songs for joplin

This was a news post I wrote for PopWreckoning, but felt it was important enough to post here as well.

Songs For Jopin started as an idea to help a tragedy-stricken town. By pursuing his interest in both music and social media, Zach Becker began to accumulate interest in a music sampler to benefit relief efforts. The idea gained momentum with the help of Twitter as a friend of his, singer-songwriter Derek Webb retweeted Becker’s original request asking musicians to donate songs. The response was overwhelming and in a matter of days, Becker and friends had a name for their project as well as an album of songs to back it. The album includes many local St. Louis artists (Union Tree Review, Sleepy Kitty, Beth Bombara) as well as others from Nashville and Los Angeles. It was released on Noisetrade on June 3 and has already achieved over 400 downloads and $1300 in donations, placing it in the top ten most popular downloads.

The day before the album released, Zach was interviewed by local news blog the Riverfront Times, garnering even more interest in an already rapidly growing idea. Album artwork was made, as were promotional designs and a website thanks to St. Louis design studio Rampant Creative Group. Fliers were printed and would be passed out at the coming Riverfront Times Music Showcase.

“Social media has played a huge role in the success of this little idea, and we ask that you help us maintain that momentum by tweeting and sharing this with your friends. With the album now available for download, we are all excited to see how successful it is as a means of getting money into the hands of those who can help the people of Joplin. All profits from the album downloads will be given to the Heart of Missouri United Way, in order to help relief efforts through their “United for Joplin” campaign. With your help, Songs for #Joplin can be a success. Please donate and download the album, and help to rebuild a community.”

Visit www.songsforjoplin.com for more information.

Download the album directly from Noisetrade here: www.noisetrade.com/songsforjoplin

kanrocksas - brand new festival in kansas city, same weekend as lollapalooza

kansas city’s going big, hosting an inaugural festival the same weekend as lollapalooza in chicago. (closer, cheaper, plus press passes? sign me up.)

line up includes:

eminem
muse

the black keys, a perfect circle, the flaming lips, kid cudi, d12, girl talk, primus, flogging molly, jack’s mannequin, arctic monkeys, fitz and the tantrums, tinie tempah, and more to be announced. 

presale starts tomorrow so get on it.

great news! new bon iver album release date and track list

"Justin Vernon’s taking his Coachella/Kanye press bump to officially announce the release of his long awaited For Emma followup, slated for June 21st on Jagjaguwar. As we heard via the 50-second sample he released, Bon Iver stays liking harmonies and guitars, though for his ten-song self-titled new album we are promised an expanded palette which includes “silky electric guitars, beautifully intricate keys, and subtle horn and string sections.” The painting featured in that sample-video turns out to be the album art, pictured above, by Minnesota-based artist Gregory Euclide (Bon Iver also stays liking the midwest — see also track titles “Minnesota, WI,” “Michicant,” “Lisbon, OH”). Colin Stetson joins as part of the album’s horn section, among some other guests that fill supplemental roles; the Bon Iver band is the same as that you’ve grown accustomed to at live shows and via your “Bon Iver in concert” YouTube searches. Below is the tracklist." (via stereogum)

TRACKLIST:
01 “Perth”
02 “Minnesota, WI”
03 “Holocene”
04 “Towers”
05 “Michicant”
06 “Hinnom, TX”
07 “Wash.”
08 “Calgary”
09 “Lisbon, OH”
10 “Beth/Rest”

 

(read the article in it's entirety, along with a fantastic new bio of bon iver and the upcoming album here.)