The Mother Hips release their SXSW performance schedule and a slew of spring dates, including the (((folkYEAH!))) presentation of the second annual Mother Hips Family Hipnic at the Fernwood Resort in breathtaking Big Sur, California on April 30 & May 1, 2010.

It was Jorma Kaukonen’s big San Francisco homecoming on his current tour with G.E. Smith. Kaukonen, who grew up to be an accomplished guitar player in Washington D.C., moved to San Francisco just in time for the psychedelic rock of the sixties, and was one of the founding members of Jefferson Airplane; San Francisco’s golden fleece of psychedelic rock in the 60s. Since Jefferson Airplane, Kaukonen’s career has taken a far left turn in another direction.

The Disco Biscuits have confirmed the first round of performers slated for Camp Bisco 9, the ninth annual three-day music and arts festival in Mariaville, New York this July 15-17, 2010.  The 50+ performer lineup at the multi-stage camping festival includes: The Disco Biscuits - All 3 Nights; LCD Soundsystem; Ween; Thievery Corporation; Girl Talk; Bassnectar; Pretty Lights; Major Lazer; The New Deal; Diplo; Aeroplane;

With vintage sounding indie bands being a flavor of the year, many bands are relying too heavily on their influences and failing to create something new. In contrast, The Mynabirds create a lively musical synergy on their debut album, What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood. They do not bash the listener over the head with their influences. Instead, they subtly incorporate soul and R & B arrangements into their pop rock sound.

I first became immersed into African music from the influence of an amazing musician, friend, and teacher Matt Wasowski currently with Mohammed Alidu and the Bizung Family, and Zivanai Masango and Pachedu and formerly with Jaka and Jyemo amongst other groups. Matt who plays mostly guitar, also dabbles and even builds with his students many African instruments such as the Mbira or thumb piano and Marimbas.

T Bird and the Breaks, the 10-piece Austin soul band releasing monthly original songs on real vinyl, again plays South By Southwest Music Festival & Media Conference, with its showcase slated for March 20.

Maceo Parker: his name is synonymous with Funky Music, his pedigree impeccable; his band: the tightest little funk orchestra on earth.

Everyone knows by now that he’s played with each and every leader of funk, his start with James Brown, which Maceo describes as "like being at University"; jumping aboard the Mothership with George Clinton; stretching out with Bootsy’s Rubber Band. He’s the living, breathing pulse which connects the history of Funk in one golden thread. The cipher which unravels dance music down to its core.

Road Trips 2, Number 2 finds us deep in the heart of Grateful Dead's prime. Presented in its entirety, this spectacular performance was captured at the Austin Municipal Auditorium on November 15th, 1971.   Highly revered for its improvisation and loaded with beautiful musical turns, the show features on this 2-disc set spotlights the Dead jamming through soon-to-be classics and dusting off their "Star" for the Lone Star State.