The Smashing Pumpkins have confirmed their first North American Tour in seven years. The tour, which predominantly will travel to theaters, kicks off in Montreal on September 8 at the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival and wraps up on  November 5 in Nashville at the Ryman.  The Pumpkins’ new disc, Zeitgeist, will hit on July 10 and in the sort of move that is becoming increasingly common these days, those who pre-order via  iTUNES will receive a unique password to purchase pre-sale concert tickets. The band is currently in the home stretch of  a residency at Asheville, North Carolina’s Orange Peel and will follow-this up with eleven shows at San Francisco’s Fillmore.

Barrett’s fall from grace haunted the band for many years, as documented on key Pink Floyd tracks like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Wish You Were Here." The film incorporates rare early footage of the band performing; including a live show at the UFO Club, and an appearance with former landlord/light artist Mike Leonard on Tomorrows World. There are also insights from former girlfriends, flat mates, producers, managers, friends and famous fans. All four surviving members of Pink Floyd recently performed at a Barrett tribute, though bassist/songwriter Roger Waters did not perform with keyboardist Rick Wright, drummer Nick Mason and guitarist David Gilmour.

After Barrett suffered a breakdown in 1968, Waters, Wright, Mason and Gilmour served as Pink Floyd’s core until the early-1980s. Since then, Waters has forged a solo career, while his bandmates have periodically toured and record under the Pink Floyd name. The four musicians most recently shared the stage London edition of 2005’s Live 8.

Former Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant has shot down rumors that his band will reunite for a benefit later this year. Earlier this week rumors circulated that Led Zeppelin would reunite for a one-off gig in honor of its recently deceased record company boss, Ahmet Ertegun. News surrounding the group’s rumored reunion circulated after an article appeared in the World Entertainment News. According to the rumor, singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones and late drummer John Bonham's son Jason would play a London benefit and, perhaps,  tour in 2008. Ertegun died in December of 2006, seven weeks after falling and hitting his head backstage at the Beacon Theatre following a Rolling Stones concert.

Portland, OR’s  Pickathon Roots Music Festival will take place from August 3-5 at Pendarvis Farm. One of the northwest’s premiere music festivals, the annual gathering focuses on “indie-Roots music,” a genre the Pickathon Roots Music Festival defines “as the subjective and diverse intersections of indie-rock, singer/songwriter, and a variety of traditional music styles (i.e. Bluegrass, Blues, Folk, Country, Swing, etc.).” This summer the festival will expand to three days, boasting a diverse mix of artists including the Avett Brothers, The Wood Brothers, The Gourds, Erin McKeown, Dale Watson, Gregory and the Hawk, Martha Scanlan, Handsome Family, Langhorne Slim, Horse Feathers, Chatham County Line, Jason Webley and Hacienda Brothers, among others. As part of the warm-up to the 2007 festival, Pickathon also created the first ever festival video game entitled “Lob Stuff at the Lurker,”which is now available online. The festival’s inaugural offering was nominated for the 2007 “Festie” award in the category of “Most Scenic Festival Setting.” For more information please visit www.pickathon.com .