New York City's favorite "little big band," Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra, cracks open wide the monumental songbook of Sly & The Family Stone on its third studio album, MTO Plays SLY, due September 27 from Royal Potato Family. For this freewheeling and jubilant 13-track tribute, MTO is propelled by a dynamic cast of special guests, including vocalists Antony Hegarty, Dean Bowman, Martha Wainwright, Sandra St. Victor and Shilpa Ray, organist Bernie Worrell, guitarist Vernon Reid and remixer Bill Laswell. By re-imagining the music of Sly Stone through the filter of their own "downtown NYC" aesthetic, Bernstein and company illuminate the melodic and harmonic sophistication of Sly's timeless body of work, while upholding the Day-Glo soul and psychedelic funk that's the backbone of classics like "M'Lady," "Everyday People" and "Family Affair."

"I've been thinking about Sly's music for a long time. He represented endless possibilities by bringing creative freedom and experimentation to popular music. Sly took the whole of American sounds: blues, gospel, rock, jazz, country and gave it a fresh look through his own rose colored glasses," explains Bernstein. "Harmonically, rhythmically, linguistically, socially -- he broke ground on all fronts.  Sly was multiculti before we even knew that was a possibility.  The biggest lesson I've received from him is that it's all part of the musical gumbo and it's up to each individual to create their personal combination."

Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra is: Steven Bernstein (trumpet and slide trumpet), Curtis Fowlkes (trombone), Doug Weiselman (clarinet and tenor saxophone), Peter Apfelbaum (tenor and soprano saxophone), Erik Lawrence (baritone and soprano saxophone), Matt Munisteri (guitar and banjo), Charles Burnham (violin), Ben Allison (acoustic bass) and Ben Perowsky (drums).

In addition to MTO, Steven Bernstein fronts Sexmob and leads The Levon Helm Band horn section. Over a distinguished 30 year career, he's performed and arranged for the likes of Lou Reed, The Lounge Lizards, Sam Rivers, My Morning Jacket, Rufus Wainwright, Elton John and Marianne Faithful among numerous others.

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The track listing for MTO Play SLY is:

1. Stand (featuring Sandra St. Victor, Bernie Worrell and Vernon Reid)
2. Family Affair (featuring Antony Hegarty)
3. Sly Notions
4. Que Sera, Sera (featuring Martha Wainwright)
5. M'Lady (featuring Dean Bowman)
6. You Can Make it If You Try
7. Everyday People (featuring Shilpa Ray)
8. Bernie Interlude (featuring Bernie Worrell)
9. Skin I'm In (featuring Sandra St. Victor)
10. Sly Notions 2/Fun (featuring Dean Bowman)
11. Time (featuring Dean Bowman and Vernon Reid)
12. Thank You For Talkin' To Me Africa (Bill Laswell mix translation)
13. Life

In celebration of its 13th year as a band, the preeminent soul funk trio Soulive has announced the inaugural Royal Family Affair -- a three-day music festival from August 12-14 set in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont.  In the last decade, Soulive has toured the globe playing with some of the world's most celebrated musicians from The Rolling Stones to Dave Matthews, from Stevie Wonder to Joshua Redman.  Now, as has become customary with their acclaimed Bowlive and Royal Family Ball blowouts, Soulive brings all of their diverse friends together for a weekend long event.

Joining Soulive at the Royal Family Affair are future funk luminaries Chromeo, electronic powerhouse Big Gigantic, fellow Royal Family Records label-mates Lettuce, Break Science, Crushed Velvet & The Velveteers and Eric Krasno & Chapter 2 and modern day funk legends Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk and Karl Denson. Additional highlights include a special one-time only performance by a power trio consisting of organist John Medeski, saxophonist Skerik and drummer Adam Deitch, as well as sets by Zach Deputy, Paper Diamond, John Brown's Body, The Pimps of Joytime, The London Souls and Jennifer Hartswick. Additional guests will be announced shortly.

Along with performances taking place on two stages and a late-night venue, the Royal Family Affair will offer a series of intimate clinics and musical workshops with the many luminaries performing at the festival.  These up close and personal meetings with the artists will take place in large indoor studios set up with musical gear.  They’ll provide a fascinating window into the creative process for musicians and fans alike.  Confirmed events include a guitar seminar with Eric Krasno, a percussion clinic with Alan Evans and Adam Deitch, a horn clinic with The Shady Horns and a composition/songwriting workshop with Neal Evans.

The Royal Family Affair will take place at the Stratton Mountain Ski Resort in Bondville, VT. One of the best-known skiing locations in the Northeast, Stratton is easily accessible from NYC, Boston, Western Massachusetts, Albany and Burlington.  The event will take place at the base of the mountain with picturesque views and a lively village featuring restaurants, bars and retail stores. Festival attendees are encouraged to stay at any of the extremely affordable lodging properties right on site. All lodging is within walking distance of the stages and rates start as low as $39 per person per night.

Beyond the great music, Stratton Mountain offers a huge variety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Play tennis, go hiking or kayaking, or ride the gondola to the summit - you'll enjoy views only the highest peak in Vermont's Green Mountain range can provide.  In the village, Long Trail and Wolavers will offer free daily tastings of a wide variety of fine local micro-brews, and the wide variety of local restaurants will offer affordable, fresh and tasty local cuisine.

Single day ($29.50 - $34.50) and 3-day ($89.50) festival passes will be available on May 24, 2011 at 10am EST through the Royal Family Affair website (www.royalfamilyaffair.com). For those looking for a VIP experience, two tiers of VIP packages are available, offering benefits ranging from exclusive viewing areas, complementary beverages, a meet & greet with the performers and backstage access. VIP packages start at $199.

Gathering of the Vibes, the Northeast’s premier music and camping festival, confirms additional artists to join headliners Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Jane’s Addiction, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, moe. and many more, July 21-24 at Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT.

Big Sam’s Funky Nation, The Mother Hips, The Infamous Stringdusters, Tea Leaf Green, Roots of Creation, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Sam Kininger Band, The Bridge, Rubblebucket, Kung Fu, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, David Gans, Waylon Speed, Lo Faber & Aaron Maxwell of God Street Wine, Caravan of Thieves, Darian Cunning Band, King for A Day, Andy the Music Man, Band Together, Nicos Gun and The Primate Fiasco have been added to perform on multiple alternating stages throughout the weekend. Grateful Dead vocalist, Donna Jean Godchaux returns to join Dark Star Orchestra as a special guest Thursday evening.

Perpetual Groove completes the Late Night Stage Throwdown Trifecta, joining The New Mastersounds and Big Gigantic, to keep the music moving until 3:00 a.m. each morning.

And that’s not all. More bands and special guests announcements are forthcoming.

We’re extremely pleased with the way the line-up evolved this year, says festival founder Ken Hays.  “Festivals are more popular than ever, and with this cutting edge lineup, we continue to reinvent ourselves, while keeping our core base engaged. It’s the best of both worlds. There’s something for everybody at the Vibes.”

Returning as Master of Ceremonies is Woodstock’s Wavy Gravy, in the midst of his 75th birthday celebration. Part of the birthday celebration includes a May 27th bash at New York’s Beacon Theatre, where Jackson Browne, Vibes artists Dr. John and Steve Kimock, Vibes alumni Bruce Hornsby and Jorma Kaukonen, and many others will star in a special concert to benefit the Seva Foundation.

Wavy Gravy will share the MC role this year with new partner and Vibes co-founder Bob Kennedy, in light of the recent loss of longtime co-MC Michael James Potashnick. This year’s festival is dedicated to his memory. Michael was family,  says Kennedy. "He exemplified what the Vibes means to so many...we will miss him greatly, and I have no doubt that on Thursday, July 21, his spirit will stand next to us on the stage to welcome the VibeTribe back to another amazing weekend of music and family."

Tickets for Gathering of the Vibes range from $40 single day to $205 all-inclusive with camping. VIP camping is available for $420, and for the first time, single-day VIP tickets are an option for both kids and adults. VIP single day ticket holders can keep grooving at the Late Night Stage, an event previously reserved for campers only. Complete ticket details and information here. The Vibes is an all-ages, family-friendly event that caters to both weekend campers and single-day guests.

New in 2011, NYC area guests can ride the late night ‘Jam Tram Party Bus,’ departing after Friday and Saturday Late Night sets at 3:30 a.m. The Jam Tram operates from Seaside Park to New York’s Grand Central, Port Authority and Penn Station.

Gathering of the Vibes began in 1996 as a celebration of the life of Jerry Garcia, who had passed away the previous summer. Initially named ‘Deadhead Heaven,’ the festival continues to be an annual forum for fans across the country to remember the countercultural icon. Gathering of the Vibes combines legendary artists with emerging acts to appeal to a wide cross-section of live music enthusiasts. The festival creates wholly unique musical experiences for attendees far and wide. People come to the Vibes annually to build and renew their bonds of friendship, a community that has affectionately become known as the ‘VibeTribe.’

For complete and up-to-the-minute Gathering of the Vibes information, check the website, and follow Gathering of the Vibes at Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace, or check the message boards.

One-man-band Keller Williams heads to the Fredericksburg Field House on Saturday, May 7 to headline the special family concert: Keller Williams Plays for Kids: A Benefit for the Cobblestone Children's Museum of Fredericksburg. During this unique event full of humor and surprises, parents and children will deepen their bond by playing music together and dancing to Keller’s infectious sing-along songs. Joining Keller will be local artist and drummer Ken Crampton of Everybody Drum and local painter/illustrator Bill Harris who collaborated with Keller last fall on Keller’s first children’s book Because I Said So (Fun Read Publishing, $20, for ages 2-8, 33 pages). Both Williams and Harris will be available following the show for a meet-and-greet and book signing.

This special family concert marks the first-ever fundraising event for the emerging Cobblestone Children's Museum. Cobblestone believes that the Fredericksburg area, with a combined population of more than 300,000, can support a children's museum and that the area’s children and families deserve the educational and enrichment opportunities that such a facility would provide. Cobblestone Children’s Museum of Fredericksburg’s mission is to inspire interactive learning and creativity in children and adults through moments of shared discovery. The museum’s vision is to provide a safe, challenging and stimulating environment where children can direct their own learning experiences. www.cobblestonechildrensmuseum.org.

That same weekend, Keller will also perform two shows for adults; both will benefit the Cobblestone Children’s Museum. On May 6, Keller performs aboard “The City of Fredericksburg Riverboat” for a lucky few people. Always a favorite for Keller fans, this boat trip finds Keller backed by Keith Moseley, Gibb Droll and Jeff Sipe (WMDS). Then, on the evening of May 7 at the Fredericksburg Field House, Keller will perform with Moseley, Droll & Sipe and will host a Late Night Dance Party featuring DJ Logic. Tickets and information on all three shows available at www.kellerwilliams.net.

Keller Williams released his first-ever kids album, appropriately titled Kids, last October, and this benefit show on May 7 marks the first time he’s bringing his live family show to his hometown. Kids has already been warmly embraced by kids and music tastemakers.

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Keller Williams Plays for Kids: A Benefit for the Cobblestone Children's Museum of Fredericksburg
Saturday May 7, 2011
Fredericksburg Field House, Fredericksburg, VA
Doors/Drum Circle 2:30pm / Show 3:30pm
Tickets are $20 & Family 4-Pack $70.00
Tickets available through www.kellerwilliams.net
or locally at Jabberwocky Children's Books and Toys 540-371-5684

ALSO
• May 6th – Evening cruise aboard “The City of Fredericksburg Riverboat featuring Keller with Moseley, Droll and Sipe (WMDS). Departs at 6:00 pm.

• May 7th – Keller with Moseley, Droll & Sipe and Late Night Dance Party featuring DJ Logic at the Fredericksburg Field House. Doors 7:00pm, WMDS 8:00 PM, DJ Logic will follow the WMDS and will spin ‘til 2PM. Tickets $25.

Tickets to all shows go on sale on Thursday, March 10 at 10:00 am EST at www.kellerwilliams.net.

Chances are if you’ve been to a bluegrass festival the memories most prevalent in your mind are not so much that of the “scheduled” performers but more of the impromptu jams and unscheduled collaborations.  It’s with that spirit that the McCoury family decided to embark on a traveling bluegrass festival that they are calling The Bluegrass Ball.

Ask most string musicians young or old and they will mostly likely tell you they either want to play with the McCoury family if they have not already.  The McCourys are known for not only their ability to play with just about anyone but also for actually doing it!  Due to this willingness to play with other musicians, the McCoury family is known as heavy weights on the festival and bluegrass scene, even having their own wildly successful festival “Delfest”.  The McCoury’s decided to not only play in this festival but also promote it themselves making the festival on wheels more accessible to fans by playing more intimate venues that collaborate in giving fans a great value at a reasonable price.

Along for the ride over 4 nights in both Chicago and St. Louis are mandolin extraordinaire Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band), Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon and Emmitt-Nershi Band), and bluegrass up and comers Head for the Hills. This run of shows will be nothing short of epic. With this particular line up there are sure to be some phenomenal collaborations and each show will certainly be unique from the next!

The Travelin’ McCourys:

The Travelin’ McCourys do not stand still. They are on the road-and online-entertaining audiences with live shows that include some of the best musicians and singers from all genres.  It’s always different, always exciting, and always great music.

No other band today has the same credentials for playing traditional and progressive music.  As the sons of bluegrass legend Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo continue their father’s work-a lifelong dedication to the power of bluegrass music to bring joy into people’s lives. And with fiddler Jason Carter and bassist Alan Bartram, the ensemble is loved and respected by the bluegrass faithful.  But the band is now combining their sound with others to make something fresh and rejuvenated.

Jeff Austin:

Jeff Austin is best known for his many years playing mandolin for Colorado heavy hitters, Yonder Mountain String Band. Yonder has always played by their own set of rules bending bluegrass, rock and roll, and countless other influences. While most known for his playing with Yonder Mountain String Band, Jeff has played with countless musicians and is sought after by countless musicians and festivals alike.

Drew Emmitt:

Revered as one of the most energetic and innovative mandolin players on the jamband/newgrass scene today, Emmitt’s “inestimable talents” (An Honest Tune) don’t end with just the instruments that can be picked.  Holding the wheel steady on acoustic and electric slide mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar and mandola Emmitt also showcases on recent solo albums superlative storytelling and versatile vocal abilities. Drew Emmitt is best known for his over 20 years with Leftover Salmon and also the past few years with The Emmitt-Nershi Band

Head For the Hills:

Rooted in the tradition of bluegrass, the music of Head for the Hills is a vibrant mixture of homegrown compositions, traditional harmonies, and an innovative approach to improvisation.  The groups’ lyrical nature and songwriting seems to evoke reminiscent feelings of inspiration. In the live setting, Head for the Hills can venture into the myriad of musical styles and sonic landscapes that caters to a boundless array of listeners.

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Who:  The Bluegrass Ball featuring The Traveling McCoury’s, Jeff Austin, Drew Emmitt and Head for the Hills

Where and March 10^th & 11^th at The Abbey Pub – Chicago, IL

Where: March 12^th & 13^th at The Old Rock House – St. Louis, MO

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