Invada Records in the UK and Europe will release the self-titled debut album of the band Beak> on October 19, 2009. Beak> is made up of Bristol-based musicians Matt Williams, Geoff Barrow, and Billy Fuller. Billy Fuller most recently was the bassist for Strange Sensation, and joined Justin Adams, Juldeh Camara and Robert Plant at a Womad appearance.

Listen to a sample of Beak> music at PlugInMusic.

Alison Krauss will be among the lineup of performers celebrating the 40th anniversary of Rounder Records. The concert will take place October 12, 2009 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN. Also appearing will be Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bela Fleck, Irma Thomas, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Host Minnie Driver and special guests to be announced. Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 28, 2009. Tickets may be purchased via Ticketmaster, The Grand Ole Opery Box Office, The Ryman Auditorium Box office and at the Attractions Desk at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Rounder Records is an independent record label based in Massachusetts. Rouder showcases a diverse line-up of artists including Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Dolores O’Riordan (Cranberries), Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, George Thorogood and many more.

Kristen Bahler, writing for the Illinois State University Publication “The Daily Vidette”, presents an interesting commentary about demographics and perceived stereotypes of country music listeners. She writes in part:

Furthermore, contemporary country albums are appreciated by a vast demographic … every artist from Iggy Pop to Corinne Bailey Rae appeared in Cash’s, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” video. The depression-era bluegrass featured in the “O Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack also enjoyed unprecedented international success. Robert Plant recently recorded an album with Alison Krauss for another example (side note: it’s awesome).

Read the whole article.

Robert Plant celebrates his 61st birthday today, August 20, 2009.

Mirror.co.uk is giving away a pair of tickets for the September 11, 2009 Rockwell concert. The concert will benefit the Nordoff-Robbins charity. Robert Plant is scheduled to appear, as well as Justin Adams.

To win, just comment on the website about why you should win the tickets.

Enter to Win

The Wolverhampton Wanderers website reports that Robert Plant has been made a Vice-President of the club he has ardently supported for many years. Plant was officially inducted prior to kickoff on Saturday, August 15, 2009.

Robert commented: “No matter where I travel, performing around the globe, there are invariably references to my obsession with the gold and black.

“I must say that despite following innumerable players and team members around the world over the last 50 years, I feel no more a Vice President, in truth, than every other deranged punter who trundles through the turnstiles week in, week out, with fingers crossed.

“I’ll be delighted to be at Molineux tomorrow on this monumental day and I must take this opportunity of saluting the work of Mick, his backroom staff and of course the players along with Steve and Jez, and all of us that want to make this a season of positive support and great excitement.”

Read the article

BBC Sport Live Text-Saturday football features fans texting in events as they happen at various matches. At the Wolves vs West Ham match on August 15, 2009 someone reported:

1452: Led Zeppelin star Robert Plant is on the pitch at Molineux, not sure what that was all about but he wasn’t singing.

Stephen Humphries, writing for PopMatters.com, recently interviewed Justin Adams, Juldeh Camara about their newest album. Adams and Camara also touch on working with Robert Plant for the Womad Abu Dhabi appearance. Humphries writes:

The latter concert was preceded by a week of rehearsals with Robert Plant, who was eager to raise a little Middle Eastern sand. “He just calls and says, ‘Do you fancy doing something?’” says Adams. “We get on well. He and I are the only two people I know obsessed by delta and Moroccan music.”

The duo’s set list was augmented by mighty rearrangements of a few Plant solo career songs, Led Zeppelin classics, and cover versions of Dylan’s “Corrina Corrina” and Leadbelly’s “In the Pines”.

“He is a griot,” Camara effuses. “He is very open, sweet. The way he acts and the way he gives hug and the respect he gives to you.”

Mike Seeger, respected performer and collector of traditional music, died at his home in Lexington, VA. He was 75. Seeger, half brother of Pete and sister of Peggy, became a major talent on banjo, guitar, autoharp, dulcimer, harmonica and many other instruments. He was one of the major figures in the revival of American Music Traditions.

Mike Seeger appeared on Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand album playing the autoharp.

Read more at NPR.

The Birmingham Mail (UK) relates a tale of Robert Plant being turned away at the inn. In a travel piece about Ynyshir Hall in Wales, writer Adrian Caffery quotes Joan Reen, the owner of the establishment:

“One winter’s night an old Volvo roared up the hotel drive and a guy jumped out with a long mane of wild, curly hair.

“He wanted a room but he was dressed, well, rather casually. There was no one booked in so I told him we were closed and sent him away.

“My son had seen the man approach reception from his room and came rushing down the stairs. ‘Don’t you know who that was?’ he said. ‘It was Robert Plant!’ I had no idea.”

Luckily, Robert, who owns a property nearby in Artists Valley, returned to Ynyshir Hall and has been a regular visitor ever since, taking great delight in teasing Joan about the incident.