The National Endowment for the Arts has honored the rich, artistic heritage of America through the NEA National Heritage Fellowships since 1982. The nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts includes an award of $25,000 to each of the nine recipients, who will be featured in a film that will debut on November 17, 2021 on arts.gov.

Eric Bibb has known many different Americas; the good, the bad and the ugly. Born in New York City in 1951, the thunderbolt of the Sixties folk revival remains so alive in the 69-year-old’s memory that he can still recall the idealism on the night air of Greenwich Village and picture Bob Dylan standing in his living room. Yet just as vivid are the dark societal flash points of the last year, when protesters highlighted the open wound of US race relations while a bitter Presidential election scrawled jagged battle lines.

Music and family have always been central to dream-folk artist/multi-instrumentalist JEREMY SQUIRES’ story. On his 11th studio album UNRAVEL—due out July 30 via Blackbird Record Label—SQUIRES merges distinctive songcraft with deeply felt vocals and musical performances. With his second single, “Fade,” released last Friday (June 11), SQUIRES tackles the emotions he dealt with as he experienced the loss of his grandmother who raised him.

Legendary RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson and Epiphone present the new Alex Lifeson Epiphone Les Paul Standard Axcess electric guitar. Created by Alex Lifeson and the luthiers at Epiphone in Nashville, TN, the Alex Lifeson Epiphone Les Paul Standard Axcess is now available worldwide on: www.epiphone.com.

Blues rockers THE PICTUREBOOKS release their new single "Holy Ghost" feat. Jon Harvey (Monster Truck) today. Watch the music video, which was recorded in Guetersloh (GER), Los Angeles (USA) and Hamilton (CAN), HERE. The song is also available to purchase and stream, HERE.

Today, Vermont-based jam quartet Twiddle announced plans for a New Year’s Eve show at the historic Palladium Theatre in Worcester, MA. Performing on 12/31, the band will bring its unique blend of quirky, high-energy jam rock, refined after over fifteen years on the road. This year’s show will mark the band’s first time at The Palladium since a legendary 2014 NYE run with Dopapod.