The initial line-up for the 2015 Big Ears Festival has been announced, and featured among the performers are several Nonesuch Records artists: Laurie Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Amidon, and Kronos Quartet, the festival's artists-in-residence for 2015. Big Ears will be held in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, March 27–29, 2015, at the historic Tennessee and Bijou Theatres, the intimate Square Room, the Knoxville Museum of Art and more. Weekend passes go on sale Friday, November 14, at 12pm ET.

The new album by The New Basement Tapes, Lost on the River, is available now from Electromagnetic Recordings/Harvest Records. Produced by T Bone Burnett, it was written and performed by Rhiannon Giddens of Carolina Chocolate Drops, Elvis Costello, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons, setting recently discovered lyrics written by Bob Dylan in 1967. A film documenting the sessions premieres on Showtime on November 21. Tune in to see The New Basement Tapes on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight, Ellen on November 14, and Jimmy Kimmel Live on November 19.

Pat Metheny Unity Group closes out a year-long, worldwide tour with a month-long North American tour featuring music from their debut album, Kin (←→). Metheny and the band kick off the final leg of the tour in Canada at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre in Ontario, followed by stops in Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec; head to the States for shows in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland; make a quick trip to Mexico for the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival in Mexico; then return to the States for a culminating, week-long residency at the Blue Note in New York City.

Randy Newman kicks off a two-week US tour with two performances in Florida—at the Flagler College Auditorium in St. Augustine and the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater—followed by stops in Mississippi, Texas, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. "With songs that run the gamut from heartbreaking to satirical and a host of unforgettable film scores," says Tampa Bay Newspapers, "Randy Newman has used his many talents to create musical masterpieces widely recognized by generations of audiences."

Chris Thile has won the 2014 Outstanding Alumni in Fine Arts Award from Murray State University, his alma mater. “He is a model of artistry, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Pamela Wurgler, chair of Murray State's Department of Music. “Everyone wants to hear him perform; they want to hear his compositions too. He is an inspiring model for our students.” Thile’s parents accepted the award on his behalf at the school's A Taste of the Arts Dinner and Auction, which showcases performances by Murray State students and supports scholarships in art, music, and theatre. 

Emmylou Harris will be honored in The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris: An All-Star Concert Celebration at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, on January 10, 2015. The concert event taping will feature performances by Harris, Rodney Crowell, Iron & Wine, Shawn Colvin, Sara Watkins, Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mavis Staples, Martina McBride, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Trampled By Turtles, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Shovels & Rope, Joan Baez, and Milk Carton Kids. Harris will take the stage to perform with a number of special guests throughout the night. Ticket pre-sales begin today and go on sale to the general public on Friday, November 7.

Congratulations to Brad Mehldau and Mark Guiliana, whose album, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, has won the Edison Award for Best International Jazz Album. It is the debut album from the electric duo, featuring Mehldau on Fender Rhodes and synthesizers and Guiliana on drums and effects. The Dutch awards will be presented in a gala ceremony at the Muziekgebouw Frits Philips in Eindhoven on November 27. The album has also been nominated for Best Recorded Performance in Modern Drummer's Reader's Poll.

Sam Amidon's new album, Lily-O, was featured on NPR's All Things Considered last night. "Amidon reinvents American folk songs," says host Robert Siegel; the new album "showcases his ability to transform music." NPR reviewer Banning Eyre says: "Every little unexpected twist shimmers with originality ... His highly personal approach opens a window on the American past and lets us feel it like nothing else around." Listen to the NPR review here. The Morton Report's Bill Bentley says Amidon's vocals "reverberate directly inside the soul." He is "stepping forward with a creative curve that no one else is really doing."

Nonesuch Records will release the label debut from pianist Tigran Hamasyan, Mockroot, in early 2015. Hamasyan is currently on tour in Europe, with shows in France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland, amongst others. Further details about the forthcoming album and its release will be announced shortly. Although trained as a classical and jazz musician, Tigran Hamasyan draws on a wide range of influences, including Armenian folk music, rock, beatbox, poetry, and more. 

Lianne La Havas joined Prince on Saturday Night Live this past weekend to perform “Clouds,” from his new album, Art Official Age, recently released on Warner Bros. Records. La Havas, who released her debut album, Is Your Love Big Enough?, on Nonesuch in 2012, contributed vocals to the track on Prince's album and to open his special eight-minute set on the show Saturday night on NBC. Fans in the US can watch the set again here.

Songlines has announced its list of the Best Albums of 2014, and featured in that top ten are three albums familiar to readers of the Nonesuch Journal: Robert Plant's label debut album, lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar; Kronos Quartet's A Thousand Thoughts, which led Songlines to call the group "one of the musical marvels of our ages"; and Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté's Toumani & Sidiki, about which the magazine says: "Every note in this rich tapestry of strings is exquisitely calibrated in the pursuit of perfection." 

The Black Keys, who are currently touring North America on their Turn Blue world tour, recently sat down to discuss life on the road in a new video. The video offers a look on stage and behind the scenes as band mates Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney talk about the evolution of their touring life, from humble beginnings to now, when the important things remain the same, despite the change in venues. See what they have to say here. The tour heads to Vancouver Thursday  before headed back to the US West Coast. What's more the band is giving away an autographed U-Turn turntable, their complete album discography on vinyl, and more.