Conor Oberst, who, backed by LA band Dawes, performs at SummerStage in NYC's Central Park under a beautiful mid-summer sky tonight, played in the similarly picturesque outdoor surroundings of the Newport Folk Festival over the weekend. NPR Music recorded the set, which is now streaming in full. "Conor Oberst has settled into his 30s as a wise and wizened elder statesman," says NPR. "He's come to channel his youthful intensity into real showmanship, especially onstage, while continuing to mine powerful emotions and a sort of fearless poignancy in his songwriting." His new album, "the very fine Upside Down Mountain ... finds him pairing inward-looking observations with outward-facing arrangements that project genuine soul and panache."

Nickel Creek performed at the famed Newport Folk Festival over the weekend, and NPR Music was there to capture the set, which is now streaming in full. The band's new album, A Dotted Line, "naturally reflects its members' creatively ambitious recent pursuits," says NPR's Stephen Thompson. "As with everything the band does, it blends playful lightness with remarkable musical chops." The band heads to the West Coast for the next leg of its tour starting this weekend.

Conor Oberst was the musical guest on Late Show with David Letterman last night, joined by LA band Dawes and more to perform "Hundreds of Ways," off his new album, Upside Down Mountain. You can watch it here. Oberst, backed by Dawes as special guests, is currently touring the globe, including a performance at SummerStage in New York City's Central Park tonight.

Robert Plant has teamed up with Genero TV to give fans the unique opportunity to produce the music video for "Rainbow," the lead track off his forthcoming album, lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar. The competition gives filmmakers a chance to receive $3,000 and have their video used as the music video for "Rainbow." Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters will be appearing for the first time at the iTunes Festival at London's Roundhouse on September 8. 

Natalie Merchant’s summer US tour dates, which were postponed due to illness, have been rescheduled for the fall, as noted here. Tickets purchased for the original July dates will be honored at the newly rescheduled dates.

The Royal Conservatory's Koerner Hall in Toronto has announced its 2014–15 concert season, the organization's sixth anniversary season, which will feature performances from several artists familiar to readers of the Nonesuch Journal: Jeremy Denk, Richard Goode, and Natalie Merchant, making their Koerner Hall debuts, and a return visit from Gidon Kremer. Tickets are on sale now.

The Nonesuch Journal is taking a bit of a break for a summer holiday, ready to return with all the latest Nonesuch news on Monday, July 28. Until then, the summer concert season remains in full swing, of course, and with plenty of great music being made around the world, here's a look at some of the many events featuring Nonesuch artists in the coming days, hopefully reaching wherever your summer travels may take you.

Robert Plant's forthcoming album, lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar, and the track "Rainbow" are featured on NPR's All Songs Considered. "Trying to think of artists who’ve made music from the past who make relevant music, or at least music that expands the boundaries of what you’re used to hearing from them … making something fresh," posits host Bob Boilen. "The artist that came to mind is Robert Plant. I’m so in love with what he has tackled in the last decade or so and the projects he’s done. He’s got a new one called lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar … It is just one great record … The sounds are fabulous."

Conor Oberst has released the second video from his critically acclaimed new album, Upside Down Mountain. The video, for the fan-favorite “You Are Your Mother’s Child,” which premiered on Rolling Stone, was filmed on New York’s Fire Island and directed by Greg Marinaccio. Conor Oberst, backed by LA band Dawes, is currently touring the globe. He’ll be making a stop in NYC this month for performances on Late Show with David Letterman on July 28 and Central Park’s SummerStage on July 29.

In a new video, Robert Plant previews his new album, lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar, due September 9. In the video, Plant leads viewers through the personal journey that led to the new album, from the Welsh borders, through the American South, and back home to the UK. "These songs are an ode to life and love," says Plant, "and the fragile adventure you set out upon unknowingly and unwittingly." Watch the video here.

The remainder of Natalie Merchant’s US concerts scheduled for July have been postponed due to illness. Details for ticket holders and information regarding re-scheduled dates will be posted at nataliemerchant.com as information becomes available.

The Black Keys have confirmed five UK tour dates in February and March 2015 as part of their Turn Blue World Tour. The UK leg comprises concerts in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, London, and Leeds. The European tour also includes previously announced dates in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Holland, Belgium, and France. Tickets for the UK go on sale July 18. The band, currently touring Europe, tours North America this autumn.