The Adventures in Modern Music Festival, presented by uber hip UK magazine Wire, is a name far better suited to a PBS special than a five day event showcasing experimental and rising stars from home and across the pond. This annual event ran from Wed 9/10 -15 at Chicago’s excellent Empty Bottle, and the whole event was understated, modest, and all about the music, with zero commercial interference.

Inspired by a story in the L.A. Weekly, detailing Maureen Yancey’s (a.k.a Ma Dukes) dedication to her ailing son,  producer and hip hop luminary J Dilla who passed away from a rare blood disease in 2006, Orlando’s Solillaquists of Sound have announced the release of “Death of The Muse.” The track, which features J Live, Chali 2na and Ma Dukes, will be available to fans through online merchant Insound for a minimum donation of $2.

Mention Patrick Bower and chances are few will know the name. After all, his recent self-released album Beach Closed is his first solo outing. His story, though, begins ten years ago while still living in Bloomington, IN and later, Indianapolis, fronting the shamefully overlooked Even Homer Nods (later shortened to The Nods). After a botched East Coast tour due to the tour van nearly exploding, he relocated to Brooklyn and shortly thereafter began his current project, The World Without Magic.

On November 4, Drew Andrews, best known as guitarist/keyboardist with San Diego ambient post-rock crew, The Album Leaf, will release an his debut solo album, Only Mirrors on Minty Fresh.  In preparation for the record’s release , Andrews will play a string of West Coast dates with Magnetic Morning (formerly The Setting Suns) featuring Swervedriver’s Adam Franklin and Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino.

Sonic Youth have turned heads once again when they  announced they will release a new album, their 16th full-length, on mega-indie Matador Records in 2009. The record, which they will begin recording this fall, will mark their first album the four-piece has put out on an independent label since signing with Geffen Records in 1990.

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Merge Records, which has brought us the likes of Arcade Fire and Spoon, is releasing a box set throughout 2009.  The limited quantity, which includes special artwork and packaging, is only available to those who subscribe to it first on the label’s website.

In an effort to unveil new sonic directions, Danish noir-pop duo The Raveonettes will be releasing 4 EPs by the end of 2008.  The first one, out now, is free! and the only way to hear it is to download it from Vice Music.