The Second Lockn' Festival that went down last weekend in Arrington, Virginia, in the surrounding foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was a cut above the rest for plenty of reasons. Aside from the high quality production put on by promoters, creating a lavish experience for even the most seasoned of festivalgoers, it really was the caliber of musicians on the bill that drew tens of thousands from all over the country.

So many years after the disbandment of Grateful Dead that in turn relocated tens of thousands of devoted tour followers to various other acts and bigger life purposes, folks still crave that familiar feeling that kept them on tour. It didn’t only come from the music that Garcia and the gang connected with so many people through, but the sense of community and thriving weirdness that expanded continuously over decades of different intersections.

From the beginnings of the large scale festival, dating back to gargantuan events such as the 1969 Woodstock Music & Arts Festival or the Watkins Glen Summer Jam of 1973, it was apparent that hosting tens of thousands and creating a safe environment with proper amenities and resources was a challenge that needed some trial and error to perfect. Over the years music and the way we listen to it has come a long way. And so have the festival concepts that we enjoy contemporary.

Get ready to rock as Gov’t Mule brings their “20 Years Strong” guitar driven jam to the intimate Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre Tuesday, October 10th, 2014 / 8:30PM.  Tickets are on sale Friday, August 8th /10AM.Gov't Mule debuted in 1995 with a self-titled album on Capricorn Records, followed by the stellar concert date Live at Roseland Ballroom.

Instead of sweating getting his wallet even fatter or having his name rolling off more folks’ tongues, Warren Haynes puts hammers, nails and efforts of kind-hearted, hard working Habitat for Humanity supporters where his guitar is to improve life for others. “Sweat Equity”, which simply means an individual needs to do for themselves and community to have the community return the favor is the driving force behind Haynes’ efforts.

On the eve of the 2013 Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, a handful of world-class funk, jazz and rock musicians will converge on Patton Avenue, in the heart of downtown Asheville, Thursday, Dec. 12, hosting an all-star "get down" at the Asheville Music Hall.The incredible lineup begins with pedal steel master Roosevelt Collier of the Lee Boys, who will also be an honored special guest with the Aquarium Rescue Unit and other Christmas Jam performers throughout the weekend.

Aaaaaah.  You have gotten three great nights of music under your belt.  You have had time to have your campsite functioning well and made friends with your neighbors.  You have made it through three days of having very little need to be fiddling around with your cell phone and spent lots of time with the human beings right beside you. You are familiar with the layout of the venue and accepted the fact that you have to walk, literally miles for some depending on where you camped, your @$$ off at times to get were you wanted to be.

After a summer playing dates with the likes of the Allman Brothers Band and Tedeschi Trucks, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals brought it all back home to Vermont for Grand Point North, the two-day music festival they host at Waterfront Park on the banks of Lake Champlain in downtown Burlington.

All the headliners delivered multiple performances that displayed why they were the headliners at Lockn’ Festival and all the up and comers gave performances that ensure that the state of the Jamband genre is in a very good place.  Much of the credit for the scene remaining so strong is due Phil Lesh.