Genre-bending New Orleans six-piece Sweet Magnolia returns this week with “August Nights,” a bright, brass-laced single written during Hurricane Francine and inspired by the quintessential 1970s summer-camp experience. The song will be available on all major streaming services Wednesday, June 18.

Fresh off his win as the 2024 IBMA Songwriter of the Year, acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Rick Faris unveils “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing,” the third advance single from his forthcoming album Life’s Parade, due July 11 on Dark Shadow Recording. A nimble, hard-driving track with a contemplative core, the song urges listeners to disconnect from the daily digital churn and reconnect with life’s deeper, human moments.

Two of indie-folk’s most acclaimed voices—“exceptional” duo Viv & Riley (No Depression) and “wonderful” singer-songwriter Rachel Baiman (Paste)—have joined forces under the playful banner kissing other ppl. Their self-titled debut arrives today on Peacedale Records, anchored by a shimmering first single: a revelatory take on Dr. Dog’s cult favorite “Where’d All the Time Go.” Listen/watch here: https://youtu.be/L3C44FHmIyo.

Dreamcatcher Events invites bluegrass lovers to kick off 2026 beneath the Sonoran sky at The McCoury & Douglas Family Pickin’ Party, a four-day, four-night immersion in picking, playing, and camaraderie set for January 2–5, 2026 at the historic Wig Wam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. Full details and registration are now live at delmccourypickinparty.com.

Denver-based quartet Velvet Daydream is on a mission to resurrect the golden age of the “classic rock show,” and their electrifying live performance will thunder into the Fox Theatre on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Joined by fellow Colorado acts Stil Runnin and Wampus Cat, the night promises a raucous journey through soaring guitar harmonies, powerhouse vocals, and the kind of on-stage swagger that’s been in short supply for decades.

Denver’s premier live-music destination, Dazzle (1080 14th Street), will harness the #PowerOfMusic this summer with Tribute Week—a seven-night celebration of legendary artists spanning jazz, soul, blues, fusion, and beyond. From July 13 through July 19, top Colorado musicians will honor Natalie Cole, Norah Jones, Etta James, Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, the unmistakable polish of Yacht Rock, and the cult-classic sounds of Cowboy Bebop.

The sonic adventurers of the Northeast will again “follow the arrow” to Griffin House on Friday, June 28, when pianist-composer Marco Benevento brings his family-friendly Follow The Arrow Festival back for its fourth edition. Running 2 p.m.–11 p.m. and presented by Back Home Cannabis Co., this year’s gathering expands on the event’s reputation for boundary-blurring performances and immersive, art-laden atmospheres nestled in the foothills of the Catskills.

Ashkenaz, Berkeley’s beloved non-profit music and dance community hub, rolls into summer with a joyful calendar that mirrors the venue’s 52-year mission of cultural exchange and rhythmic exploration. From Balkan folk dances to honky-tonk two-step, Ashkenaz’s wooden dance floor will stay in constant motion—yet it is the venue’s deep connection to the spirit of the Grateful Dead that takes center stage over the next five weeks.

Brian Douglas Wilson, the groundbreaking songwriter, producer, and visionary behind the Beach Boys, passed away on June 11, 2025, at the age of 82. Wilson was born on June 20, 1942, in Inglewood, California, and raised in the sunny suburb of Hawthorne, where he formed the iconic band along with his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. From humble beginnings rehearsing harmonies at home, the group would soon become synonymous with California’s sun-kissed beaches, youthful exuberance, and intricate, revolutionary soundscapes.

Sweetwater Music Hall, the storied, not-for-profit venue at 19 Corte Madera Avenue, turns up the heat this summer with a run of shows that underscores its mission to make world-class music accessible to all. Since 1972 the 501(c)(3) has championed creativity and community, and the weeks ahead carry that torch with everything from sea shanties to space rock—plus open-mic nights that nurture the next generation of Bay Area talent.