New shows: Of Monsters and Men, CeeLo Green & M. Ward

Of Monsters and Men

Here's another trio of newly announced shows coming to the Triangle this spring.

The first is young Icelandic folk pop band Of Monsters and Men who will play the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh on Wednesday, June 15. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 15, via Ticketmaster and the Duke Energy Center box office for $25 to $45. The Live Nation pre-sale starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 14.

Next up is R&B star CeeLo Green who will play the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on Sunday, March 13. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $29.50 (general admission floor) to $45 (reserved balcony).

New shows: All Dogs, Eleanor Friedberger, Dr. Dog

All Dogs

There are a bunch of new shows headed to the Triangle this spring, and here are a few notable ones.

First, up and coming Ohio rockers All Dogs will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Wednesday, March 9. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $7.

Next, Dr. Dog will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw for two nights, March 30 and 31. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $22.

Johnny Gallagher announces January tour, coming to Durham

Singer-songwriter Johnny Gallagher, also known in film, television and theater as John Gallagher, Jr., will release his debut album on January 15 titled Six Day Hurricane. He'll hit the road in support of it this month and will stop in the Triangle.

Gallagher will play The Pinhook in Durham on Sunday, January 24. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $18.

Check out the song "Dangerous Strangers" from the album Six Day Hurricane below.

Justin's Favorite Albums and Songs of 2015

As with any year in music, honesty is what makes an album stick. Sometimes that honesty is brutal. Torres' Sprinter, my favorite record of the year, tears her religious upbringing to shreds as she builds her new identify. Here her raw screams live hammered home the point. Björk chronicled her breakup with long-time partner Matthew Barney in ways that made me cringe and cry.

Other times honesty is joyful. Daddy Issues took not giving a fuck to another level and spoke their own truth without a care of who was listening. John Darnielle reveled in his love of professional wrestling with an entire album about it. It's not a passion I share, but his enthusiasm had me wanting to jump off the top rope.

Tift Merritt to play 'Bramble Rose' in Carrboro

Raleigh singer-songwriter will revisit her 2002 debut album Bramble Rose in early 2016 with a deluxe reissue of the album on February 19 and a special Triangle show where she and her band will play the album front to back.

The show will be at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Friday, February 26. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today, December 18, via Ticketfly for $25.

Check out the title track from the album Bramble Rose below.