Well, today seems to be the day for festival announcements. In addition to the IBMA news, we also have YR15 -- a three-night bash in honor of local label Yep Roc Records' 15-year anniversary. That will happen Oct. 11-13 at Cat's Cradle with a lineup featuring some of the finest acts from the Grammy-winning label's roster, including Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock, Fountains of Wayne, John Doe and more. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Check here for details.

Also on the festival front, the latest TRKfest has been set for July 21. It will again be at Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro (with Haw River Ballroom as a backup venue if the weather's bad). Lineup details still to come.

New to the local concert schedule, Wilco at the Downtown Raleigh Amphitheater on Sept. 27 -- which just happens to be the very day the group's new album "The Whole Love" will be released. That's pretty cool, but something even cooler is the opening act: Mr. "Jesus of Cool" himself, the great Nick Lowe (who has a local connection, in that he records for Triangle-based Yep Roc). Ticket details are pending.