Some people attend church on Sunday. My church on Sunday was Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The pastor: Phish. Sixteen years Uniondale, New York, has been waiting for the boys from Vermont to make a triumphant return to the arena. “Phans” braved the elements outside to see what the guys had in store for this Sunday evening in Long Island.

I was ten years old when the boys from Vermont unleashed what we know it as today…Island Tour ’98.  Four shows spanning two states in the northeast. Long Island in New York and Providence in Rhode Island. But I’m sure many of you already know that. As Phish wrapped up a raging summer tour, everyone was already in full throttle with New Year’s rumors and possible fall tour plans. As the time got near, my mission was clear, and a 6-night run of shows was announced. A 3.0 island tour if you will.

The Fourth Annual Runaway Open was held Saturday, August 31st, at Willis Case Golf Course in Denver, Colorado. From 84 registered players, we had 5 last-day cancellations and 3 no-shows - but 6 called-in from a waiting list and 1 walk-up, for a balance of 83 players on the course. Everyone had a great time raising thousands of dollars for music education, and we're finally reporting back on the tournament results.

It was that time of year again for the annual Bourbon and Beyond Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. This time in a new location, at the Kentucky Exposition Center fairgrounds it was 3 fantastic days of music, food and more!

It all started in the Haight Ashbury over 50 years ago: from the psychedelic ballroom bands of the late 1960's, the Grateful Dead emerged and went on to have a robust 30-year career with Jerry Garcia and another 24+ years post-Garcia. Rather than sticking with a scripted set list, the band flowed into the unfamiliar territory of improvisational concert celebrations that broke down the boundaries between musician and audience.

A limited number of tickets are available now at http://oysterhead.shop.ticketstoday.com/. The ticket request period will end Thursday, October 17 at 9am MDT. Travel packages will also be available and will go on sale Wednesday, October 16 at 12pm MDT. Full details are available here. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Saturday, October 19 at 10am MDT. For more info click here.

The Novato Theater Company’s second show of its 100th season is Sweeney Todd, a co-production with Theatre-at-Large. This musical thriller, opening on October 25 and running until November 17, is directed by Kim Bromley and Bruce Vieira with musical direction by Judy Wiesen and choreography and movement by Marilyn Izdebski.

The musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler is based on the 1973 play Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond.

Pink Talking Fish present a special Multi-Night Halloween Weekend Experience in California.  On November 1st – 3rd, PTF will be bringing their fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish to Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley CA.  Each show will feature a unique concept added to the performance. 

Steely Dan and the Grateful Dead are both American musical treasures – but couldn’t be more different in their approach to music. The epitome of precision and setlist free, organic, and loose.  Studio perfectionists and the omnipotent live music band. Yet in spite of these differences, many of us love both these bands. They’re huge parts of the soundtracks of our youth and present day. What better way to celebrate both bands then enjoying a merge of the two in a night of American rock-n-roll supremacy.