Festivals

As Monterey woke up for day two of Cali Roots, there was a heavy overcast throughout the neighborhood. Thankfully clouds and thick fog are nothing new to reggae enthusiasts, and the festival proceeded without missing a beat. Day two was a day which focused on roots, both of Reggae and heritage. The artists that played Saturday had a much more thematic tie to family bonds, both those that we are born with, and the family we chose as we go through life.

The last day of a festival is always bittersweet, but fans came to the fairgrounds early to take in as much of Cali Roots as they could. Day three began as festival goers trickled in just as New Kingston wrapped up their sound check. Walking through the gates of the fairgrounds with this live music already playing earlier than usual proved an uplifting and exciting experience to the festival. Starting the day with New Kingston set a positive tone for the rest of the day.

Memorial Day weekend, Monterey Fairgrounds played host to the ninth annual, three-day reggae movement known as Cali Roots. In the three days, Grateful Web was at Cali Roots, there was one word we just kept hearing over and over again; “Homecoming.” From fans we met in the crowd to artists we spoke with behind the scenes, it seemed to be the magic word that everyone could relate to. But to say Cali Roots is a homecoming would be if anything, an understatement.

The 6th annual Spread The Word Festival, showcased some of Colorado’s most diverse and eclectic talent, spanning from ferociously fast picking and heavy-hitting bass decibels, to smooth funky jams and everything in between. Spread across five stages, Denver’s Fox Street Compound morphed into a psychedelic playground for fans to enjoy artists, food trucks and tunes galore.

The 8th Annual Guitarfish Music Festival is happening July 26-29 at the Cisco Grove Campground near Truckee, CA. The four-day festival is an intimate camping experience for music lovers made extra special by its magical setting in the Sierra Nevada.  

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is pleased to announce additions to the 3rd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival which takes place Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14 at the magical Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. Additions include Oteil & Friends, Leftover Salmon, Bruce Cockburn, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Shinyribs, Dustbowl Revival, Jon Stickley Trio, The Grass Is Dead, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, David Gans as Artist-at-Large, and more!

Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment in association with the Illinois Blues Coalition is proud to announce the initial lineup for the 30th Annual Peoria Blues & Heritage Music Festival this Labor Day Weekend! The 2018 lineup will feature PBHFest veterans Buddy Guy, Robert Cray Band, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, as well as welcoming first time performers Ben Folds and Billy Strings. Many more artists will be announced soon!

Dropping a first phase lineup that set the festival world abuzz, the 5th Anniversary edition of Imagine Music Festival has released the full roster of performers for its 2018 event, which returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway in Atlanta, Georgia on September 21st through 23rd. Once viewed as a burgeoning new festival filling a void in the Southeast, Imagine Music Festival has positioned itself as one of the nation’s most anticipated electronic dance music events, as well as one of the last remaining of the independent festivals.

These are the tall tales told by campfire light, under the moon just slight, and peppered with lasers dancing overhead.  The scissor-like sidestep from reality, Summer Camp sizzled brighter than ever this year. There was Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with a rainbow net, a revival of the old 1992 hip-hop days, and a field full of living flowers being watered by the sun.  2018’s installment of Summer Camp had musical notes formed by clouds for miles.

Throughout opening day of the festival, the Chicago Blues Festival will celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Chicago-based Delmark Records and the independent label’s founder, Bob Koester. At 7:30 p.m., the festival will offer a lineup honoring 65 years of Delmark Record’s current and legendary blues artists in honor of legendary Delmark artists.

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