Olivia DrakeSeptember 24, 20101min
Steve Roslonek '93—aka "Mr. Steve" from PBS Kids and the SteveSongs band—will perform at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. He blends participatory songs, clever stories and great melodies for children. Roslonek's band has received several awards from parenting organizations. He formerly worked as a business and technology consultant. Tickets are $25 each, but if you join the “Tribeca PAC 10 Club” you order 10 tickets for $140. To order tickets call 212-220-1460 or go to www.tribecapac.org. To get a special Wesleyan discount mention the special Wesleyan code "WSLSS11".

David LowAugust 3, 20102min
Benjamin Lyons ’81, who runs the independent label Valid Records, was recently interviewed by Dan Godston at Examiner.com. Lyons talks about his early musical influences while growing up in Pennsylvania, his thoughts on the music scene in New Orleans, and running the record label. Valid Records is dedicated to presenting the creative possibilities of the New Orleans music scene and has released recordings by artists such as Rob Wagner, Jonathan Freilich, and Hamid Drake. The following is an excerpt from the interview: Dan Godston: How did you get the idea to start Valid Records? Benjamin Lyons: By the late ’90s,…

David LowJune 7, 20102min
Sarah Dashew ’94 has released her second album, Where I Belong (Whistlefoot Records), a 10-track set which deals with the themes of love, place, and belonging. The title track is a light, sweet love song with a spirited horn solo that sets an upbeat tone for the rest of the album. In addition to writing and performing song, Dashew also co-produced the project with Los Angeles-based producer Eric Peterson. Drawing upon influences as diverse as James Taylor and Prince, her unique style mixes elements of folk, pop, country and soul. She grew up sailing the high seas with her family…

David LowJune 7, 20102min
Singer and songwriter Chris Pureka ’01 has released her third album, How I Learned to See in the Dark (Sad Rabbit). The musician usually performs solo, but she is currently on tour for the first time with a three-piece band, including an electric guitarist, a fiddle player, and a drummer. In a feature about the new recording at Madison.com, Rob Thomas wrote: “With its cryptic, sometimes ominous lyrics and dense arrangements, Dark goes beyond the stripped-down Americana sound that Pureka fans are familiar with. … Creating the layered, offbeat arrangements on "Dark" took Pureka nearly a year to complete.” In…