Mike Ayers Outlines New Book ‘Sharing in The Groove: The Untold Story of the ‘90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed’
Mike Ayers has announced the July 22, 2025, release of his new book, Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the ’90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed, which aims to piece together lesser-known retellings of up-and-comers turned jam scene heavyweights like Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler and others that helped defined the era’s musical output.
The book evokes Ayer’s unique experience as a longtime music journalist with specific examples culled from his roster, such as seeing over 130 Phish shows and 20 Grateful Dead concerts, in addition to profiling other bands and events that have maintained the ethos of the aforementioned San Francisco tripsters–Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, et al.
Ayers recounts a mid-90s happenstance as a prep cook for Phish in exchange for an all-access pass for the night’s concert, in addition to tales of his own experience as a taper–capturing live performances that still live online today. “Filled with anecdotes and stories directly from the musicians, promoters, managers, roadies, producers, label executives, and fans that lived this scene, Sharing in the Groove is a fun, fast-paced oral history that will appeal to music lovers everywhere,” according to its description.
“Mike Ayers has documented the history of the jam band scene in a definitive way, directly from the voices of the musicians who created this scene (and the promoters, managers, and everyone else who was there when it was birthed). It’s amazing to hear how it all came together for the bands that still power the most vibrant music scene in America today,” Peter Shapiro commented in tangent with news of the forthcoming book.
“In the early ’90s, as the New York music industry desperately scoured the nation for the next big thing, an organic music scene was taking shape right under their noses. Little clubs were packed with fans and bands jamming the night away, as jam bands took root and sprouted like mushrooms. This book captures that exciting fluid time with a deep dive into the bands that blew up out of this scene and the ones that coulda been a contender,” fellow writer and author of One Way Out and Brothers and Sisters, Alan Paul, shared.
Pre-order Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the ’90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed.
