On Friday June 12, at around 9:25 I walked into Ashkenaz on San Pablo Ave, in Berkeley, to the sounds of the Dead Guise playing their opening set of acoustic Grateful Dead covers, in a style similar to the Grateful Dead’s early 80’s acoustic albums Reckoning and Dead Set.

The 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival, to be held July 17th - 19th in Chicago's Union Park, is closing in, and the schedule is now officially set! Plans can be made, airline tickets bought, and squeaky bicycle wheels greased.  Also, Sunday tickets are now sold out! There is still a limited quantity of Friday and Saturday tickets available, and they can be purchased here.

The return of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts' biennial guitar festival Ellnora | The Guitar Festival at Krannert arrives September 10-12, 2009. This newly renamed, three-day, round-the-clock guitar extravaganza will emerge with over 30 guitarists, scores of musical collaborators, innovative engagement events, 11 free performances, and global perspectives on all things guitar.

The 3Gs ('aka Grateful Garcia Gathering), is returning back to the Camp NCN Venue in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin July 30th though August 2nd 2009 where it all began over 6 years ago! A Grateful place where Garcia fans will be Gathering! It also marks the celebration of Jerry Garcia's 67th Birthday, plus the 14th Anniversary of Jerry's untimely passing.

Summer is almost here and this year’s 10,000 Lakes Festival is just over a month away, taking place July 22-25 in Detroit Lakes, MN.  Leading up to this year’s event, two of the 10,000 Lakes Festival’s headliners are releasing highly anticipated new albums in June with Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey and The GooGrux King out June 2 on RCA, and Wilco’s Wilco (The Album) out June 29 on Nonesuch.