Nonesuch Records will release k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang’s Sing it Loud on April 12, 2011. Produced by lang and Joe Pisapia, it is the singer-songwriter’s first record made entirely with a band of her own since the pair of albums with the Reclines that launched her career. Fans can receive a free download of the new album track “Perfect Word" at kdlang.com. Pre-orders begin on February 7 and include a manuscript lyric sheet, a number of which will be signed by k.d. 

John Adams's groundbreaking 1987 opera, Nixon in China, receives its Metropolitan Opera premiere tomorrow night, with the composer making his Met debut on the podium and Peter Sellars making his Met directorial debut; the Met is hosting a conversation with Adams and Sellars tonight. The Nonesuch reissue of the Grammy-winning original cast recording, in a newly redesigned and specially-priced three-CD set, is out today. "Adams’s Nixon is finally about to get the respect it deserves," says Newsweek. "After all these years, this Nixon’s return is most welcome."

Jessica Lea Mayfield has been named a Band to Watch by Rolling Stone, which recently included her on its Hot List. Describing Mayfield's forthcoming Nonesuch debut album, Tell Me, produced by Dan Auerbach, the magazine says: "Mayfield's vocal delivery often recalls the bold, plaintive drawl of Lucinda Williams, but her taste for oblique lyricism and unusual musical textures owes more to the anything-goes alternative country of Neko Case and Wilco." The Cleveland Scene recently called it "an alt-country torch storm that rivals Neko Case’s best."

Sara Watkins kicked off her tour with The Decemberists last week and continues through the coming months. Prior to the launch of the tour, Watkins was given the very special opportunity to serve as guest host of the beloved radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Her appearance on WNYC's Soundcheck, in which she discusses her guest-hosting gig, was originally slated to air last week but will air today instead.

Ben Folds's US tour came to close one day earlier than expected when his concert in Tulsa tonight had to be postponed due to a major snowstorm blanketing the region. Throughout the tour, Folds has enlisted the help of audience members to perform an a cappella version of the song "Working Day" off Lonely Avenue, his collaboration with Nick Hornby. You can see this new a cappella work in progress come together in video clips on Folds's YouTube channel; watch the first one here.

Laurie Anderson will be among the Grammy nominees presenting the first awards of the day at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards pre-telecast ceremony on Sunday, February 13. The event will be streamed live on grammy.com and YouTube. Anderson has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Flow" off of Homeland; you can download the song here. Hers is among 11 nominations for Nonesuch artists this year.

The Black Keys will be the guests on today's episode of NPR's Fresh Air to talk about their music, not least their latest Nonesuch release, 2010's Brothers, which is nominated in six categories at next month's Grammy Awards and recently garnered the band a Gold record. On The Black Keys' tour schedule are two sold-out shows in Las Vegas and the Coachella festival. Rolling Stone placed Patrick Carney at No. 3 among the 50 Top Tweeters in Music.

Wanda Jackson gave a free hometown show in Oklahoma City on Friday. "The enduring power of the 73-year-old's voice was on full display," says the Oklahoman. "And yes, by all accounts, Wanda Jackson ripped it up. Ripped it to shreds." Clash Music has made her take on Dylan's "Thunder on the Mountain" today's Track of the Day, calling the album "a stunning return." PopMatters says Jackson "is positively incendiary." The Ottawa Citizen gives four-and-a-half stars to "this outstanding comeback." Jackson opens the latest episode of public radio's Dinner Party Download.

There's just one more week to go before the release of Jessica Lea Mayfield's Nonesuch debut album, Tell Me, produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. "Auerbach brings out the best" in Mayfield, says the Cleveland Scene; "this is Mayfield’s strongest record, an alt-country torch storm that rivals Neko Case’s best." Pre-order here with an exclusive signed 7” of the album’s first single, “Our Hearts Are Wrong.” Mayfield kicks off a tour with Justin Townes Earle this weekend.

Joshua Rifkin celebrates 40th anniversary of Joplin's Piano Rags album in NYC ... Alarm Will Sound performs Reich's Tehillim for NYC's Ecstatic Music Festival ... Ben Folds tours Midwest ... Philip Glass goes solo in Colombia ... Wanda Jackson plays free hometown show in Oklahoma City .... Glenn Kotche, Bang on a Can play Reich in Kentucky ... The Low Anthem performs at Bowdoin ... Stockholm celebrates Reich ... Allen Toussaint continues NYC residency ... Sara Watkins plays Boston with The Decemberists ... Dawn Upshaw, Gilbert Kalish give recital in Connecticut ... and more ...

The Carolina Chocolate Drops released a new EP collaboration with the New York City–based Romanian gypsy punk band Luminescent Orchestrii and beatboxer Adam Matta earlier this week. All of the performers played together at New York's Bowery Ballroom late last year; Paste magazine premiered a video of "Short Dress Gal" from that concert earlier today. You can watch it here. There's also a short documentary about the making of the EP.

Tune in to NPR's Fresh Air today to hear Wanda Jackson's 2003 interview on the show. Consequence of Sound gives Jackson's new Jack White-produced album four stars, saying "The Party Ain’t Over proves to be a bold success." The Louisville Courier-Journal calls Jackson "the hottest thing that ever came out of Oklahoma, counting oil-well fires and Wayne Coyne," and says with her new album, she "proves there's no age limit on fun." Jackson gives a free concert in her hometown of Oklahoma City tonight.