Grateful Web recently had the opportunity to sit down with bluegrass guitar virtuoso Billy Strings. He began putting in his time as a boy, never putting that guitar down or giving up when it got tough. His father and community fostered the bluegrass and folk spirit that runs through his veins. But Billy Strings is not your grandpappy's bluegrass band.

Grand Point North, the music festival presented by Grace Potter and Higher Ground at Burlington’s Waterfront Park on September 15 and 16, released set times for the festival today.  In addition, Potter and Higher Ground announced the return of Grand Point Weird, a visual arts installation, Grand Point Local, featuring local restaurants and food products, and the REVERB Eco Village, supporting several Vermont nonprofits.

Joe Rut’s 7th album, Nekkid, finds the Oakland “Psychedelic-Americana” troubadour delivering a solo acoustic set of heartfelt, quirky, and subtly hallucinatory Americana yarns in front of a live audience.  The story behind this recording, populated with heroes, villains, and Joe’s own comically beleaguered narrator, is one of perseverance, luck, and the strength of community.

Like many, I found my way to early country music through rock n' roll music of the 60s. Bands like The Stones, the Dead, The Byrds, The Lovin' Spoonful and many of the classic garage bands like The 13th Floor Elevators, The Seeds, and Sam the Sham served as a guide, inspiring me to dig deeper into the recordings of America’s past. It was clear to me that if these guys were finding inspiration from early blues and country music, there must be something there that I needed to discover.

Picture it: The most beautiful outdoor festival grounds at Planet Bluegrass in stunning Lyons, Colorado. Three days full of world-class musicians from around the globe. 5,000 of your new best friends. For music lovers, this is a dream come true.

The epic music extravaganza this past weekend was beyond stellar. I loved all the music, and the following were my favorites: