When You Awake’s own Mitra Khayyam will be spinning country, rockabilly and roots hits for a new night called Country My Ass this Sunday, May 20th at Footsies in Highland Park. Expect songs about mama, trains, trucks, prison, and getting drunk. Kicks off at 9 pm. Definitely sounds like our kind of night.

While not usually a fan of pop-culture themed art shows,  I got a kick about this one. Two unlikely friends, bonded over the love of…well you know. I’ll be the one buying every piece of Willie Nelson art on the walls, be sure to say hi. Opening reception is tonight from 8 pm – midnight at the R&R Gallery in Los Angeles. To get you in the mood, enjoy this video of the last time Snoop and Willie were thrown together. Pure magic.  More details about the show are after the jump.

Snoop Dogg – My Medicine ft. Willie Nelson

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Head on down to The Troubadour tonight for a night of music to benefit the non-profit, Invisible Children. The benefit boasts a number of When You Awake favorites including Mountain Man, Cass McCombs, an acoustic set by Deer Tick + the LA debut of Middle Brother, the new band featuring the lead singers of Deer Tick, Delta Spirit and Dawes. You get all of this amazing music for just $15. Any of those bands alone would be worth the $15—all of them together for that is a steal AND it’s going to charity. Seriously, what are you waiting for? Go and buy your tix now!

Mountain Man- Animal Tracks

Oxford, England band Stornoway are set to take the stage tonight for the first time ever in Los Angeles with a show at the Troubadour. The band is currently touring in support of their debut full-length release, Beachcomber’s Windowsill (out now via 4AD). We had the distinct pleaure of catching them live in London in November as part of the Little Noise Sessions at Union Chapel. There was something quite special about hearing the hymn-like chants of “Zorbing” echo out across those hallowed halls and despite numerous sound issues (the venues fault, not Stornoway’s), they proved a patient and inventive bunch with trumpets, old TVs and The Keyboard Choir thrown in for good measure.  If they could be that good in a huge chapel with sound issues and limited time, one can only imagine how powerful they would be on a smaller, more intimate  Troubadour-like scale.  The show tonight is all ages with Seattle’s The Head and the Heart supporting.

http://www.vimeo.com/13096309Stornoway- Zorbing

When You Awake favorites Breathe Owl Breathe are playing at the Bootleg Theatre tonight alongside San Francisco’s Little Wings. The show is 21 + with Copenhagen’s The Migrant and Give Me Motion supporting. We had the chance for a short chat with Little Wings songwriter and frontman, Kyle Field earlier this month. Check out our conversation and more about Kyle after the jump.

Little Wings- Human Nature (Michael Jackson cover)

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Icelandic folk septet Seabear is set to take the stage tonight, Tuesday, October 28th at the Troubadour. We are big fans of this group as it’s the brainchild of Sindri Már Sigfússon, who you may recognize as the man behind one of our favorite acts of last year, Sin Fang Bous. He’s also an extremely talented painter, who’s work you can view (and buy) over at our sister website, Sake of the Song. Seabear is currently touring in support of their sophomore release, We Built A Fire (out now via Morr Music). The show tonight is all ages and Philadephia-based band Grandchildern are supporting. Check out an mp3 from the album and some of my favorite Sindri videos after the jump.

Seabear- I’ll Build You A Fire

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A longtime friend of When You Awake, Matt Popieluch will be celebrating the release of his debut record under the Big Search moniker, Lay of the Land (out now via St. Ives), tonight at the Echo Country Outpost.  In addition to appearing at our George Harrison and Beach Boys Tribute concerts, Matt has a big ol’ resume that includes being a member of Los Angeles bands Foreign Born and Fool’s Gold, as well as managing the one and only Frank Fairfield. Basically, he’s one ridiculously talented dude. The show is free, runs from 7:30- 10: 30 and will supposedly have $2 beers up for grabs. For more about Big Search, head over to the LA Weekly to hear a track from the record and to check out a sweet Top 10 List he made.

Head over to the Echo tonight, Wednesday, September 29th to see the Catskills Mountains-based band The Felice Brothers. The night is being billed as “An Evening With The Felice Brothers” and features just them, no openers!  The show is 18+ and will be $17 at the door and worth every penny. You may want to shoot a couple o’ glasses of whiskey before. This is going to be one rowdy show.

UPDATE! Conor Oberst has just been added to the bill. He will be opening the show backed by the Felice Brothers. DO NOT MISS THIS!

Felice Brothers- Whiskey In My Whiskey

Gold Dust will be returning to Footsies tonight, Friday, September 3rd,  for one last hurrah before I head off to London. We will spinning alongside The Natives, those lovable longhairs who host every Friday night at Footsies.  So kick off your shoes, order up a good bourbon and get down to your favorite dual slide guitar screamin’ swampy southern rock scorchers and classic psyche-country jams one last time. We’ll be hanging out from 10 pm- 2 am and the entry is free. So if the good lords a-willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we’ll see you tonight at GOLD DUST!

George Jones- White Lightning