Pixies announce winter tour, coming to Durham

Alt-rock icons the Pixies are showing no sings of slowing down in the new year as they've just unveiled a hefty winter tour schedule that will finally bring the band to the Triangle (the closest they've come in recent years is Greensboro in 2011), though they're touring without Kim Deal right now. Kim Shattuck of The Muffs is their current bass player.

The band will play the Durham Performing Arts Center on Friday, January 31. Cults will open. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 11, for $45 to $55.

The Pixies just released their first new music in more than 20 years, a four-track EP dubbed EP1. Check out the music video for "Indie Cindy" from the EP below.

More than 60 bands heading to Shakori Hills this weekend

For four days this weekend, October 10-13, more than 60 national, regional and local bands will descend on Pittsboro for the biannual Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival.

Among the performers are Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Donna the Buffalo, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Big Fat Gap, Bombadil, The Old Ceremony, Birds & Arrows, Yonder Mountain String Band, Brett Harris, Peter Lamb & The Wolves, The South Carolina Broadcasters and Mipso among many more. Check out the full lineup HERE and the stage schedule HERE.

Today, October 7, is the last day to buy advance tickets online HERE. Tickets will also be available at the gate (a four-day pass will be $110 and single-day tickets will cost $23 to $43 depending on the day).

Saint Rich adds more fall tour dates, another Durham show

Saint Rich just released their debut album Beyond the Drone this week via Merge Records and they announced a fall tour in support of it about a month ago that includes a stop at the Pinhook in Durham on Sunday, October 6.

Now they've extended their tour plans which now include a second stop in Durham. The band will play the Duke Coffeehouse on Wednesday, November 13. Tickets will be $5 at the door for the public and free for Duke students.

Check out the music video for "Officer" from Beyond the Drone below.

Lord Huron announces winter tour, coming to Saxapahaw

Photo by Ben Schneider

Los Angeles indie folk rockers Lord Huron will hit the road this winter on a U.S. tour in support of their latest album Lonesome Dreams released in 2012 which will include a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw on Tuesday, February 11. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, October 4, via Ticketfly for $16.

Check out the music video for the title track from the album Lonesome Dreams below.

Video: The Avett Brothers cover metal songs, play "Vanity" w/ Chris Cornell on Jimmy Fallon

After playing "Another Is Waiting" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last week, The Avett Brothers returned to the show last night to debut another new song with a little help from Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell.

Cornell joined the band for a performance of "Vanity" from the Avetts' forthcoming album Magpie and the Dandelion, due out on October 15. His distinct, emotion-filled voice fit right in with the band really well. Check out the performance below.

Earlier in the show, the band took part in a sketch called The Avett Brothers Sing Heavy Metal. The premise is that the band have released an album of metal songs for people who like the "sinister and aggressive" lyrical themes of metal but prefer sunnier music. During the sketch they cover "Run to the Hills" by Iron Maiden, "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath and "One" by Metallica. Check it out below.