Leslie Mendelson’s studio performance of "Happy New Year" celebrates this important benchmark while providing the optimism we desperately need after a whirlwind of a year. There is both simplicity and complicatedness in Mendelson’s tune. The piano which is the only supporting instrument is straightforward and gentle, creating an underlying, welcoming calmness whereas the intricately resides in her voice and lyrics. She expresses melancholy in each of her notes, even though the song’s words are uplifting.

When I first heard John Hurlbut’s and Jorma Kaukonen’s acoustic album, The River Flows, my being instantly welled up to the sound, welcoming it like an ocean does a river. With tears filling my eyes, the quality of the music made me realize—There’s something about greatness that opens the soul to living. What was it that I was experiencing which caused me to think such things, to feel such sentiment? John and Jorma’s touch begs the asking.

The psychedelic, Hip Hop and Reggae genre-bending duo Space Kamp release their new single “Sunrays No Shade” on December 18th. The new single is the first release since their critically acclaimed and fan favorite album Electric Lemonade.
 

Nashville-based rock trio GOODING have released a new music video for "Crashing Down", the lead-off single from their new album, The Most Fire, which is due out December 31st. The Most Fire is a follow up to the band's recently released albums Mayday (August 21) and The Darkest of Hours (October 9) and is the third and final installment of Hymns for Revolution, a three-part concept album of dark, apocalyptic, and cinematic rock 'n roll.

Today, Eddie Vedder releases the five-song Matter Of Time bundle. Just in time for Christmas, he expands on the previously released two-track set and collects a series of acoustic songs and covers performed and recorded throughout 2020. He presents all of these tracks together for the first time in one comprehensive collection which also includes an acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen’s song “Growin’ Up.”

About 40 years after joining the original Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals & JGB delivered on December 20 two solid sets at a private, socially distanced performance. The gathering of a few dozen folks, mostly masked, took place on a bright, sunny afternoon in the small Sierra Nevada foothill community of Auburn, Calif. That the improbable, COVID-era show happened all was thanks to the tireless efforts of local concert impresario Scott Holbrook and his Keep Smilin’ Promotions.

Marble Eyes is a fresh new band that has formed amidst the pandemic. The band is a collection of national artists which include Eric Gould from Pink Talking Fish and Adrian Tramontano from Kung Fu. Based in Portsmouth NH, the group has made an impact during this challenging year with its soulful sound and brought joy to people across the country by creating brand new inspirational music.

Today, Nathaniel Rateliff and Elle King debut a surprise holiday tune commemorating 2020. “Xmas to Forget” was written by Rateliff and recorded five days ago in Denver with his band The Night Sweats and King. Fans can listen to/purchase the track here: https://found.ee/NRXmasToForget

Leslie Mendelson has shared a studio performance of "Happy New Year" (watch/share). Initially released as a single at the end of 2018 by the Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, Leslie was compelled to revisit the song as a send off to 2020, undeniably one of the most trying years in modern history.

Emerging artist Izzy Pollak has released It’s Never Too Early, an eclectic 5-song holiday charity EP.