“Unapologetically Billy is out in the world,” says Shaddox. "This album was conceived and recorded in March and April of this year. Everything you hear on this one was performed and recorded by me, here in the Gulch. I’m honored to share this collection of songs with you, take a listen, connect with the music, and get to know me a little better through this collection. You can download the album from my website or stream it from any number of places."

Country star Warren Zeiders teamed up with Barker for a new version of his one year-old RIAA Gold-certified hit "Ride The Lightning."

Frontman Robert “Sully” Sullivan has been named Man of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s San Diego & Hawaii Region. Sullivan's campaign contributed a record breaking total of $418,459 towards the fight against blood cancer. The founder/owner of The Sully Entertainment Group and LOFT100 Studios also hosts the nationally syndicated Big Biz Show as well as the local lifestyle talk show, On The Air San Diego.

Reis recently released a debut solo album on his own Swami Records, Ride The Wild Night. Mixed by Ben Moore (Hot Snakes, Diamanda Galas) at local Singing Serpent, the album features drumming by J. Sinclair K. (Hot Snakes) and piano from Joe Guevara, as well as guest playing from Chris Prescott (Pinback), Gar Wood (Hot Snakes), Glen Galloway (Truman's Water), Jacob Turnbloom (Mrs. Magician), and Jordan Clark (PLOSIVS). Reis will support the record by debuting the Swami John Reis Band in August with a handful of California dates in August, wrapping up at the Casbah on the 9th. The touring group includes the occasional Rocket From the Crypt frontman backed by Tommy Kitsos (Night Marchers, CPC Gangbangs) on bass and vocals, Joe Guevara (Jejune, Lee Rocker, Lady Dottie & the Diamonds) on keyboards and vocals, Mark Murino (Radio Wendy, Dirty Sweet) on lead guitar, and Richard "T-Bone" Larson (Bartender's Bible, Mr. Tube & the Flying Objects) on drums and vocals.

"I'm going to be releasing a bluegrass album this year," says Saki, aka A Stray Catalyst, who has a new cereal-centric video for "I Love My Whole Grain Oats."

Their self-titled debut album on Daptone Records drops August 26, previewed so far with new singles "Will I See You Again" and "It's Our Love," as well as a video for "Easier Said Than Done" The album was produced by Daptone co-founder Gabe Roth, who attended their very first club performance and had them recording at Roth's Riverside, CA studio three days later.

Sppike Mike Muellenberg is collaborating with local Pacific Records CEO Brian Witkin to produce a series of fundraising singles under the Music’s Future banner, to raise money for the San Diego Music Foundation's Guitars In School Program. The first single, covering Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper," includes Mike Watt (minutemen, firehose, The Stooges), Mike Reiter (27 Various, The Dig), Doug Walker (The Dwarves, The Spice Pistols), Bart Mendoza (Manual Scan, The Shambles), Anna Zinova (Pinkeye), Nick Aguilar (Slaughterhouse), and Will Lerner (Shake Before Us, Strawberry Moons), with studio production by Jeff Berkley.

Shay's recent vocal cord surgery went well, and she'll soon take the stage again for a series of local performances, as well as a European tour.

"Well, I was getting frustrated, but finally my new album is displayed on my website," says Henkel. "Yes, fame and fortune are right around the corner …and …we're all going together! Bring on the Ferraris, the swimming pools, and all the other good stuff we're supposed to get. On this release most of the tracks are bass and drum groove style—techno with a sprinkle of jazz harmony." An exception is the single for his song "Oh How I Cried." "This one is played by real humans, imagine that. No samples, no loops, none of this 'virtual' BS. Can you believe we live in a world where the word 'virtual' actually means it’s NOT real?" Recorded by Nathan James at Sacred Cat Studio, guest players include Dave Castel de Oro (clarinet), Big Roy Brown (trombone), Troy Jennings (baritone saxophone), Jamie Shadowlight (violin), Kevin Koch (drums), and Caleb Furgatch (bass).

Her new album A Shade of Jade debuts with a release party at Sycuan on July 22. “There is so much new music to share at this release event," says Jade. "This is the first time I wrote all lyrics on an album from start to finish. I tested my musical range and poured my authentic voice into this album. It’s about love, loss, hope and resilience. I want everyone at the release event to leave feeling encouraged and hopeful.”

Musical siblings Sara and Sean Watkins will celebrate 20 years of the Watkins Family Hour, which began with periodic performances at L.A.’s Largo nightclub, with their third studio album, Vol. II. Due August 19 and preceded so far by a single for “Hypnotized,” the 11-track album features longtime friends of the show such as Fiona Apple, Jon Brion, Jackson Browne, Madison Cunningham, Lucius, Gaby Moreno, Benmont Tench, and Willie Watson. Watkins Family Hour will appear at the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California, over the weekend of June 30-July 3.

"We have a new video for a song called 'Wasting My Time,' from our upcoming album," says Taylor.

Solo Groove Kitty Garrison Bailey is releasing her first album in seven years. Secret Superwoman.

"Happy to say I'll be returning to Hawaii and Guam for the first time in over ten years," says Pinto of the tour dates currently booking him on the road through most of November. A portion of the tour will be spent supporting Tropidelic, while other dates will find him opening for KBong and Johnny Cosmic.