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On the way: Gotye

The artist known as Gotya (GO-tee-ay) will headline Buzz Under the Stars 2, Sept. 14, a Friday, at Berkley Riverfront Park. Also on the bill: Chairlift and  Zammuto.Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. June 8. 

Chevy music series gets in gear this week

Kevin Medina, Zach Brotherton, Derek White and  RL Brooks of Maps for Travelers

If you watch late-night television over the next several weeks, chances are good the sounds of local bands will come into your den, bedroom or wherever you watch the tube.

Tonight (May 30), the Kansas City area Chevy dealers launch the local version of the Chevy Music Showcase, a series of 2-minute documentaries on local bands that also serve as sponsorship commercials for Chevy. The first documentary, featuring the band Maps for Travelers, is scheduled to air twice tonight; it will be rebroadcast tonight and Friday. (See schedule below.)

On the way: Kansas

Phil Ehart, Steve Walsh and the rest of the crew will carry on at the Uptown Theater on Oct. 6, a Saturday. Kings X and That 1 Guy will open. So says Pollstar.

Your new-music alert

She doesn’t have the cult following of Tori Amos or the eccentric reputation of Fiona Apple, but Regina Spektor is every bit the accomplished songwriter, musician and entertainer.

Your ticket-sale alert

This weekend's shows included Moe, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Justin Bieber.

On sale Friday

• Halestorm with New Medicine and Emphatic, July 12, Midland. $9.89
• Moe, July 25, Crossroads KC. $21.50-$61.50

Farewell, Doc Watson

The rain keeps falling. In terms of death in the world of music, it has been a heavy, blue year. It just got heavier and bluer. Doc Watson died Tuesday, in a hospital in North Carolina. He'd lived a long life: He was 89. I saw him once, many years ago, with his longtime partner Jack Lawrence. It was memorable. Doc was funny, humble, charming and dazzling on the guitar. He deserves more widespread recognition and renown for his influence on traditional American music. Rest in peace, Arthel "Doc" Watson.

Bob Dylan among Presidential Medal recipients

Dylan, 71, was one of 13 persons to receive the award Tuesday afternoon from President Obama at the White House. The medal honors “meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States or to world peace or to cultural or other significant endeavors.” The award was established by President Kennedy in 1963. According to the New York Times: "President Obama said of Dylan, 'There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music.' Mr. Obama also praised Mr. Dylan’s voice for its 'weight' and 'unique gravelly power' that redefined 'not just what music sounded like but the message it carried and how it made people feel.' ”

Review: Best Coast

The backdrop depicted a large bear embracing the state of California, a nice metaphor for the music emanating just a few yards closer. For 75 minutes Sunday night at the Granada, indie-pop duo Best Coast showcased the many of the Golden State’s finest musical attributes: girl groups, surf guitars and bubbly pop melodies about summer and love.

Report: Doc Watson critically ill

The 89-year-old bluegrass musician has been hospitalized for a week after a fall. On Thursday, he underwent colon surgery. He has been in intensive care since Friday. UPDATE: Watson still critical but improved.

Your new-music alert

John Mayer's latest album is a collection of acoustic songs that evoke several styles of music from the 1970s.

John Mayer | 'Born and Raised'

On “Born and Raised,” John Mayer is in a state of retreat, repentance and nostalgia.

After a couple of years of bad behavior and bad publicity, he has left Hollywood, moved to somewhere near Bozeman, Mont., and committed the act of contrition on TV (“Ellen”). This week he released “Born and Raised,” a collection of breezy acoustic songs dipped in several flavors of ’70s music: country blues, acoustic Southern rock, California folk, soft rock. Here and there it evokes the styles of everyone from Neil Young and James Taylor to the laid-back Allman Brothers.