Blackwater Music Festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, Florida, September 22- 24 was the lovechild of hippy fest and rave.  The perfectly loud flower child remix.

Six weeks ago I read about the Life Is Good Festival, that took place this past weekend in Canton, MA, and the two of me that are this Gemini started to have it out as they always do. Corporate sponsorship for a festival? Yes, but the corporation started out as a grass roots effort that is trying to give back now that they’ve made it. No late nights? That’s not whom this festival is geared to please; its family oriented, with an emphasis on kids that no festival I have ever considered going to has had.

Dear Austin City Limits,

Happy Anniversary!  Congratulations on making it to the big 1-0.  Your gifts of aluminum, diamonds, and tin are in the mail! Well, maybe.

MiddleWest Fest 2011 is Northern Illinois’ annual celebration of music & the arts.  September 9^th and 10^th employed the town plaza for an arts & craft market and also Sunday was an organized sidewalk sale. This being the second year, word is getting out that this is a good way to enjoy Northern Illinois and meet the new school populace as classes are in full swing.

Throughout Wilco’s two decades on the scene, the vacillating brain chemistry of frontman Jeff Tweedy has unfailingly fueled the band’s highflying creative trajectory.  Backed by the always vicious electric guitar chops of studio legend Nels Cline, the Chicago band’s 8^th studio LP The Whole Love -self-released on Wilco’s nascent dBpm Records- presents Tweedy at a critical juncture. 

In a classic Zach Deputy move, the one-man-band touring machine played 4 shows in two days at the Rockwood Music Hall September 13^th and 14^th in New York City. The venue was an intimate bar, with only a slightly raised stage for the artists, and a little dancing room for the listeners.

It is such a gem that the large family of bluegrass music still has the likes of Del McCoury around. And simply declaring that Del is “still around” is a gross understatement. More accurately would be acknowledging his linage and persona as being at a career-high peak moment. Not only has classic bluegrass music had resurgence in popularity over the last twenty years, but also many of the oldies of the genre are still hashing out quality work.

This was a night to be excited about. The night was filled with two heavy hitting, classic, amazingly talented bands. I was even thrilled to be going to the Paramount Theater in Denver to see this show because this underrated venue just does not have the caliber shows that it deserves. Every time I go there I am reminded by how magnificent it is. It was the perfect place for these two power houses to take the stage.