Recently I had the special opportunity to see the legendary Toots and the Maytals, just a couple of blocks from my house at the Fox Theater in Boulder CO. My work thus far with Grateful Web has been mostly reviewing jam-bands, taking notes on their instrumentation, and reporting commendable jams. So, as you could imagine, this was a much different experience than I was used to.

Horns and go, “Step Inside” insists immediately. The tune takes a nostalgic turn near the end, riffing on some old jazz, but it’s largely a characteristic overture for Kings and Queens – a slight shift from the early days of John Brown’s Body has taken form here, albeit grounded firmly in roots from the same tree.This band hasn’t rested on its early-dub laurels in passing years (see Amplify); no exception here.

When Lotus comes to Boulder, Colorado, the streets are just a bit more abuzz. People standing in front of the Boulder Theater are giving off a charge of excitement, and there’s a stimulating, magnetic sense in the air that tells us of what’s to come.

Today, Electric Forest 2013 reveals another round of artists confirmed to perform in Rothbury, Michigan on June 27- June 30. Check out the video here.

Austin jazz-grass band MilkDrive features award-winning instrumentalists Brian Beken on fiddle and lead vocals, Noah Jeffries on guitar and harmony vocals, Dennis Ludiker on mandolin and harmony vocals, and Matt Mefford on double bass. Fueled by equal parts tradition and innovation, MilkDrive delivers a distinctive acoustic experience marked by sophisticated arrangements and fierce musicianship.

On an otherwise nondescript Thursday night at Shine, local band The 100 Percent made the most of their 45-minute set. Packing in nine soul-soaked original tunes that had the crowd cheering and clapping, often before the song was even complete, the band displayed chops that show they have what it takes to differentiate themselves in the oversaturated Boulder music scene.

Colorado celebrates the newest summer festival! ARISE Music Festival at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado is a “music, activation and co-creative camping festival.” Arise is an acronym that stands for Activate|Reconnect|Interact|Synchronice|Empower.