The inaugural BeachLife Nights, a two-day “concert in the sand” presented on October 18 and 19 along the Redondo Beach waterfront, was an unmitigated success. A boutique version of the grander BeachLife Fest, which typically takes place in May, it featured eight bands with a concentration on reggae/roots-influenced rock, including Michael Franti & Spearhead, Iration, Fortunate Youth, SOJA, English Beat, and Anuhea.

What makes a great festival? Great bands are essential. A beautiful venue with plenty of space to spread out? That’s a bonus. And let’s not forget about vendors with delicious food and unique items to explore. But perhaps most importantly, a great festival has a spirit of community and a setting so inviting you’d visit even without a festival. Enter Bluegrass Island Music Festival in Manteo, North Carolina—probably the best festival you haven’t heard of, until now.

“You might say ‘Second Best’ was a song 30 years in the making,” says Aaron Burdett of his new single for Organic Records — his first release since 2022’s “Denver Plane,” which dropped shortly after he joined the award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers. Listeners with good memories will recall that the Rangers were name-checked in that humorous song, recorded just months before Burdett was offered the gig.

Goose's performance at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC, on October 25, 2024, was a poignant blend of artistry and altruism, held as a benefit for Hurricane Helene relief. In partnership with Conscious Alliance, the Connecticut-based rock band raised money in support of local organizations like BeLoved Asheville and Hearts with Hands, who are  providing immediate assistance to those in need following the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

Among guitar enthusiasts, there's a shared recognition of the Warren Haynes sound—a nod to a lifetime of musical achievement. Haynes has been captivating audiences for decades, with stints alongside David Allen Coe, The Allman Brothers, The Dead, Phil Lesh and Friends, the Dickey Betts Band, and his own band, Gov’t Mule. So, it's no surprise that whenever he announces a new album, it causes a stir.

Slash has been part of American music since 1981. It is hard to think of the '80s and '90s rock scene and not visualize the tall, muscular Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist in his trademark top hat. He has formed many bands and played many styles. His current album, Orgy of the Damned, is a collection of tried-and-true Blues powerhouse tunes played with some of the industry's heavy hitters. Each track is a marriage of the original song, the featured artist's own style, and Slash’s interpretation on guitar.

In the swirling, technicolor maelstrom that was Haight-Ashbury, there was a bassline. It wasn’t just any bassline, mind you. It was Phil Lesh’s—an intricate, weaving, electrified pulse that felt more like the heartbeat of the universe than just another instrument in a band. Now that pulse, that cosmic conductor, has drifted into the great unknown.

Today, we at Grateful Web are heartbroken to share the passing of Phil Lesh, founding bassist of the Grateful Dead, who left this world on October 25th, 2024. Phil was surrounded by his family, filled with love in his final moments. His contributions to music and the deep joy he brought to countless lives will remain forever. Our thoughts are with the Lesh family, and we ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time. A more detailed tribute will follow as we honor his incredible legacy.

Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, in partnership with Live Nation, is proud to announce the lineup for the 12th annual ocean-side festival, taking place April 4-6, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Named the Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) Festival of the Year, Tortuga will feature performances from a variety of acts including headliners Luke Combs, Jelly Roll and Keith Urban. Tickets go on sale next Friday, Nov. 1 at 10am EST.

Ashtyn Barbaree is an internationally touring Americana singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Fayetteville, Arkansas, noted for her timeless, smoky, and ethereal vocals and melodies. Barbaree’s music falls within the realms of indie-folk-Americana, and her dedication to creating heartfelt, emotionally resonant music continues to push boundaries and enchant audiences. Her latest album, Sent Through the Ceiling, is out now.