Woods release new album, announce new single & summer tour

New York indie rockers Woods just released a new album in April titled With Light and With Love and have already planned to release a new 7" single on July 8 titled "Tambourine Light." The band will hit the road on a summer tour that will bring them to the Triangle.

Woods will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Saturday, August 23. Ticket information is not available yet but we'll let you know when it is.

Check out the song "Leaves Like Grass" from With Light and With Love as well as the new single "Tambourine Light" below.

John Legend extends 'All of Me' summer tour

R&B star John Legend has just added dates to The All of Me Tour, named after the hit single "All of Me" from his latest album Love in the Future released last year.

The new dates include a stop in Raleigh at the Red Hat Amphitheater on Wednesday, July 30. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 6, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $30 to $85.

Check out Legend performing the aforementioned hit "All of Me" for the Live on Letterman series below.

Yelle preps new album, announces fall US tour

French electropop group Yelle are preparing to release their third full-length album later this year and have just announced some North American dates in the fall that will bring them to the Triangle.

Yelle will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, November 11. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 30, via Ticketfly for $18.

Stream Yelle's two previous albums, 2011's Safari Disco Club and 2007's Pop Up below.

Veteran North Carolina bands team up for two-day cancer patient benefit

This August in Carrboro, ten North Carolina bands will team up for a special two-day festival at the Cat's Cradle dubbed Be Loud! The event will benefit the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation that supports adolescent and young cancer patients and their families at UNC Hospital.

The event will take place on August 8 and 9. The August 8 lineup will feature The Pressure Boys, The Connells and the Dex Romweber Duo. The August 9 show will feature The Pressure Boys, Let's Active and A Number of Things. There will also be a daytime festival on August 9 featuring Tom Maxwell, Cheryl Parker's 116th Dream, Sacrificial Poets, Cosmic Punk and Community Chorus. They daytime event will feature multiple stages and food trucks.

The Black Lips announce fall tour with King Khan

Georgia indie rockers The Black Lips released their seventh studio album a few months ago titled Underneath the Rainbow and they're hitting the road this fall with King Khan and BBQ Show to support it.

The pair will make a stop at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, October 3. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 30, via Ticketfly for $17.

Check out the music video for "Funny" from The Black Lips' album Underneath the Rainbow below.

Earth, Wind & Fire extend 2014 tour, coming to Raleigh

Funk/R&B/disco giants Earth, Wind and Fire have extended their 2014 tour plans into the fall and they will now make a stop in the Triangle for a big outdoor show.

The band will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Thursday, October 9. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 30 via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $27.50 to $85.

Earth, Wind and Fire just released a new album last year titled Now, Then & Forever. Check out the song "Guiding Lights" from the album below.

DIIV announces summer tour, coming to Chapel Hill

New York psychedelic rockers DIIV are heading out on a short summer tour in July to work out some new songs before heading back to the studio to complete their sophomore album, the follow-up to 2012's Oshin.

The tour will stop at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Thursday, July 24. LODRO and Regal Degal will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out DIIV's performance of "Doused" on the Late Show with David Letterman in December of 2012 below.

Jason Isbell announces fall tour dates, big Durham show

Singer-songwriter Jason Isbell's popularity has been steadily increasing since the release of his acclaimed 2013 album Southeastern. After selling out two shows at the Haw River Ballroom earlier this year, Isbell will return to the Triangle for a big show during his fall tour.

He will make the leap to the Durham Performing Arts Center where he is set to take the stage on Thursday, November 6. Sturgill Simpson will open. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, May 31, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $35 to $45.

Check out a video of Isbell and his band performing the opening track from Southeastern, "Cover Me Up," on Austin City Limits below.

Amanda Lindsey returns with new project Celestogramme

Photo by Annalee Harkins

Singer-songwriter Amanda Lindsey, who fronted the fantastic local psychedelic pop band Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies until they split up in 2010, is back with the debut single from her new project Celestogramme.

She has released new cassette single featuring the rocker "Red Queen Hypothesis" and catchy "Carnivore Ravaging" that she produced along with North Carolina legend Mitch Easter. Check out "Red Queen Hypothesis" below and both songs via Bandcamp where you can also buy the cassette or download.

Miniature Tigers releasing new album, announces summer tour

New York-based indie pop band Miniature Tigers will release their fourth full-length album on June 17 titled Cruel Runnings and they'll hit the road in this summer on a big tour in support of it with support from The Griswolds.

The bands will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Wednesday, August 13. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out the song "Used to Be the Shit" from Cruel Runnings below.

Tom Petty & The Heatbreakers announce new album 'Hypnotic Eye,' arena tour

Venerable singer-songwriter Tom Petty and his band The Heartbreakers will return this summer with their first new studio album since 2010's Mojo. The band will release Hypnotic Eye on July 29 and will kick off an arena tour a few days later that will run through the fall.

Petty and The Heartbreakers will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Thursday, September 18. Steve Winwood will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $32 to $127. Every ticket will include a download of the new album.

Check out a video of the album and tour announcement below that features clips from Hypnotic Eye as well as Petty acting a bit goofy.

Langhorne Slim steals the show at the Haw River Ballroom

Photos by Justin Weber

It’s that time of the year when the Haw River Ballroom becomes more than just another big, dark venue. As Pennsylvania band The Districts took the stage around 8 p.m., the late spring evening light continued to stream through the venue’s back windows and illuminate the band.

The young band members looked to be barely out of high school and they played with the kind of energy that’s only powered by youth. They pushed each of their songs to the max, striving to be epic, without much of a break. Lead singer Rob Grote leads the charge with his exaggerated failing and stumbling, but all of the band members were letting their bodies take over. There were a few instances they were lucky to not run into each other.

Skaggs, Hornsby, McCoury, Fleck, Douglas & more slated for Wide Open Bluegrass 2014

As we mentioned last week, the International Bluegrass Music Association will be sticking with Raleigh through 2018. But moving on to more pressing matters, the initial acts for the big Wide Open Bluegrass Festival on October 3 and 4 have been announced and feature a smorgasbord of bluegrass all stars.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder with Bruce Hornsby, the Del McCoury Band with special guests, Hot Rize (who have their first new studio album in 24 years due out this year), Gibson Brothers, local stars Steep Canyon Rangers, and Sierra Hull will play the big event. There will also be the Wide Open Jam featuring Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton, and Stuart Duncan.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now via Etix.

Mineral announces reunion tour, coming to Greensboro

After 17 years apart, Texas emo rock band Mineral is reuniting this year to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary. They'll hit the road on a big fall tour that will include a stop in the Triad.

The band will play the Blind Tiger in Greensboro on Tuesday, November 4. Into It. Over It. will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $22.

The band only released two albums in their brief tenure in the late 90s, 1997's The Power of Failing and 1998's EndSerenading. Check out both albums in their entirety below.

Carolina Performing Arts announces 2014-15 season, Merle Haggard, Robert Cray, Audra McDonald & more

The Carolina Performing Arts at UNC has just announced their tenth season and it includes an eclectic mix of music, dance and theater.

We're focused on the music which includes country Legend Merle Haggard, The Robert Cray Band, The Steep Canyon Rangers and Mipso, Broadway singer and actress Audra McDonad, jazz singer Dianne Reeves and many more. Check out the full 2014-15 Carolina Performing Arts schedule below.

Ticket packages for the general public will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3. UNC student, faculty and staff packages will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 29.

Eagulls brave a rogue frog to rock Chapel Hill

British post-punk group Eagulls made a stop in Chapel Hill last night while touring for their first full-length release, the self-titled Eagulls. Although the crowd was sparse and unenthusiastic, the band was able to pick up the slack from the audience and use their raw power to still have a great performance.

The five-piece band, consisting of two guitarists, a bassist, singer and drummer, produced such a loud and powerful sound that they could have rocked out a much larger venue.

Album Review: Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso

Sylvan Esso’s self-titled debut may be one of the most anticipated local records ever in the Triangle. From a handful of local shows and two singles, Sylvan Esso has captured the attention of not only local fans, but the nation’s music media.

With Sylvan Esso, Nicholas Sanborn (Megafaun) and Amelia Meath (Mountain Man) present ten songs of simmering, playful electronic dance tunes. While their peer worry about perfecting their drop or making every song worthy of the last dance, Sanborn and Meath have something that sets them far apart: restraint.

New music from Hiss Golden Messenger - "Brother, Do You Know the Road?"

As Hiss Golden Messenger kicks off a European tour tonight, May 15, in Dublin, Ireland, they have released a brand new single that will not be featured on their forthcoming Merge Records debut, due out later this year.

The new song is the six-minute track "Brother, Do You Know the Road?" and features Scott Hirsch, Terry Lonergan, Phil Cook, and Brad Cook backing frontman M.C. Taylor. Check out the song below. It also available to download via iTunes.

Hiss Golden Messenger will play the Merge 25 Festival at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, July 24. Four-day passes and individual tickets for Thursday night are sold out.

Album Review: The Black Keys - Turn Blue

On their darkest and heaviest album yet, The Black Keys draw influences from their past albums while adding influences from new collaborations and styles. While elements of rock and blues from 2011’s El Camino still remain, personal hardships have added a more emotional and melancholy affect to the album.

The change in emotion on this album is to the credit of lead singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach’s recent split from his wife. The raw depression is most evident on “Weight of Love,” a ripping seven-minute track filled with lyrics of inner turmoil and Auerbach soloing, creating an outer space like vibe.

IBMA announces plans to stay in Raleigh through 2018

Photo by Kevin Norris

When the International Bluegrass Music Association first announced their plans bring their music conference, awards and festival to Raleigh back in 2012 they signed a three-year deal with the city to for 2013 to 2015. Now after just one apparently very successful year in Raleigh the association has extended the deal for three more years.

The IBMA's new deal will keep the festivities in Raleigh through 2018 so we have at least five more years of mandolins, fiddles and tight harmonies filling the downtown streets, which is a pretty great thing.

We'll have more information on this year's Wide Open Bluegrass festival soon so stay tuned.

Afghan Whigs release first new album in 16 years, announces fall tour

Ohio alt rockers The Afghan Whigs just released their first new album in 16 years last month titled Do to the Beast and they'll hit the road this fall on a big North American tour in support of it.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Tuesday, October 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, via Ticketfly for $30.

Check out the song "The Lottery" from Do to the Beast below.

Strand of Oaks announces new album, summer tour

Philadelphia singer-songwriter Timothy Showalter, aka Strand of Oaks, will release a new album on June 24 via Dead Oceans titled HEAL. The band hit the road this summer in support of the album and will make a stop in the Triangle.

Strand of Oaks will play The Pinhook in Durham on Saturday, September 13. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

[The Pinhook show has been canceled and now Strand of Oaks will open for Hiss Golden Messenger at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday, September 13. Tickets are available via Ticketfly for $12.]

Check out the music video for the song "Goshen '97" from HEAL below.

The Head and the Heart announce fall dates, return to Raleigh

Seattle indie folk band The Head and the Heart is riding high since the release of their sophomore album Let's Be Still last fall. They sold out The Ritz last fall and are set to return to Raleigh this fall for an outdoor show.

The band will play the North Carolina Museum of Art on Saturday, September 27. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $30 (reserved seats), $24 (general admission) and there are discounts for children and museum members.

Check out The Head and the Heart's new animated music video for "Summertime" from Let's Be Still below.

The War on Drugs added to Hopscotch 2014 lineup

The 2014 Hopscotch Music Festival lineup has grow one band larger with the addition of The War on Drugs who will return for their second performance at the festival having also played the inaugural festival (frontman Adam Granduciel also joined Megafaun for their day party in 2012; see photos HERE).

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, September 4.

The War on Drugs just released their third studio album, Lost in the Dream, in March. Check out the band's full performance for KEXP back in March below.

Video: Chatham County Line plays new songs for Sawyer Sessions

With release of Chatham County Line's new album Tightrope less than two weeks away (it's out on May 20 via Yep Roc Records), the band recently filmed a few songs for the web series the Sawyer Sessions.

The session was filmed in an old historic home in Hillsborough owned by the father of band member John Teer. Check out the performances of the new songs "Haw" and "Tightrope of Love" below.

Chatham County Line will celebrate the release of Tightrope with a big show at the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Friday, May 30, with Mipso. Tickets are on sale now via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $24 to $34.

The Baseball Project to play All-Star Fan Fest in Durham

This summer the the Durham Bulls Athletic Park will play host to the 2014 Triple-A All-Star game on on July 16, but the festivities will kick-off on Saturday, July 12, with the All-Star Fan Fest and Block Party.

The Fan Fest will take place at the park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but we're interested in the Block Party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Block Party will happen just outside the park on Blackwell Street and it will feature a set by The Baseball Project, which features Peter Buck and Mike Mills of R.E.M., Scott McCaughey and Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate. Oh, and the event is completely free. Check out more information HERE.

The Baseball Project just released a new album in March via Yep Roc Records titled 3rd. Check out the song "They Played Baseball" from the album below.

The Black Keys announce 'Turn Blue' world tour

Ohio duo The Black Keys (who tour as a quartet) have become one of the biggest rock bands in the world in recent years with the release of their last few albums. The band will release their eighth full-length album on Tuesday, May 12, titled Turn Blue and they have just announced a big world tour in support it that will traverse North America this fall.

The Black Keys will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Friday, December 5. St. Vincent will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 16, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $35 to $75.

Check out the groovy tune "Fever" from Turn Blue below. The Black Keys will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on May 10 with host Charlize Theron.

Spider Bags releasing 'Frozen Letter' in August

As we first mentioned last month, Chapel Hill trio Spider Bags has joined the ever growing Merge Records roster. Now the details of their first release for the label have been announced.

Merge will release the album Frozen Letter on August 5. Check out the song "Back With You Again in the World" from the album below. Other songs on the album include "Chem Trails," "Coffin Car" and "We Got Problems." The latter song features lead guitar work of Mac McCaughan of Superchunk.

Spider Bags will play the Music in the Gardens series at Duke Gardens on Wednesday, June 18. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $13.

Sara Bareilles announces 'Little Black Dress' summer tour

Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles has been riding high on the success of her hit single "Brave" from her latest album The Blessed Unrest and she will take that success to some big venues on her upcoming Little Black Dress summer tour.

Bareilles will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Tuesday, July 22. Lucius and Emily King will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 9, via the Duke Energy Center box office or Ticketmaster for $27.50 to $55.

Check out the music video for Bareilles' new single from The Blessed Rest, "I Choose You," below.

Haim brings California swagger to the Cat's Cradle

The California pop rock sisters of Haim rolled into the Triangle last night to bring their signature blend of tight grooves and and rock and roll swagger to a packed house at the Cat's Cradle.

The trio, backed by a drummer and keyboard player, hit the ground running with the single "Falling" and continued into "If I Could Change Your Mind." The mix was a big boomy at first and the vocals were muddy but the sound evened out by the third song, the band's regular raucous cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well."

Even though the band has been going practically non-stop since the release of their debut album Days Are Gone last year, the band played played with a fiery, energetic spirit that kept the crowd singing along and dancing. Bassist Este Haim was particularly chatty during the show, repeating some banter from previous shows on the tour, but she talked about eating at Carrburritos and how it was the band's first time in North Carolina (though Danielle Haim noted that she had played the Cradle once before in Jenny Lewis' band).

Kopecky Family Band announces spring/summer tour

Nashville indie rockers Kopecky Family Band are heading back out of the road this spring and summer after spending time earlier this year in the studio working on the follow-up to their debut album Kids Raising Kids (check out our review of the album HERE).

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Thursday, June 19. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out the music video for "Hope" from Kids Raising Kids below.

The Neighbourhood announces big summer tour, coming to Raleigh

California alt rockers The Neighbourhood have been riding high since the release of their debut full-length album I Love You. last year. They have just announced a big summer tour that will bring them to Triangle.

The band will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Tuesday, July 8. Travi$ Scott and White Arrows will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 9, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $25 to $35.

Check out The Neighbourhood performing their hit "Sweater Weather" for the Live on Letterman web series below.

Beck extends summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Beck has just extended his summer tour plans in support of his latest album Morning Phase, his first new album in six years.

The tour will bring Beck and his band to the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Wednesday, July 23. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 9, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $45.

Beck will also play the Uptown Ampihtheater in Charlotte on Friday, July 11. Tickets for that show will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 9, via Live Nation for $29.50 to $49.50.

Howler to stop by Schoolkids before playing Chapel Hill

As we mentioned back in March, up and coming indie rockers Howler will make a stop at Local 506 on Wednesday, May 7, on their current tour supporting their newly released album World of Joy.

Before the band plays Chapel Hill, they will make a stop at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh for an in-store performance on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Stop by and check out the band and even grab a beer that the store is now serving.

Tickets for the Local 506 show are available via Ticketfly for $8. Young Cardinals will open. Check out the music video for "Don't Wanna" from World of Joy below.

Fucked Up announces new album, summer tour

Canadian punk rockers Fucked Up will release their fourth full-length album on June 3 titled Glass Boys and the band will hit the road on a summer tour in support of the release.

The band will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Saturday, July 5, with Weed. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

Check out the blistering song "Led By Hand," the eight track from Glass Boys, below.

Album Review: Wood Ear - Electric Alone

Wood Ear is not a prolific band. In the last two years, they’ve released just 11 songs including the four songs on their new EP, Electric Alone.

Electric Alone kind of plays like an epilogue to Steeple Vultures as it compliments that record nicely. Steeple Vultures was a deeply haunted album brimming with emotion and atmosphere. It’d make you sweat and then give you the chills. Electric Alone has a new energy to borrow the title of the closing track.

Wood Ear keeps the tempo up for the entire EP. These songs are more in line with tracks like “Wasteland” and “Leghold” from Steeple Vultures. Nate Tarr’s vocals still have that anxious slacker sound, but it feels like he’s having a bit more fun here.

Merge to reissue The Clean's 'Anthology' as quadruple LP

Continuing the celebration of their 25th anniversary by reissuing albums from their back catalog throughout the year, Merge Records has just announced a quadruple LP reissue of New Zealand rockers The Clean's 2003 collection Anthology on July 15.

The collection includes songs from the group's full-length albums, the EPs Boodle Boodle Boodle and Great Sounds Great as well as some hard-to-find singles.

The Clean's David Kilgour and his band The Heavy Eights will play the Merge 25 Festival at the Cat's Cradle on Friday, July 25. Both four-day passes for the festival as well as individual tickets for that night are sold out.