Guided by its ongoing mission of “keeping music in the schools” and featuring a remarkably diversified fusion of musical voices, the 16th annual Petaluma Music Festival on July 29 celebrated the day with 14 music performances over three stages at the Marin-Sonoma Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California. Fueled by its belief in “the positive influence of music in children’s lives,” previous fest donations to the music programs in Petaluma-area schools have totaled $425,000.

When Grammy-nominated and IBMA Award-winning songwriter and guitarist Thomm Jutz got together with his latest trans-Atlantic collaborator, the 32-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-nominated Martin Simpson, the pair bonded over their long-running obsession with Cecil Sharp’s 1916 and 1918 collection, “English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians;” particularly those tunes from singers Mary Sands and Jane Gentry.

New York Times best-selling author Alan Paul celebrated the release of his book BROTHERS AND SISTERS: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the 70s with a gala musical celebration at New York’s City Winery on Sunday, July 30th. The house band for the event was Friends of the Brothers, Paul’s own superstar celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, featuring members of the Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts and Jaimoe bands, including guitarists Junior Mack and Andy Aledort.

Bathed in the warm glow of a summer sunset, music aficionados descended upon the idyllic Vina Robles Amphitheatre on July 19th, eagerly anticipating the symphony of rock melodies from the acclaimed bands, Train and Better Than Ezra. As the evening sun washed the venue in hues of vibrant orange, the stage was primed for a transcendent fusion of music and fellowship.