In early February, I published a piece introducing a new Illinois music festival and doing some speculation on some of the talent that was To Be Announced.Now that the Phase Two lineup has been revealed, let's see how I did... Actually, not bad. but also room for improvement.I suggested that two of...

Photos: Mike Kaiz PhotojournalismAs both Bob and Phil have conspired to avoid Chicago for nearly two years, it was great to see Grateful Dead family rally around Bobby at Friday night's sold out Ratdog gig.But Steve Kimock was the pope of this gig -- stealing the spotlight again and again, a considerable task, as...

Fact: there is outstanding music every weekend in Chicago.But sometimes you just have to shake your head, sigh, and realize how lucky we are to have this city as our playground.What's more, the highlights of this weekend's cavalcade of stars feature that are right smack in our wheelhouse. the jambands, supergroups, heavy funk,...

Update [3/19] Phase Two is announced. See how I did on speculation and read some healthy skepticism HERE.Update [6/9] Phase Three is announced. More Info about the final headliner and the mysterious Lunar Landing Conspiracy.Here's something I never would have thought last summer the Midwest is getting another jamband camping megafest. While Summer Camp owns...

Only once in my memory have Grateful Dead alumnus played at the Chicago Theater: when Rhythmn Devils brought an all-star band including Phish's Mike Gordon and Steve Kimock in 2006 to the venerable landmark. It looks like Kimock will make a return, this time playing lead guitar role for Bob Weir's Ratdog on Friday, March 7th, 2014....

Mark Karan's musical history has the narrative flow of a great book. The guitarist has spent years shuttling between the Bay Area and L.A., working in studios and on stages, laying down tracks with some of the world's most successful musicians. The road has been filled with twists and turns, unfolding with an almost...

Updated 9/22/11 with Soundboard Abbey Road.With Furthur putting the exclamation point on their Abbey Road adventure earlier this week, Deadheads were all abuzz about the collision of worlds between The Beatles and The Dead. And as a result, a couple of new mixes surfaced which give us reason to celebrate and contemplate the affinity that...