For nearly 17 years, Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music, expanding the traditional acoustic genre beyond its previously established boundaries by steadily pushing the envelope into the realms of rock n' roll and improvisation. YMSB has always played music of their own design, in the process attracting a devout coterie of fans that often resembles a tight knit family on an epic musical journey as Yonder traverses the country with an ever-rigorous tour schedule.

When Matthew Mirro received an electronic drum set for Christmas in 1985, he had visions of creating a song for a movie in the vein of Axl F. from Beverly Hills cop.  When the instrument proved to not be his thing, it was no surprise when his younger brother picked up the sticks and ran with them.  “Mikey was just born with it inside him”, Matt says.  “He was a natural.”

It had been nearly a year since Jeff Austin took the stage at George’s Majestic Lounge. This time he did so with his very own band and his very own style: electrifying. From the moment The Jeff Austin Band took over a red hot stage from openers, Old Salt Union, the energy never waned. Opening their set with the classic “Raleigh and Spencer” we knew immediately that Austin was there to please the fans.

On Valentine’s Eve, J2G Live strikes back with another installment of the Love Shack. This annual all-star jam is a concert that several people in the Denver area look forward to all year long. With so much music in town, it still sold out Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom due to its perfect planning, set list, and all-star cast of musicians. Super jams are always so much fun for the musicians involved, therefore, it is a blast for the audience as well. These guys love playing with one another.

In the snowy bleak winters of Indianapolis, there are few things that will make you leave the house, but there is one shining light every year when you think you may never be warm again, Dark Star Orchestra’s winter tour always makes a stop in Indianapolis to warm us up. There is no better way to warm your body and your soul, then some sweet Grateful Dead tunes. No matter what the weather is like outside, Dark Star Orchestra will always bring a smile to my face.

This past week, singer, songwriter and multi-faceted bass wizard Andrew Altman of Railroad Earth sat down with the Grateful Web to discuss the debut of his self-titled solo album, produced by JRAD’s Tom Hamilton. The animated conversation also veered into discussion about some of the similarities and differences between upright and electric bass, Railroad Earth’s electrifying performance at Red Rocks this past summer, and Altman’s major musical influences including Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon among many others.

Music fans listen up, the 12th Annual McDowell Mountain Music Festival presented by Deschutes Brewery proudly announces the lineup for 2015. The lineup is as follow: Widespread Panic, Passion Pit, Thievery Corporation, Phantogram, Portugal. The Man, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Beats Antique, Trampled by Turtles, StrFkr, Robert Delong, and Break Science.