MerleFest, presented by Window World, has wrapped up its 30th year, closing out with a raise-the-roof acoustic performance from Zac Brown Band. Early estimates show that from its start on Thursday, April 27, to its close on Sunday, April 30, aggregate participation over the festival’s four days exceeded 80,000 participants. MerleFest, held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs.

Raucous roots-rock singer Brent Cowles has released his debut EP, Cold Timestoday, via Dine Alone Records and Greater Than Collective. The EP is his first solo work to be released since his time as frontman of indie folk troubadours You Me & Apollo. Stream/Purchase the EP here. Cowles is playing a hometown EP release show at the Hi-Dive in Denver tonight. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/2pqwTui.

Almost twenty years ago, Steve Earle and I took a ride through South Nashville. It was down those mean streets that Steve had spent his famous “hiatus” in the early 1990’s mostly shooting dope. It was a crazy, unprecedented thing. Here was a guy – the supposed “new face” of outlaw country – who had already put out a near unbroken string of instant classics, including chart hits like “Guitar Town,” “Someday,” and the immortal “Copperhead Road.” And he just up and disappears, drops from sight for four years, making no records, playing no shows.

They traveled the world, they drank from the fountains of madness, they nibbled at the forbidden fruits of wisdom and laved at the shores of freedom. They are vagabonds, united by their wish to crush frontiers, tear down walls and open dams. Not only with their music, but also within our hearts. They will stop at nothing until they achieved this and absolutely refuse to take any prisoners whatsoever. Enter Gasmac Gilmore, sinners galore and the massively rocking heralds of a new age.

Polly O’Keary's eclectic blues style reflects her colorful history. She grew up in a log cabin with no electricity or plumbing and began her music career a teen working bars in Mexico. At 19 she had a husband in prison and an 8th grade education. Twenty years later, she was a bassist for touring blues bands, playing a total of four continents, was one of the Pacific Northwest’s most highly awarded blues artists, and was working toward a Ph.D.

Just days after the release of their new album, Sweet Crude stopped by the Mercury Lounge in the Lower East Side of Manhattan to play songs both old and new for an energetic crowd.