There was a decidedly day-glo hue to the bluegrass played at this year’s Northwest String Summit (July 16-19). Many of the musical merry-makers, and deadicated patrons alike, appeared to still be basking in the warm fluorescent after-light of the “Fare Thee Well” experience.  The haunting presence of the now officially departed Dead continues to populate and positively inform a new generation of musical/spiritual adventurers.

Going into my first year of Maha Music Festival, I didn't quite know what to expect.  Modest Mouse, touring for their first new album in 8 years, was on the road to Omaha, along with Atmosphere and Purity Ring, and that was enough to bring a sold-out crowd from 5 countries and more than 32 states along with them.  People were lined up and waiting early for the gates to open and everyone was ready for a full day of music.  The army of volunteers were just

Phases of the Moon Music + Art Festival is thrilled to announce that the Everyone Orchestra will be the curator for the Lunar Landing Conspiracy for the 2015 festival.

The sixth annual Catskill Chill Music Festival “A Farewell to Minglewood” will take place September 18-20, 2015, at Camp Minglewood in Hancock, New York headlined by preeminent jam band moe. This is a very special year for the much-loved three-day music and art gathering because Catskill Chill will move to a new home in 2016.

Another year of Outside Lands flew by this weekend, and like it does every year, went out with its crown held high. Despite temperatures in the 50s and the festival’s pricey location in the heart of $an Francisco, droves of music lovers flocked to Golden Gate Park for the 8^th year in a row to dance the cold gray away. With a top notch lineup for music, food, beer, and wine, it’s hard to imagine a single fan went home unsatisfied.

After having the greatest musical experience of my life for three shows in Chicago at the Dead’s last shows together less than a week before, I did not think it was so possible for that music high to continue, but the lineup and energy of the 2015 All Good Music Festival kept my music fix alive and well. Rolling deep with one of the best crews I have had in a while and an RV led to three days of uninterrupted music from one stage to another.

 Magnolia Fest celebrates its 19th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on October 15-18, 2015.

To return to a point in your life that you have already lived is metaphysical. Déjà vu, as most of us call it, feels mystical, even if it has a chemical explanation. Scientific evidence aside, to relive something that you have lived before is an experience that seems to connect us with something beyond ourselves. We can both be in the moment and be able to predict (or at least have the feeling that we are predicting) what is coming around the next corner. But to experience déjà vu and to be able to improve upon the actions that once were? Now that is something different altogether.

UTOPiAfest has officially announced the daily schedule for their seventh annual festival, taking place in Utopia, TX over Labor Day weekend (September 4-6, 2015).

How grand is it that in a thriving music culture we find ourselves blessed with genre specific events. Too often I find a billing with ‘everything plus the kitchen sink’. Having variety in a billing is nice. Having a concise theme and being able to attend as much of the scheduled performances as you like is even better.   Earlier this spring we were reminded just how nice that is with the 1^st Phunkberry Music Festival that catered to the almighty funk genre.