Confederate Railroad Dropped From State Fair

Grammy-nominated country rock band Confederate Railroad was recently removed from the lineup at the Du Quoin State Fair by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who cited what he calls racist and white supremacist imagery like the confederate battle flag that often accompanies their shows. Fans and some in the media claim political correctness is behind the move and that the stars and bars is a symbol of southern pride and heritage and not slavery and racism. Brewer Goose Island has partnered with witty indie band Parquet Courts for an exclusive witbier for next weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. And baritone Jerry Lawson of longtime a cappella group The Persuasions passed away yesterday after a long illness. He was 75.  The Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa, who discovered The Persuasions, were big fans.