Robert Plant is on NPR's World Cafe, discussing his new album, Carry Fire, and more. "You would think being one of the best rock singers of all time would be enough for an artist," says host Talia Schlanger. "Robert Plant followed his love of music to unexpected places, like ... the mesmerizing world influence on his new album, Carry Fire." You can listen to their conversation here.

The Staves and yMusic release The Way Is Read, a new album stemming from a collaboration at Justin Vernon's Eaux Claires Festival, digitally on November 24, on vinyl December 1. "We wanted to feel like instruments and join in with some of yMusic's existing work," says The Staves's Emily Staveley-Taylor, "using our voices in ways we hadn't previously explored." Rob Moose of yMusic adds: "It was as much a thrill to hear songs emerge organically over sections of intricate chamber music as it was satisfying to strip songs of the instrument that created them in order to craft new connective tissue." The groups perform at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and on A Prairie Home Companion in December. Pre-order the album to download the track "Trouble on My Mind" now; see a video for the song here.

Natalie Merchant's hit 1995 song "Wonder" now opens Wonder: Introducing Natalie Merchant, a new collection on streaming services. The set include singles and fan favorites, beginning with "Wonder" from her debut solo album, Tigerlily, and closing with the 2015 recording of the song for Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings. A new film Wonder, based on RJ Palacio's 2012 best-selling novel inspired by Merchant's song, opens November 17. Watch an excerpt from the documentary Paradise Is There about the song here.

Fleet Foxes begin European Crack-Up tour at Iceland Airwaves … Sam Amidon brings The Following Mountain to Germany, Brussels, Amsterdam … Jeremy Denk gives recital in Chicago … Rhiannon Giddens joins Louisville Orchestra … Richard Goode performs in Wisconsin … Emmylou Harris heads South … Kronos Quartet is in Washington state … Mariza sings in New Jersey … Audra McDonald performs in Ohio … Pat Metheny continues European quartet tour … Joshua Redman is in Bulgaria, Poland … Rostam tours Half-Light in Germany … Chris Thile reunites with Nickel Creek on A Prairie Home Companion in San Diego … and more ...

Laurie Anderson has been awarded the insignia of Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. French Cultural Counselor Bénédicte de Montlaur, presenting Anderson with the award in a ceremony at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in NYC in October, said: "For your outstanding contributions to the art world through performance, art-making, writing, musical composition, filmmaking, and invention, it is my honor to present you with the Order of Arts and Letters."

Fleet Foxes have released a new behind-the-scenes (and from-the-stage) video of their recent US tour of songs from their new album, Crack-Up. You can take a look at life on the road in the video, directed by Sean Pecknold, here. The band begins a European tour at Iceland Airwaves this Saturday, followed by shows in Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, UK, Sweden, and Norway. These performances will be the band's first European headline shows in six years. 

Conor Oberst stopped by KEXP in Seattle during a recent tour stop in the city to perform four songs from his new albums, Salutations and Ruminations, and talk with host Troy Nelson about the music. You can watch the session here. Oberst also performed on PBS's Bluegrass Underground with The Felice Brothers as his backing band. The set was filmed live at the Volcano Room, a subterranean amphitheater 333 feet below McMinnville, TN, at historic Cumberland Caverns.

Robert Plant spoke with WFUV's Paul Cavalconte for FUV Live. Their conversation will air tonight and can be heard now at wfuv.org. Plant's new album, Carry Fire, has been named WFUV's New Dig. "Carry Fire is a vibrant collection of songs that speaks powerfully to this era, its politics, and its contradictions," says WFUV's Darren DeVivo. "It's also a testament to Plant's artistry; over the past decade, he's released some of the strongest albums of his solo career. Few musicians have been able to constantly transform themselves quite like Plant, with such ease, grace and inspiration."

Robert Plant was a guest on the Charlie Rose show on PBS/Bloomberg News last night. He spoke with Rose about his new album, Carry Fire, what it means to be a front man, and more. You can watch the interview here.

Fleet Foxes were the musical guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS last night. They performed "Fool's Errand" from their new album, Crack-Up. You can watch the performance here. The band recently concluded an extensive North American tour and begins a European run at Iceland Airwaves on November 1.

Rostam plays The Growlers Six in LA, as does Dan Auerbach, who is also on A Prairie Home Companion with Chris Thile … Sam Amidon, Devendra Banhart, Pat Metheny all tour Germany … Jeremy Denk is in Baltimore … Rhiannon Giddens tours California … Richard Goode is in Maine … Tigran Hamasyan tours Europe … Kronos Quartet, Philip Glass score Bay Area Dracula screenings … Mariza is at SFJAZZ … Brad Mehldau plays West Coast … Conor Oberst concludes Salutations tour in Midwest … Joshua Redman is in Romania, Serbia …

Congratulations to Audra McDonald, who will receive the 2018 Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT at a gala in her honor on April 14. The award, which includes a $100,000 cash prize and an artist residency, celebrates individuals who continue to achieve the highest distinction in their fields and who will produce inspiring work for many years to come.