Vanity Fair : Joan Baez Used Her Voice for Political Activism. Now She’s Adding a Brand-New Chapter to Her Legacy (by Rob Ledonne) →

The singer-songwriter’s debut collection, When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance, marks the first time she’s sharing her poetry publicly, the culmination of decades spent chronicling her life. […] Though the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter has been writing for years, the 120-page collection marks the first time she’s sharing her poetry publicly, the culmination of decades spent detailing her life.

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A climate song for Earth Day by Vyvienne Long →

You're the Reason Our World is Warmin' is a lyrical adaptation by Vyvienne Long of a song first released by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty called 'You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly' written by Lola Jean Fawbush and L.E. White. This version features Vyvienne Long, on vocals and keys, and Fiachna Ó Braonáin on vocals and guitar and Robbie Malone on bass and percussion. The recording was produced by Joe Chester and mixed and mastered by Ciaran Byrne. The lyric video was created by Raja Nundlall. Released for Earth Day, April 22nd, 2024.

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Fr. Ra. Co : Long Play: Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith Correspondences →

Correspondences is an ever-evolving project between Soundwalk Collective and Patti Smith. Spanning over 10 years, it traverses a wealth of geographies and their natural environments, where the artists have uncovered sonic steps left by poets, filmmakers, revolutionaries, and the impact of climate change. Soundwalk Collective’s founder, Stephan Crasneanscki, has explored, captured, and collected the world’s remotest places in sound to awaken a sonic memory within the landscape, uncovering traces of past and current histories of the world we are living in. The resulting compositions are made of sound that reflects our relation to this world, the environment, the soul of our existence, and the creative process of the artist.

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Current : Joan Baez: Quaker Maiden (by Vaneesa Cook) →

Last year Joan Baez released a documentary, "I Am a Noise", that teases a deep dive into secrets buried within unpublicized writings and recordings. [...] As Baez emerged as a folk queen in the early 1960s, she followed her conscience by marching for civil rights, desegregating concert venues, and committing herself to non-violence in opposition to any war. [...] The so-called “Queen of Folk” is clearly a significant political force around the world, and in this time of recurring despair and small victories she remains relevant as a gallant siren, not a “noise,” as this latest documentary has it. The Quaker Maiden continues to warn us of danger and call us to action.

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NY Music : Joan Baez Announces Release Of First Poetry Book (by Faith Logue) →

Legendary folk singer, activist, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joan Baez has announced she is releasing her first book of poetry When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance – out April 30. Joan Baez, a Staten Island native, is a dynamic force of nature. Her commitment to music and social activism has earned global recognition, ranging from induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, to the Ambassador of Conscience Award – Amnesty International’s highest honor.

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Forbes : U2 Announces A Series Of New Music Releases (by Hugh McIntyre) →

U2 is fresh off their first Las Vegas residency and ready to head into their next chapter. But while the world waits for completely brand new music from the Irish rockers, they have announced a year-long series of musical re-releases, ones which will surely be of interest to their most die-hard followers. On Friday (April 5), U2 dropped a new collection of remixes and alternate editions of their single “Discothèque.” [...] The new album runs an hour and 12 minutes long, with plenty of renditions of “Discothèque” for fans who can’t get enough of the tune. The tracklist includes the original radio edit, as well as remixes that come with names like the DM Deep Club Mix, Howie B, Hairy B Mix, and the Hexidecimal Mix, among others.

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No Depression : ALBUM REVIEW: ‘All This Time’ Is an Ode to Joy from Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams (by Nick Cristiano) →

Campbell, master of all things strings and former accompanist to Bob Dylan and the late Levon Helm (among others), and singer-actress Williams have been together for four decades. Their chemistry is again evident as they alternate lead vocals and harmonize beautifully on this 10-song set — with seven Campbell originals — that chronicles a bond both hard-earned and enduring.

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Inside Africa : CNN’s Inside Africa Joins Five-Time Grammy Winner Angelique Kidjo Backstage And Back Home During Her Tour →

In a new episode of Inside Africa, CNN joins five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo who is on tour celebrating her 40th anniversary at the top of the global music industry. She says: “Being on stage for me is just the best thing ever. It’s the best place, and the safest, and the most beautiful place that exists on earth for me.” The Beninese star is out to change perceptions of ‘African music’ one audience at a time: “People still think that classical music has nothing to do with African music. That there is any music on this planet that has nothing to do with Africa. So, why is Africa the cradle of humanity? Where do we come from? And the way that we can dissociate ourself, for me, is a manifestation of fear. Because the narrative that I’ve been told about Africa is so negative, that no one wants to be associated with it. So, if you want to change the narrative, let’s start with music.”

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American Songwriter : The Not-So-Subtle Political Commentary Behind Kris Kristofferson’s 1990 Single “Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down)” (by Tina Benitez-Eves) →

They’re killing babies in the name of freedom opens Kris Kristofferson on his 1990 song “Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down).” Released months before the U.S. was about to invade Iraq, no specific conflict is referenced in the song by Kristofferson, who served as a captain in the U.S. Army. At the time, Kristofferson’s political views were crystal clear, and he opposed the recent military policies enforced by the then George W. Bush Jr. administration and remained outspoken about his more left-wing stances. [...] Soon after the release of Don’t Let the Bastards (Get You Down),” the title became Kristofferson’s catchphrase. He even said the words to Sinéad O’Connor, after she was booed at a Bob Dylan tribute concert at Madison Square Garden, shortly after her controversial appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1992 where she tore a photograph of then-Pope John Paul II to shed light on the unspoken sexual abuses by priests in the Catholic church.

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Inside Africa : Inside Africa Inside Africa 'Africa's premier diva' celebrates four decades at the top →

CNN joins five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo backstage on her global anniversary tour, and brings Davido, Stonebwoy and Yo-Yo Ma along for the ride.

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The String : John Leventhal, In The Spotlight At Last, Talks ‘Rumble Strip’ (by Craig Havighurst) →

John Leventhal was producer on Rosanne Cash’s string of remarkable albums in the 2000s, including "The List" (especially impactful on me) and the Grammy-winning "The River And The Thread" (2014). And then he made more honest, gorgeous albums for others - "This Is Where I Live by soul artist William Bell" in 2016 and Sarah Jarosz’s "World On The Ground" in 2020 - both major award winners. Amid it all, Leventhal was named Americana Instrumentalist of the Year in 2015. And yet for all of this, John Leventhal made it to age 70 having never released music of his own. That changed in late January with the release of "Rumble Strip", a collection of three songs and thirteen instrumentals, made by John working alone and playing all the instruments, not counting the duo vocals of Rosanne Cash on a couple of timeless cuts.

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Popmatters : THOSE DAYS ARE GONE FOREVER: STEELY DAN’S ‘PRETZEL LOGIC’ AT 50 →

Steely Dan’s 50-year-old third album, Pretzel Logic, conceals its dark satirical vision of modern society beneath immaculate studio production. This 1974’s album marked the transition between their beginnings as a conventional rock band and their later incarnation as a studio collective under the leadership of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Founding guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter performed on Pretzel Logic, while original drummer Jim Hodder got bumped in favor of session men Jim Gordon and Jeff Porcaro. This perfectionism, involving 16 studio musicians, made Becker and Fagen infamous as rock’s geekiest dictatorship.

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Relix : Warren Haynes Plots Now Is The Time Tour, with the Warren Haynes Band and Symphonic Support

Warren Haynes has unveiled the ambitious new Now Is The Time Tour, set to stage three special concerts in the Northeast this June. Alongside The Dreams and Sounds Symphonic Experience, this series will feature the debut of the highly-anticipated new Warren Haynes Band. Each show will be composed of three frames: two pioneering sets of symphonic music, capped off by a final presentation of Haynes’ inimitable blues-rock prowess. Throughout the performances, Haynes will explore the highlights of his sprawling catalog, including unheard arrangements of favorites from Gov’t Mule, the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead, as well as revived compositions from the lauded Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration series.

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The Somerville Times : Blind Boys of Alabama Play Arts at the Armory Spotlight Series →

Arts at the Armory’s Spotlight Series is thrilled to bring Blind Boys of Alabama to their historic Performance Hall stage on March 14. Hailed as “gospel titans” by Rolling Stone, the Blind Boys of Alabama defied the considerable odds stacked against them in the segregated south, from singing for pocket change in the Jim Crow South, to performing for three different American presidents, soundtracking the Civil Rights movement and helping define modern gospel music as we know it.

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Connect Savannah : SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL: Rosanne Cash spins full circle with her album “The Wheel” (by Angie Miller) →

In 1993, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Rosanne Cash released her album “The Wheel.” To mark its 30th anniversary, Cash and her husband and longtime collaborator, a six-time Grammy-winning producer and songwriter, John Leventhal have remastered the album and are making a stop at the Savannah Music Festival. “I had a clause in my contract with Sony when I made ‘The Wheel’ that the master recording would return to me after 30 years and that 30 years came up last year,” Cash stated. “It was a powerful feeling to get it back, you know, to actually own that record again. So, John and I formed a record label, remastered it for modern times and released it with some added bonuses and fun stuff. We’re just out celebrating it.”

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ArtsHub : Music review: Angélique Kidjo, Perth Festival (by Wolfgang von Flugelhorn) →

Beninese-French singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo is a force of nature. Now in her early 60s, her voice is as strong and percussive as ever, her dancing as energetic and playful, her enthusiasm as infectious and her message of empowerment and justice as heartfelt and resounding. In her concert at Perth Concert Hall last Thursday night, she was the embodiment of this year’s Festival theme of Ngaangk (the sun), a female deity in Noongar cosmology who is equally a source of warmth, light, nourishment and protection.

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BNN Breaking : Mahalia Barnes Honors Aretha Franklin: An Empowering Tribute at Joondalup Festival (by Geeta Pillai) →

Mahalia Barnes, a seasoned artist with music in her veins, is set to honor Aretha Franklin in an empowering tribute at the Joondalup Festival. As the daughter of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia has carved her own path in the music industry, embracing both her heritage and her individuality. Next week, she joins a lineup of talented Aussie vocalists in Perth to celebrate the Queen of Soul's legacy. [...] This tribute to Aretha Franklin represents not just an homage but an affirmation of Barnes's own journey and the influence of powerful female voices in music.

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BNN Breaking : Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers Unite for Bob Dylan Cover at 37th Tibet House Benefit Concert →

The 37th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall brought together musical legends like Joan Baez and rising stars like Maggie Rogers for a night of unity and advocacy. Explore the unforgettable performances and messages of solidarity for Tibet's cause. [...] As the concert drew to a close, the stage was shared by artists from the night's lineup for a moving rendition of 'We Shall Overcome,' led by Baez and Rogers. [...] The collaboration between Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers on Bob Dylan's classic was not only a highlight of the evening but also a powerful message of resilience and solidarity.

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Wecb : MGMT and Christine and the Queens collaborate on “Dancing in Babylon” →

MGMT has just presented a new song, “ Dancing in Babylon », a collaboration with Chris from Christine and the Queens. The new song, which should appear on Loss of Life, which will be released on February 23 via Mom + Pop, is, at its core, a tender piano ballad, but with the kind of strange undertones one would expect from MGMT. Andrew VanWyngarden and Chris team up beautifully on vocals, trading lines before reaching sublime harmonies at the end of the bridge. [...] Commenting on his collaboration with MGMT, Chris said: “ I’ve always loved MGMT’s multiverse, their freedom and talent, their crystal clear writing and crazy soundscapes. It’s royal, it’s a source of inspiration. When they contacted me for this power ballad, I was honored and excited to dive into their dream, as I have the same overall approach to my work. I also loved the story of the lyrics, and I worked my lower register here more than usual. I felt invited into their film, and I’m happy to be part of the galaxy. Let’s work towards more love in the galaxy of love. »

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Variety : Bono Leads U2’s Audience in Chanting Alexei Navalny’s Name During Impassioned Anti-Putin, Pro-Ukraine Speech (by Chris Willman) →

U2 has been performing Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” in concert at the band’s Sphere residency recently, and before Saturday night’s show, the introduction to that song extended far longer than usual, as Bono paid tribute to the dream of Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident who died in prison days earlier. The singer spoke up for the freedom of the Ukrainian people and against Russian leader Vladimir Putin — who many believe is directly responsible for the political prisoner’s still-unexplained death — before leading the crowd in a chant of Navalny’s name.

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