December 3 -

We’re offering up a double dose of free music for our lovely readers this Friday. Consider it an early Christmas present, an on-time Hanukkah present and a sign of more free music to come.

First up is free music via Matthew Loiacono, musically-known as Matthew Carefully, who recently updated the free music section of the Collar City Records website. New are some tracks of “soulful lamentations” from Ike Snopes, and you can fill out your music library with other offerings from the Collar City musicians if you haven’t already. If you’re short on megabytes, we recommend “Community Balloon” and “Penny Riddle” from Matthew Carefully as well as the “We Are Giants Now” EP from Ben Karis-Nix.

The second item isn’t actually from a local band, but it does come via my favorite radio station for local music, 97.7 WEXT. This independent, listener-funded radio station is the only one that commits to playing local music every hour and has great programs like the Local 518.

Check out their Facebook post, offering up a free download of the G Love track “Fixin’ to Die”, produced by the alt-folk Avett Brothers.

Are you an area musician will free music in need of some ears? Drop us a line at therecordbeat@gmail.com.

November 30 -

Sean Rowe, Troy’s own soul-tinged singer/songwriter/wilderness man, recently signed with Anti- after a founding stint with Collar City Records. His latest album “Magic” made waves last year, and it will be released again by Anti-, available 2/22 (three cheers for alliteration dates!). Before that, his song “The Walker” is available on the Anti- 2010 Fall Sampler, available for free with the purchase of one of nine $10 albums.

@sean_rowe

Hey guys, It's an honour to have one of my songs "The Walker" on Anti's Fall sampler. My first release on Anti!… http://fb.me/CyuaN1an

November 30, 2010 5:48 pm via FacebookRetweetReply

Rowe, who started out playing in bands, has been a solo musician since the late 90s and has self-released one solo album prior to “Magic.” Now, he joins of the ranks of local bands like Phantogram that have found a national audience — and distribution.

Details about the sale/sampler are on the Anti- blog. For more information about Sean, check out his website at www.seanrowe.net.