Frightened Rabbit announce spring dates, play Carrboro

Scottish band Frightened Rabbit have a new album due out on March 9 in the U.S. titled The Winter of Mix Drinks. After a coming to the states for a slew of performances at SXSW, the band will return for a proper tour in April. Said tour includes a stop at the Cat's Cradle on Sunday, April 25. Ticket and opener info is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Check out the band's music video for the song "Swim Until You Can See Land" from Mixed Drinks below along with the North American dates.

Widespread Panic bringing Band of Horses to Raleigh

Dave Matthew Band might not be coming to the Triangle this year, but jam band staples Widespread Panic are still coming. The band just announced new spring dates that includes a two-night stand at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion (aka Walnut Creek Amphitheatre) on April 23 and 24. The best part is that they're bringing Band of Horses along to open the shows. Tickets will go on sale Friday, February 5 for $32 to $37.

Check out our review and photos of Band of Horses' excellent show at Lincoln Theatre in November 2007 here.

My Morning Jacket to tour with Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Kentucky rock band My Morning Jacket are gearing up for a series of spring tour dates with an unlikely touring partner, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The tour will bring them to Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Friday, April 30. Ticket info is not available yet, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets will go on sale Friday, February 5 at noon here for $35. Check out the entire tour schedule below.

My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James' relationship with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band began when he performed with them in New Orleans last year. He recorded two sons with the band too that will be featured on the Jazz Band's upcoming album PRESERVATION: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program. It will be released on February 16.

New music from Dirty Little Heaters - "City Square"

The raucous Durham rockers known as The Dirty Little Heaters are preparing to release a new album titled Champions of Imperfection on February 22 via Churkey Records (that's the album cover to the right there). You can get a little taste of the album now by downloading the track "City Slang" right now below.

The band will launch the album with a release party at Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Saturday, February 20 with Red Collar and Pink Flag. Tickets are $7 are available via etix.com.

Ben Folds slated to play with North Carolina Symphony

Ben Folds will play with the North Carolina Symphony at Meymandi Hall on March 25, according to one of David Menconi's tipsters.

In recent years Folds has played with numerous symphony orchestras, beginning with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in early 2005. Folds has played Meymandi once before, in March 2006 just before the birth of this blog, but we're certainly excited that the symphony will join him on stage this time.

UPDATE: The show is official and tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m. here. Folds is working with the symphony's associate conductor Sarah Hicks on the show. He also worked with Hicks at the Minnesota Orchestra, where she is principal conductor of pops and presentations, for a concert last Halloween.