Readying themselves for an extensive winter tour that reaches as far East as Chicago, Bay Area bluegrass group Hot Buttered Rum performed a low key and blistering show on a Saturday night at Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz, CA.

Keller Williams' KWatro came to town last Friday. I was anxious to see what songs and what style would be played. I had heard Keller do funk, bluegrass, rock, reggae and pop. Among a few others I am failing to mention. With the addition of three other musicians there is also an entire new ensemble to experience. I had head heard Keller play with The Keels, The String Cheese Incident and Yonder Mountain String Band.

Since the mid 90’s Wilco has progressed its sound into something perfect. The Chicago based, indie-rock/alt-country, group proved this to fans on the first stop of a twelve-gig tour through the East Coast. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Benedum Center – known for hosting Broadway shows, Orchestras, and other theatrical performances – was left cheering on their feet after a nearly two-hour set.

Steve Kimock’s imaginative guitar and improvisational prowess continues to evolve. For over forty years he’s crafted boundless music that captivates and expands consciousness. His compositions are distinct in melody and temperament, while his approach will undoubtedly modify as every tune develops, as its own singular organism at any given performance. He began his professional career in the early 1980s as co-founder of the cherished Bay Area band Zero.

There’s something truly special about a New Year's show.  Everyone puts on their best and celebrates a long year of work. Every year Colorado is particularly lucky to host a number of great bands who seem to compete for the coveted “Best Show” among fans. In epic fashion, The String Cheese Incident returned to the 1^st Bank Center for a ritual 3 set show.  Filled with unique surprises, this show elevated the possibility for live music.

Cornmeal revved the engines for high energy bluegrass in Chicago on New Year’s Eve, 12/31/2015.  They opened up the evening at The Vic Theatre with Edge of the World, an ordinary Cornmeal song with an ambition to fall off the edge of the world to see what happens next.  It was an appropriate choice for the kick off of such a holiday show.  From there, they did some more Cornmeal classics – River Gap and Jenny.  It was a welcome home for th

Every year a large group of musicians from across the country travel to Denver to ring in the New Year with multi-night runs. One such group was The Chris Robinson Brotherhood. 

Dead & Company, the latest Grateful Dead-family arena band, has made its way to California, for two shows at San Francisco’s venerable Bill Graham Civic Auditorium before heading to Los Angeles to close out the year.

This past February, Perpetual Groove announced that they would be back from a two year hiatus, and in the summer they got back on the road again to the delight of fans around the country. As part of the giving of gratitude Thanksgiving this year, the band came to Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO for a pair of nights of jamming.

One of Denver’s hottest new venues turned up on Friday, November 6^th with the Disco Biscuit side band, Conspirator. Sadly, this was one of the last shows at the 1up on Colfax ever. The venue closed the music venue section to stay faithful to its arcade bar roots, and ironically RAQ was the last shows there. Conspirator is far from a stranger to the area, as the Disco Biscuits play in Colorado more than anywhere else, Lotus just played in Colorado a couple months ago, and RAQ even more recently.