Dark Star Orchestra is holding their seventh annual Dark Star Jubilee festival this coming Memorial Day May 25-27 at the venue which is now known as Legend Valley, in Thornville, Ohio. Back in 1993, it was known as Buckeye Lake Music Center, and on June 11, the Grateful Dead rolled into town. Nearly 25 years to the date, and at the same location, Dark Star Orchestra will be recreating the original band’s historic set during one of the night at The Jubilee in a rare, advanced announcement for the band to confirm a show they’re playing.

Highlighted by spirited headlining performances by The Devil Makes Three (Saturday), The Infamous Stringdusters (Friday), and Railroad Earth (Sunday), there was a profound additional component to this year’s WinterWonderGrass Tahoe. The weather. Before turning all sunny on Sunday, Friday and Saturday’s proceedings included periodic showers of snow, graupel (look it up), and a little rain.

Grateful Web is psyched to present, “A Bluegrass Triple-Header!”  Born of mountain and stream, Rapidgrass, Cincinnati “Trashgrass” pickers, Rumpke Mountain Boys, and the Steepland String Band descend upon the rockin’ and happenin’, Fox Theatre, Thursday, March 15th

Rumpke Mountain Boys + Rapidgrass @ The Fox Theatre

The Rumpke Mountain Boys combine signature vocals, a unique command of string instruments (acoustic guitar, mandolin, upright bass and banjo) and dynamic special effects into a singular musical experience. An emotion filled musical stream of consciousness with no setlist, minimal structure, and intuitive improvisational flow. In this way, they summon the energy of the crowd as their guide in linking just the right music to precise moments in time.

Cincinnati national touring act, The Rumpke Mountain Boys, have just released their fourth album, the self produced High Time, Low Tide.  Recorded over the past year and released on their own label, RMB Music, the new release features 13 all new original tracks written by the Boys. Taken from their own personal journeys, the listener is brought along to experience the highs and lows of the human condition.

Once again The Werk Out music festival impressed me beyond belief. This is the second year I have attended this event at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, and I can’t imagine missing this music festival. Legend Valley has always had a very special place in my heart. It is near Buckeye Lake, a venue the Grateful Dead frequented in their later years.

In less than a month, Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio will be opening its gates once again for The Werk Out Music Festival.  This event, hosted August 7, 8, and 9th is in its fifth year is one you should not miss. The lineup features some of the best bands from around the Midwest, combined with exquisite visual and performance artists. This festival truly shows what the Midwest is about: good music, good friends, and good memories.

For the third year in a row I had the honor to attend one of my favorite events all year.  There is nothing else in this world that can put a smile on my face quite like a familiar Grateful Dead tune can. This year at Dark Star Jubilee was just as beautiful as the last three. I couldn’t have picked a better way to spend my Memorial Day weekend. As I walked through the gates, and to the top of the ridge of the pine trees, I remembered what it was like to feel at home.

Jamgrass favorites Rumpke Mountain Boys have announced a 2013 fall tour with very special guests David Gans (host of Grateful Dead Hour) and Elliot Humphries & Be The Moon appearing in select cities.  The tour kicks off with Gans at the award winning quartet's home base - Stanley's Pub in Cincinnati, OH - on Tuesday, November 12th and includes stops in Columbus, OH, Morgantown, WV and Lexington, KY before performing at The Bluebird in Bloomington, IN on Saturday, Nov.