MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD Release Music Video For New Single "Summertime Is In Our Hands"

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD

RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE

"SUMMERTIME IS IN OUR HANDS"

U.S. LEG OF "LOVE OUT LOUD" WORLD TOUR

CURRENTLY UNDERWAY

Above: Michael Franti on tour in Japan

Credit: Hiroki Nishioka

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD--led by the socially and environmentally conscious singer, songwriter and guitarist--released a joyous, positive and uplifting video for "Summertime Is In Our Hands" over the Memorial Day Weekend which Franti talked aboutduring an interview on the nationally syndicated "Delilah" radio show, which has an estimated eight million listeners (listen to the full podcast episode via iTunes here). Filmed in Bali and directed by Franti, the video brings to life a vibrant story about enjoying every moment with a heartening plot twist towards the end. Click here to watch.

The song--off his most recent and ninth studio album, SOULROCKER(Fantasy Records)--carries very meaningful inspiration for Franti as it was written when his son was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. As a result of the diagnosis, they grew closer, valuing their time. The feeling is "summer is whenever, the memories last," says Franti. "Live your life to the fullest, even in the darkest hour." A mini-documentary about the "Summertime Is In Our Hands"video and the "Do It For The Love" organization--the wish-granting non-profit co-founded by Franti and his wife Sara that brings people living with life-threatening illnesses, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans to live concerts--has also been released. Watch the moving mini-documentary here.

Onstage is where MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD truly take flight;they embracethe power of music knowing how it can inspire, uplift, and make people want to dance or cry. For the aptly titled "Love Out Loud" world tour, which kicked off March 2 in Alaska including international performances already completed in South Africa and Japan,the group will be stopping all over from now through early October, with stops in San Diego, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, Kansas City, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, Austin, Boise and Saratoga, among many others. Following this past weekend's performance at the BottleRock Festival in Napa, the "Love Out Loud" tour will also include festival stops at Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in San Diego, CA on June 4, Mountain Jam Festival in Hunter, NY on June 18California World Fest in Grass Valley, CA on June 16, and Floydfest inFloyd, VA on July 8 among others, before wrapping at Tour De Fat in Tempe, AZ on October 7. See below for a list of upcoming North American tour dates.

Catch MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD on the road:

DATE		CITY	VENUE
Sun	6/4	San Diego, CA	Rock 'N' Roll Marathon
**Sun	6/4	Solana Beach, CA	Belly Up Tavern
**Mon	6/5	Solana Beach, CA	Belly Up Tavern
~Fri	6/9	Huntington, NY	The Paramount
*Sat	6/10	New York, NY	PlayStation Theater
Sun	6/11	Russell Township, OH	LaureLive 2017
*Tue	6/13	Munhall, PA	Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
^^Thu	6/15	Asbury Park, NJ	Stone Pony Summer Stage
*Fri	6/16	Lowell, MA	Boarding House Park
*Sat	6/17	Philadelphia, PA	Electric Factory
Sun	6/18	Hunter, NY	Mountain Jam 2017
***Tue	6/20	Portland, ME	Thompson's Point
^Wed	6/21	Burlington, VT	Higher Ground
^Thu	6/22	Lebanon, NH	Lebanon Opera House
^Fri	6/23	Hyannis, MA	Cape Cod Melody Tent
^Sat	6/24	Ithaca, NY	State Theatre
^Sun	6/25	Silver Spring, MD	The Fillmore
^Tue	6/27	New Haven, CT	College Street Music Hall
Thu	6/29	Saskatoon, SK	Saskatchewan Jazz Festival
Sat	7/1	Richmond, VA	Jam Sandwich Festival
Mon	7/3	N. Myrtle Beach, SC	House of Blues
Thu	7/6	Fish Creek, WI	Door Community Auditorium
Fri	7/7	Bayfield, WI	Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua
Sat	7/8	Harbor Springs, MI	Blissfest
Mon	7/10	Columbia, MO	Rose Music Hall
Tue	7/11	Kansas City, MO	CrossroadsKC
>>Thu	7/13	Morrison, CO	Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Thu	7/13	Morrison, CO	Red Rocks Amphitheatre
			(LOVE OUT LOUD Yoga w/ Gina Caputo)
Fri	7/14	Alta, WY	Targhee Fest 2017
Sat	7/15	Seattle, WA	The Gorge Amphitheater (supporting Train)
Sun	7/16	Grass Valley, CA	California WorldFest
Sat	7/22	Oakville, CA	Robert Mondavi Winery w/ Ethan Tucker
Fri	7/28	Floyd, VA	FloydFest 17
Sat	7/29	Selbyville, DE	The Freeman Stage at Bayside
Sun	7/30	Wilmington, NC	Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Tue	8/1	Raleigh, NC	The Ritz
Wed	8/2	Charlotte, NC	Neighborhood Theatre
Thu	8/3	Asheville, NC	Salvage Station
Tue	8/8	Atlanta, GA	Variety Playhouse
^Fri	8/11	Chicago, IL	Concord Music Hall
Sun	8/13	Royal Oak, MI	Royal Oak Music Theatre
Tue	8/15	Peoria, IL	Riverfront Feastival Park
Wed	8/16	Grand Rapids, MI	Meijer Gardens
^Fri	8/18	Minneapolis, MN	Cabooze Outdoor Plaza
^Sat	8/19	Papillion, NE	Sumtur Amphitheater
^Sun	8/20	Des Moines, IA	Simon Estes Amphitheater
^Mon	8/21	Tulsa, OK	Cain's Ballroom
^Wed	8/23	Dallas, TX	Majestic Theater
^Thu	8/24	Houston, TX	White Oak Music Hall Downstairs
^Fri	8/25	Austin, TX	Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater
Sun	8/27	Livermore, CA	Taylor Family Foundation
Wed	9/6	Jacksonville, OR	Britt Pavilion
Thu	9/7	Eugene, OR	Cuthbert Amphitheater
Fri	9/8	Bend, OR	Les Schwab Amphitheater
Sat	9/9	Troutdale, OR	McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
Mon	9/11	Missoula, MT	Big Sky Brewery Company
Tue	9/12	Spokane, WA	Knitting Factory Concert House
Thu	9/14	Boise, ID	Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden
Fri	9/15	Lake Tahoe, NV	MontBleu Resort & Casino
Sat	9/16	Templeton, CA	Beaverstock Music Festival
Tue	9/19	Saratoga, CA	The Mountain Winery
Fri	9/29	Flagstaff, AZ	Pepsi Amphitheater
Sat	9/30	Taos, NM	Kit Carson Park
Sun	10/1	Oro Valley, AZ	Oro Valley Music Festival
Sat	10/7	Tempe, AZ	Tour De Fat

*** with St. Paul & The Broken Bones

** with Paul Cannon

* with Nattali Rize

~ with Nattali Rize and Adam Ezra Group

^^ with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

^ with Satsang

> with Landon McNamara

>> with Trevor Hall & HIRIE

Rainer Maria announce first new album since 2006

RAINER MARIA ANNOUNCE FIRST NEW MUSIC IN OVER A DECADE NEW ALBUM S/T OUT AUGUST 18TH ON POLYVINYL RECORDS HEAR THE SONG “LOWER WORLDS” VIA NPR MUSIC

Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill (Download) Polyvinyl Records is thrilled to announce beloved trio Rainer Maria’s first new release in over a decade. Produced by band member William Kuehn and mixed by Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier, S/T will come out August 18th, and marks the band’s return to their original label home. Today the band share “Lower Worlds” via NPR Music, who write that the song “rumbles and surges at an even pace, as the vocals of De Marrais and Fischer deliver welcome jolts en route to a furious finish.” Stream “Lower Worlds” on NPR Music via YouTube (Pre-Order via Polyvinyl Records) If you happened upon the front page of the New York Times arts section on April 13th, 2006, you might likely have been taken by one of two reactions. Perhaps “Who?” Or maybe for the long devoted adherents, “Finally!” There they were, a trio who came up in the idealistic confines of Madison, WI, and the fertile incubator that was the Midwest’s ‘90s indie rock scene, now perched atop a Brooklyn warehouse with the sunset-drenched Manhattan skyline behind them. Momentary conquerors at what would turn out to be the tail end of a decade of trailblazing creativity, Rainer Maria had reached a mountaintop of sorts, and yet by the end of the year they’d be bidding farewell to sold out crowds at the Bowery Ballroom and Williamsburg Brooklyn’s now almost mythical DIY haunt, Northsix. A decade earlier, during the summer of 1995, Kaia Fischer, William Kuehn, and Caithlin De Marrais, collectively Rainer Maria, were getting their start in a college town not necessarily known as a nexus for any scene. That isolation may have proven fruitful as they crafted their own unique sound, spinning raw and tumultuous emotion into introspective rock songs, with literary and philosophical interests and influences that endeared them to many also searching through the underground for their place in the world. A self-titled EP released in 1996 would be followed by signing to the then nascent Polyvinyl Records and the release of their first full-length albums, Past Worn Searching and Look Now, Look Again. Those first releases, paired with an ambitious amount of time spent in DIY spaces, basement shows, and rock clubs throughout the US, fostered a dedicated following for the trio while connecting them to other scenes and musicians throughout the country. Rainer Maria, likely without realizing it at the time, were on their way to cementing themselves as an early cornerstone for Polyvinyl, and as ambassadors of the midwest indie rock scene now so revered by later day musicians and fans. In 1999 they moved to New York City, in part to be closer to family and loved ones, but with the added effect of further unconsciously spreading that gospel. Throughout the first half of the aughts, Rainer Maria would release three more full-length albums. Evolving their sound as they tightened their craft, the band continued to hit the road with opening acts ranging from Ted Leo and Rilo Kiley to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, whom Rainer Maria took out on tour for the then young band’s first string of East Coast dates outside of New York. By 2006, however, Rainer Maria were feeling the strain of having spent life since their late teens as part of the same band. Collectively, they felt a desire to explore other avenues of living, and so, after a few rapturous farewell shows attended by fans from around the world, Rainer Maria hung up their hats. De Marrais moved out of the City, releasing two well-regarded solo records of intricate, meticulously crafted pop. Kuehn spent time living in Syria and Yemen, studying and playing music with a variety of artists with all sorts of different approaches and ideas. Fischer studied Tibetan language and Tibetan Buddhism at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University, a journey that brought her into a traditional-style Tibetan apprenticeship and eventually to living in Asia. (During this time, she also came out as a trans person.) Over the years that followed, offers for shows would come in every so often, but the band were neither emotionally nor geographically prepared to seriously entertain them. Slowly but surely though, they migrated back to the New York City area, and perhaps more importantly, had moved further along on their own personal journeys. So when the latest offer came in a few years ago, the three got together for dinner to catch up and feel out where they all were both personally and musically. While none of them yet felt the allure of the stage, all three were excited with the idea of writing and recording together again, and so in lieu of any new shows, they began the process of writing the songs that would become S/T. Guided by their shared history as songwriters, and buoyed by their recent adventures and explorations in music and life as individuals, S/T fits like well worn boots with the spring of new soles. Intuitively written without much post-mortem intellectualization, the album benefits from its origin as an exercise in fun between old friends who didn’t necessarily have the intention of releasing a new record when they started down the path. The lyrics are full of natural imagery, influenced by the more pastoral setting outside De Marrais’ window—soil and greenery, weather patterns, and other markers of country life. While sonically, S/T retains and even amplifies the core grit and vigor that Rainer Maria has always had as a band. The album also benefits mightily from Kuehn’s hand at production, his first time doing so for a Rainer Maria release. His bandmates implicit trust in him is a guiding force allowing each song to take on its own distinct life without losing a sense of overall cohesion. In listening, one gets the feeling Rainer Maria were far from the end of their road together as they stared towards the horizon from that rooftop in April 2006, but rather have much further yet to travel. Upcoming Tour Dates Below rainermaria.com facebook.com/rainermariamusic instagram.com/rainermariamusic S/T Album Art Upcoming Tour Dates: OCTOBER 25-26 - Ybor City, FL - PRE FEST 5 27-29 - Gainesville, FL - FEST 16

Brian Eno joins The Gift on stage for a rare live performance (full video)!

Brian Eno and The Gift perform "Love Without Violins" live, for the very first time! Brian Eno joined The Gift onstage in London last week and we have the video to prove it! ALTAR was released worldwide May 5th. ‘It's not very often that you'll encounter a group like The Gift. With…intense, idiosyncratic songwriting, the future pop outfit are already the toast of their native Portugal’ – Clash Magazine ‘their unashamed love of theatrical chamber pop tinged with an array of sounds from ambient interludes to discordant electronica make them a must-see’ - Drowned In Sound "ambitious indie-electronic art-pop compositions that recalls the best work of David Bowie, Depeche Mode and Talking Heads." - 4/5 Ghettoblaster Magazine "Extraordinary and addictive piece of music" - Gigwise "'I Loved It All' is a symphonic anthem" – Impose Magazine   “a fantastic collection of songs that pull the listener into this vibrant, colourful world of different moods and interesting quirks; theatrical pop that brings in discordant synths and an intense, joyous expression of creative talent.” The Independent   "Each track feels epically layered, yet oddly open, and the entirety of Altar seems jigsaw puzzle-piece fit and interlocking. Impressive." - 8/10 Magnet Magazine   "'Big Fish' pushes the band’s sound into something that’s even more playful and more dynamic than what we heard on Explode, layering synth hooks on top of reverb breakdowns and just the right amount of funk guitar in the background to keep things moving.” – PopMatters   "Altar's emotion and melody has something for everyone and contains enough tasty morsels to provide many a late-night snack or make an excellent musical smorgasbord for your summer pool-party." - 7/10 Under The Radar   “An inspired collection of sonically inventive, discreetly theatrical pop” - 8/10 Uncut.

Forward-thinking alt-pop quartet The Gift released their eagerly awaited album, Altar, May 5th on their own La Folie Records. The band's sixth album was produced and co-written by music maverick Brian Eno and mixed by sonic master Flood.  The ten timeless songs, from the thrilling ‘Love Without Violins’ – which sees Eno sharing vocals with singer Sónia Tavares’ – to the synth-pop explosion of ‘Clinic Hope’, the funk-flavoured ‘Malifest’, and on to the desperately moving ‘Vitral’, are the perfect representation of a band in constant evolution and artistic growth. While the upcoming third single ‘Big Fish’, after a back and forth oscillation between the two poles which characterizes the album, perfectly bridges the gap between alt-pop and electronic sounds.  “Altar is the life story we can record and trace in all of us,” explains the band talking about the concept behind the album. The title well represents their respect for the writing and recording process or ‘ceremony’ – as they like to call it – with Eno. The one with the producer is a collaboration they dreamed over twenty years, and which involved six recording sessions; four in Galizia, one London and one in their home studio in Alcobaça, the small city an hour north of Lisbon where the childhood friends formed The Gift in 1994. Doubts, fears, insecurities, victories and excitement filled the room, before the producer they always admired would walk in every morning helping them to create what is their most compelling album yet. The producer’s unconventional approach, included tapes rolled all day long, and often they began shaping songs with extended jam sessions in which Eno would also take part, as well as a couple of his famous ‘Oblique Strategies’ and a whiteboard where “He’d write things on the board,” Sonía remembers, “and had this pointer, like a real classroom.” Eno took them on expeditions, too, packing a car with keyboards so they could record by a nearby river, and collaborated on the lyrics, helping develop ideas by literally drawing them. Altar represents the crowning glory of The Gift’s career to date. A masterful culmination of the last few years of The Gift musical development, drawing together the strength of their unique live performances and expertly crafted production in what is one of the most captivating releases of the year.

Dale Crover (The Melvins) Releases His Debut Solo Album, The Fickle Finger of Fate, on Aug. 4

	DALE CROVER (THE MELVINS) RELEASES HIS DEBUT SOLO ALBUM, THE FICKLE FINGER OF FATE, ON AUG. 4 VIA JOYFUL NOISE RECORDINGS ROLLING STONE SPEAKS WITH CROVER; STREAMS “LITTLE BROTHER” http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/melvins-drummer-dale-crover-on-his-debut-solo-album-w485159 PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/fickle-finger-of-fate

Photo credit: Shervin Lainez

	June 1, 2017, LOS ANGELES – Dale Crover, legendary drummer for the Melvins, is set to release his first solo album, The Fickle Finger of Fate, on Aug. 4 via Joyful Noise Recordings. “I got the idea to do this record after doing the super limited ‘Skins’ disc,” explains Crover. “The idea was to write new songs that all tie in with drum haikus from ‘Skins.” The songs on The Fickle Finger of Fate range from weirdo rock to poppy strangeness with psychotic, psychedelic drum grooves as palate cleansers in between. Rolling Stone spoke with Crover about the release, saying “the LP... is no traps-bashing chops-feast, instead showcasing a melodic sensibility weaned on Sixties pop and Seventies arena rock, with no shortage of wild effects,” as well as giving fans a sneak preview with a stream of “Little Brother” (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/melvins-drummer-dale-crover-on-his-debut-solo-album-w485159). Pre-orders are available now via the Joyful Noise webstore (www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/fickle-finger-of-fate). The 20-track album, which features several interludes, was co-produced by Crover and longtime producer Toshi Kasai. Crover played the bulk of the instruments on the collection (guitar, keyboards, drums) as well as vocals. Guests include Redd Kross’ Steven McDonald, Dan Southwick (Altamont) and Crover’s adorable 11-year-old daughter Scarlett who assists with violin, percussion and vocals. Amongst his 30-plus-year career as one-half of the essential Melvins roster, Crover has contributed to countless albums ranging from platinum-plated classics (Nirvana’s “Bleach”) to seminal cult LPs. However, up until this point, Crover’s solo efforts have been limited to the Melvins’ 1992 KISS-themed solo EP, and a couple of intermittent 7” releases. The Fickle Finger of Fate has its beginnings in the bizarre, six spindle-holed, 12-sided record “Skins,” which was also released via Joyful Noise In 2016, Crover was more or less “commissioned” to compose twelve 30-second songs to satisfy the requirements of this crazy record format. The fugues created through this haiku-like exercise ended up providing the basis of what would become The Fickle Finger of Fate.

The Fickle Finger of Fate album cover

OH WONDER ANNOUNCE WORLD TOUR | ULTRALIFE OUT 7/14

OH WONDER ANNOUNCE 55 DATE WORLD TOUR BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER

SOPHOMORE ALBUM ULTRALIFE OUT 7/14 - AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR THE ALBUM’S TITLE TRACK “ULTRALIFE”

New York, NY (June 1^st, 2017) – Oh Wonder (Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West) are pleased to announce their US, UK, Russian, and European World Tour in support of their forthcoming sophomore album, Ultralife – out July 14^th. The British duo will head out on fifty-five dates including twenty four in the US, starting on September 12^th at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN and leading up to Moore Theater in Seattle, WA on October 22^nd. Tickets for all live dates go on sale through OhWonderMusic.com on June 9^th.

Oh Wonder have recently shared the fourth track from their upcoming sophomore album,“Heavy”, which launched with a video that stitches together 2665 individual photographs to create the allusion of the British duo dancing within a makeshift color cube. “Heavy” follows Oh Wonder’s current single “Ultralife”, as well as previous releases “Lifetimes”, and “My Friends”. Their new album Ultralife, which was written in New York City and then recorded and produced entirely by the duo in South East London, is available now for pre-order HERE and will be released on July 14^th through Island / Republic Records.
 
Listen to the songs from Ultralife: “Ultralife” | “Lifetimes” | “My Friends” | “Heavy”
Pre-order Oh Wonder’s Sophomore Album Ultralife HERE



OH WONDER ULTRALIFE U.S. TOUR DATES
09/12 - First Avenue - Minneapolis
09/13 - Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee
09/15 - The Vic Theatre - Chicago
09/18 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto
09/21 - Metropolis - Montreal
09/22 - House of Blues - Boston
09/23 - College Street Music Hall - New Haven
09/26 - Brooklyn Steel - New York
09/27 - Brooklyn Steel - New York
09/29 - The Fillmore - Philadelphia
09/30 - Mr. Small’s Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA
10/02 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
10/04 - The National - Richmond, VA
10/06 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC
10/07 - Bijou Theatre - Knoxville, TN
10/08 - Iron City - Birmingham, AL
10/10 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX
10/11 - Stubb’s BBQ - Austin, TX
10/13 - Tricky Falls - El Paso, TX
10/14 - The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
10/15 - Soma - San Diego, CA
10/18 - Shrine Expo Hall - Los Angeles, CA
10/19 - The Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA
10/21 - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
10/22 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA

FIND OH WONDER ONLINE
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Miranda Lee Richards @ Bootleg Theater

Following is the set list last night’s MIRANDA LEE RICHARDS performance at the Bootleg Theater…

All songs performed are from her forthcoming new album EXISTENTIAL BEAST due out June 16 on Invisible Hands 

Music: https://mirandaleerichards.bandcamp.com

1.    Ashes And Seeds

2.    The Wildwood

3.    Lucid I Would Dream

4.    Golden Gate

5.    Back To The Source

6.    Existential Beast

7.    Oh Raven

8.    On The Outside Of Heaven

9.    Autumn Sun

10. Another World