Renowned for blending global influences with the raw intimacy of American Primitive blues, guitarist Ryan Lee Crosby has journeyed from his Portsmouth home to the legendary Blue Front Café in Bentonia, Mississippi—the very juke joint founded in the 1940s where Skip James once played—to record his forthcoming album At the Blue Front, set for digital, CD, and cassette release on August 20.

Pedrito Martínez, songwriter and master of the Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum, will release Ilusión Óptica on May 30 (GroundUP Music). Bill Murray says it best at the top of the album: “I am here as your safety monitor to make sure that you are all prepared, completely ready to take an unforgettable journey on board the latest album entitled llusión Óptica from the very great Pedrito Martinez Group.”  

Organizers of the upcoming Unite for Veterans, Unite for America rally are proud to announce that acclaimed Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys will join forces with veterans and their allies on the anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2025, for a historic performance on the National Mall.

The band will headline the rally, delivering a high-energy set to support thousands of veterans protesting deep cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the federal workforce — where veterans make up nearly one-third of all employees.

This past weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Oteil Burbridge showcased a special instrument—a meticulously crafted replica of Phil Lesh’s iconic Mission Control #2 Bass. Built by luthier Leo Elliott of Scarlet Fire Guitars, this remarkable bass guitar was commissioned by the Grateful Guitars Foundation and instantly became the centerpiece of attention during select songs.

Reggae gets a fresh spark with “Hot Box,” the latest single from genre-blending band Mr. Mota, officially released on April 18. Released by InnerCat Music Group, the track dropped alongside a nostalgic music video inspired by That ’70s Show, and it’s already made waves with over 600,000 views on YouTube. As part of the launch, the band announced a special partnership with iconic lifestyle brand Dime Bags, bringing fans a unique fusion of sound, culture, and community.

American music icon John Fogerty had a big weekend. On Saturday, April 26, the Grammy winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee was celebrated at the American Music Honors, presented by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University in NJ.

Americana Podcast: The 51st State is back for a new season with host and Americana Pioneer, Robert Earl Keen, digging into fellow musicians’ points of view, histories, creative processes, successes, failures, and everything in between. Only this season, the format of Americana Podcast has evolved to include a video component and some bonus performance footage, to boot—not to mention a venture outside of purely musician-based interviews.

Ohana Festival, the premier California beachside music event founded by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, returns to Doheny State Beach September 26–28, 2025, with an extraordinary three-day lineup spanning rock, folk, blues, and beyond. Presented in partnership with California State Parks and Kona Big Wave, this year’s festival offers fans an unparalleled seaside concert experience against the backdrop of Dana Point’s legendary surf breaks.

Celebrated for balancing their sun-soaked reinventions of Grateful Dead classics with a punk rock ethos, Grateful Shred flips the Grateful Dead’s unfinished studio business into a tight and personal indie manifesto on their first-ever studio album, Might As Well.  Set for release June 6 via their own independent imprint Liberty Hair Farm Records, Might As Well will be available via vinyl and digital formats, with pre-orders live now.

Borderland Music Festival announces the 2025 Daily Lineup and Single-Day General Admission Festival Passes. Heading into its seventh year, returning and new attendees can plan their September 12–14 weekend and see which days their favorite bands will be playing.

For those unable to attend the festival all weekend long, Single-Day General Admission tickets will be available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in addition to Weekend GA, VIP, and the flexible Single-Day “Anyday” GA passes.