Water Liars announce spring 2015 tour, coming to Raleigh

Mississippi rockers Water Liars released their self-titled album (check out a review of the album HERE) last year and the band are about to head out on a new spring tour in support of it that will take them down to the South By Southwest music conference in Austin in March but the next but they'll head north and make a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play Neptune's in Raleigh on Tuesday, April 28. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $7.

Check out the band's OurVinyl Session performance of "Let It Breathe" from the album Water Liars below.

Mandolin Orange to release new album 'Such Jubilee' in May

Local folk duo Mandolin Orange have just announced that they will release a new album on May 5 via Yep Roc Records titled Such Jubilee. The ten new songs were recorded live at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville.

The duo has released the opening track from the album, "Old Ties and Companions," which you can check out below along with the full album track list.

The group will celebrate the release with a spring tour and a big hometown show. They will play Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill on Saturday, May 2. Tickets are on sale now HERE.

Brandi Carlile announces spring/summer 2015 tour

Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile will release her fifth full-length studio album this Tuesday, March 3, titled The Firewatcher's Daughter and she'll hit the road on a big big this spring and summer in support of it.

Carlile will play the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh on Friday, June 12. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, via Etix for $45 (reserved seats) or $32 (general admission). A presale will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 27.

For a limited time you can stream Carlile's entire new album, The Firewatcher's Daughter, via Amazon.

Old Crow Medicine Show & Sturgill Simpson announce spring 2015 tour

String band Old Crow Medicine Show will team up with rising star Sturgill Simpson for a short string of spring tour dates that will bring the pair to the Triangle for a big show in May.

They will play Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Saturday, May 2. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 27, via Etix for $35 or $40.

Simpson was scheduled to play a sold-out show at the Lincoln Theatre on February 26 but it has been canceled due to illness. Those with tickets to the show will get a refund as well as access to a special pre-sale for the Cary show.

Frank Black coming to Durham for 'Brazil' screening

The new Film Acoustic film series just kicked off a couple of months ago at the Carolina Theatre in Durham and they've managed to bring in an amazing batch of artists thus far with Wayne Coyne, Lucinda Williams and Neko Case coming to town to discuss some of their favorite films.

The series shows no signs of slowing with the announcement of the March event that will feature Pixies' frontman Frank Black. The film that will be screened and discussed is 1985 Terry Gilliam film Brazil.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 19. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $15.

The Tallest Man on Earth announces new album 'Dark Bird Is Home,' full band tour

Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson, better known as The Tallest Man on Earth, will release a new album on May 12 titled Dark Bird Is Home and he'll hit the road this fall on a tour support of it with a full band.

The tour will come to the Durham Performing Arts Center on Friday, May 29. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, February 27, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $28 to $35.

Check out the song "Sagres" from Dark Bird Is Home below.

Album Review: Daddy Issues - Double Loser EP

If you had just 10 minutes to impress somebody, could you do it? Greensboro quartet Daddy Issues does on their new Double Loser EP.

In four songs, Lo Davy (vocals, guitar), Lindsey Sprague (lead guitar), Maddie Putney (bass), and Amethyst White (percussion) assert themselves as a one of the best new North Carolina bands and hint at some range as well.

Few bands pull off surf rock as well as Daddy Issues. The style’s signature bounce is prevalent, but not over emphasized or cartoonish. The bright tones add color and draw the listener in. Davy lulls them for a bit with slacker-esque vocals before smacking listeners up side the head with joyful and mischievous shouts.

Lake Street Dive announces 2015 tour, coming to Raleigh

Photo by Jarrod McCabe

Boston based jazz pop group Lake Street Dive are continuing to tour in 2015 in support of the breakthrough album Bad Self Portraits an they will return to the Triangle this spring for another big show.

The band will kick off the North Carolina Museum of Art's summer concert series in Raleigh on Saturday, May 23. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, via Etix for $20 (general admission) or $30 (reserved). A presale will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 27.

Check out Lake Street Dive performing the song "Stop Your Crying" on Conan last August below.

Album Review: Midnight Plus One - Unlearn Everything

Midnight Plus One put on some of the most thrilling concerts locally and with Unlearn Everything they’ve translated it onto an album.

This band is a juggernaut that gains momentum and can’t be stopped. It starts with John “JB” Bowman’s relentless drumming. It’s heavy yet remains nimble enough to propel each song. This frees guitarist Nick Senese develop the few hooks these songs have and then push them further. This duo builds the energy and tension to its threshold. That’s when singer Casey Cook pounces turns on the energy kinetic.

Sam Smith announces summer 2015 US tour

Soulful young British singer-songwriter Sam Smith, fresh off of four Grammy wins just a few weeks ago for Best New Artist, Record and Song of the Year for "Stay With Me" and Best Pop Vocal Album for In the Lonely Hour, has just announced new US summer tour plans that will bring him to the Triangle.

Smith will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh on Thursday, July 23. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 27, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $35 to $125. The Live Nation presale begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 25.

Check out Smith's emotional and moving music video for the song "Lay Me Down" below.

Willie Watson, Jim Lauderdale, Bombadil, Billy Joe Shaver, more playing Shakori Hills spring 2015

With spring approaching, it's about time for the spring installment of the biannual Shakori Hills Grassroots Music Festival down in Pittsboro.

The spring 2015 festival will take place from April 16 to 19 and feature tons of great performers, including Big Fat Gap, Billy Joe Shaver, Bombadil, Dillon Fence, Donna the Buffalo, Driftwood, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Jim Lauderdale, Jimbo Mathus, and Willie Waston. Check out the current complete lineup below.

Tickets for the festival are on sale HERE. A four-day pass is $114 in advance. Single day tickets are $27 to $44 depending on the day.

The Psychedelic Furs announce spring 2015 tour

English rockers The Psychedelic Furs haven't released a new studio album since 1991's World Outside but the band have continued touring regularly and will hit the road again this spring.

The band will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Sunday, May 24. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $25.

Check out a fan-shot video of The Psychedelic Furs' full set at The Fillmore in San Francisco last fall below.

Langhorne Slim & The Law announce spring 2015 tour

Hardworking rockers Langhorne Slim and The Law are heading back out on the road this spring to try out some new songs from their next album that is due out sometime this summer and they'll return to the Triangle for a big show in April.

The band will play a proper headlining show at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Wednesday, April 29. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $16.

The last time Langhorne Slim and The Law played the Haw River Ballroom, last spring, they shared a bill with Deer Tick. Check out a review and photos from the show HERE.

Pat Benatar announces 2015 tour, coming to Durham

Rocking singer-songwriter Pat Benatar will hit the road this year with her long-time musical partner and husband Neil Giraldo and she'll return to the Triangle for a headlining show.

The pair will play the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Wednesday, July 1. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 20, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $40 to $110.

Check out Benatar and Giraldo's stripped down set for NPR's Tiny Desk concert series last fall below. The songs in the set are "We Live for Love," We Belong" and "Promises in the Dark."

Amanda Palmer announces spring 2015 solo tour

Singer-songwriter and Dresden Doll Amanda Palmer will hit the road this spring on a solo tour dubbed An Evening with Amanda Fucking Palmer and she'll return to the Triangle armed with just a piano, ukulele, and her catalog of songs.

She'll play the Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh on Monday, April 6. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 20, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster.

Check out a video of Palmer performing "Makin' Whoopee" with author Neil Gaiman from the pair's 2013 live album An Evening With Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer below.

Flogging Molly & Gogol Bordello announce 2015 summer tour

Irish punk rockers Flogging Molly are teaming up gypsy punk rockers Gogol Bordello for a co-headlining tour this summer with support from Mariachi El Bronx.

The tour will come to the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 20, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $45.

Flogging Molly is expected to release their first album since 2011's Speed of Darkness this year though the details have not been announced yet. Check out the music video for "Don't Shut 'Em Down" from Speed of Darkness below.

Sebadoh announces spring 2015 tour, coming to Raleigh

Veteran indie rockers Sebadoh will hit the road in March on a short east coast tour that will bring the back to the Triangle for a show.

The band will play Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Monday, March 23. Qui will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $13.

Sebadoh stopped by the AV Club's office to take part in their Undercover series last year and they took on the Rush song "Limelight" in their own bizarre way. Check out the performance below.

Speedy Ortiz announces new album 'Foil Deer,' spring 2015 tour

Massachusetts indie rockers Speedy Ortiz will release a new album on April 21 via Car Park Records titled Foil Deer and the band will hit the road on a big North American tour this spring in support of it.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Friday, May 8. Krill and Two Inch Astronaut will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out the song "Raising the Skate" from Foil Deer below.

New music from Lilac Shadows - "Alive in Dying History"

Local rockers Lilac Shadows will release a new album on March 3 via DiggUp Tapes titled Brutalism and the band has just released the first new music from the album.

Check out the video for the track "Alive in Dying History" from the new album below. Local visual artist Adam Graetz created the chaos which accompanies the song.

The band will celebrate the new album at The Pinhook in Durham on Saturday, February 28. Nest Egg, Silent Lunch, and Less Western will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $6.

Tyler, the Creator announces spring 2015 tour

The sometimes offensive rapper and Odd Future co-founder Tyler, the Creator will be hitting the road this spring on a headlining tour that will bring him to the Triangle.

Tyler will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Saturday, May 2. Taco will open. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster for $28.50.

Check out Tyler, the Creator performing the song "Rusty" with Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt from his latest solo album Wolf on the Late Show with David Letterman in April of 2013 below.

Video: Rhiannon Giddens performs "Waterboy" on Letterman

Rhiannon Giddens released her new solo album on Tuesday titled Tomorrow Is My Turn and she stopped by the Ed Sullivan Theater that night to celebrate its release on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Giddens performed traditional folk song "Waterboy" from the album on the show. Check out the performance below where she is backed by her current Carolina Chocolate Drops band members as well as additional musicians.

As we mentioned last week, Giddens will hit the road on a big tour this spring including a show at the Carolina Theater in Durham on Thursday, April 2. Tickets are on sale now via the venue box office and Ticketmaster.

Steely Dan & Elvis Costello announce summer tour

Steely Dan will be hitting the road on a big summer tour dubbed the Rockabye Gollie Angel Tour and they'll be taking Elvis Costello and the Imposters out as support on for the run.

The tour will come to the Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh on Thursday, August 6. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, via the Live Nation and Ticketmaster outlets.

Check out a video of Steely Dan performing the song "Reelin' in the Years" at a show in 2013 below.

Bob Dylan and his band announce spring 2015 tour

The legendary Bob Dylan and his band will hit the road this spring in support of his newly released 36th studio album Shadows in the Night, a collection of covers of traditional pop standards originally recorded by Frank Sinatra in the 1950s and 1960s.

Dylan will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 25. Tickets will on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 20, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster for $68 to $98.

Check out the song "Stay With Me" from Shadows in the Night below.

Josh Rouse announces new album 'The Embers of Time,' spring 2015 tour

Singer-songwriter Josh Rouse will release a new studio album on April 7 via Yep Roc Records titled The Embers of Time and he'll hit the road this spring on a North American tour in support of it.

Rouse and his band will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Wednesday, June 17. Walter Martin will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 13, via Ticketfly for $17.

Check out Rouse performing the songs "Some Days I’m Golden All Night," "Too Many Things On My Mind," "New Young" and "Time" from The Embers of Time for the Sawyer Sessions below.

Dan Deacon announces spring 2015 'Glass Riffer' tour

Electronic musician and composer Dan Deacon will release a new album on February 24 titled Glass Riffer and he'll hit the road on a big North American tour this spring in support of it.

Deacon will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, April 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 13, via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out the music video for the song "Feel the Lightning" from the album Glass Riffer below.

Modest Mouse announces new album, spring 2015 tour

Pacific northwestern alt rockers Modest Mouse will release their sixth full-length album on March 17 titled Strangers to Ourselves and in the weeks before the release they'll hit the road on a run of dates that will bring them to the Triangle.

Modest Mouse will play The Ritz in Raleigh on Friday, March 13. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 13, via Ticketmaster for $40. Various presales will begin at 10 a.m. on February 12.

Check out the song "The Best Room" from Strangers to Ourselves below.

Mac McCaughan announces solo album 'Non-Believers,' spring tour

This spring singer-songwriter Mac McCaughan of Superchunk and Portastatic (his previous solo outlet) will release his first solo album under his own name on May 5 via Merge Records titled Non-Believers. Check out a trailer for the album below.

Ahead of the album, on April 7, McCaughan will release a 7" single of the album cut "Box Batteries" with the b-side "Whatever Light."

McCaughan will hit the road with a band this spring in support of the album. They'll play the Cat's Crade Back Room on Saturday, May 23. Flesh Wounds will open.  Ticket information is not available yet. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Hozier announces 2015 summer tour, coming to Raleigh with The Antlers

Irish singer-songwriter Andrew Hozier-Byrne, better known as simply as Hozier, had a breakout year in 2014 with the release his self-titled debut album propelled by the unlikely hit single "Take Me to Church." He has extended his 2015 tour plans into the summer and will now be making a stop in the Triangle after playing the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee.

Hozier will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Friday, June 19. The Antlers will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 13, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $29.50 to $45.

Matt Pond PA announces 'Several Arrows Latter' anniversary tour

Singer-songwriter Matt Pond and his band Matt Pond PA will hit the road this spring to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their 2005 album Several Arrows Later. They will be playing the album in its entirety at each show.

The tour will come to Kings Barcade in Raleigh on Friday, April 10. Young Buffalo will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $13.

Check out the title track from Several Arrows Later below.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra announces new album 'Multi-Love,' 2015 tour

Photo by Dusdin Condren

Indie rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra will release a new album on May 26 titled Multi-Love and the band will hit the road on a North American tour in late spring in support of it.

The band will return to the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, June 14. Tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 9, via Ticketfly for $15.

Check out the title track from the new album Multi-Love below.

Rhiannon Giddens announces big 2015 tour

Carolina Chocolate Drop Rhiannon Giddens is set to break out on her own with the release of her new solo album on Tuesday, February 10,  titled Tomorrow Is My Turn. Starting in March she'll set out on a big tour in support of it that will keep her busy all spring.

First she'll play a big show at the Carolina Theatre in Durham on Thursday, April 2. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 13, via the venue box office and Ticketmaster starting at $25.

Then on Tuesday, June 2, Giddens will perform solo at the NCS Benefit at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh with Brandford Marsalis and Friends. Additional details for this show are not available yet.

Swervedriver announces first album in 17 years, spring tour

English alt rockers Swervedriver will release their fifth full-length album, their first new album in 17 years, on March 3 titled I Wasn't Born to Lose You and the band will cross the pond in March for a monthlong US tour.

The band will play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Tuesday, March 24. Gateway Drugs will open. Tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite for $15.

Check out the song "Autodidact" from I Wasn't Born to Lose You below.

St. Paul & The Broken Bones announce 2015 tour

Seven-piece Alabama soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones will hit festivals across the U.S. this spring and summer. While they're out on the road they'll make a stop in the Triangle for a headlining show.

The band will play outside of the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Saturday, June 6. Tickets will go on sale soon via Etix for $25.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones released their debut album Half the City last year. Check out the band performing "Call Me" from the album on the Late Show with David Letterman a few weeks ago below.

Album Review: Twerps - Range Anxiety

Melbourne, Australia’s Twerps seem like a quartet of pretty easy-going folks. Their Merge Records debut, Range Anxiety, strolls through peaceful and fun pop, punk, and rock settings.

With the intro and first song, “I Don’t Mind,” Twerps sets the pace with a big, easy groove that’s natural to fall into. It’s not slow, but it’s not urgent either. There’s plenty of motion, but Twerps seem content to let the music go where it wants to. This isn’t quite back-porch music or driving with the windows down music. Range Anxiety is hammock music or maybe a soundtrack for an impromptu adventure that doesn’t really go anywhere.

The Decemberists announce add spring tour dates, coming to Raleigh

photo by Autumn de Wilde

Indie folk superstars The Decmeberists just released their seventh studio album a few weeks ago titled What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World and now they have added new spring tour dates in support of it that will bring them back to the Triangle.

The band will return to the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Wednesday, June 3. Shovels & Rope will open the show. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 6, via the Duke Energy Center box office and Ticketmaster for $26 to $36.

Check out The Decemberists performing the song "Make You Better" from the new album on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic a few weeks ago below.

The Antlers announce spring 2015 tour, coming to Carrboro

Photo by Marc Lemoine

Brooklyn indie rockers The Antlers released their fifth full-length album Familiars last summer and the band will head out on the road this spring opening for Death Cab For Cutie. Though that tour is not stopping here, The Antlers will kick things off with a headline show in the Triangle before joining the big Death Cab tour.

They will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Sunday, April 26. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 6, via Ticketfly for $17.

Check out the music video for the song "Refuge" from the album Familiars below.

Peter Frampton & Cheap Trick announce co-headline 2015 summer tour

Classic rock and rollers Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick are teaming up for a co-headline tour that will take them across North America this summer.

The two bands will play the Koka Booth Ampitheatre in Cary on Wednesday, August 12. Tickets for the show will go on sale soon, though a specific on sale date has yet to be announced.

Frampton released a new album last summer titled Hummingbird in a Box. Check out the song "Heart to My Chest" from the album below.

Nels Cline & Norton Wisdom take 'Stained Radiance' on the road

Celebrated guitarist and member of Wilco Nels Cline will hit the road this spring with painter Norton Wisdom for a few evenings of improvised music and painting dubbed Stained Radiance.

The pair will come to the ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Thursday, March 26. Singer-songwriter Sam Amidon will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $21.

Cline latest album is a collaboration with jazz guitarist Julian Lage titled Room. Check out an extended interview and performance from Cline and Lage from Fretboard Journal Live below.

Sylvan Esso to host karaoke benefit in Durham

Triangle rising stars Sylvan Esso will return for a big show in at Carrboro Town Commons this spring, but before they do that they'll host a special karaoke benefit event in Durham in a couple of weeks.

The event will be at The Pinhook on Friday, February 13, and the proceeds will benefit LGBTQ Center of Durham. Tickets are $5 in advance via Ticketfly.

Tickets for the aforementioned show at Carrboro Town Commons on Friday, April 3, are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.