Riot Fest is a festival of extremes. It is not for the faint of heart. It is a three day multi-genre music festival incorporating metal, hip-hop, punk, rock, and alternative music. A decade ago, it started in Chicago, and thankfully has moved to Denver and Toronto as well. It has an old school carnival feel to it with vendors and sideshow performances. This year, it took place at the National Western Complex grounds where they usually host one of the largest stock shows and rodeos in the world. I enjoyed this fit much more than the parking lot at Mile High Stadium.

On October 2, Forty Below Records will release a special double-LP vinyl version of the John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 (Never Before Heard Live Performances) album that was originally released earlier this year on CD. The LP version was pressed on 140-gram vinyl and will be released in gatefold form containing large pictures of John and the band members at the time – Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood - on the inside.

We've got a special #OspreyPacks #MusicMondays EXCLUSIVE to get your week started off right: Stream @kellerwilliams’ latest #album “#Vape” (for free, for 24 hours, ONLY the Osprey website!) PLUS enter to win a signed copy of Keller's album AND an Osprey pack! Click on the URL in our profile bio to listen to these great #tunes and enter to win or visit blog.ospreypacks.com

Based out of Olney, TX, Love & The Zealous--Richard Love (vocals), Marcus Leemann (guitar), Josh Morrison (bass) and Corbin Bailey (drums)--combine a dynamic brew of vintage soul and rhythm and blues with solid elements of classic rock and pop.

Cuthbert Amphitheater on a beautiful early fall evening, a waxing moon shining through low scattered  clouds, and Dark Star Orchestra kicking off the Fall Tour West...Nope, doesn't get much better than that.  Although known for their awesome recreations of historic Grateful Dead shows, every now and then  DSO will roll their own set lists at their audience like a pair of loaded dice and tonight was one of those  shows.

In what has been one of their most prolific years in recent memory, The String Cheese Incident will kick off their 2015 Fall Tour in the Midwest October 14^th and 15^th with a two-night stand at the Skyway Theater in Minneapolis, marking their first return to the Twin Cities in nearly 13 years.

The genre of Jamtronica has its roots in unexpected places. Filled with elements of jazz, fusion and funk as well as club, dance and techno music. These are the descriptors of Jamtronica heavy weights and progenitors The New Deal. After over a decade of heavy touring and an unexpected hiatus, The New Deal is back and filled inspiration. I was lucky enough to catch The New Deal at the legendary Ogden Theater in Denver, CO.

Def Leppard's inaugural fan cruise, "Hysteria on the High Seas"--a four-day, four-night voyage out of Miami this January 21-25, aboard the MSC Divina--has announced a number of updates this week as the cruise is on the verge of selling out.