Laurie Anderson's new film, Heart of a Dog, received its digital premiere with The Criterion Collection's release of the film in the United States today for an exclusive engagement on iTunes and VUDU, through March 29. To watch the film, head to either site now. You can watch the film trailer here.

Lake Street Dive stopped by the NPR to give a Tiny Desk Concert, performing "I Don't Care About You," "How Good It Feels," and "Godawful Things"—three songs from their new album, Side Pony, which has debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. "The appeal of this band of New England Conservatory friends lies in their warmth in harmony and comfortably styled songs," says Boilen, "sometimes tilting toward soul, often rocking danceably on a new collection of songs called Side Pony ... You can hear everyone mesh so well in these three new songs from Side Pony—songs likely to be favorites for many at year's end." You can watch the full set here.

The English trio The Staves have announced plans for a 16-city North American tour beginning June 3. Stops include Minneapolis, Washington, Nashville, and New York, among others, along with previously announced sets at the Firefly and Eaux Claires festivals. A fan pre-sale for the newly announced dates begins this Wednesday, March 2, via thestaves.com; general on-sale begins on Friday, March 4.

Lake Street Dive was the musical guest on Conan on TBS last night. The band performed "I Don't Care About You" from their just-released Nonesuch Records debut album, Side Pony. You can watch the performance here. The group takes its Side Pony tour to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Reno this weekend.

Michael Daves's new album, Orchids and Violence, is out now. The album comprises two discs with identical track listings of mostly traditional bluegrass tunes, including songs by bluegrass pioneers Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. The first disc has straightforward interpretations with a band of roots-music innovators: bassist Mike Bub, violinist Brittany Haas, mandolinist Sarah Jarosz, and Punch Brothers banjoist Noam Pikelny. The second includes bass, drums, and electric guitar, mostly played by Daves, with a raw, experimental rock take on those tunes. Daves and friends perform from the album in NYC March 3–5.

Lake Street Dive takes its Side Pony tour to LA and San Francisco … Sam Amidon, Tyondai Braxton perform in LA as well … Rhiannon Giddens concludes Swimming in Dark Waters: Other Voices of the American Experience tour with Leyla McCalla, Bhi Bhiman … Kronos Quartet gives two concerts in Vancouver … Brad Mehldau joins Brussels Philharmonic in Belgium … Randy Newman performs in Birmingham … Chris Thile plays Bach in Florida … Rokia Traoré tours France … and more …

Audra McDonald was a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC last night. She spoke with Fallon about her upcoming return to Broadway in Shuffle Along, and more. She also joined the host for a reunion of their duo, the Yahoo! Answers Lounge Singers, to give voice to some sage Yahoo! Answers in their own inimitable way. You can watch them here.

Lake Street Dive has unveiled a new live video for "Call Off Your Dogs," a song off their new album, Side Pony. The video, directed by Greg Kaplan, was filmed live at the famed Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Watch it here. Lake Street Dive has kicked off its US tour, performing in Tucson tonight, then heading to California for shows in San Diego, LA, and San Francisco. The band will perform on Conan on TBS on Thursday.

Lake Street Dive, which kicks off its Side Pony tour with a sold-out show in Phoenix tonight, recently stopped by WFUV in NYC to discuss and perform songs from the album: "Call Off Your Dogs," "Mistakes," and the title track."There is something exciting about witnessing the success of a band that is not only wildly talented, but also authentic, that their success also becomes an inspiring symbol of staying true to yourself," says host Carmel Holt. Watch the performances here. The new album is also WFUV's New Dig. "Side Pony is Lake Street Dive's most accomplished studio recording and the band's trademark mix of classic soul, Beatlesque pop, jazzy melodies and vintage country is on full display," says WFUV's Darren DeVivo.

Laurie Anderson's Heart of a Dog has won the International Cinephile Society Award for Best Documentary. The film, which is currently playing at theaters across the US, will receive its HBO premiere on April 25 and will be screened at the Big Ears Festival and the Brighton Festival this spring. It has been nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary, winners of which will be announced this Saturday, February 27.

Sam Amidon performed four songs for Seattle public radio station KEXP at last year's Pickathon festival in Oregon. In addition to the previously released "Down the Line," you can watch the complete four-song set with that song and "Your Lone Journey," both from his latest album, Lily-O, as well as two earlier songs here. Amidon performs at a live eTown taping with Bill Frisell in Boulder on Tuesday and joins Regina Carter at Royce Hall in LA on Friday. He continues to tour the country in the coming months with Glenn Kotche, Punch Brothers, and more.

Lake Street Dive celebrated the release of their new album, Side Pony, as the guests on NPR's World Cafe yesterday. The group discussed and performed four songs from the album: "I Don't Care About You," "So Long," "Call Off Your Dogs," and the title track. "Very happy that our guests today, Lake Street Dive, have a new album," says host David Dye. "The new album is called Side Pony, which is a song on the album talking about following your own way even or especially if that means rocking a pony tail that is on the side." Hear it here.