Almanac Mountain - EP Update

Now you can get Almanac Mountain's EP "When in Nature" in hard copy. For only five dollars you get five great songs on CD-R, packaged with homemade artwork (in a limited edition of 100). And though you have to wait a few days for it to be shipped, you get it in digital form immediately, for instant gratification! No waiting, plus a cool physical copy, equals fantastic music that you'll want to keep forever. Or share with a friend. Or both!

Click here to get yours, and immediately increase the value of your summer leisure time. And keep an eye on Almanac Mountain's website for live dates (find two listed above in the 'Upcoming Events' section) and more.

And if you are a true A.M. fan like we are, snag "Canopus: Outtakes and Bagatelles" for free! A collection of stuff left on the cutting room floor during the "When in Nature" sessions, with random fun bits mixed in. Six more songs at no cost. How can that be anything but good?

Levi's Pioneer Sessions - Free Songs

I just happen to be on Colbie Caillat's mailing list, and I got a message that her cover of Blondie's "Maria" was available for free download. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there were several other free songs at the site as well!

Go to Levi's Pioneer Sessions, and you will find free song downloads (just provide your e-mail address, like most online offers) from She & Him, Raphael Saadiq, The Swell Season, The Shins and more. It's a great way to get cool cover songs from some of your favorite artists, or to discover some musicians that are new to you.

Note: There may be an easier way, but I had to enter my info separately for each of the five songs I chose to download. Mildly annoying perhaps, but free definitely! ☺

Insect Guide - Free Song and New EP

Insect Guide is offering up another free song today! The last time around, they gave away their cover of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi". This time, it's their version of "Don't You Forget About Me", Simple Minds' theme song from "The Breakfast Club". Get it here from the Bandcamp site for free in multiple formats. And while you're there, check out their latest EP "Wasted". Any fan of the shoegaze genre or noise-pop will be glad they have these songs at hand.

Vanessa Kafka: Free Song & NYC Gig

Vanessa Kafka is offering another song from her show at The University of Connecticut's Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. For the next two weeks, you can get an mp3 of the live version of "Til August" by clicking here.

And if you want to see her live (you really should!), you can catch her several times in June and July:

• This Friday night at The National Underground (downstairs) in New York City at 10 pm.
• July 10th at Church Boston at 3 pm.
• And on Saturday July 31st at the Wyman's Pond Music Fest (invite only, check the festival site for details) at 5 pm.

So grab the free song, see one of her shows, and tell us all about how much you enjoyed either or both!

Dan Blakeslee: Live

Longtime Seacoast New Hampshire musician Dan Blakeslee has a few 'goings on' for us to report:

He will be performing live at the Nave Gallery in Somerville on Saturday, June 12th @ 8 pm (shared bill with Mark Mandeville, Raianne Richards and Chris Bell on the trio's "Walking Tour 2010" - check them out).

His new album "Tatnic Tales" hits on June 15th - seek it out, and let us know how you liked it!

And last but not least, here is some live Dan (a song called "Sirens and the Oxbow"), recorded in Harvard Square this past weekend by his old chum Tony Lovell: