Madison blues band Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo have been placed on the official ballot of the 2012 Grammy Awards by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The categories are Best New Artist and Best Blues Album. Academy members must cast their votes by Nov. 2.
Local musicians looking for an easy way to register for the 2012 Madison Area Music Awards consideration can stop by the High Noon Saloon on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29, from 8 pm to midnight. Registration forms will be available. Just bring your recorded materials for uploading to themamas.org.
The media-savvy Madison rock band Sunspot have mastered the art of the podcast. New episodes of their web show, Sunspot Road Mania, are counting down to their Nov. 18 CD-release show for The Slingshot Effect at the Frequency.
Madison Americana songwriter Whitney Mann continues her role as the opening act for legendary country music stars on Saturday, Oct. 29. She'll appear in support of George Jones at the Genesee Theater in Waukegan, Ill., at 8 p.m.
Madison's Phat Phunktion will travel to Japan the week of Nov. 15 to play three shows in support of their new album, Real Life High Fidelity. The nine-piece brass band's bon voyage show will be held at the Sett, inside Union South, on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m.