Watching them, it doesn’t hurt that the junior Allman and Betts share their dads’ genetic exteriors. Betts, in particular, has features that emulate his famous father. Better still, Devon and Duane’s voices have tone and timbre similar to Gregg and Dickey, and their guitar shredding and (for Devon) organ skills would make their papas and Uncle Duane proud. I’m still going to vote for Derek Trucks as the top of a very impressive heap in this generation of Allman Bros. spinoffs—but he actually played in the Allman Brothers, so maybe he doesn’t count. I suppose that bumps D & D up to the pinnacle.

This month, the hallowed halls of the Kennedy Center got themselves a little shake, rattle, and roll as the 47th Annual Honors broadcast on CBS. On a night filled with pomp and circumstance, something altogether more cosmic entered the mix—our beloved Grateful Dead, riding the long, strange trip right into the arms of America’s cultural canon.

Progressive bluegrass is inherently demanding music, requiring technical mastery and creative vision. The best in the genre—whether it’s the original pioneers like David Grisman, Sam Bush, and Béla Fleck; modern innovators like Nickel Creek and Sierra Hull; or rising stars such as Mile Twelve and Shadowgrass—share a rare ability to make the complex feel clean, fluid, and effortless.

From the ancient Greeks to medieval court jesters to modern late night talk show hosts, taking comedic jabs at those in power can be as persuasive as a sword. Retired legendary rodeo clown and now musical satirist Sloppy Scales has assembled a world-class band of musicians to create his debut album This Machine Mocks Fascists: The Sloppy Scales Songbook that's released today. It's a hilarious Latin countrypolitan blues-rock bulldogging of America’s far-right politics. It’s refreshingly incendiary in its raw condemnation of injustice.

The 47th Kennedy Center Honors shone a spotlight on the best of American performing arts, celebrating the achievements of legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, iconic American rock band the Grateful Dead, blues-rock singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, jazz trumpeter and composer Arturo Sandoval, and the Apollo Theater — the first venue ever to receive the prestigious honor. The star-studded event, hosted by Queen Latifah, was taped on December 8 and will air on CBS on Sunday, December 22, at 8:30 p.m.

Today, legendary roots star Taj Mahal was announced to be honored at the Recording Academy®’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony, receiving a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, alongside fellow honorees Frankie Beverly, The Clash, Dr. Bobby Jones, Prince, Roxanne Shante, and Frankie Valli. The ceremony celebrating the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award, and Technical GRAMMY® Award recipients will return during GRAMMY® Week on Feb. 1, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

Cool Cool Cool, the seven-piece powerhouse known for their electrifying fusion of funk, house, and R&B, is starting 2025 with a bang. Following the release of their fiery single "Made Ya Look" on November 8, 2024, the band unveils "Dynamite" on January 3, 2025. Both tracks showcase the group's dynamic energy, female-led vocals, and groove-laden sound, delivering messages of empowerment, self-discovery, and confidence.

The Singles

The Ain’t Sisters have released their newest single, "Heart Attack," from their much-anticipated new album, Atomic. The album is set to drop on March 29th, accompanied by a huge album release show in their hometown of Atlanta at Terminal West.

East Bay funk, soul, and R&B legends Tower of Power are hot on the heels of the release of their first full-length holiday album It's Christmas. The group is currently embarking on their 'Holidays and Hits Tour' which has seen packed out houses across the country and will conclude this weekend with two California dates in La Mirada on Friday and the group's hometown of Oakland on Saturday, and makes its final stop in Tulalip Bay, Washington on Sunday.

Wreckless Strangers will kick off the new year with a high-energy dinner show at Rancho Nicasio—the legendary West Marin venue—on Saturday, January 11. The band’s 2024 highlights include the release of their celebrated EP, Blue Sky Fantasy, being named to Music Connection Magazine’s Hot 100 for 2024, and performances at Sweetwater Music Hall, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, and more.