North Coast Music Festival (NCMF) is thrilled to announce WIDESPREAD PANIC as the surprise headliner for this year’s festival! The legendary Southern rock jam band has remained in Pollstar’s Top 50 Tours of the Year for the past decade, and continues to be one of the most relevant touring entities on the live music scene after almost 30 years. 2015 marks a special year for the band as they announced the release of their first studio album in five years.

It was bound to happen that the San Francisco-based Brothers Comatose, one of the hottest bohemian bluegrass bands on the circuit would wind up pickin’ and grinnin’ from the Terrapin Crossroads stage at Phil Lesh’s lair in San Rafael, California.

“From death comes life and so on.”

I was honestly a bit wary of seeing my first Elephant Revival show sans Sage Cook. And I’m sure quite a few people felt that way. But most of me was excited to see what new journey the band was on with their new member Charlie Rose, playing a range of instruments and seamlessly adding his Rufus Wainwright-esque vocals on a number of songs. And like the lyrics above state, there’s a new life to Elephant Revival – one just as wonderful as I had hoped.

When you see The Chris Robinson Brotherhood in your town, which they’ll no doubt be visiting sooner than later, the former Black Crowes vocalist will likely be the most recognizable. That’s not what this band is about, however, as this is no patchwork group assembled to orbit a central star. This is a band in the truest sense, with five members sharing the stage and songs that have come together as an evolving unit over four-plus years.

DeadBeat, the area's premier Grateful Dead tribute band, returns to play their 10th Anniversary Show at The Bull Run on Friday, May 29th. With such a large catalog of music to draw from, DeadBeat has the opportunity to bring their own unique style to the music, and also honor the flavor and flow that was the showmanship of the Grateful Dead.

Guitarists will always be in demand. With anywhere from three or more projects in the works at any given time, Brooklyn’s Scott Metzger lives and breathes that sentiment. Most recently known for his work with Anders Osborne and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, his resume is affording him opportunities to branch out on his own.

Embarking on the June 16, 2015 release of their latest full-length studio album, Black Sheep (Frog Pad Records), Yonder Mountain String Band (YMSB) officially announces today its new band member line-up moving forward, which features the additions of violinist Allie Kral and mandolin virtuoso Jacob Jolliff.

With the 2012 release of Country, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) proved their musical identity to be as undefinable as their name. The Rochester, NY-based quintet was known as a reggae-jam band, relentlessly touring on the back of their debut album Slow Down (2006). Six years later, GPGDS released the Americana-themed Country which defied expectations for a reggae band's sophomore release.

The Forecastle Festival will host a wide array of separately ticketed late-night shows on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, 2015. The intimate, after-hours events will take place at the Mercury Ballroom, Headliners Music Hall, and the historic, 100-year-old Belle of Louisville steamboat.
 

Hot Tuna, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, tours this June and July bringing eclectic acoustic soul driving music to the USA. Hot Tuna's music has a certain intrigue, regardless of the note, which stems from a heartfelt, in-the-moment expression. It's a slice of Americana, part old-time blues, part psychedelic rock and roll. (www.HotTuna.com)

May 14  Dear Jerry, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, Jorma