Grammy voters at the 54th annual music awards in February liked The Civil Wars, but didn't quite know what to do with them.

So the duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White won two Grammys in two decidedly different genres: Best Folk Album for the pair's debut album "Barton Hollow," and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the title track off the album. Along with about a minute's worth of a performance during the telecast — introducing Taylor Swift, whom would work with them on a song for the film adaptation of The Hunger Games — it capped a whirlwind year for the duo that is hard to characterize but easy to listen to.

This was the third open-to-the-public performance of ...

When I graduated from 8th grade, the students were polled on what song we wanted to sing at our ceremony.

By an overwhelming margin, we all chose Metallica's "One."

The teachers had the final decision, and we ended up singing Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All," though in the end I don't know if she was the better role model.

Metallica's so-called "Black Album" came out at an important part of my life: when I thought I had teen angst, but really didn't. The idea of having angst appealed to me, the same way the idea of camping sounds great, but following through sucks.

One of the songs on that album was "Unforgiven," which I soon grew tired of, just bec...

Last night's "American Idol" finale kicked off with John Fogerty joining "American Idol" winner Dave Matthews to sing two of Fogerty's hits "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" followed by "Bad Moon Rising."

Did I say Dave Matthews? Sorry, Phillip Phillips.

Click here to see the performance: http://vimeo.com/42782717.

Fogerty's surprise performance on the 11th season finale comes in the midst of his recording his upcoming new album "Wrote...

Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and Hank Williams, Jr. have been added to the list of performers on this year’s CMT Music Awards, which will air live on Wednesday, June 6 at night on CMT and CMT.com.

Keith, performing in Utah on June 14, will host this year’s show with actress Kristen Bell.

Previously announced performers include Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.

...

Country singer Luke Bryan will perform during the third episode of "The Bachelorette," airing Monday, May 28.

During this 1-on-1 date in the streets of downtown Charlotte, Bryan will perform his current hit, “Drunk On You,” and his past No. 1 hit “Do I.”

The new season of "The Bachelorette" airs Mondays at 7 p.m.on ABC.

...

This summer, Deer Valley will welcome back for its ninth season the Frontier Bank Community Concert Series, presented by Mountain Town Music.

This weekly staple of Park City's social scene is free and highlights local musical acts Wednesday nights from June 20 to August 29, from 6 to 8 p.m.

This year's musical lineup includes:

• Muddpuddle on June 20

• Dr. Bob on June 27

• Afro Omega on July 11

• Swagger on July 18

• Shaun Canon on August 1

• Apres Swing Big Band on August 8

• Colin Robison's Honest Soul on August 15

• Detonators on August 22

• Josh & Friends on August 29

Additional information is availabl...

The second annual Bob Dylan Birthday Bash — he turns 71 on May 24 — includes performances by The Folka Dots, Ryan Tanner, The Trappers, Vena Cava and more.

“I wouldn’t be playing any music at all if he wasn’t around,” said Marie Bradshaw of The Folka Dots. “Everybody I’ve been influenced by has been influenced pretty profoundly by him. I don’t even want to think about what wouldn’t be around if he wasn’t.”

Her bandmate Bronk Onion said: “His influence is more than just the songs he writes, but his approach to music, and how he always does what he feels he wants ...

Milo Greene opens for The Civil Wars tonight. The Civil Wars are the headliner, but Milo Greene makes a good case for showing up early to catch the opening act. With male-female harmonies and a style that blends folk and pop, the quintet’s music is a good gateway to the music of The Civil Wars, the duo of John Paul White and Joy Williams. Milo Greene’s Graham Fink toured with the red-hot duo last year and saw firsthand the dizzying rise to success that The Civil Wars enjoyed in 2010. “From the first show we played, they are a real powe...

For about a month now, I have been asking scores of musicians what they first concerts were, for a future story. (Go ahead, scoop me.)

My first concert was relatively late in life. It was Lollapalloza 1993, and besides Tool, Arrested Development, Fishbone, Alice in Chains and Primus, there was the best band of that particular hot in Indio, California, Rage Against the Machine. They opened the entire day, and no one came close to matching their intensity, and it was quite impressive to a 16-year-old.

The band didn't play this song that day, but it remains the best cover of a Springsteen song ever. Listen to Tom Morello's guitar mimicking the sound of menacing chopper blades:<...

The Moth & The Flame and Desert Noises, two of Provo’s more prominent indie-rock groups, will headline the free Rooftop Concert Series Friday, June 1 at 8 p.m.

Now in its third season, the Rooftop Concert Series will host the bands on the roof of the Provo Town Square parking terrace located on the corner of 100 North and 100 West in downtown Provo. Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to the concert.

From press release: The brainchild of Brandon Robbins and Mark Garbett, The Moth & The Flame released their debut, self-ti...

The word is that X96 will be sponsoring the Utah Reggae Festival on July 13 & 14 at the Ogden Amphitheater.

Special X96 Workers Union tickets go on sale Friday, May 25 at 5 p.m.

For just 96 minutes, the first 96 tickets for both days will be only $9.60.

For concert and ticket details, check out www.facebook.com/utahreggaefestival

...

Canyons Resort will be the Park City venue for three free outdoor film screenings as part of the Sundance Institute Summer Series.

The films will screen at 9 p.m. on Thursday nights at Canyons Resort’s Village Stage.

Complimentary guest parking will be provided behind Sundial Lodge.

Here's the schedule:
Thurs., June 21: Under African Skies – Paul Simon returns to South Africa to explore the incredible journey of his historic Graceland album.
Thurs., July 12: CSNY Déjà Vu – The w...

Just announced: Justin Bieber will headline EnergySolutions Arena on Janualy 5, 2013, with tickets going onsale on or about June 2 at SmithsTix.

On June 19, he will release hus fourth studio album "Believe." The album features guest appearances by Ludacris, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Big Sean.

Carly Rae Jepsen will open.

AmericanExpress will offer a pre-sale to U.S. residents May 24 through May 31.

...

I have sick all weekend, and I am still sick, and am determined to get much better by Thursday so that I don't collapse from fatigue/nausea/dehydration/post-nasal apocalypse at Thursday night's show by The Civil Wars.

Here's an appropriate song for the day, as I ponder why I don't just take an Ambien rather than NyQuil tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdiCSoAlMmw

...

Tribune write Bill Oram reviewed the Trampled By Turtles show, and if I hadn't been sicker as a dog than's been beat too much, I would have posted it earlier:

It was only five months since Trampled By Turtles last played a show in Salt Lake City, right there on The Depot stage.

But quickly Saturday night, it was apparent how much has changed for the Minnesota-based bluegrass band, which can pack a club as tight as it does a measure.

There was no stomping to begin the first song, instead just the sweet, impassioned lyrics of lead singer Dave Simonett, straining out “Alone,” which reminds, “You come into the world alone/you go out of the world alone/but in...

The Ogden Nature Center will host two summer concerts at its rustic Visitor Center this summer.

The first one will host Brown Bird onThursday, June 28 at 7 p.m., with the gates opening at 6 p.m.

Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_LMMQqBwjk

Hailing from Providence. R.I., Brown Bird is a two-person acoustic band.

The second concert will feature Horse Feathers on Thursday, August 9 at 7 p.m., with the gates opening at 6 p.m.

Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_LMMQqBwjk

Tickets: $2...

The 2012 St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights outdoor concert series at Deer Valley Resort has released more concerts out on by the Park City Performing Arts Foundation.

The line-up includes Aaron Neville and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (July 13), Lucinda Williams (July 16), Dwight Yoakam (July 29), Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson (Aug. 5), The All-American Rejects (Aug. 12), Rickie Lee Jones (Aug. 25) and The Sound of Music Sing-Along (Sept. 1).

Lawn and reserved tickets as well as summer season punch cards are available at the Box Office at T...

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform at Deer Valley's Snow Park Amphitheater on Friday, Aug. 10, accompanied by the Utah Symphony, the choir's website reports. Ticket info will be forthcoming.

That is the same night at Colbie Caillat at Red Butte Garden. Tne views are great at Deer valley, but the views of Colbie are arguably better.

By the way, it was just announced that Kansas will play at Deer Valley on July 21. That is one way to celebrate Pioneer Day.

...

Trampled By Turtles
Spotlight show • Although Tramped By Turtles lead singer Dave Simonett was unfailingly polite in a phone interview, don’t make the mistake of calling TBT a bluegrass, or speedgrass, or thrashgrass band — or any other variation of “grass” we can come up with. With influences ranging from Townes Van Zandt to Neil Young, the band plays acoustic music with an edge. “I was an angry young kid, and punk spoke to me,” Simonett said. “It was the first music that I connected with.” But Simonett also ...

Cows have four stomachs. Alas, humans have only one.

So once you get your fill from one of the 21 food booths at the annual Living Traditions Festival on the grounds of the Salt Lake City & County Building this weekend, get more sustenance from the performers.

The festival spotlights music, dance, crafts and foods of the city’s ethnic communities, with featured evening performances by national headliners on the North Stage.

» French and Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux will perform Friday, ...

Congratulations go out to Logan High's MarKaye Hassan, who took third place in the national finals of Poetry Out Loud on Tuesday, May 15, in Washington, D.C.

The national poetry recitation competition involved 365,000 students across the country who participated in classroom contests at their high schools.

Fifty-three state champions advanced to the national semifinals on Monday, May 14. Of those champions, nine finalists competed in the finals Tuesday night at the Harman Center for the Arts.

Hassan received a $5,000 award. Her school received $500 for the purchase...

I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years

A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears

Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark

Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart

It was a thrill in January 2011 to see Lou Reed perform a short set inside the Kimball Art Center during the Sundance Film Festival. Although he didn't perform "Venus in Furs," he performed a number of other Velvet Underground songs for a few hundred huddled together, escaping the snowstorm outside.

For some reason, many mornings ...

As announced previously on this blog, Train will kick off their first tour in support of the group's new studio album, "California 37," with Mat Kearney and Andy Grammer, and will be at The Gallivan Center on Sept. 20.

Train will launch its new album with "California 37," a brand-new Cabernet Sauvignon from the "Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company." The third varietal from the craft winery, "California 37," is an addition to previous varietals, "Drops of Jupiter" (Petite Syrah) and "Calling All Angels" (Chardonnay). A portion of the proceeds from the varietal will go to the San Francisco charity Family House, which provides temporary housing to families of seriously ill children. ...

Pennywise performs tonight

Spotlight show • By now, you’ve probably seen Coldplay’s soft-rock version of “Fight For Your Right (To Party)” delivered at the Hollywood Bowl on the night of the Beastie Boys’ MCA’s death from cancer. Fletcher Dragge, lead guitarist for punk band Pennywise, watched a video of the performance on YouTube. While he said he respected the emotional performance, Dragge believed that Pennywise should perform the song the Pennywise way. “Before they were a rap band, they were a punk band,” Dragge said in an interview. So on Saturday, May 7, at the KROQ Weenie Roast y Fiesta in Southern California, he led his band through a raw, rowdy version of “Fight For You...

Howard Stern hasn't been as interesting as I though he'd be as "America's Got Talent" began this week, but at least this Utah contestant has made things interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVQ2vEGoWqI

Lehi does have talent, indeed.

...

Just announced: Train will perform at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 20, with special guests Mat Kearney and Andy Grammer.

Tickets will be available at SmithsTix outlets, soul sister.

...

Only one will win the TopBlip.com Stadium of Fire Talent Search, and its $10,000 prize, on July 4, after 2,697 individual musicians and bands entered.

The second annual talent competition includes 64 musical artists or bands left, with their fates in the hands of online voters.

Two winning finalists will perform live at Stadium of Fire, the same stage as The Beach Boys and Scotty McCreery, with the stadium audience voting for the winner that night.

In the bracket-style contest, musicians are pitted against one another for the most...

Carrie Underwood’s fourth album, "Blown Away," is No. 1 for the second consecutive week on Billboard’s Top Country & all-genre 200 albums sales chart.

This marks the first time since 2010 that a country artist has debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre 200 albums sales chart for two back-to-back weeks.

"Blown Away" made history by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country albums sales chart the week of its release, making Underwood only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of their first f...

The Los Angeles rock band Grant Lee Buffalo reunited briefly last year, giving up hope that the band would reunite long enough to come to Utah. Many bands are literate, and many bands are melodic, but few have merged those two so finely as Grant-Lee Phillips' band. The band's 1996 album "Copperopolis" was one of the most appealing rock records of the 1990s, and I initially started this blog post with an intention of posting one of the songs from that album — but there were too many to choose from.

Instead, I chose the lead song off the band's previous album, which I bought when I heard that they had been hand-picked by one of my favorites, R.E.M., to open for them. I still have no ...

Neil Young and Crazy Horse will release a "Americana," on June 5, the first album from Neil Young & Crazy Horse in nearly nine years.

Crazy Horse is Billy Talbot, Ralph Molina, Poncho Sampedro, and Neil Young.

The album is collection of classic, American folk songs, some written in the 1800s, and others, like “This Land Is Your Land” (utilizing the original, widely misinterpreted “deleted verses”).

The track-listing is as follows:
Oh Susannah
Clementine
Tom Dula
Gallows Pole
Get A Job
Travel On
High Flyin' Bird
Jesus' Chariot
...

Visit the Taylorsville Graywhale on May 17, at 7 p.m., to listen to the new Sigur Ros album "Valtari."

You can pre-order the new album at the listening party to enter to win a limted-edition vinyl test pressing of the new album.

The album will be released May 29.

The cover looks like what I used to see when on look-out duty when direly sleep-deprived.

...

Three weeks ago, Counting Crows debuted the new album "Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation)," and to support the new album, the band is releasing a BitTorrent Bundle of new tracks, liner notes, and artwork from the album directly to the users of BitTorrent, as well as announcing the dates for their North American indie rock showcase tour "The Outlaw Roadshow."

The band will perform at the Rail Event Center in Salt Lake City on Aug. 4.

In partnership with BitTorrent, Counting Crows is offering four tracks, Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz's liner notes, and high-resolution album artwork as a BitTorrent Bundle directly to users of the BitTorrent...

Just received this from United Concerts:

The Van Halen show at Energy Solutions Arena Tuesday September 4th will be temporarily postponed. Future dates to be announced. The on sale for this Friday May 18th is also postponed. We apologize for any inconvenience.

...

Shows in Utah tonight:

Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s
Spotlight show • Richard Edwards, founder and frontman of Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s, was skeptical about funding the group’s fourth album, “Rot Gut, Domestic,” through PledgeMusic. “I had seen a lot of Kickstarter campaigns that rubbed me the wrong way,” he said in a phone interview. “It seemed to be a little too beggy. Some seemed lazy, like they didn’t put much thought into it.” But he...

Officials at The Utah Statre Fair just announced the initial 2012 Grandstand Entertainment lineup including Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice, Blues Traveler, Lonestar, Jars of Clay, Sheena Easton and Frank Caliendo.

Fairgoers can purchase tickets for Victoria Justice, Lonestar and Frank Caliendo starting May 25. Reserved seat ticket prices include Fair gate admission. Jars of Clay, Sheena Easton, and Blues Traveler are free with purchase of Fair gate admission.

SCHEDULE

J...

On Tuesday, June 19, the "America Rocks Tour" will hit Club Allure in Sandy, featuring Jack Russell's Great White, Faster Pussycat, Pretty Boy Floyd, BulletBoys and Lillian Axe, according to Pollstar....

On Saturday, Aug. 4, Counting Crows will perform at the Rail Event Center, according to Pollstar.

We Are Augustines, Kasey Anderson & The Honkies and Field Report are also on the bill....

Bob Dylan Birthday Bash

Spotlight show • The 2nd Annual Bob Dylan Birthday Bash — he turns 71 on May 24 — includes performances by The Folka Dots, Ryan Tanner, The Trappers, Vena Cava and more. “I wouldn’t be playing any music at all if he wasn’t around,” said Marie Bradshaw of The Folka Dots. “Everybody I’ve been influenced by has been influenced pretty profoundly by him. I don’t even want to think about what wouldn’t be around if he wasn’t.” Bronk Onion of the band, which will be performing “Girl of the North Country” and others, said: “Hi...

The Australian country-pop singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers possesses an awesome talent, and the song "Not Pretty Enough" is direct and on the verge of being too precious. But what a pretty vocal melody.

Later in her career, she recorded "Rattlin' Bones" with her husband singer Shane Nicholson, and it was one of my favorite albums of 2008. Let's hope she comes to Utah soon — I don't believe she has been in the nearly five years I've been here.

Here's the video for "Not Pretty Enoough": h...

The website of The Smoking Gun has always provided tour riders for artists, and those are always fun to peruse.

Made infamous by Van Halen’s contract calling for the removal of all brown M&Ms from bowls of candy — reportedly so that they would know if other important demands were met — the rider often reflects the rarefied life we all dream of. I would love a deli platter at my desk every morning, for example.

In another example, Katy Perry has a 45-page rider that demands, among other things: Two cream-colored chairs, valued at $1,...

The 2012 CMT Music Awards announced the first performers at its annual show: Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band will all perform during this year’s live show.

Country music’s fan-voted awards show, now in its 11th year, will broadcast from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6 at 8 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com.(Check local listings for MT.)

Fans can vote online at www.CMT.com now through J...

BANDHAPPY, the online and in-person music education service, just announced a sponsorship with the Vans Warped Tour this summer, with the first Warped tour date in Utah on June 16.

As a sponsor, BANDHAPPY (yes, it is capitalized) will offer a unique service for fans and bands on each date of this tour. BANDHAPPY will be providing an official “BANDHAPPY Lesson Tent” where attendees will be able to take lessons from their favorite bands and musicians on the Vans Warped Tour.

At the Vans Warped Tour, BANDHAPPY lessons can include anything from ...

Country trio Gloriana will be featured on the May 21 episode of the reality romance series "The Bachelorette" on ABC.

In the second episode of the series Gloriana will perform a surprise concert in Charlotte during a 1-on-1 date with the newest Bachelorette, Emily Maynard, the first single mom to ever star on the series.

“I'm a huge fan of 'The Bachelor and The Bachelorette,'” said Gloriana band member Rachel Reinert in a press release. “I watched Emily when she was a contestant on 'The Bachelor' and I was an instant fan of hers, so hearing that she...

A live chat on Facebook with Ziggy Marley, Bob Marley’s eldest son and executive producer of “Marley,” will be held on May 19.

The documentary film is screening this week at the Tower Theatre in Salt Lake City.

The film opened in theaters and simultaneously on Facebook, iTunes and VOD on April 20, and has resulted in the biggest Facebook streaming numbers ever for a feature film.

Ziggy Marley will be participating in an exclusive live chat on Facebook on May 19 at 6:30 MT when he will interact with viewers to discuss his father’s life and music as they...

Here are two shows worth checking out in the greater Salt Lake area tonight:

Curren$y
New Orleans rapper Curren$y brings his tour to Utah, with special guests The Jets, Smoke DZA, Fiend 4 Da Money, Corner Boy P, Trademark and Young Roddy.
When • Tuesday, May 15 at 7 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 219 S. 600 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 at SmithsTix

The GrandMothers of Invention
The GrandMothers of Invention, three alumni of Frank Zappa’s legendary of Mothers of Invention, keep his music ali...

Idaho resident Calee Reed is a new singer signed to Shadow Mountain Records, a music publishing arm of Deseret Book, and here is her debut video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mr8CGydPB5g

I am working on a story on Calee, but as an aside, she is donating the proceeds from the single to the Huntsman Cancer Institute during the month of May. Her mother passed away from cancer in 2010, and this song is a tribute ...

Jesse Pepe was a local performer in Salt Lake, primarily at Salt Lake Acting Company. But he has been living in Los Angeles for about half a year now, pursuing his dream of becoming a mainstream pop-R&B artist.

His long-time friend from Utah and now-roommate, Sean Sekino, is helping co-produce Pepe's first album. Like many other artists before them, they have put together a Kickstarter campaign to help spread the word about our music, as well as hopefully get the necessary funding for the album.

The album is titled "Just. Perception" and repre...

When singer-songwriter Ane Brun first left the security of the fjords of Molde, Norway to pursue a career in music, she busked on the street corners of Barcelona.

“It was my first live performance in front of strangers, and I think it made me braver, but I see it more as an adventure,” Brun said in a Tribune interview.

Since then, the 36-year-old singer has relocated to Sweden and released eight albums, with highlights of her career including being tapped by Peter Gabriel to open and duet with him on his orchestral “New Blood” tour throughout 2010. In addition, on her last album she worked with Nico Muhly, the contemporary classical music composer who compos...

Richard Thompson has written so many beautiful acoustic songs over the years, and "Dimming of the Day" is one of his best.

I first heard it on the soundtrack of "The Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood," which I am embarrassed at and haven't revealed until today. I don't know in what context the song appeared, since I haven't seen the film. I swear.

The love song was written by Thompson and performed with his then-wife Linda Thompson on the 1975 album "Pour Down Like Silver." I was excited to see it included on Alison Krauss' most recent album, ...

The Utah Symphony will conclude their and countdown of all nine Beethoven symphonies with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 on Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26, led by and Music Director Thierry Fischer.

Richard Strauss’ tone poem, “An Alpine Symphony,” will also be featured on the program, as well as “Saint Vitus in the Kettle,” which marks the symphony’s debut performance of the piece and of music by Simon Holt, whom Fischer and the orchestra have commissioned to write a new work scheduled to premiere in the 2012-2013 Utah Symphony season.