How many more Dead tribute bands does the scene really need? There’s truly already plenty out there. Even if the music is structured to be boundless and open for continuation, it seems like bands could better serve the music with an improvisational spirit, but playing originals instead of Dead covers. Indeed it takes a special group of musicians who understand the music inside out and have the ability to diversify the extensive catalogue instead of simply parroting it.

Yet another beautifully sunny day graced us on Friday at Yonder Mountain String Band's Harvest Music Festival. Not a drop of rain and enough sunshine to charge cell phones (a rarity among the few most recent Harvest festivals.) There is such happiness floating through the campsites and stages, families are playing and wrangling children, and barbeque nachos are in my near future. Life is good.

People are rejoicing here on Mulberry Mountain this year. After 3 years of poor weather during Harvest Music Festival, it's finally a perfect weekend. Sunny, cool and breezy...I guess climate change is working in our favor right now. Folks are rolling in and setting up camp, but the crowd seems smaller this year, but it's only the second day - and a Friday, to boot.

At the SHEL/ Under the Willow show at the Abbey Chicago on September 24th,  the crowd bubbled over as Erin Donovan spoke of her Irish ancestors and really anyone’s ancestors.  She was describing one of the first songs the band wrote together as the crowd nearly overpowered her amplification.  The song is called Heritage and the music is undeniably spiritual.

In a repeat of last year’s memorable run, Kimock will bring an outstanding band of friends into Mill Valley’s Sweetwater Music Hall this coming December for three nights – Friday the 5th, Saturday the 6th, and Sunday the 7th – playing from the roots and R & B wing of Jerry Garcia’s repertoire.

Silver Wrapper and Purple Hat Productions have unveiled the schedule for the second annual Suwannee Hulaween hosted by The String Cheese Incident over Halloween weekend October 31 – November 2, 2014 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL.

Schedule: http://bit.ly/1sNjuH