Gabriel Kahane has been appointed to the newly created post of Creative Chair at the Oregon Symphony through the 2021/22 Season. In addition to writing and performing three substantial works over the next three seasons, Kahane will serve as an advisor for contemporary programming on the Classical series. He will produce two new concert series: Open Music, a composer-driven chamber series to be held in smaller Portland venues, and an as yet unnamed indie concert series in which pop artists will collaborate with dynamic composers and orchestrators. 

Vagabon (aka Lætitia Tamko) has shared "Water Me Down," the latest track from her self-titled sophomore album, due October 18. "I wrote 'Water Me Down' in a stream of consciousness way in the few minutes following a frustrating phone call with someone," says Tamko. "My intention was to create a playground in which to explore difficult feelings with confidence, triumph and foresight."

Donnacha Dennehy's The Hunger, which explores Ireland's Great Famine, is out now on Nonesuch Records. Performed by Alarm Will Sound led by Alan Pierson, soprano Katherine Manley, and sean nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, the libretto draws from first-hand accounts by American humanitarian Asenath Nicholson. The Hunger "bears hearing and rehearing," said the Washington Post. "It is powerful, and it makes a statement." 

Lianne La Havas celebrates her birthday at Baltimore Soundstage, Brooklyn’s Afropunk Festival … Sam Amidon is at Shambala festival in England … Rhiannon Giddens, Francesco Turrisi play Fayetteville Roots Festival in Arkansas … Lake Street Dive tours California with The Avett Brothers … Joshua Redman brings Still Dreaming to Germany … Caroline Shaw performs with Roomful of Teeth at MASS MoCA …

Randy Newman has announced an international An Evening with Randy Newman tour for 2020, beginning with Australia and New Zealand in January and February—his first tour of Australia since 2011, and his first ever tour of New Zealand. Further dates, in Europe in spring 2020, will be announced shortly.

Robert Finley returned to America's Got Talent on NBC for the quarter finals last night to perform a brand-new song, "Starting to See." You can watch his performance, which once again wowed the audience and the judges, here.

The first recording of Donnacha Dennehy's The Hunger—performed by Alarm Will Sound led by Alan Pierson, soprano Katherine Manley, and sean nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird—is out this Friday. Alarm Will Sound has shared a short film in which the composer and performers tell the story behind the piece. "It's not just really about the Irish Famine. It's about any kind of unfolding catastrophe that's complicated by political ideas of 'the other,'" says Dennehy. "This happens throughout the world still to this day. We don't have to look very hard for parallels, I'm afraid." You can watch the short film here.

Donnacha Dennehy's The Hunger is performed by Crash Ensemble led by Alan Pierson, with Katherine Manley, Iarla Ó Lionáird in Dublin … Timo Andres leads trio performance at La Jolla SummerFest in California … Daughter of Swords is in Nashville … Lake Street Dive tours California with The Avett Brothers … Rachael Price can be heard on Live From Here rebroadcast ... Yola plays Philadelphia Folk Festival …

Yola has joined The Highwomen—Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Maren Morris—on the just-released self-titled track to the group's eponymous upcoming album, as does Sheryl Crow. Shires and Carlile wrote the song with Jimmy Webb, who had penned the 1985 tune "Highwayman" for the supergroup by that name featuring Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash. Hear it here. Rolling Stone called The Highwomen's recent Newport Folk Festival set with Yola "a triumph" and dubbed her "the single most sought-after voice at this year’s festival."

David Byrne was in Boston last week ahead of the pre-Broadway run of his American Utopia at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre in September. He spoke with Robin Young, co-host of NPR's Here & Now, about the project in an event at WBUR's new CitySpace last Thursday. You can watch the conversation here. David Byrne’s American Utopia plays at Broadway's Hudson Theatre from October 4 through January 19.

Daughter of Swords stopped by WNYC Studios as the guest on New Sounds' Soundcheck today to talk with host John Schaefer about her debut album, Dawnbreaker, and perform three songs from it: "Long Leaf Pine," "Fields of Gold," and "Human." "As with the songs that you wrote for the last Mountain Man record, there is a very timeless, old, really deep folk sound," says Schaefer. See for yourself in the session here.

Daughter of Swords has extended her US tour to include dates with Wilco and Joan Shelley this fall. In addition, the tour includes dates with Sylvan Esso, Hiss Golden Messenger, Molly Tuttle, and Molly Sarlé, as well as headlining shows in Brooklyn, DC, and Asheville this week. Also out today is a lyric video for "Easy Is Hard," from Daughter of Swords' debut album, Dawnbreaker. Watch the video, with drawings by Sauser-Monnig animated by Robert Edridge-Waks, here.