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Australian Country Sensation James Johnston Teams With Chase Matthew on New Single “Smoke I’ve Known”

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James Johnston and Chase Matthew have released “Smoke I’ve Known,” a collaboration that connects two small-town country stories separated by 10,000 miles and finds the common ground between them. The track is out now via Warner Music Australia, with the official music video premiering Friday, April 17. Written in Nashville, it’s a direct, emotionally honest exploration of roots, identity, and the memories that define where you come from. Listen here.

Johnston, a three-time Golden Guitar winner and the driving force behind the top-selling ARIA Charts Australian Country Album of 2025, describes the song as a tribute to dirt bikes, bonfire nights, and the moments that pull you back home. “Even though Chase grew up in Tennessee and I’m from Australia,” he says, “this song proves that while country life looks different across the world, the heart behind it is the same.” Matthew, whose current single “Holdin’ It Down” is climbing country radio after his 2025 multi-week #1 “Darlin’,” echoes that feeling. “Australia is one of my favorite places in the world,” he said, “and we immediately knew we wanted to write a song that represents country music worldwide.”

The chemistry between them isn’t manufactured. The two connected on social media, told their publishers to make it happen, and spent time in Nashville writing and filming the video together, riding bikes between sessions. That ease comes through in the track. It doesn’t sound like a strategic cross-market collaboration. It sounds like two people who actually get each other.

Johnston arrives at this release on serious momentum. At the 2026 Countrytown Awards, he swept Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist of the Year (both for the second consecutive year), Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. His sophomore record ‘Where You’ll Find Me’ is out now, produced by Jared Adlam with contributions from mentor and country superstar Morgan Evans. Matthew, meanwhile, boasts over 1.7 billion global streams, a growing list of major tour supports including Keith Urban and Jason Aldean, and a new album arriving summer 2026.

James Johnston 2026 Tour Dates:

Thu, May 1 — Cairns, Australia — Country Fest QLD Honky Tonk Pre Party

Fri, May 30 — Kulltorp, Sweden — High Chaparral Country Festival

Thu, Jun 12 — Townsville, Australia — Country Fest QLD

Fri, Jun 13 — Camden, Australia — Boots N’ Beats

Sat, Aug 1 — Tara, Australia — Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races

Sat, Aug 16 — Writtle, UK — Country Calling Festival

Fri, Aug 29 — Amamoor, Australia — Gympie Music Muster

Oct 2-4 — Tailem Bend, Australia — The Bend Classic

Eric Church Announces Three Nights at Red Rocks and Two at Lake Tahoe This July

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Eric Church just wrapped the Free the Machine Tour and he’s already announced what comes next. The 11-time GRAMMY nominee returns to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado for three nights in July, followed by a two-night stand at Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic in Stateline, Nevada. These shows celebrate 20 years of Church’s catalog, and each night is designed to be different from the one before it.

The Red Rocks run lands July 6, 7, and 8, with Corey Kent, 49 Winchester, and The Creekers serving as respective special guests. Lake Tahoe follows July 15 and 16, with ERNEST supporting both nights. Church Choir presale for Red Rocks opens Wednesday, April 15 at 10am MT, with public on sale Friday, April 17 at 10am MT. Lake Tahoe presales begin April 21, with public on sale Friday, April 24.

The Free the Machine Tour, which honored boundary-defying album ‘Evangeline vs. The Machine,’ drew serious critical attention on its way out. The Green Bay Press-Gazette called it “so nuanced, so sneaky sophisticated, so good,” while the Minnesota Star Tribune summed up Church’s approach as “about conviction not convention, about evolving, not standing pat.” These summer dates build directly on that momentum.

Church is a seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner including 2020’s Entertainer of the Year, and holds 32 Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum certified songs. Tickets and presale signups are available at EricChurch.com.

Upcoming Dates:

Sun, Jul 6 — Morrison, CO — Red Rocks Amphitheatre (with Corey Kent)

Mon, Jul 7 — Morrison, CO — Red Rocks Amphitheatre (with 49 Winchester)

Tue, Jul 8 — Morrison, CO — Red Rocks Amphitheatre (with The Creekers)

Tue, Jul 15 — Stateline, NV — Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic (with ERNEST)

Wed, Jul 16 — Stateline, NV — Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic (with ERNEST)

French Rock Duo The Inspector Cluzo Are Organic Farmers Who Also Play 80 Shows a Year

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The Inspector Cluzo are Gascony-based rock duo Laurent and Mathieu, organic farmers who run a 15-hectare family farm in southwestern France and have somehow also played more than 1,300 gigs in 67 countries since 2008. That combination alone makes them worth paying attention to. Their “Less Is More Part 2” world tour now includes 40 North American dates, kicking off September 19 at Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta with tickets on sale now.

Their tenth album, ‘Less Is More,’ was produced by Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, The Raconteurs) in Nashville, recorded live in four days and mixed in three. Rolling Stone ranked it the fifth best album of 2025 and the top French album of the year. Classic Rock UK also listed it among the year’s best rock releases. The record has moved over 10,000 LPs, driven largely by physical sales, a deliberate choice rooted in the band’s ecological principles.

The duo’s live reputation is built on raw energy and nothing else. No backing tracks, no production crutches, just two musicians who’ve spent nearly two decades tightening their show to something close to perfection. This past summer they opened for Neil Young across several European dates. They’ve played Fuji Rock, Lollapalooza, Download, and Hellfest. The stage experience shows every night.

The North American run moves through Washington DC, New York, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Denver, and more before wrapping October 30 in Jacksonville, FL. The European leg continues through December. For tickets and full details, visit theinspectorcluzo.com.

Less Is More Tour Part 2 Dates:

Fri, May 29 — Les Landes, FR — Festival Les arts s’en mêlent

Fri, Jun 13 — Mont de Marsan, FR — Plumaçon Arena

Mon, Jun 16 — Clisson, FR — Hellfest

Thu, Jun 26 — Revelles, FR — R4 Festival

Sat, Jun 28 — Quimper, FR — Irreductible Festival

Wed, Jul 16 — St Julien-en-Genevois, FR — Guitares en Scènes

Thu, Jul 31 — Malestroit, FR — Au Pont du Rock Festival

Fri, Sep 19 — Atlanta, GA — Shaky Knees Festival

Mon, Sep 22 — Washington, DC — Pie’s Shop

Tue, Sep 23 — New York, NY — Groove

Wed, Sep 24 — Pittsburgh, PA — Club Café

Thu, Sep 25 — Cleveland, OH — Beachland Ballroom & Tavern

Fri, Sep 26 — Detroit, MI — The Sanctuary

Sat, Sep 27 — Chicago, IL — Reggie’s Chicago

Tue, Sep 30 — Milwaukee, WI — Cactus Club

Wed, Oct 1 — Appleton, WI — Appleton Beer Factory

Thu, Oct 2 — Minneapolis, MN — Hook & Ladder

Fri, Oct 3 — Fargo, ND — The Aquarium

Mon, Oct 6 — Edmonton, AB — 99 Ten

Tue, Oct 7 — Calgary, AB — The Palomino

Thu, Oct 9 — Vancouver, BC — The Fox

Sat, Oct 11 — Spokane, WA — The Big Dipper

Mon, Oct 13 — Bozeman, MT — The Fillmore Station

Wed, Oct 15 — Carbondale, CO — Steve’s Guitars

Thu, Oct 16 — Fort Collins, CO — Surfside 7

Fri, Oct 17 — Denver, CO — The Skylark

Thu, Oct 23 — Oklahoma City, OK — 89th Street

Mon, Oct 27 — Oxford, MI — Proud Mary’s

Tue, Oct 28 — Mobile, AL — Callaghan’s

Thu, Oct 30 — Jacksonville, FL — Blue Jay

Fri, Nov 7 — Le Mans, FR — Be Bop Festival

Thu, Nov 13 — Tours, FR — Le Bateau Ivre

Tue, Nov 18 — Grenoble, FR — La Belle Electrique

Thu, Nov 20 — St Étienne, FR — Le Fil

Fri, Nov 21 — Annemasse, FR — Le Château Rouge

Wed, Nov 26 — Perpignan, FR — El Mediator

Thu, Nov 27 — Cahors, FR — Les Docks

Fri, Nov 28 — Audincourt, FR — Le Moloco

Thu, Dec 4 — Tarbes, FR — La Gespe

Fri, Dec 5 — Angoulême, FR — La Nef

Wed, Dec 10 — Sannois, FR — EMB

Thu, Dec 11 — Chelles, FR — Les Cuizines

Fri, Dec 12 — Le Havre, FR — Le Tétris

Photo Gallery: Sam Roberts Band at Toronto’s Massey Hall on April 11, 2026

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All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.

T.S.O.L. Frontman Jack Grisham Drops Debut Single “Pieces of the Sun” With New Project

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Jack Grisham has a new project, a new single, and a debut album arriving July 10. The former frontman of legendary SoCal punks T.S.O.L. and The Joykiller has teamed with Berlin-based musician Lars Triesch to form Jack Grisham and the Life Undone, releasing debut single “Pieces of the Sun” now via Lost in Berlin Records. The self-titled album follows this summer, and it sounds like nothing Grisham has been expected to make.

“Pieces of the Sun” opens with a frenetic guitar attack and doesn’t let up, drawing on the melodic punch of ’90s guitar-driven pop without leaning on nostalgia to make its case. The song grew out of a conversation with producer Paul Roessler (The Screamers, 45 Graves) about aging and whether it had influenced Grisham’s writing. “I write song lyrics like a kid going through his first break-up,” Grisham says. “I didn’t think I was gonna live this long.” The track lands with the kind of urgency that makes that admission funny and completely believable at the same time.

The 13-track album covers serious ground, moving from alt-rock singalongs to midtempo ballads to Americana-tinged acoustic moments to full-throttle rockers. Produced by Kurt Ebelhäuser (Scumbucket, Blackmail), the record came together across two continents, with Grisham and Triesch writing via Zoom from 6,000 miles apart before convening in Triesch’s home studio in Kleinmachnow, Germany. Trevor Lucca (D.I.) and Michel Wern (Donots) contributed, with Roessler adding piano, organ, and backing vocals at Kitten Robot Studios in California.

The album’s cover artwork is an original oil painting by Craig Barker (Skibs), revealed across three stages tied to the first three singles, each release showing more of the finished image. It’s a visual concept that mirrors the album’s title. “The Life Undone,” Grisham explains, “is not something fixed, but a process. Something constantly shifting, unresolved, and in motion rather than complete.” The record earns that framing.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Returns to Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre This November

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Rumours of Fleetwood Mac is coming back to Toronto, and this one’s strictly limited. The acclaimed tribute returns to the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre for six nights only, November 3 through 8, 2026, back by popular demand after previous engagements that clearly left audiences wanting more. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 17 at 10am at mirvish.com.

Personally endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founding member Mick Fleetwood himself, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac delivers the full sweep of one of rock’s most enduring catalogs with precision and real emotional weight. “An extraordinary emotive performance of Fleetwood Mac,” Fleetwood said of the show. The Mail on Sunday put it even more directly: “They do Fleetwood Mac better than Fleetwood Mac.”

That kind of praise doesn’t come easily, and this show has earned it night after night. For fans who grew up with ‘Rumours,’ ‘Tusk,’ and ‘Mirage,’ and for newer listeners discovering the catalog, this is the closest thing to the real experience available anywhere right now. The Sunday Times called it “a stunning and incredibly accurate snapshot of the World’s first Super Group.” The production backs every word of that up.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac runs November 3 through 8 at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St., Toronto. Tuesday through Saturday evening shows at 8pm, Wednesday matinee at 1:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets on sale Friday, April 17 at 10am at mirvish.com or by calling 1.800.461.3333.

Ron James Brings His New Show “The View From Here” to Toronto’s CAA Theatre This Fall

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Ron James has a new show, and it arrives at exactly the right moment. The award-winning comedian brings ‘The View From Here’ to Toronto’s CAA Theatre for four nights, October 15 through 18, 2026, with tickets on sale this Friday, April 17 at 10am at mirvish.com.

The new hour takes on the tectonic pace of socio-political change, Canadian and American relations, and the daily absurdities of life in a world moving faster than anyone agreed to. James frames it all as the ever-struggling Everyman, navigating airline luggage disasters, nosediving portfolios, and the existential comedy of aging into a world he didn’t entirely sign up for. It’s sharp, observational, and unmistakably his.

James has built one of the most consistent careers in Canadian comedy. His nine one-hour CBC specials regularly drew a million or more viewers every New Year’s Eve, a record-breaking run that few comedians in this country have come close to matching. He’s also a best-selling author, and he continues to sell out theatres from coast to coast. The Globe and Mail called him “a virtuoso comedic performance.” The Toronto Star said “cleverly, hysterically funny.” The Montreal Gazette kept it simple: “fast, funny and smart.”

‘The View From Here’ runs October 15 through 18 at CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge St, Toronto. Thursday through Saturday evening shows at 7:30pm, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 17 at 10am at mirvish.com or by calling 1.800.461.3333.

Country-Pop Breakout Dasha Brings Disney’s “She’s So Gone” to The Kelly Clarkson Show

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Dasha performs “She’s So Gone” on The Kelly Clarkson Show this Friday, April 17, filmed at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The track comes from Disney’s newly released ‘Main Street Country’ EP, out now via Walt Disney Records, and it’s a natural fit for an artist who’s spent the past two years proving she has both the voice and the instincts to make any song her own.

The five-track EP brings together a strong lineup of country artists reimagining Disney classics. Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown take on “Beauty and the Beast,” Restless Road covers “The Climb,” Maddie & Tae handle “You’ll Be in My Heart,” and BRELAND closes things out with “Go the Distance.” Dasha’s contribution draws from the 2011 Disney Channel film Lemonade Mouth, a song she describes as one of the most iconic to come out of the Disney Channel era.

“I remember watching Lemonade Mouth for the first time and the whole movie had me plotting how I was going to reinvent myself before school the next day,” said Dasha. “This track really captures that moment when women find themselves and boldly show the world who they are.” That instinct for empowerment and self-definition runs through everything she does, and “She’s So Gone” channels it with real conviction.

Dasha’s rise has been fast and grounded at the same time. Her 55x platinum single “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” became one of the most-streamed country songs of 2024 and won Female Song of the Year at the People’s Choice Country Awards. She’s sold out headline tours, shared stages with Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown, and released part one of her two-part project ‘Anna’ this past fall. She’s also nominated for ACM New Female Artist of the Year.

The ‘Main Street Country’ EP is out now on all streaming platforms. An exclusive vinyl pressing arrives May 15, 2026, and is available for pre-order now.

‘Main Street Country’ Tracklist:

  1. “Beauty and the Beast” — Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
  2. “The Climb” — Restless Road
  3. “She’s So Gone” — Dasha
  4. “You’ll Be in My Heart” — Maddie & Tae
  5. “Go the Distance” — BRELAND

Comedian Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa Takes His “Paradise Gothic Tour” Across Three Continents

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Today, comedian, writer, and director Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa announced additional dates for his 2026 Paradise Gothic Tour across Asia, Australia, and North America. The 29-date run kicks off on May 22nd in Bengaluru, India with additional stops across Asia, followed by shows in Australia in June. The tour concludes in North America with stops in Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, Austin, Chicago, San Francisco, and more, before wrapping on October 15th in Portland, OR. 

Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa returns with Paradise Gothic, a sharp, darkly funny new hour exploring immigration, the absurdities of attempting to build a life within late-stage capitalism, and beyond. With his trademark deadpan delivery and postcolonial wit, Vidura takes on corporate tech culture, spiritual burnout, and the strange comedy of trying to stay human in a world running by numbers. Smart, subversive, and quietly explosive; this is Vidura at his most fearless.

Tickets will be available starting via artist presale on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 10am local time. General on-sale begins on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 10am local time. Visit vidurabr.com for tickets and more info. 

The Paradise Gothic Tour – 2026 Asia, Australia, and North America Dates:

Fri, May 22 – Bengaluru, India – MLR Convention Center Auditorium
Sat, May 23 – Mumbai, India – Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir
Wed, Jun 3 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Auditorium RRI Jakarta
Fri, Jun 5 – Singapore, Singapore – Victoria Theatre
Sat, Jun 6 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Damansara Performing Arts Centre
Mon, Jun 8 – Hong Kong, Hong Kong – The Box (Freespace)
Wed, Jun 10 – Sydney, Australia – The Factory Theatre
Fri, Jun 12 – Melbourne, Australia – The Comic’s Lounge
Mon, Jun 15 – Brisbane, Australia – The Princess Theatre
Wed, Jun 17 – Perth, Australia – The Rechabite
Tue, Jun 23 – Los Angeles, CA – Dynasty Typewriter at The Hayworth (Special Preview)
Thu, Jun 25 – New York, NY – Joe’s Pub (Special Preview)
Thu, Sep 24 – Brooklyn, NY – Bell House
Sat, Sep 26 – Toronto, ON, Canada – The Opera House (Toronto)
Sun, Sep 27 – Philadelphia, PA – Punch Line Philly
Tue, Sep 29 – Washington, DC – DC Improv
Wed, Sep 30 – Raleigh, NC – Goodnight’s Comedy Club
Thu, Oct 1 – Charlotte, NC – Comedy Zone
Sat, Oct 3 – Houston, TX – Punch Line Houston
Sun, Oct 4 – Austin, TX – Creek and the Cave
Tue, Oct 6 – Madison, WI – Comedy Club on State
Wed, Oct 7 – Chicago, IL – Zanies
Thu, Oct 8 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
Fri, Oct 9 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater (Minneapolis)
Sun, Oct 11 – Denver, CO – Comedy Works
Mon, Oct 12 – Sacramento, CA – Punch Line
Tue, Oct 13 – San Francisco, CA – Cobb’s Comedy Club
Wed, Oct 14 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
Thu, Oct 15 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater

Dream Pop Duo The Two Lips Drop “kiss goodbye” Before Their Coachella Debut

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Ahead of their debut performance at Coachella this weekend, Los Angeles-based dream pop duo The Two Lips drop new single “kiss goodbye.” Speaking about the new track, The Two Lips share, “’kiss goodbye’ tells the story of loving someone who feels both irresistible and impossible, that even ‘in paradise’ the same cycles repeat themselves. The song expresses the wondering of what it would be like if we had never met and if one last kiss is closure or just another reason to stay  

“kiss goodbye” arrives on the heels of their standalone single “brb” shared last month and their debut EP girl, c’mon! via Island Records, which arrived this past November. The seven track project introduces the tender punk world of The Two Lips, where the duo explore the complexities surrounding love and friendship. “brb” also follows their viral fan favorite “still love you (todavía).” The breakout anthem has surged, garnering over 40 million streams and hitting the Top Ten on the Spotify Viral Chart.

This evening, The Two Lips will be making their Coachella debut at 6pm on the Sonora Stage ahead of their Los Angeles performance for their Coachella sideshow on April 15th at The Roxy. The duo recently wrapped their headline Kiss & Tell Tour across North America which saw sold out performances in San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, and more. Find their full upcoming live dates and tickets here.

Check out “kiss goodbye” above and stay tuned for more from The Two Lips coming soon.

Upcoming Tour Dates

4/10 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music & Arts Festival

4/15 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy

 4/17- Indio, CA @ Coachella Music & Arts Festival

9/18 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival

girl, c’mon! 

  1. play
  2. it’s complicated
  3. enemy
  4. something stupid
  5. cup of tea
  6. if you said
  7. happy for me feat. Rebecca Sugar