Grateful Web recently had the honor of visiting with Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay. While most folks are familiar with Donna Jean as the radiant co-vocalist of 1970s Grateful Dead, augmenting some of the seminal group’s most celebrated tunes such as “The Music Never Stopped,” “Cassidy,” “Mississippi Half-Step,” and “Playing in the Band,” she holds deeper roots in Americana as a 1960s session musician of the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

Four months before Macon Georgia’s Allman Brothers Band achieved mega stardom with their breakthrough Eat A Peach album, the foundational lineup of Duane and Gregg Allman alongside Berry Oakley, Dickey Betts, Jaimoe Johanson, and Butch Trucks were in their peak form as a touring act. They entranced their audiences with exhilarating live performances that stretched blues and soul into genre-defying improvisational terrain.

This December, Grateful Web had the opportunity to catch up with guitarist, singer and songwriter Michael Falzarano. Michael is a tenured veteran of legendary bands New Riders of the Purple Sage and Hot Tuna, a regular contributor at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, and bandleader of his own long-standing Memphis Pilgrims and Dead Tribute group, The Englishtown Project.

It is easy to understand that musicians whose lifeblood is not only playing for a crowd but feeding off their audience’s liveliness would feel an unfillable void during these unusual times. From a fan’s perspective, they couldn’t think of anywhere better to be than with their favorite band, with that crowd, in that sacred space of connectivity. It’s hard to imagine the artists wouldn’t have that similar longing as playing for a packed music hall isn’t safe for the foreseeable future.

Returning for its eight year to the delight of four-season festival goers, WinterWonderGrass Festival will return yet again to Lake Tahoe, California at Squaw Valley Resort on March 27th-29th. Founded by Scotty Stoughton, a lifelong musician and festivalgoer alike, WinterWonderGrass, “aims to cultivate and nurture the relationship between nature, authentic music, and communal family, creating a vehicle for inspiration,” according to its mission statement.

In the midst of their 50th anniversary tour, Hot Tuna is joined by David Bromberg Quintet. The two beloved groups graced the stage of the storied Fillmore in San Francisco last weekend.  It was indeed a fitting venue for Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady whose deep-blues duo was birthed at Bill Graham’s Fillmore West in 1969.

New York-based bandleader and genre-defying guitarist Wayne Krantz is keeping busier than ever entering the 2020s. Many are familiar with Krantz’s work as a powerhouse ace sideman for decades alongside legends such as Bill Frisell, Billy Cobham, Steely Dan, and Michael Brecker, but it’s as bandleader where Krantz’s inimitable approach is best felt. Known for his improvisational approach that feels like metal at times and Slowhand blues at others, Krantz released his very first non-improvisational work in January on Abstract Logix.

Those familiar with the phenomenal exploratory bands Phil Lesh & Friends, Moonalice, and David Nelson Band are likely familiar with guitar virtuoso Barry Sless. His Pedal Steel guitar has transformed beloved Grateful Dead classics such as “Box of Rain,” “Peggy O,” “Pride of Cucamonga,” and “Cumberland Blues” into full-fledged country-rock bliss that Jerry Garcia is no doubt smiling down on.

Last weekend, the legendary jam band Zero concluded a prolific 35th anniversary run aptly named “Back to Zero.” Core members Steve Kimock, Greg Anton, Pete Sears, Melvin Seals, and Hadi Al-Saddoon were joined by friends and family for an invigorating reunion that pleased newer fans and decade-spanning devotees alike.

In the midst of their 25th anniversary year, The String Cheese Incident took a wise approach at arranging a hefty year of touring. Playing mini runs and hitting some of their storied spots without the strains of a nineteen-city summer or fall tour. For Cheese, the last few years have clarified to the band and fans something collectively; there’s nothing better than building momentum together. The era of sporadic SCI shows augmented by side projects of the member’s different directions is over.