Monitor Records

Founded in 1999 by Brian DeRan and Jason Foster, indie rock label Monitor was named "Best Record Label" by Baltimore City Paper in 2002.

Their catalog includes three albums from Cass McCombs, two from instrumental math-rock trio Oxes; new NYC metal band and recent Matador Records signing Early Man; Damon Che's post-Don Caballero project Bellini; Battles, featuring John Stanier [Helmet, Tomahawk], guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams [Don Caballero, Storm & Stress], guitarist David Konopka [Lynx] and avant solo musician Tyondai Braxton [son of Anthony Braxton]; and many others.

Welcome, Monitor!

SHOWCASE SUBMISSION DEADLINES

Click here for details.

Blazin' Squad, Break A Sweat + Capuera –Pop (Weighty Plates)
The Orchard is thrilled to exclusively distribute two new Blazin' Squad EPs, featuring guest vocalist Pedro. The ten-MC North London rap/pop group has dominated U.K. pop charts since its 2002 debut single, the #1 hit "Crossroads." Since then, Blazin' Squad has unleashed four more Top 10 singles and two hugely successful full-length albums, resulting in magazine cover stories and a sold-out headlining tour. Blazin' Squad member Kenzie even competed on the U.K.'s hugely popular Celebrity Big Brother reality TV show earlier this year. Read more.

Ronnie Spector, She Talks To Rainbows –Rock (Greenspec Properties)
This legendary leader of 60's girl group The Ronettes ["Be My Baby," "Walking in the Rain," "Do I Love You"] makes a stellar appearance on The Raveonettes' upcoming Sony CD Pretty In Black, due out May 5. Spector sings with Raveonettes Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo on "Ode to L.A.," described by Rolling Stone as "a palm-tree-dream marriage of the Ronettes' 'Be My Baby' and the Beach Boys' 'Don't Worry Baby.'" Spector's last recording, the 1999 EP She Talks to Rainbows, also contained a fantastic duet: "Bye Bye Baby" with Joey Ramone.

Reid Genauer and the Assembly of Dust, Reid Genauer and the Assembly of Dust –Rock (LionHeart Music Co./Relix Magazine)
Former Strangefolk frontman Reid Genauer and his band Assembly of Dust has been invited to perform at the massive Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, TN [June 10-12]. The timing couldn't be better: the band's latest CD The Honest Hour hit #35 on AAA radio album charts last week. Genauer and his Assembly of Dust will continue to build steam with several high-profile shows with Bob Weir's Ratdog and Gov't Mule later this month.

The Street Corner Healers, Street Corner Healers – Rock (WAR Music)
"Ooh Las Vegas," a Gram Parsons cover performed by Rhode Island's Street Corner Healers, appears in Sandra Bullock's new movie, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous. According to the band's singer Mark Wunsch, producers picked his version over Parsons's original and covers by Emmylou Harris and Cowboy Junkies. Although the band has been on extended hiatus for the past two years, Wunsch is working on a solo album for release later this year.

John Alexander Ericson, Songs For Quiet Souls – Pop (Warsaw Recordings/Rosegarden)
Anja Caspary, a DJ from Berlin's biggest and most popular commercial radio station Radio Eins, chose Ericson's Songs For Quiet Souls as her #5 favorite CD of 2004. Stylus describes the Swedish singer/songwriter's music as "enchanting." Other magazines call him a "Scandinavian Thom Yorke" and compare his music to Sigur R�s. In 2004, Ericson toured Europe with Nicolai Dunger. He previously fronted the electronic-tinged Northern Territories.

ON TOUR

• The Anomoanon w/ Bonnie "Prince" Billy + Matt Sweeney U.S. 4/21 - 4/25 // dates
• The Wedding Present U.S. 4/14 - 5/14 // dates
• Roger McGuinn U.S. 4/15 - 4/28 // dates
• P.O.S. w/ Atmosphere U.S. now - 5/1 // dates
• Early Man w/ Mastodon U.S. 4/5 - 4/17 // dates
• R.A. the Rugged Man EUR now - 4/17 // dates
• Engine Down EUR now - 5/15 // dates

MusicNow [www.musicnow.com]

Launched last month, MusicNow is a legal online music store and service with more than 100 channels of original music programming. MusicNow subscribers can play over one million songs on demand for $9.95 a month, or purchase tracks and albums a la carte.

WORKING TODAY
Working Today - a non-profit organization that offers several reasonably-priced health insurance plans to New York-area freelancers and musicians - has just announced the addition of two new dental insurance plans through Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. Rates start at $22.20 per month. Click here for details on their health and dental plans. Special Orchard Discount: $25 application fee for Premium membership is fully waived for Orchard artists and labels. In order to qualify, you must meet Working Today's eligibility requirements. To receive your discount, select The Orchard from the list of Working Today partners during registration. Questions? Email membership@workingtoday.org and let them know we sent you!

Working Today is also educating policymakers about freelancers and independent workers. If you're a freelancer fed up with high insurance costs, please take a minute to complete Working Today's 2005 survey. Visit www.workingtoday.org and click on the "survey" link under What's New.

For more information: www.workingtoday.org

MOUNTAIN STAGE NEWSONG CONTEST
The NewSong Contest is the official contest of the 2005 Mountain Stage NewSong Festival, held August 24 to 28 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Now in its fourth year, the contest seeks singer-songwriters in all genres who not only write great songs, but deliver them powerfully. Presented by Performing Songwriter magazine [all applicants receive a free one-year subscription], the contest awards a total of $1,800 in cash prizes, along with a festival-ending performance slot for one finalist on August 28. Application deadline: June 15. Application fee: before May 1, $30 per song entry. After May 1, $35 per song entry.

For more information: www.newsongfestival.com