Dave Matthews Band will hit the road this summer for its first U.S. tour since 2010. The massive trek spans over 40 dates, kicking off in The Woodlands, Texas on May 18th and ending in Mountain View, California on September 9th. Along the way, Dave and co. will share bills with The Avett Brothers, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Delta Spirit, Fitz and the Tantrums, Gary Clark Jr., and a number of other acts.

A fanclub pre-sale for members begins Thursday, February 16, at 10:00 AM ET, with a public on-sale following on Friday, March 9th. Visit DMB’s website for specific on-sale dates and complete ticketing information.

An issued press release also reports that the band and producer Steve Lillywhite recently began work on a new studio album, the first since 2009′s Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. Stay tuned for more details.

Dave Matthews Band 2012 Tour Dates:
05/18 – Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
05/19 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion *
05/20 – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Music Festival
05/22 - Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Ampitheatre at Lakewood ^
05/23 – Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre ^
05/25 – Hartford, CT @ Comcast Theatre %
05/26 – Hartford, CT @ Comcast Theatre $
05/28 – Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain $
05/29 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center $
06/02 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Ampitheatre ~
06/03 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center ~
06/05 – Manfield, MA @ Comcast Center $
06/06 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center $
06/08 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center !
06/09 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center !
06/12 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre #
06/13 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre #
06/16 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live +
06/17 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live +
06/22 – Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center +
06/23 – Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center >
06/26 – Camden, MA @ Susquehanna Bank Center ?
06/27 – Camden, MA @ Susquehanna Bank Center
06/29 – Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium
06/30 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts >
07/03 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center ?
07/06 – E. Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Center
07/07 – E. Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Center ?
07/10 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Center ?
07/11 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre ?
07/13 – Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion &
07/14 – Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion &
07/18 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-Ask-Gary Ampitheatre /
07/20 – W. Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Ampitheatre /
07/21 – W. Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Ampitheatre /
08/31 – George, WA @ The Gorge Ampitheatre ()
09/01 – George, WA @ The Gorge Ampitheatre ()
09/07 – Chula Vista, WA @ Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre <
09/08 – Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre <
09/09 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Ampitheatre <

* = w/ Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
^ = w/ The Head and the Heart
% = w/ Mariachi El Bronx
$ = w/ Carolina Chocolate Drops
~ = w/ Blind Pilot
! = w/ Lettuce
# = w/ Fitz and the Tantrums
+ = w/ Gary Clark Jr.
> = w/ Delta Spirit
? = w/ Brandi Carlie
& = w/ SOJA
/ = w/ Tower of Power
() = w/ The Avett Brothers
< = w/ Allen Stone

Fears about viability mostly vanished once this year’s lineup was unannounced. Last year’s lineup was primarily a mix of mainstream acts like John Legend and jam-band heroes like Trey Anastasio. This year’s group of names was more consistent and more eclectic, resulting in a list that could stand toe-to-toe with other major American music festivals. The top six acts were especially strong: Paul Simon, Widespread Panic, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, The Flaming Lips, and My Morning Jacket would all be respectable large print names at any of the “Big 4” festivals. In fact, most of them are headlining other major festivals later this summer. Tickets sold quickly once the lineup was announced, and Hangout was able to hit capacity in just its second year.

Once the festival sold out, the question became whether or not they could handle 35,000 people. The answer was mostly yes. There were a couple of logistical problems that will need to be addressed next year: some people waited in line nearly two hours after gates opened on Friday, and shuttle lines were absurdly long all three nights. It would have also been nice to have more volume from the Surf Style stage, which needed to be louder to reach the back of the massive crowds that formed for My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips, and The Black Keys. But those were relatively minor hiccups. There were plenty of conveniently placed bathrooms and concession stands. All of the stages stayed on schedule. There were no technical failures of note. The biggest hiccup came when Cee Lo Green showed up late in a repeat of his Coachella fiasco, but a surprise set of covers from the Foo Fighters was a more than adequate substitute.

One of the surest signs that Hangout is here to stay? The musicians had a blast. Nearly every performance included some mention of how great the setting was, and most of the remarks sounded genuine. Dave Grohl pointed out that it’s the only festival where you can go for a swim in the ocean after your sound check. It’s as unique for the artists as it is for the attendees, and it shouldn’t be hard to attract top talent in the future.

Overall, it was an excellent three days on the beach. The atmosphere was laid back enough that families with children could relax on a blanket without getting in the way of the sketchier types that show up at festivals, but it was still raucous enough that it felt more like a beach party than it did Disneyland. If they iron out the few remaining wrinkles next year and deliver another equally strong lineup, Hangout is bound to earn a reputation as one the best festivals in the country.

-Denton Poteet
Contributing Writer

Friday, May 20th

Brandi Carlile – Surf Style Stage – 2:15 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

As she told past stories to the Hangout crowd about being an opener in the past, Brandi Carlile fondly recalled memories of traveling down the West Coast in a small van, performing at places like Dukes Chowder House and opening for oddly-paired bands like Hanson. Even though she was once again an opening act on the first day of the festival, her avid fans crowded the beach and sang most of the songs along with her. It’s easy to not believe that such a powerful sound can come from such a small woman, but when Carlile bent her knee behind her guitar and tilted her head back to let a growling note pierce though the air, fans howled with approval. Just as in her live album, Live at Benaroya Hall with The Seattle Symphony, she also taught three-part harmony to “turpentine” on the beach. -Laura Medina

My Morning Jacket – Surf Style Stage – 7:00 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

The beginning of the My Morning Jacket show felt more like some mystic tribal ritual as the opening notes of “Victory Dance” rolled over frontman Jim James’ tongue, complimenting the stage’s foggy haze back dropped against the setting sun. James wasted no time getting into his setting, as he belted out on while pointing to the crowd, “Power, hey do you know how it works.” The band’s movements throughout their set were fluid and transitioned seamlessly from the eerie feel of the opening two songs into the familiar rock ballad of “Off The Record”. During the band’s set, James told stories of coming to Gulf Shores as a Senior in High School and getting kicked out of Technotronic’s show from retrieving a sweat towel from the pool they were playing around. “I hope you have as much fun as I did, “ he told fans. By the time the band broke into their standout Circuital track, “Holdin’ on to Black Metal”, many of the people in the crowd looked as though they were fulfilling his hopes for the night. -Laura Medina

Widespread Panic – Hangout Stage – 8:30p.m.

While Hangout took pains in year two to make it clear that they are more than just a jam band festival, there was still plenty of noodling on deck to keep those ticket-buying hippies happy. Plus, that kind of music is a natural fit for the beach anyway. Friday was probably the jammiest of the three days, so it was fitting that Friday night’s headliner was long running jam juggurnaut Widespread Panic. The band’s set might have been more focused on their more straightforward rock material than expected, but there were still enough solos and exploratory digressions to keep the faithful happy. The band is currently celebrating its 25^th year together, but they still seem enthusiastic about what they’re doing. They might not be for everyone, but it isn’t difficult to see the appeal. -Denton Poteet

Saturday, May 21st

Dead Confederate – Grooveshark Stage – 2:30 p.m.

Hailing from Athens and showing it, Dead Confederate intelligently combined ambient delays and reverbs to fill the outdoor air of the Hangout Music Fest on the Grooveshark stage. A big success of Dead Confederate is in the dark and sustained vocal melodies with big drums and guitar that rings out from measure to measure. The hard rockers played a daytime set at the peak of Saturday’s heat, but entranced the audience with the mood of their modern rock sound. It’s a tough feat to turn an open aired music festival into a dark, smoky Athens bar, but Dead Confederate did the stage justice. -Scott Greenberg

Minus The Bear – Surf Style Stage – 2:30 p.m.

When Minus The Bear plays a set like they did at the Hangout Music Fest, audience members leave feeling proud to share their experience with the band. With equal parts Menos el Oso, OMNI, and Planet of Ice, the band made mathrock sexy. Heads bobbed, partners danced, and hands clapped hard. The band really focused on their consistent energy, having seamless transitions from song to song, paying attention to specific midi triggers in songs like “Into The Mirror”. It was a pleasure to see a well rehearsed band with so much style and stage comfort. Keep it up, boys. -Scott Greenberg

Cee Lo Green – Hangout Stage – 3:30 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

Certain moments in concert festivals become ingrained in rock history, and Cee Lo Green‘s time slot this past weekend was easily etched in. As audience members waited…and waited, people began to wonder what was happening. All of a sudden, Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters came running onto the stage, explained that Cee Lo never showed (using colorful language), and surprised everyone with news of an extra, exclusive Foo Fighters set. Crowds in the distance ran up, and audience members up close made sure they got even closer.

It was a covers set – which makes sense given their recent Record Store Day exclusive, Medium Rare, which comprises itself of all the band’s covers to date. However, Dave Grohl & Co. picked their favorites, and even added a few new ones to the bunch. Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out For Summer” and Tom Petty’s “Break Down” brought much applause from the crowd who realized how rare of an occasion this was for them.

However, four covers in, the band jumped into their radio-favorite cover “Darling Nikki”. Question marks popped up above peoples’ heads, recalling that Cee Lo and Foo Fighters had played the song once live on the MTV Video Music Awards. Sure enough, at the tail end of the song, the band looped to the beginning and Cee Lo ran onto the stage. He made it!

Cee Lo only had time for a few songs after showing up late, but he tagged his most popular (or most obvious?) tracks like “Fuck You” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”, along with his SNL performance song, “Bright Lights Bigger City”. Soon after, Cee Lo wrapped up his expedited set, but fans were satisfied to see the moment in history created by Foo Fighters and Cee Lo Green. -Scott Greenberg

Primus – Surf Style Stage – 4:30p.m.

Primus was one of the heaviest bands in the Hangout lineup, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell it based on the first half of their set. They pursued a mellower form of eccentricity rather than the oddball funk-metal sound that made them (kind of) famous. It suited the afternoon beach environment, but it probably should have been a little louder–they were maybe the greatest casualty of the Surf Style Stage’s curiously-low volume. But that’s no fault of the band, who were airtight throughout their set. They made the audience stick around for the hits, though, playing two new songs and messing around with both a dobro and a whamola before delivering big guns like “My Name is Mud” and “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver” late in the set. -Denton Poteet

The Avett Brothers – Hangout Stage – 5:45 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

In the heat of Saturday afternoon, fans packed beach in front of the main stage. Some were there to catch the soul-stirring sounds of Cee Lo Green, while others had camped out to see Foo Fighters. Sandwiched between a surprise Foo Fighters set (in the wake of Cee Lo’s late arrival) and the headlining set were The Avett Brothers. While their set time initially felt like somewhat of an odd fit, the group played an extended set to a captivated crowed with people pushing to the front as they heard the stage performance. After all, the nature of these North Carolinian’s music is as close as a folk rock band can come to having a punk aesthetic. Hands waved in the air as the band stomped their feet to “Kick Drum Heart” as people swayed and sung along to the convincing words of “January Wedding”. All in all, the brothers play with a fluidity and reckless abandonment that makes their live show something to behold. -Laura Medina

The Flaming Lips – Surf Style Stage – 7:15p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

Most discussion of The Flaming Lips‘ live show tends to focus on the spectacle instead of the music, but there’s still a real band underneath all that confetti. The band’s Saturday set acted as an affirmation of that. Instead of an extended instrumental introduction and hamster ball theatrics, they took the stage with relatively little fuss and quickly launched into a warm, loose performance of signature song “Do You Realize?” that was met with cheers of recognition from the crowded beach. The rest of their set stuck to the more popular songs from the latter half of their discography (plus the obligatory “She Don’t Use Jelly”), and Wayne Coyne seemed to enjoy playing the part of beach party emcee for 90 minutes. The Lips are scheduled to play a ton more festivals this year, but as Coyne pointed out onstage, Hangout was the only chance to catch them on a beach during sunset. -Denton Poteet

Foo Fighters – Hangout Stage – Saturday, 8:45 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

When asked the question, “So who was the best set at The Hangout Music Fest?” people have to always respond, “You mean, besides Foo Fighters?” Foo Fighters are a band at the next level, breeding positive lyrics with rock music you are proud to get speeding tickets to. When a band can play a 25 song set, and all of them have been hits, then you know you have seen a good show.

Hangout attendees were treated to new tracks like “Bridge Burning” and “Rope” and solid Foo Fighters classics like “Stacked Actors” or “All My Life”. Pat Smear smiled through every upbeat song, and drummer Taylor Hawkins resembled Sesame Street‘s Animal when doing full speed drum fills.

Another classic part of a Foo Fighters set is the banter that Dave Grohl has with the audience. His fireside chats are a fun way to give Hawkins a chance to breathe. While talking about his day, Grohl had no problem getting 35,000 people to cheer on the fact that he took a nap after swimming in the ocean earlier that day.

“Everlong” closed the Saturday festivities, and audience members were treated to a heavy amount of fireworks launching from directly behind the stage. The combination of soothing distortion, the visual beauty of fireworks, and the positivity and joy of a Foo Fighters set made The Hangout a top-notch festival experience. -Scott Greenberg

Sunday, May 22nd

Portugal. The Man – Surf Style Stage – 11:30 a.m.

Photo by Max Blau

When the gates were opened on Sunday morning, fans rushed to the front of the stage to see Portugal. The Man. Moments after sound checking, the band rolled onto the stage in bare feet and mussed hair, playing continuously while only stopping for a few brief moments while John Gourley tuned his guitar and Zachary Carothers said “thanks for coming out so early to see us.” They easily captured their essence as a traveling band, both physically because of their extensive touring, but also their navigation through so many sounds and genres. During their set, the band hinted that their new album, In the Mountain in the Cloud, might stand among their best of the six albums they previously released. -Laura Medina

Girl Talk – Boom Boom Room – 6:00 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

Gregg Gillis is a mad scientist. Originally with a background in biomedical engineering, Girl Talk melds together his sampled sounds with the precisest of measurements. The big difference, however, is that onstage he’s using confetti, balloons and toilet paper instead of beakers and graduated cylinders. Fans packed the Boom Boom Room on Sunday afternoon, causing the Gulf Shores Fire Marshall’s heart to race as security beckoned dancing girls to climb down from the supports of the tents. The wave of people screamed at each new mash up, bouncing up and down with blow-up alligators and pool noodles alike. While the essence of his music is a genius compilation of old and new sounds cohesively mixed into one, his live shows are a sweaty mess rivaling any dance party. Each are unique in and of themselves, and each are awesome in their own right. -Laura Medina

The Black Keys – Surf and Style Stage – 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Max Blau

As with any large festival, logistical problems will always turn up somewhere throughout the weekend. This was made apparent at the Surf and Style stage, where flatscreens projecting the videography of The Black Keys set were located only about 10 feet off of the ground. In a crowd of 35,000 standing on level ground, only the front 20% are going to be able to see the sweat of Dan Auerbach or the soft floor tom hits of Patrick Carney. The others had to just find a comfy spot in the sand and listen to the band that made dirty blues cool again.

Despite most of the crowds inability to physically “see” the Black Keys, the set was a die hard Black Keys dream. On the Kings of Leon tour, The Black Keys stuck to a structured setlist, making sure to burn through their singles and popular tracks. At The Hangout Music Fest, it was the opposite. Medleys of antique soulful blues songs were mixed into their set in clever ways. A good indication of how the Black Keys sounded at the fest can be heard in the first 30 seconds of “Ten Cent Pistol”. Quiet guitar string plucks build and build until the duo, 10 minutes later, would be trading energy back and forth in crunchy distortion solos.

Photo by Max Blau

If you were looking forward to hearing an album played live, this was not the set for you. If you were looking forward to a band playing music live, independent of recorded sound structure, then The Black Keys were a huge check mark on your Hangout Music Fest list. -Scott Greenberg

Justin Townes Earle – Shaka Island Stage – 7:45 p.m.

Justin Townes Earle was in the unenviable position of playing at the same time as both festival mainstays Galactic and white-hot sub-headliners The Black Keys, but he still managed to draw a respectable crowd to the Hangout Festival’s smallest stage. He owned that stage, too. Equal parts singer-songwriter and showman, Earle is a confident performer that knows how to connect with an audience. His gospel-tinged tunes were a good warm up for Paul Simon and a breath of fresh air for festival goers who had been baking in the sun for three days. -Denton Poteet

Paul Simon – Hangout Stage – 9:00 p.m.

Even if you’re not a student of his discography, odds are high that you probably like at least one song written by Paul Simon. You probably even like a few of them. That’s a strength in a festival headliner – it heightens the shared experience between thousands of strangers. Simon’s music is familiar and rhythmic and light as a feather. Who better to close out three days of music on the beach?

For two hours, Simon and his band moved seamlessly between Simon & Garfunkel staples, Graceland-era classics, and selections from the recently released So Beautiful or So What. The setlist perfectly balanced the new songs with the iconic ones, of which there were no shortage; there were appearances from “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”, “Mother and Child Reunion”, and “The Only Living Boy in New York”, among others. It also helped that the new tracks sounded every bit as vital as the classics, with “The Afterlife” and “So Beautiful or So What” sounding especially strong.

This was a huge coup for Hangout. Simon is a living legend touring behind a very good new album, but Hangout is his only summer festival date. This was a special set and it felt like it. The crowd erupted when that familiar horn line announced the arrival of “You Can Call Me Al”, and they fell into a respectful hush when Simon took the stage alone during the encore to play a solo acoustic rendition of “The Sound of Silence”. The latter was flat out amazing, with a nuanced vocal performance from Simon that conveys less urgency and more reflection than the original Simon & Garfunkel recording. He’s more thoughtful now, not quite as earnest, but still committed to the sentiment at the song’s core. He’s gained experience and perspective since he wrote it, and you can hear it in his voice. It was the high water mark of an excellent festival. -Denton Poteet

Gallery by Max Blau

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Sometimes even the musically rich really get richer, too. The lineup for the second edition of the Hangout Music Festival was already stellar to begin with, but festival organizers have just dropped another bomb that makes the decision whether or not to attend what is essentially the coolest beach block party on Earth a no-brainer.

Twelve acts have been added to the already stacked bill, which includes: The Avett Brothers, STS9, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Brandi Carlile, and down South favorites, JJ Grey and Mofro. Also joining a lineup that already sports Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, My Morning Jacket, and the Black Keys are Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Big Gigantic, Soja, Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass, Rival Sons, and the Honey Island Swamp Band.

The $159 dollar tickets have already sold out, but remaining three-day passes are going for $174 at Hangout’s official page. VIP ticket and travel packages are also available starting at $525. The festival runs from May 20-22 and concertgoers who are ballin’ on a budget can opt for a payment plan that allows them to split the ticket price into three installments. The last day to order the plan is March 31^st.

Early-rising locals with an affinity for free swag will have a chance to win tickets when Good Day Alabama and festival organizers warm up the beach with two days of free, beachside concerts and a ticket giveaway on March 14-15.  Complete details, including the full line up, are available here.

Then there’s always our own giveaway coming up later this month. Stay tuned!

As for the end result of said attention? An initial lineup announcement headed by Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band, and Kings of Leon. Other noteworthy acts include Jack White’s The Dead Weather, Jack Black’s Tenacious D, Weezer, Norah Jones, Damian Marley and Nas, LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, Regina Spektor, Tori Amos, John Fogerty, and Jeff Beck.

Also set to appear at this year’s edition, which runs from June 10-13, are the Dropkick Murphys, John Prine, Jimmy Cliff, Michael Franti and Spearhead, The Avett Brothers, The Black Keys, Deadmau5, Against Me!, Les Claypool, the Zac Brown Band, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Rise Against, as well as a few familiar faces, including the Disco Biscuits, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Calexico.

A number of high-profile indie acts will also perform, including She & Him, Blitzen Trapper, The Dodos, Local Natives, The Gaslight Anthem, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Chromeo (who will be joined by the legendary Daryl Hall), Tokyo Police Club, and Neon Indian.

We should once again note that today’s announcement was billed as the initial lineup, and additional artists are expected to be named in the weeks ahead. We’ll of course update you when the information becomes available.

Tickets, available in the general admission and VIP varieties, are currently on sale and priced at $234.50 and $1,349.50 respectively. Payment plans are available, as are various rental packages. Hit up bonnarootickets.com for all the specifics.

Additional details regarding the festival itself can be read on bonnaroo.com. We also suggest bookmaring our Bonnaroo Outlook pages, as we’ll update it once additional lineup news is announced. Now would also be a good time to check out our recent interview with Bonnaroo co-founder Ashley Capps.

As previously mentioned, the lineup announcement will work something like this. Unlike previous announcements, the 2010 bill will not be unveiled all at once, but rather throughout the day, with the goal being to “generate conversations about the lineup a few acts at a time.” Starting at 10 AM EST (barring any early leaks), bands will begin announcing their participation via various social media outlets and bonnaroo.com. It’s basically like one giant, procrastinating-inducing puzzle. Fortunately, just in case we don’t figure it out by then, Bonnaroo will end our agony by announcing the full lineup later tomorrow night.

Given all this, it only makes sense that we start an open thread, where you guys can chat, complain, and post any discoveries you find. We’ll of course keep track as well!

7:30 pm Update: 90 minutes left! LCD Soundsystem, Les Claypool, Lucero, Kris Kristofferson, Martin Sexton, and Deadmau5 among the newest additions.

5:30 pm Update: Add The Dodos, Tori Amos, Tenacious D, Damian Marley & Nas, Lotus, Blitzen Trapper, Calexico, Mumford & Sons, Aterciopelados, and John Butler Trio to the mix. Still waiting for Neil, Pavement, and Roger Waters…

3:30 pm Update: A few more worthwhile confirmations: The Dead Weather, They Might Be Giants, The Melvins, Dave Rawlings Machine, John Prine, Mew, Dr. Dog, Clutch, and The Bakerton Group. Also, a few more expected: Alicia Keys, Pavement, and Spoon.

2:00 pm Update: So far, we’ve been going at this for a good five hours and we still only know about a 1/4 of the acts. Of those however, there are certainly a fair share of early highlights, including Jay-Z, The Flaming Lips, Regina Spektor, The National, Disco Biscuits, Jeff Beck, Norah Jones, Weezer, She & Him, and Phoenix.

We can also confirm the participation of Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, Dropkick Murphys, and Zac Brown band. As for what we can expect to see in the hours ahead? Neil Young, Spoon, Broken Social Scene, and Deadmau5. Also don’t be shocked if Roger Waters (performing The Wall), Pavement, and My Morning Jacket make an appearance.

Update: Here is the initial lineup…

Against Me!, Aeroplane, The Avett Brothers, B.o.B., Baaba Maal, The Black Keys Bassnectar, Baroness, Blitzen Trapper, Blues Traveler, Brandi Carlile, Calexico, Chromeo w/ Darryl Hall, Clutch, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Damian Marley & Nas, Dan Deacon Ensemble, Dave Matthews Band, Dave Rawlings Machine, The Dead Weather, Deadmau5, Diane Birch, Disco Biscuits, The Dodos, Dr. Dog, Dropkick Murphys, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Entrance Band, The Flaming Lips (w/ Stardeath and White Dwarfs) performing Dark Side of the Moon, The Gaslight Anthem, GWAR, Here We Go Magic, Hot Rize, Jamey Johnson, Japandroids, Jay-Z, Jeff Beck, John Prine, Kid Cudi, Kings of Leon, Kris Kristofferson, Ingrid Michaelson, Isis, John Fogerty, Julia Nunes, LCD Soundsystem, Les Claypool, Local Natives, Lotus, Lucero, Manchester Orchestra, Martin Sexton, Mayer Hawthrone & the County, Medeski Martin & Wood, Melvins, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Miike Snow, Miranda Lambert, Monte Montgomery, Mumford & Sons, The National, Needtobreathre, Neon Indian, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Norah Jones, OK Go, Phoenix, The Postelles, Punch Brothers, Rebelution, Regina Spektor, Rise Against, She & Him, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Stevie Wonder, The Temper Trap, Tenacious D, They Might Be Giants, Thievery Corporation, Tinariwen, Tori Amos, Tokyo Police Club, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Wale, Weezer, The xx, Zac Brown Band

Here are other expected and rumored acts.

Now, buckle up kids! It’s going to be a long and wild ride!

Feature image courtesy of Ryan Mastro…

As a recently issued press release explains (via who else? TFB), “over the last year, more than 20 of American music’s most exciting artists traveled to Preservation Hall in New Orleans to collaborate with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on classic New Orleans repertoire.” Among those 20 artists are the aforementioned Mr. Waits, who has a couple other new releases forthcoming as well, Pete Seeger, Merle Haggard, My Morning Jacket/Monster of Folk’s Jim James, Andrew Bird, Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle, Richie Havens, Jason Isbell, Angelique Kidjo, Amy LaVere, Del McCoury, Budy Miller, and Paolo Nutini. Not bad, eh?

The end result is billed as a timeless and joyous celebration of New Orleans music. Proceeds from the sale of the project will benefit Preservation Hall and The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program.

“Our community is deeply rooted in a tradition of using music to rejoice, heal and overcome adversity. We play music at our funerals to uplift our spirits during our deepest and darkest emotional moments,” says producer Ben Jaffe, PHJB Creative Director and son of Preservation Hall founders Allan and Sandra Jaffe. “My goal on this project was to create new works steeped in the New Orleans Tradition with artists from diverse musical genres and backgrounds who all share a mutual admiration and deep appreciation for our cultural heritage.”

A complete tracklist is still forthcoming, but the press release notes that Waits’ contribution will come in the form of an arrangement of the earliest known recorded Mardi Gras Song, “Tootie Ma Is a Big Fine Thing”, while Brandi Carlile’s did a rendition of the gospel classic “Old Rugged Cross”.

Preservation will be available Fat Tuesday, February 16th in standard CD, deluxe edition and double-LP collectible formats via RED Distribution.