Lincoln Center has announced the 2008 season of its popular American Songbook series, with tickets on sale to the public Thursday, October 25. Highlights of the season include three nights with k.d. lang, February 26–28, and an evening with Punch Brothers on February 20. Also featured are two shows on January 26 with Broadway star Kelli O'Hara, who earned a Tony nomination for her performance in Adam Guettel's Light in the Piazza .

On October 20, at the seventh annual World Soundtrack Awards in Ghent, Belgium, composer Clint Mansell picked up two awards for his score to The Fountain, performed by Kronos Quartet and Mogwai. Mansell received both the award for the year's Best Original Soundtrack and the Public Choice Award. 

In a sprawling interview with pitchforkmedia.com, folk rocker Devendra Banhart talks about everything from colonial American history to making his new record using an authentic Nicolai Tesla–made microphone. Banhart, who appeared earlier this year at a David Byrne–curated concert at Carnegie Hall, also recalls what he says is the "best review" he's ever gotten; it was from Caetano Veloso.

Canada's CBC News reports that South African police have arrested five men linked to the shooting death last Thursday of reggae star Lucky Dube. Late last week, Youssou N'Dour urged South African leaders to use Dube's death as a wake-up call to address that nation's high incidence of violent crime.

In a recent conversation with gothamist.com, Jonny Greenwood discusses a wide range of topics, from the environmental impact of touring to his score for the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson film There Will Be Blood. The soundtrack is due out on Nonesuch this December.

The New York Times, in its list of must-sees on a short trip to São Paolo, Brazil, includes Bar Brahma, because "as everyone will tell you, this is where Caetano Veloso's soulful song 'Sampa' starts out. Legend has it that Caetano wrote the song from there." 

On Saturday, October 6, David Byrne presented “How New Yorkers Ride Bikes” at New York's Town Hall as part of the weekend-long New Yorker festival. Watch the video feed from his bike, complete with audio commentary, as he rode through the streets of midtown on his way to the event.

Newly signed Nonesuch artists Punch Brothers—from left to right: Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Greg Garrison (bass), and Gabe Witcher (fiddle); not pictured: Chris Thile (mandolin)—dropped by the Nonesuch offices. Their trip included a very productive tour of the Nonesuch CD closet. Here's a snapshot of the guys getting ready to do some "research" on their new label mates.

Laurie Anderson has been awarded the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize for her outstanding contribution to the arts. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has named Dawn Upshaw among the recipients of the MacArthur Fellowship. Known as the "genius award," the fellowship recognizes exceptional creativity and continued promise.

Youssou N'Dour has been selected as one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" and will perform, along with John Mayer, at the gala celebration tomorrow night.

Jeff Tweedy recently spoke with Pitchfork about Wilco's new album, Sky Blue Sky.

John Adams has made the San Francisco Chronicle's society page, on the occasion of his 60th birthday and the forthcoming US premiere of his latest opera, A Flowering Tree, with Adams leading the San Francisco Symphony, beginning March 1.