GMB stands for Greater Midwest Baseball, a major youth travel baseball tournament provider serving a seven-state region. The organization hosts tournaments in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Learn more about their leagues at playgmb.com.

The 2026 GMB American Blue Memorial Day Madness in Jefferson City! Here’s a link for directions to the sports complex at 325 Special Olympics Drive

Mike Callahan will perform at The Mission May 22 at 7:30. Mike is a Jefferson City–based singer-songwriter who draws influence from alternative rock, folk, and country. He grew up in an era when everyone seemed to be trying to start a band and create something original. He brings that spirit into his live performances. He can’t wait to perform his original music for you and share covers of the great songs that made him pick up a guitar in the first place.

Memorial Day Kickoff at Lake of the Ozarks! Memorial Day Weekend officially kicks off lake season at Lake of the Ozarks with fireworks, live music, packed patios, and boat traffic everywhere from Osage Beach to Lake Ozark.” Multiple waterfront fireworks shows are planned around May 24–25 at resorts around the lake. Expect heavy traffic and packed waterfront spots at Lake of the Ozarks as Memorial Day weekend crowds roll in.”

FUNNY VIDEO OF THE WEEK! Arnez J

This section is dedicated to lesser known artists that you might not have heard of and some that you have. We’ll also revisit from time to time, some classic albums that are worth rediscovering!

If country music feels like it’s been missing the sound of dusty dance halls, heartbreak ballads, and steel guitars, then Zach Top might be exactly the artist bringing it back.

Raised on a family farm in Sunnyside, Washington, Zach Top grew up surrounded by classic country and bluegrass music. By the age of seven, he was already performing alongside his siblings in a family bluegrass band called Top String, sharpening the guitar-picking skills and smooth vocals that would later become his trademark.

After years grinding through the bluegrass scene, Zach exploded onto the country radar with his throwback sound heavily inspired by legends like George Strait, Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, and Alan Jackson. His breakout single “Sounds Like the Radio” and debut album Cold Beer & Country Music turned heads across Nashville in 2024, with critics and fans praising him for reviving the warm, traditional sound many thought country radio had forgotten.

In just a few years, he’s gone from playing small clubs to selling out headline tours and winning major industry recognition, including CMA New Artist of the Year honors.

For fans craving real-deal country music with fiddle, twang, and soul, Zach Top is quickly becoming one of the genre’s brightest new torchbearers. Listen to “Bad Luck” HERE

Few young artists are carrying the torch for Appalachian country music quite like Cole Chaney. Hailing from the small river town of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Chaney has quickly built a reputation as one of the most authentic new voices in modern country and Americana. Raised in the heart of Eastern Kentucky, his music blends gritty blue-collar storytelling, mountain soul, and the raw honesty that has made fellow Kentuckians like Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers, and Sturgill Simpson household names.

Before music took over his life, Chaney worked as a welder after high school — an experience that still shapes the hard-earned realism found throughout his songs. He began playing open mic nights as a teenager and steadily built a loyal grassroots following with emotionally charged performances and deeply personal songwriting.

Chaney broke through in 2021 with his debut album Mercy, a haunting and heartfelt collection of songs centered around Appalachian life, struggle, faith, addiction, and survival. Tracks like “Ill Will Creek,” “Coalshooter,” and “Back to Kentucky” helped establish him as a standout voice in the independent country scene. Critics and fans alike praised the album for its maturity, vivid storytelling, and stripped-down honesty.

Though often compared to the current wave of Kentucky-born country revivalists, Chaney has carved out his own lane by mixing traditional country roots with grunge-era intensity and modern Appalachian grit. He’s earned a growing cult following through relentless touring, powerful live shows, and a refusal to chase trends or “influencer” culture.

Now based once again in his hometown of Catlettsburg, Chaney continues to write music deeply connected to his roots while building momentum as one of country music’s most promising independent artists. With new music and bigger stages arriving fast, many fans believe Cole Chaney may be the next major voice to emerge from Kentucky’s rich musical tradition. Listen to “Ill Will Creek” HERE

Few musicians could sing like a soul man, play drums like a freight train, and still somehow feel underrated — but that was the magic of Buddy Miles. Born George Allen Miles Jr. in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1947, Buddy was practically raised behind a drum kit. His father played in jazz bands, and by the age of 12, Buddy was already performing professionally with the family group, the Bebops.

By the late ‘60s, Buddy had become one of the most explosive drummers in rock music, blending hard rock, soul, funk, blues, and jazz into something completely his own. He first gained major attention with the psychedelic blues group Electric Flag before forming the short-lived but legendary Band of Gypsys alongside Jimi Hendrix and bassist Billy Cox. Their live album, recorded at New York’s Fillmore East in 1969, became one of Hendrix’s most celebrated releases and showcased Buddy’s powerhouse vocals on songs like “Them Changes.”

And speaking of “Them Changes” — that song became Buddy Miles’ signature anthem. Funky, emotional, and unforgettable, it’s been sampled, covered, and rediscovered for decades by everyone from hip-hop artists to classic rock fans digging through vinyl crates.

Buddy later formed Buddy Miles Express and built a long career as both a solo artist and session musician. He worked with artists across genres, from Carlos Santana to Stevie Wonder, always bringing that unmistakable groove-heavy style.

Though he never became as famous as some of the musicians around him, Buddy Miles earned deep respect from fellow players and fans alike. His mix of thunderous drumming, soulful vocals, and fearless experimentation helped shape the sound of funk-rock long before the genre even had a name.

Buddy Miles passed away in 2008, but his music still sounds alive, loud, and decades ahead of its time. Listen to “Them Changes” HERE

See You Next Week! - Andy

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