The Mother Hips have been around for twenty years, and I’ve never heard of them—I think—actually, on second thought, they do ring a bell. But that might just be residual from my Acid Mothers Temple salad days...In any case, Behind Beyond is the band’s latest disc, released in celebration of their platinum (or china, if you’re old school) anniversary.

Lucero have announced a slew of activities to commemorate their 15th anniversary as a band. In the spring of this year they toured the USA extensively and released an EP, Texas & Tennessee. This summer the band is prepping for their first-ever Amphitheatre headline show: The Lucero Family Picnic at the First Security Amphitheatre in Little Rock, Ark. on Aug. 10.

Boasting the kind of ferocious funk collaborations you’d expect to find in New Orleans during Jazzfest, as opposed to the remote Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Equifunk sets itself apart this summer -- an unsuspecting gem among 2013 festivals.

In just a week, on July 18^th, it’ll be that time of the summer again. That time when people from all over the country storm the state of Oregon with their families, their banjos, fiddles, mandolins, guitars, etc., and head to the small town of North Plains. Slowly they will wind their way through towering green trees and down a curvy road, until finally, they find themselves in a clearing surrounded by peacocks and shimmering shades of green. Not a bad tradition, if you ask me.

Gathering of the Vibes is only two weeks away from its 18^th year, returning once again to the water’s edge at Bridgeport, Connecticut’s 370-Acre Seaside Park. Weekend Camping Passes are currently priced at $225. Single Day Tickets and Single Day VIPs can also be purchased.

Slightly Stoopid and Atmosphere are joining forces for one of the most anticipated summer tours of 2013. "Kickin' Up Dust" Summer Tour 2013 features special guests The Grouch & Eligh and Tribal Seeds.

Gramatik announces part two of the infamous Age Of Reason Tour and unleashes the second single off his forthcoming album, The Age Of Reason. The brand-new single titled, "You Don't Understand" features guitarist Don Daro of Exmag; who will also be joining Gramatik on tour this fall.

Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado has a big fish on the line. The brewery recently announced it has teamed up with Colorado bluegrass band Leftover Salmon to deliver new music to fans exclusively through Breckenridge beers. Leftover Salmon will debut four original songs from July to October, and they will be pre-released exclusively through Breckenridge Brewery’s 12-pack Sampler Packs.

With Forecastle only a few days away The Wild Feathers are in the middle of a massive tour that dates back to early January. The Wild Feathers have been receiving rave reviews for their live performances and debut album which incorporates five vocalists into a folk-blues-rock sound. They will be playing the WFPK Port stage on Sunday at 1:15pm.

No sooner will Summer turn to Fall than Dark Star Orchestra will be truckin' on with the Fall Tour West, beginning September 27. Starting with mountain spots like Jackson Hole, Bozeman and Missoula, the bus then heads northwest for three shows in Washington state, two nights in Portland, followed by a trek through California that stops in good ole SF for a weekend.