Ryan Adams announces self-titled album, shares "Gimme Something Good"

One of the Triangle's most famous expatriates, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, has abandoned his prolific ways in recent years but he's back with his first new album in three years this fall.

Adams will release his self-produced album Ryan Adams on September 9 via his own label, Pax-Am. He has released the advance single "Gimme Something Good" which you can check out below along with the complete album track list.

Adams has announced a few tour dates this year but so far there's none anywhere near the Triangle. Let's hope he breaks his nine-year absence in the not-too-distant future and returns home to play for his former hometown.

tUnE-yArDs announce fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Experimental indie pop band tUnE-yArDs just released their third full-length album Nikki Nack in May and the band have just announced a North American fall tour that will bring them back to the Triangle.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Thursday, October 16. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, via Ticketfly for $18.

Check out a video of tUnE-yArDs performing the song "Water Fountain" from Nikki Nack at the Glastonbury Festival a few days ago below.

NC State Fair announces 2014 lineup, Joan Jett, Vanilla Ice & more

The North Carolina State Fair is a little over three months away and the lineup for the Dorton Arena concerts has just been rolled out with a few interesting inclusions.

Along with the usual country and Christian acts, this year's lineup will begin and end with two anomalies. First, the concerts will kick off on Thursday, October 16, with rapper and reality TV star Vanilla Ice. Then the series will wrap on Sunday, October 26, with venerable rocker Joan Jett and The Blackhearts.

In between those two performances will be Tamela Mann, Clay Walker, Parmalee, Love and Theft, James Gregory, Brandy Clark, Newboys and Trace Adkins. One date has yet to be announced. Check out the schedule with ticket prices below. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 1, HERE.

Merge Records to showcase album art with Chapel Hill exhibit

Continuing a big year of 25th anniversary festivities, Merge Records has announced a new exhibit showcasing original artwork featured on the label's many releases from the past 25 years dubbed Unbelievable Things: 25 Years of Art on Merge Records.

The exhibit will run from July 18 to August 9 at LIGHT Art + Design at 601 W. Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill, NC. It will feature art from albums by Superchunk, Lambchop, Arcade Fire, Spoon and more than 40 other bands.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, July 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature a performance by Shark Quest. It is a free event that is open to the public.

Gardens & Villa announces fall tour, coming to Carrboro

Photo by Tom Griffiths

Up and coming California indie rockers Gardens and Villa released their sophomore album Dunes  earlier this year via Secretly Canadian and the band has extended their 2014 tour plans into the fall, including a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Carrboro on Friday, October 3. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $10.

Check out the Gardens and Villa's new music video for "Domino" from Dunes below.