So far this year, it's been nice to hear people talk of looking forward to shows, projects, records, etc. And we have so much of all that happening all the time! We're a lucky town. Don't ever forget that, y'all. Dig this week's luck below...

Bird Is the Word: The psychedelic-country honchos in Futurebirds have announced that the band's debut album for Oxford, MS's Fat Possum Records will be released Apr. 14. This will be the band's sophomore full-length release, and its third release since 2009. A couple of weeks ago, the band put up 10 previously released tracks under the title Exhume, and you can grab that compilation for free (with an opportunity to tip the band) over at noisetrade.com/futurebirds. In other news, the heavy-touring group has a string of February dates lined up with Vermont's Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, after which the 'birds will go their own way for a while. Expect many more dates to be announced via facebook.com/futurebirds and futurebirds.com.

Mirror, Mirror: Back on Jan. 11, the mothertruckers in The Powder Room put up an eight-track live recording of a show from the Caledonia Lounge in November of last year. It can be downloaded at thepowderroom.bandcamp.com. Sloan Simpson, the man behind the stellar repository of live recordings at southernshelter.com, is responsible for the audio, and it's really a fine way to give the band a whirl before convincing your significant other to sludge through yet another Valentine's Day rock show. This year, that show is The Powder Room, Muuy Biien, Vincas and Shaved Christ at the 40 Watt. In case you didn't catch it, this happens Thursday, Feb. 14. Sheesh, do I have to do everything here? Follow up on your own via facebook.com/powderroomga.

Come Again: Mikey Dwyer has re-lit the fire under his band The Starter Kits. Members Jamie Coulter and Dan Orchik each had children recently, and Dwyer's been busy as hell mixing sound at the 40 Watt. But he's kept at it even through last year's seeming dormancy, working on a new album and, most recently, spending time with locals Asa Leffer and Neil Golden (Golden Brown, Spirit Hair) to complete the recordings. Kyle Spence (Harvey Milk) is slated to handle the album's mixing in April, and the new LP, estimated for release later that month, is titled Pretty Girls.

Every Little Counts: Singer-songwriter and troubadour Lera Lynn is one of the hardest working people in this business we call Athens music. She spent most of 2012 touring, and when she and her band finally took a breath in December, they entered a studio in Los Angeles, knocked out 14 new songs and started crafting a new album. Currently in the mixing process for the new, as-yet-untitled LP, Lynn sent word about a fundraising project to facilitate its release. She's using the Pledge Music platform, which hasn't really been used a lot around here, so check it out at pledgemusic.com/projects/leralynn. The project was launched just a couple of weeks ago and was wildly successful in only its first few days, with half of Lynn's goal met in less than a week. There's no way to tell what her total goal is, though, because Pledge Music doesn't reveal that for any of its hosted projects. All you can do is look at the project page, read about the incentives available and go with God. Another thing that distinguishes Pledge Music from other fundraising platforms is that the artist receives only 75 percent of funds raised until such time as her project is completed and uploaded to the site. A portion of funds raised above her goal will go to Nuçi's Space. For all other information, please head to leralynn.com.

Get Inside: The twin horrors of crafting and zombies will take over Little Kings Shuffle Club on Thursday, Feb. 14, AKA Valentine's Day. The Indie South Fair has teamed up with the Zombie Prom for an entire afternoon and night of stuff. From 4 to 9 p.m., the fair will present “Handmade Lovers: A Valentine's Affair,” which will feature DJ ZZ Ryder spinning tunes as patrons shop for goodies, get their photo snapped in a photo booth and grab a quick massage. (It's kind of a full-service concept.) At 9 p.m. the Zombie Prom happens, featuring performances from the quickly rising—pun totally intended—Monsoon, The Humms and Athens' own tribute to The Cramps, De Lux Interiors. The craft show is free, but the prom costs $3. Oh, and the organizers are encouraging everyone to wear costumes. So, you know, do your thing.