For the past decade, David Bazan has been adding insightful, intelligent songs to the world. Most notably as the lead singer and songwriter for indie folk group Pedro the Lion from 1998-2004 and, more recently, as a provocative, thoughtful solo artist. His latest release - his first full-length, titled Curse Your Branches - will no doubt make many critics' year-end lists. If you haven't heard it yet, it's well worth checking out. Or, just learn more about David Bazan with this bio and profile, including recommended CDs and MP3s.

image © Barsuk Records

It could be said that Neil Young's Archive series has been one of the most consistently anticipated and discussed projects of his career. Part of this is due to the fact that its installments have been repeatedly delayed, their release dates pushed back to ensure they could be released on Blu-Ray.

The latest entry is a live album titled Dreamin' Man Live '92, and is due for release on Dec. 8. The same recording will drop on vinyl Jan. 12, 2010. It features the entirety of his Harvest Moon album as pulled from various live performances of the songs during his concerts in 1992.

photo of Neil Young courtesy Special Ops Media

Joan Baez has been one of the most ardent activist-folksingers in the history of the craft, and an inspiration to many other artists and fans alike. She's also been incredibly prolific over the course of her nearly half-century-spanning career. It can be overwhelming to learn about such an artist if you're starting from this end and looking back. So, if you're just learning about Baez's work, here's a playlist of essential Joan Baez songs to help get you started.

photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

MerleFest is one of the largest, most beloved folk and roots music festivals each year. It's also one of the first festivals to take place, effectively helping to kick off each year's festival season at first thaw in April each year. In 2010, MerleFest will be celebrating its remarkable 23rd year with another impressive and long roster of folks, bluegrass, and Americana artists.

Among the artists slated to join Doc Watson for MerleFest 2010 are the Avett Brothers, Belleville Outfit, Elvis Costello, Dailey & Vincent, the Greencards, Little Feat, the Lovell Sisters, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, the Wilders, Works Progress Administration, and many more. MerleFest will take place in Wilkesboro, N.C., Apr. 29-May 2, 2010. For a full line-up, tickets, and other information, check out MerleFest.org.

Lost Highway Records was named for a song by the late, great Hank Williams, Sr., and many of the artists they've come to support through the years have pulled heavily from Williams' legacy as well. The label started in 2000 and is now part of the Universal Music Group, based in Nashville, Tenn.

In the ever-evolving roots and Americana movement, Lost Highway has been at the forefront. For nearly a decade, they have consistently released and distributed works by artists and bands who have helped define and steer this style of music. From Ryan Adams to Hayes Carll and beyond... learn more about Lost Highway Records, including recommended CDs.

image © Lost Highway Records

Bob Dylan made a Christmas album. Now he can hopefully check that one off his list and go back to what he does best: everything else. There has been quite a bit of discussion and anticipation surrounding Christmas in the Heart. Few people ever expected to hear a full album of Christmas songs from Dylan, who grew up Jewish and was a born-again Christian for a time, but who has, generally stuck to the more secular. Now we know why - Dylan's voice and talent is not tailor made for holiday music. Read my full review of Christmas in the Heart.

image © Columbia Records

On December 15, the folks at the behemoth Bonnaroo Festival will release Live From Bonaroo 2009, a DVD featuring performances from this year's festival. Included among the performers will be award winning bluegrass troupe Del McCoury Band, along with folks like Wilco, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Ben Harper, Andrew Bird, and more.

The Bonnaroo Festival marked its eighth year in 2009, and has released several Live From DVDs. Last year's video included performances from Gogol Bordello, My Morning Jacket, the Avett Brothers, Jack Johnson, Pearl Jam, and more. For more info on Live From Bonnaroo 2009, visit the Bonnaroo Web site.

image © Bonnaroo

Bob Dylan's much-discussed Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart dropped this week on Columbia Records. My review is forthcoming. But, in the meantime, if you've yet to pick it up, you can get an idea about the kind of silliness it contains by listening to a free stream of "Must Be Santa".

It's a Dylan original, of course, where he sings about Santa's "big red nose" and "ho ho hos." Yes. He also names all the reindeer, throwing a few American presidents in for good measure, of course, because why not? It's thick on accordion—an instrument desperately missing from so many traditional Christmas carols—and, frankly, it makes me laugh out loud. Still, somehow, magically, Dylan makes it work. It's a Christmas miracle. Take a listen and see what you think.

image © Columbia Records

Emmitt-Nershi Band is one of those all-star troupes you can't really fault for anything. Their musicianship is tight, their songs hop and bound in the most intuitive and engaging ways. New Country Blues is a testament to the unending evolution of contemporary bluegrass, pulling influence from traditional and modern forms. Read my full review of Emmitt-Nershi Band New Country Blues.

image © SCI Fidelity

Tomorrow night, Oct. 8, 2009, singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco will be one of five recipients of the Woody Guthrie Award for being a voice for positive social change. Other recipients are Barbara Boyle, Lundbeck, Liz Weber & Stone Gossard, and the Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease.

Of course DiFranco has long been committed to positive social change, even as her music has occasionally veered toward the more personal through the years. She has continued to advocate for peace and has dedicated herself to numerous human rights issues through the years. Her Righteous Babe Foundation has been an active force in her hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. Learn more about Ani DiFranco's work with this profile: All about Ani DiFranco. Or learn more about the 13th Annual Guthrie Awards Dinner and purchase tickets at their Web site.

photo © Mark Dellas