On November 20th, jamgrass instigators Yonder Mountain String Band made their way to the north country in Colorado for the final night of their extensive 5 week, twenty-three show, cross country fall tour. As expected, the quintet gave it their all to the regional Kinfolk, delivering a fantastic two-set throw down to a sold-out crowd at Washington’s in Fort Collins.

I’ve had a few whirlwind romances with festivals before, but I’m infatuated with you, dear Shoe Fest 2019. The understated red and gold signs off the highway invited us in and although I cannot find the right words to say, I shall try to express how I love thee. From the moment we entered Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see in Manteno IL, we knew that this would be a truly special Labor Day weekend. There was a twinkle in security’s eyes when they approved our non-firework no glass bottles camper ready wagon. They waved us through as if it were their job to bring the most satisfaction and to welcome us in, accepting us as another member to the Shoe Family Tribe. We quickly and easily parked, gazing out over the sea of cars in anticipation of the festival grounds.

I had the privilege of attending my favorite festival of the year for the fifth year in a row, and I am here to tell you about the best place on Earth. I would travel across several oceans to get to this festival. It is one that if you haven’t experienced, it should be placed on your bucket list. I’d like to start this tale of Dark Star Jubilee, held at Legend Valley, in Thornville Ohio, each Memorial Day weekend, with some words from the band, written in each schedule passed out:

#nevermissasundayshow

Sounded a general advisory from the official Yonder Mountain String Band's official Facebook page. Kinfolk swarmed from as far as 250 miles away to fill George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas last Sunday in anticipation for the country’s premier bluegrass/jam sensation.

Joe Marcinek Band (JMB) is proud to announce a series of midwest summer dates with special guests Allie Kral (formerly of Cornmeal), Janis Wallin (Family Groove Company), Steve Molitz (Particle) and Joe Hettinga (Strange Arrangement and Digital Tape Machine) with shows in Minneapolis, MN, Oshkosh and Milwaukee, WI, Bloomington, Crystal Lake and Crown Point, IL, and Indianapolis, Lafayette and Nashville, IN.Joe Marcinek Band is an ever evolving mi

The Joe Marcinek Band (JMB) is proud to announce a series of midwest dates with special guests Allie Kral (formerly of Cornmeal), Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band) and Joe Hettinga (Strange Arrangement and Digital Tape Machine) with shows at Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, MI on May 29th, The Mousetrap in Indianapolis, IN on 5/30, culminating with a free show at The Ale House Pub in Bradley, IN on 5/31.

Santa came early this year.  I must have been a good girl because Sept 6-9 2013, everything I asked for was left under the trees at Shoe Fest.  I had a taste of Nederland CO here at Camp Shaw in Manteno IL.   I saw some of the best dub stop music all weekend long.

The good old boys of Poor Man’s Whiskey, featuring former Cornmeal fiddler Allie Kral, kicked things up a notch at the Fox Theatre on Friday, June 14th with two full sets of northern California bluegrass-based rhythms. The show was billed as Poor Man’s Whiskey playing the music of Old & In the Way, an early seventies bluegrass super group featuring Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead notoriety, bluegrass pioneer Peter Rowan, and a who’s who of string pickers in David Grisman, Vassar Clements, and Jerry Garcia Band alumni John Kahn.

This past Memorial Day weekend marked the 13^th anniversary of Summer Camp Music Festival, and annual event that takes place at the celebrated Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois. Since the festival’s beginning in 2001, it has grown rapidly into a bona fide heavy-hitter event by delivering major artists of multiple genres year after year.

It is with a heavy heart that after 10 years with Cornmeal, we say goodbye to Allie Kral.  Her powerhouse presence on stage and musical chemistry with the band will be greatly missed.  We wish her the best in her musical endeavors and cannot thank her enough for the hard work and personal sacrifices she gave throughout her 10 years on the road. Cornmeal will be conducting a nationwide search for a fiddle replacement in the coming months and looking to get back on the road as soon as possible.