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Acclaimed singer-songwriter, Rachael Yamagata, will release Chesapeake, her first studio album in three years on October 11, 2011. The album, produced by John Alagia, producer of Yamagata’s Happenstance album as well as albums from Liz Phair, Dave Matthews Band and Jason Mraz, will be self-released on her very own Frankenfish Records. Twelve days following the release of Chesapeake, Yamagata will hit the road on an extensive tour of the United States starting on October 24th in Portland, Maine at the Port City Music Hall and wind down on December 22nd in New York City at City Winery.

For Chesapeake, Yamagata recruited her “dream team” consisting of Victor Indrizzo (Sheryl Crow) on drums, guitarists Mike Viola (Candy Butchers), Michael Chaves (John Mayer), and Kevin Salem, (Dump Truck, Yo La Tengo), cellist Oli Kraus (Sia, Duffy) and Tom Freund on the upright bass. The result is an eclectic collection of songs projecting Yamagata’s new-found optimism and hopefulness, showcasing her sultry and smoky voice, rich, layered harmonies, striking ballads and soulful grooves.

Listeners can get a taste of what’s to come by downloading the song “Starlight” by visiting http://snd.sc/n6ajQf.

Praised by critics for her intimately confessional songwriting and arrangements, Rachael released her last album, Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart on Warner Bros. Records in October of 2008.   Entertainment Weekly called her delivery “gorgeous” and Rolling Stone said her “soulful, cigarette-scratched voice and melancholy lyrics recall Fiona Apple and PJ Harvey.” She toured extensively in support of the album playing to crowds throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. The New York Times hailed “With a deep, melancholy, breathy alto and a fondness for slow, sparsely chorded songs, Ms. Yamagata has a lot in common with Fiona Apple, Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan. And in her upbeat moments she can sound like a fuller-voiced Liz Phair or a less volatile Chrissie Hynde.” Songs from the album appeared in various television programs and films including Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Brothers and Sisters and more. She also made an appearance in the season finale of 30 Rock in 2009.

Tour Dates:

OCTOBER

24th - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall

25th - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Lodge

27th - Ithaca, NY - Deliah’s

28th -  Northampton, MA - Iron Horse

30th - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

31st - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live

NOVEMBER

1st - Washington, DC - Birchmere

2nd - Baltimore, MD - Sound Stage

4th - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory

5th -  Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café

6th - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom (Small Room)

7th - Detroit, MI - St Andrews Hall

8th - Chicago, IL - Logan Square

10th - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom

11th - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line

12th - Davenport, IA - Redstone Room

14th - Kansas City, KS - Record Bar

16th - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge

18th - Salt Lake City, UT - State Room

20th - Spokane, WA - A Club

21st - Vancouver, BC - Media Club

22nd - Seattle, WA - Crocodile

23rd - Portland, OR - Doug Fir

25th - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s

27th - San Diego, CA - Casbah

29th - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

30th - Tuscon, AZ - Crescent Ballroom

DECEMBER

2nd - Austin, TX - Parish

3rd - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald’s Upstairs

4th - Dallas, TX - The Loft

5th - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom – 2nd Stage

7th - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill

8th - Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter

9th - Birmingham, AL - Work Play

10th - Atlanta, GA - Vinyl

12th - Charleston, SC - New Brookland Tavern

13th - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre

15th - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506

16th - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern

17th - Louisville, KY - Headliners

18th - Columbus, OH - The Basement

20th - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell’s

21st - New York, NY - City Winery

22nd - New York, NY - City Winery

www.rachaelyamagata.com

Philadelphia’s Good Old War will play ten shows with Alison Krauss in June, beginning with a stop at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre on June 23rd. The band will then join Gomez for four east coast dates.

Good Old War has built a considerable following over the past year as support for Joshua Radin, Brandi Carlile, Dr. Dog, Xavier Rudd and Guster. The band, already popular veterans of SXSW and CMJ, became a fan favorite on this year’s second stage at Coachella.

The trio’s self-titled album debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart, reaching #1 on iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart and #1 overall at Amazon. They’ve now sold over 40,000 albums on their independent label, Sargent House. Good Old War is currently recording their third album, expected to be released in late 2011.

Good Old War with Alison Krauss

06/23  Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater
06/24  Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
06/28  Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavilion
06/29  Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield
07/01  Boise, ID @ Idaho Botanical Gardens
07/04  Calgary, AB @ Jack Singer Concert Hall
07/05  Edmonton, AB @ Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
07/07  Vancouver, BC @ Vancouver Island Music
07/08  Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Amphitheater
07/09  Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheater
07/10  Stateline, NV @ Lake Tahoe’s Harvey’s Outdoor Arena

Good Old War with Gomez

07/12  Boston, MA @ The Paradise
07/14  New York, NY @ Terminal 5
07/15  Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
07/18  Washington D.C. @ 9:30 Club

For more information check out www.goodoldwar.com

British songstress Ellie Goulding has announced a headlining North American tour in support of her debut solo album Lights that will begin July 23 in Atlanta.

Having already conquered her native Britain with the best selling debut album of 2010, singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding has won over the US audience garnering rave reviews.  Lights is, as the New York Times put it, “a happy car crash of signifiers: part electro-pop, part soul, part blues, part indie rock, part folk”  and Rolling Stone calls Lights, “sweet, sexed-up folktronica.”

Be sure to catch Ellie Goulding this summer at first annual Kanrocksas on Friday, August 5. For a complete list of tour dates, visit www.elliegoulding.com

This five song EP by matt pond PA is, to put it simply, really catchy. I can’t stop tapping my foot and bobbing my head, and after just one spin the songs are becoming familiar, a sure sign of their ability to stick with you. It’s the perfect summer soundtrack with poppy, infectious hooks and light, upbeat melodies. Spring Fools is somewhat of a break between the band’s last album, 2010’s The Dark Leaves, and what will most likely become Pond’s ninth record sometime in the future whether it be this year or next. By whittling things down to just five songs, singer-songwriter and namesake Matt Pond has created a really strong EP with what are some of his best songs.

Opening track “Love To Get Used” and the piano-laden “Lovers Always Win” see vocal accompaniment from Ariel Abshire, her voice adding extra layers of depth and warmth. The stripped down acoustic song “Spring Fawn” is a calm and thoughtful tune, while “Sugar Bush” finds emotion in both the lyrical narrative and the melodies themselves. It’s short and sweet and a staple for your next backyard barbecue. Set it on repeat and I’m betting it won’t get old.

Track listing:

1 Love To Get Used
2 Human Beings
3 Lovers Always Win
4 Spring Fawn
5 Sugar Bush

www.mattpondpa.com

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Priscillia Ahn has released a new music video for “I Don’t Have Time To Fall In Love.” Her newest album When You Grow Up is out now on EMI’s Blue Note Records, produced by Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne). Check out the video below:

www.priscillaahn.com