Wow! What a long, strange trip it’s been. Here I am at the beginning of a beautiful New England fall, basking in the glowing memories of the best end-of-summer musical celebration Martha’s Vineyard has to offer: Beach Road Weekend Music Festival (BRW). The whole experience reminds me of how lucky we are to have these opportunities to witness such historical once-in-a-lifetime music in the making.

Day four of Cali Roots wrapped up the weekend in a style befitting its own legacy. In a statement on the theme of the Reggae festival, it was the only day of the weekend not to feature a pure Hip Hop artist on any of its stages. The focus on the roots of the festival made for a lowkey pace at the tail end of a weekend that had been so fulfilling and so energy-consuming.

BeachLife’s fourth and most widely appealing celebration by the sea, from May 5 to 7, 2023, once again splendidly blended music, art, and an admirable array of product vendors with nature’s sunshine, ocean breezes, and sand, to the delight of thousands of sun-splashed faces at Redondo Beach in Los Angeles County. Brilliant sunshine brought warmth each day, where official temperatures topped out at about 70, while sweatshirts and other outer layers were in order at night.

Today, Pete Francis releases his new single “Can’t Get On With It,” a psychedelia-tinged meditation on the mental health struggles that dogged him throughout much of his adult life, from forthcoming album PTRN SKY!, out May 12 via Noble Steed Music. The record is Francis’ first full-length solo release since his 2019 departure from Dispatch, the alternative roots powerhouse he helped form in 1995.

Catbird Music Festival has shared the star-studded lineup for this year’s inaugural edition of the new two-day camping festival, taking place August 19-20 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, NY, marking the first camping and music event on the historic field since the original 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair.

Today, Pete Francis announces new album PTRN SKY!, out May 12 via Noble Steed Music. The record is Francis’ first full-length solo release since 2010 and his 2019 departure from Dispatch, the alternative roots powerhouse he helped form in 1995.

Florida’s favorite reggae festival – and now the largest touring festival in the country – has just announced their complete lineup for 2023! Entering its eight year, Reggae Rise Up Florida will return to Vinoy Park in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL, over the March 16-19 weekend for four sun-soaked days of music and fun!

Calling All Crows, the Massachusetts-based nonprofit co-founded by musician/advocate Chadwick Stokes (State Radio and Dispatch) and his partner Sybil Gallagher to bring their commitment to hands-on service and activism on the road, will celebrate its 15th Annual Benefit Weekend December 10, 2022, in Boston. The marquee event of the weekend is its benefit concert headlined by Chadwick Stokes & Friends at the House of Blues Boston on December 10th. Additional acts will be added to the concert lineup soon.

A trio of East Coast artists brought the jams to the Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, California, on a beautiful summer Tuesday, July 19th. Fans arrived early to picnic on the lawn in the back of the venue, enjoy food vendors with sumptuous offerings like wood-fired pizza and imbibe beverages from a vast selection of regional beer and wine.