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‘Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival’ Brings Bluegrass Vocals to CCR Classics

Eric Alper
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‘Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival’ Brings Bluegrass Vocals to CCR Classics

The Pickin’ On Series, known for its bluegrass interpretations of prominent artists and a beloved tradition at CMH Records for over 30 years and 300 albums, presents its latest installment: Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Revival. This album, set for digital and CD release on June 20, marks the first time bluegrass quartet Iron Horse put their fresh and unique bluegrass spin on the timeless songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. The Pickin’ On Series previously gave CCR the bluegrass treatment with the instrumental album Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: A Tribute (1999), and a bonus track reissue, Born on the Bayou: The Bluegrass Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival (2001); this new Iron Horse recording is the first to feature vocals and their own arrangements.

Since 2003, Iron Horse–Ricky Rogers (bass, vocals), Tony Robertson (mandolin, vocals), Vance Henry (guitar, vocals) and Anthony Richardson (banjo, vocals)–has been the main recording artist for Pickin’ On, lending their incredible musicianship, precise picking, rich harmonies and endlessly creative arrangements, delivering clever twists on these classics.

On Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Rising, Iron Horse take on swampy classics like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Looking Out My Back Door,” among others, honoring the rootsy spirit that defines CCR’s unforgettable catalog. This newest addition to their discography is sure to delight listeners of all kinds, and maybe lend a new appreciation for the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their blend of rock, blues and country continues to resonate with a worldwide audience well after disbanding in 1972, continuing to electrify new fans today.

The first single “Bad Moon Rising” is out today, May 23 on all major digital platforms, offering a preview of the full album dropping June 20.

“Well, here you go, the CCR project that people have been asking about for many years now,” shares Iron Horse’s Tony Robertson. “While this music may have come from a different time period, it’s like it may have just been created yesterday. The songs make me feel like I’m part of the bigger cosmic family. It was such a great experience doing this project because all the songs are so familiar and almost personal in that you can feel the vibe of reality coming from each track. ‘Bad Moon Rising,’ ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain,’ and ‘Long As I Can See The Light’ are classic and timeless tunes, perfect to translate into Bluegrass. It’s almost like they were written to be played by a bluegrass band.”

Though Pickin’ On started modestly in 1993 with the release of Pickin’ On the Movies, tributes to The Beatles and Eagles soon followed, and by 1997 the Pickin’ On Series was on fire. It continues to thrive with one hand in traditional bluegrass and the other in popular music, ready for the next chance to create innovative bluegrass music. Now over 30 years in and 300 albums deep, the Pickin’ On Series is one of the most beloved traditions at CMH.

Recent Pickin’ On releases, Pickin’ On The Doors, Pickin’ On Pearl Jam and Pickin’ On Nirvana, were well-received and garnered press from Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan, and Uproxx, among others. Pickin’ On Modest Mouse and Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica both charted on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart. The series has also been given extensive retrospective write-ups by Los Angeles Times and No Depression and songs from Pickin’ On have been featured in the television series Revolution and HBO’s True Blood. Other artists that have been given the Pickin’ On treatment include Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers Band, Coldplay, The Black Keys, Jack White, The Killers and many more.

Track listing for Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival:
Bad Moon Rising
Up Around the Bend
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Looking Out My Back Door
Hey Tonight
Traveling Band
Lodi
Who Will Stop the Rain
Down on the Corner
Proud Mary
Long As I Can See the Light
Someday Never Comes

Willie, Waylon and the Boys’ by Brian Fairbanks Traces the Outlaw Spirit in Country Music

Eric Alper
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Willie, Waylon and the Boys’ by Brian Fairbanks Traces the Outlaw Spirit in Country Music

The tragic and inspiring story of the leaders of Outlaw country and their influence on today’s Alt-County and Americana superstars, tracing a path from Waylon Jennings’ survival on the Day the Music Died through to the Highwaymen and on to the current creative and commercial explosion of Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, and the Highwomen.

On February 2, 1959, Waylon Jennings, bassist for his best friend, the rock star Buddy Holly, gave up his seat on a charter flight. Jennings joked that he hoped the plane, leaving without him, would crash. When it did, killing all aboard, on “the Day the Music Died,” he was devastated and never fully recovered.

Jennings switched to playing country, creating the Outlaw movement and later forming the Highwaymen supergroup, the first in country music, with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. The foursome battled addiction, record companies, ex-wives, violent fans, and the I.R.S. and D.E.A., en route to unprecedented mainstream success. Today, their acolytes Kacey Musgraves, Ryan Bingham, Sturgill Simpson, and Taylor Swift outsell all challengers, and country is the most popular of all genres.

In this fascinating new book, Brian Fairbanks draws a line from Buddy Holly through the Outlaw stars of the 60s and 70s, all the way to the country headliners and more diverse, up-and-coming Nashville rebels of today, bringing the reader deep into the worlds of not only Cash, Nelson, Kristofferson, and Jennings but artists like Chris Stapleton, Simpson, Bingham, and Isbell, stadium-filling masters whose stories have not been told in book form, as well as new, diverse artists like the Highwomen, Brittney Spencer, and Allison Russell. Thought-provoking and meticulously researched, Willie, Waylon, and the Boys ultimately shows how a twenty-one-year-old bass-playing plane crash survivor helped changed the course of American music.

Joe Bonamassa Shreds New Ground on Gritty Blues-Rock Burner “Drive By The Exit Sign”

Eric Alper
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Joe Bonamassa Shreds New Ground on Gritty Blues-Rock Burner “Drive By The Exit Sign”

Guitar slinger and blues-rock powerhouse Joe Bonamassa has released his latest single, “Drive By The Exit Sign,” a gritty, uptempo standout from his upcoming studio album Breakthrough, out July 18th via J&R Adventures. Fueled by a crunchy slide guitar riff, Southern-rock energy, and a full-throttle vocal performance, “Drive By The Exit Sign” finds Bonamassa leaning into the dirtier, road-tested side of his songwriting. It’s a breakup song disguised as a highway burner—fast-paced and hook-heavy, with lyrics that evoke missed chances, wrong turns, and the emotional wreckage we leave behind.

Produced by Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey), the single captures the raw, unfiltered side of Breakthrough, a record that spans genres and continents. Recorded across Greece, Nashville, and Los Angeles, Breakthrough reflects Bonamassa’s most expansive vision yet—a record that taps into swampy funk, acoustic introspection, arena-ready blues rock, and more.

Co-written by Bonamassa, James House, and producer Kevin Shirley, “Drive By The Exit Sign” follows the release of the album’s title track,“Breakthrough,” an anthemic, soul-stirring call to transformation that quickly became a fan favorite. That single, co-written with longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge, showcased Bonamassa’s growth as a storyteller and emotional interpreter, marking a new chapter in a career already defined by evolution.

The album also features previously released tracks “Still Walking With Me” and “Shake This Ground,” which introduced listeners to the wide-ranging soundscape Bonamassa has built on Breakthrough—from the introspective and moody to the celebratory and uplifting. Each single adds a new layer to an album that celebrates risk, reinvention, and deep musical roots.

The new music arrives as Bonamassa wraps his Spring 2025 European Tour, which brought sold-out crowds across the UK, Germany, and Central Europe. Next, he’ll hit the road with his supergroup Black Country Communion—featuring Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian—for a highly anticipated European run in June. A U.S. summer amphitheater tour follows, including stops at The Greek Theatre, Red Rocks, and more, with a full Fall U.S. Tour on the horizon.

With more than 50 albums, 28 #1 Billboard Blues albums, and a reputation as one of the hardest-working performers in music, Bonamassa continues to break new ground while staying deeply rooted in the blues-rock tradition. Breakthrough is his most ambitious effort yet—a celebration of craft, character, and sheer musical force.

For more information on Breakthrough, tour dates, and exclusive pre-order packages, visit jbonamassa.com.

CD Track list
1. Breakthrough
2. Trigger Finger
3. I’ll Take The Blame
4. Drive By The Exit Sign
5. Broken Record
6. Shake This Ground
7. Still Walking With Me
8. Life After Dark
9. You Don’t Own Me
10. Pain’s On Me

VINYL Track list

Side A
1. Breakthrough
2. Trigger Finger
3. I’ll Take The Blame
4. Drive By The Exit Sign
5. Broken Record

Side B
1. Shake This Ground
2. Still Walking With Me
3. Life After Dark
4. You Don’t Own Me
5. Pain’s On Me

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – EUROPE SUMMER TOUR 2025
June 6 – Fredericksburg, DK – Falkonersalen
June 7 – Solvesborg, SE – Sweden Rock Festival
June 9 – Tilburg, NL – 013 Poppodium Tilburg
June 10 – Hamburg, DE – Stadtpark
June 12 – Berlin, DE – Zitadelle
June 13 – Olomouc, CZ – Korunní Pevnůstka
June 15 – Charlotta Valley, PL – Rock Legends Festival
June 17 – Vienna, AT – Vienna Gasometer
June 19 – Köln, DE – Tanzbrunnen

EUROPE SUMMER TOUR 2025
July 1 – Cork, IE – Live at The Marquee*
July 2 – Cork, IE – Live at The Marquee*
July 3 – Cork, IE – Live at The Marquee
July 6 – Klam, AT – Clam Castle
July 8 – Veszprém, HU – Veszprémfest
July 10 – Stuttgart, DE – Jazzopen Stuttgart
July 13 – Weert, NL – Bospop
July 16 – Montreux, CH – Montreux Jazz Festival
July 18 – Pordenone, IT – San Valentino Park
July 19 – Rome, IT – Auditorium Parco della Musica – Cavea

* Sold Out

U.S. SUMMER TOUR 2025
July 31 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
August 1 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
August 3 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
August 5 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
August 6 – Pocatello, ID – Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre
August 8 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 9 – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Resort & Casino Amphitheater

SEPTEMBER 2025
September 7 – Chicago, IL – United Center*
September 9 – Chicago, IL – United Center*
September 12 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Festival
September 13 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
September 15-21, 2025 – Seattle, WA – Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea ALASKA

 *Opening for The Who

U.S. FALL TOUR 2025
November 3 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
November 5 – Toronto, ON – The Theatre at Great Canadian Toronto
November 7 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
November 8 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre
November 10 – Rockford, IL – Coronado Theatre
November 11 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
November 14 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater
November 15 – Houston, TX – The Hobby Center
November 18 – Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center Selena Auditorium
November 19 – Abilene, TX – Abilene Auditorium
November 21 – Midland, TX – Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center
November 22 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
November 23 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
November 25 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center
November 26 – St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre
November 29 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
November 30 – Montgomery, AL – Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
December 2 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre
December 3 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
December 5 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
December 6 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

SteelDrivers Blaze New Trails with ‘Outrun’ and 20th Anniversary Tour

Eric Alper
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SteelDrivers Blaze New Trails with ‘Outrun’ and 20th Anniversary Tour

Amidst their 20th anniversary as a band, GRAMMY-winning quintet, The SteelDrivers, aren’t looking over their shoulders at the road to the here and now. Quite the contrary, where the Americana and bluegrass icons are aiming is headlong towards the unknowns of tomorrow with one simple, yet powerful, thought permeating throughout: What’s next? “Very early in the game, we were determined to do our own original music. And we stood by it, where now we’re reaping those rewards,” says SteelDrivers fiddler, Tammy Rogers. “The sound has been really unique, because nobody’s expected to play like somebody else—everybody has their own individual voice.”

Cultivating that deep sense of self and of the independent, freewheelin’ spirit residing at the core of The SteelDrivers since their inception, the band’s brand new album, Outrun, is an ode to the trials and tribulations of life itself, where certain undeniable truths about love, lore, and legacy come to pass as the clock keeps ticking. Outrun features the classic, blues-infused bluegrass sound the band has been known for for two decades now, footloose and fun, rich with stories and singalongs alike. Beyond the ever-evolving musical nature of The SteelDrivers, this seamless ebb and flow between intricate bluegrass and the hardscrabble blues, another key element of Outrun is this underlying tribute to late founding member Mike Henderson. And though Henderson passed away in 2023, his memory and presence is still profoundly felt by the group, onstage and in the studio.

Outrun is The SteelDrivers first release with their new label partner, the legendary Sun Records. “As The SteelDrivers celebrate the 20th year of their musical odyssey, I cannot imagine a finer coupling for our new recording than the iconic Sun Records,” said SteelDrivers bassist Mike Fleming of the signing announcement. Rogers added, “We’re excited to partner with a true icon. Sun Records definitely has the ‘cool’ factor!”

Fans can stream or purchase Outrun in its entirety today at this link. In addition to rolling out their new album, The SteelDrivers are celebrating this year with The SteelDrivers 20th Anniversary Tour. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at thesteeldrivers.com.

Catch the SteelDrivers on their 20th Anniversary Tour:

May 25 – Cumberland, MD – DelFest

May 30 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns

May 31 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns

June 1 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns

June 14 – Lexington, KY – Festival of the Bluegrass

June 21 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern

June 22 – Winchester, CA – Balloon and Wine Festival

June 28 – Owensboro, KY – ROMP

June 29 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry

July 4 – Garrettsville, OH – Grassfire Festival

July 9 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile

July 10 – Portland, OR – Topaz Farm

July 11 – Bellingham, WA – Tune In Festival

July 25 – Grass Valley, CA – Center for the Arts

July 26 – Reno, NV – Robert Z Hawkins Ampitheatre

August 8 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts

August 9 – Clayton, NY – Clayton Opera House

August 10 – Schenectady, NY – Music Haven Central Park

August 15 – Manchester, VT – Green Mtn Bluegrass and Roots Festival

August 16 – Mason, NH – The Range

August 22 – Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre

August 23 – Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre

August 24 – Boulder, CO – eTown Hall

August 30 – Piketon, OH – SamJam

September 4 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall

September 5 – Pontiac, MI – Flagstar Strand Theatre

September 6 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gat Theatre

September 19 – Lexington, KY – Lexington Opera House

September 20 – Lexington, KY – Lexington Opera House

October 3 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

October 4 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

October 17 – Manteo, NC – OBX Bluegrass Festival

October 18 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere

October 19 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere

October 22 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre

October 23 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre

October 24 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre

October 25 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre

Psychedelic Punk Mutants Frankie and the Witch Fingers Unleash ‘Trash Classic’ with a Browser Game

Eric Alper
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Psychedelic Punk Mutants Frankie and the Witch Fingers Unleash ‘Trash Classic’ with a Browser Game

Today, influential Los Angeles psychedelic punk rockers Frankie and the Witch Fingers have shared “Gutter Priestess,” the last single before the release of their new album Trash Classic (June 6, 2025 // The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway Records). In lieu of a music video, the band partnered with FolksPat Media to release a fully-playable “Gutter Priestess” video game – try it HERE. The creators of the free-to-play browser game have also contributed to titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion, Creed: Rise to Glory VR, Dead by Daylight, Lord of the Rings: War in the North, and more.

“‘Gutter Priestess’ felt filthy from the get,” the band’s Dylan Sizemore says. “I was hooked up to Burroughs and his junk-sick energy, romanticizing my own bad decisions and dark thoughts, cutting up lyrics, letting meaning rearrange itself. The whole thing turned into a brown, sharded nightmare but with a seductive dancey pulse.

When we went to record it, everyone leaned into the crust. The parts feel barbed and sharp – like they crawled out of a drainpipe with glass in their gums. Hopefully the lighter synth lines in the chorus add a sugary sweetness to all the rot and decay.”

The white-hot demand to see the band live knows no bounds, and has since carried over to the intimate album release shows they announced in London, New York City, and Los Angeles – all three have sold out. See below for more information on these shows, as well as their other headline world tour dates.

Hooks so infectious they rot on impact. Trash Classic marks a feral mutation for Frankie and the Witch Fingers—a record that snarls with proto-punk venom, angular melodies, and electronic textures that cough and sputter like dying neon lights under a poisoned sky.

This record pushes the Witch Fingers’ sound to a razor’s edge. Wiry and twitching, it bends into synth-punk and fractured new wave, with fragments of industrial grime caked under its nails. Guitars detonate and slice like cinder blocks through glass, while gnashing basslines slither through the sludge, alive and seething. Buzzy synths take the forefront, driving relentless rhythms that crack and pop, drenched in a chemically saturated sheen—part bug-eyed speed-freak pogo, part dance-floor delirium. The vocals cut through like static-laced transmissions—balancing both smirk and sneer—layering playful unease over themes of escapism, decay, and overindulgence.

The songs were born in the grime of Vernon, Los Angeles—a wasteland littered with gutted RVs and rusting machinery, where the air tastes like asphalt and dog food. But the real alchemy happened in Oakland, at Tiny Telephone Studio, where producer Maryam Qudus (La Luz, Spacemoth) helped transmute the tracks into their final forms. Unhinged tones, unconventional recording experiments, and wild sonic detours transformed the songs into something alive and unpredictable.

Every day of recording began with cartoons blaring at full volume—a Looney Tunes ritual that turned the madness of the recording process into something child-like. Late at night, sugar-fueled candy binges kept the energy spiking, pushing the sessions into a fever dream of jittery, spastic playfulness.

The result is a raw, twisted monument to rot and excess—toxic glamour and nihilistic salvation. Trash Classic isn’t just a record; it’s an auditory dumpster bible—a gutter gospel for those ready to dive into its filth.

Los Angeles psych-punk shapeshifters Frankie and the Witch Fingers have spent the last decade mutating their sound into bold, electrifying new forms. Their latest release, Trash Classic (via Greenway Records and The Reverberation Appreciation Society), plunges into a sewer-slick fusion of proto-punk venom, fractured new wave, and industrial grime. Brimming with wiry synths, angular melodies, and grooves that squirm and bite, it’s all delivered with a sly, playful wink. Fueled by relentless global touring and a fierce DIY ethos, the band has shared stages with OFF!, Ty Segall, Oh Sees, Cheap Trick, and ZZ Top, cementing their place as one of the most unforgettable live acts around. Frankie and the Witch Fingers continue to morph, dragging listeners into whatever warped direction their experimental journey takes next.

FRANKIE AND THE WITCH FINGERS
TRASH CLASSIC – Release date: June 6, 2025
(The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway Records)
Track list:
1. Channel Rot
2. T.V. Baby
3. Dead Silence
4. Fucksake
5. Economy
6. Eggs Laid Brain
7. Out of the Flesh
8. Total Reset
9. Conducting Experiments
10. Gutter Priestess
11. Trash Classic

FRANKIE AND THE WITCH FINGERS
ON TOUR 2025
5/21 – Biarritz, FR – Atabal
5/22 – Rouen, FR – Le 106
5/23 – London, UK – Wide Awake Festival
5/25 – Berlin, DE – Desertfest
5/27 – Cherbourg, FR – Le Circuit
5/28 – Brighton, UK – Daltons
5/30 – London, UK – Shacklewell Arms ^
5/31 – Bristol, UK – Strange Brew
6/01 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
6/05 – Berlin – New York, NY ^
6/07 – Permanent Records Roadhouse – Los Angeles, CA ^
7/15 – Felton Music Hall – Felton, CA °
7/16 – The Chapel – San Francisco, CA °
7/19 – The Den – Portland, OR °
7/20 – The Pearl – Vancouver, BC °
7/23 – Shrine Social Club – Boise, ID °
7/24 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT °
7/25 – Mesa Theater – Grand Junction, CO °
7/26 – Underground Music Showcase – Denver, CO
7/27 – Sister Bar – Albuquerque, NM °
7/29 – Hotel Congress – Tucson, AZ °
7/30 – Rebel Lounge – Phoenix, AZ °
7/31 – Swan Diver – Las Vegas, NV °
8/01 – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA °
8/02 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA °
8/31 – Bumbershoot Music Festival – Seattle, WA
9/19 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY *
9/20 – First Unitarian Church – Philadelphia, PA *
9/21 – Songbyrd – Washington, DC *
9/23 – Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC *
9/24 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA *
9/26 – Chelsea’s Live – Baton Rouge, LA *
9/27 – Dan Electros – Houston, TX *
9/28 – To Be Announced – Austin, TX
9/29 – Tulips – Fort Worth, TX *
10/1 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL *
10/2 – Turf Club – Minneapolis, MN *
10/3 – X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI *
10/4 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH *
10/5 – Third Man Records – Detroit, MI *
10/7 – Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON *
10/8 – Foufounes Électriques – Montréal, QC *
10/9 – Oxbow Brewing – Portland, ME *
10/10 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA *
10/11 – Lark Hall – Albany, NY *
^ – intimate album release show
° with Iguana Death Cult
* with Population II

Jazz in Bloom Healdsburg Jazz Festival Returns With Soulful Legends, Sonoma Sips, and Unforgettable Summer Vibes

Eric Alper
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Jazz in Bloom Healdsburg Jazz Festival Returns With Soulful Legends, Sonoma Sips, and Unforgettable Summer Vibes

Sonoma County’s premier summer music event, Healdsburg Jazz Festival (HJF) returns to the heart of Northern California’s internationally-renowned wine country for its 27th annual festival from June 13 – 22, 2025 featuring many of today’s top performing jazz legends and emerging artists shaping the future of the genre. Held in exquisite Healdsburg venues, boutique hotels, and acclaimed Sonoma County wineries, Healdsburg Jazz Festival is a one-in-a-kind destination festival with GRAMMY Award-winning stars, NEA Jazz Masters, and rising artists appearing amongst the picturesque Sonoma hills and valleys while music fans take in the sights, sounds, and sips of the finest wines in the world. Healdsburg Jazz Festival is under the artistic direction of lauded composer/bassist Marcus Shelby.

The epicenter of Healdsburg Jazz Festival 2025 are the unforgettable concerts at Bacchus Landing (LINK), where a curated collection of seven boutique wineries — showcasing a wide range of grape varietals and winemaking styles — add to the allure of the world-class live entertainment along with wood-fired pizzas available in the beautiful courtyard with theater style seating. Entice your senses while basking in the delights of Bacchus headliners including five-time GRAMMY winner and NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves for an intimate tête-à-tête with Brazilian jazz guitar Romero Lubambo (Friday, June 20). A not-to-be-missed Father’s Day celebration welcomes dads and their families on Sunday, June 15 with Hawaiian-born ukulele maestro Jake Shimabukuro taking the stage at Bacchus Landing. The evening includes Chef Mateo Granados serving Kahlua pig for the Father’s Day occasion, Healdsburg-style, and culinary star Christine Law scooping her craft gelato from her beloved Flora Gelateria. Across a variety of Healdsburg venues, opening weekend also features jazz master Kenny Barron Voices with buzzy vocalist Tyreek McDole (Raven Performing Arts Theater) on Friday, June 13, as well as the 4th annual free Juneteenth Celebration in the Healdsburg Plaza on Saturday, June 14 bringing together the Orrin Evans Trio (The Bad Plus) with The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol, Tyreek McDole Quintet, HJF Poet Laureate Enid Pickett, and a late-night outdoor ticketed set by the Howard Wiley Quartet (Elephant in the Room).

Other Bacchus Landing headliners include GLIDE Ensemble with Kenny Washington and RyanNicole (Monday, June 16); Jason Moran with the Marcus Shelby Orchestra featuring vocalist Darynn Dean (Thursday, June 19); Terri Lyne Carrington celebrates the centennial of pioneering bebop drummer Max Roach with a live presentation of her newly recorded cover album of Roach’s pioneering, We Insist 2025! Ace NYC jazz drummer Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom opens the show; and HJF caps off with a special New Orleans closing night with GRAMMY-winning trumpeter Nicholas Payton and BIG CHIEF Donald Harrison’s famed Crescent City quartet with Parish Cafe serving up New Orleans specialties.

Festival highlights throughout the week includes an exciting lunch concert at one of the region’s premier new wineries and major HJF sponsor Overshine Wines with live music by Destiny Muhammad Quartet featuring SF Poet Laureate Genny Lim on Tuesday, June 17; as well as same-day events including an Artist Talk spotlighting the accomplishments of Black Women in Jazz by Rising Star Artist in Residence Amina Scott at St. Paul’s Church and the 17-piece all women big band Melba’s Kitchen in the Healdsburg Plaza (Tuesday, June 17); a Cocktail Concert with Amina Scott Quartet at the hip and elevated HJF major sponsor Spoonbar/h2hotel (Wednesday, June 18), — each ticket includes an Enelalma cocktail or glass of Healdsburg wine; Master Artist in Residence Bruce Forman with his trio at Elephant in the Room (Thursday, June 19); Los Tangueros del Oeste at Elephant in the Room (Friday, June 20); Healdsburg Jazz Freedom Jazz Choir directed by Tiffany Austin and the Healdsburg Jazz Collective at the Healdsburg Community Church (Saturday, June 21); live concert and jam with the Sylvia Cuenca Trio at Hotel Healdsburg’s Spirit Bar (Saturday, June 21); and the celebrated tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana at the 222 at Paul Mahder Gallery (Sunday, June 22).

Healdsburg Jazz Festival 2025 unites Bay Area residents and visitors alike through impeccable programming of brilliant jazz artists set amid the backdrop of 180 surrounding wineries and 30 gourmet restaurants. Healdsburg Jazz Festival partners with GRAMMY-winning artists, Michelin-starred chefs, award-winning wineries, and poets for an unbelievable 10 days in wine country. On any given day, Healdsburg Jazz presents highly curated events throughout its festival in stunning and intimate settings that reflect the natural beauty and creative energy of Healdsburg, Calif.. With ticketed, free, and educational community events (like Healdsburg Jazz’s free pop-up dance classes on Juneteenth), the Healdsburg Jazz Festival truly has something for everyone.

“This year marks the 27th year anniversary of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival and will be my 5th year as artistic director,” says Marcus Shelby, Artistic Director of Healdsburg Jazz Festival. “I am proud to say that we have again created a wonderful summer festival that is musically, artistically, and culturally diverse and takes place in Healdsburg’s incredibly beautiful wineries, public spaces, clubs, and theaters. We will honor the African American holiday ‘Juneteenth’ with a powerful lineup of musical artists, celebrate Father’s Day with our first concert ever with ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, and showcase industry masters and rising stars throughout the week. Healdsburg Jazz Festival is a destination, where people can plan their summer vacations to come and experience all that the festival and region have to offer. We are truly presenting a program at the intersection of the arts with award-winning wine and culinary offerings at the highest levels. For 2025, we are elevating our large format venues with more headliners than ever at Bacchus Landing with VIP packages offering the ultimate festival experience. We are very thankful to the city and community of Healdsburg and hope you can enjoy and cherish 10 days of music and art in wine country. Thank you!”

Highlights of Headlining Artists @ 27th Anniversary of Healdsburg Jazz Festival 2025

Dianne Reeves & Romero Lubambo
In jazz’s royal family, there’s Lady, Duke, Count and several knights of the piano dubbed Sir. And on the contemporary scene, vocalist Dianne Reeves is the undisputed Queen. Possessing a velvet-plush tone and commanding sense of swing, she embodies jazz as a welcoming art form. Invariably described as regal due to her sweepingly generous demeanor, the NEA Jazz Master is a five-time Grammy winner whose blend of jazz, R&B and Caribbean currents flow seamlessly via her vocal virtuosity and improvisational prowess. It’s no wonder that she’s the first singer to ever win GRAMMYs for three consecutive recordings. Reeves will be joined at Bacchus Landing for an intimate tête-à-tête with Brazilian jazz guitar great Romero Lubambo, a brilliant improviser himself who co-founded the all-star New York Brazilian jazz combo Trio da Paz. A musical partner of Reeve’s for more than three decades, he’s an unsurpassed master of duo encounters, providing exquisite melodic, harmonic and rhythmic support. In the stripped down setting with Lubambo, Reeves is at her most expansive, an empress clothed in voluptuously lyrical Brazilian-tinged raiments.

Jake Shimabukuro
Jake Shimabukuro is the Big Daddy of the ukulele, and he’s got a special program to celebrate his Healdsburg Jazz Festival debut on Father’s Day. It’s been almost two decades since the Hawaiian-born maestro catapulted to fame when a clip of him tearing through “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” in New York’s Central Park went viral on YouTube. He’s been soaring ever since, expanding the possibilities on his diminutive four-string instrument with his virtuosity and fearless imagination. Blending jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and classical techniques, he’s forged a singular approach sought out by a disparate cast of stars, including Yo-Yo Ma, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Ziggy Marley, Sonny Landreth and Willie Nelson. Shimabukuro is at his most unfettered performing solo, or with his partner on bass, his fingers flying over the uke with hummingbird grace.

Kenny Barron
What better way to open the Festival than a bona fide legend described by Jazz Weekly as “the most lyrical piano player of our time”? With his consummate mix of power and melodic invention, NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron has elevated the jazz scene since 1962, when Dizzy Gillespie hired the 19-year-old pianist straight outta Philly. He’s been a creative force ever since, both as a sideman for a succession of jazz stars like Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson and Stan Getz and as a bandleader, composer and educator. In recent decades his group has served a proving ground for some of the music’s most prodigious young players, like the extraordinary drummer who powers Barron’s trio, Johnathan Blake (a fellow Philadelphian) and bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa. Joining them is 25-year-old Haitian-American vocalist Tyreek McDole, a phenomenon who in 2023 became only the second male singer to win the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition. Introducing himself to Healdsburg Jazz audiences with Barron’s trio continues his magic carpet ride in luxuriant style.

We’ll be rolling out the red carpet and celebrating in grand style this opening night, so dress up if you like, and join us for this special night on the town — Sparkling included!

Tyreek McDole
Winner of the 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Tyreek McDole joins Kenny Baron Voices at HJF. At the Sarah Vaughan competition, McDole’s win marks only the second time a male vocalist has won in the contest’s 12-year history. The 25-year-old Haitian-American vocalist from Florida, McDole is making waves in the New York and international music scene. His journey began with a standout debut at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2018 Essentially Ellington Competition, where he won the Outstanding Vocalist Award, presented by Wynton Marsalis. Since then, he has shared the stage with artists like Rodney Whitaker, Theo Croker, Gary Bartz, Maurice Brown, and Joey Alexander. McDole earned a degree in jazz performance from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, under the guidance of esteemed instructors LaTanya Hall, Gary Bartz, Gerald Cannon, Eddie Henderson, Billy Hart, Dan Wall, Sullivan Fortner, and Weedie Braimah. McDole’s upcoming release, Open Up Your Senses, drops soon on Artwork Records.

Jason Moran
Warmed up after an acclaimed four-night winter run at the SFJAZZ Center, piano great Jason Moran rejoins forces with the Marcus Shelby Orchestra for a deep dive into Ellingtonia, the supremely sophisticated, wittily sardonic, and unspeakably beautiful body of music created by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The evening opens with a 30-minute solo performance by Moran, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, artistic director for jazz at the Kennedy Center, and among the most celebrated pianists of his generation. Afterwards, he’ll be joined by Shelby’s talent-packed orchestra featuring rising vocal star Darynn Dean, a strikingly gifted chanteuse who hails from an illustrious Los Angeles jazz clan. Her February performances with Moran and Shelby announced the arrival of a major new talent, just as the SFJAZZ residency revealed the deep conceptual and sonic affinities between Moran, described by Rolling Stone as “the most provocative thinker in current jazz,” and Shelby, whose deeply informed works revel in the soulful sinew connecting Harlem stride piano, Ellington, Monk and Andrew Hill.

Prior to Jason Moran, Marcus Shelby will perform with his Orchestra, a big band comprised of some of the Bay Area’s most respected and well-known instrumentalists. In many ways, Shelby has turned his orchestra into an exemplar of the kind of equitable society he advocates for off the bandstand. It’s an ensemble that embodies the diversity that makes the Bay Area such a creative hothouse, where the horn section features veteran masters sitting next to rising teenagers, and it’s all part of the mix.

*Prior to the performance, Jason Moran and DownBeat’s Ted Panken will host an educational Duke Ellington Listening Session. This will the most insightful 45 minutes.

Terri Lyne Carrington
More than one of jazz’s most exciting and widely esteemed drummers, Terri Lyne Carrington is a GRAMMY Award-winning producer, composer, educator, activist and visionary who has radically expanded the space for women in jazz. Celebrating the centennial of pioneering bebop drummer Max Roach, Carrington recently recorded 1960’s We Insist! Freedom Now Suite, one of the first major jazz statements in clarion support of the civil rights movement. Paying homage to the legacy of Roach, vocalist Abbey Lincoln and lyricist Oscar Brown, Jr., she sonically reimagines the suite while maintaining its powerful social justice message. One of the youngest musicians ever anointed as an NEA Jazz Master, she’s the founder and director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. Among her most consequential initiatives, she compiled and edited the book New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets By Women Composers, which has led to an exponential increase in performances by a century of jazz women, from Lil Hardin Armstrong to Melissa Aldana.

Allison Miller Quartet
With power, poise and a mile-deep pocket, Allison Miller has become a definitive 21st century drummer and bandleader. Whether touring with the all-women all-star band Artemis, her own celebrated band Boom Tic Boom or the Lux Quartet, which she co-leads with piano great Myra Melford, Miller is a trap set marvel with an infinitely shaded rhythmic palette. While based in New York, she’s put down deep ties in the region as artistic director for Jazz Camp West, and her love of the Bay Area turns her performances here into joyous celebrations.

Opening for Nicholas Payton is Donald Harrison and his famed New Orleans Quartet. So many verdant musical lineages converge in the person of saxophonist Big Chief Donald Harrison that it’s hard to take his measure. Once hailed as a brilliant young lion, he’s now a New Orleans institution who has embraced the Mardi Gras Indians mantle once worn by his father. He put in a formative stint in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers with Terence Blanchard, infusing new energy into a group legendary as a proving ground for young talent. They went on to form one of the best bands of the 1980s, and Harrison has been recognized as a leading force on the alto and soprano sax ever since. An NEA Jazz Master whose rhythmic fluency melds bebop and funk, R&B and Caribbean currents, Harrison can often be found mentoring rising young players, like the blazing cast in his working quartet. Performing with Harrison: Joe Dyson on drums, Dan Kaufman on piano, and Nori Naraoka on bass.

Nicholas Payton
GRAMMY Award-winning New Orleans trumpeter Nicholas Payton infuses everything he plays with the singular history of his hometown. Blues and funk, parade rhythms and R&B and a century of evolving jazz idioms course through his horn, delivered with power, precision and poise. Hailing from an esteemed musical family — he’s the son of bassist and sousaphone expert Walter Payton — he started playing in brass bands at 10 and got his first steady gig from banjo legend Danny Barker, who played with first-generation jazz artists like Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson and Sidney Bechet. Payton has been a creative force since his late teens, collaborating with a daunting array of masters and recording prolifically as a leader, mostly in recent years for his Paytone Records. A conceptualist who rejects the term jazz in favor of Black American Music (BAM), his coinage for a more embracing approach to musical creation, Payton makes labels superfluous with his bountiful soul and unfussy virtuosity.

Melissa Aldana
Melissa Aldana cemented her reputation as a blazing young star in 2013 when the Chilean-born tenorist won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition (a contest in which her father had been a semi-finalist in 1991). At 24, she was the youngest person to take top honors, as well as the first female and the first South American. With her brawny tone and hurtling delivery, she’s delivering one galvanizing performance after another, but in recent years she’s emerged as an equally formidable composer, with a concept deeply informed by Wayne Shorter. Her group is anchored by bassist Pablo Menares, who like Aldana grew up in Santiago. He’s played a central role in her music since she founded her first touring group 12 years ago, Crash Trio. Drummer Kush Abadey is a New York mainstay who joined powerhouse trumpeter Wallace Roney’s band at 16, and pianist Glenn Zaleski is a similarly sought-after sideman who’s made a name for himself playing with the likes of Ravi Coltrane, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Ken Peplowski. Under Aldana’s direction, the quartet ventures deep into the tantalizing unknown.

GLIDE Ensemble with Kenny Washington and MC RyanNicole
An evening of gospel with the GLIDE Ensemble Choir and Change Band, GRAMMY-nominated Kenny Washington, and MC RyanNicole. From its humble beginnings on Christmas Day, 1966, when it was only 10 singers and jazz legend John Handy, the Glide Ensemble grew to include more than 100 voices and eight musicians. Beginning with the first choir director, Faith Winthrop, the Glide Ensemble has benefitted from the direction of such talented leaders as Donnell Hickman, Ronald Sutherland, John F. Turk, Jr., Clifford Coulter, and Vernon Bush, and has teamed up with a host of notable musicians such as Sammy Davis Jr., Leonard Bernstein, Marvin Gaye, Bono, Bobby McFerrin, Maya Angelou, and Joan Baez.

Every Sunday, at Glide Memorial Church, the drums pulse and the brass rise and fall as the Glide Ensemble take center stage with their signature opening song, “Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior.” They beckon San Francisco, and the world, for a transcendent spiritual experience that heals and saves lives. Touching thousands of people every year, the Glide Ensemble draw together those with disparate spiritual paths and life circumstances to sing of liberation, truth telling, love and hope.

This is a debut for GLIDE at our Healdsburg Jazz Festival and this is a concert you should not miss!

From north of the Golden Gate Bridge all the way to the Oregon border, Healdsburg Jazz Festival is the place to truly experience a boutique jazz festival committed to hosting celebrated artists on venerable stages with the culinary and wine excellence of Sonoma County within arms-reach. Stay tuned to healdsburgjazz.org.

MAJOR Festival Sponsors: Foley Family Foundation, Healdsburg Chamber – Stay Healdsburg, Hotel Healdsburg, and Overshine

Healdsburg Jazz Festival 2025
When: June 13 – 22, 2025
Where: Downtown Healdsburg, Calif.
Admission: www.healdsburgjazz.org
Tickets: Free – $275 (On Sale to Patron/Angel/Advocate Members on March 31; All Members on April 5; General Public on April 10)
More Info: www.healdsburgjazz.org

Healdsburg Jazz Festival 2025 Artist Lineup
DIANNE REEVES, JASON MORAN, KENNY BARRON, TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON, JAKE SHIMABUKURO, MELISSA ALDANA, BIG CHIEF DONALD HARRISON, ORRIN EVANS, NICHOLAS PAYTON, TYREEK MCDOLE, FAYE CAROL, BRUCE FORMAN, AMINA SCOTT, MARCUS SHELBY ORCHESTRA, ALLISON MILLER, HOWARD WILEY, GLIDE MEMORIAL CHOIR, KENNY WASHINGTON, DESTINY MUHAMMAD QUINTET, GENNY LIM, MELBA’S KITCHEN BIG BAND, LORCA HART, SYLVIA CUENCA, TIFFANY AUSTIN & THE HEALDSBURG FREEDOM JAZZ CHOIR, ENID PICKETT, SUSANNA ARENAS, HEALDSBURG JAZZ COLLECTIVE, LOS TANGUEROS DEL OESTE

About Healdsburg Jazz Festival
The Healdsburg Jazz Festival is a celebration of the indigenous American art form known as Jazz. Over the past 27 years, the festival has become a favorite local tradition with a growing national and international reputation. The 10-day festival of public performances by world-renowned musicians in diverse settings primarily outdoors including Bacchus Landing, Healdsburg Plaza, the glamorous Hotel Healdsburg and h2hotel, Paul Mahder Gallery; historic theaters, nightclubs and other unique settings such as Spoonbar, The Raven Theater, Elephant In The Room, St. Paul’s Church, Healdsburg Community Church; and Overshine Wine.

In addition to the annual festival, held in June each year, the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization sponsors numerous music education programs in Healdsburg area schools for primary and secondary school students, and presents a series of Jazz Masters concerts throughout the year.

For more information, please visit: www.healdsburgjazz.org

Marcus King Brings Back Family Reunion Festival With BBQ, Blues, and Big-Hearted Vibes

Eric Alper
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Marcus King Brings Back Family Reunion Festival With BBQ, Blues, and Big-Hearted Vibes

“When I was growing up in South Carolina, once a year we’d pack the family car up and head to my great grandparents’ home for some front porch pickin’, covered dishes, lots of love, and plenty of leftovers,” says fourth-generation Carolinian musician Marcus King. “This is where I learned about the joy music could bring and how it’s a powerful force that brings us all together.” With his childhood memory bank as direct inspiration, King, along with his Marcus King Band, is bringing a whole lot more family and friends together on a much larger porch this summer for the Marcus King Band Family Reunion. “I want to bring that same joy to all of you folks this year with the return of the annual Marcus King Band Family Reunion,” says King. “We’re thrilled to bring the reunion down to the coast of South Carolina!”

Over the weekend of August 23rd and 24th, at North Charleston, South Carolina’s Firefly Distillery, King and his musical family—Jamey Johnson, Marcus King Band, of course, Stephen Wilson, Jr., Molly Tuttle, Hiss Golden Messenger, Joshua Ray Walker, Leah Blevins, Pearl, Henry’s Pocket, and a special Marcus King & Friends set—will take the stage amidst ultimate lowcountry vibes, and don’t bother bringing a covered dish or casserole, there will be barbecue smoke perfuming the air for two days straight.

Using the festival’s location as inspiration, and staying true to any good family gathering, VIP tickets feature the ultimate immersive playground for those looking to sample some of the best barbecue in the South. Renowned pitmasters All Pro Smoke Show’s Andy Knudson, Will Andrews of Rolling Bones, Aaron Siegel & Taylor Garrigan of Home Team BBQ, and Matt Register of Southern Smoke will be live fire cooking all weekend long. Enjoy fresh samples straight off the fire: whole hog, beef ribs, chicken, fish, seafood, coal-roasted root vegetables, and more. Guests can pair their wide range of BBQ delicacies with cocktails from Firefly Distillery. VIP also includes access to the air-conditioned Firefly Club with viewing deck, private restrooms, and a VIP-only cash bar.

A variety of ticketing options are on sale now at LiveNation.com, with $1 from every ticket sold going towards the Curfew Fellowship Fund, Marcus King’s Charity, which provides and assists those struggling with sobriety, addiction, and also helps fund music education.

Greenville, South Carolina-born, Nashville-based Marcus King started performing alongside his blues guitarist father when he was just eight years old. He made his solo debut with El Dorado (2020), produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. The album was met with widespread acclaim, with the Associated Press calling it “a definite high point of 2020.” It went on to earn King his landmark Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

He followed up the success of El Dorado with Young Blood (2022), also produced by Auerbach. His sophomore album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums Chart, describing it as a “staggeringly confident work.” Last year King returned with his third album, Mood Swings, produced by Rick Rubin, of which Rolling Stone describes, “he…goes for something much more daring, vulnerable, and openhearted.”

My Morning Jacket Get Joyously Surreal in New “Everyday Magic” Video Directed by Amanda Kramer

Eric Alper
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My Morning Jacket Get Joyously Surreal in New “Everyday Magic” Video Directed by Amanda Kramer

“‘The song, ‘Everyday Magic,’ came from meeting someone who taught me to see the magic in the simple things we often take for granted,” says My Morning Jacket’s vocalist/guitarist Jim James. Today, the band releases a fun and joyous official music video for the track, directed by Amanda Kramer (Magdalena Bay), to complement the simple yet complex emotions that went into its writing.

“We haven’t appeared in many of our music videos historically, but I have always wanted to make an MMJ music video for a song that had us in it acting silly and having FUN, and it felt like ‘Everyday Magic’ would be a perfect song to do this for,” says James.

“I had a vision of us running around being goofy and doing various activities that felt ‘FUN!’ in a surreal way. After doing some research, I came across some beautifully strange videos done by the amazing Amanda Kramer. We got in touch, and she helped us bring this vision to beautiful wild weird technicolor dancing LIFE! It was such a joy working with her and her team, and def the most fun we ever had doing a music video shoot! We hope you have as much fun watching it!”

“It’s rare that a band wants to collaborate, and even rarer that they want to be creatively surprised,” says Kramer. “I loved this process – from prep to shoot to post, we laughed, amused ourselves, danced – and ultimately paid art service to the single, a song that should be a poptimistic hit. My Morning Jacket is five talented men…who smile.”

My Morning Jacket recently wrapped up the opening leg of their MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR, a momentous run highlighted by an array of unforgettable performances, historic accolades, and much more.

First and foremost, the band made an unforgettable return to their beloved Louisville, KY with “Come Home Again: A Celebration of Louisville,” a series of special events highlighted by a very special five-night stand at the famed Louisville Palace. The fully sold-out homecoming celebration saw the band performing 105 songs with no repeats over the course of five completely unique shows, with highlights including a number of fan favorites from their critically acclaimed new album, is, available now via ATO Records.

My Morning Jacket further commemorated the album’s eagerly awaited arrival with an exclusive is signing session held at one of the band’s favorite spots, the locally owned independent record store, Guestroom Records.

Formed in Louisville in 1998, My Morning Jacket’s return to Derby City with a number of prestigious honors, including ceremonial keys to the city presented to the band by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg during halftime of the Louisville City FC home opener at Lynn Family Stadium.

“Over the band’s career, My Morning Jacket has created legendary music that’s garnered multiple GRAMMY Award nominations and produced chart-topping hits,” said Mayor Greenberg. “Through it all, they’ve taken the city of Louisville along for the ride and around the world with them. They’ve never forgotten the city that brought the band together, and we’re grateful for the investments they’ve made in our community.”

In conjunction with the event, an exclusive apparel capsule collection in collaboration with Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC was unveiled, uniting iconic symbolism and themes found within My Morning Jacket’s music and artwork with the passionate spirit of the city’s professional soccer clubs. Crafted by lifestyle brand Official League, the limited edition gear is available now exclusively at LouSoccerStore.com.

“Come Home Again: A Celebration of Louisville” also saw My Morning Jacket presented with an official “Hometown Heroes” banner at a dedication ceremony held on April 24. “My Morning Jacket’s Louisville” is located on the north-facing wall of the Kentucky State Fairgrounds Armory building at 937 Phillips Lane. The band, which has long supported such local non-profit organizations as Young Authors Greenhouse, Apron Inc., Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, and CASA of the River Region, was initially selected to receive a “Hometown Heroes” banner as part of the original program before it was temporarily suspended in 2017.

“We are thrilled to officially recognize this great Louisville band with this long overdue honor,” said Mike Sheehy, president and founding member of the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation (GLPF). “Recognized with the Governor’s Award in 2014, the band is known around the globe and have remained steadfast ambassadors for Louisville and the state of Kentucky.”

Last month also saw My Morning Jacket performing three unique headline shows at the 2025 edition of “My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday,” a three-night music vacation at Miramar Beach, FL’s Seascape Resort. The event featured an array of unforgettable collaborations, including versions of Cymande’s “Bra” performed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane” with S.G. Goodman on lead vocals, a rendition of Radiohead’s “The National Anthem” with Karina Rykman, and a festival-closing performance of My Morning Jacket’s own “One Big Holiday” accompanied by Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis.

Earlier in May, My Morning Jacket closed out the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with a performance hailed by Relix for its “undeterred energy.” The set saw My Morning Jacket unleashing essential tracks spanning their almost three-decade career while also honoring New Orleans’ treasured musical heritage with first-ever renderings of Fats Domino’s “Walking To New Orleans” and the classic “Time Is On My Side,” the latter paying tribute to Irma Thomas, the one and only Soul Queen of New Orleans, whom My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James saw perform the previous evening at the iconic Preservation Hall.

A second leg of MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR begins August 5 at Bend, OR’s Hayden Homes Amphitheater and continues through an August 22 show at Berkeley, CA’s famed Greek Theatre. The tour will then resume on October 8 at Washington, DC’s The Anthem and then travel through a two-night stand at Atlanta, GA’s historic Fox Theatre on October 31 and November 1.

Highlights include a two-night return to Morrison, CO’s world-renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre (August 15-16), a two-night stand at Philadelphia, PA’s The Met (October 10-11), and three-night runs at Brooklyn, NY’s The Paramount (October 16-18) and Chicago, IL’s The Salt Shed (October 24-26). Special guests include Melt (August 5-22), BALTHVS (October 8-31), and Babehoven (November 1). For complete details, please see www.mymorningjacket.com/tour.

My Morning Jacket is excited to continue its long-time partnership with environmental nonprofit REVERB on MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR to build upon previous successes and expand the tour sustainability program, engage fans in the Action Village at each show, and support REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project to accelerate climate solutions within the music industry.

My Morning Jacket’s 10th studio album and first full-length new collection in more than three years, is, sees the Louisville, KY-bred five-piece – vocalist/guitarist Jim James, bassist Tom Blankenship, guitarist Carl Broemel, drummer Patrick Hallahan, keyboardist Bo Koster – once again expanding the limits of their sound and elevating their artistry to unprecedented heights. The result is perhaps the most masterfully realized work yet from a band fully committed to their belief in music as a conduit for revelation of all kinds.

Produced by 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam), the album includes the ravishing lead single, “Time Waited,” which is currently #1 at AAA radio. An official music video, directed by famed photographer/filmmaker Danny Clinch and featuring new performance footage interspersed with archival photos from throughout the band’s history, is streaming now on YouTube. is also includes the larger-than-life anthem “Half A Lifetime” and the psychedelically propulsive “Squid Ink,” both accompanied by official music videos directed by Clinch and streaming now on YouTube. In addition, the band recently rocked ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! with spectacular performances of both “Time Waited” and “Squid Ink,” streaming now on YouTube.

MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR 2025:
AUGUST
5 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater †
6 – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater †
8 – Bonner, MT – Kettle House Amphitheater †
9 – Seattle, WA – Chateau St. Michelle Winery †
11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden †
13 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater †
15 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre †
16 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre †
19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium †
20 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl †
22 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre †
OCTOBER
8 – Washington, DC – The Anthem §
10 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met §
11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met §
13 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway §
14 – Portland, ME – State Theatre §
16 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount §
17 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount §
18 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount §
20 – Cincinnati, OH – MegaCorp Pavilion §
22 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee §
24 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed §
25 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed § (SOLD OUT)
26 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed §
29 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle §
31 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre §
NOVEMBER
1 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre ^
W / SPECIAL GUESTS
† Melt
§ BALTHVS
^ Babehoven

Jethro Tull Reissue ‘Living in the Past’ as 5CD/Blu-Ray Box Set ‘Still Living in the Past’

Eric Alper
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Jethro Tull Reissue ‘Living in the Past’ as 5CD/Blu-Ray Box Set ‘Still Living in the Past’

Jethro Tull announces a reissue of the compilation album Living in the Past with a new 5CD/Blu-Ray format. Originally released in 1972, the album is a collection of singles, album tracks and outtakes which charted across the world. The newly expanded edition, Still Living in the Past, features Steven Wilson remixes, edits, demos, Live at Carnegie Hall 1970 (Steve Wilson remix) and four promo films. Also available is a 2LP edition of the double album featuring Steven Wilson remixes. Available on July 11.

CD1: Original Mixes, Remixes, Edits & Demos from 1968-1971
CD2: Living in the Past (Part 1) – Steven Wilson stereo remixes
CD3: Living in the Past (Part 2) – Steven Wilson stereo remixes
CD4: Live at Carnegie Hall 1970 (Part 1) – 2025 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix
CD5: Live at Carnegie Hall 1970 (Part 2) – 2025 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix
Blu-Ray: Steven Wilson remixes in 24/96 PCM stereo and DTS 5.1 surround, flat transfer of the original album and bonus unreleased original mixes, Live at Carnegie Hall 2025 remix in 24/96 PCM and DTS 5.1 surround, plus four promo films.

Ian Anderson says, “After 53 years since its original issue, this collection with the Steven Wilson re-mixes and surround sound upgrades is a splendid addition to the Tull album series. It was conceived at the time primarily to update the Tull story for US and European audiences who might not have had the benefit of the many songs which had already reached UK fans’ ears.

I recall the recordings of many of these songs with surprising clarity and some I can still play from memory without a moment of hesitation. Quirky in some instances and covering a range of musical styles, it shows off my attempts to broaden my writing and arranging and develop beyond the more rocky and bluesy origins of the band. My mandolin and acoustic guitar tracks are amongst my personal favourites.

Consisting of singles A-sides and B-sides plus a variety of songs including the EP “Life Is A Long Song”, it brings together the many tracks recorded between the releases of the first three albums and the album “Thick As A Brick”. And, of course, the live concert recorded at Carnegie Hall in NYC reflects the band performance in all its 1970 glory.

I am so happy to have this material made available again and hats off to the team at Parlophone/Warner Music as well as the contributors who made other all happen.”

Still Living In The Past Tracklist:
CD1
ORIGINAL MIXES, REMIXES, EDITS & DEMOS 1968-1971
1. A Song For Jeffrey (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
2. Love Story (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
3. A Christmas Song (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
4. Living In The Past (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
5. Driving Song (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
6. Sweet Dream (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
7. Singing All Day (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
8. Teacher (US Album Version) (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
9. Inside (Andy Johns Mix) (Mixed at Olympic Studios on 18th September 1969 by Andy Johns)
10. My God (Early Version) (Mixed at Morgan Studios on 12th April 1970)
11. Just Trying To Be (Mixed at Morgan Studios on 12th April 1970)
12. Wond’ring Aloud Again (Demo)** (Recorded on 2-track at Morgan Studios in June 1970)
13. Wond’ring Again (Mixed at Morgan Studios in June 1970)
14. Lick Your Fingers Clean (1970 Mix) (Mixed at Island Studios on 31st December 1970. Working Mix #4)
15. Locomotive Breath (DJ Single Edit) (Mixed at Island Studios in February 1971, edited for US Radio in March 1971)
16. Life Is A Long Song (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
17. Up The ’Pool (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
18. From Later (Alternative Master Mix) (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971. Unused master mix)
19. Life Is A Long Song (Alternative Master Mix) (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971. Unused master mix)
**Mono recording

CD2
LIVING IN THE PAST (Part One)
The Steven Wilson Stereo Remixes [Sides 1 & 2] except+
1. A Song For Jeffrey (2025 Remix)
2. One For John Gee (2025 AI remix from mono master)
3. Love Story (2025 Remix)
4. A Christmas Song (2018 Remix. Previously released on This Was 50th Anniversary Edition book set)
5. Living In The Past (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
6. Driving Song (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
7. Bourée (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
8. Fat Man (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
9. Singing All Day (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
10. Sweet Dream (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
11. 17 (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set. Edited in 2024)
12. Teacher (UK Single Version) (2025 Remix)
13. The Witch’s Promise+ (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
14. Teacher (US Album Version) (2025 Remix)
15. Inside (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
16. Alive And Well And Living In (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
17. Just Trying To Be (2011 Remix. Previously released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
Remastered by Steven Wilson, 2025

CD3
LIVING IN THE PAST (Part Two)
The Steven Wilson Stereo Remixes [Sides 3 & 4] except+
1. By Kind Permission Of (Live) (2025 Remix)
2. Dharma For One (Live) (2025 Remix)
3. Wond’ring Aloud (Early Version) (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
4. Wond’ring Again (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
5. Lick Your Fingers Clean (2025 Remix)
6. Up To Me (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
7. Hymn 43 (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
8. Locomotive Breath (2025 Remix)
9. Life Is A Long Song (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
10. Up The ’Pool (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
11. Dr. Bogenbroom+ (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
12. From Later+ (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
13. Nursie+ (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
BONUS TRACK
14. Locomotive Breath (Unplugged Mix) (2025 Remix)
Remastered by Steven Wilson, 2025

CD4
LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL, NOVEMBER 4, 1970
Part 1: 2025 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix

(Recorded on 16-track by Fedco Audio Labs at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY on November 4, 1970. Engineered by Kim King, assisted by Vin Leary and Dave Palmer)
1. Introduction to Nothing Is Easy
2. Nothing Is Easy
3. Introduction to My God
4. My God (including flute solo)
5. Introduction to With You There To Help Me
6. With You There To Help Me / By Kind Permission Of
7. Introduction to A Song For Jeffrey
8. A Song For Jeffrey
9. Introduction to To Cry You A Song
10. To Cry You A Song

CD5
LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL, NOVEMBER 4, 1970
Part 2: 2025 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix
(Recorded on 16-track by Fedco Audio Labs at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY on November 4, 1970. Engineered by Kim King, assisted by Vin Leary and Dave Palmer)
1. Introduction to Sossity; You’re A Woman
2. Sossity; You’re A Woman / Reasons For Waiting
3. Introduction to Dharma For One
4. Dharma For One (including drum solo)
5. Introduction to We Used To Know
6. We Used To Know
7. Guitar instrumental
8. For A Thousand Mothers

CD1: Tracks 9, 10, 12, 14, 18 & 19,
CD2: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 & 14,

CD3: 1, 2, 5, 8 & 14, CD4 & CD5 Previously Unreleased

DISC 6: BLU-RAY AUDIO
Steven Wilson studio remixes in 24/96 PCM stereo
(and Steven Wilson studio remasters in 24/96 PCM stereo)
Steven Wilson studio remixes in DTS 5.1 surround
Steven Wilson remixes [sides 1 & 2]
Steven Wilson remixes [sides 3 & 4]
Flat stereo 24/96 transfer of origina
Living in the Past studio album reels (UK & US versions combined)
Flat stereo 24/96 transfer of bonus unreleased original mixes
Live Carnegie Hall 1970, 2025 remix in 24/96 PCM stereo
Steven Wilson Live Carnegie Hall 1970, 2025 remix in DTS 5.1 surround

BLU-RAY AUDIO/VIDEO
The Witch’s Promise (March 1970 Promo Film)
Teacher (UK Single Version, March 1970 Promo Film)
Teacher (US Album Version, March 1970 Promo Film)
Life Is A Long Song (September 1971 Promo Film)
BD RUNNING TIME: Approx 355 minutes. REGIONS: A, B & C. VIDEO: BD50 – Aspect Ratio: 1080i59.94 / 1080p23.976
AUDIO: 96/24 PCM Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. EXEMPT FROM CLASSIFICATION

2LP
Side A
A Song For Jeffrey (2025 Remix)
Love Story (2025 Remix)
A Christmas Song (2018 Steven Wilson Remix)
Living in The Past (2016 Steven Wilson Remix)
Driving Song (2016 Steven Wilson Remix)
Bourée (2016 Steven Wilson Remix)
Side B
Sweet Dream (2013 Steven Wilson Remix)
Singing All Day (2013 Steven Wilson Remix)
The Witch’s Promise
Teacher (US Album Version) [2025 Remix]
Inside (2013 Stereo Mix)
Alive And Well And Living In (2013 Steven Wilson Remix)
Just Trying To Be (2011 Steven Wilson Remix)
Side C
By Kind Permission Of (Live) [2025 Remix]
Dharma For One (Live) [2025 Remix]
Side D
Wond’ring Again (2011 Remix)
Locomotive Breath (2025 Remix)
Hymn 43 (2011 Steven Wilson Remix)
Life Is A Long Song (2011 Steven Wilson Remix)
Up The ‘Pool (2011 Steven Wilson Remix)
Dr. Bogenbroom (1971 Master Mix)
From Later (1971 Master Mix)
Nursie (1971 Master Mix)

10 of the Most Expensive Pieces of Music Memorabilia Ever Sold

Eric Alper
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10 of the Most Expensive Pieces of Music Memorabilia Ever Sold

Rock music shakes stadiums and it also rattles auction paddles. From guitars set on fire to lyrics scribbled in hotel rooms, music memorabilia has become a multimillion-dollar business where history, nostalgia, and fandom collide. These are cultural artifacts, often bearing the fingerprints of the songs that shaped our lives.

Here are ten jaw-dropping sales that prove music’s most iconic moments don’t come cheap.

Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged Guitar
Nothing says emotional rawness like Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged set. The 1959 Martin acoustic guitar that Cobain used that night? It sold for $6 million in 2020 — smashing records and reaffirming how one stripped-down performance can echo across generations.

David Gilmour’s Black Strat
You’ve heard it on “Comfortably Numb,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” and most of The Wall. In 2019, the beloved black Fender Stratocaster belonging to Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour sold for nearly $4 million.

John Lennon’s Gibson J-160E
If a guitar could hum its own history, Lennon’s Gibson J-160E would sing “Love Me Do.” Lost in the ’60s and found in a friend’s attic decades later, it fetched $2.4 million in 2015 — making it the most valuable Beatles guitar ever sold.

John Lennon’s Psychedelic Rolls-Royce
Part art car, part surrealist icon, Lennon’s colorful Rolls-Royce was auctioned in 1985 for $2.3 million. A symbol of peak Beatlemania meets peak eccentricity, the car now lives in a museum — but its spirit still honks across pop culture.

Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” Lyrics
In 2014, four pages of Dylan’s original handwritten lyrics sold for just over $2 million. Complete with edits, doodles, and alternate verses, it offered fans a rare glimpse into the mind that rewrote the rules of songwriting.

John Lennon’s “Imagine” Piano
The upright Steinway that Lennon used to compose “Imagine” is more than a piano — it’s a peace movement with keys. George Michael scooped it up for $2.1 million in 2000, pledging to share its beauty with the world.

Ringo Starr’s Beatles Drum Kit
Few things thump with history like a Beatles Ludwig kit. Ringo’s set, used on early recordings and tours, sold for $2.2 million in 2015. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay added it to his growing museum of music treasures.

Bob Dylan’s Newport Stratocaster
When Dylan went electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, folk purists booed — but rock history cheered. That very sunburst Stratocaster sold for $965,000 in 2013, making it the most valuable guitar ever at the time.

Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock Strat
Yes, that guitar. The white Fender Stratocaster Hendrix played while rewriting the U.S. national anthem at Woodstock eventually sold for $770,000. From stage fire to collector’s trophy, it remains a beacon of rebellion and brilliance.

Prince’s Cloud Guitars
Prince’s custom Cloud guitars are as iconic as his falsetto. One went for $225,000, another for $563,000, and a striking blue one hit $700,000. If you want to shred like a legend, you’d better have a banker on speed dial.

These sales prove that rock and roll is alive, and it’s collectible. Whether it’s a guitar once bathed in feedback or a lyric sheet bearing wine stains and genius, these artifacts remind us how music shapes history. And in some cases, just how much it’s worth.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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