Island bred, Southern California based reggae sensation Common Kings has spent over a decade becoming one of the most decorated bands in the genre. Behind one of the cleanest voices in reggae, Jr King, the powerful percussion of Big Rome, the colorful antics of Mata, and the leadership of Uncle Lui, the band has risen to a status enviable by any musician, selling out some of the biggest stages in music with regularity.

Hermosa Beach reggae veterans Fortunate Youth has spent more than a decade relentlessly touring around the world promoting their music and message. Blending their South Bay attitude with reggae roots, their music maintains an assertive attitude while still promoting a welcoming, familiar aura in every song they write.

Few bands can say claim their work is as lyrically motivated as the Annapolis, Maryland band, Bumpin Uglies. Telling stories through their songs that are almost Dylan-esque, their music expresses a vulnerable side of their writer that leaves nothing to ambiguity.

When it comes to the Grateful Dead family, the old saying, “The  whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” is epitomized by Deadheads the world over. Yet we would be remiss if we didn’t understand that this is due to the quality of the parts, and their relationship with one another. The whole cannot be greater than its parts if the parts do not serve the whole. And in the end, this is why the Grateful Dead survives. We come for the music, and stay for the family. And what a family we have become.

Even for some lucky veteran concertgoers who can wear the T-shirt “I May Be Old but At Least I Got to See All the Cool Bands” and really mean it, the historic, 1960s acid-blues-rock-fusion band Cream may have been one of the few rare birds many of them still couldn’t catch in their original, late-‘60s flight.

In today’s times, with so much music out there, one can easily retreat into their known area, with their known bands, rather than take on the easily overwhelming journey of searching to find new music to their liking. Yet sometimes an album has the natural ability to float to the top of an ever-flooded market and shine forth.

Grateful Web is pleased to announce the long-awaited release of Railroad Earth’s All For The Song, unleashed upon the world April 22nd. No ordinary album, All For the Song was not only born out of friendship and heartache, but also sidetracked by a worldwide pandemic. “From the beginning, the vision was more than just the music,” states guitarist, singer, Todd Sheaffer in response to the loss of bandmate and multi-instrumentalist, Andy Goessling.

Based in the greater Philadelphia area, Jamie and the Guarded Heart bring their Telecaster driven, working class rock and roll to their latest full-length release, Funeral Song. The album features bandleader Jamie Salvatore’s honest vocals and vivid storytelling alongside co-bandleader and bassist Morgan Russo -- whose driving and melodic bass lines tie the band together.

Philadelphia’s alt-country and Americana quartet, The Miners, recently released their first full length album, Megunticook on Match-Up Zone Music. Named for the lake in Maine band leader Keith Marlowe has visited since he was a child, and the ten original songs capture the songsmith’s sincere, authentic take on life experiences and highlight tight vocal harmonies, driving guitars and the undeniable country sound of the pedal steel guitar.

Northwest String Summit is one of the most well-known festivals of the Pacific Northwest. It has deep roots in family and bluegrass that have extended, intertwined, and grown deep over the last 20 years. We had the opportunity to chat with one of the founders of the festival Skye McDonald about the festival and what the last 20 years have meant to him and the other founders.