Farm Aid Heads to Hershey; Johnny Depp & Douglas Brinkley Editing Unpublished Woody Guthrie Novel; Album Releases

• Here’s a cool piece from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation called “In the Footsteps of John A. Lomax: American Folk Song Collector.” In this feature, “narrated by folklorist Hal Cannon, we retrace those back roads of Texas and Louisiana to discover why the folk music that John Lomax documented in the early 20th century still resonates with us today. Join Cannon as he follows Lomax’s path, listening to the original recordings he made, visiting some of the places where Lomax recorded, and talking with the grandchildren of those he recorded. With the help of cultural observers, folklorists and historians, Cannon demonstrates how the simple act of acknowledging the lives and music of ordinary working people changed history. From the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas to Angola Prison in Louisiana this is a musical journey to the roots of popular music worldwide.”

• NPR asks: should cell phone and camera use be allowed at shows?

• Check out the video (which was shot in Iceland) for Megan Reilly’s “The Lady of Leitrim.” The song is about her great-aunt, who “emigrated to the US from Ireland but, overcome by life here ultimately took her own life by drowning herself in the East River.”

• The Pistol Annies have a new video for “Takin’ Pills.”

• Adam Sheets takes a look at the past and future of insurgent country music in the mainstream.

• Johnny Depp and historian/author Douglas Brinkley are editing an unpublished Woody Guthrie novel, House of Earth, for publication next spring.

• Emmylou Harris’ animal shelter, Bonaparte’s Retreat, was featured on The Today Show.

• Little Feat played “Rooster Rag” for Music Fog.

• Jewly Hight interviewed singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile for American Songwriter. Carlile also played a Tiny Desk Concert.

• Sarah Jarosz gets jazzy.

• This year’s Farm Aid concert will be held in Hershey, Pa. on September 22.

• Balsam Range, Nu-Blu, and others have been nominated for Carolina Music Awards. The ceremony will be held on July 15.

• Little Big Town co-wrote and recorded the theme song for ABC’s Good Afternoon America.

• Marissa R. Moss penned a lengthy feature on Sara Watkins for American Songwriter.

• Bassist Tyler Griffith is the newest member of Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

• Darius Rucker will include “Wagon Wheel” on his next album.

• Peter Cooper spoke with Rhonda Vincent about her new live gospel album.

• Here’s an article and video from the Star Tribune about how Minneapolis’ Target Field was prepared for a recent Kenny Chesney-Tim McGraw show.

• This week’s album releases:

Zac Brown Band – Uncaged (currently $3.99 on Amazon)

Rhonda Vincent – Sunday Mornin’ Singin’ Live

Hank Williams, Jr. – Old School, New Rules

Woody Guthrie – Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection

Elizabeth Mitchell – Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie

Chatham County Line – Sight & Sound (CD/DVD set)

Robert Plant & The Band of Joy – Live from the Artists Den (DVD)