With all the planned celebrations surrounding Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday this year, it’s no surprise that Billy Bragg would be throwing his hat into the ring to honor the iconic and influential singer-songwriter. The U.K.- based folkie has direct ties to Guthrie, teaming up with Wilco back in 1997, to put music to a collection of unrecorded Guthrie songs. The two acts recorded nearly 50 songs, which have been packaged together as Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions, which will hit stores next Tuesday. Bragg will honor Guthrie’s legacy with his Ain’t Nobody That Can Sing Like Me world tour, that will see the singer perform songs from the aforementioned collection, as well as material from his own socio-political charged songbook, that certainly would have made Woody proud.

If you’re not into a night with Billy Bragg, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Sigur Ros: Summer Tour (7/30 – 8/12)
• Dispatch: Circles Around The Sun Tour  (9/20 – 10/11)
• Chris Robinson Brotherhood: Summer Tour (5/3 – 8/26)
• Alejandro Escovedo: World Tour (4/21 – 7/14)
• Yonder Mountain String Band: U.S. Summer Tour (6/20 – 8/25)
• John Mellencamp: Canadian Tour (6/14 – 7/15)
• Santana: Shape Shifter Tour (7/7 – 7/21)
• Michael Kiwanuka: North American Tour (6/9 – 6/19)
• Kinky Friedman: Bipolar Tour (6/6 – 7/1)

Back in 2009, the Dirty Projectors made scores of Best Of lists, including our own, with the quirky experimental art rock sounds of Bitte Orca, which we’d recommend if you’re a fan of the Talking Heads. On July 10, the Brooklyn-based band will release their long awaited follow up with Swing Lo Magellan, via the venerable indie label Domino Records. The 12-track affair, which was recorded at an old house in Delaware County, New York, and is being described as having a bit of a “stripped down” sound that you can hear on the album’s lead single Gun Has No Trigger. The band has lined up a two-month long summer tour in support of the record, which kicks off on July 5 with an appearance at the Ottawa Bluesfest, and includes a hometown gig at the Prospect Park Bandshell on July 10.

If you’re not into a night with the art-rock act, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Glen Hansard: Solo World Tour (5/3 – 12/4)
• Deer Tick: Spring North American Tour (4/19 – 6/17)
• Fiona Apple: Summer North American Tour (6/19 – 7/29)
• The Dandy Warhols: North American Tour (5/16 – 6/17)
  
• Matthew Sweet: The Girlfriend Tour (4/12 – 6/23)
• O.A.R.: Summer Tour (7/12 – 8/11)
• Meat Loaf: Mad, Mad World Tour (6/22 – 8/4)
• Pat Benatar/Journey/Loverboy: Summer Tour (7/21 – 10/31)

Though Norah Jones built her reputation with a string of soccer-mom friendly albums, the singer-songwriter doesn’t want you to think that she’s not hip. In fact, it seems that she wants to hammer that point home by teaming up with “IT” producer Brain Burton, aka Danger Mouse, for her latest studio album Little Broken Hearts, which hits stores on May 1 via her longtime label Blue Note Records. While Jones and Burton originally began working together on the record back in 2009, it wasn’t until the duo reconvened last summer, when Jones came armed with a stack a emotionally charged songs steaming from a break up, that things came together. Jones will headed out on a 32-date world tour that kicks off on May 25 with a gig at the Olympia Theater in Paris, and includes a stop at the world famous Ryman Auditorium on June 24 and a hometown gig at New York City’s Central Park Summerstage on July 3.

If you’re not into a night with Norah Jones, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Crosby, Stills & Nash: U.S. Summer Tour (6/7 – 9/29)
  
• Steve Kimock & Friends: Spring Tour (5/9 – 5/26)
• KISS & Motley Crue: The Tour (7/20 – 9/23)
• Dead Can Dance: North American Tour (8/9 – 9/7)
• Billy Martin & Will Blades: West Coast Tour (5/24 – 6/1)
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Spring Tour (5/5 – 6/12)
• 311 & Slightly Stoopid: Unity Tour (6/8 – 9/5)
• Trigger Hippy: Southeast Tour (4/20 – 4/26)

We’ve compiled all of this week’s tour date announcements in one handy column…

We’re consistently impressed with The Roots and their ability to somehow find the time to not only be the hardest working band on late night, but also record and tour. If they’ve figured out some secret formula to slow down time or duplicate themselves I think we’d like to know about considering we all log time at full time jobs and manage to crank out content. Even when the Philly-based hip hop crew has some down time they manage to keep themselves busy, as on June 2 and 3, they will host their 5th annual Roots Picnic. The two-day event, which will take place at the Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing in their hometown, will once again feature an eclectic line up that leans heavily towards hip hop mixing classic, mainstream and underground acts like De La Soul, Kid Cudi and Shabbaz Palace, as well as a slew of indie-centric acts with St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs and a DJ set from LCD Soundsystem front man James Murphy all on the bill. Both single and two-day passes are currently on sale.

If you can’t make it to Philly to party with The Roots, then maybe you’ll be able to hit one of these recently announced tours…

• Warren Haynes Band: Southeast Spring Tour (4/11 – 4/19)
• Ben Harper: Solo Acoustic Tour (9/4 – 10/10)
• Shooter Jennings: Magical Misdemeanor Tour (3/21 – 5/19)
• Brian Jonestown Massacre: World Tour (4/27 – 7/11)
• Hot Chip: World Tour (6/15 – 9/15)
• Gogol Bordello: Radio Hutz Tour (5/18 – 7/28)
• The Deep Dark Woods: North American Tour (3/23 – 5/12)

A couple of  years back, many of us around HT headquarters fell in love with the hazy lo-fi sunshine pop sounds of Crazy For You, the debut album from Best Coast, which landed at number 24 on our top albums list for 2010. Fronted by Bethany Cosentino, the So-Cal-based band were at the forefront of the “chillwave” movement, whether they liked that distinction or not. On May 15, Best Coast will release their sophomore Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, of Montreal, Punch Brothers) produced effort The Only Place via Mexican Summer. The band will head to Austin for SXSW this week to drum up some advance press, playing a number of industry showcase parties, and will then head out for a lengthy world tour that kicks off with hometown gig at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on May 5, which will feature both JEFF The Brotherhood and Those Darlins holding down the opening slots.

If you’re not into a night with Best Coast’s brand of lo-fi pop, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting on of these recently announced tours…

• Rusted Root: 20th Anniversary Tour (3/16 – 7/21)
• B.B. King: Spring North American Tour (3/17 – 5/29)
• Coheed & Cambria: Southeast Tour (4/29 – 5/18)
• Primus: U.S. Summer Tour (5/3 – 6/23)
• Ben Harper: West Coast Tour (6/30 – 7/5)
• Rhett Miller: U.S. Spring Tour (3/15 – 6/22)
• Margot & The Nuclear So & So’s: North American Tour (3/31 – 6/2)
• Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies, Big Head Todd & The Monster, Cracker: Last Summer On Earth Tour (7/6 – 8/19)

In 2006, a handful of UK artists launched a monthly night of music at Notting Hill Arts Club in West London that they dubbed Communion, to help promote and cultivate a scene for up and coming independent artists. Those monthly showcases helped to launch the careers for the likes of Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Noah & The Whale, while expanding to hosting shows not only across the UK, but internationally as well, along with founding their own record label. Looking to further their presence in U.S., where they already have monthly residencies in Brooklyn and San Francisco, Communion has lined up a packaged tour across the States titled Austin To Boston Tour. Kicking off as billed in Austin at SXSW, the tour will feature Ben Howard, The Staves, Nathaniel Rateliff and Bear’s Den.

If  Communion’s Austin To Boston tour isn’t hitting a city near you, then maybe you’ll be able to grab tickets to one these recently announced tours…

• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: Spring Tour (5/4 – 6/1)
• Spectrum Road: June Tour (6/9 – 6/30)
• Laura Marling: June North American Tour (6/8 – 6/21)
• JJ Grey & Mofro: Spring U.S. Tour (4/11 – 5/20)
• Nick Lowe: Spring Tour (4/18 – 5/3)
• Perpetual Groove: East Coast Tour (3/2 – 4/28)
• Aziz Ansari: Buried Alive Tour (4/14 – 7/21)
• Chicago & The Doobie Brothers: Summer Tour (7/11 – 8/24)
• Destroyer: Early Summer Tour (6/3 – 6/24)
• Maps & Atlases: Be Aware & Be Grateful Tour (5/11 – 6/19)

Last month we mentioned that after sitting on a shelf for well over a year, Epic Records was finally going to release Fiona Apple’s first album of new material since 2005′s Extraordinary Machine. While we still await an official release date, the singer-songwriter has announced a short tour, her first since 2007, that will kick off on March 15 with an appearance at Pitchfork’s  official SXSW showcase in Austin. Apple’s six-date tour will include stops in Chicago, DC, Atlantic City, Boston and two NYC shows at the Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall Of Williamsburg on March 23 and 26 respectively. Tickets for the entire run will go on sale this Friday, February 24.

If you’re not into a night with Fiona Apple, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Kraftwerk: MOMA Residency (4/10 – 4/17)
• The Avett Brothers: Spring Tour (3/7 – 6/30)
• Alabama Shakes: World Tour (3/9 – 6/7)
• Slash: May U.S. Tour (5/3 – 5/20)
• Eleanor Friedberger: Spring Tour (4/18 – 5/6)
• Father John Misty: May North American Tour (5/2 – 5/26)
• Skerik: Spring West Coast Tour (3/15 – 3/29)

On Sunday we got our first look at the reunited Beach Boys as part of the Grammys telecast and their performance didn’t impress. The harmonies were there, but Mike Love freaked us out with his finger wagging and Brian Wilson didn’t seem enthused (not that he has even seemed excited in the last 20 years). However the non senior citizens of the group, members of Brian Wilson’s solo band, were in fine form and we’re hopeful with more rehearsal the Beach Boys will be able to put on a good show.

We’ll find out just what the Beach Boys have in store come April 24, when the group kicks off a lengthy tour in Tucson, Ariz. High profile dates include New Orleans Jazz Fest and Bonnaroo appearances, two nights at NYC’ Beacon Theatre in May and a run of sheds this summer. John Stamos will be a part of this tour according to Love, though we’re bummed not to see Jesse & The Rippers listed as support.

Here’s the full list of tour dates…

April 24 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater , On Sale: February 25
April 26 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre, On Sale: February 25
April 27 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, On Sale Now
April 28 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheater, On Sale: March 11
April 29 Raleigh, NCRaleigh Amphitheater, On Sale: February 25
May 2 St Augustine, FL St. Augustine Amphitheater, On Sale: February 24
May 4 Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, On Sale: TBD
May 5 Tampa, FL Stratz Center For The Performing Arts, On Sale: February 25
May 8 New York, NY Beacon Theater , On Sale: February 21
May 9 New York , NY Beacon Theater , On Sale: February 21
May 11 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Hall , On Sale: February 27
May 12 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena Sold Out
May 13 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena , On Sale: February 24
May 15 White Plains, NY Westchester County Center , On Sale: February 25
May 17 Bethlehem PA Sands Bethlehem Events Center, On Sale: February 24
May 19 Atlantic City, NJ The Borgata Hotel Casino, On Sale: February 24
May 21 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre , On Sale: February 20
May 27 Las Vegas, NV Red Rock Casino, On Sale: February 25
June 1 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre, On Sale: March 4
June 2 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl, On Sale: February 26
June 8 The Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, On Sale: February 24
June 10 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, On Sale: February 18
June 13 Cuyahoga Falls, OHBlossom Music Center, On Sale: February 25
June 15 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion, On Sale: February 25
June 16 Camden, NJ Susquahanna Bank Center, On Sale: February 25
June 17 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, On Sale: February 25
June 19 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre, On Sale: February 25
June 20 Montreal, QC Bell Centre, On Sale: February 25
June 22 Bangor, ME Waterfront Park, On Sale: February 24
June 23 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center, On Sale: February 25
June 26 Boston, MA Bank Of America Pavilion, On Sale: February 25
June 29 Darien Lakes, NY Darien Lakes Performing Arts Center, On Sale: February 25
June 30 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre, On Sale: February 25
July 1 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater, On Sale: February 25
July 3 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach, On Sale: February 24
July 10 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre, On Sale: February 25
July 13 Woodinville, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, On Sale: February 25
July 14 Eugene, OR Cuthbert Amphitheater, On Sale: March 2
July 15 Stateline, NV Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Amphitheater , On Sale: March 9
July 26 Rome, ITCapannelle, On Sale: February 17
July 27 Milan, ITCivic Arena, On Sale: February 17
July 29 Gothenburg, SWETradgaardsforeningen, On Sale: February 21
July 31 Oslo, NWSpektrum, On Sale: February 16
August 1 Aarhus, DKAmfiscenen, On Sale: February 20
August 3 Berlin, DE02 Arena, On Sale Now
August 4 Stuttgart, DESchleyerhalle, On Sale Now
August 5 Monchengladbach, DEHockey Park, On Sale: February 15
August 7 Lokeren, BELLokerse Festival, On Sale: February 15

Do you have any interest in seeing a Beach Boys show?

Thanks in part to her ubiquitous 1991 hit single Something To Talk About, Bonnie Raitt became one of the biggest selling female artists of the late ’80s/early ’90s, but it took the blues singer-songwriter nearly 20 years and 10 albums to finally get the attention and big break that she deserved. On April 10, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer will release her 16th studio album, Slipstream, her first in seven years and the debut album for her own label, Redwing Records. The 12-track record, which Raitt self-produced with some help from Joe Henry, is a cover heavy affair featuring tracks from Bob Dylan, Loudon Wainwright III and Gerry Rafferty. Raitt has lined up a theater heavy tour in support of the album, which kicks off on May 1 at the Event Center at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Okla. and includes high profile stops at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest (5/6) and New York’s Beacon Theater (6/20), and features both Marc Cohn and Mavis Staples holding down the opening slot.

If you’re not into a night with Bonnie Raitt’s brand of blues-rock, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Leftover Salmon: On The Road Again Tour (2/28 – 4/28)
  
• Sleepy Sun: World Tour (3/7 – 6/9)
• Alison Krauss & Union Station: Spring Tour (3/17 – 5/5)
• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: March Tour (3/15 – 3/23)
• Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Summer Tour (6/14 – 7/21)
• Cowboy Junkies: Winter Tour (2/23 – 4/27)
• Explosions In The Sky: April Tour (4/5 – 4/24)
• James Taylor: World Tour (3/7 – 7/23)
• Jonny Corndawg: Spring Tour (3/14 – 4/28)

With all the accolades and critical acclaim that came with the release of his 2010 record Harlem River Blues, such as taking home the Americana Music Award for Song Of The Year for the album’s title track, Justin Townes Earle continued to battle the personal demons that come along with his substance abuse issues. Townes Earle’s issues led to a rather unfortunate and ugly incident after a gig and he postponed tour dates to re-enter rehab. Now that the singer-songwriter is hopefully putting his struggles behind him, JTE will release his latest studio album - Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel - on March 27. The 10-track effort was recorded live with no overdubs over the course of a 4-day period at Echo Mountain in Asheville, North Carolina, and is being described by Townes Earle as having a “Memphis-soul sound.” On March 10, Justin Townes Earle will head out on a lengthy world tour, which kicks off with a gig at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Mass., and includes a high profile stop of Nashville’s revered Ryman Auditorium on June 2.

If you’re not into a night with JTE’s brand of alt.country, then maybe you’ll be interested in one of these recently announced tours…

• !!!: East Coast Tour (4/16 – 4/21)
  
• Archers Of Loaf: Reunion Tour (4/26 – 5/12)
• St. Vincent: May Tour (5/3 – 5/24)
• Joan Osborne: Spring Tour (3/27 – 4/15)
• Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons: Early Spring Tour (3/16 – 4/14)
• Mastodon and Opeth: Co-Headlining Tour (4/4 – 5/12)
• Feist: Spring Tour (4/22 – 5/11)
• Mickey Hart Band: Spring Tour (3/1 – 4/26)
• Lambchop: Spring U.S. Tour (4/13 – 5/12)

If you’re like us, this was the weekend your family asked you “who is this Bon Iver guy?” after Justin Vernon’s band made their Saturday Night Live debut. Considering Bon Iver is up for four Grammys, that question will get asked by baby boomers across the country next week.

[Screenshot via CoS]

The group will hit the road with All Tiny Creatures this April for a series of West Coast dates surrounding their Coachella appearance and culminating with a slot at Jazz Fest. Here’s the full list of dates…

04/12/12 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint*
04/14/12 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music & Arts Festival
04/17/12 – Davis, CA – Freeborn Hall @ UC Davis*
04/19/12 – San Francisco, CA- Bill Graham Civic Auditorium*
04/21/12 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music & Arts Festival
04/22/12 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl*
04/23/12 – Tucson, AZ – AVA Ampitheater
04/27/12 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
05/27/12 – George, WA – Sasquatch Music Festival
* w/ All Tiny Creatures

If you missed Bon Iver’s performances of Holocene and Beth/Rest, we’ve got you covered…

READ ON

Thanks in part to the H.O.R.D.E. Tour the mid to late ’90s could easily be looked at as the golden age of jambands, with regional bands turning into national touring acts thanks to an open-minded and enthusiastic fan base that where eager to discover the next big thing. Among the crop of bands that sprang up during this boom was The Big Wu, who formed at St. Olaf College in 1992 and earned a fervent following around the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The Minnesota-based act, who hold the distinction of being the first band on at the inaugural Bonnaroo in 2002, will celebrate their 20th anniversary next month with a nine-date mostly Minnesota-based run. The tour will fittingly kick off on February 10, at their old haunt The Cabooze, in Minneapolis, where they served as the venue’s house band in the mid-90s, that will serve as their official 20th anniversary performance, and will likely see The Big Wu’s original guitar player Jason Fladger reunite with his old band mates for a mini-set.

If you’re not into a night with the Minnesota-based jamband, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Odd Future: North American Tour (3/9 – 4/11)
• Hot Tuna: Acoustic and Electic Tours (2/22 – 8/11)
• Laura Gibson: February Tour (2/3 – 2/19)
• We Were Promised Jetpacks: U.S. Tour (3/14 – 5/5)
• Great Lakes Swimmers: World Tour (4/5 – 6/2)
• Spiritualized: Spring North American Tour (5/2 – 5/26)

Over the last few years M. Ward has been spending a good majority of his time concentrating on collaborative projects, with both the indie-folk super-group Monsters Of Folk, who released their debut in 2009; and She & Him, his vintage-pop collaboration with doe-eyed actress Zooey Deschanel, putting out their sophomore album, as well as a holiday record. For 2012, the singer-songwriter will go back to being a solo act, as Ward will release his seventh studio album A Wasteland Companion on April 10 via his longtime label Merge Records. The day following the album’s release, Matt will head out for a 20-date cross-country tour, which kicks off with a gig at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco, and will see him get support from Jonathan Richman, the newly reunited fiREHORSE and Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo at various stops during the run.

If you’re not into a night with Matt’s brand of patina drenched sounds, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Death Cab For Cutie: World Tour (2/17 – 6/7)
• Bassnectar: Vava Voom Tour (4/11 – 5/12)
• School Of Seven Bells: Spring U.S. Tour (4/4 – 5/5)
• Plants & Animals: North American Tour (3/8 – 4/21)
• Florence & The Machine: Spring U.S. Tour (4/14 – 5/12)
• Portugal. The Man:Jägermeister Music Tour (4/3 – 5/6)
• Blitzen Trapper: March West Coast Tour (3/4 – 3/23)
• Brian Jonestown Massacre: Spring Tour (4/27 – 5/12)

Since bursting onto the scene with their 2006 self-titled album Rodrigo Y Gabriela have built a reputation for being a dynamic live act showcasing  their rhythmic blend of fast picking, driving acoustic guitar music. On January 24 the Mariachi Metal duo will release their sixth studio album Area 52 via ATO Records. The record, produced by Peter Asher, features nine tracks from their catalog that have been re-imagined and re-recorded with the help of 13-piece Cuban orchestra known as C.U.B.A.

This spring, Rod y Gab will bring the C.U.B.A. on the road with them for a cross-country tour, marking the first time that the duo have toured with a backing band. The 17-date U.S. run kicks off on April 3 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Wash., and includes a high profile stop at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on April 20, as well as an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 4.

If you’re not into a night of Mariachi Metal music, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Islands: Winter North American Tour (2/14 – 3/14)
• Polyphonic Spree: February Tour (2/6 – 2/16)
• Jane’s Addiction: Theatre Of The Escapists Tour (2/5 – 3/24)
• White Rabbits: Early Spring Tour (3/6 – 4/14)
• Delta Spirit: Spring Tour (3/13 – 5/11)
• Bela Fleck & The Flecktones: Spring Tour (3/1 – 4/28)
• Megafaun: Winter World Tour (2/1 – 4/14)
• Guster & Jeff Garlin: Spring Tour (3/8 – 4/21)

As we previously reported Anders Parker, Jay Farrar, Yim Yames and Will Johnson headed into the studio to record a new batch of Woody Guthrie songs (think Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue) which will be released on the album New Multitudes.

Now that we received an album release date of February 28, a tour has been announced. It’s unclear if this ensemble is going to get a name, if they are “New Multitudes” or they are simply going to be billed individually. Also unclear is which Showbox venue (The Market or SODO) in Seattle they will play.

Tour Dates:

March 6 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
March 7 – Music Box – Los Angeles, CA
March 9 – Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
March 10 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
March 12 – The Birchmere, Washington, DC
March 13 – Union Transfer – Philadephia, PA
March 14 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
March 16 – The Paradise – Boston, MA

(h/t Paste Magazine)