Stephin Merritt is a guest on the latest episode of the public radio show Studio 360 from PRI and WNYC. He talks with host Kurt Andersen about the making of the new Magnetic Fields album, 50 Song Memoir, which chronicles the 50 years of songwriter his life with one song per year, and performs solo takes on two songs from the album: "'71 I Think I'll Make Another World" and "'91 The Day I Finally ..." You can hear the interview and performance here and on public radio stations across the US.

Conor Oberst's new album, Salutations, is out now. The album, a companion to 2016's lauded Ruminations, comprises full-band versions of the ten tunes from that solo album plus seven additional songs. Salutations was recorded with The Felice Brothers, legendary drummer Jim Keltner, who co-produced the album, and special guests. "The results are quite simply sublime," says Sunday Express. "This is songwriting of the very highest quality, Oberst’s lyrics rarely less than astonishing. Wonderful." It "works exceedingly well," raves Q. "Both retaining the spirit of the original yet also transcending it, this was a risk worth taking." "Salutations is an absolute treat," exclaims Drowned in Sound. The Independent says it's "probably the best work of the singer’s career."

The Magnetic Fields bring 50 Song Memoir to Washington, DC … Timo Andres performs in Brooklyn … Tigran Hamasyan tours Italy, Switzerland … Lake Street Dive plays out West … Conor Oberst plays Houston, New Orleans, Macon … Joshua Redman takes Still Dreaming to Boston … Steve Reich performs Music for 18 Musicians in Michigan ... The Staves conclude tour in Toronto … Chris Thile plays Ghent, Amsterdam, Edinburgh … Caetano Veloso, Teresa Cristina perform in Argentina … and more …

Audra McDonald helps bring Disney's Beauty and the Beast to life in the live-action adaptation of the classic film, which opens in theaters around the world today. She joins Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, and a cast of household objects as the gregarious singing Garderobe. "To hear McDonald's glorious voice on the big screen is just one of this film's many pleasures," says Deadline. Elle says: "She's the first voice we hear and one of the last, and if you've ever heard her sing, you know that's a wonderful thing."

Rhiannon Giddens has shared a new video for "Following the North Star," an instrumental track she wrote for her new album, Freedom Highway. She wrote or co-wrote nine of the songs on the album, which also includes a traditional tune and two civil rights-era songs. The video was made by Harvey K. Robinson at The Cypress House in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, the studio of multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell, who co-produced Freedom Highway with Giddens there. You can watch it here.

The Magnetic Fields, now touring the US, have announced that they will be bringing the 50 Song Memoir tour to the UK and Ireland this summer. The tour, which begins with two nights at the Edinburgh International Festival on August 25 and 26, will make stops at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Colston Hall in Bristol, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, and the Brighton Dome, culminating at Barbican Hall in London on September 9 and 10. Along with their June appearance at Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, these are the only European tour dates that the band has planned this year.

Tyondai Braxton will lead a five-city tour of the United Kingdom starting next week on a double bill with Brooklyn-based trio Dawn of Midi. The tour begins with a special set before Daniel Lanois at Koko in London as part of the Convergence Festival on Wednesday, March 22. Braxton and Dawn of Midi then head to Leeds, Brighton, Reading, and Manchester for their own shows.

The Magnetic Fields have unveiled the video for "'85 Why I Am Not a Teenager," a song on their new album, 50 Song Memoir. The song is one of fifty on the five-disc set that chronicles the fifty years of songwriter Stephin Merritt's life with one song per year. Watch it here. The video was directed by Alexander Petrowsky, who created the animation along with Ryan Powell, the video's editor. It was produced by Alex Basco Koch and José Zayas for Flying Fish Productions. The video was originally created for the Magnetic Fields' 50 Song Memoir concert tour directed by Zayas, which begins in full swing tonight. 

Chris Thile launches a ten-city solo tour of Europe at Alhambra in Paris tonight. The tour features songs from throughout his catalog—self-penned songs, traditional tunes, favorite covers, and works by Bach—and includes stops in Amsterdam, Edinburgh, London, Hamburg, Vienna, and more.

The line-up for the Funhouse Fest in Williamsburg, Virginia, has been announced, and among the featured performers are three Nonesuch artists: Lake Street Dive, who perform on Saturday, June 24; Rhiannon Giddens, who takes thes stage on Sunday, June 25; and The Staves, who perform their own set on Saturday and are joined by the chamber ensemble yMusic on Sunday. Funhouse Fest is curated by Bruce Hornsby and takes place on the lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, as part of the Virginia Arts Festival.

The Magnetic Fields have unveiled the video for "'71 I Think I'll Make Another World," from the new album 50 Song Memoir. The song is one of fifty on the five-disc set that chronicles the fifty years of songwriter Stephin Merritt's life with one song per year. You can watch it here. The video was created by Alex Basco Koch, Roger Miller, and José Zayas and features illustrations by Roger Miller. It was produced by Ghost Corporeal. It was originally created for the Magnetic Fields 50 Song Memoir concert tour directed by Zayas, which picks up on Wednesday.

Ry Cooder will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He will also take the stage for a rare UK performance. The Awards ceremony will be broadcast live from Royal Albert Hall in London on BBC Radio 2 starting at 7:30 PM on April 5, and can be watched live online at bbc.co.uk/radio2. Highlights from the event will also be broadcast in an hour-long special on BBC Four the following Sunday, April 9.