MerleFest, presented by Window World, concluded its annual spring homecoming this weekend with a larger-than-life ‘Traditional Plus’ celebration, drawing both seasoned attendees and newcomers to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC. The four-day gathering––inspired by the vision of festival founder and North Carolina native Doc Watson––is the biggest economic driver of scholarships, capital projects, and educational needs within the greater community.

At the age of 17, faced with a crossroads in life, I made a decision that would shape my future in ways I could never have anticipated. Growing up in Paramus, New Jersey, my days were filled with the usual teenage diversions: Grateful Dead concerts, hanging out with friends, and the thrill of young love. But as high school graduation approached, my father, a World War II veteran and a strict disciplinarian, made it clear that idling was not an option.

Toronto indie music legend Kyp Harness releases his 18th album, Kick The Dust, once again confirming his status as one of Canada's most socially conscious singer/songwriters. The album is available on all digital platforms and via Bandcamp. Produced by Kyp's longtime collaborator Dale Morningstar, Kick The Dust presents nine new songs in a stripped down setting, with accompaniment provided by bassist Victor Bateman and drummer Blake Howard.

Singer/songwriter Evan Honer announced today his new album Fighting For will release on June 7th through Cloverdale Records. The anticipated release will be the follow-up to his 2023 debut West on I-10, which was met with sudden success through sheer organic connection with audiences, garnering millions of streams worldwide, over 2.6 million monthly listeners, and leading to sold-out headline tours across the country and into Europe. That whirlwind period is captured on Fighting For.

Today, Nashville-based Aussie artist Wesley Dean releases his new album Music From Crazy Hearts, the companion piece to an upcoming feature film, Crazy Hearts: The Documentary, which sees Dean hit the road with his family for an ambitious tour across America. With a director and cameraperson in tow, Dean and his family drove over 5000 miles from Nashville to Los Angeles in an RV via towns steeped in musical history playing shows off the beaten track; Memphis, New Orleans, Luckenbach, Marfa, Las Vegas, and more.

Future jam quartet Space Bacon returned to Brooklyn Made on Saturday, April 20, 2024, for their first-ever 420 show in Brooklyn, NY. This fun event was also the first celebration of legal cannabis in Brooklyn, as this night marked the first time on April 20 occurred when cannabis could be legally purchased in the Big Apple.

We at Grateful Web are deeply saddened to report the passing of Nick Daniels III, the extraordinary bassist and vocalist of the revered New Orleans-based funk ensemble, Dumpstaphunk. Nick has left us at the age of 68, after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma.

City Winery NYC is thrilled to announce a diverse array of live performances and events coming to our renowned venue at 25 11th Ave, Pier 57, New York, NY. The newly revealed lineup, including exclusive rehearsals, family-friendly shows, and powerhouse concerts, promises to deliver unforgettable experiences for all attendees.

Just Announced Shows:

With five decades of music-making to her credit, multi-GRAMMY nominee Laurie Lewis has emerged as both a successor and contemporary of the many greats in bluegrass, old-time, and folk music. Unafraid to venture beyond established boundaries, she has carved out her place as a uniquely singular vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, and frontwoman in genres revered for their adherence to tradition, authenticity, and the canon of the forebearers.

Black music lies at the heart of most American roots music, but a century of erasure has obscured the origins of the music today. Now four brilliant musicians, each visionaries in their own right, are re-centering Black traditions in string band music. New Dangerfield brings together Afrofuturist fiddler Jake Blount with composer, songwriter, and old-time banjo player Kaia Kater, bluegrass banjo iconoclast Tray Wellington, and powerfully versatile bassist Nelson Williams.