Since 1974, Thankful for All of You
First Acid Test turns 60 today. Ken Babbs reflects on those nights.
Relix Daily
November 27, 2025
November 27, 2025
NEWS
This Thanksgiving marks 60 years since the events that inspired Arlo Guthrie’s signature song, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.” The quirky tune, which recounts Guthrie’s Thanksgiving 1965 arrest for littering in the state of Massachusetts , was workshopped live and released in 1967 as the title track of the folk singer’s full-length debut album.
ALSO READ: Arlo Guthrie: “Alice” at 50
NEWS
Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have confirmed the details for their annual tribute to The Band’s Rick Danko. This year’s celebration will take place at Woodstock, NY’s The Colony on December 27, two days before what would have been Danko’s 82nd birthday. The Woodstock Horns will augment Professor Louie & The Crowmatix throughout the show.
November 27, 1965: The night that launched a thousand trips.
Pass the Kool-Aid...and the Cranberry Sauce
Sixty years ago today, the Merry Pranksters threw a party at Muir Beach that launched a cultural revolution. We're marking the moment with 100 limited edition posters inspired by that fateful night, along with a collection of books and apparel celebrating the Pranksters’ spirit.
NEWS
Marcus King and Eddie 97 have joined the lineup for Kevin Scott’s 10th Annual Holiday Funk Spectacular. As previously reported, the festive all-star jam will take place at Atlanta, GA’s Variety Playhouse on December 18.
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Celebrate Thanksgiving on the Bus
Thankful for the Merry Pranksters
Ken Kesey. The Merry Pranksters. The first Acid Test. November 27, 1965, at Muir Beach. What started as one wild party became sixty years of furthur. The night that launched it all. Thanksgiving never looked so good. Wear your gratitude.
LISTEN
My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James has joined Australian singer-songwriter Grace Cummings for the new holiday song “Times Like These.” The track is now available through their join label, ATO. Cummings supported My Morning Jacket on the road this year and sat in on a mix of tunes, including covers of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Neal Young’s “Harvest Moon” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin On Heaven’s Door.”
NEWS
The LeeVees, the Hanukkah-themed band led by Adam Gardner (Guster) and Dave Schneider (The Zambonis), will hit the road next week for their annual run of shows. This year the group will perform at Ipswich, MA’s True North Ale Company on December 5, Fairfield, CT’s SHU Community Theatre on December 6, Galloway, NJ’s Stockton Performing Arts Center on December 7 and Paradise Valley, AZ’s Temple Solel on December 14. The Connecticut and New Jersey shows are both family-friendly afternoon matinees while the Arizona play is called for 5pm. The ensemble will also be featured in the National PBS Hanukkah Special airing throughout December.
FEATURE
“This isn’t a work of fiction and it isn’t a memoir, it’s a burlesque,” explains Ken Babbs of his new book, Cronies: Adventures with Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, the Merry Pranksters and the Grateful Dead. As the subtitle suggests, Babbs explores his friendships with numerous larger-than-life personalities, much like himself.
NEWS
Howard Levy has announced that he is unable to perform with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones on their upcoming holiday tour. Singer/songwriter and mandolin player Sierra Hull will fill in for the keyboardist/harmonica master for much of the upcoming run, which will celebrate The Flecktones’ Jingle All the Way album. Former Flecktones saxophonist and current Dave Matthews Band horn player Jeff Coffin and the Russian throat singing combo Alash, both of whom contributed to the 2008 LP, had been previously confirmed to join the celebratory tour and will still augment the ensemble on the road.
GIFT GUIDE
‘Tis the season… to shower your loved ones with the gift of music! From boogie-down essentials to instruments and apparel, our annual gift guide has everything you need to fill your soundtrack, your stocking, your menorah lighting or liven up your annual holiday celebrations.