Free Music Friday was looking forward to the NPR's coverage of the Newport Jazz Festival and they didn’t let us down with downloadable sets from Alabama Shakes, First-Aid Kit, Blitzen Trapper and tUnE-yArDs. That’s also the place to go for a 1hr 12m Sigur Rós gig that has us wishing Electric Picnic was happening tomorrow! Check it all out here.
Also begging to be added to your iTunes is this [link]http://www.npr.org/event/music/157190242/the-walkmen-tiny-desk-concert?autoplay=true[/link] acoustic set.
 

 
[link]http://www.npr.org/series/98679384/first-listen[/link] also kicks off this week’s streams with the New Pornographers, MGMT, Best Coast and St. Vincent-adorned Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac and the latest from Lianne La Havas and Redd Kross who are previewing their first album for 15 years. Jolly good it is too!
 
[link]http://3voor12.vpro.nl/luisterpaal/albums.html[/link] weighs in with newbies from Eugene McGuinness, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Jimmy Cliff, Rick Ross, The Flaming Lips and Joshua Radin; [link]http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/1[/link] adds the Sparkle OST, Colt Ford, Versus The World, Charm City Devils and Reel Big Fish to the streaming mix and [link]http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/1[/link] is the go-to place for the latest by Toadies, Cold Blank, IdiotLogic and Junk Cultures.
 
Mixtape-ing it with the best this week are M83’s mates Dead Ocean who co-opt Dirty Projectors, Board Of Canada, Spritulized, Chemical Brothers, David Bowie, Daft Punk and some whippersnapper by the name of Mozart onto their fabulous [link]http://soundcloud.com/sun-airway/i-need-you-close-sun-airway[/link] selection.
 
Kane Mayfield is streaming the Thivery Corporation Edition of his new Rhymes By… mix on the widget below.
 

 
 
Returning Brazilian dance mavericks Bonde do Rolê let us hear their new album at [link]http://soundcloud.com/maddecent/01-01-bonde-do-rol-arrast-o[/link]; Sister act Nina Sky give away their new album at [link]http://www.ninaskyhigh.com[/link]; [link]http://imanicoppola.bandcamp.com/album/the-glass-wall[/link] lets you try the new Imani Coppola album before you buy; The Manchester Orchestra give away a free album sampler at [link]http://www.noisetrade.com/thefavoritegentlemen[/link]; Mark Knopfler trails his Privateering album with this [link]http://www.markknopfler.com[/link] track; odd couple David Byrne and St. Vincent stream their latest offering at [link]http://www.lovethisgiant.com[/link]; and [link]http://www.soulculture.co.uk/music-blog/album-streams/nba-2k13-soundtrack-executive-produced-by-jay-z-album-stream/#axzz22P8fgxKb[/link] has the Jay-Z curated soundtrack for NBA 2K13.
 
Sign up to the [link]http://theorb.com[/link] mailing-list for a sneak preview of
The Orb and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s In The Star House.
 
There’s $10,000 to be won in the [link]http://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/bon-iver-bon-iver-stems-project[/link] remix competition, which lets you run audio riot with a load of his stems.
 
To this week’s visual treats now and Two Door Cinema Club regaled Guardian readers with this ace version of ‘Sleep Alone’. We must say they’ve turned into very dapper dressers!
 

 
Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan and John Smith got together in Chicago last week for this beyond gorgeous take on The Band’s ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’.
 

 
Free Music Friday is very much liking the new single, ‘Sun Is Rising’, and accompanying video from the Manchester-born, Dublin-raised Helena Jesele.
 

 
Our old pals Le Galaxie have put together this Point Break-inspired and Elaine Mai-assisted clip for ‘Love System’.
 

 
We’re indebted to regular Free Music Friday gawper Kerrie O’Callaghan for pointing us in the direction of Amazing Apples’ Mumford-meets-Sawdoctors vid for new single ‘Head In The Clouds’. They’re from Galway and look like they’d be great fun live.
 

 
Calexico premiere their new ‘Para’ single at [link]http://soundcloud.com/antirecords/calexico-para[link] while the accompanying promo finds them coming over all nostalgic.
 

 
Finally, Alanis Morissette is back after alooooooong break with the delicious ‘Guardian’.
 

 
And that’s where Free Music Friday puts on its jacket, runs down the stairs and jumps into the car taking it to Indiependence, Castlepalooza and Liss Ard. Yup, we’re gorging on all three of this Bank Holiday’s big festivals, with a full report in the next issue of Hot Press out on Thursday August 9.

Whatever you’re up to over the weekend, have a blast!