The Ultimate Guide to 2025’s Most Anticipated Artists and Tours
2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable year in music, with legendary acts, genre-defining artists, and thrilling tours across the globe. Here’s a breakdown of the most anticipated performers and their plans for the year.
AC/DC
- 13 concerts through May 28, 2025.
- Hard Rock/Heavy Metal legends embark on their first U.S. tour in nine years.
Andrea Bocelli
- 33 concerts through April 1, 2026.
- Classical icon continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Avenged Sevenfold
- 9 concerts through September 1, 2025.
- Heavy Metal favorites bring their electrifying stage presence to select cities.
Billie Eilish
- 52 concerts through July 27, 2025.
- The pop superstar kicks off her Hit Me Hard and Soft 2025 Tour.
Billy Joel
- 13 concerts through August 8, 2025.
- A piano man still delighting fans with timeless hits.
Bryan Adams
- 56 concerts through August 13, 2025.
- A Pop/Sof Rock mainstay with a massive tour planned for 2025.
Bruce Springsteen
- 16 concerts through July 3, 2025.
- The Boss continues his world tour, hitting major cities across Europe.
Chicago – The Band
- 24 concerts through September 5, 2025.
- The timeless pop-rock group keeps delivering their greatest hits live.
Coldplay
- 38 concerts through September 8, 2025.
- The Music of the Spheres 2025 Tour dazzles fans globally.
Def Leppard
- 3 concerts through August 16, 2025.
- Rock icons bring their signature sound to select cities.
Disturbed
- 35 concerts through May 19, 2025.
- Heavy Metal titans continue their journey with a bold tour.
Drake
- 13 concerts through March 1, 2025.
- Hip-Hop superstar dominates stages with his chart-topping tracks.
Duran Duran
- 2 concerts through January 2, 2025.
- Pop music icons bring their hits to a select few venues.
Eagles
- 16 concerts through April 12, 2025.
- Soft rock legends extend their Las Vegas residency.
Ed Sheeran
- 35 concerts through September 7, 2025.
- The Mathematics Tour continues, blending heartfelt ballads with high-energy performances.
Eric Clapton
- 4 concerts through May 24, 2025.
- Blues-rock virtuoso graces intimate venues with timeless classics.
Foreigner
- 17 concerts through October 11, 2025.
- A farewell tour celebrating their legendary catalog.
Guns N’ Roses
- 21 concerts through July 28, 2025.
- Rock icons embark on a global trek featuring their classic lineup.
Imagine Dragons
- 20 concerts through July 26, 2025.
- Alt-rock innovators continue their captivating live shows.
Iron Maiden
- 31 concerts through August 2, 2025.
- Celebrating their 50th anniversary with the Run For Your Lives World Tour.
Journey
- 2 concerts through March 12, 2025.
- Soft rock icons return to the stage for limited performances.
Katy Perry
- 34 concerts through October 14, 2025.
- The Lifetimes Tour delivers her iconic pop hits and theatrical flair.
Lana Del Rey
- 6 concerts through July 3, 2025.
- The indie-pop queen enchants audiences with her melancholic melodies.
Linkin Park
- 44 concerts through September 24, 2025.
- Alt-rock pioneers return with an expansive global tour.
Maroon 5
- 18 concerts through July 11, 2025.
- Chart-topping pop-rock band keeps the hits coming live.
Metallica
- 25 concerts through November 19, 2025.
- Heavy metal legends bring their M72 World Tour to new heights.
Rod Stewart
- 49 concerts through August 15, 2025.
- The iconic performer continues his farewell One Last Time tour.
Slipknot
- 11 concerts through June 23, 2025.
- Heavy metal juggernauts light up stages with their chaotic energy.
Sting
- 38 concerts through October 20, 2025.
- The rock legend serenades audiences with his soulful hits.
The Killers
- 4 concerts through February 21, 2025.
- Indie rockers kick off a limited tour leg.
The Weeknd
- 1 concert on January 25, 2025.
- The R&B superstar promises a memorable performance for fans.
Usher
- 25 concerts through August 13, 2026.
- The R&B legend continues his Past Present Future tour.
The Role of Makeup Courses in Building a Creative Career
By Mitch Rice
Pursuing a career in makeup artistry combines passion with creativity, offering endless opportunities for artistic expression. With the beauty industry continuously evolving, formal training plays a pivotal role in equipping individuals with the knowledge, techniques, and confidence required to thrive in this competitive yet rewarding field.
Unveiling the Importance of Formal Training
The art of makeup extends beyond mere application. It requires understanding skin types, facial structures, color theory, and hygiene standards. Makeup courses provide a structured environment to learn these fundamentals, ensuring a strong foundation for aspiring artists.
Rather than relying on trial and error, formal training offers insight into industry trends and professional standards. It enables students to develop a systematic approach to their craft while encouraging experimentation and innovation.
Nurturing Creativity and Technique
Creativity is at the heart of makeup artistry, and courses often include modules dedicated to cultivating this vital skill. Through hands-on projects and guided practice, students can explore diverse styles, from natural looks to avant-garde creations, unleashing their artistic potential. Courses also emphasize mastering a wide range of techniques, such as contouring, blending, airbrushing, and advanced application methods.
By practicing these skills in a supportive environment, learners refine their precision, adaptability, and artistic flair—qualities highly valued by clients and employers. Additionally, structured feedback from experienced instructors helps identify areas for improvement and encourages continuous growth. This constructive critique fosters confidence, innovation, and a deeper understanding of the artistry’s intricacies, equipping students to thrive in the dynamic beauty industry.
Building a Professional Portfolio
A well-curated portfolio is essential for any makeup artist aiming to showcase their expertise and creativity. Training programs often include assignments designed to create versatile looks, enabling students to build a compelling body of work highlighting their unique talent. From bridal makeup to editorial shoots, a diverse portfolio demonstrates an artist’s versatility and adaptability. It acts as a visual résumé, attracting clients, potential employers, and collaborators while setting the stage for future success.
Collaboration opportunities within these courses—such as working with photographers, stylists, and models—further enhance the quality of portfolio content. These real-world experiences mirror professional scenarios, building confidence, technical skills, and a readiness for the industry’s demands.
Connecting with Industry Experts and Peers
Networking is a critical aspect of building a successful career, and training programs provide ample opportunities to connect with seasoned professionals and fellow enthusiasts. Workshops, guest lectures, and collaborative projects foster meaningful relationships that often translate into mentorships or job referrals.
Learning alongside peers also creates a supportive community that can offer inspiration, advice, and encouragement throughout one’s career. These connections enrich the learning experience and help establish a strong foothold in the beauty industry.
Exploring Diverse Career Paths
Makeup artistry is a versatile field with numerous career paths. Graduates of training programs may pursue roles in film and television, theater, fashion, or bridal services. Others may venture into special effects makeup, body art, or education, blending creativity with precision. Formal training equips individuals with the adaptability to excel across these varied domains.
By exposing students to different specialties, courses allow them to discover their true passion and tailor their skills accordingly, fostering a deeper connection to their craft. Moreover, the growing demand for skilled makeup artists has opened doors in unexpected industries, such as corporate events, digital media, and virtual consultations. This versatility ensures that a career in makeup artistry remains dynamic, fulfilling, and future-ready.
The Value of Continuous Learning
The beauty industry thrives on innovation, with trends and techniques constantly evolving. Training programs encourage lifelong learning by instilling a mindset of curiosity and adaptability, inspiring artists to embrace change and stay ahead of industry demands.
Advanced classes and certifications keep artists updated on the latest products, tools, and ethical practices, enhancing skills and credibility. Continuous learning ensures relevance in a competitive market, aligning their work with contemporary trends and client expectations.
Empowering Creative Aspirations Through Online Makeup Education
Online makeup artistry programs provide aspiring artists with more than just technical expertise—they foster confidence, creativity, and a clear sense of purpose. By investing in professional training, individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed to turn their passion into a successful career. These programs offer a transformative journey of self-discovery, continuous growth, and hands-on skill-building, empowering participants to navigate the challenges of the beauty industry with resilience and adaptability. With the flexibility of online learning, expert guidance, and access to a supportive network, these courses ensure that creativity meets opportunity, paving the way for lasting success.
Makeup courses serve as a bridge between talent and opportunity, transforming raw passion into professional expertise. They provide aspiring artists with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to carve a niche in the vibrant world of beauty. Whether it’s mastering the basics or exploring avant-garde artistry, these courses offer a pathway to success that is as rewarding as it is creative.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
The Role of Makeup Courses in Building a Creative Career
By Mitch Rice
Pursuing a career in makeup artistry combines passion with creativity, offering endless opportunities for artistic expression. With the beauty industry continuously evolving, formal training plays a pivotal role in equipping individuals with the knowledge, techniques, and confidence required to thrive in this competitive yet rewarding field.
Unveiling the Importance of Formal Training
The art of makeup extends beyond mere application. It requires understanding skin types, facial structures, color theory, and hygiene standards. Makeup courses provide a structured environment to learn these fundamentals, ensuring a strong foundation for aspiring artists.
Rather than relying on trial and error, formal training offers insight into industry trends and professional standards. It enables students to develop a systematic approach to their craft while encouraging experimentation and innovation.
Nurturing Creativity and Technique
Creativity is at the heart of makeup artistry, and courses often include modules dedicated to cultivating this vital skill. Through hands-on projects and guided practice, students can explore diverse styles, from natural looks to avant-garde creations, unleashing their artistic potential. Courses also emphasize mastering a wide range of techniques, such as contouring, blending, airbrushing, and advanced application methods.
By practicing these skills in a supportive environment, learners refine their precision, adaptability, and artistic flair—qualities highly valued by clients and employers. Additionally, structured feedback from experienced instructors helps identify areas for improvement and encourages continuous growth. This constructive critique fosters confidence, innovation, and a deeper understanding of the artistry’s intricacies, equipping students to thrive in the dynamic beauty industry.
Building a Professional Portfolio
A well-curated portfolio is essential for any makeup artist aiming to showcase their expertise and creativity. Training programs often include assignments designed to create versatile looks, enabling students to build a compelling body of work highlighting their unique talent. From bridal makeup to editorial shoots, a diverse portfolio demonstrates an artist’s versatility and adaptability. It acts as a visual résumé, attracting clients, potential employers, and collaborators while setting the stage for future success.
Collaboration opportunities within these courses—such as working with photographers, stylists, and models—further enhance the quality of portfolio content. These real-world experiences mirror professional scenarios, building confidence, technical skills, and a readiness for the industry’s demands.
Connecting with Industry Experts and Peers
Networking is a critical aspect of building a successful career, and training programs provide ample opportunities to connect with seasoned professionals and fellow enthusiasts. Workshops, guest lectures, and collaborative projects foster meaningful relationships that often translate into mentorships or job referrals.
Learning alongside peers also creates a supportive community that can offer inspiration, advice, and encouragement throughout one’s career. These connections enrich the learning experience and help establish a strong foothold in the beauty industry.
Exploring Diverse Career Paths
Makeup artistry is a versatile field with numerous career paths. Graduates of training programs may pursue roles in film and television, theater, fashion, or bridal services. Others may venture into special effects makeup, body art, or education, blending creativity with precision. Formal training equips individuals with the adaptability to excel across these varied domains.
By exposing students to different specialties, courses allow them to discover their true passion and tailor their skills accordingly, fostering a deeper connection to their craft. Moreover, the growing demand for skilled makeup artists has opened doors in unexpected industries, such as corporate events, digital media, and virtual consultations. This versatility ensures that a career in makeup artistry remains dynamic, fulfilling, and future-ready.
The Value of Continuous Learning
The beauty industry thrives on innovation, with trends and techniques constantly evolving. Training programs encourage lifelong learning by instilling a mindset of curiosity and adaptability, inspiring artists to embrace change and stay ahead of industry demands.
Advanced classes and certifications keep artists updated on the latest products, tools, and ethical practices, enhancing skills and credibility. Continuous learning ensures relevance in a competitive market, aligning their work with contemporary trends and client expectations.
Empowering Creative Aspirations Through Online Makeup Education
Online makeup artistry programs provide aspiring artists with more than just technical expertise—they foster confidence, creativity, and a clear sense of purpose. By investing in professional training, individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed to turn their passion into a successful career. These programs offer a transformative journey of self-discovery, continuous growth, and hands-on skill-building, empowering participants to navigate the challenges of the beauty industry with resilience and adaptability. With the flexibility of online learning, expert guidance, and access to a supportive network, these courses ensure that creativity meets opportunity, paving the way for lasting success.
Makeup courses serve as a bridge between talent and opportunity, transforming raw passion into professional expertise. They provide aspiring artists with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to carve a niche in the vibrant world of beauty. Whether it’s mastering the basics or exploring avant-garde artistry, these courses offer a pathway to success that is as rewarding as it is creative.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
The Momentary Announces FreshGrass Bentonville 2025 Lineup: Lukas Nelson, Shakey Graves, Rosanne Cash And More
Today, the Momentary announced the lineup for FreshGrass | Bentonville 2025, a two-day, all-ages festival with the best in American and global roots music and folk traditions taking place on Friday, May 16th and Saturday, May 17th. The 2025 festival will feature an illustrious lineup of artists, including GRAMMY Award winner Lukas Nelson, Americana Music Awards winner Shakey Graves, Afrobeat royalty Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, rising star La Doña, 18x GRAMMY Award winner Béla Fleck with his brand new trio featuring Antonio Sanchez and Edmar Castañeda, as well as GRAMMY Award winner and American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame member Alison Brown, Jesse Welles, Sister Sadie, AJ Lee & Blue Summit,, Lost Bayou Ramblers, The Langan Band, and more. The diverse and exciting lineup combines with unique-to-FreshGrass elements like world premieres of special commissions, artist talks, instrument workshops, band competitions, and square dances to create a festival experience unlike any other.
Also joining the festival as an artist-at-large will be Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal. Cash’s appearance at the Momentary holds special significance, as it coincides with the The Prison Concerts: Folsom and San Quentin (Jim Marshall’s Photographs of Johnny Cash) exhibition on display at the venue. Organized by the GRAMMY Museum, the exhibition features iconic photographs of her father from his historic Folsom and San Quentin prison concerts in 1968 and 1969.
Arkansas native folksinger Willi Carlisle will return to FreshGrass, this year as the 2025 recipient of the FreshGrass Composition Commission, performing new music written for this commission for the first time in public. Previous FreshGrass Composing Commission recipients include Rhiannon Giddens, Aoife O’Donovan, Sarah Jarosz, Kronos Quartet, and Bill Frisell.
The FreshGrass Awards will also make their debut at FreshGrass | Bentonville 2025, with five finalists performing in front of an esteemed panel of judges during the festival. The FreshGrass Awards celebrate and reward emerging artists who offer innovative interpretations of bluegrass and roots music traditions. Prizes total more than $30,000 and the winner receives studio time at Compass Records. For Bentonville 2025, band finalists will be selected internally from the esteemed Awards Council. Previous FreshGrass Awards Band Competition winners include this year’s lineup highlight AJ Lee and Blue Summit.
Set among the beauty of the Ozarks, FreshGrass | Bentonville has welcomed over 20,000 attendees to the Momentary since its inception. Presented by the Momentary, past artists have included phenomenal talents from Billy Strings to Sierra Ferrell, Trombone Shorty, Jason Isbell, Mavis Staples, Del McCoury, Cimafunk, Caamp, Tank and the Bangas, the GRAMMY Award winning Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, and a myriad of other national and local stars, Grammy-nominated artists, and internationally and nationally acclaimed musicians taking the stage over the weekend.
For more information and tickets, please visit theMomentary.org/FreshGrass.
Dogs in a Pile Bring Extensive 2025 Spring Tour to 20 Cities
Dogs In A Pile (DIAP) have announced their 2025 Spring Tour, which includes a number of return trips to cities featuring larger venues.
The tour begins with their headlining debut at Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY, on March 28 and 29 – their first visit to the premier NYC venue since October 2021. The band will then make stops in Bethlehem, PA (April 3) and Buffalo, NY (April 5). In between those dates, they will play their largest indoor Western PA venue yet at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh (April 4). DIAP will follow with a string of Midwest performances in Ferndale, MI (April 8), Cleveland, OH (April 9), and Columbus, OH (April 11), before heading further west to Kalamazoo, MI (April 12), Madison, WI (April 13), and Indianapolis, IN (April 15). On April 16, the tour continues in Chattanooga, TN, at Barrelhouse Ballroom.
The spring run also includes several Southern shows, including Charlottesville, VA (April 18) – where a standout October 2023 performance at The Southern Café and Music Hall earned them a headlining slot at the Jefferson Theater. With several past sellouts in Raleigh, NC, the Dogs will invite the Dog Pound to join them at the Lincoln Theatre on April 19.
DIAP will then head down the coast to Wilmington, NC (April 20), Charleston, SC (April 22), and several Florida cities: debuts in Fort Lauderdale (April 24), St. Petersburg (April 25), Orlando (April 26), and a return trip to Jacksonville (April 27).
The tour wraps up with two shows in New Orleans, LA, during Jazz Fest at Chickie Wah Wah on April 29 and May 3, before the band heads to Mexico for Viva El Gonzo in San José Del Cabo on May 8, 9, and 10.
In addition to these new spring dates, Dogs In A Pile recently announced that they will support Greensky Bluegrass on March 8 in Chicago, IL, at the indoor stage of the Salt Shed. This will mark a quick return to the Windy City following a visit in November 2024 at the Chop Shop – where they debuted a fan-favorite tune appropriately named “Chop Shop.”
Formed in 2019 and hailing from Asbury Park, NJ, Dogs In A Pile consists of Jeremy Kaplan (keyboards/vocals), Brian Murray (guitar/vocals), Joey Babick (drums), Jimmy Law (guitar/vocals), and Sam Lucid (bass/vocals).
To view all tour dates and learn more, visit dogs-tour.com.
DOGS IN A PILE WINTER & SPRING 2025 DATES
1/9 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
1/10 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
1/11 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
1/14 – Nevada City, CA – Crazy Horse Saloon & Grill
1/15 – Nevada City, CA – Crazy Horse Saloon & Grill
1/17 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
1/18 – Chico, CA – Lost on Main
1/19 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall
1/21 – Arcata, CA – Arcata Theatre Lounge
1/24 – Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
1/25 – Portland, OR – The Get Down
1/26 – Portland, OR – The Get Down
1/28 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
1/29 – Basalt, CO – TACAW
1/31 – Denver, CO – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
2/1 – Denver, CO – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
2/3 – Davenport, IA – Redstone Room at Common Chord
2/4 – Springfield, MO – The Regency Live
2/6 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge
2/7 – Fort Worth, TX – Tannehill’s Tavern & Music Hall
2/8 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn
2/11 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
2/12 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn
2/14 – Miami, FL > Cozumel, MX > Belize City, BZ – Jam Cruise 21
2/15 – Miami, FL > Cozumel, MX > Belize City, BZ – Jam Cruise 21
2/16 – Miami, FL > Cozumel, MX > Belize City, BZ – Jam Cruise 21
2/17 – Miami, FL > Cozumel, MX > Belize City, BZ – Jam Cruise 21
2/18 – Miami, FL > Cozumel, MX > Belize City, BZ – Jam Cruise 21
2/19 – Miami, FL > Cozumel, MX > Belize City, BZ – Jam Cruise 21
3/8 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed (indoors)*
3/28 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
3/29 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
4/3 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest Cafe
4/4 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls
4/5 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works
4/8 – Ferndale, MI – Magic Bag
4/9 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
4/11 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
4/12 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
4/13 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
4/15 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI
4/16 – Chattanooga, TN – Barrelhouse Ballroom
4/18 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater
4/19 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
4/20 – Wilmington, NC – Bowstring Wilmington
4/22 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Pour House
4/24 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
4/25 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
4/26 – Orlando, FL – The Social
4/27 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
4/29 – New Orleans, LA – Chickie Wah Wah
5/3 – New Orleans, LA – Chickie Wah Wah
5/8 – San José Del Cabo, MX – Viva El Gonzo
5/9 – San José Del Cabo, MX – Viva El Gonzo
5/10 – San José Del Cabo, MX – Viva El Gonzo
*Supporting Greensky Bluegrass
The Steve Martin Annual Banjo Prize Announces Two Winners for 2024
Steve Martin and the Board of The Steve Martin Banjo Prize have announced two winners for this year’s prize. Building on the Board’s mission to recognize excellence across the spectrum of banjo styles, this year’s recipients represent excellence in both clawhammer and 5-string bluegrass banjo styles.
Steve Martin will introduce viewers to the winners on December 17th at 5.30PM EDT on the Deering Banjo Company’s livestream show Deering Live broadcasting on their YouTube channel. Martin comments: “The acknowledgement of these unique and talented musicians continues to thrill me.”
The live stream will be co-hosted by board co-chair Alison Brown and will be co-posted on the Facebook pages of sponsors FreshGrass Foundation and Compass Records as well as No Depression, Folk Alley and the International Bluegrass Music Association. The program will include interviews and musical performances. Viewers can click HERE to watch the live stream.
The 2024 winners are Allison de Groot of Winnipeg, Canada and Tray Wellington of Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Each recipient will receive a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize.
Allison de Groot is one of the most highly regarded clawhammer banjoists on the North American folk scene. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, she has deep roots in old time music and delights in bringing her own contemporary sensibility to the banjo tradition. Her playing is characterized by an ability to seamlessly navigate between delicate melodic lines and powerful driving rhythm adding an emotional depth to her sound. Allison is a frequent collaborator with notable musicians in the old-time and roots music scenes, including fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves with whom she recently received 2 Canadian Folk Music Awards and a Juno nomination. Along with performing and recording, teaching banjo has been a big part of Allison’s musical life, and the recent launch of her online teaching school on the ArtistWorks platform is a continuation of her educational pursuits. About the banjo, Allison says: “It still feels just as exciting as it did the first day I picked it up….I feel like I could live 100 lifetimes and explore the banjo.”
Tray Wellington is one of the most important new voices on 3-finger style banjo. He takes a forward-thinking approach to the instrument, subverting the whitewashed cultural touch points associated with the 5-string banjo by incorporating elements of jazz, bebop and hip-hop alongside his bluegrass roots. The result is an original vision for the instrument that blurs musical boundaries. Tray honed his skills playing bluegrass and old-time music in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. He won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Award in 2019 and, upon the release of his debut album Black Banjo, earned critical praise from tastemakers including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In his live shows and on recordings, he charts new territory for the instrument through his original compositions and incorporation of unlikely covers. He says “Exploring had always been part of my personality since I was a kid! Music is the same way for me. Since I started playing banjo at 14, I had ideas for how I could constantly expand my musical vision and make my personality shine through banjo. Every day I am still on that journey and cannot wait to continue this pursuit”
My Next Read: “Pure Innocent Fun” By Ira Madison, III
In this nostalgic and raucous collection of sixteen original essays, Ira Madison III—critic, television writer, and host of the beloved Keep It podcast—combines memoir and criticism to offer a brand-new pop-culture manifesto.
“This is the most fun I’ve had reading all year. Like Chuck Klosterman before him, Ira Madison III takes seriously and analyzes the pop culture detritus that took up hours of our lives.”—Lin-Manuel Miranda
You can recall the first TV show, movie, book, or song that made you feel understood—that shaped how you live, what you love, and whom you would become. It gave you an entire worldview. For Ira Madison, that book was Chuck Klosterman’s Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, which cemented the idea that pop culture could be a rigorous subject—and that, for better or worse, it shapes all of us.
In Pure Innocent Fun, Madison explores the key cultural moments that inspired his career as a critic and guided his coming of age as a Black gay man in Milwaukee. In this hilarious, full-throttle trip through the ’90s and 2000s, he recounts learning about sex from Buffy the Vampire Slayer; facing the most heartbreaking election of his youth (not George W. Bush’s win, but Jennifer Hudson losing American Idol); and how never getting his driver’s license in high school made him just like Cher Horowitz in Clueless: “a virgin who can’t drive.”
Brimming with a profound love for a bygone culture and alternating between irreverence and heartfelt insight, Pure Innocent Fun, like all the best products of pop culture, will leave you entertained and surprisingly enlightened.
Christmas Chaos: The Sex Pistols’ Last UK Show (For CHILDREN!) Brings Punk Spirit to Huddersfield
Step back to Christmas 1977 with Julien Temple’s riveting documentary, blending unseen footage of The Sex Pistols with interviews and 70s archives. Witness their final UK show—a wild, irreverent celebration for the children of striking firemen. Punk never looked so festive.
Smif-N-Wessun To Release Highly Anticipated Album Infinity, Feb. 21st. 2025
Brooklyn, NY-Iconic duo, Smif-N-Wessun is preparing to release their latest album Infinity, February 21st., 2025. The album’s release will coincide with the 30th. anniversary of their stellar debut, Dah Shinin’. Always standing on business the Brooklyn duo has always stayed true to their roots. Never faltering or curving to conformity Infinity is a testament to their staying power and a gift to their loyal fans. The album will be released on Bucktown USA Entertainment/ Duck Down Music. The first single, “Infinity” will be released on January 10th. followed by “Elephant In The Room” both produced by Khrysis, February 7th. A third single, “Medina” featuring Pharoahe Monch produced by SND*TRK, to be released simultaneously on February 21st., 2025.
Fresh from the triumphant return of a successful domestic and international tour Smif-N-Wessun’s new album is a cumulative reflection of their life experiences. Executive Produced by college professor and world renowned producer, 9th Wonder and the Soul Council, 9th explains the thought process with the album. “I wanted to make sure that it didn’t sound dated. It sounds like them (Smif-N-Wessun) but it’s also new. They are our generation’s version of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Donald Byrd.”
Illustrious MCs featured on the album include, Buckshot, Pharoahe Monch, Conway the Machine, legendary artists Sean Price and Prodigy, multi-platinum RnB legend, Ralph Tresvant along with rising stars, Sweta and Jalisa. Scheduled for release January 10th. 2025, Infinity cements Smif-N-Wessun’s status as creators of nothing but classics. This is their eighth album and the second collaboration with 9th Wonder and the Soul Council. Showcasing buttery beats from Council members, 9th Wonder himself, Khrysis, SND*TRK, Kash, Mu’aath and Nottz the album delivers a sonic smash that will satisfy everyone from the rap purist to new school connoisseurs.
This eighth studio album and second collaboration with 9th Wonder and the Soul Council has cemented Smif-N-Wessun’s place in Hip-Hop history as stalwart artists and champions of Hip-Hop culture. Available in multiple formats; cassette, CD, digital and double vinyl, Infinity is a musical masterpiece.
Hailing from Bucktown, a borderless place where otherwise warring Brooklyn neighborhoods find peace, Smif-N-Wessun, aka Tek and General Steele, are recognized and respected worldwide for their lyrical control.
Their presence commands with simple Timberlands, and since their debut on Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage, and an appearance soon after on Mary J. Blige’s “I Love You” remix, Smif-N-Wessun never once strayed. They’ve never gone pop.
“I think we keep each other grounded in that respect,” says Steele, “and yeah we stay on the block, our community, our neighborhood, our families. We go back home after the tour, we spread the love, we share merch with cats that probably never leave the block … That’s where our true riches come from.”
Infinity is more than an album—it’s a celebration of resilience, artistry, and the enduring legacy of Smif-N-Wessun.