Randy Newman releases Dark Matter, his first album of new material in nine years, on Nonesuch on August 4. Produced by long-time Newman collaborators Mitchell Froom, Lenny Waronker, and David Boucher, the album includes songs about Vladimir Putin, the Kennedy brothers, Sonny Boy Williamson, science vs. religion, love and loss, and more. Here, Newman speaks with writer Michael Hill about the project and how it came to be.

Sam Amidon's new album, The Following Mountain, is out now. (Outside the US, the CD will follow on June 2, the vinyl on June 30.) Created with producer Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, Regina Spektor) and Amidon's frequent collaborator Shahzad Ismaily, it represents a new approach for Amidon, who shifts here from his previous norm of re-working traditional folk songs and presents nine wholly original compositions, with some lyrics drawing on traditional sources. To coincide with the album's release, Amidon has unveiled a video for the album track "Blackbird," which you can watch here. He will play an album release concert at Union Pool in Brooklyn on June 14.

This Memorial Day weekend, Fleet Foxes lead four-night run at Sydney Opera House … Jeremy Denk joins Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra … Richard Goode gives solo recital at Bath Festival … Tigran Hamasyan tours Japan … Berg's Lulu is performed in Rome … Audra McDonald is in Bethesda, Westhampton … Pat Metheny continues quartet tour in France, Spain … The Staves are at BottleRock Napa … Chris Thile concludes US duo tour with Béla Fleck …

Kronos Quartet and Rhiannon Giddens have shared their recording of her "Lullaby," arranged by Punch Brothers' Gabe Witcher, from the new album Folk Songs, due June 9. You can hear it here. On the album, Kronos joins forces with labelmates Giddens, Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, and Natalie Merchant to perform mostly traditional tunes with contemporary arrangements. "Lullaby" is available to download now with pre-orders of Folk Songs, along with the previously released track "The Butcher's Boy," featuring Merchant.

Randy Newman's first album of new material in nine years, Dark Matter, is due August 4 on Nonesuch; vinyl on August 18. It is the follow-up to 2008’s acclaimed Harps and Angels, which the Guardian called "the work of a true master of popular song." Produced by long-time Newman collaborators Mitchell Froom, Lenny Waronker, and David Boucher, the album includes songs about Vladimir Putin, the Kennedy brothers, Sonny Boy Williamson, science vs. religion, love and loss, and more. Pre-orders include an instant download of the album track "Putin" and an exclusive print.

Laurie Anderson's work will be among the long-term installations in the newly renovated Building 6 at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA, opening this Sunday, May 28, 2017. Anderson was one of the museum's first artists-in-residence and has returned many times to develop and discuss works-in-progress. In Building 6, which nearly doubles the institution's current gallery footprint, she will create a multi-functional environment that will serve as a working studio and exhibition venue, highlighting both her creative process and over 10 years of archival work. Other artists represented in the space include Jenny Holzer, James Turrell, Louise Bourgeois, Robert Rauschenberg, and Gunnar Schonbeck.

Fleet Foxes, who launched their Crack-Up world tour in the Pacific Northwest this week, have announced that the last of their four consecutive nights of shows at the Sydney Opera House in Australia will stream live via the band's Facebook page. Fans around the world can tune in live on Monday, May 29, at 8 PM in Sydney, 11 AM in London, 6 AM on the US East Coast, and bright and early (late?) at 3 AM on the West Coast, or watch it again after the concert is complete. The Fleet Foxes' shows at the Sydney Opera House, May 26–29, are part of the Vivid LIVE celebration at the iconic venue.

Brad Mehldau Trio plays sold-out show at London's Barbican Hall … Laurie Anderson joins Philip Glass in UK … Jeremy Denk performs at Bath Festival ... Fleet Foxes play intimate hometown show in Seattle … Tigran Hamasyan performs in Moscow … Emmylou Harris joins Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams at SFJAZZ … Kronos Quartet tours Europe … Pat Metheny continues quartet tour in Scandinavia … Conor Oberst brings Salutations to Texas … Joshua Redman tours Europe with Jorge Rossy … Chris Thile hosts A Prairie Home Companion in St. Paul … Caetano Veloso, Teresa Cristina are in Amsterdam … and more …

Fleet Foxes kicked off their world tour, featuring music from the forthcoming album Crack-Up, with intimate shows in Missoula and Spokane on Monday and Tuesday, to be followed by shows in Portland and the band's hometown of Seattle this week. Ahead of these concerts, the band's first in the US in six years, they gathered in Seattle to rehearse. They've shared behind-the-scenes footage from the rehearsals in a video by Sean Pecknold, which you can watch here.

When Stephin Merritt was in Chicago last month during the Magnetic Fields' 50 Song Memoir tour stops at Thalia Hall, he visited the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for a public conversation about the new album with Pitchfork's Marc Hogan for the In Sight Out arts and culture series. You can hear the conversation here. The Magnetic Fields perform all 50 songs from the new album at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona in June and on tour in the UK and Ireland in late August.

Fleet Foxes, which releases its highly anticipated third album, Crack-Up, June 16 on Nonesuch, performs its first US concerts in six years with four special shows at select intimate theaters in the Pacific Northwest this week, in Missoula, Spokane, Portland, and Seattle. The band leads a four-night run at the Sydney Opera House, May 26–29, and tours across Europe and the US through the end of the year.

Offa Rex, the new project from Olivia Chaney and The Decemberists, releases its debut album, The Queen of Hearts, on Nonesuch on July 14. Here, the artists speak with writer Michael Hill about the project and how it came to be.