The Hotel Cafe Tour 2008

It's March 2008 and the Hotel Cafe Tour has already begun. Once a small coffee shop, the Hotel Cafe has spurred into a popular, intimate music venue in Los Angeles and has become a burgeoning scene for singer/songwriters. Now, it is loading a bus with some of your favorite t61 artists and taking them out on the road to a city near you. Currently, the tour is taking place across the U.S. and by mid-April, some of these artists will jet set to the UK and other parts of Europe. Future possibilities include a tour in Japan as well as additional Fall tour dates.

Some t61 artists that will be part of the rotating lineup include Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, William Fitzsimmons, Meiko, and Priscilla Ahn.

For specific concert lineups and tour dates and locations, visit the website and/or myspace.
(note: the majority of the tour dates are sold out; however, there are selected cities with tickets still available)

Josh Ritter at Ladies Literary Club

If you're near Grand Rapids, Michigan, Josh Ritter is playing at the Ladies Literary Club on Monday, March 3. Here is some more information from GRNow.com.

Josh Ritter's The Historical Conquests of Josh Rittter was named one of the best albums of 2007 from coast to coast by major music magazines, radio stations and newspapers. Josh Ritter isn't the first singer-songwriter to draw comparisons to Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan, but he ranks among the few whose best songs actually justify them.

"How refreshing and inspiring it is to encounter a young artist whose achievements match his ambitions."-Washington Post

Don't miss this opportunity to see a raising star in an incredibly intimate and unique space. An evening with JOSH RITTER...Ladies Literary Club...Monday, March 3, 2008.

Summer Music Festivals in the U.S.

You can catch so many great artists you've heard on The Sixty One at big music festivals this summer (and loads that you don't hear at The Sixty One). Here are four of the bigger festivals in the US this summer.

Coachella

Location: Indio, CA
Dates: April 25-27
Website: Coachella.com

I'd really love to go to Coachella, but I won't make it this year. Santogold is playing! Hot Chip, Manchester Orchestra, My Morning Jacket, Love & Rockets!?, Black Mountain, Annuals, The National and so many more bands.

Bonnaroo

Location: Manchester, TN
Dates: June 12-15
Website: Bonnarroo.com

Many bands I've seen are playing Bonnaroo. Artists you may have heard at The Sixty One include State Radio, Tegan & Sarah, Ghostland Observatory, Chromeo, The Felice Brothers and Vampire Weekend. Lez Zeppelin are playing!

Rothbury Music Festival

Location: Rothbury and Double JJ Resort, Rothbury, Michigan
Dates: July 3-6
Website: Rothbury Festival

This is the first year for the Rothbury Festival in West Michigan. The line up is impressive and features such 61 artists as State Radio, Tea Leaf Green, The Dresden Dolls and lots of artists I'm dying to see.

Lollapalooza

Location: Chicago's Grant Park
Dates: Aug. 1-3
Website: Lollapalooza.com

Lollapalooza is a festival I've attended many times. I went to the first five and then to the last two years in Chicago. They haven't announced the lineup yet, but you bet your sweet ass I'll be there.

Any Database Programmers Out There?

Once we find a permanent domain name for the site it would be great to have a database of shows by artists on The Sixty One, sortable by artist, city and date. If you're intested, please contact Batface89 by Tunebox or a post on my wall. This would be volunteer for the love of music and The Sixty One.

Actually, I could use a good programmer for my regular job - someone who knows rails, phpMyAdmin and MySQL. We've been looking for someone for a while. We pay, of course.