2006

Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, will be delivering his third studio album this spring on April 25th on Vice Records. “The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living” is a completely autobiographical record that covers various things that have happened to Mike over the past few years since he’s become a well known figure in the UK – there’s love, loss, scandal, violence, sex, drugs and a whole load of bad behavior and regret. It’s a true story. It’s not a ‘story’ record like his last LP, but the thread of Mike’s reality runs through every song.

Philadelphia-based band The Disco Biscuits are gearing up for the release of their double live album The Wind at Four to Fly to be released on SCI Fidelity Records on April 18. The band has returned to being a quartet with the addition of their new drummer Allen Aucoin. The auditioning process was lengthy but they found that Aucoin jumped straight in, meshing with the Biscuits’ in the groove, solid feeling called BISCO.

The Disco Biscuits are back in fine form after the departure of Sam Altman and a hiatus and are ready to greet the New Year with cross country touring and a wildly diverse live album. The first leg of the tour takes the band to the South East U.S. with many more dates to be announced in the near future.

Tour Dates

4/13/06 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
4/14/06 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
4/15/06 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
4/18/06 Starr Hill Charlottesville, VA
4/19/06 Rox Nightclub Wilmington, NC
4/20/06 Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC
4/21/06 Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC
4/22/06 Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC
4/23/06 Orange Peel Asheville NC
4/26/06 TBA TBA
4/27/06 Earthlink Live Atlanta, GA
4/28/06 Georgia Theatre Athens, GA
4/29/06 Georgia Theatre Athens, GA

In the clearest sign yet that Billy Corgan is moving ahead with his plan to revive seminal alternative rock act Smashing Pumpkins, sources say the group has signed a new management deal with Jared Paul and Paul Geary at the Irving Azoff-helmed Front Line Management.

Billboard.com has learned that Corgan and Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin will initially begin work on a new studio album, the first under the group name since the original Pumpkins’ 2000 swan song, “MACHINA/the machines of god.” When asked for comment, a Corgan spokesperson said there was no information to report at present.

It is understood that at this point, original members James Iha (guitar) and D’arcy Wretzky (bass) are not participating in the reunion, but sources say multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler will be involved in some fashion. Mohler formerly played bass in pop/rock act the Calling and was a featured contributor on Chamberlin’s 2005 solo album, “Life Begins Again.”

Source billboard.com.

Following a foray into wine, the estate of Jerry Garcia has licensed the late Grateful Dead guitarist’s name to a limited edition line of tea. Five blends of J. Garcia Artisan Teas will be available beginning March 1 from premium tea company the Republic of Tea.

Like the wines marketed by Clos du Bois, each J. Garcia Artisan Teas package will feature original artwork by the artist from a collection of more than 500 pieces created before his death in 1995. A portion of the proceeds from the teas will be donated to Draw Bridge, a non-profit organization that provides art programs for children in homeless shelters.

The first set of teas is made up of Morning Brew (black tea), Jerry Cherry (black tea, essence of Bing cherries and vanilla), Shady Grown (blend of Brazilian Yerba Mate and South African Rooibos with cinnamon and vanilla), Magic Herb Blend (caffeine-free, orange and peppermint) and Spirit of Sage (green tea with sage).

Source billboard.com.

Rogue Wave, Thursday, Isis, the National, Feist, Two Gallants, Minus the Bear, Kid Koala, the Dirtbombs, We Are Scientists and a collaboration between Four Tet and drummer Steve Reid will all be on display at the fourteenth Noise Pop Festival, which will be held March 28-April 2 at venues throughout San Francisco.

This year will boast the return of the Noise Pop Film Festival as well as an Educational Series. Several events blending literature and music are also in the works.

“Every year we try to offer shows that you wouldn’t have a chance to see outside of Noise Pop,” says Noise Pop partner Jordan Kurland. “Whether it’s convincing a band that sold out a big room last time through town to play a small club or looking for something that has never been done in town before, we are always aiming to do something unique.

Tickets for individual Noise Pop shows go on sale Sunday (Feb. 5), with festival badges to follow on Feb. 12.

Source billboard.com.

High Sierra Music has announced more additions to the 2006 High Sierra Music Festival music line-up. My Morning Jacket will be making their first High Sierra appearance. This Louisville, Kentucky quintet has won the hearts of critics and audiences with two superb studio releases on ATO Records, It Still Moves and Z (which topped many best of charts in 2005), and their exhilarating, visually provocative live performances. The Disco Biscuits will be returning to High Sierra for their first appearance since 2003. After a period of change and transition, this “trance-fusion” quartet is back with a new drummer, newfound energy, and a new double-live album The Wind At Four To Fly (to be released April 18 on SCI Fidelity Records). Asheville, NC’s Toubab Krewe is a band new to High Sierra band that’s been making waves with their blend of Malian, southern rock, and surf music that has won praise from the New York Times, Global Rhythm Magazine and Afropop Worldwide. High Sierra Music will continue to announce more artists for this year’s festival.

HIGH SIERRA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2006 LINE-UP:
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Radiohead, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Beck, Bonnie Raitt and Buddy Guy are among the acts lined up to play the fifth annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, to be held June 16-18 in Manchester, Tenn. A list of confirmed acts follows, with more to be announced in the weeks ahead to round out the festival’s 80-plus acts.

Confirmed Acts

Radiohead
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Phil Lesh & Friends
Beck
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Bonnie Raitt
Death Cab for Cutie
moe.
Bright Eyes
The Neville Brothers
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Buddy Guy
Damian Marley
Ben Folds
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Dr. John
Matisyahu
G. Love & Special Sauce
My Morning Jacket
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Steel Pulse
Mike Gordon and Ramble Dove
Cat Power
Medeski Martin & Wood
Nickel Creek
Gomez
Atmosphere
Steve Earle
Blues Traveler
Amadou & Mariam
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Dresden Dolls
Son Volt
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jerry Douglas
Soulive
Rusted Root
Devendra Banhart Band
Donavon Frankenreiter
Mike Doughty
Sasha
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
The Magic Numbers
Bill Frisell
Seu Jorge
Bettye LaVette
Dungen
Shooter Jennings
Rebirth Brass Band
Robinella
Andrew Bird
Steel Train
Jackie Greene
Devotchka
Wood Brothers
dios (malos)
Toubab Krewe
The Motet
Marah
I-Nine
Balkan Beat Box
Cat Empire

Tickets for the 2006 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will go on sale Saturday, February 11, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time through Bonnaroo.com. For more information, go to bonnaroo.com.

The 48th annual Grammy Awards will open with a bang, as international superstar Madonna will be paired with “virtual band” Gorillaz. The group will be present via 3D color animation in what the Recording Academy is calling a first for network television. It is unknown what songs will make up the collaboration.

Madonna is a five-time Grammy winner, but not nominated for any honors this year. Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.” featuring De La Soul is vying for record of the year, best pop collaboration with vocals and best short form music video, and the group’s “Dirty Harry” featuring Bootie Brown is up for best urban/alternative performance.

As previously reported, pairings of U2 and Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill and Keith Urban, Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock and Jamie Foxx with Kanye West and Mariah Carey with Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir are also planned for the ceremony. Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and Sugarland will also perform separately, while a tribute to legendary R&B act Sly & the Family Stone will feature Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, Joss Stone, John Legend, Maroon 5, Robert Randolph and Devin Lima.

Newly announced presenters Michael Bubl