After a successful 2012 debut, which featured a wide array of musical genres ranging from bluegrass to dubstep, Summer Set Music Festival makes its triumphant return to Somerset, Wisconsin in what is sure to be the one of the premier Midwest festivals this summer.

Sometimes I find it truly incredible how different each festival is. Sure, when you poke around in different genres you’re going to have a different vibe, but even within the realm of strings and grass, you’ll find the good and you’ll find the bad. Northwest String Summit at Horning’s Hideout in Oregon doesn’t exactly make it into either category. I think it stands alone in the “this is the most amazing, beautiful, compelling, warming, etc.

Now available! Vocalist Murray Hockridge and guitarist Dave Kilminster just released their first album of beautifully crafted acoustic covers titled 'Closer To Earth' on Killer Guitar Records, via Cherry Red Records. As fate would have it, a chance meeting brought these two musical innovators together for this special project. Says Dave, “This is essentially an album of acoustic covers, where we've taken some songs that we love and reconstructed them in a unique way.

Big things are on the way for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, who released their self-titled, third album last week. While Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros was originally set to debut last year, the reason for the delay is clear—and worth it. The band has hardly taken a breath since hitting the road to support their sophomore album Here.

Local axe slammers representing the best of Champaign-Urbana’s music scene will perform in true ELLNORA style in a FREE pre-festival Local Heroes concert on Tuesday, September 3 at 6:30pm. Tim Donaldson of Timmy D and Blind Justice has curated a lineup that promises a high-energy night of rock standards and original music.

San Francisco veteran singer-songwriter Maurice Tani and Freight & Salvage in Berkeley announce a double CD release show on SUNDAY AUGUST 18 at 8:00pm. This show celebrates the simultaneous release of Tani's fourth and fifth albums: a new studio album, “Blue Line”, and “Two Stroke”, an album of acoustic duos and trios with bassist Mike Anderson and a variety of others. Maurice’s August 18th special performance at Freight & Salvage

Right in the midst of a fabulous summer festival season, Portland Oregon-based Shook Twins have just announced the addition of late summer and early fall tour dates to their already stacked calendar and a new song/video premiere. A first time tour to the Midwest and South in late September and for the entire month of October, will bring the groups trademark “eclectic mix of  folks, roots, pop and fun” to a whole new audience.

On Sunday, August 18th the ashes of music legend Richie Havens will be scattered across the field where the historic Woodstock Festival took place in 1969 - today the site of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Planning is underway for Yonder Mountain String Band’s 8th annual Harvest Festival, set to take place at the majestic Mulberry Mountain from October 17-19th in Ozark, Arkansas.