video for "Girl Panic!" from the album below.

Kiss & Motley Crue announce 'The Tour' 2012, coming to Raleigh

The makeup wearing, leather clad quartet Kiss are hitting the road again this summer and are pairing up with 1980s hair metal bigwigs Motley Crue (who happen to also favor makeup and leather, though considerably less).

The bands will play the Time Warner Cable Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh on Sunday, July 22. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, via the usual outlets for $30 to $130 plus fees.

Kiss' twentieth studio album titled Monster is due out this year. Motley Crue's latest album is 2008's Saints of Los Angeles.

Chiddy Bang to play All Night Bash at NC State

Up and coming hip hop group Chiddy Bang finally released their debut full-length album Breakfast in February and will come to Raleigh to rock NC State at the end of the month.

The group will play the All Night Bash at Lee Field on NC State's campus on Saturday, March 31. Lazarus will open. The show won't start until 9:30 p.m., but there will be carnival games and other fun starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 for the public, $5 for NC State students and $10 for NC State faculty and staff and students from other schools. They are on sale now HERE.

Check out the music video for the song "Ray Charles" from Breakfast below.

Album Review: Lost In The Trees - A Church That Fits Our Needs

On the final track of Lost In The Trees' latest masterpiece, A Church The Fits Our Needs, Ari Picker sings, "There are things songs can’t say." This may be true, but after listening to the new album, it’s hard to believe a songwriter as talented as Picker would ever have trouble making his compositions speak.

A Church That Fits Our Needs is Picker’s tribute to his mother, an artist who took her life in 2009 not long after her son’s wedding. The music is expectedly sombre overall, but it ranges from tortured to sentimental.

Crosby, Stills & Nash announce summer tour, coming to Durham

Folk rock mainstays Crosby, Stills, and Nash have announced an extensive summer tour, including a stop in Durham.

The band will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Sunday, July 8, 2012. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 13, at 10 a.m. via the DPAC box office and Ticketmaster.

The band will be donating $1 from each ticket sold on the U.S. summer tour to charity. In addition, special benefit seats will be available for purchase through The Guacamole Fund.

Photos: Mike Blair & The Stonewalls at Broad Street Cafe

All photos by Kevin Norris

Up and coming Wilmington rock band Mike Blair and The Stonewalls rolled into Durham for a show at the Broad Street Cafe on Friday night. The band played songs from their debut EP The Print as well as a bunch of songs that may end up on a forthcoming full-length the band plans to record this year. Check out some photos of the show below.

The band will return to the Triangle to play a free show at The Station with Sinful Savage Tigers on Thursday, April 12.

Stream Organos' new album 'Concha' + plenty of upcoming Triangle gigs

Durham singer-songwriter Maria Albani, better known as Organos, celebrated the release of her fantastic new album Concha last weekend at the Pinhook and will stay pretty busy this spring.

First, if you haven't already checked it out, stream the full album via the widget below which you can purchase on CD or digitally via Bandcamp (the CD is limited edition and hand-painted).

Organos will play the free Local Band Local Beer series at Tir Na Nog in Raleigh on Thursday, March 29 with Old Bricks and Heads on Sticks.

J Roddy Walston & The Business announces spring 2012 tour, coming to Raleigh

The soulful rock sounds J Roddy Walston and The Business will be hitting clubs across North America once again this spring. After the band wraps up a busy week at SXSW, they'll hit the road through the end of April and wrap the tour right here in the Triangle.

The band will return to King's in Raleigh on Monday, April 30. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out the music video for "Use Your Language" from the band's self-titled album below. Check out our previous post about the band to download the songs "Brave Man's Death" and "Don't Break the Needle" from the album.

PNC Arena name change goes live today

Raleigh's RBC Center takes on its third name in its 13 year history today as it becomes the PNC Arena. New signage went up on the building early this week, and rbccenter.com now redirects to a newly designed site at thepncarena.com. It appears that domain squatters got to the simpler pncarena.com before venue officials had the chance.

The sale of RBC Bank to Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial is expected to become official this month, leading to the arena name change. The arena first went by the generic monicker of the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena.

Furthur announces 2012 summer tour, coming to Cary

The jam band Furthur, featuring former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, are heading out on the road again this summer and will be coming back to the Triangle. The band played the Raleigh Amphitheater last July.

This time the band will head to Cary to play the Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Wednesday, July 11. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 16 via Etix for $39.50 to $59.50.

Check out the band's full two and a half hour set which was webcast live from TRI Studios last June below.

New music from Lilac Shadows - "A Shallow Madness"

Carrboro band Lilac Shadows, led by Sam Logan (formerly of the Hugenots), are gearing up to release the Shallow Madness EP with a big release show at Kings in Raleigh on Saturday, March 31, and have been kind enough to share a song from the release with us.

The song is "A Shallow Madness," which goes from psychedelic to catchy pop in five minutes and twenty seconds. Stream or download the tune below.

The EP was produced and engineered by Derek Torres of T0W3RS and features Karen Blanco on keys and Lilac Shadows' new drummer Zack Oden from Annuals. DiggUp Tapes will release it on cassette and digitally.

Album Review: The Magnetic Fields - Love At The Bottom Of The Sea

After a trio of experimental albums, The Magnetic Fields return to familiar form with Love At The Bottom Of The Sea. The album feels like an epilogue to the classic 69 Love Songs, but it’s uneven with both brilliant and blasé moments.

The Magnetic Fields have always been adept at contrasting their lyrics and music effectively and “God Wants Us To Wait” is a perfect example. The tale a relationship hindered by religion is told over a seductive mix of synth and percussion. This is followed by instant classic “Andrew in Drag.”

Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks announce 'Heart & Soul' Tour, coming to Greensboro

British rocker/crooner Rod Stewart and Fleetwood Mac songstress Stevie Nicks are reprising their co-headlining tour dubbed the Heart and Soul Tour this summer. They first toured together in the spring of 2011.

The tour will stop a the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday, August 1. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 17 for $49.50 to $149.50.

Check out a clip of Stewart and Nicks performing the song "Passion" on the 2011 tour below.

Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd & Cracker announce Last Summer On Earth Tour

The sounds of 90s pop rock will be filling venues across North America this summer as Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd and The Monsters and Cracker team up for the Last Summer On Earth Tour.

The tour will stop at the Raleigh Amphitheater on Thursday, July 12. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 23 via the Progress Energy Center box office and Ticket master. Prices are not available yet. They'll be $25.50 to $60.

Check out a funny little commercial for the tour below (it's not funny ha ha, but funny in that it amplifies the nostalgia aspect of the tour).

The dB's to release 'Falling Off the Sky' in June

The highly anticipated new album from The dB's which we've mentioned for about a year is finally almost ready to see the light of day. The album, titled Falling Off the Sky, will be out on June 12 via Bar/None Records.

The album features the original lineup of Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder and Will Rigby and was produced by the band with some help from Mitch Easter and Scott Litt. It is the first dB's album recorded primarily in North Carolina.

Check out the song "That Time Is Gone" from Falling Off the Sky below.

The B-52s to headline Band Together benefit in Cary

The Band Together benefit concerts have become a regular gig in Raleigh in the last few years and has apparently outgrown the area outside Lincoln Theatre, because this year it's moving to Cary.

This year's benefit to support the Urban Ministries of Wake County will be at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Saturday, May 12 and will be headlined by the quirky Georgia rock band The B-52s. Chapel Hill band Southern Culture on the Skids and BIG Something from Burlington will open.

Jonny Lang announces 2012 tour, coming to Durham

Blues singer-songwriter Jonny Lang is hitting the road in 2012 to play some headlining dates between gigs with the Experience Hendrix tour and shows with Buddy Guy.

One of those headline gigs will be at the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Wednesday, May 16. Tickets are on sale now via the box office and Ticketmaster for $37 to $62.

Lang's latest release is 2010's Live at the Ryman. Check out "Breakin' Me" from the album below.

Bob Mould signs to Merge, new album out this fall

Indie rock legend and former Husker Du and Sugar frontman Bob Mould is gearing for the release of his 10th solo album this fall and has joined the Merge Records family to bring it to the public.

The yet to be titled album has already been recorded with drummer John Wurster (Superchunk, Mountain Goats and many more) and Jason Narducy (Telekinesis, Robert Pollard). No other details are available yet.

Mould has recently been revisiting Sugar's 1992 debut album Copper Blue, playing it in its entirety at shows. He'll perform it at the Merge showcase at SXSW in Austin on March 16. More Copper Blue dates as well as touring in support of the new album is expected later this year.

Video: Carolina Chocolate Drops perform "Boodle De Bum Bum" for WNYC

Carolina Chocolate Drops new album Leaving Eden was released last week and the band have been hard at work promoting it, which recently included a stop at WNYC radio station in New York.

They performed the playful "Boodle De Bum Bum" live on the air and WNYC was kind enough to post a video of the performance online, which you can check out below.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops will be touring fiends through the spring into the summer, though no Triangle show is on the books right now (though they did play Chapel Hill in February before the release of Leaving Eden). Check out their current tour schedule below.

Jane's Addiction announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

On again off again rockers Jane's Addiction have extended their 2012 reunion tour, dubbed the Theatre of Escapists Tour, and will be making their way to the Triangle this spring.

They'll play Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 22. The Duke Spirit will open. Tickets will go on sale today, March 9, at 10 a.m. via the Progress Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $40 to $60.

Jane's Addiction released their fourth album The Great Escape Artist in 2011. Check out the band's latest music video for "Underground," the opening track from the album, below.

Best Coast announces new album & tour, coming to Carrboro

California indie duo Best Coast have come a long way since playing a packed Tir Na Nog during the first Hopscotch Music Festival in 2010. They released an acclaimed debut album, made national television appearances and even had a music video directed by Drew Barrymore. Now, they're looking to keep that momentum going with their highly anticipated sophomore album The Only Place, due out on May 15.

The band will hit the road immediately following the release and will make their way to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, July 13. Those Darlins will open. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 9 via Etix for $17.

Check out a video of the band playing the last track from the new album, "Up All Night," at a recent show in Australia below.

New music video from Bowerbirds - "Tuck the Darkness In"

Bowerbirds highly anticipated third album The Clearing was unleashed on Tuesday, and now they've released the first music video from the record.

The video is for "Tuck the Darkness In," and features a striking narrative about a boy and his relationship with fish in various stages of captivity. Check it out below.

Bowerbirds will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, March 17 with Mandolin Orange. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Album Review: White Rabbits - Milk Famous

On their third album, Milk Famous, White Rabbits have smoothed out the rough edges and embraced a funkier, groove-based sound that makes them sound more like Spoon than ever before (Britt Daniel of Spoon is credited as an engineer and additional producer on the album).

The frenetic energy and gritty sound found on previous releases was a big part of the band's sound, so to hear clear, round drums and less guitars is a bit shocking.

Right out the gate, the opening track "Heavy Metal" is a groove-laden drum and bass-heavy tune with smooth falsetto vocals and occasional guitar accents. The song is begging for multiple dance remixes.

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson announces 'Thick as a Brick' tour, coming to Durham

Jethro Tull frontman and flautist Ian Anderson is hitting the road this year to play the band's classic 1972 album Thick as a Brick in its entirety as well as the forthcoming sequel to the album, Thick as a Brick 2, due out April 3.

The tour will stop at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 29. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 16, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out a video of Anderson performing part of Thick as a Brick in Chicago last year below.

New music from I Was Totally Destroying It - "My Internal Din"

Local alt rockers I Was Totally Destroying It won't release their new album Vexations until August 21, but the band have released the first music from it more than five months early.

Stream or download the album's sixth track, "My Internal Din," below. The song pushes the band more towards the territory of "modern rock." Whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you. Let us know what you think about the song in the comments.

Check out the full track list of Vexations below. I Was Totally Destroying It doesn't currently have any Triangle gigs on their schedule, but they will play the free Friday Night Live series at Greensboro's Center City Park on Friday, June 1.

Ben Sollee announces 2012 tour, coming to Raleigh

Kentucky singer-songwriter and cellist Ben Sollee is hitting the road this spring in support of his latest album Inclusions, released last year. He's also recording his third album, Half-Made Man, this year with the support of fans using the fundraising method (he reached his goal in just four days).

The tour will make a stop at Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Thursday, May 10. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Watch Sollee and his band perform a fantastic set for NPR's Tiny Desk series below. It includes the songs "Hurting," "Captivity" and "The Globe" from Inclusions as well as a little a cappella ditty they call "Inclusions." You can also stream the album Inclusions in its entirety via the widget below.

Album Review: Bowerbirds - The Clearing

The Clearing by Bowerbirds is the sound of a band that has been freed both musically and spiritually.

The third album from the North Carolina band starts with the rousing “Tuck the Darkness” which builds into a powerful, swirling mantra that sets the tone for the rest of the record’s 45 minutes.

“Oh my dear friend, everything falls to death,” duo Phil Moore and Beth Tacular tell us, “We tuck the darkness in. We tuck the darkness in.” They’ve learned to accept the unhappy necessities of life. “Tucked the darkness in, dragged the harrow across the land,” Moore sings, “found my fresh start, sowed my wildest dreams.”

The Polyphonic Spree announces 2012 tour, coming to Carrboro

The psychedelic orchestral pop sounds of The Polyphonic Spree will be heard throughout venues across the North America again this spring as the band embark on their first proper tour in about four years.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, May 26. Sweet Lee Morrow will open. Ticket info is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets are $17 in advance and are on sale now via Etix.

The band's latest album is 2007's The Fragile Army, though a new album is expected sometime soon. They just release a new single in February titled "What Would You Do?" Watch the music video for the song below.

Tift Merritt, Bombadil and more join Racing the Cure lineup

Racing the Cure: A Benefit for Oliver Gant has added Lincoln Theatre to its roster of venues and some pretty big names in local music along with it.

Tift Merritt, Bombadil, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Small Ponds and Brice Randall Bickford will perform at Lincoln Theatre as part of the event on Friday, March 23. Kings, The Pour House and Tir Na Nog will also be hosting shows as part of the benefit, featuring The Avett Brothers, The Love Language, Annuals and more.

Tickets are available now for $25 via etix and will get you into any of the four venues, capacity permitting. A complete schedule is below. More details on the show and Oliver are available here.

New music video from Mandolin Orange - "Clover Tune"

Triangle duo Mandolin Orange have been earning more regional and national attention since the release of their sophomore album Haste Make / Hard Hearted Stranger last year. The band has now released a music video for the song "Clover Tune," found on the latter half of the double album.

The video is a simple yet effective performance filmed at The Station in Carrboro and Memorial Hall on UNC's campus. Check it out below.

Mandolin Orange will be touring quite a bit this spring and will be opening for Bowerbirds at the Cat's Cradle on Saturday March 17. They'll also play the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival on Friday, April 20.

Lost in the Trees playing not so secret show tonight in Chapel Hill

Before heading off to the U.K. to play the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival next week, Lost in the Trees will hit another small stage in Chapel Hill tonight (they opened for Islands at Local 506 about a week ago).

The band will play the release party for Trekky Records' new compilation AMALGAM tonight (March 2) at the Nightlight. Advance tickets are available via Etix for $5, but I don't know how long they'll last. Other bands scheduled to play are Butterflies, Phil Cook and His Feat and Vibrant Green as well as DJ Steph Russ spinning tunes.

You can stream or download Vibrant Green and Brice Randall Bickford's contributions to AMALGAM via Trekky's Bandcamp page.

Xiu Xiu announces new album & tour, coming to Raleigh

Durham duo Xiu Xiu, originally from California, are gearing up for the release of their eight studio album, Always, out on March 6 via Polyvinyl Records. A tour will follow a bit later this spring which will kick off here in the Triangle.

They'll play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Tuesday, May 1. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Stream or download the catchy leadoff track from Always, titled "Hi," below.

Dawes announces tour with Sara Watkins, coming to Carrboro

The soulful rock and roll sound of Dawes will be heard across the east coast again soon as the band prepares to hit the road, this time with singer-songwriter Sara Watkins (formerly of Nickel Creek) on board to open the shows.

They'll come to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday June 14. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $17.

The Cradle has become a regular stop for Dawes. The band last played the club in October (check out a review and photos from that show HERE) and in in April (see a review and photos of that gig HERE).