Fantasy Records, a division of Concord Bicycle Music, is pleased to announce the vinyl edition of the acclaimed MERL SAUNDERS/JERRY GARCIA Keystone Companions: The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings, out October 28^th.

“Never trust a prankster,” a motto of the Acid Test-producing Merry Pranksters back in the 1960s, was apropos on Friday, at Bob Weir’s inaugural Campfire Tour show in San Rafael, California. In support of Weir’s new countrified, ballad-heavy album, “Blue Mountain,” all signs pointed to a live show in which Weir’s new band would mosey on through a series of sparse, slow-paced odes.

For the first time, the earliest known studio recording by Jerry Garcia will be released on November 11 through Round Records/ATO Records. In 1962, Garcia and his folk/bluegrass quintet The Hart Valley Drifters went into Stanford University’s KZSU studio in Palo Alto, CA to record a session for the stations program Folk Time (also the album’s title). The lost session resided in a closet for nearly 50 years before the reels were unearthed in 2008 by former Stanford student Ted Claire, who produced and recorded the original session.

Steve will be joining Bob Weir's Campfire Tour on guitar and lapsteel (he may even dust off some pedal steel for this special occasion). After being a part of the recording session for Blue Mountain and also appearing on the new record, it's an honor for Steve to also participate in the tour. 

See you on the road!

TOUR DATES

September 30th, Bob Weir's first solo CD in ten years will be available for purchase. Titled Blue Mountain, this 12 track release is a personal collection of music inspired by the ranch stories and fireside songs of Bob’s youth, told with wisdom and heart. Weir will be touring nine dates with Aaron Dessner, Bryan Devendorf and Josh Kaufman.

Purchase at:

http://bobweir.net/#bluemountain

"Blue Mountain" video:

Holly Bowling has announced the release of Better Left Unsung, a collection of solo classical improvisations and arrangements of The Grateful Dead, due December 9 on Royal Potato Family. A classically trained pianist, Bowling possesses one distinction that sets her apart from similarly studied musicians—a devotion to improvisational rock music and the vision to painstakingly transcribe “jam” masterworks note-for-note, arranging them for solo piano and improvising upon what was already wri

A big heart felt thank you to Peter Shapiro and Dave Frey, and all the staff and volunteers who helped to make Lockn’ Festival 2016 the best one yet! The music brings the love out of us all and flowing into the open air like the chem-trails! It's not as easy to see, but it sure is easy to feel and fun to capture. Thank you, Nelson County for opening your community to our community for this fantastic experience.