Randy Newman will perform before a live studio studio audience at the new ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, on September 19, recorded for future broadcast on PBS's Austin City Limits upcoming season. The show is giving away a limited number of passes to the taping. Enter to win by this Monday, September 12. Those chosen will receive an e-mail notification from the show with details about the taping and how to get their passes.

Tune in to WNYC's Soundcheck today for an encore presentation of an interview with Steve Reich, in which the composer discusses WTC 9/11, the title piece from his forthcoming album. The interview first aired in April for the NY premiere of WTC 9/11 at Carnegie Hall by Kronos Quartet, which performs the piece on the new album. Reich discussed WTC 9/11 on the BBC World Service's The Strand, launching the show's week-long look at artistic responses to 9/11, and will be featured on BBC Radio 3's forthcoming special A Guernica for Gotham, airing this Sunday.

Björk continues to unveil Biophilia with the release of the brand new track “Moon” as a single and as a special feature of the Biophilia App, both available exclusively through iTunes. The app is a song and music sequencer inspired by similarities between cycles in music and cycles of the moon and tides. It also contains an animation, a scrolling music notation and an essay exploring Björk’s ideas about cycles in music and nature.

Ry Cooder's new album, Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down, was released to great critical acclaim and a few choice tweets, not least yesterday's from Billy Bragg, who recommended the track "No Banker Left Behind" as a way to celebrate Labor Day. The album has received three more five-star reviews. "Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down is a stunning return to form for one of America's most original and talented musicians," exclaims the Daily Telegraph. Cooder "has been inspired anew by 21st-century social ills to produce one of the best albums of a distinguished career." The Observer says: "He's become a Woody Guthrie for our times." Scotland on Sunday names it the Release of the Week, saying: "Cooder has now made one of the best records of his considerable career."

Kronos Quartet received the Polar Music Prize in a ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall last week, along with their fellow laureate, Patti Smith. "Music is one of humanity's most essential resources—the 'greenest' of substances—here one moment, a memory the next," said Kronos artistic director David Harrington in the group's acceptance speech. "The greatest piece has yet to be written, the most perfect note has yet to be played." Read the complete text of the speech and see several photos from the ceremony here.

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity dedicated the Musicians’ Village Toddler Park last month in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans. The central walkway, Hurwitz Way, is named in honor of Bob Hurwitz, president of Nonesuch Records. A gallery of photographs from the park's dedication has now been posted to nonesuch.com/media, along with several of Hurwitz's photos of Musicians' Village. In 2005, Nonesuch released the benefit album Our New Orleans, which raised 1.1 million dollars to create new housing for the Musicians' Village.

Steve Reich's forthcoming Nonesuch album, WTC 9/11—featuring the title piece performed by Kronos Quartet, Mallet Quartet performed by Sō Percussion, and Dance Patterns from members of Steve Reich and Musicians—is now streaming in full as an NPR First Listen. NPR cites the "haunting power" of WTC 9/11, adding: "Here again and as ever, Kronos plays with fierce beauty and deep intelligence." The Boston Globe asks: "The musical memorials to 9/11 are still arriving but, in the end, how many will match the dark power of Steve Reich's WTC 9/11, finally here in a recording by the Kronos Quartet?"

This Labor Day weekend, The Low Anthem hits the final installment of the Dave Matthews Band Caravan in WA ... Carolina Chocolate Drops return to their home state for the inaugural Triad Music Fest ... Wanda Jackson headlines Muddy Roots Festival in TN ... Jessica Lea Mayfield plays the Bumbershoot festival in WA ... Audra McDonald is Bess at A.R.T. in Cambridge ... Punch Brothers have three shows out West ... Caetano Veloso is Guest Director at Telluride Film Festival ... Sara Watkins joins Garrison Keillor at the Minnesota State Fair ... and more ...

Ry Cooder's new album, Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down, receives perfect five-star reviews from the Guardian and the Independent. "Magnificent," exclaims the Guardian. "Cooder returns with a solo project that is as refreshing, brave and original as his early recordings in the 70s." The Independent says he offers "the modern-day equivalent of the kind of dust-bowl ballads with which Woody Guthrie once hymned the poor and skewered the wealthy." The Boston Herald finds it's "just what America needs in these uncertain times." The Morton Report says "it's obvious there isn't anything he can't do ... and the way Cooder builds his own musical world continues to thrill." The San Francisco Chronicle, reviewing Cooder's two sold-out shows there this week, says "Cooder is a true master of the guitar."

Wanda Jackson, who recently joined British songstress Adele on her tour, launches her own headlining tour that will take her to venues and festivals across the United States, Europe, and the UK through the fall. The Queen of Rockabilly's sets are sure to include songs from her Jack White-produced Third Man / Nonesuch Records debut album, The Party Ain't Over, along with favorites from throughout her decades-long career.

The 38th Telluride Film Festival gets under way today, with Caetano Veloso as its Guest Director. Tom Luddy, Co-Founder of the Festival, says: "Caetano Veloso will be presenting six films, both rare and established classics, with his unique enthusiasm about why they are movies worth seeing again or for the first time." In addition, the festival's program includes 25 new feature films plus special artist tributes, classics and restorations, shorts, student films, seminars and conversations, each introduced or proceeded with a Q&A by its filmmaker, actors, writer, or producer.

Steve Reich, whose latest Nonesuch album, WTC 9/11, is due out on September 20, spoke with musicOMH for an extensive interview in which he discusses the new recording; his involvement in performances of his work taking place around the world, especially during this year filled with multiple celebrations of his 75th birthday; the current state of the music business; music he's enjoyed by bands like Radiohead and The National; and much more.