Amy Ray to host songwriter event with Heather McEntire, Phil Cook & M.C. Taylor

Singer-songwriter Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls will host a special "Writers in the Round" event in Durham in January with some of the best local writers of the Triangle.

The event will be at the Casbah in Durham on Thursday, January 31 and will feature Heather McEntire of Mount Moriah, Phil Cook of Megafaun and M.C. Taylor, aka Hiss Golden Messenger. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $15.

It

Bell X1 releasing new live album, announces North American tour

Irish band Bell X1 are gearing up for the release of a new live album, Field Recordings, on July 20. They'll hit the road on an acoustic North American tour this fall to support it and will come to the Triangle.

The band will play a special seated show at the Casbah in Durham on Sunday, October 7. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Stream the song "In Every Sunflower" from Field

Langhorne Slim & The Law announces new album & tour

Hardworking singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim and his band The Law are gearing up for the release of their new album The Way We Move, due out on June 5 via NC label Ramseur Records. The band will be touring hard as usual and will return to the Triangle.

They'll play the Casbah in Durham on Tuesday June 12. Ha Ha Tonka will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out a video of the

Shovels and Rope announces spring 2012 dates, coming to Durham

Charleston husband and wife duo Shovels and Rope were among the many great bands announced to play the 2012 Hopscotch Music Festival in September, but you don't have to wait that long to see the band in the Triangle.

They're playing the Casbah in Durham on Wednesday, May 16. John Howie, Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff and Wylie Hunter will open. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $10.

Check out a

Shawn Mullins announces 2012 tour, coming to Durham

Georgia singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, who broke into the mainstream with his 1998 hit "Lullaby," is hitting the road this summer in support of his latest album, 2010's Light You Up.

Mullins will make a stop at the Casbah in Durham on Saturday, July 7. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m on Thursday, April 19 via Etix for $20.

Check out the lyric video for the title track from Light You Up

Mike Doughty releases book, performing in Durham

Alt-rock singer-songwriter and former Soul Coughing front man Mike Doughty is hitting the road this spring in support of a very personal new project. In January, Doughty published The Book of Drugs, a memoir of his addiction and recovery.

Doughty will be at Durham's Casbah on Friday, May 11, for a reading, concert and Q&A session. Tickets are $16 and go on sale Friday, March 2, via Etix.

Watch

Eleanor Friedberger announces spring tour, coming to Durham

Photo by Michael Rubenstein
Singer-songwriter Eleanor Friedberger is hitting the road again this spring in support of her solo debut Last Summer, released last year via Merge Records.

She'll come back to the Triangle to play the Casbah in Durham on Friday, April 20. Tickets are on sale now via Etix for $12.

Those who are checking out the Portlandia show at the Carolina Theatre on February 22