Block out next Saturday, Nov. 13, on your day planner for the 10th annual BRINK New Music Showcase, which this year morphs from a one-venue event (at the Southgate House) to a multi-venue extravaganza in Northside. Tied to the annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, BRINK is a chance to check out the next wave of new, original bands in the Cincy area.  

This past April, North Carolina-based Folk/Pop singer/songwriter David Wilcox came to Cincinnati to record a unique "live album" at The Monastery, the recording/performance facilities run by local producer/guitarist/singer/songwriter Ric Hordinski. The resultant album, 'Reverie,' is being released Tuesday, and in its honor Wilcox will be in town to perform a more traditional "concert" at The Monastery.  

Another week, another teetering pile of releases to consider. I've already run seriously short on time again for this posting due to accumulating deadlines and last-minute assignments from a variety of sources. Good for my bottom line, bad for my schedule. This week I'm checking out new CDs from Roky Erickson, Apples in Stereo, Ozomatli, Shelby Lynne, Sweet Apple and Matt Pond PA.  

Seeing your favorite artists live is always a kick, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit in while they recorded an album? Fans of David Wilcox can do that very thing Friday and Saturday, when he visits Ric Hordinski's Monastery studio in Walnut Hills.  

The problems in Haiti aren't going to end anytime soon, so thankfully the stream of local Haitian relief benefit concerts continues to flow over the next few weeks (and hopefully months). Here are several Haiti-related happenings this week.   

Organizers for Sunday's "Help for Haiti" benefit at Oakley's 20th Century Theatre put together a show in just a few days, and the massive and diverse roster of performers shows just how quick to help local artists are when an important cause comes up. The 6 p.m. concert will have Them Bones featuring Cheryl Renee, Freekbass, Kathy Wade, Kevin Fox, Sonny Moorman, Scotty Anderson, Phil DeGreg Trio, Steve Schmidt, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Robin Lacy and DeZydeco and many more acts. Suggested donation is $20. Proceeds go to the Red Cross.  

A decade ago, Cincinnati native Tony Miracle headed off to college in Nashville and wound up with more than a degree. A high school multi-instrumentalist, he crossed paths with vocalist Annette Strean and together the duo began creating songs. Adding second multi-instrumentalist Kip Kubin, the trio blended chilly '80s Synth Pop with soulfully traditional Pop and came up with a sound akin to an Americanized Sugarcubes.  

After recording a full-length album this summer with Grammy-winning producer Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, Iggy Pop), Ellery was inspired to punch out 'Down, Down, Down,' its 2009 holiday EP. The full-length will come out this spring. Justin Golden explains: "We're in that interesting place many artists now find themselves, deciding whether to release an album on our own or on a label — it's a lot to weigh."  

From his first album 22 years ago, David Wilcox has transcended traditional Folk/Pop singer/songwriter status by crafting compelling short stories of everyday life and love set to an infectiously engaging soundtrack. Above it all is his expressive and mellow baritone and fluid guitar style, translating word and melody in tales of hope, sorrow, heartbreak and hilarity that explore the full range of human emotion.  

Ron Esposito first heard recorded bowls in a massage therapist's office, then experienced them musically through German New Age artist Deuter. After acquiring both Tibetan brass and quartz crystal singing bowls and experimenting, Esposito hit the studio with colleague Deborah Ooten, keyboardist Billy Larkin and producer Ric Hordinski, recording last year's 'Lifting the Veil.' He's taken his explorations to a new level on his latest album, 'Open Heart.'