Beyondify is our periodic feature which features new music before it hits Spotify. As usual, we mine Bandcamp, Soundcloud, YouTube for the goods.Here's what we came up with recently. The enigmatic Bob Dylan is set to release his second record of standards. Especially given the declining quality of his live performance lately, the...

On Highway 61: Music, Race and the Evolution Of Cultural Freedom - Dennis McNallyBy now, everybody knows that the story of America is the story of race. So, too, is the story of its music perhaps even more overtly. Onetime Grateful Dead publicist and historian Dennis McNally takes an uncompromising look at how various ingredients fall...

Ravinia announced its lineup for 2016 today. With events and concerts scheduled from June 2 through September 11, the festival will feature more than 100 performers.Highlights include Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes, Buddy Guy with Jeff Beck, Chick Corea Trio, Steve Miller Band, Duran Duran, Hollywood Vampires (featuring Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper...

FitzGeralds American Music Festival will celebrate its 34th year July 1-4. Taking place inside and outside of the venue in Berwyn, the festival boasts a lineup of Americana, folk, blues and roots bands that fit the venues reputation perfectly.Amongst the bigger names on the roster are Pokey LaFarge, Eric Lindell, Joe Ely Band, JD...

Swedish TV series Experiment Ensam recently convinced Bob Dylan to perform a concert for a single fan, Fredrik Wilkingsson.The show seeks to give individuals experiences usually reserved for large audiences, offering a unique social experience.Wilkingsson, a long-time Dylan fan, has seen more than 20 Dylan shows before, though certainly none like this, the fan...

For November, weve got 13 capsule reviews from Alex Wood. A key track from each release is included in the embedded Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page.Neil Young- Storytone [11/4]Recorded live with a full orchestra, Storytone is yet another odd project by the endlessly productive Neil Young. The orchestral backing is lush, adding...

Bob Dylan decamped for three shows in Chicago just as things are exploding in his corner of the universe.The Bootleg Series Volume 11, a six CD complete recording of all the music made with The Band during the historic sixties sessions. Here's a track-by-track breakdownA Bob Dylan Bootleg Series iOS app is now availableLost On...

I've looked at some of my favorite album cover art so many times, I tend to think of it as divorced from greater context, that the images aren't actual photos of real places.But indeed they are! In fact, many of them have been cataloged by Google's cameras using it's Street View feature. So, of...

Why are there not more Bob Dylan cover bands?Isn't it universally acknowledged that he has the deepest catalog of songs of any beloved artist? And let's face it, the bulk of his repertoire is written in a way that is just begging to be interpreted. Given that recent Dylan performances have left his rabid...

With only four acts, and one stage (in a soccer stadium), AmericanramA was a far cry from festivals, even the traveling ones, that have been insinuating themselves on the music industry these days. But with an indisputable legend on the top line and ample time allocated for the big name support, it seemed too good...