Loudon Wainwright III has released a limited edition album, 10 Songs For The New Depression, which is now available at LW3.com. Of the disc, Loudon writes: "As of this writing some folks are saying things are looking up recession wise and this particular hard time might be ending. Other experts are saying we're in for a "double-dip" and there's more feces heading toward the national and global fans. If that's the case Id' like to cash in. So buddy if you can spare a few bucks, please enjoy "10 Songs for the New Depression"!"

On February 22, The New Yorker Online posted a video of Loudon performing "The Krugman Blues," a song he wrote praising the Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. The video is a compliment to an article profiling Krugman in the March 1, 2010 issue of The New Yorker.

Loudon, fresh off his GRAMMY Award win for the critically acclaimed High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (Best Traditional Folk Album), is touring extensively, including an upcoming taping at NPR's Mountain Stage and select "Loud & Rich" dates with Richard Thompson, please see Tour Dates >>

Booker T., Bettye LaVette and Trombone Shorty Featured On Live From The Artists Den Episode

Live from the Artists Den featured Rosebud artists Booker T., Bettye LaVette and Trombone Shorty in an episode that began airing February 16, 2010 on PBS. This very special performance, taped on the eve of the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival featured Booker and Bettye each backed by The Drive-By Truckers, who played the same role on Booker's 2010 GRAMMY winning Potato Hole and on Bettye's GRAMMY Nominated 2007 album, The Scene of the Crime. Sitting in during the evening was Trombone Shorty and Ben Ellman (Galactic), who produced Trombone Shorty's forthcoming album, due out in Spring 2010.

Live from the Artists Den is a live music series produced by WNET.ORG (Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose) for public television.  This episode was taped in New Orleans at the architectural landmark Patrick F. Taylor Library at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.  Check herefor stations currently broadcasting the show.  

Catch Booker T., Bettye LaVette and Trombone Shorty individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The Blind Boys of Alabama Featured In White House Performance For PBS Special

The Blind Boys of Alabama were featured performers at the White House on February 9th, 2010, which was taped for broadcast on PBS, premiering February 11. The event, In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement, was hosted by President and Mrs. Obama in honor of Black History Month with MC Morgan Freeman. The Blind Boys led the room of dignitaries in a rousing version of "Free at Last," eventually joined on stage by the other performers and President Obama. The other artists performing included Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, The Freedom Singers, John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams and the Howard University Choir. The evening featured songs from the Civil Rights Movement, as well as readings from famous Civil Rights speeches and writings. The event will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide (please check your local listings). NPR is producing a one-hour concert special from this event for broadcast nationwide on NPR stations throughout the month of February, beginning February 12.

"The Blind Boys of Alabama gave one of the night's most fiery performances on the old spiritual I'm Free at Last." - USA Today

Congratulations to The Blind Boys on this honor! They will be performing throughout the Winter and please see Tour Dates >>

Watch the entire show at PBS: In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement
Listen to the entire show at NPR: A White House Concert With Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson And More
View photos at The White House: Photo Gallery

Jon Cleary Featured On Harry Shearer's Le Show

Jon Cleary was featured on the January 31, 2010 edition of Harry Shearer's Le Show, listen to it on Le Show's archives here. Harry Shearer introduces Jon Cleary as "The most amazing practitioner of the keys and of the vocal mic that's working in New Orleans today." Jon and Harry discuss New Orleans music with Jon playing piano to demonstrate stylistic points; music in general, including Jon's work playing in both Taj Mahal's and Bonnie Raitt's bands and his own Absolute Monster Gentlemen project; Jon also plays Ben E. King's "Young Boy Blues," "Port Street Blues" and closes with a short instrumental he has been "messing with" bringing out the Caribbean aspect of New Orleans. Le Show is broadcast internationally on NPR Worldwide, via podcast from KCRW and syndicated nationally.

In addition to a number of shows at d.b.a. in New Orleans at the end of February and in March, Jon will be doing 10 shows in Australia this Spring leading up to a series of shows at and around the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, including playing the Festival's Foundation Gala in a tribute to Dr. John. Please see Tour Dates >>

John Hammond, Mavis Staples and Tommy Castro Named Among The Decade's Best In Blues Revue Critics Poll

Albums by John Hammond (Wicked Grin), Mavis Staples (We'll Never Turn Back) and Tommy Castro (Painkiller) were named in The Decade's Best Blues - 25 Great Albums That Defined the Past 10 Years: A Critics Poll, published in the February/March 2010 issue of Blues Revue Magazine.

Of the albums, contributor Hal Horowitz writes:

"Hammond's talk/sung drawl perfectly captured the musky Delta swamp lurking beneath [the songs]."

"...some of [Mavis'] most emotionally fervent work... A legendary singer, flawless material, and superlative production [by Ry Cooder] combined to yield a masterpiece..."

"...the tracks soar; Castro sounded consistently inspired... It's a nonstop party and arguably Castro's finest, most focused set."

Both Mavis Staples and John Hammond were honored with 2010 GRAMMY nominations in the Blues category. Tommy Castro has received four nominations in the upcoming 31st Blues Music Awards taking place in May 2010.

Congratulations to all. Catch these artists live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

JJ Cale Interview on American Routes March 10, 2010 - Walt Richmond To Tour With Eric Clapton

Listen online at: American Routes archive >>

A rare interview with JJ Cale is scheduled to premiere on American Routes on March 10, 2010. American Routes is a public radio program produced in New Orleans. To find a station broadcasting the show in your area, please click here or visit the American Routes web site to listen to their online archives after the show airs.

In related news, JJ Cale keyboard player, Walt Richmond, has been tapped to join the North American leg of Eric Clapton's upcoming tour. Walt played on the Grammy winning gold record - JJ Cale / Eric Clapton The Road to Escondido and on some recent studio work with Eric and Cale. Walt's credits also include work with Rick Danko, Bonnie Raitt, The Tractors and Bob Seger in addition to having written songs covered by The Doobie Brothers, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band and Maria Muldaur.

Eric's North American tour dates run from February 18 - March 13 with Jeff Beck acting as Special Guest on the initial dates and Roger Daltrey for the balance of the tour.

Carrie Rodriguez will release Love & Circumstance, her third studio album, on April 13, 2010.  The CD was produced by Lee Townsend (Bill Frisell, Loudon Wainwright III, John Scofield, Charlie Hunter, Dave Holland) and features her world-class touring band with guest appearances by Bill Frisell, Buddy Miller, Greg Leisz, and Aiofe O'Donovan.  For this project, Carrie performs works by songwriters including: Hank Williams, John Hiatt, Richard Thompson, Buddy & Julie Miller, M. Ward, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, Sandrine, David Rodriguez (her father), and Ava Garza (her great Aunt).

The New York Times' Jon Pareles praised Carrie's last album, She Ain't Me: "Her fiddler's vocabulary of old modal melodies centers her songs about faraway loves and spiritual prospects, bringing concision and gravity to every one of them... Behind the sorrows and longing is a determination that's grounded, implicitly, in tradition."

Beginning February 11th continuing to March 2nd, Carrie will open the Western U.S. leg of Los Lonely Boys' & Alejandro Escovedo's "Acoustic Brotherhood Tour."  In addition to Carrie's own sets, she will be joining Alejandro on fiddle for his part of the show.  Carrie will celebrate the April 13th release of the record with a New York City performance at Joe's Pub.  Please see Tour Dates >>

Trombone Shorty is featured on the Oscar nominated Best Original Song, "Down in New Orleans," performed by Dr. John, from Disney's The Princess and the Frog which is also nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. The song was written by Randy Newman. Rich Ross, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios said, "With its fantastic animation, original characters, memorable music, and beautiful artistry, it ranks along with many of the Studio's very best efforts."

On February 13, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue will be performing during the Mardi Gras parade as honored invitees of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson on his float, followed the next day by their own headlining Mardi Gras / Valentine's Day performance at Tipitina's. The band then embarks on an East Coast 12-date headlining tour, including a February 19th show at the Highline Ballroom in New York City and ending with an appearance on NPR's Mountain Stage. Catch them live, please see Tour Dates >>