The JUNO Award and Polaris Music Prize nominee performs music from new album Both Ways (4/20 via Meant Well). A Nashville songwriter by way of Ontario, Donovan has made a career bucking expectations – he cites the Southern Ontario Gothic of Alice Munro and the work of feminist poet Bronwen Wallace as major inspirations for his new LP, which also channels the sounds of classic Motown and rustic, Nashville-inspired acoustic.
When the Benin-born global pop star, three-time GRAMMY winner and “Africa’s greatest living diva” (NPR) performed Remain In Light in full with David Byrne at Carnegie Hall last year, the New York Times declared, “Ms. Kidjo isn’t toppling an icon; she is dancing on its heights.” Now Kidjo brings that 1980 album back to the stage ahead of her recorded reimagining of the landmark work, out 6/8 via Kravenworks Records.
The singer, rapper and writer who has made a career of bucking genres and defying expectations adds a newly found orchestral influence to her theatrical and unapologetically bold live show. The member of the Doomtree hip-hop collective performs “enormously relatable and compelling … badass” (AV Club) tracks from her Chime album with “incredible gravitas, presence … and humanity” (NPR All Songs Considered) and a full band.
“Your new folk-rock heroes” (Rolling Stone) join the lineup for the 26th annual KROQ Weenie Roast. The five-piece band will play their Top 10 AAA radio hit “Silver Lining” and other tracks from their “amiable & soaring” (NPR Music) self-titled LP, out now via Dualtone.
The Pharrell-endorsed electric soul prodigy previews new music from his debut album with a hometown showcase. The German-born artist has been releasing his songs – all inspired by women whom have shaped his life, from high school crushes to godmother Chaka Khan to summer flings to his current girlfriend – track by track, "until he runs out of love songs."
The Wisconsin group returns to LA following a series of sold-out shows touring behind new album My Mother The Moon, which earned nods from Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR Music and more. The new music was produced by Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo), and the group's folk sound now carries a raw, revelatory and gospel-like weight that moves between sweeping orchestration, sparse fingerpicking and bluegrass romps.
Davis, who has been the special guest on tours with Bon Iver, The Staves, Punch Brothers, Watkins Family Hour and more, joins Lake Street Dive for a nearly sold-out tour. With her soon-to-be-released debut Delivery (7/13 via Rounder Records), Davis sets out to challenge listeners’ notions of what the harp can do with synths, AM rock and funk.
The soulful Canadian trio dresses contemporary ideas in vintage clothing, playfully defiant lyrics and talkback harmonies. The group honors the timely legacy of the original Rosie the Riveter with its new collection of empowerment anthems, Ms. Behave (4/6), and songs like “I Believe You,” which Billboard calls “powerful [and] daring.”
Davis, who has been the special guest on tours with Bon Iver, The Staves, Punch Brothers, Watkins Family Hour and more, joins Lake Street Dive for a nearly sold-out tour. With her soon-to-be-released debut Delivery (7/13 via Rounder Records), Davis sets out to challenge listeners’ notions of what the harp can do with synths, AM rock and funk.
Will Sheff and co. tour behind their electric and colorful new album In The Rainbow Rain (4/27 via ATO). The record is an exuberant declaration of hope, featuring big blooms of synths and guitars, a chorus of backing vocals and a spirituality and gratitude akin to a modern secular gospel record.
