The honorable Kinky Friedman — singer, songwriter, author, businessman, animal rescuer and former Texas gubernatorial candidate — begins his march across the South this week. Consequently, the Southern Discomfort Tour invades Baton Rouge next week for a … Continue reading →

A duo based in Portland, Ore., Talkdemonic makes its own kind of music. Kevin O’Connor and Lisa Molinaro travel with his drum kit and synthesizers and her viola and effects pedals. Pre-recorded tracks complement the … Continue reading →

From New Orleans to New Roads, Mardi Gras parades roll through Louisiana cities and towns every year at Carnival time. Float riders throw mass quantities of beads and trinkets to excited parade-goers, festive balls are staged, tons of … Continue reading →

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert and Breaux Bridge native Hunter Hayes are The Academy of Country Music Awards’ best new artist nominees.The trio of young country stars was … Continue reading →

Adele is the rare star who doesn’t need multiple magazine covers, a cosmetics contract or a clothing line to sell albums. She does it all based on the strength of that sumptuous voice and those stirring songs.Continue reading →

Male and female extras ages 18-60 are wanted for the new Tom Cruise movie.An untitled fantasy-adventure film directed by Joseph Kosinski (TRON: Legacy), the movie will be shot in Baton Rouge and New Orleans from … Continue reading →

Dierks Bentley
HOMECountry star Dierks Bentley delivers a made-to-please new album that covers love of home, country, babies and cold beer. But somehow tractors and dogs got left out. Regardless, can’t miss choruses … Continue reading →

Adele is the rare star who doesn’t need multiple magazine covers, a cosmetics contract or a clothing line to sell albums. She does it all based on the strength of that sumptuous voice and those stirring songs.Continue reading →

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Rapper 50 Cent is teaming up with the World Food Program to see firsthand the effects of hunger in Somalia and Kenya.The rap star flew to Dolo, Somalia on Wednesday. Tens of … Continue reading →

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert and Hunter Hayes are The Academy of Country Music Awards’ best new artist nominees.The trio of young country stars was chosen by fans and the … Continue reading →

A banjo kicks off Dierks Bentley’s new album “Home,” recalling a backwoods sound prevalent on his previous, bluegrass-inspired album “Up on the Ridge.”The similarities stop there. The bluegrass album generated rave reviews and but no radio … Continue reading →

From The Sky Down, a documentary about Irish rock group U2 recently released in Blu-ray and DVD formats, shows the band of the ’80s almost not surviving into the ’90s.Oscar-winning director Davis Guggenheim (It Might … Continue reading →

Texas blues-rock guitar maestro Johnny Winter has a full schedule of international touring on tap for 2012. The Beaumont native starts this month with dates in Dallas, Houston and New Orleans. A European tour follows. Then it’s … Continue reading →

Lana Del Rey
BORN TO DIELana Del Rey is a self-invented instant icon who sings sonic-noir and Cabaret-hip-hop in the unadorned fashion of Marlena Dietrich, Marianne Faithfull, Madonna and Mazzy Starr’s Hope Sandoval.Following … Continue reading →

Though the Yonder Mountain String Band does play traditional bluegrass instruments, bluegrass is just a part of the Colorado quartet’s musical makeup. For instance, country, rock, punk rock, pop and bluegrass all run through the band’s … Continue reading →

The Shows to Watch calendar is a listing of events taking place in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas from Feb. 3-Feb. 9.

NEW YORK (AP) — Adele is nominated for six Grammys, and she’ll be on deck to collect anything she wins: The 23-year-old singer is set to perform at the awards show.Adele had surgery on her vocal cords last … Continue reading →

Kellie Pickler, a one-time American Idol contestant, released her third major-label album this week. It’s a varied, often swaggering batch of songs, many of them co-written by this singer from a humble, even disadvantaged background … Continue reading →

PARK CITY, Utah — Neil Young recalls how his first concert film with director Jonathan Demme was a lush, stately tribute to country music.He says their latest, Neil Young Journeys, is more … Continue reading →

NEW YORK — The Secret Policeman’s Ball is letting America in on the party: The British-based music and comedy festival is coming to New York in March.Coldplay, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Mumford & … Continue reading →

In the months after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and the levee system in New Orleans and surrounding areas crumbled, New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint looked on the bright side.“So … Continue reading →

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kenny Chesney’s steamy duet, “You and Tequila” with Grace Potter, continues to radiate heat. The song helped Chesney to nine Academy of Country Music Awards nominations Thursday morning, including the top honor of entertainer of the year. Jason Aldean, next with six nominations, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and 2011 winner Taylor Swift round out the fan-voted category.

Inspired by the Velvet Underground and first-generation British and American punk rock, the transatlantic musical team known as the Kills will soon mark 10 years of concertizing. Though Englishman Jamie Hince and American Alison Mosshart usually perform … Continue reading →