Well, you've got to give Durham Performing Arts Center's management credit for nerve. Aretha Franklin has been announced for Oct. 16 at the DPAC, with tickets going on sale next Friday, July 29.

This isn't the first time the legendary queen of soul has been scheduled to play the Triangle, but maybe it will actually happen this time. In fact, she's been scheduled three times this decade -- at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre in 2005 and 2006, and at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2007 -- only to cancel all three shows after tickets had gone on sale.

Fingers crossed it really happens this time. In an ironic bit of timing, her show falls the same week that another performer with a shakey track record of keeping his dates will play the NC State Fair: George "No Show" Jones, penciled in for Oct. 18.

When we ran the outdoor music guide a few weeks back, the popular college-radio band Death Cab For Cutie was one of the acts being mentioned as a possibility for the Downtown Raleigh Amphitheater. Death Cab is indeed headed our way -- but to Cary rather than Raleigh. The group will play Booth Amphitheatre on Aug. 8. Tickets are $32-$37 and go on sale May 6 at the usual spots.

My Morning Jacket plays the Triangle Friday night, so click on through for verbiage past and present about the band and its doings.

Greetings, all. I'm still in catch-up mode after a stretch off the grid. And in my absence, a couple of choice shows popped up on the calendar. One is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who will play Raleigh's Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion on May 6 -- the very first date on their U.S. tour, as it happens. The very next night, May 7, brings the great singer/songwriter John Prine to Cary's Booth Amphitheatre with Old Crow Medicine Show in tow as opening act. Pre-sale action on both shows is already going on.

Elvis Costello was in Cary Sunday night to play, and it was mighty swell. Click through for the review; and check the photo gallery. 

One of the most delightful surprises on television recently was last month's "30 Rock" season finale, featuring an all-star sing-along on a faux-anthem called "Kidney Now." Elvis Costello served as ringleader, opposite Mary J. Blige and even Raleigh "American Idol" star Clay Aiken. Costello will bring an acoustic band to Cary's Booth Amphitheater for a show on Sunday; and if Aiken were to turn up wanting to crash the party, Costello would probably just roll with it -- the man is used to unusual collaborations, after all.

"Maybe your local boy might want to sing some country?" Costello asked with a laugh during a recent interview. "He can hop on up and do some harmonies with us; maybe some gospel. You never know what might happen!"

Well, probably not. But as to what might really happen at Sunday's show, complete with lots of talk about Costello's new album, check out the interview in Friday's paper.

Here's what looks to be the Americana-type roadshow of the summer: The "Big Surprise Tour," Aug. 10 at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre with Old Crow Medicine Show, Dave Rawlings Machine (featuring Gillian Welch, of course), Felice Brothers and Justin Townes Earle (whose dad plays Wednesday in Carrboro).

The show's format calls for two 90-minute sets, with lots of cameos, collaborations and sitting in among all four acts. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

Try to control the shock and disappointment this will no doubt bring on, but comedian Larry the Cable Guy's May 16 show at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre has been canceled. Refunds are available at point of purchase; phone and online orders will be automatically credited.

No reason was given for the cancelation, but Cary isn't the only LtCG date to get scotched without explanation. A Thursday performance in Great Falls, Mont., has also been called off.

Smooth retro-nuevo soul man John Legend was just through the Triangle a few months ago; and he must have liked it here well enough, because he already has a return engagement on the books. Legend is scheduled to play Cary's Booth Amphitheatre on July 12, according to a tour schedule from his publicist. Ticket-sale details to come.

My goodness, the show announcements are flying in fast today. Now we've got the first big rock show of the season at Cary's Koka Boothe Amphitheatre at Regency Park -- Kings of Leon on April 28. Tickets go on sale next Friday, Feb. 13.