Billy Strings Does the Dead with the Travelin’ McCourys, New Interview with Les Claypool and Sean Lennon
Shpongle Joins String Cheese, Widespread Panic Honored at Red Rocks
Relix Daily
June 29, 2026
June 29, 2026
WATCH
As we reported yesterday, Billy Strings will return to the stage with his band a bit earlier than anticipated. While he had been slated to appear at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater on Saturday July 4 for an appearance at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic and Fireworks, he has added a July 2 gig at Austin’s Moody Theater.
FEATURE
When Primus unexpectedly parted ways with their drummer shortly before New Year’s Eve a year and a half ago, bassist/singer Les Claypool quickly pivoted, pulling together several of the oft-intertwined projects he’s focused on during the past 30 years for two highly collaborative shows at Oakland, Calif.’s The Fox Theatre. The concerts, billed as Claypool Gold, worked and this spring and summer the bassist has been taking the concept on the road, performing distinct sets with his refreshed Primus lineup, the improvisationally heavy Colonel Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade and The Claypool Lennon Delirium, who recently released their third LP, The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy.
On July 1, the legendary Count Basie Orchestra presents The Long Swing to Freedom at Wellmont Arts Plaza with guest conductor Jon Faddis. The evening also features a swing dance lesson with Ailey Extension, celebrating jazz, dance, and the enduring power of artistic expression. Supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.
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RECAP
The String Cheese Incident’s Saturday night performance at Electric Forest initially was slated to feature two sets by the group, with no additional intel provided. By the time band took the stage, however, this appearance was officially billed as The Shebongle Shebang ft. Shpongle and Johnathan Singer.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Dead's 1976 Winterland double album returns on an exclusive 2-LP pressing in Grateful Red and Stealie Blue. A double live album drawn from their October 1974 Winterland farewell run, released in 1976 while the band was deep into their hiatus. This reissue gives longtime collectors a reason to revisit.
NEWS
On Saturday night at Red Rocks the Colorado Music Hall of Fame made two special inductions. The organization has been in existence for 15 years, offering acknowledgment and support of the area music community. In addition, the CMHF notes that its mission “extends beyond recognition — supporting the music community through mental health and addiction recovery resources while promoting Colorado as a premier music destination and helping drive tourism throughout the state.”
NEWS
The Rolling Stones have released a new single and video in conjunction with their forthcoming album Foreign Tongues. “Jealous Lover” features Steve Winwood, who contributes Rhodes and organ. The song offers falsetto lead vocals from Mick Jagger, while Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood play electric guitars, Darryl Jones adds bass and Steve Jordan is on drums. Andrew Watt, who produced Foreign Tongues adds acoustic guitar and piano. The accompanying video, which was originally an Amazon Music exclusive, has now posted to YouTube. “Jealous Lover” is directed by Chris Barrett & Luke Taylor (Radiohead, Jack White) and stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Charles Melton.
LISTEN
Legendary bassist Bootsy Collins has long expressed his deep appreciation for Jimi Hendrix. For instance, in 1995 he contributed to a version of Hendrix’s “If 6 Was 9” on the Axiom Funk project with Bill Laswell, George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Eddie Hazel and Gary Shider. Fifteen years later he served as the voice of the Hendrix in the documentary Voodoo Child, which told he guitarist’s story via archival writings.
RECAP
Over the weekend in Indiana, the Dave Mathews Band closed out the latest leg of their summer tour. DMB’s two performance at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, IN (the venue formerly known as Deer Creek) included a number of tour debuts and rarities.
NEWS
The Black Crowes continue to revive material from throughout their catalog in concert. In a sharp turn from the first few years after they first reunited in 2019, when they only played their debut album Shake Your Money Maker in its entirety and then stuck to a stock mix of songs, the Crowes have continued to bust out original material and long-lost covers throughout their current Southern Hospitality tour. Some recent highlights include the band dusting off Faces’ “Three Button Hand Me Down,” Ry Cooder’s “Boomer’s Story,” Delaney & Bonnie’s “Poor Elijah/Tribute to Johnson and Traffic’s ”“Feelin’ Alright?” They have also leaned into seemingly forgotten originals like “Wounded Bird” and “Thorn’s Progress,” among others and debuted a mix of covers, including cuts by The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.
WATCH
In late May, Jai Alai IPA, the flagship beer from Cigar City Brewing debuted the Raise The Stage series in partnership with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). Each episode will focus on a particular club through the lens of a renowned musician as well as someone connected with the venue. In the first Raise The Stage video Marco Benevento and Karina Rykman shared their thoughts on the Bearsville Theater with the venue’s Director of Operations Jenn Glickman. The second installment of Raise the Stage moves to Ardmore, PA and the Ardmore Music Hall.
