The fans on the north side of the Chicago will not only get to see the Dave Matthews Band at Wrigley Field for two shows, but will be able to enjoy the musical stylings of one Jason Mraz. Mraz and Matthews have a long history together that dates back to before Mraz released his first album, Waiting for My Rocket To Come. Outside of Dave Matthews show, Mraz and his longtime percussionist Toca Riveria set up a make-shift stage and performed for DMB fans. Dave actually came out to join the pair on stage a friendship was struck up. Dave was so impressed with Mraz’s songwriting and vocal ability that he invited him to be his opening act for a number of his tour dates. Mraz’s single “The Remedy” eventually blew up and Mraz gained fame from around the world. The scat heavy vocalist real hit it big when he released “I’m Yours” in 2008. “I’m Yours” has become a quintessential summer song, and I’m sure Jason will get a nice sing-a-long going at Wrigley. The 33-year-old songwriter’s fourth album is expected to be out later this year.

The Dave Matthews Band has cooked up the perfect way to wrap this year’s tour before taking a hiatus from touring. DMB will play two shows inside “The Friendly Confines” of Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. Wrigley Field is one of the world’s most famous and oldest ballparks, and fans lucky enough to get tickets for the show will be in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Police, Elton John and Billy Joel, and Rascal Flatts have played Wrigley Field to great success, prompting the ballpark’s owners  to scheduling more concerts. DMB have long been a huge favorite of Chicago with huge fan bases going to see the band at a slew of different Chicagoland area venues in the past. These pair of shows will be a fitting way for Dave and Co to begin their break from touring after 20 straight years on the road. Tickets go on sale on July 17th.

Dave & the boys left Camden, N.J. feeling good after a two show stop at the Susquehanna Bank Center. Porsha Grant of ABC 6 in Philadelphia highlighted DMB’s performance of “You and Me” as one of the night’s best. After the crowd of Philadelphians sang along to Big Whiskey track just like it was one the band’s old hits. Just more evidence that the new album has really struck a crowd with the fans. Thursday night’s show ended with “Stay (Wasting Time)”. I like how songs of Dave’s Some Devil album have been worked into the band’s set lists like “Gravedigger” and “So Damn Lucky” and The band will be in East Troy, Wisconsin for the Fourth of July weekend performing at Alpine Valley Music Theater for two nights.

DMB made their third appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN this past Sunday night. The band embraced the “jam” mentality of the festival beginning their set with two expanded versions of “Don’t Drink the Water” and “You Might Die Trying”. Boyd Tinsley and Tim Reynolds were given a lot more freedom on their solos as DMB ran through favorites like “Tripping Billies” and “Two Step”. Banjo and guitarist Danny Barnes joined the band for “Spaceman”. Dave rocked out a beautiful version of Neil Young’s “The Needle and the Damage Done” and brought it home with their traditional set closer “All Along the Watchtower”. Tomorrow the band will be in Cincinnati to play the Riverbend Music Center before playing a show outside St. Louis on Tuesday night and two nights at the Verison Wireless Music Center outside of Indianapolis.

In the first of two shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Dave Matthews Band put on a solid show for 25,000 music fans Friday night. Big Whiskey & the Groo Grux King tracks “Why I Am” and “Seven” got the night really going and the show picked up a few notches from that point. It’s a great sign that the newer material can energize crowd just as much as a song like “Bartender” or “Big Eyed Fish”. Stefan Lessard was  serenaded by the audience for his thirty fifth birthday and the concert turned into a full-on dance party with “You and Me”, “Jimi Thing”, and “Shake Me Like a Monkey”. Dave and Company is headed for Bonnaroo next weekend where they will close the festival on Sunday night. First things first though, DMB travels to suburban Boston to play tonight and tomorrow at the Comcast Center.

Fans were surprised to hear that DMB are planning on taking 2011 off from touring and recording after 20 years of being on the road. DMB has had years before when they didn’t play a ton of shows, but never have they taken an entire year off. In an interview in promotion of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Dave revealed that he was looking forward to spending more time with his family and rejuvenating his creative forces. He said he wanted to make the announcement this far out from the end of the tour, so people won’t be surprised. It also gives DMB fans a little more incentive to go see the band this summer. The tour kicks off this Friday in Hartford, CT at the Comcast Theater with opening guests Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings. Anticipate the guys giving a little extra this summer knowing the long break that awaits them in September.

Although the 76-year-old world famous primatologist might not come immediately to mind when you’re listening to Dave Matthews, the two shared the stage at DAR Constitution Hall. Dave, assisted by his trusty guitar maestro Tim Reynolds, put on a acoustic show benefiting the Jane Goodall Institute in front of a enthusiastic crowd in Washington D.C. Goodall gave a short speech to the audience about contributing to her fight against pollution. Songs like “Bartender” and “Save Me” highlighted the over two-hour long intimate concert.  In a press conference, Dave expressed his disappointment with politicians’ overall efforts toward protecting the environment. When asked if he would ever consider going into politics himself, the 43-year-old musician said his “closet full of skeletons” would make that impossible. DMB will travel to Hartford, CT for their pair of shows at the Comcast Theater.

Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King concludes with “You and Me”, a unadulterated song about love’s possibilities, was featured in DMB’s latest music video. The video opens with Dave sitting in a chair playing guitar surrounded by numerous empty chairs. As the song progressed the chairs are filled by musicians including the rest of DMB. This is one of my favorite songs off of the album, for its straight ahead positive message and I got a feeling its going to be amazing live. I can imagine it’s going to be great sing-a-long on the tour this summer. Check out the video here

Dave Matthews has long been a proponent for fighting against the harmful mining of Appalachian mountains and will be raising money for the cause on May 19th in Nashville by playing a live concert with the wonderful Emmylou Harris. Dave even mentions the crisis on Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King’s track “When the World Ends”. If anyone has been to Appalachia, you’ve seen how beautiful the green, rolling hills are and it would be a tragic loss to country if they are continually harmed by mining companies. The mountain mining can also have negative effects on the healthiness of surrounding water supplies and destroying surround forests. Matthews and Harris have had a long friendship stemming from their celebrated 2000 CMT Crossroads performance. Hopefully, the pair will play a number of duets as Dave and Emmylou truly have remarkable chemistry together on stage.

The Dave Matthews Band will make a stop on their summer tour this year in Manchester, TN to headline the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Dave’s played the festival before with DMB and  Dave & Friends, so this announcement doesn’t come as a surprise. I personally saw DMB play four years ago on the main stage and they were definitely the highlight of the festival for me. Expect a number of guests to join DMB on stage with all the performers playing Bonnaroo. When I saw them Warren Haynes and Robert Randolph made cameo appearances on stage. Other acts playing the three day festival this year include Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Weezer, John Fogerty, Phoenix, Jeff Beck, and the Avett Brothers.