Audra McDonald brings her acclaimed portrayal of Billie Holiday from Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill to HBO starting this Saturday, March 12. Filmed before a live audience at Café Brasil in New Orleans, the special features McDonald in her Tony-winning performance as Billie Holiday, telling the jazz icon’s life story through the songs that made her famous. Returning to Broadway in Shuffle Along, McDonald is the subject of a feature in New York magazine's Best of New York issue titled "Shocking As It Is to Believe, the Theater May Be in a New Golden Age" and subtitled "One reason: Audra McDonald, Broadway's greatest voice, is back."

Michael Daves celebrates Orchids and Violence release live in Brooklyn … John Adams's Scheherazade.2 gets Australia premiere in Sydney … Laurie Anderson talks JFK at The Kennedy Center in DC … Jon Brion joins Punch-Drunk Love live score/screening premiere in LA ...Randy Newman is in Austin … Robert Plant kicks off tour in Florida … Rokia Traoré continues to tour France … and more …

Rhiannon Giddens and the Carolina Chocolate Drops will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame this October. "I'm so honored to be part of the 2016 class of inductees into the NC Music Hall of Fame," says Giddens. "Being from North Carolina has been such a big part of what I do and will remain so for the rest of my life; being a mentee of Joe Thompson and starting the Carolina Chocolate Drops along with Dom Flemons and Justin Robinson are among the things of my life that I am most proud of. Happy to be in such good company as the Avett Brothers, David Holt, my fellow Chocolate Drops, and other fine musicians. Carolina forever!"

Lianne La Havas was on PBS's Tavis Smiley show this week, discussing the inspiration behind her album Blood and EP Blood Solo, and performing "Green & Gold." "Blood is relating to my heritage and my family and it was something that I began to think more deeply about over the course of the last couple of years," she says. "And I found that my songwriting was beginning to explore more my family, and actually why I am like I am and where it all comes from." Hear what she has to say and watch the performance here.

Austin City Limits has announced a new round of tapings, including Robert Plant, who returns to the show's stage for the first time in more than a decade on March 21, and Rhiannon Giddens, who makes her ACL debut on April 25. The shows will be broadcast at a later date as part of the PBS series Austin City Limits. For information on how to get free passes to the show about a week before the taping, follow the show on Facebook and Twitter for notice of postings.

Nonesuch Records will release Violence and Orchids, the vinyl edition of Michael Daves's new album, Orchids and Violence, on May 6, 2016. The vinyl edition comprises two versions each of five traditional bluegrass tunes: acoustic takes performed with a band of roots-music innovators paired with electric rock renditions of the same songs. It's "a roots-music master class, a brilliant example of old modes reinhabited with flair," says the New York Times. "To his credit, it can be hard to pick which version of a tune is best." The LP includes a download of the complete Orchids and Violence album and is available to pre-order now.

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.

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 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.

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 …