Shoe Fest 2025 is excited to welcome headliners Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country and bluegrass legend and Grammy winner Peter Rowan, whose career spans from the early years of playing under the tutelage of Bill Monroe to his time in Old & In the Way alongside Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, and beyond. He will be teaming up with none other than Dawg's son, the Sam Grisman Project, to bring that magical music of Old & In the Way to Shoe Fest.

Folk Alliance International (FAI) has unveiled the Official Showcase lineup for its 38th annual conference, January 21–25, 2026, in New Orleans, LA. More than 150 artists representing 34 countries will perform. The 2026 theme is Rise Up.

Highlights

Two-time GRAMMY winners Lost Bayou Ramblers (progressive Louisiana French/Cajun).

Bruce Sudano, songwriter for Donna Summer, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and Michael Jackson.

Rising Appalachia returns with “Lady Liberty,” a timely new single out today (August 19, 2025), that reimagines America’s most iconic symbol of welcome through the voice of the Statue of Liberty herself.

Affectionately known as the Traffic Cone Sax Man to his millions of social media followers or as a founding member of the internationally acclaimed jazz-electronic fusion trio Moon Hooch, Wenzl McGowen is now shifting his focus to new solo projects. The dynamic multi‑instrumentalist, producer, DJ, author, and musical innovator has released the uplifting single “Higher” with Nigerian singer-songwriter Sunkanmi today, August 15.

When JIMMIE VAUGHAN and KIM WILSON teamed up to form THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS in 1974, they created a band that helped shape the soul of modern Texas blues. Vaughan’s history with that storied band has finally been chronicled in The Jimmie Vaughan Years: Complete Studio Recordings 1978–1989, a comprehensive four-CD box set available Nov. 7, 2025, via The Last Music Co.

Improvisational rock band Spafford will close out the year with a three-night New Year’s Eve run at Vivarium in Milwaukee from December 29–31. The year-end run promises to deliver three unforgettable nights of music leading into 2026. As always, Spafford will feature deep song selections, fan favorites, and unexpected detours as the band builds toward the midnight countdown on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday night.

Few bands make it three decades. Fewer still shape a genre in the process. And no one has done it with more joy, grit, and freewheeling spirit than Leftover Salmon.

Trey Anastasio Band has announced plans for a US headline tour, getting underway with a two-night stand at Denver, CO’s Mission Ballroom on November 14-15. Highlights include the band’s first appearances at La Vista, NE’s The Astro Theater (November 17), Des Moines, IA’s Val Air Ballroom (November 18), and Akron, OH’s Akron Civic Theatre (November 23).

Six-time Grammy winner and Blue Note Records President Don Was will hit the road this fall on the first leg of an extensive tour with The Pan-Detroit Ensemble, a “nine-piece soul jazz group from Detroit,” as Was describes it.

The tour will feature songs from the band’s forthcoming debut album alongside a full performance of The Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah, celebrating the album’s 50th anniversary.

THE STRAY CATS have announced a “VERY SPECIAL SHOW!! The Stray Cats: Rumble in Del Mar,” set for Thursday, November 20 at The Sound in Del Mar, CA. Tickets are available via a special artist presale beginning today, Tuesday, August 19, from noon PT to Thursday, August 21 at 10:00 PM PT, sign up here for early access.