Judi Jackson | facebook.com

It happens now and then — I miss stuff, or I get stuff too late for deadline, or stuff wasn’t included in the information I received. In a word — stuff! So let’s fill in some Sunday music blanks.

The Blue Ridge Vineyard, in Eagle Rock, is putting on its 3rd Annual Jazz Festival. I’ve seen sweet-singing Judi Jackson, on summer break from college, happily running around town checking out music, and she’ll be putting on some tunes of her own here on SUNDAY, as special guest of Milberger Section. Also on the bill — Lenny Marcus Trio with Kerry Hurley and The Funk Cousins (No Relation). That’s a nice bill! Admission is $10, or $5 if you’re a designated driver. Bring a Blue Ridge Beverage glass for $2 off admission. A barbecue vendor will be on the grounds, so bring your lawn chairs, blankets, appetites and ears.

J.D. Sutphin of Madrone (and local radio fame) is putting on a show SUNDAY night at Awful Arthur’s downtown. Madrone, SuperBob, Funk Punch and Mohamed Bhana of Electric Chameleon are on the bill. The venue will be taking donations to the Red Cross for Midwest tornado relief and is matching every cash donation up to $500. Very cool. Cover is $5 unless you’re a veteran, then you get in free to the 21 and older show. “It’s going to be an amazing night of fun, glad I have the next day off,” Sutphin wrote.

SUNDAY night at Festival in the Park, Ross Flora returns to town from his new home, Nashville, as sideman to a band called Smoke n Guns. The Music City-based band features another Virginian, Lindsay Bowman, from Danville. Bowman and Alecia Arnall combine for vocals that Flora writes are are “to die for.” The rocking country outfit has “played Texas to the Great Lakes, with stops in Nashville and the Ozarks – in the past two weeks,” Flora wrote. Their set starts at 7 p.m.

Have I mentioned all of these shows happen on SUNDAY? You’ve probably got Monday off, same as Mr. Sutphin, so live it up to some fun music.

David Wax Museum | Courtesy davidwaxmuseum.com

David Wax Museum plays Kirk Avenue Music Hall on May 24, 2013. We spoke with the band’s Suz Slezak last year, before a FloydFest appearance. I didn’t get to give the ‘cast as much love as it deserved at the time, with everything else going on, so here is a worthy rerun.

We talked about how the band got itself into the Newport Folk Festival, where it was a breakout act. Also in the podcast, a discussion of the quijada, a percussion instrument made from a donkey’s jawbone. Slezak counts that as one of her instruments, along with fiddle and vocals.

We stream “Chuchumbe,” a song from the 1760s that the Catholic Church banned in Mexico. All these years later, the song has re-emerged, and it is a big part of David Wax Museum’s gonzo fiesta.

Matuto | Courtesy Vincent Soyez

Tune in t0 101.5 The Valley’s Music Place on your FM dial, or stream the show via 1015tvmp.com. Tuesday Night News starts at 9 p.m.

1. David Wax Museum – Chuchumbe – Everything Is Saved
2. Matuto – Thousand to Three – The Devil & The Diamond
3. Erin Lunsford – Hey James – I Saw The Thread EP
4. Ben Bullington – Appalachian Mnt. Delta Blues – Ben Bullington
5. Yarn – Annie – Almost Home
6. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker – Aquatic Hitchhiker
7. L Shape Lot – Down to Ride – Blackwater Sessions –
8. Corey Hunley – Kid on the Way – Red to the Bone
9. Folk Soul Revival with Brittany Carter – This Ol’ Flame – Prompting the Dapperness
10. The Rootdowns – Boogie In My Room – Songs with Friends
11. Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds – Lasso – Pound of Dirt
12. Dumpstaphunk – Blues

Rosanne Cash performs on June 14 at Blue Ridge Music Center | File photo

http://www.blueridgemusiccenter.org

June 1 – Tennessee Traditions: Mike Bryant & Joe Decosimo / dancer – Thomas Maupin & Daniel Rothwell / Roan Mountain Hilltoppers 7pm $10
June 8 – Mountain Duets: South Carolina Broadcasters /  Eddie & Bonnie Bond / Mac & Jenny Traynham. 7pm $10
FRI June 14 – Music Royalty: Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal / Wayne Henderson & Friends 7pm $20
June 22 – Hot Pickers Show: The Kruger Brothers / Buckstankle Boys 7pm $15
June 29 – Glorious Gospel: The Primitive Quartet / The Easter Brothers & Easter Family 2pm gospel singing workshop. Concert 3pm $15
July 6 – Holiday Concert & Squaredance: Slate Mountain Ramblers / New Southern Ramblers with caller Phil Jamison. Squaredance lesson 6pm. Concert 7pm $10
July 13 – Tar Heel Hoedown: Riley Baugus, dancer – Ira Bernstein & the Stuart Brothers. Flatfoot workshop 6pm. Concert 7pm $10
July 20 – Whitetop – Passing It On: Whitetop Mountaineers / The Crooked Road Ramblers. 7pm $10
July 27 – Blue Ridge Bluegrass: Big Country Bluegrass / Marshall Brothers 7pm $15
SUN Aug 4 – Music On The Mountain: Balsam Range / Cullen’s Bridge 7pm $15
Aug 10 No Concert – Enjoy the Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax!
Aug 17 – Sundown Blues: John Dee Hollman / dancer – Williette Hinton / Lightnin’ Wells. Uke workshop 5pm. Concert 7pm $10
Aug 24 – Bluegrass Gospel: Travis Frye & Blue Mountain / Gospel Plowboys 7pm $10
Aug 31 – Virginia Stringbands: The Wolfe Brothers / Skeeter & The Skidmarks 7pm $10

Children 12 and under are free. Advance tickets available at Barrs Fiddle Shop, the Galax Visitor Center, online at BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org or at the gate.
info: (276) 236-5309 x112

Concerts are made possible with the support of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and National Park Service. The Blue Ridge Music Center is located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway only 10 miles from Galax, Virginia and 20 miles from Mount Airy, North Carolina. Music Center hours: 10am-5pm open everyday after May 23rd. Bring a picnic, folding chairs, your friends and the whole family! No alcohol or pets. Smokehouse BBQ available on concert nights. The Blue Ridge Music Center has mainstage concerts every weekend through August in the outdoor amphitheater at the foot of beautiful Fisher Peak. Also enjoy free Mid Day Mountain Music 12-4pm daily and the free Roots of American Music museum.

Leftover Salmon | Courtesy Alicia J. Rose

http://roosterwalk.com/

THURSDAY – VIPs Only
8 p.m. – Riggs Roberson
9  – Rob Cheatham & Gunchux
10:30 – Funk Punch

FRIDAY
4 p.m. – Boy Named Banjo
4:45 – Travis Book (Infamous Stringdusters)
5:45 – The Floorboards
7 – Lizzy Ross
8:30 – Larry & Jenny Keel w/ Sammy Shelor
10 – Yarn
11:35 – KUNG FU
Late – Kings of Belmont

SATURDAY
11 a.m. – Virginia All Steel Orchestra
11:30 – Justin Johnson
12:15 p.m. – Hot Twang
1:15 – Hotel de Ville
2:30 – Yankee Dixie
3:30 – Mandolin Orange
4:30 – Common Foundation
5:30 – Sanctum Sully
6:45 – Dangermuffin
8 – The Steepwater Band
9 – Leftover Salmon
10:35 – Josh Panda & the Hot Damned
11:45 – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
Late – Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds

SUNDAY
11:30 a.m. – Patriot Players
Noon – Bear Mountain Picnic
1 – Big Fat Gap
2 – After Jack
3 – Stephane Wrembel & His Band
4:30 – The Stickley Brothers
5:45 – Dave Eggar, Amber Rubarth & Deoro
7 – L Shape Lot
8:15 – Yarn
10 – Space Capone

WORKSHOP STAGE SCHEDULE
SATURDAY
10:30 a.m. – Funk Punch Brunch
12:15 p.m. – Magic Show – Caleb Johnston
2 – Bear Mountain Picnic
3:45 – Empire Strikes Brass
5:45 – Songwriting Workshop – Andrew Marlin (Mandolin Orange)

SUNDAY
12:15 – Broken Levees
2:15 – Patriot Players
4:45 – Levi’s Gene Pool

SILENT DISCO
FRIDAY NIGHT
Rometti
Agent
Epic Platonics
Phil Dice

SATURDAY
Phil Dice
Pressee
Agent
Rometti

Rio Semione in a photo from several years ago with her dog, Lila | facebook.com

It’s almost surreal to me, as Rio Semione has been a presence in my working life ever since I started covering music at the paper, and longer, in fact. The longtime artist relations representative at FloydFest died unexpectedly on Saturday at her home in Floyd County. Semione was 60, and had lived in Floyd for about 36 years.

I didn’t know Semione extremely well, as many did, but every time I ran across her — either in real time or online — she was interesting, with a lot of spirit and a legitimate point of view about music and culture. And let me tell you, to be an artist relations rep at a festival like FloydFest, a person needs to be firm but cool. She was both.

She had also been events planner at The Sun Music Hall and Cultural Arts Center and had booked and promoted shows at The Pine Tavern in those venues’ previous iterations. But she had been involved with FloydFest in one way or another since the first year, when she supervised hospitality for the musicians.

George Penn Jr., a drummer with several local acts, has been a stage host at several FloydFests and got to know her well. In response to an e-mail query, he wrote: “She was a positive force, an integral part of the Floyd community. I always enjoyed seeing her behind the scenes at FloydFest and other musical events in the area. We bonded over reggae music, especially Awareness Art Ensemble (1st popular reggae at in VA). Bless Rio’s sweet soul.”

She was an artist in her own right, as well. Among her other talents was pumpkin-carving, and not just gashing out some rough teeth and eyes. Check out this soundslide from 2006, with her describing her process and talking a bit about herself and life in her county. She taught pumpkin-carving, too, and I’d imagine her method was sound.

facebook.com/NeilYoung

NEW!

Interlocken Music Festival, with Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Furthur, Zac Brown, String Cheese Incident, The Black Crowes and more
Sept. 5-8, Oak Ridge Farm, Arrington, interlockenfestival.com (on sale 10 a.m. today)

Ke$ha, with Mike Posner
Aug. 14, Uptown Amphitheatre, Charlotte, N.C., 800-745-3000  (on sale 10 a.m. Friday)

Mingo Fishtrap, with Erin Lunsford & the Wildfire
June 23, The Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499 (on sale 10 a.m. Friday)

Anders Osborne
June 29, The Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499 (on sale 10 a.m. Friday)

Aaron Lewis
Aug. 21, The Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499 (on sale 10 a.m. Friday)

COMING UP!

of Montreal
May 23, The Canal Club, Richmond, 804-643-2582

Jim Wray And Fuse
May 23, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Futurebirds
May 23, 9:30 Club Washington, DC, 202-265-0930

Roberto Pomili
May 23, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Macy Gray
May 23, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Beleza, with Morro Azul Samba School
May 24, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, Charlottesville, 877-272-8849

10000 Maniacs
May 24, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
May 24, Patriot Center, Fairfax, 703-993-3000

Lena Seikaly
May 24, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Brickwall Jackson
May 24, The Canal Club, Richmond, 804-643-2582

Jahman Brahman
May 24, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Chamomile & Whiskey CD Release Party, with The Last Bison, The Sally Rose Band
May 24, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, VA, 800-594-8499

Honor By August
May 24, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Young Jeezy
May 24, The National, Richmond, 804-612-1900

Lori Williams
May 25, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Skism, J. Rabbit
May 25, The Fillmore, Charlotte, N.C., 800-745-3000

Eric Roberson
May 25, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Former Champions W/ Threesound
May 25, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

The Steel Wheels, Ana Egge, Blue Mountain Brewery
May 25, The Southern, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Friends of The Family
May 25, The Canal Club, Richmond, 804-643-2582

Sharon Clark
May 26, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Kat & The Traveler Duo
May 26, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

The Shins, Ra Ra Riot
May 27, The National, Richmond, 804-612-1900

Keith Wesby Band
May 28, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

The Uncluded (Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson)
May 28, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Eldar Djangirov Trio
May 29, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Aaron Neville
May 29, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

The Dandy Warhols Featuring 13 Tales From Urban Bohemia In Its Entirety
May 29, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Watts Up Tour feat. Antiserum, Helicopter Showdown and Clicks & Whistles
May 30, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

John Pizzarelli Quartet
May 30-June 2, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, Jana Kramer
May 30, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Greensboro, N.C., 336-373-7400

moe.
May 30, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Sylvia Browne
May 30, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Greg Howard Power Duo
May 30, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Turnpike Troubadors, with Carl Anderson
May 31, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, Charlottesville, 877-272-8849

Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers
May 31, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Greensboro, N.C., 336-373-7400

Dharma Initiative
May 31, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Maceo Parker
May 31, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Colt Ford
May 31, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Ottmar Liebert, Luna Negra
June 1, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Black Ice, with Jimbo The Name
June 1, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Hackensaw Boys
June 1, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Moombahton Massive Day at 9:30 Club: Nadastrom x Sabo, Gent & Jawns, Kingman Fire (Pickster One & Melo), Heartbreak, Jay Fay, DJ Ayres, Cousin Culo, Maxxin Crew (Cousin Culo x DJ Reck x Phi Unit), Thomas Blondet, Dee Jay Theory, Jon Kwest
June 1, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Fall Out Boy
June 1, The Fillmore, Charlotte, N.C., 800-745-3000

A BIG LOVE CD Release Party for Holly Renee Allen, with Ashley McMillen
June 1, The Southern, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Chuck Shaffer Picture Show
June 1, The Canal Club, Richmond, 804-643-2582

Everclear, Live, Filter & Sponge
June 2, Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre, Charlotte, N.C., 704-549-5555

Dj B80
June 2, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Patty Griffin
June 2-3, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Best Coast
June 3, The National, Richmond, 804-612-1900

Howard Alden
June 3, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

The Mountain Goats, The Baptist Generals
June 3, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Best Coast, Guards, Lovely Bad Things
June 4, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Johnny & The Headhunters
June 4, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Primus 3D and Gov’t Mule
June 5, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, Charlottesville, 877-272-8849

Pokey LaFarge
June 5, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Tomahawk
June 5, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

The Noise Tour featuring Marianas Trench, Powered by Journeys
June 5, The Fillmore, Charlotte, N.C., 800-745-3000

Primus and Gov’t Mule
June 5, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, Charlottesville, 877-272-8849

Jeff Sipe Trio
June 6, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Kenny Chesney
June 6, Farm Bureau Live, Virginia Beach, 757-368-3000

Killswitch Engage with As I Lay Dying, Miss May I & Affiance
June 6, The National, Richmond, 804-612-1900

Beach House
June 6, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Mary J. Blige And Anthony Hamilton
June 6, Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, 804-780-4970

James McCartney, with Alyssa Graham
June 7, The Southern, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Krewella, Le Castle Vania
June 7, The Fillmore, Charlotte, N.C., 800-745-3000

Langhorne Slim & The Law and David Mayfield Parade with Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts
June 7, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Love Canon, with Gina Sobel and the Mighty Fine
June 7, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 877-272-8849

Cut Copy, Worlds End Press
June 7, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Tony Holiday & The Velvetonesm, with Eli Cook Band
June 7, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Social Distortion
June 7, The National, Richmond, 804-612-1900

The ReVinyls
June 7, The Canal Club, Richmond, 804-643-2582

Tuck & Patti
June 7-9, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Mike Dillon Band
June 8, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Langhorne Slim, Matrimony
June 8, The Fillmore, Charlotte, N.C., 800-745-3000

Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis
June 8, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Spiral Fracture
June 8, The Canal Club, Richmond, 804-643-2582

The National
Jun 8, The National, Richmond, 804-612-1900

Earth, Wind & Fire
June 8, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Greensboro, N.C., 336-373-7400
June 9, Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre, Charlotte, 800-745-3000

Blue Dogs
June 8, The Southern, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Portugal. The Man, Skaters
June 8, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Earth, Wind & Fire
June 9, Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre, Charlotte, 800-745-3000

Hot Tuna with Jill Sobule
June 9, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Cute is What We Aim For, The Dangerous Summer
June 9, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Marc Cohn
June 9, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Tricky
June 9, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Circus Mutt
June 9, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Passion Pit
June 9-10, The National, Richmond, 804-612-1900

Jon Regen
June 10, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Joan Baez & Indigo Girls
June 11, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, Charlottesville, 877-272-8849

Animal Collective
June 11-12, 9:30 Club, Washington, 202-265-0930

Moutin Reunion Quartet
June 11, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Wild Nothing, Twin Tigers
June 11, The Southern, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Wayne Newton
June 12, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

The Vaccines
June 12, Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, 800-594-8499

Atlas Genius
June 12, The Canal Club, Richmond, 804-643-2582

Aisha Kahlil
June 12, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Hot Tuna
June 13, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

Passion Pit
June 13, Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre, Charlotte, N.C., 704-549-5555

Marla Palma Band
Juen 13, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Buster Williams “Something More Quartet”
June 13-16, Blues Alley, Washington, 202-337-4141

Kathryn Caine and the Small Band, with Sally Rose
June 14, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, Charlottesville, 877-272-8849

Tobacco Apache, with Funk Punch
June 14, The Hot Spot, Waynesboro, 540-949-5216

Hem
June 14, Birchmere, Alexandria, 703-549-7500

New Kids On The Block, 98 Degrees, Boyz II  Men
June 14, Verizon Center, Washington, 800-745-3000

Bad Company & Lynyrd Skynyrd: The XL Tour, with Black Stone Cherry
July 13, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Charlotte, 704-549-5555

O.A.R., with Allen Stone & Andrew McMahon
July 13, Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre, Charlotte, 800-745-3000

– Compiled by William Alexander

facebook.com/PistolAnnies

THE PISTOL ANNIES | “Annie Up” (RCA Nashville)

“Annie Up” is a good title for the Pistol Annies’ second album. Like the gambling term it playfully puns, the title underscores that this brash trio is raising the stakes, investing more time, effort and artistic nerve into its new 12-song collection.

The gamble pays off: “Annie Up” builds on the trio’s successful debut “Hell on Heels” by taking even more risks with bold material and inventive arrangements. Mixing bawdy humor with sensitive insight, the Annies entertainingly take on real-life issues, including how Southern families quell their secrets (“Hush Hush”), how alcoholics curse themselves while pouring another drink (“Dear Sobriety”) and how women struggle with what it takes to prepare for an evening (“Being Pretty Ain’t Pretty”).

The Pistol Annies began as a side lark for country music star Miranda Lambert. Formed with songwriting buddies Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, the trio’s debut initially was available only through the Internet and without the full promotional effort given Lambert’s other albums. But fan support and significant sales lifted these fully armed artists into a significant, ground-breaking act. Rather than play it safe, they roll the dice with another daring collection that should lift their profiles even higher.

— Michael McCall, Associated Press

PATTY GRIFFIN | “American Kid” (New West)

Patty Griffin bookends her seventh album “American Kid” with two songs about the death of her father, opening with the wistful, spiritually open-hearted “Go Wherever You Wanna Go.” The song features a series of poetic images conveying to a loved one that it’s OK to let go and pass to the other side. She closes with the sweetly mournful “Gonna Miss You When You’re Gone,” which blends old jazz chords set against a background of haunting, sustained keyboards.

Typical of Griffin’s artful and searching work, she eschews autobiographical narratives for oblique references to nature and the joy, pain and transcendent values of everyday life, all delivered with her powerful, subtly emotional voice. “American Kid” is unlike Griffin’s past work. She’s not prone to repeating herself and this is another gem in her catalog.

She’s backed for much of the album by Cody and Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, a group that opened for Robert Plant’s Band of Joy that included Griffin as a member. Plant’s taste for modal folk music can be heard on “Ohio,” on which he harmonizes with her. But “American Kid” is wholly Griffin’s — a poignant collection that probes personal and spiritual issues about the most important aspects of life.

— M.M.

SHE & HIM | “Volume 3” (Merge Records)

Is there any limit to Zooey Deschanel’s creativity?

With her comical hit show, “New Girl,” it’s hard to work out when she would have the time to write music. And the new album “Volume 3” from her duo, She & Him, with singer-songwriter M. Ward, definitely doesn’t sound like an album that’s been made on the side.

Their third record bursts to life with the bluesy “I’ve Got Your Number, Son,” and Deschanel’s tone is dulcet. It’s the kind of song you imagine being played on the jukebox in a 1950s diner.

The lyrics throughout the album are dreamy and full of unrequited love, but sung in an almost theatrical way. In “Never Wanted Your Love,” Deschanel adopts a Texan drawl. The addition of Ward’s voice on “Baby” creates a beautiful harmony with Deschanel’s tone, and an electric guitar riff adds a rock ‘n’ roll spin to the record.

The album’s only weak moment is the cover of Blondie’s “Sunday Girl,” which comes off flat. Otherwise, She & Him has a winner.

— Sian Watson, AP

AMY GRANT | “How Mercy Looks From Here” (Capitol Christian)

Few singers probe issues of the spirit and of the heart with the warmth and intimacy of Amy Grant. On “How Mercy Looks From Here,” her first album of all-original material in a decade, the 52-year-old doesn’t try to sound anything other than her age, and the result poignantly examines life’s twists and turns with depth and grace.

Ignoring pop culture’s reliance on outrageousness and shock value, Grant focuses her songs inward, reflecting on the joyous (“Here”), the tragic (“Shovel In Hand”) and the spiritual (“Deep As It Is Wide”). With a voice as organic and comforting as a wool sweater, Grant also shows maturity by relying on her voice’s amber tones and subtle phrasing without showing off or pushing any edges.

Her duet guests include husband Vince Gill, veterans Sheryl Crow, Carole King and James Taylor and Nashville roots rocker Will Hoge, who all sound like they’re sitting with her on the couch as they harmonize. “Time is an illusion, time is a curse,” Grant sings with King on “Our Time Is Now.” The point is that however we look at time, we should make the best of this moment — which is what Grant does on “How Mercy Looks From Here.”

— M.M.

GEORGE STRAIT | “Love Is Everything” (MCA Nashville)

George Strait is amid a two-year tour before retiring from the road, but new album “Love Is Everything” proves he still has plenty of great new country music in him.

As usual, he proves he can stay contemporary, nicely handling the modern romantic ballad “I Believe,” with its orchestrations and organ accents, and the tricky melody of “Give It All We Got Tonight,” his current hit.

For all his modern moves, it’s on the more traditional cuts that Strait excels, directly contradicting all the current Music Row trends. The steel-guitar-drenched “Blue Melodies” and the delightfully fiddle-driven “I Thought I Heard My Heart Sing” are reminders of how outstanding Strait is at classic country.

The album’s only misstep arrives with “Got A Car,” a first-person story of young love that would have been better left to a more age-appropriate vocalist.

For the most part, the best of “Love Is Everything” would have stood out on any of his albums in the last 32 years. Which means this veteran may hang up his traveling boots, but his consistency as a recording artist isn’t slowing down.

— M.M.

Sara Haze | Courtesy Salem Civic Center

A country comedian will emcee, an up-and-coming country singer and local band Rutledge have been added to the Blue Ridge Music Festival lineup.

Killer Beaz, who sounds like he would fit right in with his buddys the Blue Collar Comedy guys, will emcee the June 1 event at Salem Football Stadium. Sara Haze, who brings a pop approach to country, has just been added to the June 1 event. And Rutledge, a Roanoke country-rock band that has been impressing audiences in the valley, will play the festival VIP after-party, inside Salem Civic Center.

Those acts will join previously announced performers Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes, Charles Esten (he plays Deacon Claybourne on the ABC TV show “Nashville”) Colt Ford, Gloriana, Greg Bates, Will Hoge and The Skip Castro Band.

General admission and reserved seating $40 ($50.80 including online fees) and VIP tickets $99.50 ($110.75 including online fees) are on sale at Salem Civic Center box office, Ticketmaster locations including ticketmaster.com and via 800-745-3000.