Some people see a mangled trombone — Ken Robinson saw a second chance. With patience, precision, and a deep love for his craft, he brought life back to an instrument others gave up on. Because music isn’t just about sound—it’s about soul, and the hands that believe in second chances.
‘Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story’ Wins Peabody Award for Best Documentary
The Banger Films/National Film Board of Canada (NFB) feature-length documentary Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, directed by Toronto filmmakers Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, has won the prestigious Peabody Award in the Documentary category.
Winners will be celebrated at a ceremony in Los Angeles on June 1.
Any Other Way has now received 22 awards and honours, with 47 festival selections as it continues its international festival run. The NFB is distributor and sales agent for Any Other Way, which is currently streaming on Crave in Canada.
With an outsize stage presence that eclipsed R&B greats like Etta James and Little Richard, soul singer Jackie Shane shattered barriers with raw talent, courage and an unbreakable commitment to truth. Jackie boldly carved a new path as one of music’s trailblazing Black trans performers—but on the edge of stardom, why did she suddenly leave the spotlight?
After mysteriously vanishing from public view for almost 40 years, this little-known icon finally gets her second act. Through never-before-heard phone conversations, dazzling animation and an incredible soundtrack, the full scope of her extraordinary life and career is revealed in this remarkable portrait.
NFB and Banger Films at the Peabodys
This is the seventh Peabody Award for the NFB, which previously won in 2016 for Brett Gaylor’s Do Not Track (NFB/Upian/Arte/Bayerischer Rundfunk); in 2014 for Katerina Cizek’s A Short History of the Highrise (NFB/The New York Times); in 2011 for Neil Diamond, Catherine Bainbridge and Jeremiah Hayes’s Reel Injun (Rezolution Pictures/NFB); in 2002 for Karen Shopsowitz’s My Father’s Camera; in 1996 for John N. Smith’s The Boys of St. Vincent (NFB/Télé-Action); and in 1995 for Jeff McKay’s documentary Fat Chance.
It’s also the second Peabody for Banger Films, which won in 2017 for the multi-season docuseries Hip-Hop Evolution.
Rhino Announces Vinyl Reissues of First Four Harry Potter Soundtracks, Out June 6
After announcing a robust new 16-LP box set in 2024, Harry Potter: The Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Rhino now shares four individual Motion Picture Soundtrack LPs from the Harry Potter franchise on Black vinyl.
Out June 6, 2025, this collection includes the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack albums for the first four films in the franchise, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. These Original Motion Picture Soundtracks will be available as 2LPs each on black vinyl. Pre-order HERE.
Legendary five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams notably crafted the scores for the first three films in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Prisoner of Azkaban each garnered a nomination in the category of “Best Original Score” at the Academy® Awards. Not to mention, the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album also achieved a Gold Certification from the RIAA. Meanwhile, Academy Award-nominated Patrick Doyle supplied the score for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).
Celebrating the legacy of Harry Potter music, American Songwriter retrospectively professed, “Few things were as magical as watching the first three Harry Potter films as a youngster. Even today, when watching them back with a sense of nostalgia, that same whimsy cuts deep, largely thanks to the stellar soundtrack by none other than John Williams.” Beyond cracking north of 81 million Spotify streams, the signature “Hedwig’s Theme” has taken on a life of its own. Classic FM attested, “As soon as we hear those opening notes of ‘Hedwig’s Theme,’ we are immediately whisked away into Harry’s wizarding world through a flurry of strings and that haunting, solo celesta.” Tracking Angle proclaimed, “Even within the context of his catalogue of one classic film score after another, the three films that John Williams scored for the Harry Potter franchise occupy a very special place.”
Tracklist
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Side A:
1. PROLOGUE
2. HARRY’S WONDROUS WORLD
3. THE ARRIVAL OF BABY HARRY
4. VISIT TO THE ZOO and LETTERS FROM HOGWARTS
5. DIAGON ALLEY and THE GRINGOTTS VAULT
Side B:
1. PLATFORM NINE-AND-THREE-QUARTERS and THE JOURNEY TO HOGWARTS
2. ENTRY INTO THE GREAT HALL and THE BANQUET
3. MR. LONGBOTTOM FLIES
4. HOGWARTS FOREVER! and THE MOVING STAIRS
5. THE NORWEGIAN RIDGEBACK and A CHANGE OF SEASON
Side C:
1. THE QUIDDITCH MATCH
2. CHRISTMAS AT HOGWARTS
3. THE INVISIBILITY CLOAK and THE LIBRARY SCENE
4. FLUFFY’S HARP
Side D:
1. IN THE DEVIL’S SNARE and THE FLYING KEYS
2. THE CHESS GAME
3. THE FACE OF VOLDEMORT
4. LEAVING HOGWARTS
5. HEDWIG’S THEME
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Side A:
1. PROLOGUE: BOOK II AND THE ESCAPE FROM THE DURSLEYS
2. FAWKES THE PHOENIX
3. THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
4. GILDEROY LOCKHART
5. THE FLYING CAR
6. KNOCKTURN ALLEY
Side B:
1. INTRODUCING COLIN
2. THE DUELING CLUB
3. DOBBY THE HOUSE ELF
4. THE SPIDERS
5. MOANING MYRTLE
Side C:
1. MEETING ARAGOG
2. FAWKES IS REBORN
3. MEETING TOM RIDDLE
4. CORNISH PIXIES
5. POLYJUICE POTION
Side D:
1. CAKES FOR CRABBE AND GOYLE
2. DUELING THE BASILISK
3. REUNION OF FRIENDS
4. HARRY’S WONDROUS WORLD
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Side A:
1. LUMOS! (HEDWIG’S THEME)
2. AUNT MARGE’S WALTZ
3. THE KNIGHT BUS
4. APPARITION ON THE TRAIN
5. DOUBLE TROUBLE
6. BUCKBEAK’S FLIGHT
7. A WINDOW TO THE PAST
Side B:
1. THE WHOMPING WILLOW AND THE SNOWBALL FIGHT
2. SECRETS OF THE CASTLE
3. THE PORTRAIT GALLERY
4. HAGRID THE PROFESSOR
5. MONSTER BOOKS AND BOGGARTS!
6. QUIDDITCH, THIRD YEAR
Side C:
1. LUPIN’S TRANSFORMATION AND CHASING SCABBERS 2. THE PATRONUS LIGHT
3. THE WEREWOLF SCENE
4. SAVING BUCKBEAK
5. FORWARD TO TIME PAST
Side D:
1. THE DEMENTORS CONVERGE
2. FINALE
3. MISCHIEF MANAGED!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Side A:
1. THE STORY CONTINUES
2. FRANK DIES
3. THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP
4. THE DARK MARK
5. FOREIGN VISITORS ARRIVE
6. THE GOBLET OF FIRE
7. RITA SKEETER
8. SIRIUS FIRE
9. HARRY SEES DRAGONS
Side B:
1. GOLDEN EGG
2. NEVILLE’S WALTZ
3. HARRY IN WINTER
4. POTTER WALTZ
5. UNDERWATER SECRETS
6. THE BLACK LAKE
7. HOGWARTS’ MARCH
Side C:
1. THE MAZE
2. VOLDEMORT
3. DEATH OF CEDRIC
4. ANOTHER YEAR ENDS
5. HOGWARTS’ HYMN
Side D:
1. DO THE HIPPOGRIFF
2. THIS IS THE NIGHT
3. MAGIC WORKS
Rhino Reserve Celebrates Black Music Month With Premium Vinyl Reissues from Baby Huey, The Meters, and Otis Redding
In celebration of Black Music Month, Rhino Reserve continues with the next installment of the acclaimed premium vinyl series with Baby Huey’s The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend, The Meters’ Fire On The Bayou, and Otis Redding’s Otis Blue.
This next set of Rhino Reserve titles are pressed on 180-gram premium-quality black vinyl locally at Fidelity Record Pressing’s brand-new plant in Oxnard, CA, and cut by the highly respected Chris Bellman from Bernie Grundman Mastering, a name synonymous with audiophile excellence.
Focused on preserving the authenticity of original packaging while delivering exceptional sound quality, each release features heavyweight board jackets, Rhino Reserve-branded labels, and a Fidelity-branded poly sleeve. Rhino Reserve titles are available on June 27 and will be available at Rhino.com and select retail locations. Pre-order HERE.
The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend was recorded in 1970 as the only solo album by Funk icon James “Baby Huey” Ramey. Produced and released by Curtis Mayfield, the album pays tribute to Baby Huey following his untimely death. The album features captivating covers of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Going To Come” and John and Michelle Phillips’ “California Dreamin’,” as well as a Mayfield original, “Hard Times,” later sampled by A Tribe Called Quest and Ice Cube.
In the midst of the Rolling Stones’ 1975 U.S. tour, New Orleans royalty, The Meters, released their sixth studio album, Fire on the Bayou. This staple funk record boasted tracks like “Mardi Gras Mambo” and Hank Williams’ rendition of “Jambalaya.” Fire on the Bayou remains a cornerstone of New Orleans funk.
Warner Music Global Catalog – 777 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90021
Otis Redding released his third studio album, Otis Blue, in 1965 after recording the album in a shocking 24-hour period. Backed by Booker T. & the M.G.’s house band, the record includes the Redding original “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” and an early version of “Respect”. Considered by critics to be the definitive soul album of its era, Otis Blue has been ranked among Rolling Stone Magazine’s ‘Greatest Albums of All Time’ and Time Magazine’s ‘All Time 100 Greatest Albums.’
Baby Huey – The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend
Side A
1. Listen To Me
2. Mama Get Yourself Together
3. A Change Is Going To Come
Side B
1. Mighty, Mighty
2. Hard Times
3. California Dreaming
4. Running
5. One Dragon Two Dragon
The Meters – Fire On The Bayou
Side A
1. Out In The Country
2. Fire On The Bayou
3. Love Slip Upon Ya
4. Talkin’ ‘Bout New Orleans
5. They All Ask’d For You
Side B
1. Can You Do Without?
2. Liar
3. You’re A Friend Of Mine
4. Middle Of The Road
5. Running Fast
6. Mardi Gras Mamba
Otis Redding – Otis Blue
Side A
1. Ole Man Trouble
2. Respect
3. Change Gonna Come
4. Down In The Valley
5. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
Side B
1. Shake
2. My Girl
3. Wonderful World
4. Rock Me Baby
5. Satisfaction
6. You Don’t Miss Your Water
Fastball Joins Barenaked Ladies for 2025’s Last Summer On Earth Tour
Austin-based trio Fastball will join Barenaked Ladies on the Last Summer On Earth 2025 tour. On its multi platinum album All the Pain Money Can Buy, the band enjoyed a massive boost to its success and history when its track “The Way” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock chart and remained there for seven weeks. The song was voted by VH1 as one of its “100 Greatest Songs of the ’90s.”
Fastball is comprised of guitarist/vocalist Miles Zuniga, bassist/vocalist Tony Scalzo and Joey Shuffield. Their most recent recording and ninth album Sonic Ranch was released last year by Sunset Blvd. Records. Media accolades include the Austin Chronicle which called the record “…brilliant rock & roll that could be the band’s most cohesive and musically mature album to date” and asserted that “Sonic Ranch proves that good music is always good no matter how much time passes.” The Big Takeover noted that “With an abundance of charisma and hooks, and a beautiful flow from beginning to end, SR makes a strong case as the best album of Fastball’s long and distinguished career.”
Fastball’s latest album Sonic Ranch will be celebrated with a deluxe digital edition, adding ten bonus tracks to the original album. Pre-save link here. The bonus set kicks off with a new Bob Clearmountain sired version of the album’s political centerpiece “America.” Also included on the collection is a rousing version of “California Man,” The Move-penned track made famous by Cheap Trick.
Tour Dates:
6/03/25 ATLANTA, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre
6/04/25 ST. AUGUSTINE, FL St. Augustine Amphitheatre
6/06/25 N. CHARLESTON, SC N. Charleston Coliseum and PAC
6/07/25 CHARLOTTE, NC Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
6/08/25 BALTIMORE, MD Pier Six Pavillion
6/10/25 CINCINNATI, OH PNC Pavillion
6/11/25 CHICAGO, IL The Chicago Theatre
6/13/25 CAMDENTON, MO Ozarks Amphitheater
6/14/25 LA VISTA, NE The Astro
6/15/25 WAITE PARK, MN The Ledge Amphitheater
6/17/25 MORRISON, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
6/18/25 SALT LAKE CITY, UT Red Butte Garden
6/20/25 SAN DIEGO, CA Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Thr
6/21/25 HIGHLAND, CA Yaamava Theater
6/22/25 LOS ANGELES, CA Greek Theatre
6/24/25 SARATOGA, CA Mountain Winery
6/26/25 TROUTDALE, OR McMenamin’s Edgefield
6/27/25 WOODINVILLE, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
6/28/25 BEND, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
7/08/25 LENOX, MA Tanglewood Music Center
7/09/25 NEW YORK, NY The Rooftop at Pier 17
7/11/25 BOSTON, MA Leader Bank Pavillion
7/12/25 GILFORD, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavillion
7/13/25 BRIDGEPORT, CT Hartford Health Care Amphitheater
7/15/25 RALEIGH, NC Red Hat Amphitheater
7/16/25 VIENNA, VA Filene Center at Wolf Trap
7/18/25 GOSHEN, IN Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds
7/19/25 ST. IGNACE, MI Kewadin Casinos – St. Ignace
7/20/25 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Everwise Amp at White River State Park
7/22/25 PHILADELPHIA, PA The Met
7/23/25 SYRACUSE, NY Empower Federal CU Amp at Lakeview
7/25/25 TORONTO, CAN Budweiser Stage
7/26/25 BUFFALO, NY Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B
7/27/25 BETHEL, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
7/29/25 LOUISVILLE, KY Iroquois Amphitheater
7/30/25 TOLEDO, OH Toledo Zoo Amphitheater
8/01/25 CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH Blossom Music Center
8/02/25 CLARKSTON, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
Black Violin Releases “Beautiful Day” Featuring Lalah Hathaway And Announces Fall 2025 Tour
Today, GRAMMY-nominated classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin released “Beautiful Day” featuring R&B legend Lalah Hathaway, the final single from their album Full Circle (out this Friday). Produced by Phil Beaudreau (Dr. Dre, Justin Bieber, The Game), the album marks a bold new chapter for the genre-defying duo. Today the duo also announced an extensive fall US tour, full list of dates are below.
”‘Beautiful Day’ is a reminder that no matter the chaos that surrounds us, there is always beauty in the present moment,” says Black Violin’s Will Baptiste. “It’s about choosing to see the light, embracing the small joys, and grounding ourselves in the life that’s happening right now.”
Black Violin members Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus met on the first day of orchestra class in 1996 at Dillard High School of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. (Baptiste originally wanted to play saxophone in the band, but the orchestra teacher got him assigned to his class after winning a golf bet with the band instructor.) Classically trained by day, they faithfully put on their headphones and listened to the hottest rap records each night. They went to different colleges—Marcus attended Florida International University and Baptiste went to Florida State—but then reconvened, moved into an apartment together, and started trying to produce other musicians.
They developed an act covering hip-hop songs on their violins, which became popular in local clubs. Two years after sending in a tape to Showtime at the Apollo, they were invited to appear on the show—which they won, and kept winning. They were approached by the manager of Alicia Keys, who asked them to perform with the singer at the Billboard Awards. Other offers followed—they toured with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, opened for the Wu-Tang Clan, and worked with the likes of Alessia Cara, 2 Chainz, and Lil Wayne. All the while, Black Violin continued touring non-stop (playing as many as 200 shows a year) and released two independent, self-financed albums before putting out the acclaimed Stereotypes in 2016, followed by 2019’s Take the Stairs, which was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2020 GRAMMYs.
Black Violin has always been about taking things further, exceeding expectations, challenging conventions. The duo has steadily built a devoted following and a diverse touring base— culminating in such triumphs as two sold-out shows at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, and appearances on the Today Show, CBS Mornings, and PBS Newshour—while occupying a musical lane that’s entirely its own.
Black Violin’s work extends far beyond the stage, reaching deep into communities nationwide with numerous free performances for students and hands-on engagement with youth symphonies and community centers. Through collaborations with local and national education programs such as Turnaround Arts, Baptiste and Marcus connect with more than 100,000 students throughout the year, including low-income and Title 1 schools, and adopted Bethune Elementary, in Florida’s Broward County (near where they grew up) to initiate an ongoing mentorship program. In 2019, the duo launched the Black Violin Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by working with them in their communities to provide access to quality music programs that encourage creativity and innovation.
Full Circle finds Black Violin 20 years into their career, arriving back where they began—only now with the clarity that comes from experience. This new chapter is both a reckoning and a renewal, as they confront their past selves while evolving beyond them. The songs feel like natural extensions of their early work—refined, redefined, and charged with the paradox of returning and progressing all at once.
Tracklisting:
1. The Illest
2. Live My Life
3. Drama
4. King
5. The Walk
6. To The Top
7. Smoke
8. Beautiful Day (ft. Lalah Hathaway)
9. Joy
10. Black Box
Black Violin – Full Circle Tour – 2025:
05.02 — Paducah, KY — The Carson Center
05.03 — Fort Smith, AR — TempleLive
05.04 — Dallas, TX — Majestic Theatre
05.06 — Lawrence, KS — Leid Center of Kansas
05.08 — Toledo, OH — Toledo Cultural Arts Center
05.09 — Bay Harbor, MI — Great Lakes Center for the Arts
05.10 — Flint, MI — Capitol Theatre
07.25 — Newport Beach, CA — Back Bay Amphitheatre
07.26 — Del Mar, CA — The Sound
09.25 — North Bethesda, MD — Music Center at Strathmore
09.27 — York, PA — VENUE TBA
09.28 — Lynchburg, VA — Historic Academy Theatre at Academy Center of the Arts
09.30 — Charlottesville, VA — The Paramount Theater
10.01 — Patchogue, NY — Patchogue Theatre
10.02 — Keene, NH — The Colonial Theatre
10.03 — Red Bank, NJ — Count Basie Center
10.04 — Worcester, MA — The Hanover Theatre
10.05 — Albany, NY — The Palace Theatre
10.08 — Eau Claire, WI — Pablo Center at the Confluence
10.09 — Milwaukee, WI — Uihlein Hall
10.10 — Dayton, OH — Schuster Center
10.11 — Rockford, IL — Coronado Theatre
10.30 — Austin, TX — The Long Center
11.02 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
11.03 — San Antonio, TX — HEB Performance Hall
11.07 — Hampton, VA — Jazz Legacy Festival
11.08 — Durham, NC — DPAC
11.09 — Bethlehem, PA — Musikfest Cafe
11.11 — Pittsburgh, PA — Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland
11.12 — Champaign, IL — Virginia Theatre
11.13 — Pontiac, MI — The Flagstar Strand Theatre
11.14 — Columbus, OH — Palace Theatre
11.15 — Cleveland, OH — KeyBank State Theatre
11.16 — Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre
04.16 — Mesa, AZ — Ikeda Theater
Elvis Costello Makes His Visual Art Debut at Wentworth Gallery
Wentworth Gallery is honored to present an exclusive collection of works by Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Elvis Costello. Making his highly anticipated art showing, Costello will showcase his creations at two Wentworth Gallery locations on the East Coast. The artist will appear at Wentworth Gallery in Short Hills Mall on May 3rd from 6:00 – 8:00 pm as well as at the Wentworth Gallery at Tysons Galleria on May 31st from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. This is the first time Costello’s work has been displayed in these locations.
Music’s favorite provocateur, Elvis Costello, whose journeys and curiosities continue to inspire songwriting and storytelling that acknowledges few stop-signs or borderlines. His songs have filled thirty-three and a third studio albums. His voice has been heard on stages from The Yankee Clipper in Liverpool to the Whiskey A-Go-Go in Hollywood and from Carnegie Hall to the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, l’Olympia, Paris, the London Palladium, and in Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa. His solo performance of The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” during “Live Aid” was accompanied by many of the 70,000 attendees at Wembley Stadium on that day in 1985.
Costello’s songs have been recorded by some of the greatest voices in popular music including Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, Solomon Burke and Johnny Cash.
His renowned collaborations include fifteen songs written with Paul McCartney, thirty songs written with Burt Bacharach and an equal number written with New Orleans master, Allen Toussaint and Costello’s wife, the jazz pianist and vocalist, Diana Krall.
At 70, Costello extends this creative energy into the world of visual arts, bringing his distinctive vision to a new medium. His transition into painting builds on the recording artist’s input into bold, experimental album covers that have gradually become more collaborative but have long reflected his visual instincts. Known for their striking imagery and unconventional typography, these covers offered an early glimpse of the artistic preferences he now fully showcases in his own visual compositions.
Much like his music, Costello’s artwork challenges norms and invites deeper interpretation, revealing the same spirit that defines his career. His upcoming debut at Wentworth Gallery represents an exciting chapter, merging his musical legacy with his burgeoning presence as a painter. As he continues to surprise, confound and amuse. This artistic expansion underscores his multifaceted talents, making his journey from music to visual art a natural evolution.
IN GALLERY APPEARANCES BY ELVIS COSTELLO
(artist will be in attendance at all showings)
Saturday May 3 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wentworth Gallery at Mall at Short Hills
Address: 1200 Morris Tpke, Short Hills, NJ 07078
(973) 564-9776
Saturday May 31 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Wentworth Gallery at Tysons Galleria
Address: 1807 Galleria at Tysons II, McLean, VA 22102
(703) 883-0111
Deanie Richardson and Kimber Ludiker Join Forces for Fiery Twin Fiddle Release on Mountain Home
As bluegrass aficionados know, the only thing better than hot fiddle playing is hot fiddle playing times two. Twin fiddles have played a prominent role in the genre since the mid 1950s, when artists like Bill Monroe and Mac Wiseman first enlivened their recordings with the distinctive sound.
Today, Mountain Home Music Company is proud to announce that two of the most prominent fiddle players in bluegrass have stepped forward to take their place in twin fiddling’s distinguished lineage — this time, with a unique twist. Founding members of the all-female ensembles Della Mae and Sister Sadie, Deanie Richardson and Kimber Ludiker have joined forces to create a new body of twin fiddle recordings, starting with the dazzling display of virtuosity on their first single for the label, “Cacklin’ Hen,” now available for pre-save and add ahead of its May 16 release.
“I am so grateful and excited to say that Mountain Home Music Company has given Kimber Ludiker and myself a platform to release some twin fiddle music,” says Richardson. “Kimber and I’ve been talking about this record for the past three years, and Mountain Home was the first place I went, to talk to Jon Weisberger about the opportunity to record this record with them. I’m so grateful for all they do and thankful to have a place for this twin fiddle record.
“I’ve been a Kimber Ludiker fan for many, many years now, since I heard her play at the Grand Master Fiddler contest. I was a judge that year, and she completely blew me away. I think Kimber is one of the most tasteful, versatile fiddlers that we have in bluegrass music today, and the work she’s done with Della Mae speaks volumes for her integrity and her talent.”
“Deanie Richardson has long been one of my favorite fiddlers,” adds Ludiker, “and has always been my favorite to play with. We’ve been dreaming about a twin fiddle record for years, and Mountain Home is the perfect label to share our excitement and vision. With our bands, Della Mae and Sister Sadie, we’ve both had a long commitment to showcase and create a platform for women in this music, and we’re excited to add our fiddling to the canon of tunes in our music. I especially hope young girls will be excited to have more and more recordings of instrumentals played by women to inspire their learning.”
“Cacklin’ Hen,” the first fruit of that collaboration, is a strong out-of-the gate entry. Here, abetted by a crackerjack band — bassist Hasee Ciaccio (Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands), award-winning banjo player Kristin Scott Benson, Missy Raines & Alleghany mandolinist Tristan Scroggins and reigning IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Cody Kilby (Travelin’ McCourys) — Ludiker and Richardson make it their own in a particularly noteworthy way: while they stick to a traditional fiery tempo, rather than play the opening and closing together and then take separate solos, the duo play in harmony throughout, with Ludiker deftly matching Richardson’s improvised leads to create a unique and compelling musical experience.
“When Deanie first approached me about recording with Kimber for Mountain Home, my reaction was an immediate ‘yes!’,” says label A&R Director Jon Weisberger, “and my enthusiasm has only grown since then. Their artistic vision, with its blend of back-to-basics and innovation, and their ability to execute it are an unbeatable combination. I’ve been an admirer of their individual artistry for a long time, and I know that fans will enjoy the music they make together just as much as I do!”
Pre-save/add “Cacklin’ Hen” HERE.
The Bones of J.R. Jones Announces New Album ‘Radio Waves’ and U.S. Tour
Today, New York-based artist The Bones of J.R. Jones releases his new single “Car Crash,” which appears on his upcoming sixth studio album Radio Waves, out June 20 via Tone Tree Music. Offering a bittersweet embrace of life’s imperfections, the tender new song arrives with a dreamy live performance video that was shot inside a car driving through New York’s scenic Catskills.
“‘Car Crash’ was born out of the recognition, I think that we will all experience as we get older, that life/love will always be beautifully imperfect,” says The Bones of J.R. Jones (aka Jonathon Linaberry). “It’s a disaster. It’s a car crash. But something that I like to think we always yearn for. I think there is some part of us that wants it to hurt. If it does, you know it means something – and that’s all we ever really want. It’s accepting the imperfections of what’s in front of you and giving in to that.”
On the video: “I think we shot this in two takes along a rural road between Bloomville and Delhi, NY in the western Catskills. We found a good stretch of road, did a dry run and did our best not to muck it up. Hannah (the driver) was a trooper and maintained that boat of a car at about 25 mph in 55 mph zone, mainly because the engine and road noise got too loud the faster we went. We got lucky on the second take. No cars, no potholes and for the most part, a good performance. The real star of the video though was the car: a 1991 Ford Crown Victoria. It instantly reminded me of my childhood and smelled exactly like you think it should – some oddly sweet scent of nostalgia that would make you think of your grandparents. A shout out to the heroes of the day: Dave Kopach for lending us the car and to Phil Schawel for mixing my horrendously mic’ed video.”
“Car Crash” follows the “intoxicating” (Magnet Magazine) lead single “Savages” and the brooding “Shameless,” which Holler described as “Falling somewhere between the widescreen Americana of Roy Orbison and the spare, clean-limbed moody alt-rock of The National.” Radio Waves was produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Robbie Lackritz (Feist, Bahamas), and marks Linaberry’s first time working with an outside producer. Moody and hypnotic, the 11-song collection is steeped in the sonic landscape of the ’80s and ’90s as it excavates the past with equal parts nostalgia and curiosity. Linaberry reflects, “I found myself missing what it felt like to have an album change your life, to listen to your cassette of Born In The U.S.A. so many times you have to wind the tape back up with a pencil.”
Linaberry set out to tap back into that magic on Radio Waves, writing songs steeped in the sounds and stories of his own coming of age. “These songs live in the night,” he says. “It’s the sound of a kitchen heavy with the leftover heat of an August day and a table crowded with drinks, of arguments and first loves and first heartbreaks, of not living up to your potential, of breaking promises, of being human.”
Radio Waves follows Linaberry’s critically acclaimed 2023 LP Slow Lightning, which was met with praise from American Songwriter, Glide Magazine, NYS Music and more. In March, he wrapped up his largest European tour to date with multiple sold-out shows, thanks to his dedicated following with more than 650,000 unique monthly listeners on Spotify alone. In recent years, the independent artist’s music has been used in a slew of films and television shows including True Detective, Suits, Daredevil, Longmire, and Graceland.
This spring and summer, The Bones of J.R. Jones will hit the road for an extensive U.S. tour that will make stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville and many more. Below please find a full list of tour dates or visit his website.
Radio Waves Tracklist:
1. Car Crash
2. Savages
3. Heart Attack
4. Shameless
5. Catching You
6. Ghost featuring Two Runner
7. Wasting Some Time
8. Hills
9. Drive
10. The Devil
11. Start Again
Radio Waves Album Release Tour:
5/8 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street *
5/9 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge *
5/10 – Ithaca, NY – Hangar Theatre
5/13 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle *
5/14 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 *
5/15 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood *
5/16 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 *
5/17 – Nashville, TN – Row One Stage *
6/12 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s +
6/13 – Boston, MA – Brighton +
6/14 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse +
6/15 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground +
6/17 – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz +
6/18 – Ottawa, ON – Rainbow Bistro +
6/19 – Toronto, ON – Sound Garage +
6/21 – Andes, NY – Andes Hootenanny
* with Henry Stansall of Ruen Brothers
+ with Nigel Wearne
DISPATCH Announces ‘Yellow Jacket’ Album and Summer Tour With John Butler, Ani DiFranco, G. Love, and More
Celebrated folk-rock band DISPATCH has released their new single “Whisk Me Away” alongside the announcement of their forthcoming ninth studio album Yellow Jacket, out June 6 via Bomber Records/AWAL Recordings.
“Whisk Me Away” dives into deep themes of life’s fragility and redemption, capturing the raw urgency of a desperate plea to not be taken from this earth just yet. Towards its emotional peak, the refrain – “feel alive again, feel alive again, feel alive again” – rings out like both a cry and a celebration, anchoring the track in hope, revival and the stubborn will to keep going. Musically, the track serves as a standout moment for the band, blending a Southern rock spirit with a folk-rooted rhythm that moves the body as much as the heart. Twin lead guitars – reminiscent of the Allman Brothers – duel and dance over driving drums and rich instrumentals, building a sound that’s both expansive and intimate. The single also marks a first for the band, as longtime member Matt Embree takes the spotlight with a powerful lead-vocal performance, adding a new texture to DISPATCH’s evolving sound. It’s a bold, electrifying addition to their legacy – one that continues to explore human experience with introspection and unshakable groove.
The band returned “home” to Boston to record and produce nearly all of Yellow Jacket with Craig Welsch at Rear Window Studios, and the 11-song collection of music harkens back to the infectious blend of reggae, ska and roots rock that built the band’s heralded career and dedicated fanbase.
“For us, this album is a way to acknowledge what our culture is facing and the effects of the abuse of power,” said Chadwick Stokes. “In this album, you’ll find the effects war has on family in “Johnny Whoops,” the complexity and brilliance of Emily Dickinson’s words in “Trinket (ft. John Butler),” and we pay homage to the great activists of our time alongside Ani DiFranco on “In the Street,” as a reminder of how crucial it is to not sit back idly. But mostly, our goal with this album is for listeners to enjoy the tunes in whatever way, hopefully at times collectively, and in community.”
DISPATCH will kick off their Summer Tour 2025 alongside John Butler (with band) + special guests G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter and Illiterate Light (select dates) on June 3 in St. Augustine, Florida, and make stops in major markets including Chicago, New York City, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco and more (full routing can be found below). The mammoth 35-date outing is on sale now – PRESS HERE for tickets and more information.
Throughout their rise, the band has taken every opportunity to use their success for good, launching charitable organizations to fight inequality and mass incarceration, raising funds and awareness for environmental causes, schools and hospitals on the road, and even traveling as far afield as Zimbabwe to work with children and communities in need. Chadwick Stokes’ Calling All Crows joins bands and fans together in collective activism that has raised more than half a million dollars for feminist movements, while Brad Corrigan’s Love Light + Melody helps amplify the stories of children who live in extreme poverty.
Ileana’s Smile, the award-winning documentary film directed by Corrigan, which will be released worldwide next month, is an inspiring story of a girl who endures life in a trash dump in Managua, Nicaragua, and the devastating choices she faces. The film is being released to raise awareness for child vulnerability and to fund Ileana’s School of Hope – ensuring that every child is safe to flourish and has a chance to write their own story. The film also features the original DISPATCH song “Darker Light” (out May 23). For more information, please PRESS HERE.
Stokes’ has written a new Rock Opera called 1972. Still in the workshop phase, it’s the story of a 19-year-old pregnant woman named Hannah who flees an abusive relationship and joins a band of outcasts jumping freight trains across America. Hannah’s harrowing journey ultimately leads her to the “Janes,” the underground network of courageous women who took extreme risks to provide solace, hope and care to women in complicated times. Some influential women are involved in the development of 1972 including Jessie Nelson (Waitress) is directing, and the musical is co-produced by Stokes’ Calling All Crows Co-Founder Sybil Gallagher, Dori Berinstein (Stereophonic, Legally Blonde) and activist Laurie David (Fed Up, An Inconvenient Truth). After short runs in New York, Boston and Chicago, including a three-night, sold-out stint at Joe’s Pub, an upcoming workshop performance is planned for NY’s The Cutting Room on May 21. PRESS HERE for tickets and more information.
Formed by Chadwick Stokes and Brad Corrigan while in college in Vermont, DISPATCH has forged their own path outside the mainstream music industry as one of the most successful artists in the roots rock scene. Over the course of a slew of acclaimed studio and live albums and countless tours and festivals, the band has gone on to become one of biggest success stories in independent music history, selling out three nights at Madison Square Garden and drawing over 100,000 fans to a massive outdoor show in their adopted hometown of Boston without any traditional radio or major label support. For more information, please visit www.dispatchmusic.com.
YELLOW JACKET TRACK LISTING:
Yellow Jacket
Whisk Me Away
Trinket (ft. John Butler)
The Night Young
Everyone’s In the Street (ft. Ani DiFranco)
Johnny Whoops
Flood
The Moon and The Seven Seas
Hush Money
Tulsa Picnic
Darker Light
SUMMER TOUR 2025 DATES
June 3 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
June 5 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
June 6 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre *
June 7 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater *
June 8 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion *
June 10 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront *
June 12 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome *
June 13 – North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery *
June 14 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Yards Amphitheater *
June 17 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center *
June 18 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park ^
June 21 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival %
June 22 – Minneapolis, MN – Surly Brewing Festival Field #
June 24 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park *
June 26 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre *
June 27 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Cain Park Evans Amphitheater ^
June 28 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met *
June 29 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater *
July 1 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 *
July 3 – Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point *
July 4 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage *
July 5 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap *
July 24 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre *
July 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan *
July 26 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre *
July 27 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic *
July 29 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Festival Pavilion +
July 31 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
August 1 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Live *
August 2 – Sandpoint, ID – The Festival at Sandpoint *
August 3 – Bonner-West Riverside, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater *
August 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – TBA *
August 7 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
August 8 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater #
* w/ John Butler with Band + G. Love & Special Sauce + Donavon Frankenreiter
^ w/ John Butler with Band + G. Love & Special Sauce
% w/ John Butler with Band + Donavon Frankenreiter
# w/ John Butler with Band + Donavon Frankenreiter + Illiterate Light
+ w/ Donavon Frankenreiter, No John Butler with Band
UPCOMING FESTIVAL DATES
June 15 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 20 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
July 13 – Marshfield, MA @ Levitate Music and Arts Festival