The fifth annual Lockn’ Festival on Thursday, August 24th got underway under partly cloudy skies after a cold front moved through the area the night before. The resulting forecast for the four-day nearly non-stop festival is for high temperatures in the low 80’s and lows at night near 60F, a rain free forecast perfect for festival goers. Many festival goers arrived early on Wednesday to set up campsites and were greeted with a much more organized festival than past years.

The still-unfolding saga of Hurricane Harvey’s devastating blows to coastal Texas and beyond has greatly saddened the staff and board of Old Settler’s Music Festival. Like many others, the festival is helping with disaster relief efforts by donating $5,000. Half is going to the Central Texas Food Bank; Caldwell County Emergency Services will help determine how to distribute the other half. Old Settler’s is making its new home just east of Lockhart in Caldwell County, which is among dozens of Texas counties declared disaster areas by Gov.

Today, acclaimed New Orleans-based future funk collective Naughty Professor released the live studio video for “Mirrors,” off of their new album, Identity “Mirrors” features the smooth alternative soul vocals of Cole DeGenova set to the conga-influenced stylings of guest drummer Alexey Marti. Also featured is The Revivalists’ David Shaw on background vocals.

Through the years, there are many songs that take us to another place, that fuel our creativity and lighten our hearts. Jack Tempchin, the multi-platinum songwriter for Glenn Frey and The Eagles, has written many of those hits. He is responsible for the lyrics that have become emblazoned not only within us as individuals, but in our culture as well. Jack wrote the songs we’ve all danced and sung along to; “Peaceful Easy Feeling”, “Slow Dancing”, “The One You Love” and who can forget, “You Belong To The City” from the Miami Vice TV soundtrack.

Dressed in black, like his collaborator Carlene Carter’s famous dad, Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp wasted no time getting in tune for his second Ravinia performance, surrounded by a smoke machine and a background of scrawled graffiti.

Today, TheBigWonderful (TBW) reveals the lineup for Everyone Orchestra’s headlining Oktobergrass set. Hitting the stage on Saturday, September 30th at 6pm for TBW After Party, Everyone Orchestra conducted by Matt Butler will feature Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon), Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff (Lettuce), Dave Watts and Gabe Marvin (The Motet), Chuck Jones (Dopapod), Todd Stoops (RAQ), Megan Letts (Mama Magnolia), Ashley Niven (Tiger Party) and Austin Zaletel (Euforquestra). TBW After Party is open to all guests who have purchased BEERFEST or BAZAAR tickets.

Exactly two years since its release, the debut, self-titled album from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats has officially been certified GOLD, signifying sales of 500,000 albums in the U.S., according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The band’s hit single, “S.O.B.” has also reached the GOLD sales mark in America. Additionally, the Stax Records release has earned global certifications in Canada (Platinum album + single), the U.K.

Chris Gantry's music was always stylistic fusion: his 1967 album debut Introspection sounded a little bit folk, a little bit pop and only a little bit country, with smooth melodies and verdant string charts. But the 60s were afoot, and by the time of Chris' second LP in 1970, Motor Mouth, his approach had radicalized into a wide-eyed, hard-edged delivery. The critics dug it, and Chris played on Johnny Cash's TV show, but the next Gantry record didn't appear for five more years.

On October 13th, longtime Pokey LaFarge sideman Ryan Koenig will take his long-anticipated step onto the center stage with the release of his debut album, Two Different Worlds, via St. Louis label Big Muddy Records.