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Earth, Wind & Fire Bring Their Legendary Catalog to Honolulu for the Gracianna Concert Series This June

Eric Alper
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Earth, Wind & Fire Bring Their Legendary Catalog to Honolulu for the Gracianna Concert Series This June

Earth, Wind & Fire have a history with HawaiŹ»i that stretches back to 1975, with performances at the iconic Diamond Head Crater and multiple sold-out nights at Blaisdell Arena over the decades. That relationship continues on June 13, 2026, when the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and nine-time Grammy winners return to Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu for the second installment of the Gracianna Concert Series, presented by Gracianna Winery and concert industry veteran Rick Bartalini.

More than 100 million albums sold worldwide and a catalog that includes “September,” “Let’s Groove,” and “Reasons” make Earth, Wind & Fire one of the most enduring acts in popular music. Their connection to Hawaiian audiences runs deeper than most mainland artists can claim, and this show arrives as communities across the islands continue recovering from recent flooding, with a portion of proceeds going directly to local relief efforts.

The Gracianna Concert Series pairs world-class entertainment with elevated hospitality, offering Gracianna Medallion Club members exclusive access to premium seat packages, winemaker dinners, and partnership experiences with the ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. “Earth, Wind & Fire bring joy the moment they take the stage,” said Gracianna Winery partner Lisa Amador. “Their music is celebratory, timeless, and full of heart.” A HawaiŹ»i resident presale is on now, with mainland tickets on sale April 10.

Kevin Costner and Modern West Join Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, and George Thorogood for One805LIVE! Benefit Concert

Eric Alper
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Kevin Costner and Modern West Join Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, and George Thorogood for One805LIVE! Benefit Concert

One805LIVE! has grown into a two-day concert experience, and the 2026 lineup is shaping up as one of the strongest yet. Kevin Costner & Modern West joins previously announced performers Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo and George Thorogood for a benefit weekend set for September 25 and 26 at Costner’s oceanside estate in Summerland. All artists donate their time and performances in support of Santa Barbara County First Responders, the mission that has defined One805LIVE! since the nonprofit was founded in the wake of the 2018 Montecito debris flow.

Costner’s involvement goes well beyond headlining. A longtime Montecito resident, he opens his home to the event each year and has been a consistent presence in the organization’s mission. His Americana and country-rock outfit Modern West, founded in 2007, has nearly two decades of touring and recording behind them, most recently with ‘Tales From Yellowstone,’ a collection of songs from and inspired by the Paramount series. Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo bring more than 36 million records sold and four consecutive Grammy Awards to the bill, while blues-rock legend George Thorogood adds 50-plus years of high-energy performance and a catalog that includes “Bad to the Bone” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.”

The two-day format expands the event’s reach significantly. Approximately one third of attendees are First Responders invited as guests of One805, and the expanded programming allows the organization to welcome more members of the First Responder community while generating greater proceeds for equipment, mental health services, and wellness initiatives. Music supervisor Alan Parsons, OBE, returns to oversee the lineup. Additional performers will be announced in the coming months.

Folger Consort Marks 50 Years of Early Music With a Season That Spans 800 Years of Repertoire

Eric Alper
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Folger Consort Marks 50 Years of Early Music With a Season That Spans 800 Years of Repertoire

Fifty years is a remarkable run for any ensemble, and Folger Consort has spent all of them as the early music ensemble-in-residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington. Co-artistic directors Robert Eisenstein and Christopher Kendall, the founding directors who built this institution from its first season, are marking the golden anniversary with a 2026-27 program that ranges from 13th-century Spain to Elizabethan England, with stops in Venice, West Africa, the Arabic world, and colonial New England along the way.

The season opens September 11-13 with “Monteverdi’s Legacy,” a deep dive into early Baroque Venice featuring madrigals, motets, sonatas, and operatic excerpts by Monteverdi and his circle. December brings a centuries-spanning English Christmas program including music by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, closing with Christmas anthems by William Billings in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. February’s program draws connections between West African griot traditions, Arabic hakawati storytelling, and medieval ProvenƧal singer-poets, a genuinely ambitious cross-cultural program. The season closes May 7-9 with a return to music performed during Folger Consort’s very first season five decades ago.

Subscription packages for the 2026-27 season are on sale now starting at $162, with discounted packages available for patrons under 35. Single tickets go on sale in the summer.

Folger Consort 2026-27 Season:

Monteverdi’s Legacy

September 11-13, 2026

An English Christmas for the Ages

December 11-20, 2026

Folktales and Storied Traditions: Troubadours, Griots, and Hakawatis

February 12-14, 2027

Folger Consort’s Golden Jubilee

May 7-9, 2027

Bruno Mars and Hello Kitty Are Teaming Up Again for “The Romantic Tour” With Merch, Pop-Ups, and Cafe Takeovers

Eric Alper
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Bruno Mars and Hello Kitty Are Teaming Up Again for “The Romantic Tour” With Merch, Pop-Ups, and Cafe Takeovers

Bruno Mars kicks off “The Romantic Tour” at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 9, and Sanrio is along for the ride in a big way. Hello Kitty and Bruno Mars are collaborating again, this time with a full week of activations built around the tour launch, including a limited-edition merchandise collection, cafe takeovers across the city, and in-person Hello Kitty meet-and-greets on April 9 and April 11.

The Hello Kitty x Bruno Mars collection drops at a pop-up shop opening April 9 at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, featuring co-branded tees, hoodies, hats, tote bags, water bottles, and more. The pop-up then travels to select tour stops including Glendale, Arlington, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, and Toronto, with more cities to be announced. Select items will also be available at the Hello Kitty Cafe in Las Vegas throughout the run.

The tour itself marks a genuinely significant moment. ‘The Romantic’ is Mars’ first solo album in a decade and his first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. The 16-time Grammy winner has sold over 150 million records worldwide, recently became the first artist to hit 150 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and holds the highest-certified song in RIAA history with “Just the Way You Are.” “The Romantic Tour” arrives with serious momentum behind it.

Reggae Fusion Legend Maxi Priest Delivers Soulful New Single “Touch By An Angel”

Eric Alper
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Reggae Fusion Legend Maxi Priest Delivers Soulful New Single “Touch By An Angel”

Four decades into one of reggae’s most enduring careers, Maxi Priest still knows how to make a song that settles in and stays. “Touch By An Angel” is out now via his Level Vibes Music imprint and distributed through Intercept Music, produced by multi-Grammy Award-winning reggae and dancehall producer Paul “Jazzwad” Yebuah. The track moves fluidly between reggae, R&B, and soul, built around the kind of emotionally assured vocal delivery that has defined Priest’s catalog since the beginning.

“This song is about those moments when love feels effortless,” Priest says. “When being with someone brings a sense of completeness, like you’ve been touched by someone truly special, your angel.” The cover art adds a personal dimension, drawn from an original illustration by Priest himself. A series of remixes will follow, offering new interpretations of the single’s groove. The release follows his recent collaboration with Sean Paul on “Feel So Alive,” which launched the Level Vibes Music imprint in partnership with Intercept Music.

Priest is also looking ahead to ‘Family,’ an upcoming live album bringing together his sons, longtime collaborators, and a new generation of creatives across Jamaica, the UK, and the United States. Beyond the music, he’s been actively supporting hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica through partnerships with The Bob and Rita Marley Foundation Relief Fund and Tropical Sun. One of the only reggae artists to score a solo number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and now inducted into both the Jamaica Music Museum Hall of Fame and the Reggae Walk of Fame, Priest remains a genuine force in the genre.

Luke Grimes Delivers Sophomore Album ‘Red Bird,’ a Quiet and Uncompromising Country Statement

Eric Alper
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Luke Grimes Delivers Sophomore Album ‘Red Bird,’ a Quiet and Uncompromising Country Statement

Luke Grimes has spent years building two parallel careers with real credibility in both, and ‘Red Bird’ makes the strongest case yet that the music side is no side project. The 10-track sophomore album, produced by Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb and out now via Range Music/MCA, was recorded between Georgia May Studio in Savannah and Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A. It’s a record that leans into classic country foundations, organic instrumentation, and Grimes’ steady baritone without reaching for anything it doesn’t need.

Grimes co-wrote the bulk of the project with Cobb and collaborators including Jessie Jo Dillon and Natalie Hemby, and he played acoustic guitar, percussion, and drums throughout. Tracks like “Drink Drink Drink” and “Haunted” sit with self-doubt and reckoning, while “Without You,” “A Little More Time,” and “Love You Now” move through commitment, loss, and presence. “Haunted” also appears in his new CBS series MARSHALS, creating a rare and genuine thread between his work on screen and in music.

Best known globally as Kayce Dutton on Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, Grimes now arrives in 2026 with both ‘Red Bird’ and MARSHALS in tandem. His debut catalog has already crossed 200 million global streams. This album moves with the confidence of someone done proving himself and focused on building something lasting.

‘Red Bird’ Tracklist:

High Rise Jeans

Come Home

Love You Now

Hummingbird

Drink Drink Drink

Love Me That Way

I’m Not Gonna Leave You

Without You

Haunted

A Little More Time

Florida Swamp Rockers Gunshine Drop Music Video for “Single Looks Good On You” Ahead of Album ‘Grand Rising’

Eric Alper
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Florida Swamp Rockers Gunshine Drop Music Video for “Single Looks Good On You” Ahead of Album ‘Grand Rising’

Gunshine have been rolling out ‘Grand Rising’ one strong single at a time, and “Single Looks Good On You” is the third and most immediate entry yet. The music video is out now, and the track itself is a gulf coast-flavored swamp rock anthem built for open windows and warm weather, hooky enough to stick after a single listen. It’s the kind of song that earns its place on a summer playlist without trying too hard.

The track was recorded in Vancouver with producer Brian Howes (Nickelback, Skillet, Hinder, Simple Plan) at The Armoury, then mixed and mastered by Chris Collier (Korn, Mick Mars, Whitesnake). The bulk of ‘Grand Rising,’ a 13-track full-length due digitally July 24 via vnclm_ / Create Music Group, was tracked in Las Vegas with Collier producing and mixing. “He has a great ear, and adds a heavy hitting production value that makes the songs sonically translate very well,” says guitarist and vocalist Austin Ingerman, who’s worked with Collier for nearly a decade.

Physical copies of ‘Grand Rising,’ including CD and double vinyl editions, are available now. The digital release follows July 24.

‘Grand Rising’ Tracklist:

Grand Rising

Finite

Goth Girl

Single Looks Good On You

My Oh Miley

Mystery

Man Down

Leave the Light On

I Know You Love Me

Capt’n Save a Hoe

Shark Lounge (feat. Michael Starr)

Valentine

Table Dancing

Twin Cities PBS Documentary “The Wild West Bank Sound” Uncovers the Music Scene That Shaped Minnesota

Eric Alper
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Twin Cities PBS Documentary “The Wild West Bank Sound” Uncovers the Music Scene That Shaped Minnesota

Long before Minneapolis became synonymous with Prince and the funk-driven sound that bears the city’s name, the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on the West Bank was already doing something remarkable. Twin Cities PBS’s new documentary “The Wild West Bank Sound” premieres at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival on April 19, followed by a broadcast on TPT 2 and the PBS App on April 21, and it makes a compelling case that this small, densely creative neighborhood deserves its own chapter in American music history.

The film blends archival footage, historic photography, and firsthand accounts from musicians and community members who lived through a scene that encompassed folk, bluegrass, reggae, rock, and more. It comes from the same studio behind acclaimed Twin Cities PBS music documentaries including “The Minneapolis Sound” and “First Avenue: Closer to the Stars,” a track record that signals serious depth of research and storytelling. “What makes this film special is hearing directly from the musicians and community members who lived it,” said Executive Producer Daniel Bergin.

Producer Kevin Dragseth framed the project as an act of listening. “As we began talking to people who were part of the West Bank music scene, it quickly became clear how many incredible stories were still waiting to be told.” Cedar-Riverside was more than a music hub. It was an incubator for activism, experimentation, and a community identity that still resonates in Minnesota’s cultural fabric today.

Warner Music Group Moves to Acquire Independent Music Platform Revelator in Major Distribution Play

Eric Alper
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Warner Music Group Moves to Acquire Independent Music Platform Revelator in Major Distribution Play

Warner Music Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Revelator, the B2B music platform built to serve the independent music community. Founded in 2012 by Bruno Guez, Revelator specializes in digital music distribution, rights management, royalty accounting, and real-time analytics, currently supporting hundreds of clients through cloud-based tools including Revelator Pro, Revelator API, and its White Label solutions. The deal is expected to close next quarter.

WMG CEO Robert Kyncl framed the acquisition as a direct acceleration of the company’s mission to support artists and labels globally. “The combination of Revelator’s leading-edge technology and array of premier services with our global infrastructure will turbocharge our joint mission,” he said. Revelator will continue servicing its existing customers post-closing while integrating its capabilities across WMG’s labels and ADA, the company’s independent distribution arm.

The why behind this deal isn’t complicated. The independent music sector has grown into one of the most competitive and lucrative corners of the industry, and the major labels have spent the last several years racing to build or buy the infrastructure to serve it. Revelator gives WMG a sophisticated, proven technology stack, real-time financial reporting, and a global client base it didn’t have to build from scratch. For WMG, this is about owning more of the pipeline, from distribution to royalty management, and making ADA a more complete and compelling option for independent artists and labels who might otherwise look elsewhere.

Babyface, Jodeci, and Deon Cole Headline the Soul Beach Music Festival in CuraƧao This Memorial Day Weekend

Eric Alper
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Babyface, Jodeci, and Deon Cole Headline the Soul Beach Music Festival in CuraƧao This Memorial Day Weekend

The Soul Beach Music Festival is heading to CuraƧao for the first time, and the 2026 lineup makes a serious statement. Running May 20-25 on the island’s sun-drenched shores, the festival brings together 13-time Grammy winner Babyface, R&B legends Jodeci, and two-time Emmy-nominated comedian Deon Cole for a Memorial Day weekend that covers music, comedy, and everything in between. DJ Jazzy Jeff and Spinderella handle the after-hours, with Atlanta’s DJ E-Clazz also on the decks and Chris Spencer hosting throughout.

Babyface alone is a catalog unto himself. Co-founder of LaFace Records, the label that launched Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and P!nk, he’s also the only producer to win the Grammy’s Producer of the Year award four times, including three consecutive years from 1995 to 1997. Jodeci brings equal weight, with over 20 million records sold, three consecutive number one albums on the Billboard R&B charts, and a run of sold-out reunion tours behind them. DeVantĆ© Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo remain one of the most influential groups the genre has ever produced.

Deon Cole headlines comedy night fresh off his Netflix special ‘OK, Mister,’ bringing sharp, high-caliber performance energy to the international stage. The whole event unfolds against the backdrop of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with catamaran excursions, beach events, and signature main stage concerts rounding out the experience.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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