Shaped by Sound, a new original music performance series produced by PBS North Carolina, has officially announced its launch for Thursday, February 6. The program spotlights North Carolina’s rich musical history and cultural impact, showcasing the state’s role as an influential catalyst in a diverse range of genres, including indie rock, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass, folk and hip-hop.

Today, the Grateful Guitars Foundation (GGF), a 501(3)(c) nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond, has announced that they will gift Dark Star Orchestra’s (DSO) rhythm guitarist Rob Eaton with a custom designed guitar made by GGF Luthier Rich Hoeg. The gift will take place at DSO’s February 8 show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA.

The second annual Montreux Jazz Festival Miami (February 28-March 2) has announced several exciting additions to its star-studded lineup. NAACP Image Award and BET Award-winner WILLOW, the musician, actress and author celebrated for her boundary-pushing sound, will perform on Friday, February 28, on a bill that includes previously announced Jon Batiste & Friends. On Saturday, March 1, the legendary Chaka Khan, a 10-time GRAMMY Award-winner and the unparalleled "Queen of Funk," will perform.

Cherokee Pioneer, the eagerly awaited debut album from Pitney Meyer, is set to release on April 18, 2025, via Curb Records. This groundbreaking project features the duo’s new single, “Bear Creek Clay,” a bluegrass barn-burner highlight in an 11-song collection that captures the heart and soul of the musical brotherhood formed between Mo Pitney and John Meyer.

“Three Seasons", written by Chris Dollar (guitar, vocals), is the second single from the Henhouse Prowlers' album, scheduled for the release this spring.

With the release of her aptly named debut album, The Vibe, Japanese-born, Michigan-based Nanami Haruta plants her flag as one of the most thrilling new voices on the jazz trombone in recent memory. Her premiere outing is granted the imprimatur of no less a master of the instrument than Michael Dease, Haruta’s mentor at Michigan State University turned producer and frontline partner for this exhilarating session in the Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson mold.