The Seattle-based non-profit Melodic Caring Project has been bringing personalized live music performances by a wide range of touring artists directly to the hospital beds of sick children in isolation or quarantine since 2011. With the COVID-19 pandemic putting live concerts on indefinite hold, the 501c3 charity has been reaching out to an army of music artists, many participants in previous MCP streaming events, to help them create original content to deliver to their community and beyond.

Friday at Wakarusa began with sunshine and high fives. It was an awesome day. Despite the fact I put on sunscreen 5 times, I still got a sunburn. But I got to see a fair amount of music and found a lot of friends I had been hoping to see. Overall, great day!

BottleRock held its inaugural festival last weekend at Napa Valley’s Expo Fairgrounds under a scorching sun, but the heat wasn’t enough to keep the crowds away. Downtown Napa Valley became BottleRock Central, swarming with crossing guard-policemen and retailers pushing their goods, and in many cases, their parking lots. Nearby neighbors set up pizza and lemonade stands and signs dissuading BottleRockers from urinating on their lawns.

This year seems to have introduced more new music festivals than ever. In a sea of established fests and emerging talent, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. BottleRock Napa, however, seems to have it all figured out. (Wine Enthusiast Magazine has already named it one of the top five music and wine festivals in the nation!)

Nine-piece Brooklyn based rock / soul / blues unit Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds have announced a U.S. tour this Fall supporting Seattle soul man Allen Stone. The tour will begin on September 24 in Philadelphia, PA and run until October 14 in Dallas, TX.

Allen Stone has added nine dates to his North American headline tour. The fall outing, which will feature special guests Tingsek, Sister Sparrow, Yuna, and Selah Sue on select dates, kicks off on September 24 at Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live.