Back in 2005, the members of influential alt.country act The Jayhawks decided to go on an extended hiatus after touring behind their seventh studio album, Rainy Day Music. In the subsequent years, the band’s founding members and principal songwriters, Gary Louris and Marc Olsen, reconnected, and began to make music together – recording an album, and touring as a duo. While The Jayhawks have reformed for some one-off gigs over the last few years, the much beloved band has revealed to Rolling Stone that they have headed back into the studio to make a new record – which they plan on finishing by month’s end, for release by mid-next year.
In other Jayhawks news, the band will celebrate the re-release of two of their classic albums, Hollywood Town Hall
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Finally, next Thursday night’s National Christmas Tree Lighting has just gained some indie-cred as My Morning Jacket front man Jim James will perform alongside the likes of B.B. King, Sara Bareilles and Maroon 5 on the Ellipse at President’s Park in Washington, DC. The entire ceremony will be streamed live online starting at 5 PM, and will be re-broadcast on public television throughout the month of December. We’re hoping James dusts off his cover of The Chipmunk’s Christmas Don’t Be Late.
