The National Jazz Museum in Harlem continues to offer a wide range of top quality free programming and affordable concerts from jazz’s most celebrated musicians, educators and historians. This May, NJMH will take a closer look into different mediums of storytelling with fresh new programming that approaches the theme from several angles ranging from conversations to performances to film to poetry slams!Harlem Speaks, our flagship public program of oral histories, is taking a new direction this month as we present our first ever poetry slam!

Seven-time GRAMMY winning trio Lady Antebellum will light up national TV over the next two weeks with performances spotlighting tracks from their upcoming fourth studio album GOLDEN out May 7.Release day will begin with appearances on Good Morning America and The Ellen DeGeneres Show and end with an exclusive and intimate release show at New York City's newest hot spot The McKittrick Hotel for the Lady Antebellum GOLDEN Release Show presented

Jorma and Vanessa Kaukonen will open the doors to The Fur Peace Ranch Center for Art & Culture, Meigs County, Ohio in a grand celebration bringing the country the Psylodelic Gallery and the Psylodelic Sit-In.  The event will shine a spotlight on the art and installations at the new Psylodelic Gallery and provide a prime opportunity for area representatives to echo the inspirations and goals of the psychedelic era. Big Brother and the Holding Company will perform at 8 p.m.

The Church Of Sunday Morning Festivities at MerleFest welcomes new and returning members.  While the Church only meets once a year, this single sermon will keep your mind and heart full of love for your neighbors.

My issue with the whole trance fusion style of free-music is that it lacks a fundamental separation from what a DJ could compile in a two hour set. Only a few select bands hold the torch as progressive and risky enough to truly hold my attention. Above all of the one-hit DJs and livetronica wannabees is bands like Lotus, STS9 and The Disco Biscuits.

At MerleFest, the glass, red plastic cup, coffee mug or Mason jar is always half full. Making sure the glass stays half full, the presenters of MerleFest provide music industry award winning performers as well as musicians with the skills to win the hearts of fans, generation after generation.