The 20th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards were held January 30, 2009 in Los Angeles. Among the winners were Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for “Most Creative Tour Package”.

Adam Gold, writing for Nashville Scene, reports that Robert stopped in at Nashville record store Grimey’s a couple of times last week. He writes:

Robert Plant came into the store not once but twice last week. He first came by to look around and buy some R&B compilations. Staffers showed their appreciation by giving him a Grimey’s T-shirt. The T-shirt was the wrong size so he came back to exchange it and was later spotted at Bongo Java sporting the new digs. He supposedly also made inquiries about The Basement.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss appeared on Absolute Radio’s Wednesday Night Live on January 28, 2009. They were speaking by phone from Nashville where they are in “preproduction” for another album. During the 17 minute interview Robert talks about Raising Sand, getting awards, and his “career”.

Click the triangle to play the interview, click again to stop it.

January 28, 2009 January 28, 2009

In an interview in This Is North Devon, Fairport Convention’s Simon Nicol comments about the tone of their Cropredy Convention events:

“Everyone who plays there and wants a drink has to go out to the bar and stand there with everyone else. That is a tradition now and everyone respects it. Even huge stars like Robert Plant can come to the festival and people won’t pester him for autographs. It’s a unique experience for him and he really enjoys it. If he goes anywhere else he’s got to have blacked out windows on the limo. It’s crazy.”

From Pollstar:

This is the first time Robert Plant will attend the Grammy Awards, not only as a nominee but also as a performer.

“I’m looking forward to being in Los Angeles, but musically - and spiritually - I expect we’ll be somewhere halfway between the Mississippi Delta and the Clinch Mountains,” Plant said.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will be among the performers for the 51st annual Grammy Awards show.

The Grammy Awards will take place Sunday, Feb. 8, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on CBS beginning at 8pm (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at grammy.com and CBS.com, on Twitter at “theGRAMMYs,” on Facebook at “The Recording Academy,” on YouTube at “51stGRAMMYs,” and on Last.fm at “the51stgrammys.”

Sat. February 7 at 9am ET on MHD
CMT Crossroads
A rebroadcast of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on Crossroads

Sat. February 7 at 8pm ET on MHD
CMT Crossroads
A rebroadcast of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on Crossroads

Heather Byrd, writing for tennessean.com, reports on Nashville’s annual Grammy nominee party held at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel on January 26, 2009. She writes:

“Loews Vanderbilt Hotel is shining from all the stars who have gathered for tonight’s annual Grammy nominee party, which is being held in the hotel ballroom. Robert Plant strolled in and opted to skip the red carpet, but many first-time nominees and repeat winners gushed with excitement over their chances to take home awards.”

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss remain on the Top Country Albums chart with Raising Sand:

Top Country Albums
This week: #28, Last week: 24, Two weeks ago: 25, Weeks on chart: 65

Skiing writer Rich Donnelly reports that Lufthansa includes Robert Plant and Strange Sensation video in their in-flight Media TV programming.