Dan Kening

Fairport Convention The Wood and the Wire (Compass) British folk-rock icon Fairport Convention isn't known for making radical changes to its sound. Through dozens of personnel changes over its 32-year...

Michael McDermott Last Chance Lounge (Koch) Hot on the heels of the self-released "Bourbon Blue," Chicago rock's Irish bard returns to a national label with yet another solid effort, "Last...

Four Bitchin' Babes Beyond Bitchin' (Shanachie) Take four very different women whose songs range from sentimental to lusty, spiritual to hysterical and you have the Four Bitchin' Babes. On their...

Laurence Nugent The Windy Gap (Shanachie) Northern Ireland native Laurence Nugent is one of the world's foremost traditional Irish musicians, and he reinforces that reputation on his third album, recorded...

Dave Specter Speculatin' (Delmark) Take two parts blues, one part jazz and one part R&B, spice with copious amounts of guitar and Hammond organ solos, bring to a slow boil...

In his first year doing the "Match Mike" Oscar contest, Tribune movie critic Michael Wilmington scored five out of six. And 226 of the 10,552 participants got six out of...

There's no doubt about it. The Chicago Air & Water Show, in its 41st year, is one of the city's most popular annual events. Last year some 2.2 million onlookers...

Michael McDermott Bourbon Blue (Wanted Man) Chicagoan Michael McDermott's fourth album is by far his most satisfying. Finally allowed full creative freedom on this self-produced release on his own label,...

Various artists Blues Power: Songs of Eric Clapton (House of Blues) It's safe to say that if it hadn't been for his discovery of Chicago blues, Eric Clapton might still...

Third World Generation Coming (Gator) Hardcore reggae aficionados have never given Third World their due. After 25 years, Third World continues to ply its sunny brand of reggae married to...