Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats brought their vintage rock and neo-soul show to the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans on May 3rd and 4th for a pair of spectacular double bill shows that coincided with the second weekend of city’s famed Jazz Fest.  Each night featured a different group of legendary Crescent City musicians opening the show.

When I first met Monique Powell, she was sitting on a bench, eager to show everyone around her photos that were taken of her around the grounds at Back to the Beach and admiring the production values that went into the festival’s decorations. Her energy and warmth were abundantly present, and it became immediately clear that the enthusiasm she brings to every Save Ferris show is not simply an act.

One of Americas oldest music festivals marked its 43rd anniversary, steeped in the polite mannerisms associated with the regions southern charm and gracious manners, during the first weekend in May. The Beale Street Music Festival is ideally situated on the banks of the historic Mississippi River, in downtown Memphis. The event is one of the most economical and eclectic music festivals in the country. The five-stage festival offers up music from nearly every pop music genre.

Voodoo Dead continued their tradition of playing late night shows during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, with a two-night run at Republic NOLA on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th. Special guest Brandon "Taz” Niederauer joined the all-star band on guitar Saturday as fans enjoyed a rockin’ two-set show that kept the music going well into Sunday morning.

Critically-acclaimed as one of the best albums of 2018, Orquesta Akokán's self-titled debut release for the venerable soul label Daptone Records -- the label's first Spanish language album -- is a transformative and modern mambo recording that exquisitely captures the spirit of pre-revolutionary Cuba by today's foremost Cuban musicians.

While day one of Back to the Beach Festival had a very clear ska emphasis, day two seemed focused on the emo/skate punk culture that so often goes hand in hand with third wave ska. While not quite an admissions sell out like the day before, day two still managed to draw a very healthy crowd of fans, all passionate about the acts of the day.

“The Thrill Is Gone” (featuring Sonny Landreth), the latest song off Peter Frampton Band’s forthcoming album All Blues, is premiering via Billboard who says “…the thrill is definitely not gone for Peter Frampton.” The song was written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins, and popularized by B.B. King. “The Thrill Is Gone” is available now with digital album pre-order.

Breakout singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara will support Neil Young on select west coast shows this month. Ondara will also continue touring throughout the summer and fall in support of his debut LP Tales of America. The dates follow his completely sold out debut headline run, and will also include special appearances at Xponential Festival and Newport Folk Festival.

Veteran midwestern rockers, Umphrey’s McGee returned to Eugene (Ore.) for the first time in five years and unleashed a torrent of heavy, metallic, guitar-driven jams on a packed, Friday night crowd at the McDonald Theater. Combining a taste for crunching, head-banging riffs with mind-melting prog-rock fusion, Umphrey’s are an intriguing musical complexity.

SONIC BLOOM, Colorado’s premiere electronic music festival, is celebrating its 14th edition this year with a bold nod to the thoughtful and diverse musical curation that has catapulted this boutique festival into worldwide recognition.