T his is the week to check out new music in Boulder. Ingrid Michaelson, Newton Faulkner and Wild Sweet Orange are all coming to town. Plus, you can also check out new music by Calexico at the Fox.

INGRID MICHAELSON

AT ETOWN

Michaelson will join forces with singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne at etown tonight. The Boulder Theater show is being held for locals and radio programmers coming to Boulder for the Triple A Music Summit. In breaking news, it was just announced that LaMontagne will be headlining Macky Auditorium on October 27.

If you don't recognize Michaelson's name, you do know her catchy radio hit "The Way I Am." The tune was originally used on an Old Navy commercial and it catapulted the young singer/songwriter into the mainstream media.

"We just tested the waters with the single 'The Way I Am'," said Michaelson. "I don't have a record label, so I'm not tied to any formula. I just want to continue to make good music. It's nice to be the captain of my own ship. In an unstable world, that's a nice thing to have right now."

Michaelson's indie approach to the music business has paid off. The artist has sold over 200,000 copies of her latest CD "Girls and Boys," and fans have purchased over 650,000 digital downloads of her songs. Michaelson has also been earning praise for her creative VH1 videos - her star's definitely on the rise. The singer's quirky sense of humor and amusing audience interactions has also charmed her fans.

It's been a busy spring and summer for Michaelson - she has appeared on the Hotel Café tour, opened for Dave Matthews and performed at the Mile High Music Festival. It was just announced that Michaelson will open for Jason Mraz's fall tour of Europe.

In more Michaelson news, the performer will be releasing the "Be Ok" EP this October. The project will feature the title track and new recordings of songs that have only been heard at the singer's live shows. Proceeds from the project will go towards an initiative to treat and eradicate cancer.

"I wanted 'Be Ok' to be a positive collection of songs," said Michaelson. "A lot of songs tend to be a little bit of a downer, so these four or five songs will be more uplifting. I'm very excited about this project It's been pretty hectic this year. The Hotel Café Tour was like touring with one big happy family, and it was pretty insane opening for Dave Matthews. That was the largest number of people I'd ever played for. I'm just taking everything in little bits."

NEWTON FAULKNER

If you've never been to a Newton Faulkner show, then get ready for a unique concert experience. The dread-headed Brit, wowed fans a few months ago at the Fox Theatre with his amazing multi-octave voice and percussive guitar-stylings. Faulkner is so good - he singularly sounds like a four-piece band.

The singer/songwriter has been touring behind his CD "Hand Built By Robots." While he's a multi-platinum record star in the U.K., he's still getting himself known in the U.S. - and he's only 23!

"I started gigging relentlessly when I was 16," said Faulkner. "My first band was a Green Day cover band, but then I really got into all this acoustic stuff. I love the fact that you can do that anywhere and you can use any part of the instrument."

Faulkner uses his guitar like a drum, and the percussive sounds help round out the musician's acoustic tunes. The artist is known for his string-tapping abilities, and he's a pretty decent songwriter, to boot. Add those factors together and you have one of the fastest-rising stars on both continents.

"I try to keep the songwriting, the singing and playing on the same level," said Faulkner. "I write lyrics about absolutely everything - they're about personal experiences and random concepts. I like writing songs that carry a message."

Faulkner's original songs are very unique pieces, but the best part of his Fox Theatre show was the artist's note-for-note replication of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." The musician captured every nuance of the song's intricate vocals and chords - only using his voice and an acoustic guitar. Here's to hoping he plays that song again for the Triple A show!

Faulkner plays the Fox Triple A showcase tonight with Calexico. He's also going to play a free set at Bart's CD Cellar Saturday afternoon.

WILD SWEET ORANGE AND CAROLYN WONDERLAND

One of the buzz bands of the Triple A Summit is Wild Sweet Orange. The Alabama band churns out jangly, guitar-driven, indie-rock tunes, and the group's touring behind its new CD "We Have Cause to Be Uneasy." The group plays a free show on the Hill Friday night.

You also want to check out Carolyn Wonderland at the Fox on Monday. The Texas blues artist just released a new CD that shows off her guitar skills and powerful vocals. Saturday, The Motet Trio's "Juno What?" tribute to 80s funk plays the Fox.