Who the F*&% is Kyle Smith? Really? If you listen to today’s reggae and haven’t heard of Kyle Smith, get ready for a real treat. Kyle hails from Southern California, and his life story is built for writing great songs. His approach is simple: rip out your heart and put it on display for the world. It absolutely works. His fans know that he plays to thousands like he’s playing to five close friends—and he plays to five like it’s the biggest concert of the year.

Bluegrass is booming, with new fans discovering fresh groups every day, and Wheels North ranks among the finest of Chicago’s contributions. I recently had the pleasure of watching this progressive quartet light up the night.

On a picture-perfect summer evening in Boulder, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings brought their soulful, roots-infused harmonies to the Chautauqua Auditorium on June 16th, delivering an unforgettable evening to a captivated crowd. Set against the charming, rustic backdrop of Chautauqua—a venue that seems tailor-made for their music—the duo filled the space with songs both haunting and heartwarming, echoing gently through the historic wooden beams.

From the first note, DK Harrell makes it clear that Talkin' Heavy isn’t just a title—it’s a statement. The rising blues powerhouse and award-winning guitarist steps into the spotlight with a voice that’s gritty, guitar work that’s golden, and a sound that pays homage to the greats while carving his own path. This album is a bold declaration from an artist who’s not simply riding the wave of the blues revival; he’s helping lead it.

Dazzling the crowd with dreamy vocals, deft usage of an incredible array of instruments, spontaneously created loops, and a whole lot of passion, Australian singer-songwriter superstar Tash Sultana held the audience spellbound on June 11 at Hard Rock Live - Sacramento at Fire Mountain. 

Summer is here, and with it comes festival season. This year’s lineup included the re-emergence of an old favorite: the All Good Now Music Festival. After a ten-year break, the festival returned with Sound Tribe Sector 9 headlining and Lotus opening the pre-party at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

Spafford kicked off their summer tour with an electric performance at the Arrow @ Archer Music Hall in Allentown, an exclusive and intimate companion stage for the brand-new Archer Music Hall. The evening was a testament to the band’s improvisational prowess, crafting an experience that felt both expansive and deeply personal.

Bertha brought all the glitz, glamour, and Grateful Dead grooves to the Mishawaka Amphitheatre last night. Bertha is a Grateful Dead drag tribute band way beyond description; they have improvisational psychedelic musical skills that would make Jerry smile—and probably blush a little, too.

Last weekend, the Connecticut-based jam thrill ride known as Goose doled out two solid nights of high energy and creativity to the Colorado Front Range. Making their way back to Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre outside of Denver nearly one year after their debut run at the venue, the slimmed-down quartet brought everything fans have come to expect and more.

Dennis McNally’s The Last Great Dream (Da Capo, 2025) won’t help you recreate the 1960s – that ship has sailed. But McNally’s new book provides a clear-eyed, rear-view mirror exploration of the mid-20th century counterculture in the United States. From poetry to politics to psychedelic music, McNally covers a wide waterfront; The Last Great Dream is a wild ride full of factoids and true folk tales from far and wide. It’s a fun and informative read for anyone intrigued by the era. In certain circles, Dennis McNally is best known as the Grateful Dead publicist from the mid-1980s until several years after Jerry Garcia died. He’s also a published historian, with books under his belt about Jack Kerouac, the Grateful Dead, and the evolution of American culture.