Rock News: Music's high and low notes

SPRINGSTEEN TRIBUTE TO AID PARKINSON'S

Elvis Costello, Joe Ely, Cowboy Mouth, Rosie Flores and Billy Bragg head up the star studded list of contributors to "Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen," a benefit album for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, which raises money for research and treatment of sarcoma. The two-CD package, released last week in Spain, will be issued with additional tracks in the United States in August. Joe Grushecky, Elliot Murphy, Cracker, Graham Parker, Pete Yorn, Cowboy Mouth, Patty Griffin, E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren, Lucky 7, Willie Nile, Dion and Steve Wynn also contributed tracks. The project was initiated by Spanish Springsteen fanzine editor Sal Trepat and Grushecky's manager, Bob Benjamin, who suffers from Parkinson's. Benjamin told Billboard.com the project is "a labor of love. It's helping out two of my favorite causes, and the music is my favorite." Kristan Ann Carr, the daughter of Springsteen's co-manager Barbara Carr and music journalist Patrick Carr, died from sarcoma a decade ago. Kristin's stepfather, journalist Dave Marsh, was instrumental in founding the Kristin Ann Carr Fund as part of the TJ Martell Foundation.

HIP HOP REGGAE

Hip hop meets reggae once again in the third volume of "Red Star Sounds," the Heineken Music Initiative's program to support music education in urban communities across the country. "Red Star Sounds, Vol 3: Def Jamaica" is scheduled for an August release on Def Jam Records. The album features new music from some of the top names in rap and reggae sharing the mic along with the voice and music of legend Bob Marley. Many of the artists already have hit the studio, including Cam'Ron and Buju Banton; Capone & Noriega with Deejay Lexxus; and Scarface, Nokio from Dru Hill and T.O.K., who recorded in Jamaica in March. Method Man and Redman collaborated with Bob Marley's progeny Stephen Marley and Damian Marley at a studio session in Miami.

"We're thrilled at the chance to allow artists in hip hop and reggae to make music together while giving back to the community that supports them," said Cristy Barber, president of Tuff Gong/ Ghetto Youths.

JOURNEY MARKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Journey -- Neal Schon (guitar), Ross Valory (bass), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Steve Augeri (vocals) and Deen Castronovo (drums) -- is celebrating its 30th anniversary by headlining VH1 Classic's "Classic Rock's Main Event" tour with fellow road warriors REO Speedwagon and Styx. The arena and amphitheater trek launched May 10 in front of a capacity crowd at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Originally slated to end July 26 in Atlanta, the tour has been extended into August. Before the tour got underway, after years of campaigning by the group's fan club, Journey was honored in its hometown of San Francisco April 25 by the California Music Awards with a commemorative plaque on the city's Rock 'N Roll Walk of Fame outside the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Founding member Greg Rollie and former drummer Aynsley Dunbar were on hand for the event, which was hosted by Mayor Willie Brown, who spoke to the crowd of his experiences at Journey concerts.

Journey recently released a four-song EP, "Red 13" (Red Distribution). It was written, recorded, produced and mixed by the band entirely at Jonathan Cain's home studio. "Red 13" is also available on the band's Web site journeytheband.com and at all of the band's shows. Also available on the site is an inspirational instrumental called "Showdown" written and performed by Neal Schon, which fans can download for $1.49. Proceeds go to the San Francisco V.A. Medical Center, which benefits veterans from all wars.

GATHERING OF THE VIBES 2003

Terrapin productions has expanded its annual Gathering of the Vibes rock festival into a summer season with four distinct events. The season kicks off next weekend with Summit on the Hudson Music Festival. The series continues with the Eighth Annual Gathering of the Vibes July 10-13 in Mariaville, N.Y.; Bridgeport Blues Festival Aug. 30-31 in Bridgeport, Conn.; and Summit on the Sound Music Festival Sept. 13-14, also in Bridgeport. Returning to the venues that helped launch the "Vibes" to prominence, each music festival in the summer series will exhibit a unique flavor and ambiance, drawing from diverse audiences throughout the Northeast.

Home to 1997's Gathering of the Vibes, majestic Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., will host the Summit on the Hudson Music Festival. The two-day event features an anomalous mix of jazz, folk and rock acts, including Branford Marsalis, Chuck Berry, Arlo Guthrie, Little Feat, The Radiators, Martin Sexton, Steve Kimock, Reid Genauer and Medeski Martin and Wood. Gathering of the Vibes, Terrapin's flagship multi-day music, camping and arts festival, returns to Indian Lookout Country Club outside of Albany, N.Y., site of last year's event. Vibes veterans and festival newcomers alike will congregate for a celebration headlined by the Allman Brothers and James Brown.

Other artists include Gov't Mule, The David Grisman Quintet, Rusted Root, Susan Tedeschi, Dickey Betts & Great Southern and The Derek Trucks Band. The Bridgeport Blues Festival will fold the acts on the B.B. King Blues Festival -- King, Jeff Beck, Galactic and Mofro -- into a lineup featuring Chuck Berry, Robert Cray, James Cotton, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Marcia Ball and the Holmes Brothers. Acts for Summit on the Sound have yet to be announced.

LISA GERMANO U.S. TOUR DATES

Ineffable/iMUSIC recording artist Lisa Germano is wrapping up a European tour and hits the road in June in support of her latest alum, "lullaby for liquid pig," her sixth solo release and her first on the label. The sessions feature a host of guest appearances including Neil Finn (Crowded House), Johnny Marr (The Smiths, The Healers), Sebastian Steinberg (Soul Coughing), Butch (eels) and others. Germono will kick off the tour June 5 in her hometown of Los Angeles, then continue on to San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and Eugene, Ore., Minneapolis, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Boston, with additional dates to be added.