Burlington, MA – Rounder Records is pleased to announce the signing of the 5-piece southern California rock band, Delta Spirit. Rounder will release their much-anticipated debut album, Ode to Sunshine late summer/early fall of 2008.

The raw spirit of indie rockers the Walkmen and Spoon. An amplified, rocking version of 60’s protest folk. The soulful passion of the Violent Femmes and the Waterboys. All of these comparisons have been made in attempts to describe Delta Spirit, the southern California 5-piece who might just be one of the most important new bands of the decade.

Each description contains elements of the truth, but the real answer to the question “who is Delta Spirit?” lies within Ode to Sunshine, the band’s captivating debut. The group’s DIY ethic shines throughout the album, whose songs were honed razor-sharp over a year of non-stop touring across America. Opening sold-out tours for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cold War Kids, and Dr. Dog, the band developed a riveting live show and gained a loyal following amongst tastemaker music fans, earning them invites to national festivals like Austin City Limits, Noise Pop and Sasquatch. So it would not be an understatement to call Ode to Sunshine one of the year’s most highly-anticipated debuts. But don’t take our word for it; in the words of Delta Spirit: “If you’re feeling what I’m feeling come on, all you soul searching people come on.”

Delta Spirit Tour Dates (more dates to be added):

• 5/20 – The Graduate – San Luis Obispo, CA
• 5/21 – Phoenix Theatre – Petaluma, CA
• 5/22 – The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
• 5/24 – Big Easy Concert House – Boise, ID
• 5/26 – Sasquatch! – George, WA
• 5/28 – Avalon Theater – Salt Lake City, UT
• 5/29 – Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO
• 5/31 – Granada Theatre – Lawrence, KS
• 6/02 – House of Blues, Cambridge Room – Dallas, TX
• 6/03 – The Parish – Austin, TX
• 6/04 – The Meridian – Houston, TX
• 6/05 – House of Blues, The Parish – New Orleans, LA
• 6/06 – WorkPlay Theater – Birmingham, AL
• 6/07 – Virginia Highlands SummerFest - Atlanta, GA
• 6/09 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
• 6/11 – State Theatre – St. Petersburg, FL
• 6/12 – Captain Hiram’s – Sebastian, FL
• 6/13 – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• 6/14 – The Social – Orlando, FL
• 6/16 – Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL
• 6/17 – Common Grounds – Gainesville, FL
• 6/18 – Beta Bar – Tallahassee, FL
• 6/19 – The Hangout – Gulf Shores, AL
• 6/21 – Headliner’s Music Hall – Louisville, KY
• 6/25 – Middle East Upstairs – Cambridge, MA
• 6/26 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
• 6/27 – Union Hall – Brooklyn, NY
• 6/28 – The Khyber Pass – Philadelphia, PA
• 6/29 – DC 9 – Washington, DC
• 8/8 – El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

See them performing live at a Paste/Stereogum sponsored show at SxSW: http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/featured_videos/view/sxsw_2008_delta_spirit_children/

Checkout their website: http://deltaspirit.net/ and their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/deltaspirit

-From Rounder

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Martha Wainwright will release a new cd on Zoe/Rounder on June 10. Photo by Mark Squires.

Burlington, MA – Singer songwriter Martha Wainwright will be touring with KT Tunstall starting August 4 in Northampton, MA. The tour will be in support of Martha’s forthcoming album, I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too which Zoe/Rounder will release on June 10.

The album which Elle magazine raved shows off Martha’s “…highly intelligent songwriting” has her working with some of the biggest names in music including Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Pete Townshend (The Who), and Garth Hudson (The Band) plus members of Martha’s family including mother Kate McGarrigle and brother Rufus Wainwright. The album has been a success at radio with it being one of the most added records with stations KCRW in Los Angeles, WXPN in Philadelphia, KCMP in St. Paul Minnesota and WFUV paving the way.

In addition to the dates with Tunstall, Martha will be doing three shows: June 12 at Joe’s Pub in NY, June 19 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles and July 23 at the Highline Ballroom in NY.

Below are Martha’s dates:

Martha Wainwright headlining:

• Jun 12 — Joe’s Pub, New York, NY
• Jun 19 — The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
• Jul 23 — Highline Ballroom, New York, NY

Martha Wainwright with KT Tunstall:

• Aug 4 — Calvin Theater, Northampton MA
• Aug 6 — Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
• Aug 7 — Fairfield Theatre, Fairfield, CT
• Aug 8 — Borgata Music Box, Atlantic City, NJ
• Aug 9 — Virgin Festival Baltimore, MD
• Aug 11 — Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI
• Aug 12 — House Of Blues, Cleveland, OH
• Aug 13 — LC Pavillion Columbus, OH
• Aug 14 — Kresge Auditorium, Interlochen, MI
• Aug 15 — The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI
• Aug 18 — Denver Botanical, Denver, CO
• Aug 20 — Red Butte Garden Amphitheater, Salt Lake City, UT
• Aug 22 — Silver Legacy Resort Casino, Reno NV
• Aug 25 — Belly Up Aspen, Aspen, CO

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Irma Thomas will release “Simply Grand” on the Rounder label August 12, 2008. photo by Rick Olivier.

Burlington, MA – On August 12, Rounder Records will proudly release Simply Grand, the label’s 10th album from the Grammy^® award winning R&B legend Irma Thomas. The concept for the album was simple: bring Thomas together with a group of soul mate pianists and perform songs that find common ground in each pairing. The result: a beautifully crafted album that showcases the musical depth of Thomas, one of the most iconic and beloved entertainers in New Orleans.

Recorded earlier this year in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and New York with longtime producer and Rounder VP of A&R Scott Billington, Simply Grand matches Thomas with renowned pianists Marcia Ball, Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Davell Crawford, Dr. John, David Eagan, Norah Jones, Ellis Marsalis, Tom McDermott, John Medeski, Randy Newman, and David Torkanowsky. Billington calls the album, “… the most ambitious project that Irma and I have yet undertaken, but we had a ball at every stop along with way. At each of the twelve recording sessions, the musicians were clearly thrilled to be recording with this legendary and ever-reaching artist, who is singing today at the peak of her expressive and vocal powers.”

Guest artist include Dr. John, Norah Jones, Ellis Marsalis, Randy Newman and others

The album opens with a version of the recent John Fogerty song, “River Is Waiting” with New Orleans virtuoso Henry Butler on the piano bench. Versatile pianist David Torkanowsky, who has participated in many of Thomas’ sessions, collaborates with her on two new songs, including “What Can I Do,” written by Burt Bacharach and Steve Krikorian. In 1959, New Orleans icon Dr. John played guitar on Thomas’ very first recording, “You Can Have My Husband (But Please Don’t Mess With My Man”). He reunites with her here for two vocal and piano duets including “Be You,” a previously unrecorded song he co-wrote with the legendary American tunesmith Doc Pomus. Ellis Marsalis joins Thomas on the jazz standard “This Bitter Earth,” while she and Randy Newman create a new version of Newman’s classic song “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today.” Norah Jones accompanies Thomas on Jones’ hit song “Thinking About You.”

Simply Grand Track Listing:

1. River Is Waiting (with Henry Butler)
2. If I Had Any Sense I’d Go Back Home (with Dr. John)
3. Too Much Thinking (with Jon Cleary)
4. Early in the Morning (with Tom McDermott)
5. What Can I Do (with David Torkanowsky)
6. Underground Stream (with David Egan)
7. Thinking About You (with Norah Jones)
8. Be You (with Dr. John)
9. This Bitter Earth (with Ellis Marsalis)
10. Cold Rain (with David Torkanowsky)
11. Somebody Told You (with John Medeski)
12. Overrated (with Davell Crawford)
13. Same Old Blues (with Marcia Ball)
14. I Think It’s Going to Rain Today (with Randy Newman)

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