Each year an armada of musicians, manufacturers, DJ’s and music lovers descends on Anaheim, California, for the annual NAMM show. The January trade show features a dizzying array of new equipment and a plethora of private and public concerts at nearby venues. But the most impressive bash each year has to be the “Gibson Live At The Grove: Featuring Music Legends New Icons.” The company takes over the 1700 seat City National Grove of Anaheim and converts it into a giant lounge with tables for 1200 guests.

“This is for you, Dad.” Devon Allman said this around 8:30 PM last Saturday night, with his face and first finger pointed up toward the sky. It’s hard to imagine what he, as well as the other two Allman Brothers relatives in The Allman Betts Band, must have felt like getting to perform to a packed crowd in the historic and legendary hall that his dad’s original band championed so many countless times over. 

“Guitarmeggedon!” That is one of the words used by Devon Allman to describe the sheer volume of talent and amplitude displayed at Denver’s Mission Ballroom on December 8th. The metropolitan’s newest venue played host to the Allman Family Revival, a conglomerate of the Allman Betts Band and a rotating stage of support that included 17 faces from the music world, including both well-known veterans and some new faces on the scene.

Award winning blues-rock guitarist Ally Venable will release her new CD, Puppet Show, on April 13 from Connor Ray Music. The Ally Venable Band consists of Ally - guitar and vocals; Elijah Owings – drums; and Bobby Wallace – bass. Special Guests on Puppet Show, which was produced by Rock Romano, Steve Krase (who also plays harmonica on the sessions) and Ally Venable, include guitarists Gary Hoey and Lance Lopez, as well as  keyboardist Eric Steckel.

Connor Ray Music announces the signing of 17-year-old blues singer/guitarist Ally Venable and will release her debut CD, No Glass Shoes, on July 22.