Ry Cooder spoke with Associated Press writer John Rogers about his most recent release, I, Flathead, the third in his trilogy of albums about often overlooked aspects of 20th-century California history. Rogers asserts that with the trilogy, which also includes Chavez Ravine (2005) and My Name Is Buddy (2007), "Cooder has, nearly single-handedly, been keeping alive" the unique sound of mid-century Los Angeles.

Punch Brothers, fresh off a successful tour of Ireland and the UK, are back in the States and set to play tonight in downtown New York City as part of the River to River Festival of free summer concerts. After last week's London show, the Financial Times called the group among the "foremost practitioners" of "progressive bluegrass," and their music "Americana played with adventure and accomplishment." Please note: due to tonight's inclement weather forecast, the concert has been moved inside, to Stuyvesant High School, across the street from Rockefeller Park.

Laurie Anderson brings Homeland, her newest performance piece, to New York's Lincoln Center this week for a five-night run as part of the acclaimed Lincoln Center Festival of music, theater, and dance. Her band for the performances, which will be held at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater, includes Joey Baron, Rob Burger, Greg Cohen, and Eyvind Kang.

Also as part of the Festival, Laurie will participate in a symposium in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, prior to Thursday's performance. For the event, she will discuss Homeland with Elizabeth Diller of the prestigious design firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

On the Lincoln Center website, you can find more information on these events and watch a video of "Only an Expert" from the broadcast A Lincoln Center Special Night: A Gala Night at Alice Tully Hall, which originally aired on May 3, 2007. Visit lincolncenter.org.

Ry Cooder's I, Flathead, the third and final album in his "California trilogy," receives "wild applause" from the San Francisco Chronicle. "Of course, Ry Cooder really is all that," writes reviewer David Wiegand. "People toss the word 'genius' around far too often and too easily, but Cooder has more than earned that distinction with a long and consistently adventurous career."

Congratulations to Audra McDonald, who as been nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the ABC-TV version of A Raisin in the Sun. Audra received a Tony Award (her fourth) for the 2004 Broadway stage revival of the seminal 1959 play by Lorraine Hansberry.

Here is our weekly list of just some of the many events going on across the globe this weekend featuring Nonesuch artists ...

Here is our weekly list of just some of the many events going on across the globe this weekend featuring Nonesuch artists ...

On I, Flathead, as with the previous two discs in his California trilogy, Ry Cooder addresses a number of often overlooked topics in the history of mid-20th century, multi-ethnic California, and, says the Knoxville News Sentinel, "he delivers them with subtlety and humanity." The Boston Globe calls the new trilogy album "the best of the lot ... a fascinating journey by a maverick who won't be harnessed."

Nonesuch Records is happy to announce the relaunch of its website, nonesuch.com. The new site will remain a great source for in-depth information on the extensive and diverse Nonesuch catalog, spanning more than 500 titles, and will include a number of new and improved features, in what we hope will be a much more user-friendly and enjoyable online experience.

Congratulations to Punch Brothers: the band's take on "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" has been selected as one of three finalists in ESPN's Battle of the Bands, part of Baseball's Tonight's celebration of the 100th anniversary of that classic baseball tune. Chris Thile be stopping by the show Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 PM ET to answer fans' questions about the tune, the contest, the band, and anything else that might cross fans' minds. You can submit your own question now ...

Randy's Friday appearance on the French TV show Esprits Libres is now available online. After being introduced as "un grand monsieur de la musique Américaine," Randy performs "Losing You" from his forthcoming release, Harps and Angels, and, at the request of the show's host, an impromptu version of "In Germany Before the War," as well as "Sail Away," from the seminal 1972 album of the same name.