Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant will kick off the first leg of his tour with Alison Krauss at Louisville, KY’s Palace Theatre on April 20. The new friends recently recorded the acclaimed album Raising Sand, which blossomed into one of 2007’s biggest surprise hits. After a short run of April shows, the two lauded musicians will headline an 11 date European tour in May, before launching a more extensive North American outing in June and July. Throughout their run, Plant and Krauss will front a band led by Raising Sand producer T-Bone Burnett, whose credits include work everyone from Bob Dylan to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. The group is expected to mix numbers from Raising Sand with songs culled from throughout each performer’s career.

Before the tour commences, on February 11 CMT will air an episode of CMT Crossroads featuring a joint performance by Plant and Krauss. In addition to their abovementioned Louisville show, Plant and Krauss have confirmed gigs in Knoxville (4/22), Chattanooga, TN (4/23) and Birmingham, AL (4/26). Led Zeppelin is still rumored to perform sometime in 2008.

Longtime bluegrass fan, and legendary Led Zeppelin multi-instrumentalist, John Paul Jones first bonded with the all-female group Uncle Earl when he produced their breakthrough album, Waterloo, Tennessee. Last June, he also played with the group at Bonnaroo and, even in the shadow of his fabled band’s reunion, has championed the young stars in the press. Most recently, Jones filmed a segment in Uncle Earl’s new video for the song “Streak O' Lean, Streak O'Fat.” Jones plays piano in the video, which pokes fun at the Kung Fu genre. The video was directed by Tom Krueger, whose credits include Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and U2). The complete video can be seen here .

Uncle Earl opened its tour last night at Annapolis, MD’s Ram's Head Tavern. The group will perform at Harrisburg, PA’s Whitaker Center this evening.

Jon Foreman is perhaps best known as the frontman for the multi-platinum band Switchfoot, but this year the singer/songwriter hopes to return to his indie-roots. Throughout 2008, Foreman will release four solo EPs, individually titled Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.
 
“Because of the autobiographical nature of these songs, they became a self portrait that was far too personal for a band to release,” Foreman said in a statement. “Tim, Chad and the rest of the band have been pushing me to get these types of songs out there for years. So I decided to let them go.” 

Each EP is intended to evoke vivid images of a specific season and, according to Foreman, the songwriting and production of these EPs were creatively intertwined. “Most of these songs were written and recorded the same night,” said Foreman. “I would sing and play my guitar late at night until I got a take that captured what the song meant to me. From there I would add instruments to the vocal to see what would be appropriate. It was a very therapeutic, lonely, cleansing process.” Foreman’s solo work is said to be in the vein of touching, emotional songwriters like Elliott Smith, Dave Pajo, Jeremy Enigk and Jim James. 

Foreman’s decision to record a series of solo albums was an equally organic process.  “For the past few tours we've done as a band, I've made a habit of playing a set after the show. Many of these ‘after shows’ have been incredible experiences, a chance for spontaneous acoustic music that is completely juxtaposed to the rock band environment: no booking agent, no light show, no amps or guitar techs – just Dylan covers, some sing-a-longs, and honest stories,” said Foreman. “These projects are an attempt to create a musical conversation that mirrors that experience.”

Longtime Swtichfoot fans should also note that the group is still on track to release another album in late 2008. Foreman has confirmed that Spring and Summer will hit stores in April and June, respectively. He will also perform a mix of songs at San Diego’s Lou's Records on February 9.  

Coachella promoters AEG Live/Goldenvoice are rumored to stage an East Coast version of their fabled indie-rock festival in New Jersey this summer. According to a report first filed on the celebrity blog PerezHilton.com, the event will take place at New Jersey’s Liberty State Park. The festival-size space is located across from Manhattan’s financial district and accessible by a water taxi departing from near the city’s southern tip. Several bands have performed at the outdoor space over the years, including R.E.M. and Radiohead. The latter performance took place against the backdrop of the World Trade Center just a few days before the September 11 terrorist attacks. AEG Live/Goldenvoice also produce the country-centric festival Stagecoach each spring.

AEG Live/Goldenvoice’s new event will be in direct competition with C3 Presents and Melvin Benn's Festival Republic first year Vineland festival, which will be held in Vineland, NJ from August 8-10. Both events are expected to compete for the same modern-rock demographic.  C3 Presents also produces the large scale events Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.