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Just like a band on tour pulls off the road and heads into the recording studio, Soundcheck will spend the summer off the air creating something new. Online, the show will be more active than ever. Find out more.

We've put together a list of four summer festivals and the food they're serving up. Dig in!

Icelandic band Sigur Rós is set to release a new album called “Valtari” at the end of this month, but you’ll be able to hear the entire album streamed live on the Soundcheck site this Thursday evening.

Give your iPod that scratchy sound! Download an MP3 of Justin Townes Earle's "Memphis in the Rain," as recorded by The 78 Project on a genuine Presto 78 rpm disc recorder from the 1930s. Watch the video (in hi-fi) below.

Back in March, songwriters David Byrne and James Murphy (formerly of LCD Sound System) met at Yale to talk about the evolving role of the artist in the digital age. John Schaefer moderated the discussion. Have a listen to a special Soundcheck podcast of the event, which includes discussion of the songwriting process, David Byrne's proposal for an unusual (and potentially deadly) installation, and James Murphy's plans to revolutionize New York City's subway turnstiles.

After launching our "Ring Haiku" challenge last Friday, you heeded our call for 17 syllables about Wagner's epic cycle, known as the "Ring." Here are the submissions we received by email.

Today, the New York-based duo Tiny Victories released Those of Us Still Alive, a five-song debut that John Schaefer picked for a recent NPR feature on local artists to watch in 2012. After they performed two songs live on the show today, the band then picked John Schaefer for a remixed version of their song "Gravitron." Hear our host sampled in this unprecedented web extra.

Below, check out a creepy songs playlist from Emily Rems and Steve Almond.

Irish rock group The Cranberries is putting out their first new album in over a decade - and we got a live preview of it today on the show. But sometimes, you just want to hear the old favorites... so we couldn't resist asking the group to stick around after the show to perform their 1994 protest hit, "Zombie." Take a listen!

When the Warsaw Village Band played live in the studio, we couldn't resist their "hardcore folk" sound. So after the show, we asked them to stick around to play us another song. Now, you can hear it too! Take a listen to "In The Forest" -- a traditional love song with an seriously danceable beat.

In February, Soundcheck will explore the world of “supercollectors,” people who hoard vinyl records, memorabilia, concert t-shirts and other music-related items.

Download a radio edit of the track "Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye" from Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson. And, don't miss Wilson's performance and interview in the Soundcheck studio.

In 1981, a young radio host from Brooklyn came to WNYC. John Schaefer was hired to read newscasts and introduce classical music, but soon found himself hosting a new music show that quickly became the on-air hub of the fertile downtown music scene.

Check out some photos we took at John Schaefer's 30th anniversary event in The Greene Space.

When Soundcheck goes off the air at 3 p.m., we occasionally record an extra song with our in-studio guests. Jonathan Spottiswoode was one of them – and he lived to tell the tale. Below, the ringleader of the New York-based ensemble Spottiswoode and His Enemies describes the not-so-live experience and unveils a brand-new song called “Majesty” that’s available exclusively from Soundcheck.

When Craig Wedren visited our studio with his new album "Wand," we only had time to hear two songs live on air. So, the singer, composer and former Shudder To Think frontman stuck around to play a third track for us. Hear him discuss the story behind the song "Poolkiss" - and a live performance.

December is John Schaefer Month at WNYC. All month long, we'll be celebrating John's 30 years at the station and we need your help.

Our tribute to John wouldn't be complete without a gallery of photos tracing his storied career at WNYC. See John in the studio, on stage, and with a handful of the music legends that have appeared on his shows.

Below is a fair use pop quiz, with questions excerpted from Pat Aufderheide's book "Reclaiming Fair Use." We'll post answers after the show!