AURA Music Events has unveiled the next phase of the 2013 AURA Music & Arts Festival musical line-up which includes 15 stellar acts to compliment the four headliners already announced this summer. In addition to two sets from Papadosio, Conspirator (ft. Marc Brownstein & Aron Magner of the Disco Biscuits), Perpetual Groove and The Heavy Pets, fans can indulge in two performances by Dopapod and Kung Fu including the premier of Kung Fu’s tribute to Stevie Wonder featuring the Royal Family’s Nigel Hall.

Newgrass folk-rock pioneers Acoustic Syndicate are proud to announce new tour dates for the 2012 holiday season. Having just celebrated their 20th Anniversary this spring, the band will be closing a celebratory year with shows in Asheville, Raleigh and Charlotte, NC. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased through all venue outlets. A full listing of dates and venues is below.

How many Grateful Dead tribute bands does the scene need? The answer could be endlessly debated each way forever. I suppose it’s fair to say that since Dead music is a rolling snowball of endless genres, sporting both originals and reinvented covers with thirty years of varying performances where supposedly “no show was ever the same twice,” that room for countless cover acts isn’t unfound. After all, people still want to listen to their music, obsessively, even though they haven’t been around for seventeen years.

Of all the great cities in the U.S. nothing can compare culturally to New Orleans. It seems all of the hardships endured have only strengthened and secured its identity as one of the best places to see impromptu jams or the biggest names in music and party down. Their Jazz Festival thrown every April sees the best touring musicians sitting down for uncommon collaborations, partying and playing all night.