2003

Backing up last year

The Denver area’s renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the subject and benefactor of a new CD compilation to be distributed through Best Buy. All proceeds from “Red Rocks Volume I: Carved in Stone” — which features songs by Indigo Girls, Phish, Dave Matthews Band, the Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, and more — will go to the Preserve the Rocks Fund, which is dedicated to the restoration and upkeep of the venue.
“Carved in Stone” features 10 songs recorded between 1994 and 2002 and also include contributions from Rickie Lee Jones, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, String Cheese Incident, and Little Feat. Seven of the album’s recordings are seeing their first-ever commercial release on the compilation.
Here is the track list for “Red Rocks Volume I: Carved in Stone”:
“Bittersweet,” Big Head Todd & the Monsters”The Best of What’s Around,” Dave Matthews Band”Ghost,” Indigo Girls”Simple,” Phish”Hate To Lose Your Lovin’,” Little Feat”Close Your Eyes,” String Cheese Incident”Give,” Widespread Panic”Alone,” Blues Traveler”Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More,” Allman Brothers Band”Company,” Rickie Lee Jones
Source Billboard.com.

Wilco will be placing a new six-song EP available on their web site

New Orleans funk ensemble Galactic is recording a new full-length album and has enlisted producer Dan “The Automator” Nakamura to lend his talents in the studio. “Working with this band in New Orleans gives me a whole different palate of flavors,” said a statement from Nakamura, who has worked with the likes of Gorillaz, Prince Paul, and Kool Keith.
“Dan is the perfect producer for us right now,” added Galactic bassist Robert Mercurio. “We were already headed in this direction, and it’s great to have a producer who can run with that.”
The fruit of this collaboration — due in the fall on Volcano Records — will be Galactic’s first studio album in three years. It will be the follow-up to 2000’s “Late for the Future,” which debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. In September 2001, the group released the live document “We Love ‘Em Tonight: Live at Tipitina’s,” which debuted at No. 3 on the same chart.
In addition to previously announced appearances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Manchester, Tenn.’s Bonnaroo festival, the band is also hitting a number of other fairs and package concerts this summer, including performances at Cityfest Live in Charlotte, N.C., the All Good Festival in Masontown, W.V., Jubilee Cityfest in Montgomery, Ala., and the 1000 Lakes Festival in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Source Billboard.com.

Dance clubs, concert halls and even outdoor festivals are in danger of being put out of business due to a new piece of legislation that passed in Congress on April 10th. According to the bill, any individual who owns or operates a venue where audience members are using drugs could be sent to jail or subjected to steep fines. The bill was tacked onto the Amber Alert Act, concerning child abductions

Blues legend, BB King and his trusty sidekick Lucille are still going strong and will release Reflections, his first album in three years on June 10th. King celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of his first recording later this year. The 13 track recording contains 12 covers, including songs by Lonnie Johnson and Clyde Otis, as well as a remake of King

In case you missed out or got sold out of the recent Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds acoustic tour, an extra show has been announced for May 5th at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA. This is a benefit for The Tiger Kloof School in South Africa. Tickets go on sale to the general public on April 26th, while you can also obtain tickets through the band

Is one stage big enough for both Kiss and Aerosmith? Probably not, but they will attempt to combine their sixty years of combined musical history on one stage with a joint summer tour in ampitheaters across the U.S. beginning August 2 in Hartford, CT and wrapping up Oct. 18 in California. Special guest Saliva, will open the shows. For a full list of dates, visit Pollstar.com
In other Aerosmith news, the band is about to head in the studio to record their next album that will consist mainly of blues songs. About two thirds of the material are covers songs, while the rest will be original blues tunes. Blind Willie McTell’s “Broke Down Engine,” Little Walter’s “Temperature,” and “I’m Ready,” famously recorded by both Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters, are among the songs being worked up by the band. The yet untitled record is scheduled to hit stores in September.
Source Billboard.com.