March Shows

For thirty-plus years Robert Cray has laid down track after track of good-time, uptown, low-down blues. He's won five Grammys and been nominated for 11 more, inspired critics to praise his soulful vocal and instrumental artistry, earned respect from his peers, and sent young guitarists running back to the woodshed. On The Robert Cray Band: Live From Across The Pond, the first release on Cray's own Nozzle Records imprint, the celebrated triple-threat singer, guitar slinger, and songwriter presents the best moments from his week-long run at London's Royal Albert Hall in May 2006. www.robertcray.com

There is hardly any other progrock musician with a more impressive curriculum vitae than John Wetton! He has joined legendary progrock bands like Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and Asia and he founded his own band featuring Martin Offord from IQ. His bass style and sound is powerful and very disctinctive, the story goes that he played with a piece of glass in order to sound more powerful.

Seven Mary Three: On day&nightdriving, produced by Brian Paulson (Wilco, Son Volt, Beck, Uncle Tupelo and Slint's influential cult classic Spiderland) Ross delivers a compelling set of songs that lives up to its dichotomous title. The album combines surging, dark, rock anthems like the first single "Last Kiss," the ringing Gaelic guitars of "Was a Ghost" and the heavy swagger of "Break the Spell," with the Americana roots feel of the country-flavored swamp stomp "Dreaming Against Me" and the twangy slide guitar on "Upside Down."

Sponge has proven to be one of the Motor City's heaviest hitters after gaining international notoriety with 1995's debut album "Rotting Piñata." Emerging out of Detroit with hits like "Plowed" and "Molly (16 Candles)" After "Rotting Piñata" went Gold, the band toured internationally, sharing the stage with Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Live. Front man Vinnie Dombroski's powerful voice, heart-on-his- sleeve lyrics and stage presence captivated numerous audiences and still continues to bring down any house he steps in. Sponge's follow up CD to Rotting Piñata, the critically lauded Wax Ecstatic included the hit songs "Wax Ecstatic" and "Have You Seen Mary?" Sponge's Idol Records debut, For All the Drugs in the World, is a swirling sonic attack that has it's roots in the classic rock of Aerosmith and The Rolling Stones, 70's glam and of course, the Motor City influences of The Stooges, The MC5 and Motown-but at the same time sounds like nothing else....

Leon Russell is a music legend and perhaps the most accomplished and versatile musician in the history of rock 'n roll. In his distinguished and unique 50 year career, he has played on, arranged, written and/or produced some of the best records in popular music. www.leonrussellrecords.com

The most idiosyncratic personality in rap and possessor of its most recognizable delivery, a halting, ragga-inspired style with incredible complexity, inventiveness, and humor, Busta Rhymes releases his 8th studio album Back on My B.S. on March 10, 2009.www.bustarhymes.com

THE SAW DOCTORS, a gritty folk-rock band from Ireland, is named after itinerant craftsmen who once traveled from sawmill to sawmill sharpening and repairing saws. A true "people's band," they boast a fervent American following, and hold the record for Ireland's biggest-selling single of all time ("I Useta Lover"). www.sawdoctors.com

Church's songs are as straightforward as he is. His is music that looks its listener in the eye and speaks plainly about the human condition. It is a line that passes through Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings to John Prine and Steve Earle, and is finding a handful of torchbearers in this new century. "Honesty is my number one responsibility," Church says. "If you listen to this, you'll find out who I am." ericchurch.musiccitynetworks.com

Jonathan Singleton Since signing his breakthrough publishing and production deal two years ago with Crosstown Songs Nashville, multi-talented singer/songwriter Jonathan Singleton has been caught up in a creative whirlwind that's left him little time to be chilling at the airport "Watching Airplanes" - the name of the track he co-wrote (with Jim Beavers) for superstar Gary Allan that became one of the biggest country hits of the past year. The first single from Allan's 2007 release Living Hard, "Watching Airplanes" spent more than thirty weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at 2. For the week ending February 19, 2008, the song was 1 on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase airplay chart.Since signing his breakthrough publishing and production deal two years ago with Crosstown Songs Nashville, multi-talented singer/songwriter Jonathan Singleton has been caught up in a creative whirlwind that's left him little time to be chilling at the airport "Watching Airplanes" - the name of the track he co-wrote (with Jim Beavers) for superstar Gary Allan that became one of the biggest country hits of the past year. The first single from Allan's 2007 release Living Hard, "Watching Airplanes" spent more than thirty weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at 2. For the week ending February 19, 2008, the song was 1 on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase airplay chart. myspace.com/jonathansingletonandthegrove

Vocalist/bass guitarist/songwriter Glenn Hughes is a true original. No other rock musician has carved such a distinctive style blending the finest elements of hard rock, soul and funk. That astonishing voice is Hughes' calling card. He's known as a singer's singer: in fact, Stevie Wonder once called Hughes his favourite white singer.

Hughes, a native of Cannock, England, absorbed all kinds of influences, including early British hard rock, The Beatles and, most importantly, American soul and R&B. The sleek Motown sound from Detroit and the gritty Stax/Volt sound from Memphis left their mark on him. www.glennhughes.com

Guitarist/Vocalist Godfrey Townsend and his band perform a repertoire of music spanning over 3 decades of the much loved guitar legend Eric Clapton's careerÉ ÉFrom the '60s Classic Rock anthem, "Sunshine Of Your Love" to 1996's Grammy winning "Change The World" as well as all the greatest hits along the way such as, "Layla", "I Shot The Sheriff", "Lay Down Sally", "Wonderful Tonight", and "Tears In Heaven". www.godfreytownsendmusic.com