Sights and Sounds: Coachella, Ryn Weaver, Van Morrison, Billboard covers Mumford & Sons

Either you're going to be at Coachella today, or want to tune into YouTube to watch some of the great performances, right? Here is the link to access the Coachella YouTube Channel. On tap to perform today (although I don't know which acts' performances will be webcast) are AC/DC, Alabama Shakes, Steely Dan, Interpol, The War on Drugs, Ride and dozens more. If you missed my full-length preview article on the festival that ran earlier this week, you can read it here. Check out Coachella.com for the complete line-up and schedule for artists performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival today, tomorrow and Sunday (April 10-12)...

Speaking of Coachella, the title track from Ryn Weaver's highly-anticipated debut album The Fool premieres today (listen here). Weaver will make her festival debut this weekend in Indio, and is set to perform in the Mojave Tent on Saturday afternoons, April 11 and April 18. The Fool will be released June 16, 2015 on Mad Love/Interscope Records. 

Ryn Weaver

Produced by multiplatinum producer Benny Blanco and Passion Pit creative force and frontman Michael Angelakos, The Fool features the Southern California native’s breakout single “OctaHate” along with brand new music from Weaver. Preorder the album digitally here and on 12-inch 180 gram vinyl at rynweaver.com, along with limited edition, signed The Fool lithographs.

Van Morrison is set to receive the Johnny Mercer Award on June 18, 2015 in New York City. When you think of the singer-songwriter's amazing songs (including “Gloria,” “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Moondance,” “Domino,” “Crazy Love,” “Have I Told You Lately” and “Wild Night”), it's clear the honor is well-deserved. Check out the full-length article on MusicNewsNashville.com here for all the details.

In this week's Billboard cover story (on newsstands Monday, April 13) former folk inspired rock-band Mumford & Sons open up about their new sound (banjo free), personal obsessions outside the band, and how they feel about Rihanna and Kanye West. 

The band also shares what it's like playing new music live for the first time ... saying its like "a tinder date". 

On Kanye West and Rihanna:

Marshall: "There's a lot of rock out there. But it's no longer ... I don't think it's what our generation will be remembered for. I think it'll be Kanye West and Rihanna."
Mumford: (Shakes his head.) "It just makes me a bit sad."
Marshall: "Why, though? They're so sick."
Mumford: "Rihanna? I think Kanye is sick. He's the only rock star left."
Marshall: "We went to one of his shows in London. He played Koko, which is a small venue, like 1,500 people. It was f--ing mindblowing."
Mumford: "It was f--ing amazing. There were a bunch of cool London grime MCs doing stuff. But then he gets up and just blows them all away. Says one word and the whole room just...that's rock'n'roll, to me."
Marshall: "He's everything he claims to be. Maybe not God, but ... (Laughs.) He really is incredible."

Full article: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6531123/billboard-cover-mumford-sons-on-wilder-mind-album-kanye-west-personal-lives