Howdy, folks. I'm back from last week's vacation, and still struggling to catch up. While I do that, take a listen to this and peruse a couple of quick items about upcoming live shows:

New to the TWCMPAWC schedule, redneck gal Gretchen Wilson on Sept. 12 -- because, you know, there just haven't been enough country shows out there this year. On-sale details to come.

Also at the same venue is a show billed as 2009 Soul Music Festival on Aug. 29, headlined by the incomparable Erykah Badu. You can expect her to give an onstage shout-out to our own Ninth Wonder, who produced one of Badu's bigger recent hits. On-sale details also to come.

Over at Duke University, meanwhile, the 2009-10 live-concert season schedule is out, with highlights including Punch Brothers, Rosanne Cash, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo and lots more. Check the complete lineup here.