Stream New Music from Rhett Miller and Alejandro Escovedo; Kenny Chesney Renews Sony Music Nashville Deal; Album Releases

• Here’s an interesting article about a man making banjos with wood salvaged from a nuclear facility that’s being decommissioned.

• Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki played some tambourine for the Avett Brothers at the band’s show in Grand Prairie, Texas on Sunday.

• At the Diamond Jubilee Concert across the pond, Cheryl Cole and Gary Barlow covered “Need You Now.”  They were presumably thrown in the Tower immediately following that performance. (Thanks to reader Sam B. for sending this our way).

• Kelly Dearmore interviewed Gillian Welch for American Songwriter.

• Check out new Zac Brown Band song, “The Wind.”

• Peter Cooper on Marty Stuart: [T]he poor guy hasn’t had a Top 40 country hit in 15 years. Fifteen years was seven albums ago. It was 1997, when Steve Jobs returned to Apple Computer and Princess Diana died, and Rebecca Black of “Friday” YouTube fame was born (OMG!!!) and Sony Records released music from newly signed band The Dixie Chicks.

• Kelly Hogan played a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices.

• Stream new albums from Rhett Miller (Old 97s), Langhorne Slim, Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Walsh, and Gangstagrass.

• Douglas Heselgrave posted his interview with Willie Nelson on No Depression.

• On his Friday, June 8 concert at the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC, Ralph Stanley will honor his friend, the late Doc Watson. 

• The new Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Trail Mix includes cuts from Marley’s Ghost, Larry Stephenson, Cory Branan, Dala, and others. The free download can be found here.

• Chris Young talks touring with Cowboys & Indians.

• Kenny Chesney re-upped with Sony Music Nashville.

• C.M. Wilcox posted a new Quotable Country.

• Kelcy Salisbury of Farce the Music interviewed Texas singer-songwriter Bo Phillips.

• Tickets for Shania Twain’s Vegas residency go on sale this Friday.

• Congratulations to the winners of our Country USA ticket giveaway. Mike M. and Katy won the five-day passes, and Bobby Peacock and Mary Lou won the one-day passes. Check your email.

• This week’s album releases:

Alan Jackson – Thirty Miles West

Alejandro Escovedo – Big Station

Bap Kennedy – The Sailor’s Revenge

Bela Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio – Across the Imaginary Divide

Brandi Carlile – Bear Creek

Gangstagrass – Rappalachia

Jana Kramer – Jana KramerAnalog Man [+digital booklet]

Joe Walsh – Analog Man

Kelly Hogan – I Like to Keep Myself in Pain

Langhorne Slim – The Way We Move

Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Americana

Red June – Beauty Will Come

Shawn Colvin – All Fall Down

Various Artists – Foggy Mountain Special: A Bluegrass Tribute to Earl Scruggs

Various Artists – Kin: Songs by Mary Karr and Rodney Crowell

Various Artists – Pa’s Fiddle: Charles Ingalls, American Fiddler

Various Artists — The Mountain Music Project: A Musical Odyssey from Appalachia to Himalaya  (CD and DVD)