You may not know the name Leland Sklar but you almost certainly have heard his bass lines if you listened to rock radio in the last five decades.

Portland-based folk artist Eddie Berman has just announced ‘Broken English,’ a new album of campfire-worthy, cosmic folk rock, out January 21st via Nettwerk Records. Presciently written before the pandemic, the 11-song suite explores the precarious state of a world sinking deeper into isolation, and its tumultuous effects on our relationship to work, family, technology, and community.

Tom Scholz of Boston co-hosts Rock Classics Radio with Jenn on Apple Music Hits as he celebrates the 45th anniversary of the band’s eponymous album and takes listeners through the hits that inspired him, from The Kinks and Led Zeppelin, to Jeff Beck, Deep Purple, and more. He also talks about ‘Foreplay’ being Boston’s first complete work, and when he realized ‘More Than A Feeling’ was an impactful song in rock history.

Tom Scholz on wishing he could meet Jeff Beck

American Blues rock guitarist extraordinaire Jared James Nichols may not have huge name recognition in the pop music world but that may soon change abruptly. The young hard rocker with a heavy picking style was named as an official Global Ambassador for Gibson Guitars in June. Jared is one of three guitarists to be given this title, the other two being Slash and Dave Mustaine putting him in rarified company.

Electro-jam quintet Vintage Pistol is on a quest to make up for lost time this year with a stacked touring calendar that spans far beyond the Ozark Mountains from which they proceed. As self-proclaimed highway junkies, the thunderous rock outfit thrives in the whirlwind of dusty festival grounds and questionable roadside watering holes.

Artistic expression generally knows no bounds, and given Fritz Michel’s array of experience, that’s clearly the case. Born in France and based in NYC, he’s made his mark as an accomplished actor who’s shared his skills in film, television, and the stage. And now, as evidenced by his new single and video for “Look Out (Botticelli Girl),” Michel’s ambitions have expanded to include making music that’s articulate, intelligent and instantly accessible.

On Saturday, June 19th, the celebrated guitarist and songwriter Robert Randolph brought together a star-studded lineup of artists, influencers, activists and sponsors for the inaugural Juneteenth Unityfest. Taking place just two days after Juneteenth was signed into law as a federal holiday, this year’s celebration was especially joyous and served as a tribute to the breadth and depth of Black culture and Juneteenth as a uniquely American experience.

Alex Lifeson’s life has been relatively quiet the past six years. Since Rush’s final performance at the Forum in Los Angeles on August 1st, 2015, the lead guitarist and co-founder of the legendary rock band has spent time focusing on his hobbies and passions such as golf and painting, with little to no discussion on when, if at all, new music would be coming down the pipeline.

Luke Miller, aka Luke the Knife, known primarily for his vital role with Lotus, a multi-genre jamband, took the stage for his debut album release party at Club Vinyl last Saturday. The newly released album, titled Disco Nap, was produced solely by Luke Miller to set a perfect comprehensive sonic journey and ambiance for the club scene. It also allows listeners to dive deeper into the more tranquil and groovy tracks that are showcased throughout the album.

Colorado songwriter Jackson Melnick honors his acoustic roots, his interest in activism, and his abiding faith in humanity throughout his debut album, Abilene (Releasing 09.24.21). Although the arrangements draw on traditional bluegrass, Abilene is at heart a songwriter’s record. Across these 10 tracks, Melnick combines his reverence for bluegrass with a lyrical point of view that is both mystical and topical.