Dobro, mandolin, guitar, musical exaltations and vocal flourishes – and much more – lilted through the autumn-painted trees and into the ears and souls of some colorful attendees at the fairgrounds in the Sierra Nevada foothill town of Placerville, California, at the ninth annual Hangtown Music Festival (formerly the Hangtown Halloween Ball).

This November marks the 20thAnniversary of the Django Reinhardt NY Festival at Birdland Jazz Club, produced by Pat Philips-Stratta and her late partner, conductor Ettore Stratta. The festival, which began in 1999, has featured many talented musicians over the years who embody the gypsy jazz style of music by the great Django Reinhardt. Of these was guitarist Dorado Schmitt.
 

On Sunday, November 3, 2019, Tom Constanten, Grateful Dead keys player from late 1968- early 1970, brought his Live Dead ’69 celebration to the Ardmore Music Hall just outside of Philadelphia.  Comprised of Slick Aguilar (Jefferson Starship/David Crosby Band) and Mark Karan (RatDog/Other Ones) trading spots on lead and rhythm guitar, Robin Sylvester (RatDog) on bass and long-time Dead collaborator Ezra Lipp on drums.&nbsp

Emerging band Cave Flowers deliver their brand new self-titled album. This eleven-track album gives the listeners a mix of rock and country, creating the perfect combination of uplifting guitar riffs and storytelling lyricism.

Take a 15-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Dobro Player of the Year and a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy who made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 11, and you have Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, a powerhouse acoustic duo that has electrified the acoustic music scene.

The Infamous Stringdusters have had quite the substantial last week or so, starting off with their Halloween escapades at the beginning of last weekend in which they were able to jam with none other than G. Love of Special Sauce. This past Monday night, the band was featured as part of the incredible celebration What The Night Brings, the musical tribute to the late mandolin master Jeff Austin, with whom of course The Stringdusters had befriended and performed beside many times.

The road to LOCKN' 2020 has officially begun with today’s announcement of next year’s very special edition of the beloved camping festival. Set for June 19-21, 2020, the 8th annual LOCKN’ will be an all-star celebration of Phil Lesh’s upcoming 80th birthday, taking place as always at Infinity Downs & Oak Ridge Farm, LOCKN’s 387-acre property located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Arrington, VA.

In the darkest of times while the world faces political and environmental uncertainties of grand proportions, the responsibility of artists to reflect on the state of the world becomes undeniable. The Stone Foxes -- with Shannon Koehler at the helm -- set a piercing depiction of greed, deception, and loss with a new collection of epic rock anthems on their upcoming EP, Gold (Release Date: February 28, 2020).