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.

Jim Kweskin, the octogenarian icon of jug band, jazz, blues and folk music, returns today with Doing Things Right, a vibrant 14-track revue released on Jalopy Records.

Fresh off the release of their genre-blurring live album Collabs: Live at Garcia’s at The Cap, indie-funk duo Twilight Muse sat down with Grateful Web to reflect on the spontaneous jam sessions that sparked the record, their unforgettable collaborations with legends like George Porter Jr., Robert Randolph, and G. Love, and the electric energy of late-night sets at Garcia’s.

Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Festival, the longest-running bluegrass celebration in the United States, makes its annual return to Bill Monroe’s Music Park & Campground in Bean Blossom, Indiana, from Wednesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14, 2025. Gates open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with on-stage performances, camping, workshops, and traditional Southern hospitality nestled in the rolling hills once trod by the Father of Bluegrass himself.

Crucial Reggae Sundays, the free, family-friendly reggae music series, makes its May debut at the historic Bandshell in Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse. Produced by Illuminate LIVE in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the series runs every Sunday through mid-November, bringing the island rhythms of Jamaica to San Francisco’s most iconic outdoor venue.

Cole Quest & the City Pickers trace a direct line from Woody Guthrie’s Dust Bowl ballads to the bustling streets of New York City on their richly imagined new album, Homegrown (Jalopy Records, July 18). Led by Woody’s grandson, Cole Quest, this ensemble distills the hearty spirit of folk and bluegrass while carving out its own contemporary voice.

Celebrated music photographer Michael Weintrob is set to host a special benefit event on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at his Nashville studio. The event will showcase his renowned "Instrumenthead" series, featuring portraits of Widespread Panic members, including rare images of the late guitarist Michael Houser.

Joel Timmons celebrated 4/20 in style by releasing a delightfully quirky music video for his infectious jam-rock track, "Turbo." The video, which premiered over the weekend, hilariously stars Joel's charismatic dog, Casper, and an entourage of canine friends acting out a comical recounting of a real-life incident involving Joel, his band, and the Cookeville Police Department in rural Tennessee.