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Rod Stewart Announces “One Last Time” 2025 North American Tour Reuniting With Special Guests Cheap Trick

Eric Alper
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Rod Stewart Announces “One Last Time” 2025 North American Tour Reuniting With Special Guests Cheap Trick

Sir Rod Stewart, the legendary two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted singer-songwriter, today announced that he’s bringing his highly anticipated “One Last Time” tour to North America in 2025. The tour, which has been thrilling audiences in Europe and Asia has also been a box office smash, grossed among The Top 20 Global Concert Tours of the year. The tour makes its US debut on Mar. 7 in Austin, Texas, and is confirmed for 20 shows across amphitheaters and arenas through Aug. 15. Each show promises an unprecedented evening of iconic hits and a concert production befitting one of the era’s greatest live performers. Full tour routing and ticketing information is available below.

“One Last Time” will see Rod reuniting with fellow Hall of Famers, Cheap Trick, as his special guests. Their last outing in 2022 was a critical and fan favorite. Featuring chart-topping hits spanning Stewart’s unparalleled career, his hits-packed setlist includes songs like, “You Wear It Well,” “Maggie May,” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “The First Cut is the Deepest,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “Every Picture Tells A Story,” “Infatuation,” “Forever Young,” “Ooh La La (I Wish That I Knew What I Know Now),” ”Young Turks,” Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,” “Rhythm of My Heart,” “Broken Arrow,” “Forever Young,” and many more.

Tickets for U.S. tour dates go on sale to the public on Friday, Nov. 22 at 10AM via LiveNation.com. Rod Stewart Fan Club members will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 10AM via RodStewart.com. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning Nov. 20 at 10AM. Citi is the official card of Rod Stewart’s Encore Tour.

Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Nov. 19 at 10AM until Thursday, Nov. 21 at 10PM through the Citi Entertainment program, visit www.citientertainment.com. All presales are in local time and will run through Thursday, Nov. 21 at 10PM.

Sir Rod Stewart is one of the best-selling artists in the history of recorded music with more than 250 million records and singles sold worldwide. His signature voice, style and songwriting have transcended all genres of popular music, including rock, folk, soul, R&B, and the Great American Songbook, making him one of the few stars to enjoy chart-topping albums throughout every decade of his career. Stewart has earned a number of the industry’s highest awards, including two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, New York Times best-selling author, GRAMMY™ Living Legend, and in 2016 he officially became “Sir Rod Stewart” after being knighted at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity. Sir Rod Stewart is one of the bestselling artists in recorded music with more than 250 million records and singles sold worldwide. His signature voice, style and songwriting have transcended all genres of popular music, including rock, folk, soul, and the Great American Songbook, making him one of the few stars to enjoy chart-topping albums throughout every decade of his career. Stewart has earned several of the industry’s highest awards, including two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the American Society of Composers Founders Award for songwriting, New York Times bestselling author, GRAMMY™ Living Legend. In 2016, he officially became “Sir Rod Stewart” after being knighted at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity. In 2023, his first foray outside of music, Wolfie’s Whisky, was another critical hit and has quickly been embraced worldwide. In 2024, he tackled yet another music genre with the release of Swing Fever, his 33rd studio album. The album, a collaboration with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, a 13-track sparkling salute to the timeless songs of the big band years, garnered him his 11th No. 1 album in the U.K. – a feat he shares with David Bowie, Taylor Swift and U2 on the all-time list of acts with the most No. 1 albums in the U.K. He toured Asia and Europe before wrapping his record-setting 13-year Las Vegas residency, “Rod Stewart: The Hits.”

Cheap Trick, the iconic rock band hailing from Illinois, has been rocking stages and winning over fans with their timeless sound for over five decades. Known for their electrifying live performances, catchy melodies, and innovative songwriting, Cheap Trick has become a staple in rock music history. With hits like “I Want You to Want Me”, “Dream Police”, “The Flame”, and “Surrender,” this legendary band continues to inspire and entertain audiences with their signature blend of hard rock and power-pop sensibilities. Cheap Trick is part of the very fiber of American music, inspiring and delighting generations with their unique union of massive melodies and razorblade riffs, their own special brand of mischievous wit and maximum rock ‘n’ roll. The band was formed in1973 by guitarists Rick Nielsen, bassist TomPetersson, and drummer Bun. E Carlos. One year later, Robin Zander joined the group. The current lineup consists of Nielsen, Petersson and Zander. Both Nielsen and Zander’s sons joining as guest members when the band tours. Cheap Trick released their self-titled debut album in 1977. Later that year, they found success in Japan with the release of their second album, In Color. They achieved mainstream popularity in the US in 1979 with the triple-platinum live album Budokan and a Top 10 single, a live recording of “I Want You to Want Me.” More success followed with the album Dream Police In 1979, which reached number 6ontheBillboard 200.Theband experienced another resurgence in late eighties when they topped US charts with power ballad “The Flame.” Cheap Trick maintain an almost constant touring schedule, having performed live more than 5,000 times since their formation. They have sold more than 20 million albums and built a dedicated cult following. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, where the original four members performed.

Rod Stewart “Encore” 2025 Summer North American Tour with special guests Cheap Trick:
3/07/2025 Austin, TX Moody Center ATX
6/14/2025 Lake Tahoe, NV Outdoor Arena at Harveys*^
6/15/2025 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amp*^
7/8/2025 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park
7/11/2025 Gilford, NH BankNH
7/12/2025 Philadelphia, PA TD Pavilion at the Mann
7/15/2025 Saratoga Springs NY Broadview Stage at SPAC
7/19/2025 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
7/22/2025 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
7/25/2025 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena^
7/26/2025 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
7/29/2025 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
8/1/2025 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
8/2/2025 Birmingham, AL Coca-Cola Amphitheater
8/5/2025 Brandon, MS Brandon Amphitheater
8/8/2025 Tinley Park, IL Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
8/9/2025 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
8/12/2025 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
8/14/2025 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
8/15/2025 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
*Not A Live Nation Date | ^Cheap Trick not on these dates

New West Announces North American Tour

Eric Alper
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New West Announces North American Tour

Following the release of their recent EP, acclaimed music collective New West announced their North American Tour 2025. Produced by Live Nation, the 24-city tour kicks off on February 12 at The Park Theatre in Winnipeg, MB making stops across North America in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Chicago and more before wrapping up in Montreal at Petit Campus on March 20.

New West recent EP, shaped by Toronto and recent global tours, resonates in these six songs. “Love Language” captures the unspoken bond of performance and relationships, while “Alive” recalls dreams of travel before they became reality. Rooted in classic sounds with a modern touch, this EP renews their passion for crafting music that bridges tradition and innovation, looking forward to future projects.

Tickets will be available starting with Artist presales beginning on Tuesday, November 19. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning on Friday, November 22 at 10AM local time at LiveNation.com

The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include premium tickets, Meet & Greet and photo op with New West, autographed tour poster, specially designed VIP gift item & more. VIP package contents vary based on offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

Four individuals. One vision. Endless possibilities. Meet New West. The Toronto-based “collective” comprises four individual artists, namely Kala Wita, Vella, Ben Key, and Noel West. For as different as they respectively may be in terms of where they’re from, how they create, and why they’re here, they fit together as seamlessly as long-lost puzzle pieces. They rotate between instruments and pass around the mic, morphing in real-time across each and every song with an unabashedly warm nostalgic undercurrent. Tracing an invisible line all the way from the British Invasion to 21st century alternative R&B, they defy genre as they simultaneously define a singular style on their 2023 full-length debut on Republic Records and much more to come.

“This isn’t a traditional band,” observes Noel. “Everyone in the group is an artist. It’s not like one guy plays guitar and another guy plays bass in the traditional sense. We all contribute. That’s why we call it a collective. I’m the only one who can’t sing,” he laughs. Their origins date back to 2017. Childhood friends Noel and Ben began to collaborate with Kala. Eventually, Ben invited Vella to the fold, crystallizing the sound. Raised in the digital music ecosystem, influences spanned Elton John, The Beatles, and Rolling Stones as well as Radiohead, Frank Ocean, and hometown heroes Drake and The Weeknd. They translated a collective passion for music into countless hours writing and recording together.

“We’re all speaking the same language, but we have our individual accents and tendencies,” notes Kala. “The common bond is we’re always searching for inspiration.” They doubled down on this search at the onset of the global pandemic. Coincidentally, the collective had just rented the same house together. Once quarantine happened, the kitchen and living room transformed into a de facto studio. “That’s where we really came together as a group by living with each other,” says Ben.

Their very first release “Those Eyes” hinted at the potential of their chemistry. Its lush lo-fi acoustic guitar, dreamy piano, lullaby melody, and quotable play-by-play of a relationship in full bloom instantly reacted with listeners worldwide. It initially popped off on TikTok (the guys aren’t quite sure where but it’s all good), and the success slowly but surely translated to streaming platforms. Between the Original and “Sped Up” version, it clocked nearly 150 million Spotify streams.

“Kala had those lyrics, and we came up with chords they felt good over,” adds Ben. “The whole song was born from there. The rest is history.” “That song really brought us closer,” Kala continues. “We knew what we could be at that point.” They maintained their momentum with independent singles such as “Next To You,” “Call Me When You Hear This Song,” “Paris,” and more. 2022 saw the band sign to Republic Records as they staunchly maintained a D.I.Y. mindset with Noel producing, mixing, engineering, and mastering everything.

“The entire project is insular,” affirms Noel. “We’re not going to take some new direction. When we are trying new things, it happens between the four of us. There’s no external influence.”

In the end, New West conjure a familiar feeling through a fresh perception.”We want you to be taken back to a place,” Kala leaves off. “If you are, we’re doing something right.” “It’s like saying a new thing, but from an old friend rather than a stranger,” Noel offers. “There’s a warmth and familiarity, but we’re also pushing forward at the same time.” “We’re a warm hug from an old friend in new clothes,” promises Kala.

NEW WEST NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ‘25 TOUR DATES:
Wed Feb 12 – Winnipeg, MB – The Park Theatre
Fri Feb 14 – Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall
Sat Feb 15 – Calgary, AB – Commonwealth Bar
Tue Feb 18 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre
Wed Feb 19 – Victoria, BC – Capital Ballroom
Thu Feb 20 – Portland, OR – The Aladdin Theater
Fri Feb 21 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Mon Feb 24 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
Tue Feb 25 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall
Thu Feb 27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
Fri Feb 28 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
Sat Mar 01 – San Diego, CA – Voodoo Room at House of Blues
Sun Mar 02 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
Tue Mar 04 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Thu Mar 06 – Denver, CO – Marquis
Fri Mar 08 – Saint Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Sat Mar 09 – Chicago, IL – Chop Shop
Mon Mar 11 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5
Wed Mar 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
Fri Mar 15 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
Sat Mar 16 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry at The Fillmore Philadelphia
Mon Mar 18 – Boston, MA – Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre
Tue Mar 19 – Ottawa, ON – Algonquin Commons Theatre
Wed Mar 20 – Montreal, QC – Petit Campus

My Next Read: “50 Years of Happy Days: A Visual History of an American Television Classic” by Brian Levant and Fred Fox Jr.

Eric Alper
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0
My Next Read: “50 Years of Happy Days: A Visual History of an American Television Classic” by Brian Levant and Fred Fox Jr.

Peek behind the curtain into the making of Happy Days, the ultimate American sitcom, in this detailed season-by-season history written by two of the show’s longest-serving writer-producers.

One of the most successful TV shows of all time, Happy Days drew in 30 million viewers weekly at its peak and launched the careers of stars like Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, and Robin Williams. Now, just in time for its 50th anniversary, tune in for exclusive access, as writers Brian Levant and Fred Fox Jr. chronicle life on set and examine the evolution of a television show that made history.

Featuring new interviews with the creators, cast, and crew of the show and a foreword by The Fonz himself, explore rarely-seen photographs and personal anecdotes on a season-by-season journey behind the scenes.

This coffee-table art book includes stunning, full-color photos of candid moments between cast and crew, lovingly preserved scenes from the show, exclusive shots that capture the energetic set, and a look at some of the vintage collectibles that brought the sitcom into fans’ homes.

Explore the strategies and big gambles that fueled one of the most successful shows of all time, as told by the individuals who made it happen.

Gather anecdotes straight from Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Anson Williams, Marion Ross, Ted McGinley, and a host of Hollywood royalty who worked as a team to change the landscape of television forever.

Take a deep dive into the in-world lore that will bring to life the 1950s Milwaukee of Richie and Joanie Cunningham, Potsie Weber, Ralph Malph, and, of course, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli.

Saturday Morning Cartoons “Sneak Peek” From 1973 Featuring Batman, Superman, Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear and Lassie

Eric Alper
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Saturday Morning Cartoons “Sneak Peek” From 1973 Featuring Batman, Superman, Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear and Lassie

The Saturday Morning Cartoons “Sneak Peek” (1973) was a special event showcasing previews of upcoming animated and live-action series for children. The program featured appearances by iconic characters such as Batman, Chuck Woolery as Superman, Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear, and Lassie, offering an exciting glimpse into the Saturday morning entertainment lineup. This nostalgic showcase brought together superheroes, animated favorites, and a beloved canine star, cementing its place as a cherished part of TV history for fans of all ages.

Radiohead’s Early Days Unearthed With “Happy Song” Demo from On A Friday Era

Eric Alper
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Radiohead’s Early Days Unearthed With “Happy Song” Demo from On A Friday Era

Happy Song is a 1988 demo track recorded by Radiohead during their formative years when they were still performing under the name On a Friday. The track captures the band’s early sound, offering a glimpse into their pre-fame experimentation and evolution. Happy Song highlights the raw talent of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Philip Selway before they transitioned into the globally renowned band known for pushing musical boundaries.

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special From 1976 Is So Good, You Can Watch It Any Time Of The Year

Eric Alper
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0
The Paul Lynde Halloween Special From 1976 Is So Good, You Can Watch It Any Time Of The Year

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special from 1976 is a campy, comedic variety show that aired on ABC, showcasing Paul Lynde’s signature humor alongside an eclectic mix of guest stars. The special featured appearances by Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as the Wicked Witch, Florence Henderson, Betty White, and musical performances by KISS in one of their earliest television appearances.

Bear and Lampshade Reimagine Queen’s Legacy in Bold Electronic Album Queen III

Eric Alper
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0
Bear and Lampshade Reimagine Queen’s Legacy in Bold Electronic Album Queen III

Bear and Lampshade – Queen III: The Mercury and Acid Edit from 2011 is an experimental electronic album that creatively reimagines Queen’s iconic music. Using an array of Queen samples, the project deconstructs and remixes the band’s classics into a genre-blurring sonic experience. The album pays homage to Freddie Mercury’s artistry while infusing the tracks with modern electronic elements, resulting in a unique blend of nostalgia and innovation.

My Next Read: “The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music” by David Rowell

Eric Alper
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0
My Next Read: “The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music” by David Rowell

In The Endless Refrain, former Washington Post writer and editor David Rowell lays out how commercial and cultural forces have laid waste to the cultural ecosystems that have produced decades of great American music. From the scorched-earth demonetizing of artist revenue accomplished by Spotify and its ilk to the rise of dead artists “touring” via hologram, Rowell examines how a perfect storm of conditions have drained our shared musical landscape of vitality.

Combining personal memoir, intimate on-the-ground reporting, industry research, and cultural criticism, Rowell’s book is a powerful indictment of a music culture gone awry, driven by conformity and subverted by the ways the internet and media influence what we listen to and how we listen to it.

The Jesus And Mary Chain Celebrate 40 Years of ‘Upside Down’ with Limited 7” Vinyl Reissue

Eric Alper
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0
The Jesus And Mary Chain Celebrate 40 Years of ‘Upside Down’ with Limited 7” Vinyl Reissue

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Jesus And Mary Chain’s debut single ‘Upside Down’ is being reissued on 7” vinyl which – as per the original pressing of the release – comes with a colour variation of the original artwork design. To be released on 6 December, it is available to pre-order now from here.

Originally released in November 1984, it put the band on the map selling 50,000 copies and subsequently became one of the first major successes for the now iconic British independent label Creation.

The b-side is a cover of the Syd Barrett written ‘Vegetable Man’, a track not officially released on a Pink Floyd album until 2016’s The Early Years 1965–1972 box set, but a track that caught the imagination of the band in the early-mid 80’s and their cover is an unmistakable and celebrated version.

The single topped the UK Indie Chart twice, once in February 1985 and then again in the March. It stayed in the Indie charts for a huge 76 weeks making it one of the biggest selling indie singles of the 1980s.

Hailing from East Kilbride in Scotland, The Jesus And Mary Chain revolves around brothers Jim and William Reid, the bands founders and only consistent members. The band are recognised as being key to the development of the shoegaze scene and have remained uncompromising in their sound releasing eight albums, most recently ‘Glasgow Eyes’ released earlier this year.

Rufus Wainwright’s ‘Dream Requiem’ with Meryl Streep Narrating Premieres 17th January 2025

Eric Alper
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Rufus Wainwright’s ‘Dream Requiem’ with Meryl Streep Narrating Premieres 17th January 2025

Rufus Wainwright is a musical polymath who occupies a unique and beloved place in our musical lives – singer, songwriter and composer of two operas and a musical. His latest work, Dream Requiem, is an epic work for orchestra, chorus, soprano and narrator. It received its world premiere in June this year in Paris with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the chorus and children’s choir of Radio France conducted by Mikko Franck with Meryl Streep as the narrator and soprano Anna Prohaska. On 17th January 2025, Warner Classics will release the live recording from the premiere.

A co-commission from major cultural institutions in the US, UK and Europe, Dream Requiem was written during the pandemic and in Wainwright’s own words it’s a requiem “for the people we have lost in this crisis, for the past from which we are cut off and for the future to which we do not yet know how to connect, a Requiem for human contact, solidarity and the human voice that have all become dangerous and contagious.” 

Dream Requiem is also a reflection on environmental collapse with its text combining words from the Latin Mass for the Dead – as used by Verdi, Britten, Mozart and many others – with Lord Byron’s apocalyptic poem Darkness, an imagined dream about total planetary ecological collapse written after the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1915 that darkened the skies worldwide and led to the “year without a summer.”

Both texts are interwoven in the composition but treated in a distinctly different manner musically. Byron’s text is mostly narrated by an actor and is underscored by dark orchestral arrangements demonstrating the brutality and sheer force of the apocalyptic images that the poem conjures. The Latin Requiem text is sung by a large mixed choir, children’s choir and soprano. Massive choral moments are interrupted by quieter soprano solo passages to underline the fragility of life and nature. Wainwright’s Dream Requiem ultimately overcomes this desolation and tragedy, giving rise to hope and beauty through the music.

Dream Requiem is dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi and Puccini. When his mother played him a recording of Verdi’s Requiem when he was 13, Wainwright underwent one of the most transformative experiences of his life, showing him a clear artistic path for his future.

The co-dedicatee, Puccini, isn’t the great operatic composer but Wainwright’s beloved little dog who was killed during the pandemic in a violent encounter with a larger dog when he was only 18 weeks old.

“No matter what one’s [spiritual] leanings are, as an artist when dealing with a strong and ancient sacred text revolving around death, you kinda have to go there. This, I humbly believe, happened while composing Dream Requiem. Be it turning 50 and my final earthly landscape beginning to form on the horizon; my latent catholic upbringing which, though not strict, was still incredibly impactful; or just the fact that this ain’t my first time at the rodeo; many strong forces converged in the composition of this piece and not once was I lacking in a sense of direction,”  says Rufus Wainwright.

Over the next two years, Dream Requiem will be performed at major international venues including in 2025 Barcelona’s Palau de la Musica, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with Jane Fonda, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

Praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists, songwriters, and composers of his generation. The New York-born, Montreal-raised singer-songwriter has released eleven studio albums to date, three DVDs, and three live albums including the Grammy-nominated Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall. He has collaborated with artists such as Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Miley Cyrus, David Byrne, Boy George, Joni Mitchell, Pet Shop Boys, Heart, Carly Rae Jepsen, Robbie Williams, Jessye Norman, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Sting, and producer Mark Ronson, among many others. He has written two operas, a musical and numerous songs for movies and TV.

His latest GRAMMY nominated album Folkacracy reinvents folk duets with artists like Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, John Legend and Anohni and many more.

Dream Requiem will be performed at major international venues across 2025 to 2027. Forthcoming dates in 2025 include:

January 25, Barcelona/Palau de la Musica

May 4, LA Master Chorale Walt Disney Concert Hall, with Jane Fonda

June 20, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, with Carice van Houten

Other dates to be announced in 2025 including major venues in Finland, Germany, Greece and Ireland.

Track Listing:
1. Darkness I
2. Requiem aeternam
3. Lux perpetua
4. Kyrie, eleison
5. Sequentia I: Dies irae
6. Darkness II
7. Sequentia II: Mors stupebit
8. Sequentia III: Rex tremendae
9. Sequentia IV: Ingemisco
10. Sequentia V: Confutatis
11. Darkness III
12. Offertorium
13. Sanctus
14. Agnus Dei
15. Lux Aeterna
16. Darkness IV
17. In paradisum
18. Applause

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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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