During Phish's two night run at Alpine Valley Music Theatre on August 8 and 9, a band named Spread opened for the privileged VIP ticket holders in the wooden lodge located on the top of the grassy hill. Little did they know that the band playing was going to swoop them off their dancing feet.

A young prog-funk band out of New Orleans, LA Earphunk played to an intimate crowd on August 19, 2015 at The Stache in Grand Rapids, MI.

It was supposed to be just another Friday night at the 1Up Colfax. However a series of unique events ensured that August 14^th 2015 was a truly special evening. For Denverites the 1Up has become not just an Arcade bar, or a venue but a place of Millennial Culture. The atmosphere, staff and location ensure that a wide variety of people come to enjoy all aspects of this once upon a time porno shop.

Each year Umphrey’s McGee makes a point to stop in at their home town for a mid-summer throw down at the Lawn at White River in Indianapolis, Indiana. This show is never one you should miss.

Sometimes a pet-project grows into a full concept far surpassing the inventor's original prospects. For veteran bluegrass siblings Sara and Sean Watkins, they likely began their musical Family Hour as a way to ease the strains of rigorous touring in their native Southern California. In their natural habitat of Americana, exploring favorite originals and classic canonical country brought them enough pleasure to make a regular occasion out of it.

A mark of continued captivating artistry is evolution. Multi string-slinger, vocalist and songwriter Jackson Emmer truthfully represents his musical identity on his upcoming solo album Last Known Photograph of Jackson Emmer. Many are familiar with Emmer through his phenomenal old-time fast grass outlet, The Howling Kettles. But his upcoming solo breakthrough grows all possibilities. In the vein of iconic artists like Wilco, The Band, and Randy Newman, Emmer offers his style, his way, in a celebration of life.

Since the release of both their sophisticated Similar Skin album in 2014 and the elegant bonus album, London Sessions, which was produced at Abbey Road of last year, Umphrey’s McGee has begun to more frequently perform at up-scale venues across the Midwest. Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is among one of these venues. It was the band’s third time appearing. The intimate and limited seating of the location led to a sold out show.

Steely Dan brought its “Rockabye Gollie Angel” summer tour to Ravinia in suburban Chicago, and it was a jazzy and classy affair. The two performances at the upscale open-air music venue featured a special set from Chicago-based jazz guitarist Bobby Broom instead of tour opener Elvis Costello and the Imposters. Broom’s Organi-Sation trio, initially formed at Steely Dan’s behest in 2014 to fill the opening slot on last year’s U.S. trek, did a fine job setting the mood for the evening.

Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit’s reputation rests on freelance improvisation and artisanal jazz and blues, but twenty-five years of observational polish didn’t hurt the second of two nights at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colorado. Like old friends shooting the breeze, they’d already revitalized their well-established familiarity. The sights and sounds were altered, but haven’t they always been?

Never miss a Sunday show is a phrase everyone should know. Celebrating their 31^st Red Rocks show The String Cheese Incident finished off a great weekend with a Sunday night show. Joined by Nahko and Medicine for the People, Sunday was hot, bright and full of energy. The show was blessed by a traditional Native American prayer that simply reminded us to love the earth and love one another.