Grateful Web is proud to publish an exclusive interview with journalist and author Brian Anderson, conducted by Meagan Panici of Chicago’s legendary freeform station 88.3 FM The Wizard. In Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection, Anderson treats the Wall of Sound not as mere equipment but as a living, breathing protagonist—capricious, communal, and uncompromising. Across this conversation, he delves into the system’s pioneering design, the mad-scientist zeal of Bear and Ned Lagin, and his own lifelong Deadhead roots that shaped this project.

Concert Under the Stars—and these stars were bright, Spafford. Opening the night on the good foot with “Can’t Find My Vape,” demonstrating keyboardist Cory Schechtman’s ability to dance up and down the ivories. With drummer Nick Tkachyk and bassist Shon Gordon holding down the chill Vibz, we are certainly off to a good start!

Who the F*&% is Kyle Smith? Really? If you listen to today’s reggae and haven’t heard of Kyle Smith, get ready for a real treat. Kyle hails from Southern California, and his life story is built for writing great songs. His approach is simple: rip out your heart and put it on display for the world. It absolutely works. His fans know that he plays to thousands like he’s playing to five close friends—and he plays to five like it’s the biggest concert of the year.

The High Sierra Music Festival (HSMF) returns to Quincy, CA, for yet another spectacular Fourth of July weekend of music and magic on July 3-6. Discounted 4-day tickets are now available (see below for a code). There are also options for “FestivAll” VIP experiences, “glamping” tent rentals, single-day tickets, RV parking, and more.

Genre-bending bluegrass titans Greensky Bluegrass today share their brand-new single, “Can’t Stop Now,” a high-octane collaboration with progressive-bluegrass pioneer Sam Bush. The track is now streaming across all major platforms, with an official performance video premiering on YouTube. Watch here.

Alt-folk-pop singer-songwriter Rachael Sage and her longtime band The Sequins have released their upbeat new single “Just Enough” from their upcoming full-length album Canopy – out later this year via MPress Records. PRESS HERE to listen to “Just Enough,” a self-produced, starry-eyed love song that peddles positive vibes with a neo-folk flair replete with wah guitar and ‘60s-style backing vocals and handclaps.

Z2 Entertainment is thrilled to announce a night of boundary-pushing, instrumental exploration as Circles Around The Sun (CATS) brings its celebrated cosmic-disco sound to the Fox Theatre on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Bluegrass is booming, with new fans discovering fresh groups every day, and Wheels North ranks among the finest of Chicago’s contributions. I recently had the pleasure of watching this progressive quartet light up the night.

Today, Philadelphia-based indie rock quartet Mo Lowda & the Humble share their spirited, texturally rich fifth studio album Tailing The Ghost out everywhere now. Recorded entirely on the road across America's most scenic settings, the spellbinding album is the band's most commanding, cohesive body of work yet. Alongside the full project is the warm, melodic "To Keep Sane In The Dark."

Alt rock band The Yagas, fronted by Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Vera Farmiga, and international punk band Gogol Bordello, led by Eugene Hütz, have released the official studio version of their take on the popular Ukrainian love song “Chervona Ruta” onto global streaming platforms, in celebration of the big Ukrainian summer holiday Kupala Night taking place this weekend. PRESS HERE to listen.