Adam Grosso's Band - Euforquestra
Recently featured on MTV's "Making the Band," Adam Grosso's world-fusion band Euforquestra is based in Iowa. Jim and Mary's son plays bass, steel drums, vibraphone and vocals. Visit the band's site for info on CDs and more.

Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Bush, O'Connor, Douglas: Freeborn Man

Folk Alley: Live From Folk Alley
Wow ... free MP3 downloads of complete shows by Tim O'Brien, Old School Freight Train, Solas and more. Now that's "mighty fine" indeed!

A second helping of local songwriters with OPFMB regular Jack Swain and several good friends from the Fitzgerald's scene and beyond. It's all original. It's unplugged. It's at Molly Malone's. So ... let's get out and support 'em.

18 Nights of Bruce Springsteen - Watch U.S. Tour Performances
AOL Music is presenting live performance videos from the current Bruce Springsteen "Seeger Sessions" U.S. tour - for free. While the music is certainly not bluegrass (nor is it billed as such), the old time and folk repertoire is expertly performed by an ensemble that can only be described as big, outsized and virtuoustic. The studio recording failed to capture the dynamics of the band's range; whereas in-concert there's really nothing like it. I saw 'em at Jazz Fest in New Orleans last month. And it was spectacular.

Jake Shimabukuro will be making an appearance on WGN's "Steve and Johnnie" show Tuesday Night (May 30th) at 11pm on WGN-AM 720 and on the web at http://www.wgnradio.com.

Save the Date!
The Oak Park Farmers' Market
Opens on Sat, June 3rd!

(That's NEXT WEEKEND!)

Upcoming Shows (Many of which may be called ... "Mighty Fine!")

• Sam Bush Band (newgrass/bluegrass) - Sat, July 7th at The Cubby Bear
• Brian Hilligoss (roots/roadhouse country) - Wed, May 31st at Fitzgerald's
• Shawn Phillips (singer-songwriter/legend) - June 23rd at Fitzgerald's

More to come...

~~ Rest In Peace ~~


Tom Dundee

[ Chicago Tribune Obit ]
[ Photos from Utah Phillips ]
[ Additional Tribute Information ]

There will be a special memorial concert in tribute to Tom Dundee on Sunday, May 14th at 5:00 p.m. at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4844 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago.

Chicago Tribune | Eric Zorn

Folk Alley: OpenMic

And yet another kind of Open Mic ... this one is completely virtual. At FolkAlley.com/openmic you can upload your own recordings and lots of acoustic music fans will listen. Registered listeners vote for their faves to determine a monthly winner. (Jack's a regular Folk Alley member. You can see and hear him on the Open Mic right about here ...)

[ Bruce Springsteen - Seeger Sessions ]


See 'em live on June 13th at the First MidWest Bank Ampitheater (formerly the Tweeter Center)

Other Acoustic and/or Bluegrass Open Mic Nights


Two Way Street Coffee House
1047 Curtiss, Downers Grove
Fourth Saturday of Every Month at 2:00 p.m.
630-969-9720
http://www.twowaystreet.org/
A lot of OPFM musicians are quite familiar with this venue and its owners. There are many, many great musical experiences presented practically every night. Check their Web site for special events, festivals and additional jam nights.


Uncommon Ground Cafe
3800 N. Clark St., Chicago
Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by Gabriel Otto & Paul Stauffer
773-929-3680
http://www.uncommonground.com/
This one is a very intimate room that features "folk" and "singer-songwriter" genres versus "bluegrass." But I played it once (as accompaniest to my friend Ben Arnold) and the acoustics are quite nice. Smoke free too! Oh, and they can record your performance through the PA. It's like recording live in the studio. Nice!

[ Mighty Fine Monday Night Open Mic ]
Bluegrass Jam at Kitty Moon

Kitty Moon Chicago
Monday Nights at 9:00 p.m.
Hosted by Kevin Becker of Feathergun and Sleepercar
More info about Kevin and his gig(s) here
This venue is in the Edgewater section of Chicago. It's a ways to go for some pickin'. But the neighborhood's awfully nice. When and/or if anybody checks it out, please write comments here. Thanks a bunch.

Could this possibly be on the level?
It's your call!
Thanks to Jim Polaski for the link.

Live Upload Series IX :: Grateful Dead 5.8.77

Little Radio Blogzine

Blogging about other blogs ... hmmm. Well, I just found this one. It's about and for independent music with a decidedly young, indie twist. Not so much about bluegrass. But it reveals much about the currently thriving acoustic scene among the under-30 generation.

Please support Jack and friends as they showcase original songs at this cozy watering hole.

Honkytonk Homeslice - Official Website

Here's another string band/old time/bluegrass ensemble (featuring Bill Nershi of The String Cheese Incident) who're givin' away MP3s. Plus they've got shows on archive.org ... mighty fine!