Perry Foster will help the Crossroads Blues Club in Birmingham, UK, celebrate their one year anniversary on September 8, 2008. Foster has a long history, including playing alongside Howlin’ Wolf and Rev. Gary Davis. He formed his Delta Blues band in the 1960s. At that time the band lineup included Chris Wood (Traffic) and Robert Plant on washboard and vocals.

Crossroads Blues Club

Rounder Records has won a Womex Top Label Award 08 based on their sales of Raising Sand.

The Top Label award debuted in 2006 and recognizes the top 20 chart topping music labels. The selection is made using the charts of 50 radio broadcasters from 25 countries.

Womex also recognized Justin Adams and Juldeh Camera. Their album, Soul Science, was named a Womex Top-20 World Music CD of the year.

Womex 08

Blastro.com is giving away two VIP tickets to the Austin City Limits Festival on September 26 - 28, 2008. The tickets include access to the VIP lounges which feature free lunch and dinner buffets, drinks and even mini-spa treatments. The tickets are valued at $1800.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will appear at the festival on September 27, 2008 at 8:15 pm local time.

To enter, register and leave a comment saying why you deserve to have the tickets.

Steve from Sounding Plumbline lists Please Read the Letter and Polly Come Home as numbers 1 and 4 respectively on his Top 10 Songs of Summer 08. He says of Polly Come Home:

“This song, the slowest on the record, is a gorgeous plodding through mostly empty space, as if along with the sparse guitar notes, the air caught in between the strings was also being captured. The almost Biblical thud of a bass drum provides the only tempo. Plant’s vocals in the verses are thin, cracked, and terribly sad; when Krauss joins him on the chorus a lush loneliness opens out into the air like hydrangea or primrose, flowers that bloom only briefly at night, and close up again to hide from the sun.”

Sun, August 31 at 4pm ET on RAVE HD
Soundstage

Mon, Sept. 1 at 4am ET on RAVE HD
Soundstage

Grammy winning songwriter Marc Cohn (Walking in Memphis) was asked if he thought there were any artists today who were pushing the boundaries of popular music more than anyone else. He replied:

“I’d say the Robert Plant record that came out last year was the best record. It was beautifully played, written, and recorded. One of my old drummers played on that record, and he did a fantastic job.”

According to NME, Robert was lined up for Mr. Sizzle during half time at a Wolves game on Saturday, August 16 at Molineux. Wolverhampton took on Sheffield Wednesday, winning 4-1. No report on what Robert ordered.

Robert Plant turns 60 on August 20, 2008.

The Daniel Pearl Foundation today announced that Alison Krauss, the legendary country bluegrass fiddler and singer, has joined the Honorary Committee of the 7th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days, a global network of performances to be held the entire month of October 2008, in the theme “Harmony for Humanity.” Musicians are invited to register their upcoming October 2008 events online and then simply say a few words from the stage in support of tolerance and international understanding.

Robert and Alison have four shows scheduled for October, so Alison may speak about World Music Days at any or all of them.

Winner of numerous awards, including her 21st Grammy(R) award, Alison Krauss has been described as “the most recognized face in contemporary bluegrass.” She is a critically acclaimed artist who has brought modern sophistication to the genre while respecting its traditions. She has been able to circulate freely within pop, mainstream country and roots music circles, creating impeccably produced recordings that appeal to an equally wide-ranging and inquisitive audience. Her latest albums are A Hundred Miles Or More, a collection with long time bandmates Union Station, and Raising Sand with Robert Plant.

The Daniel Pearl Foundation was set up in memory of journalist Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in 2002. The foundation develops innovative international programs focused on journalism, music and respectful dialog. The Foundation seeks to counter hatred and intolerance worldwide.

Daniel Pearl Music Days

Daniel Pearl Foundation

Mon, August 25 at 9pm ET on RAVE HD
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Tues, August 26 at 12am ET on RAVE HD
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Wed, August 27 at 2pm ET on RAVE HD
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Fri, August 29 at 12pm ET on RAVE HD
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