Passafire’s Vines has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae and iTunes Reggae charts. Vines, the band’s fifth studio album, "is Passafire's best,” according to Angelica Music.  The record was released November 11th and is the band’s debut release for leading reggae label Easy Star Records.  The album debuted impressively on other Billboard charts including #10 on the Heatseekers Chart, #57 on the Independent Releases, #1 on South Atlantic New Artist Chart, and #109 on the Top 200 Digital albums, amongst others.

Jimkata has released their first official live album, 10 More Songs!, which documents the long miles and countless hours spent honing newer compositions and reworking old favorites. The album features 14 tracks recorded in 2012/2013 at many of their favorite New York venues, paying homage to their home state.

Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival (CBB) is ready to celebrate its 5th birthday! The wintertime roots fest returns with 17 shows format spanning three weeks in January and February!CBB V is anchored in eight shows over three weeks at the newly-minted Concord Music Hall, the West Loop’s City Winery, and Evanston’s SPACE.

Featuring a greater number of free concerts than ever before, the one-of-a-kind

A benefit concert for Bread & Roses featuring performances by Marco Benevento & Friends, with Reed Mathis and Cochrane McMillan from Tea Leaf Green; and Megan Slankard with The Novelists.

The prog/rock quartet TAUK will wrap up a successful 2013 bringing their unique and powerful live show to audiences along the East Coast from November through December. Highlights include performances at the Official Phish After-Party in NYC with Fikus on December 28th and a New Year's Eve show in Baltimore at the 8x10 with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

The first annual Suwannee Hulaween at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida united several very different kinds of people and art in unexpected ways. Detachable hoodies with chain ties, logo pins, college kids, thumping Apple controlled bass tangoed with tie dye hippies, weed, classic rock, bluegrass and, yes, real wooden instruments all twirled together drenched in bold color and sound in a mystical forest setting.

If the Colorado Bluegrass Community wasn’t already tried as strong, this month represented a milestone for community support. Last month’s “100 Year Flood” damaged and displaced thousands in Boulder County. The worst was the devastation in Lyons, Colorado, home of the Planet Bluegrass Ranch and much of the Colorado Music Roots community. The Ranch hosts at least two huge annual festivals onsite that after 40 years of legendary performances have built a loyal following of devotees nationwide.

The Heavy Pets kick off their 8th year as a band and close out 2013 with a solid run of shows including three nights with new super group Incidental Animals (Kyle of The String Cheese Incident; Dan, Steve & Dave of ALO; and Jennifer Hartswick of Trey Anastasio Band), three nights with The Revivalists and New Years Eve with Kung Fu.

After a brief hiatus while bringing together a fresh lineup, Cornmeal is back at it…and in a big way!  After playing a few select shows in early November, Cornmeal is very excited to be back in their hometown of Chicago for one of their favorite traditions, the 13th annual Cornmeal Thanksgiving show at the Vic on November 30th.  They will be joined by very special guest Willie Watson (formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show).