Progressive bluegrass is inherently demanding music, requiring technical mastery and creative vision. The best in the genre—whether it’s the original pioneers like David Grisman, Sam Bush, and Béla Fleck; modern innovators like Nickel Creek and Sierra Hull; or rising stars such as Mile Twelve and Shadowgrass—share a rare ability to make the complex feel clean, fluid, and effortless.

From the ancient Greeks to medieval court jesters to modern late night talk show hosts, taking comedic jabs at those in power can be as persuasive as a sword. Retired legendary rodeo clown and now musical satirist Sloppy Scales has assembled a world-class band of musicians to create his debut album This Machine Mocks Fascists: The Sloppy Scales Songbook that's released today. It's a hilarious Latin countrypolitan blues-rock bulldogging of America’s far-right politics. It’s refreshingly incendiary in its raw condemnation of injustice.

The 47th Kennedy Center Honors shone a spotlight on the best of American performing arts, celebrating the achievements of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, iconic American rock band the Grateful Dead, blues-rock singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, jazz trumpeter and composer Arturo Sandoval, and the Apollo Theater — the first venue ever to receive the prestigious honor. The star-studded event, hosted by Queen Latifah, was taped on December 8 and will air on CBS on Sunday, December 22, at 8:30 p.m.

Today, legendary roots star Taj Mahal was announced to be honored at the Recording Academy®’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony, receiving a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside fellow honorees Frankie Beverly, The Clash, Dr. Bobby Jones, Prince, Roxanne Shante, and Frankie Valli. The ceremony celebrating the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award, and Technical GRAMMY® Award recipients will return during GRAMMY® Week on Feb. 1, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

Cool Cool Cool, the seven-piece powerhouse known for their electrifying fusion of funk, house, and R&B, is starting 2025 with a bang. Following the release of their fiery single "Made Ya Look" on November 8, 2024, the band unveils "Dynamite" on January 3, 2025. Both tracks showcase the group's dynamic energy, female-led vocals, and groove-laden sound, delivering messages of empowerment, self-discovery, and confidence.

The Singles