Stereogum — Matt Berninger of the National and Brent Knopf of Menomena and Ramona Falls released their debut album under the name EL VY last fall. Return To The Moon included a song titled “Need A Friend,” which Wye Oak slowed-down and remixed. Listen to the... more info

Stereogum — Raleigh, NC’s Hopscotch Festival is returning for a seventh year this September, and today they’ve released their characteristically eclectic lineup. The headliners are split among two locations this year — the outdoor stage in Raleigh City Pla... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Colm Toibin on James Baldwin's novel Giovanni's Room at Prospect. Baldwin, in this novel, made clear that he could work wonders with the light and shade of intimacy, that he could move easily and effortlessly into a whispered prose, into... more info

Stereogum — Last night, the great Baltimore indie duo Wye Oak played at Baltimore’s Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, a local institution, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra playing behind them. For a band who were playing local warehouse spaces and restaurants just... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — by Andrew Sacher Twenty-year-old Memphis singer/songwriter Julien Baker fronts the bands Forrister and The Star Killers, and as of last week she's got a solo record out in the world called Sprained Ankle. It's on 6131 Records, which is mostly... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — photo: The National at Barclays Center in 2013 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin) Although The National haven't released an album since 2013's Trouble Will Find Me, they've had a very busy two years. They premiered their documentary, Mistaken for Stra... more info

Stereogum — Austin rockers Shearwater have announced the release of a new album called Jet Plane And Oxbow, the follow-up to 2012’s Animal Joy and 2013’s covers comp Fellow Travelers. It features contributions from composer Brian Reitzell (best known for his... more info

Stereogum — Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner has been making great experimental synthpop under the name Flock Of Dimes for a few years now, although she’s only released a handful of singles thus far. Recently, she wrote some original music to accompany a Baltimore stag... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — by Andrew Sacher Seattle's annual Capitol Hill Block Party returns in 2015 from July 24-26. This year's lineup includes Ratatat, TV on the Radio, The Kills, Father John Misty, Jamie xx, Toro y Moi, Built to Spill, Wye Oak, The... more info

Stereogum — In their centennial 2015-2016 concert season, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is partnering with WTMD-FM 89.7 as part of Pulse, a new concert series to appeal to the “next generation.” Pulse is bringing indie rock bands to the stage alongside Ba... more info