The 30db / Van Ghost pairing was just one of the many inspired double (sometime triple & quadruple) bills that the Abbey Pub has been programming lately and certainly one of the most high profile, considering the national prominence of the artists involved, yet a strong sense of Chicago hung in the air all night.  [...]

Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival delivered two solid weekends packed with highlights. Fortunately, the good times don’t have to end at the festival, as some of the strongest sets of the festival have been recorded, and we’re happy to share them with you. Three keys sets from 1/21 at the Auditorium are available here in [...]

Months ago, I was pumped about the announcement of two night Umphrey’s McGee run in Chicago over Thanksgiving weekend.  Little did I know at the time, but by the time this extended weekend would arrive, that party would start in Chicago well before UM takes the stage, and continue all the way through to Thanksgiving [...]

Two great links from the Trib’s Greg Kot this week:  20 Years of Pearl Jam Quotes and Celebrating 40 Years of Soul Train in Millenium Park The New York Times asks you to imagine the Rolling Stones without Keith Festival!! Bands That Jam provide 5 must-see shows at this weekend’s North Coast Festival in Chicago.  [...]

Lots of interesting free music from some of The Barn’s favorite bands in this week’s Linkafication. Van Ghost is running a pretty badass promotion to pick the first single from their latest release  at Grooveshark.  You can also win a package for Chicago’s North Coast Music Festival. Greensky Bluegrass is offering a free download of [...]

Man, I love the Onion.  Many Linkafications have included videos. When I first realized they were filling off weeks this summer with a summer music edition, a rehash of music related articles fro the past, I figured I’d link up one or two of the best stories.  It turns out that the hits just kept [...]

Last week, I called Paul Simon a “class act”, after reading this, I may have to reevaluate. Disclosure, in no way does it reduce the awesomeness of the video below. A bevy of Prince covers in honor of his birthday earlier this week. The blogs at The Trib offer an interview with funkiest of the [...]