JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound bring their pitch perfect, full-throated soul to the Mohawk. Check out their David Byrne by way of James Brown cover of Wilco's "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" to get some idea of just how tight, seamless and self-assured their sound is. Supporting their Bloodshot Records debut, Want More, rhythm guitarist Billy Bungeroth, drummer Kevin Marks, bassist Ben Taylor and singer JC Brooks bring aggression and raw power to skillfully wrought classic grooves. more ›

Sharon Jones and her Dap Kings hit La Zona Rosa on Friday night, and our photographer Chad Wadsworth got some sweet shots. more ›

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings tour extensively to rekindle the Motown of yesteryear in the most authentic way possible - relentless, vigorous live performances. Sassy songstress Sharon Jones and her gang of soul brothers craft vintage funk reminiscent of legendary greats Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. Backed by Daptone Records’ horn-heavy house band, Ms. Jones delivers feel-good, get-down grooves sure to put a swagger in your step. more ›

Today brought some big news from NPR - the public radio broadcaster will return to SXSW in 2010 for two stacked showcases for festival attendees that are sure to be a tough ticket. On Wednesday evening, March 17, NPR kicks off night one of SXSW music at Stubb's BBQ (just after the Austinist/WOXY/BMI party wraps up across the street!) with Austin's Spoon, followed by performances from modern soul legends Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Seattle's Visqueen, The Walkmen, and the Danger Mouse/Shins side project Broken Bells in their live debut. more ›

If our friends at KGSR were to curate a stage for ACL, we suspect it would look like this one. Though we have no knowledge that Austin radio mainstay Jody Denberg is the man behind the curtains for Saturday's AMD stage, the bands here certainly look a lot like his playlists! What strikes us as great about this stage is that the music all fits together nicely even though it crosses many age groups, demographics, and genres. It would be hard not to enjoy what's on offer here, so consider staking out a spot and using AMD as your Saturday home base. more ›

Sharon Jones is a 51-year-old overnight sensation to some, but it's unlikely she'd see it that way. An active vocalist since the 1970's, Jones played music for years as a side gig while working day jobs at Riker's Island and as a Wells Fargo armored car guard. During a background vocal session in 1996, she met musician/engineer Bosco Mann, who became her primary collaborator. Jones spent the late 90's performing with the Desco Super Soul Revue, forming the Dap-Kings in 2000 after the Revue's demise. The band have released three albums on their own label since their inception, and have toured incessantly to build a large and fervent fanbase. They specialize in old-school soul music that doesn't sound out of place next to Aretha, Otis, Al Green, or Motown. This sound was so compelling that in 2006, producer Mark Ronson hired the Dap-Kings to perform on Amy Winehouse's Back To Black as well as his hit European solo album Version. Their latest release 100 Days, 100 Nights has received a warm critical reception, and Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings will arrive in Austin Saturday for a show to promote the disc at Antone's. more ›