The Barn's 2010 Holiday Mixtape was subtitled A Very Jamband Christmas and justifiably so -- it's intent was to collect a CD length holiday playlist that showcased the style of improv-leaning bands on Christmas classics. Though at the time I thought I had cultivated the cream of jamband holiday fare, it became obvious that more material...

[fblike style="standard" showfaces="false" width="450" verb="like" font="arial"] Perhaps to capitalize on Muppet Fever, our friends at Infinirock are resurrecting their popular Trey / Ernie shirt design from 2006 in a limited second run.Just in time to satisfy that hard-to-buy-for Phish / Sesame Street fan on your holiday list, they are offering the shirt on...

[fblike style="standard" showfaces="false" width="450" verb="like" font="arial"] The Muppets are back in theaters today.Despite what is sure to be an all out media blitz, I'll admit I just can't get enough. The simple fact is that Muppets are ridiculously appealing to fans of all ages and, from the beginning, Jim Henson's...

We at The Barn sincerely thank the bands and fans that came out to help celebrate our second anniversary on Saturday! We hope everybody had as good time as we did. A highly entertaining evening began with a nice set of Phish tunes from The Vasoconstrictors; "Stash" and the set closing jam out of "Down...

[fblike style="standard" showfaces="false" width="450" verb="like" font="arial"]For fans, Mark Hague is the type of musician you just have to love. A key member of two of Chicago's premier jambands (and possibly cooking up a third?), he brings the attitude and perspective of a superfan to what he does on stage. And...

[fblike style="standard" showfaces="false" width="450" verb="recommend" font="arial"]There are certain musical truths in this world. One of them (as this Venn Diagram explains) is that everybody loves Pink Floyd. Their fans are rabid and diverse and they've inspired musicians across a large swath of genres and backgrounds. And so, when I set...

The Barn is happy to be offering a chance for free admission to this Saturday's Anniversary show with Mr. Blotto & The Vasoconstrictors. Entry is super easy, and just takes two simple steps:1. LIKE The Barn on facebook or FOLLOW @thebarnpresents on Twitter2. Respond to Mr. Blotto's facebook event and/or The Vasoconstrictors's facebook event...

On this day, 10 years ago, we lost the incomparable Ken Kesey. Reading works by him and about him had a profound affect on myself and countless others who were looking to make sense of a whole world opened up to us in our formative years.I'll leave the formal eulogizing and remembrances to those who...

1. One of my favorite local blogs, The Are The Imitators, is featuring a sweet photo set from the Dawes / Blitzen Trapper show at the Metro last Thursday2. Chicagoist Drinkifies several Chicago Bands. For fun here's the link to some of our jambands, Chicago based and otherwise: Umphrey's McGee (cold Bud Light), Cornmeal (garnish with pickled...

Happy Anniversary to us! The Barn is gearing up to celebrate it's second birthday and we want to extend an invitation for all to join us.On Saturday, November 19th we'll be throwing down again with Mr. Blotto at Brixie's in Brookfield. These shows are always a blast whether you're from around these parts or...