Kesha Rainbow is on Kimosabe/RCA on 11 August, features Eagles Of Death Metal, Dolly Parton.
Pat Thomas Did It! Jerry Rubin: An American Revolutionary is published by Fantagraphic Books on 5 September.
Taking Back Sunday’s John Nolan has US DJ sets on 21 July-18 August. See www.takingbacksunday.com.
RC contributor Colin Harper’s Bathed In Lightning biography of John McLaughlin has a limited-edition companion due via https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2121905920/echoes-from-then-glimpses-of-john-mclaughlin-1959.
Enslaved play London Islington Assembly Hall on 24 November.
RC attended a playback for the Black Sabbath The Ten Year War box set on 13 July at London Gibson Guitar Studios. A short blast of lossless MQA format was followed by a Q&A involving original production/engineering staff, though our question about the Earth demos cut before the Sabbath versions couldn’t be recalled by anyone present!
Sheryl Crow’s upcoming 2018 set features Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, Eagles’ Don Henley and Joe Walsh.
The Moods have an album launch gig at Manchester O2 Ritz on 8 September.
Martin Simpson has a workshop on 17-19 November at Kenwood Hall Hotel, Sheffield. Details: lauren.heywood@kenwoodhall.co.uk, or 0114 258 3811.
Magna Carta play Harrogate Town Hall on 2 September.
Seeming Sol, on Artoffact, 5 August, features Merzbow.
Ex-The Beautiful South’s Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott have HMV signings in July at (24) Manchester (25) Hull.
Steve Harley Acoustic Trio, with Q&A/photo opportunity, play London Holborn Pizza Express Live on 12-14 October.
Howard Jones has a masterclass at the Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance, Dyne Road, London, on 26 September.
Ted Nugent has a talk/signing at Washington County Fair Park, West Bend, Wisconsin, USA, on 5 August.
DB-Infusion’s Gonzalo Carrera’s upcoming set features John Helliwell (Supertramp), John Etheridge (Soft Machine), Hugh Macdowell (ELO) and is showcased on 21 July at Walthamstow Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre, London. See http://www.yeolderoseandcrowntheatrepub.co.uk/index.php/events/infusion-live-band/.
Tomas Leach’s The Lure film is in UK cinemas on 8 September, featuring a soundtrack by Calexico.
Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra play London Camden Jazz Café on 24 August.
Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard’s Bandwagonesque reimagining of Teenage Fanclub’s album is due on DL via Canvasback Music and LP via Turntable Kitchen with an exclusive bonus 7″ on 28 July.
Amadou & Mariam play London Troxy on 4 November.
RC attended the Whitebank Fine Art 50th Anniversary, 1967-2017 photo exhibition in Mayfair, London, 13 July, featuring unpublished photos by Robert Davidson and Mike Berkofsky of Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix. Two Zappa Krappa (Frank enthroned) photos were bought by attendees Sadie Frost and Kate Moss.
John Lennon’s customised Rolls-Royce Phantom V car of 1964 is at the Great Eight Phantoms exhibition at Bonham’s, New Bond Street, London, on 29 July-2 August.
The Keith Emerson: A Musical Celebration Of Life event is at Birmingham Symphony Hall on 28 July.
Projected Ignite My Sanity, on Rat Pak on 21 July, features John Connolly, Vince Hornsby (Sevendust), Scott Phillips (Alter Bridge).
The upcoming ISHues documentary film features Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Brenton Wood. See www.ishues.org.
The Vibrators play Kingston Upon Thames Fighting Cocks on 17 August.
Toto & Friends’ 29-track The Jeff Porcaro Tribute Concert, Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre, December 1992, featuring Donald Fagen, Denny Dias (Steely Dan), Don Henley (Eagles), Eddie Van Halen, David Crosby, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, George Harrison, is on Left Field Media on 11 August.
Tom Jones’ 20-track Live On Soundstage CD/DVD, on BMG on 4 August, features Alison Krauss.
Sweeney’s Men/The Tracks Of 30-track 2CD with bonuses, and The Johnstons Bitter Green/Colours Of The Dawn/If I Sang My Song/Bonus Tracks, are on BGO on 11 August.
Sky Arts TV’s three-part documentary series, The Agony & The Ecstasy, starts 11 August and features Norman Jay, Goldie, Paul Oakenfold, Dave Pearce, Graeme Park, The Black Madonna, James Lavelle, Annie Mac, Sasha, Orbital.
Paul Brady plays London Cadogan Hall on 26 September.
Vic Mensa The Autobiography, on Roc Nation/Capitol/Virgin EMI, on 28 July, features Pharrell & Saul Williams, Weezer, The-Dream, Pusha T, Ty Dolla $ign.
Adam Ant plays London Camden Roundhouse on 21 December.
The Chi-Lites Steppin’ Out with six bonuses is on Funky Town Grooves on 4 August.
The Judas Priest Road To Valhalla game app is out via Sony, for iPhone, iPad, iPod.
The Yardbirds’ Jim McCarty Frontman, with two unissued cuts, is on Wholesale Vinyl on 28 July.
The BPI reported that in the first half of the year, UK DL sales were down 24% and CDs 4%, while streams were up 12% and vinyl 32%.
LIVES
Erin Rae & The Meanwhiles
London Camden Green Note
20/6/17
View: table, seated
The lovely debut, Soon Enough, by renowned Nashville backing singer, Erin Rae, highlights her rich, delicate voice, evoking Emmylou Harris and Joni Mitchell, and with her band in tow, a set of beguiling songs like Minolta lilted and swayed with grace and beauty.
Part of a UK tour culminating in the Maverick Americana Festival, Erin took the opportunity to preview songs from her forthcoming opus, promising expanded lyrical themes and more eclectic influences. Indeed, Love Like Before provided an upbeat indie-pop flavour and Like The First Time is a beautiful ballad with a lovely swing beat. She’ll be known far more widely soon enough. Andy Rawll
KISS
London Greenwich O2 Arena
31/5/17
View: front
Completing the UK leg of their world tour, Gene Simmons asked for a minute’s silence for Manchester, their gig there having been cancelled the previous night. Next, KISS did what they do best – rock!
“The Hottest Band In The World”, with pyrotechnics to match, slayed it thanks to Paul Stanley’s amazing vocals and Gene Simmons’ tongue and guitar licks, fulfilling a promise that God gave rock’n’roll to everyone. With hit after hit, it really was one of those Crazy Nights. Mark Mawston
TOURS
Pussy Riot 18-21 November www.songkick.com.
The Psychedelic Furs 1-11 September www.thepsychedelicfurs.com.
Peter & The Test Tube Babies 3 August-30 December http://www.testtubebabies.co.uk.
Scream 3-5 August http://www.southernlord.com.
Still Remains 7-15 October www.facebook.com/stillremains.
Venom Inc 11-14 November www.venom-inc.com.
