October 2015

Hot Buttered Rum lives for a good time, and a mindful recklessness settles in whenever these five guys step on stage. From Anchorage to Miami, the group’s onstage chemistry fuels the love fest that is a live Butter show. Rooted in the trajectory of west coast bluegrass, Hot Buttered Rum plays what has been described as California’s own acoustic music.

Los Angeles based producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist; David Block has a great deal to look forward to. The perennial performer, who has been known since childhood as the “family prolific creator”, will hit the road this fall with a number of collaborative releases, featured remixes and a brand new live project set for a mid-winter launch.

A 2 night panel discussion and musical journey featuring Grateful Dead tribute band The Golden Rose, and covering the historical, social, archival and cultural influences and aspects of the Grateful Dead with long-time members of the Grateful Dead extended family. Joining the panel over the weekend will be:
 
1. Carolyn "Mountain Girl" Garcia-Queen of the Scene (Friday night)

Colorful costumes, joyous carousing, comfortable camping, and kick-ass jammy music of many genres came together nicely at the fifth annual Railroad Earth-hosted Hangtown Halloween Ball Music Festival.

20 years ago Producer Henry K gathered reggae music’s top talent to celebrate the Grateful Dead, one of rock’s most beloved and prolific bands. The result was Fire on the Mountain “Reggae Celebrates the Grateful Dead volumes 1 and 2,” critical and commercial successes that spent more than 2 years on top of the Billboard Reggae Charts.   On November 20th, 2015, Red Hillz Music will be releasing a 20th anniversary edition of this historic project.

I had no idea what to expect with John Mayer on lead taking on the biggest shoes to fill in music -- but I made it to Dead & Company’s first show and entered Albany’s Times Union Center with an open mind.