The Mother Hips’ve been around long enough and released a helluva ‘nough material that this collection of rarities and demo tapes, Chronicle Man, is gonna be for the band’s ready-converted disciples first and foremost. That being said, I still have my bones to pick with the set, as well as a few highlights of note. Let’s get down to it...

Master magician, Steve Martin performed a neat trick Friday night at Eugene’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts—he twisted a blazing-hot bluegrass band (Steep Canyon Rangers), a “notorious” singer/songwriter (Edie Brickell) and his own show-biz savoir-faire into an entertaining, vaudevillian blend of musicianship and comedy.

The 5^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fairgrounds from May 23-25, 2014.  This year’s impressive lineup combines the best talent from the progressive US Reggae scene with SOJA, Rebelution, 311, and Pepper with Jamaican favorites including Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, and many more. 
 

As we approach the 4th annual summer festival, the Salmonstock team is pleased to announce the upcoming Salmonstock Spring tour.

Folks checking out Turkuaz this week will find a slightly modified band: front-man, guitarist and co-founder Dave Brandwein has been sidelined with either a tendon or nerve issue that has affected his right hand since the band’s May 2 date at Howlin’ Wolf during New Orleans Jazz Fest. Turkuaz is bringing close friend and Dopapod keyboardist, Eli Winderman, in to fill out Turkuaz’s normally very big sound.

The John Hartford Memorial Festival is quickly approaching, taking place May 29-31 at the historic Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground in scenic Bean Blossom, IN.

Much to the excitement of Captain Beefheart fans worldwide, on April 28th Gonzo Multimedia released on CD a rare live recording of the Captain in concert at Harpo's in Detroit, Michigan on Dec. 11, 1980! Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet known by the stage name Captain Beefheart.

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." - Thomas Merton

The first album from French Style Furs, "Is Exotic Bait," is an existential collaboration. Nathan Willett and Matt Maust of Cold War Kids came together with lifelong friend and We Barbarians drummer Nathan Warkentin to document a spontaneous urgency to lose themselves and, in the process, find themselves.

New Orleans’ super-group, New Orleans Suspects, featuring members of legendary veteran touring acts The Radiators and The Neville Bros., will headline Washington Park Grille's 20th Anniversary Bash on Saturday, May 24th.

The soulful blues-rock 4-piece Arc & Stones announce today they will release their sophomore EP As You Were on June 10th.While only their second release since forming, this young Nashville-by-way-of-Brooklyn band has already been touring in direct support of the legendary rock band,KANSAS.