More music updates from around the web

I'm popping in again to point to some music news and info on my other projects around the web.

My new site Total Music Awards is starting to step into high gear with predictions for the 2013 Grammy Awards, as well as a Grammy Awards winners archive that, very soon, will list every winner and nominee in the 54-year history of the Grammys. It's an epic undertaking and it's going to be amazing. Head over there and follow TMA on Facebook and Twitter!

My Top 10 albums of 2012 are almost exclusively indie rock this year, topped by Leonard Cohen's Old Ideas, Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, and my #1 pick, Bat for Lashes' The Haunted Man. See my full Top 10 alongside the lists of the other writers on Diffuser.

My favorite songs of 2012, which I haven't yet published anywhere, include Of Monsters and Men's "Little Talks," Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars with "Safe & Sound," Bat for Lashes' "Laura," Frank Ocean's "Thinkin Bout You," Ed Sheeran's "The A Team," and Chiddy Bang's "Mind Your Manners."

Oh, and completely randomly, I've created a new website about campgrounds near Chicago. By the spring, it will be the #1 resource for finding a place to go tent camping around the greater Chicago area, which can be difficult since there's not a lot of forest in the area. Here's to diversifying my online portfolio!

Pittsburgh's 3 Rivers Arts Fest Lineup for 2012 is Solid!

I just caught the lineup for the 2012 3 Rivers Arts Fest in Pittsburgh, and it's a very good one. Kathleen Edwards, the Wailers, and Bruce Hornsby are solid scores.

There's not as much indie rock as I'd prefer, but Dawes on June 5 is a nice addition. And there's a bluegrass day! Bluegrass is perhaps the most underrated genre of music.

Of course, all the shows are free, so you can't go wrong. Here's the lineup so far courtesy of the PG, with additional acts to come:

June 1: The Wailers
June 2: Kathleen Edwards
June 3: The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
June 5: Dawes
June 8: Carolina Chocolate Drops
June 9: Bluegrass Day with the Del McCoury Band, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and Greensky Bluegrass
June 10: Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers

In other unrelated news, I'm continuing to build up my new site Total Music Awards, which is currently focusing on the Billboard Music Awards. I've also started a site dedicated to Chicago camping, which could come in handy for those heading to Lollapalooza!