Where is Joe Samba? The New England-born singer, songwriter, guitar master, and general musical phenomenon is hard to pin down, literally. First, there is his chameleon-like ability to move seamlessly from job to job and place to place. Are you looking for Joe, the touring musician? Good luck! He is seemingly always on tour or playing somewhere, usually far from where he was the night before. Or perhaps you’re looking for Joe the father? His family is always with him.

With aspirations to become the undisputed torchbearers of modern psychedelic funk, the Colombian trio BALTHVS has emerged in recent years with an unparalleled and consistent string of musical releases, seizing every opportunity to showcase their passion and talent in every note. Known for their expansive, free-flowing style and soulfully gripping hooks, the band has been selling out venues worldwide on their latest tour.

Fruition, the dynamic five-piece American Roots band from Portland, Oregon, is gearing up for an exciting chapter. With their new album How to Make Mistakes on the horizon, an extensive American tour, and a special appearance at the Musical Sojourn in Buenos Aires—all kicking off in August—the band is poised for a busy and exhilarating stretch ahead. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mimi Naja, the band's co-founder, singer, and songwriter, to discuss the new record and the upcoming tour.

Hailing from Bucks County, PA (not too far from Philadelphia), R.P. Mixon releases his second single, "Shades," a country-infused psychedelic love song with a Jerry Garcia-inspired guitar style and hints of Country & Western twang in his singing voice. The song begins with a groovy guitar riff that sits neatly between early '70s Jerry and Déjà Vu-era CSNY, cascading into an Americana-Southern-Rock vocal that would feel at home on stage supporting Josh Ritter or Jason Isbell at the Troubadour.

Twisted Pine’s new album Love Your Mind is due out this October 2024. Hailing from the Boston bluegrass scene, Twisted Pine has a packed festival schedule all summer long until Twisted Pine rolls into Raliegh, NC on September 24 & 25th for IMBA’s Bluegrass Ramble. 

BERTHA: Grateful Drag, the world's first all-drag Grateful Dead tribute band, recently played their first festival—the 2024 Newport Folk Festival. Grateful Web had the opportunity to learn more about them.

GW: How did you come up with the idea?

From the furthest depths of the galaxy, Chicago-based funk phenomenon Hot Like Mars has been sending shockwaves across the music scene lately. Possessing a refined blend of soul, funk, and high-octane dance music, Hot Like Mars puts on a masterclass of musical patience, excellence, and enthusiasm, carefully curating their sounds into an explosive array of musical prowess.

As we navigate our way through a world filled with increasing moral ambiguity, Australia’s Xavier Rudd's work serves as a constant reminder to act with love in mind. A musician as well as a philosopher, he has been creating art that prompts existential exploration for several decades. Grateful Web got to sit down with Rudd for a few minutes before his performance at this year’s Cali Roots festival to speak with him about a range of topics.

A project that built its name on romanticizing the idiosyncratic, East Coast Alternative outfit Little Stranger has made waves as of late with their slice-of-life lyrics and charismatic presence. With an eclectic pool of influences and a mastery of all things quirky, their work is a much-needed reminder to take a beat and embrace the peculiar nature of the world.