User's Articles

Sweetwater Music Hall, the intimate, all-ages, wheelchair-accessible music venue and nonprofit arts organization at 19 Corte Madera Avenue in Mill Valley, today announces its May–early June concert calendar. Established in 1972, Sweetwater Music Hall presents an array of genres—rock, folk, blues, reggae, pop, experimental and beyond—underscoring its mission to harness the transformative power of live music to inspire change and unite communities.

Louisiana Red Hot Records is proud to announce the release of Corey and the Treme Funktet: Live at Vaughan’s, a blistering live album recorded during the band’s legendary Thursday night residency at Vaughan’s Lounge.

Topics

Renowned for blending global influences with the raw intimacy of American Primitive blues, guitarist Ryan Lee Crosby has journeyed from his Portsmouth home to the legendary Blue Front Café in Bentonia, Mississippi—the very juke joint founded in the 1940s where Skip James once played—to record his forthcoming album At the Blue Front, set for digital, CD, and cassette release on August 20.

Pedrito Martínez, songwriter and master of the Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum, will release Ilusión Óptica on May 30 (GroundUP Music). Bill Murray says it best at the top of the album: “I am here as your safety monitor to make sure that you are all prepared, completely ready to take an unforgettable journey on board the latest album entitled llusión Óptica from the very great Pedrito Martinez Group.”  

This past weekend at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Oteil Burbridge showcased a special instrument—a meticulously crafted replica of Phil Lesh’s iconic Mission Control #2 Bass. Built by luthier Leo Elliott of Scarlet Fire Guitars, this remarkable bass guitar was commissioned by the Grateful Guitars Foundation and instantly became the centerpiece of attention during select songs.

Reggae gets a fresh spark with “Hot Box,” the latest single from genre-blending band Mr. Mota, officially released on April 18. Released by InnerCat Music Group, the track dropped alongside a nostalgic music video inspired by That ’70s Show, and it’s already made waves with over 600,000 views on YouTube. As part of the launch, the band announced a special partnership with iconic lifestyle brand Dime Bags, bringing fans a unique fusion of sound, culture, and community.

Topics

Ohana Festival, the premier California beachside music event founded by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, returns to Doheny State Beach September 26–28, 2025, with an extraordinary three-day lineup spanning rock, folk, blues, and beyond. Presented in partnership with California State Parks and Kona Big Wave, this year’s festival offers fans an unparalleled seaside concert experience against the backdrop of Dana Point’s legendary surf breaks.

Music Factory Records announces the April 25 release of “Blurry Face,” a raw, exhilarating trio performance by guitarist-composer Ari Joshua alongside John Medeski (organ, clavinet) and Billy Martin (drums), the storied rhythm team of Medeski Martin & Wood. Tracked live at Applehead Recording Studios in New York, the piece distills the crackling spontaneity that defines great improvisational music.

Dark Shadow Recording (DSR) heads into the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) voting season with its most formidable showing to date, fielding contenders in virtually every major category. From marquee vocal honors to instrumental virtuosity and album-of-the-year consideration, the DSR roster underscores the label’s reputation for pairing forward-thinking artistry with deep bluegrass roots.

Becky Buller & The Becky Buller Band

    Female Vocalist of the Year – Becky Buller

Mountain Home Music Company and its sister imprint Organic Records have once again demonstrated their depth and diversity, fielding an impressive slate of recordings for consideration on this year’s first-round ballots. From hard-driving instrumentals and soaring bluegrass anthems to heartfelt gospel offerings, the labels’ roster underscores their shared commitment to delivering the very best in contemporary roots music.