Boston announces 'Heaven on Earth' summer tour

Classic rockers Boston have announced a hefty summer tour that will keep them on the road from early June to the end of August. Towards the end of the tour the band named for their hometown will make a stop in the Triangle.

Boston will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Friday, August 22. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 4, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $75.

The band released their sixth studio album and their first in 11 years last year titled Life, Love & Hope. Check out the song "Heaven on Earth" from the album below.

Kishi Bashi announces new album 'Lighght,' spring tour

Musician and singer-songwriter Kaoru Ishibashi, better known as Kishi Bashi, will release a new album on May 13 titled Lighght and he'll hit the road on a big spring tour in support of it.

The tour will bring him back to Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Tuesday, June 10. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $14.

Check out the upbeat song "Philosophize In It! Chemicalize With It!" from Lighght below.

Carolina Chocolate Drops return to NCMA this summer

Now down to just one original member, Rhiannon Giddens, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are pushing for forward with some new players and this summer they'll return to the Triangle for a big show in Raleigh.

The Drops will once again play the North Carolina Museum of Art's summer concert series on Saturday, August 9. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $45 (reserved seat) or $29 (general admission). There are the usual discounts for museum members as well as discounted general admission tickets for youth ages 7-18 and children 6 and under are free.

New music video from Sylvan Esso - "Coffee"

As Sylvan Esso pushes closer to the release of their self-titled debut album on May 13, the duo has now released the music video for the album's single "Coffee." Check out the video below that features Will Hackney of Trekky Records and the band Loamlands a little more than halfway in.

As we mentioned last week, Sylvan Esso announced a big hometown show at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, May 9. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out a write-up and photos of Sylvan Esso's set at the Hopscotch Music Festival last year HERE.

Say Anything announces new album 'Hebrews,' summer tour

California rockers Say Anything will release their sixth full-length studio album Hebrews on June 10 and then they'll embark on a big summer tour in support of the album with The Front Bottoms, The So So Glows, and You Blew It!

The tour will stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, June 22. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Thursday, April 3, via Ticketfly for $17.50. The band's pre-sale is active now HERE.

Check out the music video for the song "Say Anything" from the band's 2012 album Anarchy, My Dear below.

Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, Blues Traveler & Uncle Kracker team up for 2014 'Under the Sun' tour

Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth are gathering the 1990s and early 2000s pop rockers again in 2014 for another iteration of their Under the Sun tour, which will this time include Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker.

The tour will return to the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Friday, August 1. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll let you know when it is. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 11, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $25 to $55.

Smash Mouth, Blues Traveler and Uncle Kracker (see his last and only other mention on Triangle Music HERE) each released their latest albums in 2012, Magic, Suzie Cracks the Whip and Midnight Special respectively. Sugar Ray hasn't released an album since 2009's Music for Cougars.

Wood Ear to release 'Electric Alone' in April, listen to "Pack of Cards"

After releasing their first album as a full band in 2012 with Steeple Vultures (check out the review HERE), Wood Ear is back next month with a new four-song EP. The EP is titled Electric Alone and will be released on April 22 via Churchkey Records.

Check out the full track list below and stream and/or download the EP's opening track "Pack of Cards."

Wood Ear will celebrate the release of Electric Alone with a show at The Pinhook in Durham on Friday, May 2. Stuart Edwards will open.

Chatham County Line announces 'Tightrope' tour, big hometown show

As we mentioned last month, local superstar string band Chatham County Line will be releasing a new album on May 20 titled Tightrope and now they've announced their first tour in support of it that includes a big hometown show.

The band will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Friday, May 30. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 28, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $24 to $34.

Check out the song "Any Port in the Storm" from Tightrope below.

Merge announces more Merge 25 festival bands, additional details

After releasing the initial details of their big Merge 25 festival last week and then selling out of four-day passes incredibly fast, Merge Records has announced a few more bands that will be playing the event and released a few details of who will be playing each night.

In addition to Neutral Milk Hotel, The Clientele, Wye Oak, Caribou, Lambchop, The Rock*A*Teens, Bob Mould and Ex Hex announced last week, The Mountain Goats, Superchunk and The Love Language have been added to the bill. Check out how the schedule currently breaks down below and there are still a lot more bands to be announced in the coming weeks/months.

The Milk Carton Kids announce summer tour, coming to Durham

California folk duo The Milk Carton Kids have extended their already hefty tour schedule into the summer with some new dates that will include a return to the Durham for a headlining show.

The group will headline the Carolina Theatre on Thursday, July 17. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 18 with a pre-sale to start on Wednesday, April 16. The group will also play two nights at the Hayti Heritage Center on April 11 and 12 with Joe Henry and Over the Rhine.

Check out The Milk Carton Kids performing "Snake Eyes" from their latest album The Ash & Clay for the film Another Day, Another Time about the concert celebrating the music of the film Inside Llewyn Davis below.

Johnnyswim announces debut album, spring tour

After releasing a series of EPs and singles over the last five years, the husband and wife duo Johnnyswim are finally gearing up for the release of their debut full-length album, Diamonds. The album will be out on April 29 and they'll be on the road this spring supporting it.

They'll play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Saturday, May 10. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out a short trailer for the new album Diamonds below along with the band's performance of "Heart Beats" on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno from last year.

Photos: Vertical Scratchers & The Love Language at Merge 25K finish party

Photos by Kevin Norris

After runners made the 25 kilometer run from Chapel Hill to Durham Saturday morning during the Merge Records 25K race, there was a big party in and around Motorco Music Hall in Durham featuring fantastic sets from Vertical Scratchers and The Love Language. Check out photos of each of the band's sets below.

Merge Records has a lot more stuff going on this year to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Check out more info on upcoming and recent Merge happenings HERE.

Josh Groban announces orchestral summer tour, show with NC Symphony

Singer Josh Groban is hitting the road this summer to play shows on the east coast with local orchestras and the tour will kick off right here in the Triangle.

Groban will perform with the North Carolina Symphony at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Saturday, August 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 28, via Etix for $49.50 to $75.

Check out a live performance of the Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová song "Falling Slowly" that Groban recorded for his latest album All That Echoes below.

Howler releasing new album, announces spring tour

After releasing their highly acclaimed debut album America Give Up in 2012, Minnesota indie rockers Howler are back with their sophomore album World of Joy that will hit stores on March 25. After touring Europe where they've built quite a following, the band will return to the North American for a spring tour.

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, May 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, March 21, via Ticketfly for $8.

Check out the music video for the song "Indictment" from World of Joy below. The Current is streaming the full album for a limited time now.

Gavin DeGraw & Matt Nathanson announce summer tour

Pop rock singer-songwriters Gavid DeGraw and Matt Nathanson are teaming up for a big summer tour in support of their latest albums, Make a Move and Last of the Great Pretenders, released last year.

The pair will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Tuesday, August 5. Mary Lambert and Andrew McMahon will open. Tickets information is not available, but we'll let you know when it is. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 4, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $55.

Check out the music video for the title track from Degraw's Make a Move as well as the video for "Kinks Shirt" from Nathanson's Last of the Great Pretenders below. The latter was directed by comedian, actor and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait who also appears in the video.

Sylvan Esso announces big hometown album release show

Triangle duo Sylvan Esso will release their self-titled debut album album on May 13 via Partisan Records and the group has just announced a big hometown release show to celebrate the album.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, May 9. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out the new single "Coffee" from the album below. The track was just release on 7" vinyl featuring the b-side "Dress."

First Merge 25 Festival acts announced, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bob Mould, The Clientele, Lambchop & more

We've been talking about the Merge Records 25th anniversary festivities for the last few months with the regular announcements of deluxe reissues from the Merge catalog and the 25K road race happening this Saturday, March 22, but now the big news is starting to emerge. The label had already announced that the big festival celebrating their anniversary would take place in Carrboro (and also Durham) on July 23-26, but now we have the first band announcements and other details to share.

The festival will include Neutral Milk Hotel, The Clientele, Wye Oak, Caribou, Lambchop performing Nixon, The Rock*A*Teens, Bob Mould, Ex Hex and many more yet to be announced. The first night, July 23, will be at the newly renovated Baldwin Auditorium on Duke's campus in Durham, and then July 24-25 will be at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro. The final day, Saturday, July 26, will be a full day of music outdoors in Carrboro (outdoors is all we've got right now but it certainly bodes well for the possibility of big names).

Megafaun emerges from hibernation, schedules short tour

Local folk superstars Megafaun went into hiatus mode in 2012 after touring the world in support of their self-titled album released in 2011. The band members have been working on other projects since then, but they've decided to return to activity for a short four-date tour this spring.

Before heading north for shows in Washington DC and Brooklyn, the band will play two nights, April 29 and 30, at The Pinhook in Durham. Canine Heartsounds will open on the 29th and Loamlands will open on the 30th. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $18. Get them fast because they're sure to sell out quickly.

Album Review: Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness

Angel Olsen’s third album, Burn Your Fire For No Witness, is a thoughtful examination of the struggle between co-dependency and self-efficacy. While complex emotionally, it’s still affecting and beautiful.

Olsen sings the root cause of the album’s conflict in the first line of the first track, “Unfucktheworld”: “I quit my dreaming the moment that I found you.” Throughout the album, she illustrates how two people can lose themselves in each other through extended compromise.

The couple in the songs can’t overcome the loss of self and blame each other.

Kiss & Def Leppard announce summer tour

Soon to be Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Kiss, who are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut album this year, are teaming up with British rockers Def Leppard for a huge North American tour this summer.

The two bands will play Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh on Sunday, July 20. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 21, via LiveNation for $29.50 to $149.50.

Kiss won't be performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in April due to lineup conflicts since current members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer are not being inducted. Someone there will certainly be performing some of their songs though.

Counting Crows announce summer tour with Toad the Wet Sprocket

Pop rockers Counting Crows haven't released a new album of original material since 2008's double album Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings (they released an album of covers in 2012 titled Underwater Sunshine and a series of live albums in recent years, most recently Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow last year) but that's not stopping them from gearing up for a big summer tour with fellow 1990s rockers Toad the Wet Sprocket.

The pair will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Wednesday, June 25. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 21, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $65.

Goo Goo Dolls & Daughtry announce summer tour

Pop rockers Goo Dolls are teaming up with North Carolina rockers Daughtry for a big summer co-headline tour with Plain White T's joining them as the opening act.

The tour will stop at the big shed, Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, in Raleigh on Tuesday, July 8. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, via LiveNation for $20 to $69.

Both Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry released a new albums last year, Magnetic and Baptized respectively. Check out music videos from each album below.

The Temptations & The Four Tops announce 2014 tour dates

Legendary Motown groups and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Temptations and The Four Tops will hit the road together again this year and will return to the Triangle.

The pair will once again play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 26. Their last two shows at the venue sold out. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 21 via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $40 to $87.50.

Check out videos of "Just My Imagination" (The Temptations) and "Reach Out I'll Be There" (The Four Tops) filmed from the crowd at the groups' show at DPAC in 2011 below.

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons announce 2014 tour

Pop singer with the signature falsetto sound, Frankie Valli, may be 79 years old as of now, but he and his group The Four Seasons have a big schedule of 2014 tour dates lined up for this year that will bring them to the Triangle.

Valli will come to the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, August 9. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, March 14, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $59 to $129.

Check out a video of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons performing the group's first number one hit from 1962, "Sherry," below. Even though Valli's voice might not be as good as is once was years ago, the insanely high falsetto sounds he can still produce is amazing and on display in the video.

Poliça announces spring tour, coming to Raleigh

Minnesota synthpop band Poliça released their sophomore album last fall titled Shulamith (featuring the engineering and mixing skills of The Love Language's BJ Burton). The band are hitting the road on a short tour in late spring that will bring them to the Triangle.

Poliça will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Saturday, June 14. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Check out the music video for the songs "I Need $" and "So Leave" from Shulamith below.

Joe Westerlund of Megafaun releasing solo album as Grandma Sparrow in May

Megafaun drummer Joe Westerlund (who also plays with Califone and Mount Moriah) is finally releasing his solo debut this spring under the moniker Grandma Sparrow. The album, titled Grandma Sparrow & His Piddletractor Orchestra, will be out on May 20 via Matthew E. White's label Spacebomb Records. Check out a bizarre teaser video for the album below.

Westerlund will celebrate the release of the album with two shows at The Pinhook in Durham on May 17 and 18. Alexandra Sauser-Monnig will open both shows. The May 17 show will also include a DJ set by Matthew E. White. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Indigo Girls & Del McCoury Band to headline spring Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

The spring installment of the biannual Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in Pittsboro is a little over a month away and the festival has just announced the lineup that includes two big headliners.

It will all happen on April 17-20 and will feature headline sets by folk rockers the Indigo Girls and legendary bluegrass group the Del McCoury Band. Other performers will include Donna the Buffalo, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Des Ark, Jim Lauderdale, Phil Cook and the Guitarheels, Morning Brigade, Greg Humphreys Trio, Tonk and many, many more. Check out the full lineup HERE.

Tickets for the festival are on sale HERE for a variety of price points ranging from $23 (single day Thursday or Sunday ticket) to $100 (a four-day pass).

Deer Tick announces big spring tour, coming to Saxapahaw

Rhode Island rockers Deer Tick released their fifth full-length album titled Negativity last fall and after the winter passes, the band will continue touring in support of it. After opening some shows for The Hold Steady in April, Deer Tick will head out for headline shows in May.

The band will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Sunday, May 18. Langhorne Slim and The Law will open. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, March 14, via Ticketfly for $18.

Check out the music video for "The Dream's in the Ditch" from Negativity below.

Ray LaMontagne announces new album 'Supernova,' summer tour

The soft-spoken singer-songwriter with a roaring singing voice, Ray Lamontagne is gearing up for the release of his fifth full-length album on May 6 titled Supernova, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. He'll hit the road on a big summer tour that will bring him to the Triangle.

Lamontagne will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Saturday, July 26. The Belle Brigade will open. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, March 14, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $25 to $49.50. Pre-ordering the new album via Amazon will give buyers access to a pre-sale that starts at noon today, March 11.

Check out the poppy, upbeat title track from Supernova below.

Vampire Weekend adds spring dates, coming to Raleigh

Indie pop superstars Vampire Weekend will be hitting the road this spring to hit some big festivals throughout the U.S., including the massive Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN. Just before heading west to Bonnaroo, the band will return to the Triangle.

Vampire Weekend will once again play the Red Hat Amphitheater (though it wasn't called that during their first show there in 2010) in Raleigh on Thursday, June 12. Cults will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 14, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $26 to $41.

The band's latest album Modern Vampires of the City made many best of 2013 lists including topping the Rolling Stone list and coming in at number nine on my own. Check out the band performing "Unbelievers" from the album on SNL last year below.

Midnight Plus One, Positive No, Static is a City 'Let Feedback Ring'

Photos by Justin Weber

About four blocks west from the heart downtown Raleigh’s nightlife that stretches from Salisbury Street to Blount Street is Legends Nightclub. The rainbow hues that splash against its front on West Hargett Street invite newcomers to open a door that’s locked before realizing they’ll need to walk around the back and gain admittance through an airlock-like ID check. The club’s interior eventually leads patrons to the “Spotlight Theater” in the very back. It’s here on the first Friday of most months since last November that Let Feedback Ring, a locally-sponsored punk rock showcase, takes place.

Let Feedback Ring is put on by Raleigh-based Negative Fun Records, more specifically Chris DeFusco and Corbie Hill. The regular first Friday series evolved from a successful day party — also at Legends — at last year’s Hopscotch. The series sometimes features bands appearing on the label and its new cassette tape imprint, Antiquated Technologies, but it's not limited to them. The purpose of the series is not to highlight a specific label, but to help build a community. As such, DeFusco and Hill book every kind of band: brand new bands, under-appreciated veterans, out-of-state groups branching out, and established acts (December’s lineup was headlined by Whatever Brains). The music in the series covers most of the aural tendrils that branch out of punk from the poppier, melody driven styles to those that are all about volume, speed, and energy.

Patrick Park announces spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Singer-songwriter Patrick Park released a new EP last fall titled We Fall Out of Touch and he's hitting the road this spring on a U.S. tour in support of it.

The tour will bring him to the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Saturday, April 19. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $8.

Check out the music video for "Break Free" from We Fall Out of Touch below. Check out a write-up and photo from Park's 2006 show at The Pour House HERE.

Sleigh Bells announce spring tour, coming to Carrboro

Since releasing their third full length album Bitter Rivals last fall, Brooklyn rockers Sleigh Bells have been touring pretty heavily and are not slowing down. The band have just announced a new North American tour this spring and will be returning to the Triangle.

Sleigh Bells will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, April 26. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out the band performing the song "Young Legends" on the Late Show with David Letterman in January below.

Bob Mould to release 'Beauty & Ruin' in June

As singer-songwriter Bob Mould wraps a series of shows celebrating the 25th anniversary of his first solo album Workbook, originally released in 1989, he's also looking forward as he prepares to release his eleventh solo album.

Merge Records will release the new album Beauty & Ruin on June 3. It features the same band as his last album, 2012's Silver Age, with Jason Narducy on bass and Jon Wurster on drums.

We don't have any music from Beauty & Ruin to share with you yet, but be sure to check out Mould and the band on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight, March 6, as they wind down the Workbook celebration.

Willie Watson announces debut solo album, 2014 tour

Old Crow Medicine Show founding member Willie Watson will release his debut solo album titled Folk Singer Vol. 1 on May 6 and he'll spend much of his spring and summer criss-crossing the U.S. on tour.

Watson will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Wednesday, July 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 7, via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out a video of Watson performing the song "Keep It Clean" in a factory at the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion last year below.

The Clientele's 'Suburban Light' to get deluxe reissue in May

Following reissues from Lamchop, Superchunk and Richard Buckner, Merge Records will continue their reissue series celebrating their 25th anniversary in May by rereleasing UK band The Clientele's debut album.

Merge will reissue Suburban Light as a remastered double album that includes a bonus disc of b-sides, rarities, and previously unreleased songs. It will be available on as a double-disc release, one LP and one disc or, of course, as a digital download. Check out the full track list below.

Check out a performance of the song "An Hour Before the Light" filmed outside in Dogmersfield, Hampshire, in 1996 below.

The Gaslight Anthem releases 'B-Sides,' announces spring tour

Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem released a collection of b-sides and outtakes earlier this year simply titled B-Sides and they have just announced a few spring tour dates that will bring them back to the Triangle.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, May 8. Cory Branan will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 7, via Ticketfly for $20.

Check out the music video for "She Loves You," the first track on B-Sides below.

New Madrid, The Foreign Resort, Anthony Neff & Amigo schedule Schoolkids in-stores

Ever since moving over to the Mission Valley area from Hillsborough Street earlier this year, the new Schoolkids Records store has been hosting more in-store performances and they have quite a few coming up this month.

First, Georgia band New Madrid will stop by on Thursday, March 6, at 5 p.m. for a performance before playing Kings later that night.

Then Denmark band The Foreign Resort will play the store at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, before heading to Chapel Hill for a show at the Nightlight later that night.

Future Islands announces new album 'Singles,' new spring dates

Regional favorites Future Islands will be in the Triangle this Wednesday (March 5) to play a sold out show with Wye Oak and Haw River Ballroom and they'll release their new album, Singles, on March 25. The band has added some new dates to their spring tour, which will bring them to the Triangle again.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, April 27. Ed Shrader's Music Beat and The Lollipops will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $16.

[UPDATE: The first show sold out quite quickly and the band have added a second show at the Cradle on Monday, April 28. Ed Shrader's Music Beat and Human Pippi Armstrong will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $16.]

Amos Lee announces 2014 tour, coming to Cary

Singer-songwriter Amos Lee has risen through the venue ranks over the last few years in the Triangle. When he comes to town on his 2014 tour he'll make another big step up after playing DPAC last fall.

Lee will play the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Friday, June 13. Rising stars Lake Street Dive will open. Pre-sale tickets are available now HERE. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 7, via Etix.

Lee's latest album, Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song, was released last fall. Check out a solo performance of the album's opening track, "Johnson Blvd," below.