Justin Ward

Justin Ward

Justin Ward is the founder of LiveMusicBlog.com, an independent music publication launched in the summer of 2004. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Ward created the site as a personal outlet to explore music beyond his favorite band, Phish, following their announced breakup that year. What began as a modest blog evolved into a widely respected source for live music coverage, featuring concert reviews, festival news, and artist spotlights across genres like jam bands, indie rock, electronic, jazz, and more. Ward’s passion for live music and his commitment to capturing the energy of performances helped establish a dedicated community of readers and contributors. Even after the site’s acquisition by On Tap Publishing in 2025, Ward’s influence remains evident in its continued focus on the live music experience and LMB’s devotion to delivering high-quality articles and news to its readers. Scroll down for a full list of Justin’s stories. Contact Justin: Email us Connect with Justin Ward:

AUTHOR’S CONTENT

  • Watch The Smile on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert

    The Smile recently stopped by the NPR offices in D.C. and recorded a Tiny Desk Concert…

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  • Billy Strings Announces New Year’s Eve 2023 Run

    Right as the Billy Strings gang was about to ring in the 2023 new year…

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  • Watch Page McConnell’s Phish 2022 Keyboard Rig Rundown

    Right as the Phish New Year’s Eve run began, the band shared a full rig-rundown…

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  • Bucket Full of Thoughts on Phish New Year’s Eve 2022-23 & Beyond

    Happy Phishmas Eve! It’s the day before the next Phish run begins, the band’s annual…

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  • Watch Jack Black & Dave Grohl Cover Rush “The Spirit of Radio” for Hanukkah Sessions 2022

    Jack Black is the latest guest on Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl’s fun live video…

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