In March, fans got the exciting news that Gov’t Mule would be hitting the road in July to perform a run of thirteen shows that would incorporate some of the most iconic music in pop culture. Born from an incredibly special Halloween show in 2008 and only performed a select number of times since Warren Haynes and his fearsome foursome would once again give their constituents a satisfying ride on The Mule before presenting their reinterpretation of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

The groove is alive and kicking on "Departures," the first full-length album from Canadian instrumental group Apollo Suns. With an expected release date on Do Right! Music in late September, this 12-song compilation delivers soulful jazz-rock with influences stemming from funk, prog rock and psychedelia. Listening to Apollo Suns is revelatory – your feet will move, and your heart will follow.

Patti Smith is a treasure trove of living musical history, and she revealed much of that legacy in song and storytelling on August 9th at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. The concert was a continuation of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the historic venue.

The Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, hosted an unforgettable evening of soulful blues on July 29, 2023. The legendary five-time Grammy-winning Robert Cray Band took the stage and captivated the audience with their electrifying performance. From the moment the first note resonated through the theater, it was evident that this would be a night to remember.

The Winter Park and Fraser Colorado Chamber are purveyors of gratitude and fun. Once again, the SolShine concert presented by the Chamber and hosted by Rendezvous Event Center in Downtown Winter Park is now officially in the live music history books. This concert has incredibly special meaning for the residents and out-of-town guests that frequent Winter Park.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage, now in its 40th year as one of the nation’s most cherished and continuing programs in public radio history, descended upon Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif., on August 6. The occasion was to record a live-performance radio broadcast with a diverse, one-of-a-kind lineup that featured the likes of Booker T. Jones, Chris Smither, Karla Bonoff, Steve Poltz, and Amber Rubarth.

When Phish decided to play seven contiguous shows at Madison Square Garden, they ignited a firestorm of bands playing pre-shows and after-parties during the run, which created a festival-like environment. This included the palindrome-loving jam rock quartet Dopapod, This adept group of Berklee School of Music Alums knows how to put on a raging after-party and did just that at Sony Hall in New York, NY on July 29, 2023.

San Francisco Bay Area-based ALO delivered two sets of their infectious brand of songs and jamming on August 6, but the news-headline of the day was the inaugural performance by Jay Lane & The Mayhem. Fresh off tour with Dead and Company, drummer Lane’s Mayhem trio presented a lively, improvisational, and supremely interesting hourlong 3 p.m. set that included material by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Lennon, Lane himself, and even composer John Williams.

Six nights of live performances certainly take a toll. However, there was no sign of breaking on the sixth of seven performances by Phish at Madison Square Garden on August 4, 2023. The jam rock squad from Vermont certainly brought the sweltering summer heat inside the Garden in the form of face-melting jams, rarely played originals, and tasty covers.

Cowboy Junkies brought their enchantingly brooding Blues sound to the Lobero Theatre on July 21st as part of the 150th anniversary of the venue. The band took the stage at 8 pm sharp, kicking off the night with a stirring cover of Neil Young’s “Don’t Let It Bring You Down.” The band, which is just as well known for playing covers in their somber style, followed with their hit cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane." From there, the group kept the energy high with each consecutive song.