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Cha Wa Brings the Funk and the Healing with “Music Is My Medicine” Ahead of New Album ‘Rise Up’ Out August 29

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

Cha Wa Brings the Funk and the Healing with “Music Is My Medicine” Ahead of New Album ‘Rise Up’ Out August 29

Today, two-time GRAMMY nominated New Orleans-based, Afro-Indigenous funk collective Cha Wa released their new single “Music Is My Medicine,” a feel-good funk cousin of Sly and the Family Stone with a message as universal as its sound is uplifting. The track is the second to be shared from their new album Rise Up, out on August 29, the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

“‘Music is my Medicine’ tells the story of my recovery from drug and alcohol addiction,” says Cha Wa bandleader Joe Gelini. “It speaks to how easily we turn to substances to numb pain. But for me, and for so many, music is the real medicine. Whether you’re playing it, writing it, or just listening, music can heal not just personal wounds, but collective ones too, like what New Orleans experienced after Katrina. Music transcends cultural, religious, and racial boundaries, and if we truly embraced its healing potential, it would be a meaningful alternative to substance abuse, improving both individual lives and communities.”

Following up 2021’s GRAMMY nominated My People, Cha Wa’s upcoming fourth album Rise Up is a tour de force of original R&B funk anthems, such as the lead single “Here We Come”, that finds the accomplished band coming into its own to make their most mature and accessible album yet. The album centers around themes of rebirth and freedom, and reflects both Mardi Gras Indian culture and the rich New Orleanian culture that fostered it. This album tells real stories of New Orleans and its people, capturing everything from the clarion call of social justice movements to personal journeys of freedom whether from addiction, mental health struggles, betrayal, or the pursuit of redemption.

Beyond its cultural significance, the album features a jaw-dropping array of talent including guest appearances by “The Soul Queen of New Orleans” Irma Thomas, John Boutté (HBO’s Treme’), and guest keyboards by Roger Joseph Manning (Beck, Jay-Z), as well as stellar songwriting led by founding musical director and drummer Joe Gelini. The album was produced, mixed and mastered by Dave Trumfio (Wilco, Jesus and Mary Chain, My Morning Jacket, Built to Spill).

Rise Up’s crowning achievement is how its 11 tracks compellingly draw on Cha Wa’s foundation as New Orleans musical royalty, through the band’s enigmatic Mardi Gras Indian frontman, “Spyboy” Irving “Honey” Banister Jr. of the Golden Sioux Tribe. Through its range of songs, the album elevates its singers to frontmen and its musicians to compelling songwriters in their own right, and in the process brings New Orleans roots music to the world stage.

Founded in 2014 by Connecticut-born drummer Joe Gelini, who was inspired to move to New Orleans after studying with the legendary Idris Muhammad, the band is the product of Gelini’s deep immersion into the city’s historic culture. Mixing traditional songs with reverent nods to New Orleans legends The Meters, Neville Brothers and Dr. John, the band has released three albums: Funk n Feathers (2016), Spyboy (2018), and My People (2021). The latter two earned Grammy nominations for Best Regional Roots Album. The band also delivered a rapturous NPR Tiny Desk performance during the pandemic at Preservation Hall in full Mardi Gras Indian regalia, wearing their hand-woven technicolor suits. With their fourth album on the way, Rise Up is the sound of a band that’s paid its dues coming into its own to make an album as compelling as the culture it represents.

In support of the new album, Cha Wa has a number of festival appearances lined up for the Summer. See full list of tour dates below.

Rise Up Tracklist:

Here We Come

Music Is My Medicine

Why You Wanna Do Me Like That

Elijah Rock

Freedom Of The City

Heavy Is The Head

Fallen Soldiers

Hear The Sound

Revival

Rise Up

Won’t Bow Down

Tour Dates:

July 24 – Floyd, VA – FloydFest

July 26 – Macon, GA – Bragg Jam Concert Crawl

July 30 – Reno, NV – Artown 2025

July 31 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum

August 3 – Kaslo, BC – Kaslo Jazz Festival

August 9 – New Orleans, LA – Net Roots Nation Festival

September 6 – Boise, ID – World Village Festival

September 20 – Paris, FR – NOLA Jazz Museum Festival

Brandi Carlile’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Weekend’ Returns to Mexico for Its 7th Sun-Soaked Year

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

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Brandi Carlile’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Weekend’ Returns to Mexico for Its 7th Sun-Soaked Year

Brandi Carlile’s highly anticipated Girls Just Wanna Weekend returns for its 7th annual celebration at Mexico’s stunning Barceló Maya Resort, January 15–19, 2026. Produced by 100x Hospitality, this all-inclusive festival experience promises an unforgettable blend of live music and immersive activities in an idyllic tropical setting.

Next year’s event follows this past January’s unforgettable experience, which featured headlining performances by Shania Twain, MUNA, and Maren Morris, as well as multiple performances by Carlile and her band.

All-inclusive Event Packages for Girls Just Wanna Weekend 7 will be available via a special Blind Faith Pre-Sale starting next Friday, July 25, at 1:00 p.m. EDT at www.girlsjustwannaweekend.com. Previous attendees and Bramily members will have early booking access beginning Thursday, July 24.

Each event package includes premium resort accommodations, access to all concerts, round-trip airport transportation, unlimited top-shelf drinks, diverse all-inclusive dining options, daily pool parties, artist-curated activities, and access to adventurous off-site excursions. Additional performers and a detailed schedule of performances, activities, and local tours will be announced soon.

Located along one of the most spectacular beaches in the Mexican Caribbean, Barceló Maya Resort offers white sandy beaches, a turquoise sea, and beautiful views of the idyllic surroundings. Guests can experience endless fun and night-time entertainment with water-sport activities, scuba-diving lessons, a shopping center, bowling alley, 24-hour sports bar, three theaters, and a nightclub.

Girls Just Wanna Weekend prides itself on creating a safe and inclusive space for all attendees, with a special emphasis on fostering a welcoming environment for the predominantly LGBTQ+ audience. The Brandi Land campus within the Barceló Maya Resort ensures that everyone can celebrate in comfort and community.

For more information on Girls Just Wanna Weekend 7, including package booking details and payment plans, please visit girlsjustwannaweekend.com.

Brandi Carlile is an Oscar-nominated and 11-time GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, performer, and producer; a two-time EMMY Award-winning composer, lyricist, and writer; a #1 New York Times bestselling author; and an activist who is known as one of music’s most respected voices. Throughout her acclaimed career, Carlile has released eight studio albums, including her most recent, Who Believes in Angels?—the universally critically acclaimed collaborative album with her childhood hero, Elton John—which debuted at No. 1 in the U.K. and top 10 in the U.S.

Additionally, Carlile continues her work as a renowned producer with recent GRAMMY Award-winning projects from Joni Mitchell and Brandy Clark. She also produced and recorded a rendition of Indigo Girls’ “Closer to Fine” with her wife, Catherine, which was included on Barbie The Album, as well as a version of “Home,” which was featured in the final season of Ted Lasso. She received her first Oscar nomination in the Original Song category in January 2025 for “Never Too Late,” a track written alongside Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and Andrew Watt for the Disney+ documentary of the same name on Elton’s life and career.

Beloved by her peers, Carlile has collaborated with artists such as The Highwomen, Soundgarden, Alicia Keys, Hozier, Noah Kahan, Jacob Collier, P!nk, and Dolly Parton. Carlile was named OUT Magazine’s 2023 “Icon of the Year,” was awarded Billboard’s Women in Music “Trailblazer Award,” CMT’s Next Women of Country “Impact Award,” and NMPA’s 2023 Songwriter Icon Award, and received multiple recognitions from the Americana Music Association.

On top of being a musician and writer, Carlile is a founder of the Looking Out Foundation, which has raised over $6 million for grassroots causes to date. Carlile lives in rural Washington state with her wife and two daughters, Evangeline and Elijah.

Hulaween 2025 Unveils Daily Lineups with Goose, Zeds Dead, Anderson .Paak, The String Cheese Incident & More

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

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Hulaween 2025 Unveils Daily Lineups with Goose, Zeds Dead, Anderson .Paak, The String Cheese Incident & More

Hulaween has revealed the daily lineups for its 12th annual edition, set to take place Thursday, October 30 – Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. This year’s expertly curated bill spans the full spectrum of sound, bringing together world-renowned artists and emerging talent across electronic, jam, funk, and more – featuring a mix of debut performances and genre-blurring sets that capture the spirit of Hulaween.

Setting the tone for the weekend, Thursday’s programming highlights top electronic acts like Disco Lines and Jade Cicada, plus a rare back-to-back set from Tape B and Mersiv – who will also deliver solo performances. Westend and it’s murph are set to make their Hulaween debuts, rounding out a dance-heavy opening day.

The String Cheese Incident will usher in the party with two sets on Thursday, plus an exclusive collaboration with The Infamous Stringdusters and Sierra Hull. Jam stalwarts moe. will also deliver two sets.

The Halloween celebration begins in full on Friday, October 31, with a stacked lineup of electronic heavyweights including ILLENIUM, LSZEE (CloZee b2b LSDREAM), and Tinlicker. Additional Friday highlights include sets from Le Youth, Odd Mob, Sultan + Shepard, and YDG.

Friday night’s festivities promise an electrifying experience, featuring two high-energy sets from The Disco Biscuits, along with a rare appearance from their all-instrumental alter ego, Tractorbeam. Anderson .Paak will make his Hulaween debut under his DJ alias DJ Pee .Wee, offering a genre-bending set of deep cuts and party favorites. The String Cheese Incident returns for two more Halloween performances, while legendary hip-hop trio Digable Planets make their long-awaited festival debut. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong also return, bringing their signature blend of funk-fueled psychedelia back to Suwannee.

Saturday will keep the energy soaring with standout performances from genre-blending icons and boundary-pushing artists across the musical spectrum. Headlining the day’s festivities are Zeds Dead, Gorgon City, and Parcels, while The String Cheese Incident will once again take the stage for two immersive sets. Saturday also marks the highly anticipated debut of Glass Beams at Hulaween, bringing their hypnotic, East-meets-West psych-fusion to the festival.

The day will also include dynamic sets from globally celebrated selectors like Dr. Fresch and Blond:ish, alongside jam-fueled explorations from Dogs In A Pile and Franc Moody. Alt-disco outfit Arc De Soleil and rising stars like Mary Droppinz, Conducta, and OkayJake b2b STVSH round out a diverse and eclectic bill.

The final day of the festival, Sunday, November 2, promises an unforgettable sendoff with two extended sets from beloved improvisational rock outfit Goose, and an epic two-hour performance from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. UK garage sensation Sammy Virji will also make his Hulaween debut, delivering one of the weekend’s most anticipated dancefloor sessions.

Elsewhere on Sunday’s roster, fans can expect crowd-moving sets from dubstep king Peekaboo, virtuosic guitar player Molly Tuttle, and rock/country jammer Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, with additional highlights including Alex Wann, Shadowgrass, and Maz. The weekend will close on a high note, blending musical exploration with the unmistakable spirit of Suwannee.

In May, Hulaween announced the theme for their coveted art program, Spirit Lake. The 2025 theme will be The Radiant Veil – The Dance of Light and Shadow, an immersive concept that will transform the Spirit Lake experience like never before. Now in his third year as Spirit Lake Experience Director, Justin Bolognino will once again lead a visionary team of artists, technologists, and dreamers to create a surreal, multi-sensory world where light and shadow intertwine.

This year’s Spirit Lake will feature new and returning audio-reactive installations, participatory art, projection storytelling, and an expanded AV Light Experience. As day turns to night, The Radiant Veil will come alive – blurring the line between the seen and unseen, the observer and the observed, the dancer and the dance.

As the founder and CEO of the renowned immersive experience company, META, Bolognino continues to redefine what is possible in experiential festival art, pushing the boundaries of storytelling, technology, and community engagement while shaping Spirit Lake into one of North America’s leading immersive art environments.

For those who’ve wandered the illuminated dreamscape of Spirit Lake, a piece of that magic is now available to take home. The Mural Maze Collective is offering limited-edition poster and canvas prints of their stunning collaborative murals, with proceeds supporting the artists and Art in Session’s creative projects, including The Deliberate Creation Station, Live Painting, and the Spirit Lake Art Gallery. Check out the Mural Maze merch, fine art prints, canvas prints, accessories, apparel, and more here.

Hulaween has just released a limited batch of additional passes for the 2025 festival, including 3-day passes (Friday-Sunday), 2-day passes (Saturday-Sunday) and 1-day passes (Sunday). Festival passes and camping options are on sale now at https://hulaween.com

Cherry Lane Theatre Swings Open Its Red Doors This Fall With Theater, Music, Comedy, Film—and a Little Wild Cherry

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

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Cherry Lane Theatre Swings Open Its Red Doors This Fall With Theater, Music, Comedy, Film—and a Little Wild Cherry

Refreshed and restored, the historic 100-year-old Cherry Lane Theatre reopens its iconic red doors this September. Located on the most idyllic block in Greenwich Village, the programming will honor and continue the legacy of off-Broadway productions and will also expand to include comedy, music and film programming. There will be longer run theater programs, one-night-only special events, film screenings and more spontaneous programming.

The 167-seat Cherry Lane Theatre programming will launch several curated series and events:

● Artist led and at the helm of a mainstage production for
multi-week runs

● Innovative work, smaller in scale and duration

● Emerging talent presentations – staged readings,
new stand-ups, music discovery

● Off-the-cuff, well-known artists, pop-up performances

The Cherry Lane Theater inaugural events will take place September 8 – 14, 2025. Taking inspiration from the iconic front doors of the theater, The Red Door Reopening week will include programming from each core presentation genre: theater, comedy, music and film. The week will culminate with ‘Sundays with Sofia,’ a film screening series hosted by legendary filmmaker Sofia Coppola that will continue and occur regularly throughout the year where she will host a film screening of particular meaning to her with a discussion afterwards. ‘Sundays with Sofia’ will kick off on Sunday, September 14th with a screening of Adrian Lyne’s FOXES, followed by a neighborhood block party along the theater’s Commerce Street location. Tickets and more details of the week will be announced later this summer. CherryLaneTheatre.org has a live sign up for news, tickets and updates.

Additional fall programming with on-sale dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

The theatre has been hosting an unofficial, private series of events over the past few weeks to test run operations ahead of its public reopening with performances indicative of its multi-use programming plans. Recent events include a theater reading of To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a play by Robert Nemiroff that had its original premiere at the Cherry Lane back in 1969, stand-up comedy by Ramy Youssef, and HAIM previewed their new album I Quit with a listening party and performance for a group of their fans.

Purchased in 2023, the theatre has undergone a multi-year renovation with all of its technical equipment having been updated, new seating installed, film projector and screen installed, and the lobby upgraded with a concessions kiosk. As it was once a beloved speakeasy/dining destination, a new addition to the space brings back that tradition with Wild Cherry, a new bar restaurant from Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, the team behind Frenchette, Le Rock, and Le Veau d’Or, who were recently named Outstanding Restaurateur by the James Beard Awards. The iconic stage and historic details remain intact.

As the oldest Off-Broadway theatre in New York City, the century-old Cherry Lane Theatre has long been a staple in New York’s cultural landscape. Acquired by A24 in 2022, the theatre has undergone a multi-year renovation and will reopen in September 2025. Its programming will expand to include theater, as well as comedy, music and film. A new addition to the theater is Wild Cherry, the latest bar restaurant from Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr, the team behind Frenchette, Le Rock, and Le Veau d’Or.

Emma Louise and Flume Reclaim the Word ‘DUMB’ on Bold New Album Out August 22

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

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Emma Louise and Flume Reclaim the Word ‘DUMB’ on Bold New Album Out August 22

Australian multi-hyphenate artist Emma Louise and Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Flume team up for a 10-track collaborative album, DUMB, set for release August 22. A first taste of the new music, “Easy Goodbye,” will be unveiled Friday, with the album also available for pre-order.

Longtime friends and past collaborators—most notably on “Hollow” from Flume’s 2022 album Palaces—the pair reunited in the studio last year for a session that quickly grew into an album. DUMB was built together from the ground up in regional northern New South Wales where they both live and create, fully co-written by Emma Louise and Flume. Emma Louise finds new edges with this album, wrapping her intimate songwriting in Flume’s glitchy, wide-screen production.

Emma says, “The title DUMB is loaded with weight for me. Growing up undiagnosed neurodivergent, I often felt dumb—struggling at school, forgetting things, silencing myself to fit in. In the studio, whenever we got stuck, Harley and I would laugh and say ‘make it dumb’ to stop overthinking. It worked every time. At first, naming the album DUMB felt irreverent and freeing, but later I realised how deeply it connected to my own fear of being seen as stupid and unworthy. This album is me reclaiming that word, letting go of shame, and promising myself I’ll never abandon my voice again.”

DUMB follows Flume’s collaborative EP with JPEGMAFIA, We Live In A Society, which marked his return from a two-year hiatus. Flume is now busy working on his next project, a new studio album.

Emma Louise is known for a career of continuous reinvention. The North Queensland-born artist has spent over a decade exploring the edges of songwriting and sound, shifting fluidly through phases of introspection, abstraction, and experimentation. From her debut album Vs Head Vs Heart, through the emotional directness of Supercry, to the radical shift of Lilac Everything—where she pitch-shifted her vocals down an octave and reimagined her identity as a singer entirely—Emma has always been an artist who follows instinct over expectation. She also paints, sculpts and creates across a myriad of mediums, and her music has always mirrored that same physical, handmade quality. With DUMB, she arrives somewhere new—not letting go of who she is but surrendering fully to Flume’s compositional world and following it as far as it would take her.

Flume is a Grammy-winning artist, producer and songwriter who exploded into global consciousness in 2011 when his early release “Sleepless” captivated Australia and quickly spread around the world. Since then, he’s released three widely acclaimed studio albums, three cult favorite mixtapes and a handful of EPs, and won countless accolades including 13 Arias, two Triple J Hottest 100 #1s and a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album. He is a global headliner who has played lineup-topping sets at festivals worldwide including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Osheaga, Outside Lands, Japan’s Summersonic, Italy’s C2C and many more.

EMMA LOUISE AND FLUME—DUMB
1. All Of The Worlds
2. Monsoon
3. Shine, Glow, Glisten
4. Feel Ur Love
5. Easy Goodbye
6. Stay
7. Whenever You Want
8. Homicide
9. Brand New
10. Truce

Boo Boos Drop “Total Thunder” Ahead of Debut Album ‘Young Love’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

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Boo Boos Drop “Total Thunder” Ahead of Debut Album ‘Young Love’

Today, dynamic bicoastal duo Boo Boos (comprised of co-singer/songwriters Katie Boo and Bronco Boo, AKA E of EELS and Kate Mattison of 79.5) have released their new single “Total Thunder,” the latest track taken from their upcoming debut album Young Love set for release on September 19 via PIAS—presave/preorder here.

“Total Thunder” sizzles with an energetic, whimsical energy, tastefully combining elements of 70’s groove with modern rock.

Katie Boo comments on the writing process: “The piano part was written sometime in the early aughts when I was listening heavily to The Legendary Christine Perfect record.” She continues, “Total Thunder refers to being hit by someone’s presence, and one you didn’t see coming.”

Bronco Boo sums the single up as “Totes thund in my book.”

“Total Thunder follows the release of the first two singles from the upcoming LP, “C’mon Baby” and “That’s Not A Thing.”

Katie Boo was born in a small coal-mining town in Ohio and was raised by the radio before moving to Brooklyn, NY and changing her name to Kate Mattison. The electricity of the city combined with her love of the heartland’s soul music soon inspired Kate to start her band 79.5.

Bronco Boo began life in a Washington, D.C. hospital and was promptly brought home to live on the wild prairies of the Northern Virginia suburbs. He changed his name to Mark Everett and then again to the letter “E” and formed the band EELS before deciding to go back to Bronco in 2025.

While listening to radio station KCRW late one night in his adoptive town of Los Angeles, Bronco heard a song by 79.5 that he liked very much. When he was soon asked to make a playlist for Radio L’envie he put the song on it. This led to a verbal dialogue between the two artists that turned into a musical dialogue of ideas and songs sent back and forth between Brooklyn, NY and Los Feliz, CA.

Feeling like they were onto something special, and realizing they were born with the same last name, they felt it would be silly not to record these songs, so they did. Introducing rock’s newest supergroup. Boo Boos are here to make your boo boos OK.

TRACK LIST YOUNG LOVE
1. That’s Not A Thing
2. Stumbled
3. C’mon Baby
4. The Toughest Bitch I Know
5. Chicken In A Molehill
6. Gal Pal
7. Boo Boo Time
8. Total Thunder
9. Strange Morning
10. Intros and Outros
11. As The Sky Breaks (For You)
12. Nightly Content

Sterling Elza Expands Fall Tour with Texas Grit, Rock Swagger, and ‘Simpler Days’ Deluxe Album to Match

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

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Sterling Elza Expands Fall Tour with Texas Grit, Rock Swagger, and ‘Simpler Days’ Deluxe Album to Match

Sterling Elza continues to tour through the fall with newly confirmed headline shows including Houston’s Scout Bar, Dallas’ Trees, San Antonio’s Paper Tigers, Corpus Christi’s Brewsters Ice Street House and Gatesville’s Bare Bones. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 18 at 10:00 A.M. local time. Full details can be found at www.sterlingelza.com/tour.

The new dates build on an already full summer for Elza, including an upcoming August run with acclaimed artist and fellow Texan Giovannie and the Hired Guns in addition to a slate of previously confirmed festival performances. See below for the full routing.

Additionally, the Deluxe Version of Elza’s debut album Simpler Days is out now via Alamo Records. Since its initial release in August 2024 the album has amassed over 80 million streams and entered Apple Music’s Top 25 Rock Albums.

The deluxe version adds eight new songs including Elza’s two recent singles, “Happy Never After” and “Next Week,” the latter of which has earned over 20 million streams to date. The original twelve songs have been remixed by David Baker (Billie Eilish, Jelly Roll, Big Sean) and remastered by Greg Calbi (Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, Bob Dylan), who also mixed and mastered the new material. The entire body of work showcases Elza’s signature sound: a seamless blend of the grit and soul of his Red Dirt influences with the raw edge of classic rock.

The 21-year-old has already received recognition, with Country Central raving, “the red dirt scene is about to act up again and Sterling Elza is here to lead that charge,” and Whiskey Riff calling Elza “a name from the Texas scene you need to familiarize yourself with.”

Originally from Texas and born into a family steeped in musical tradition, Elza began playing guitar at age five, crafting a sound influenced by classic Red Dirt, Top 40 country, grunge and rock. After spending three years at Florida’s IMG Academy pursuing professional tennis, the sudden loss of his uncle prompted Elza to return to Texas and fully dedicate himself to music. Now based in New Braunfels and backed by a five-piece band, Elza continues to develop his powerful, dynamic sound that positions him as one of rock’s most promising emerging artists.

TRACK LIST SIMPLER DAYS (DELUXE)
1. Over and Over
2. Why Should I
3. Framed
4. Next Week
5. Memories
6. Happy
7. Woke Up Again
8. Red Light
9. Throw Away (feat. Treaty Oak Revival)
10. Run
11. Heaven Hills
12. Simpler Days
13. Midnight Friends
14. yeah.
15. Happy Never After
16. Lonely (feat. Dylan Wheeler)
17. I’ve Been Bored – Live
18. Lie to You
19. Incomplete
20. Nobody Else

STERLING ELZA TOUR DATES
July 18 /// Petersburg, IL /// Menard County Fair
August 1 /// South Streator, IL /// Streator Fest
August 3 /// Wichita, KS /// Wave*
August 8 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// Soundwell†
August 9 /// Boise, ID /// Neurolux†
August 10 /// Spokane, WA /// District at Knitting Factory†
August 12 /// Seattle, WA /// Tractor Tavern†
August 13 /// Portland, OR /// Mississippi Studios†
August 15 /// Crystal Bay, NV /// Crystal Bay Casino†
August 16 /// Roseville, CA /// Goldfield Trading Post†
August 17 /// San Francisco, CA /// Brick and Mortar†
August 19 /// Anaheim, CA /// The Parish at House of Blues†
August 21 /// Los Angeles, CA /// The Echo†
August 22 /// San Diego, CA /// House of Blues – Voodoo Room†
August 23 /// Pioneertown, CA /// Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace†
August 24 /// Phoenix, AZ /// Crescent Ballroom†
September 4 /// San Antonio, TX /// Paper Tigers
September 5 /// Houston, TX /// Scout Bar
September 6 /// Durant, OK /// Gilley’s
September 7 /// Dallas, TX /// Trees
September 12 /// Omaha, NE /// Barnato
September 13 /// Hugoton, KS /// High Plains Fest
September 18 /// Corpus Christi, TX /// Brewster Street Ice House
September 19 /// Kermit, TX /// Kermit Celebration Days
September 20 /// Gatesville, TX /// Bare Bones

Marcus King Band Fires Up ‘The Darling Blue’ Tour with New Album, All-Star Guests, and Soul-Stirring Stops

Music

Eric Alper

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Jul 18, 2025

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Marcus King Band Fires Up ‘The Darling Blue’ Tour with New Album, All-Star Guests, and Soul-Stirring Stops

Fresh on the heels of confirming their new album, Marcus King Band sets a North American headline tour—The Darling Blue Tour (Pt. 1).

The 13-date run kicks off September 11 in Davenport, including stops in Memphis, Albuquerque, Little Rock and more. Support across select dates comes from Angel White, Laci Kaye Booth and Carter Faith. Complete list of dates below.

Artist presale begins Wednesday, July 16 at 10 A.M. local time, followed by Spotify presale on Thursday, July 17 at 10 A.M. local time, and local presales at 12 P.M. local time. General on sale begins Friday, July 18 at 10 A.M. local time. Tickets and more information HERE.

Their much-anticipated forthcoming album, Darling Blue, is set for release on September 26 via American Records/Republic Records. Pre-order/pre-save HERE, and listen to just released tracks “Here Today” featuring Jamey Johnson and Kaitlin Butts and “Carry Me Home” from the LP.

The album finds Grammy-nominated Marcus King reuniting with his longtime live band for their first recorded album together since 2018’s Carolina Confessions. Inspired heavily by his home state of South Carolina, the new album incorporates elements of country, folk, psychedelic rock and Motown-era R&B and continues the conversation on King’s experience with addiction and depression.

“It truly felt like home,” King details. “Like my band and I were just working out songs to perform live but ended up creating a piece of recorded music for our fans to hear. Our goal is always to be a vessel and allow the music to flow through us and tap into something that’s already there in the room. But more than anything I’ve done before, this album felt like a real concerted effort to make music for myself, and for ourselves as a band—creating for the love of creating and being as honest as we possibly can. We put everything we had into making something that we love and we have faith that the audience will feel that and love it too.”

They’ve also shared “Honky Tonk Hell”—which became the fastest single in King’s career to hit 1 million streams—as well as “Carolina Honey” from the album. Watch a performance of “Honky Tonk Hell” at Bonnaroo below.

The beloved Marcus King Band Family Reunion music festival will return for its fourth installment this summer, taking place in Charleston, SC for the first time ever. Over the course of two days—August 23 and 24—the festival will see performances by the Marcus King Band, Jamey Johnson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Molly Tuttle, Hiss Golden Messenger and more. Tickets and more information are HERE.

This year also finds King hitting the road with Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Eric Church and Dwight Yoakam. Find a complete list of dates below. In addition to King’s performance at Bonnaroo, he recently took the stage at CMA Fest in Nashville, performing at Nissan Stadium alongside Brooks & Dunn. He also played Spotify House before joining forces with Jordan Davis for a special performance of their unreleased track, “Louisiana Stick.” Additionally, King surprised fans with a pop-up set at Chief’s for Sirius XM and sat in with Lukas Nelson for his set as well.

Greenville, South Carolina-born, Nashville-based Marcus King started performing alongside his blues guitarist father when he was just eight years old. He made his solo debut with El Dorado (2020), produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. The album was met with widespread acclaim, with the Associated Press calling it “a definite high point of 2020.” It went on to earn King his landmark Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

He followed up the success of El Dorado with Young Blood (2022), also produced by Auerbach. His sophomore album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums Chart, the magazine described it as a “staggeringly confident work.” Last year King returned with his third album, Mood Swings, produced by Rick Rubin, of which Rolling Stone said, “he…goes for something much more daring, vulnerable, and openhearted.”

MARCUS KING BAND—DARLING BLUE
1. On & On
2. Here Today ft. Jamey Johnson & Kaitlin Butts
3. Honky Tonk Hell
4. Heartlands
5. Die Alone
6. Somebody Else ft. Jesse Welles
7. Levi’s & Goodbyes
8. Carolina Honey
9. No Room For Blue
10. Blue Ridge Mountain Moon
11. Dirt (Nashville version) ft. Billy Strings
12. The Shadows ft. Noah Cyrus
13. Pretty Petty
14. Carry Me Home

TOUR DATES
July 16 /// San Sebastian, ES /// Victoria Eugenia Antzokia
July 17 /// Madrid, ES /// Noches Del Botánico
July 18 /// Vila Nova De Gaia, PT /// Meo Mares Vivas
July 20 /// Santa Domingo De La Calzada, ES /// Rockland Art Festival
July 27 /// Boise, ID /// Knitting Factory*
July 29 /// Monterey, CA /// Golden State Theatre*
July 30 /// Santa Rosa, CA /// Luther Burbank Theater*
August 1 /// Mammoth Lakes, CA /// Mammoth Festival
of Beers and Bluesapalooza
August 2 /// Sacramento, CA /// Channel 24*
August 14 /// Park City, UT /// Park City Song Summit
August 15 /// West Valley City, UT /// Utah First
Credit Union Amphitheatre†
August 16 /// West Valley City, UT /// Utah First
Credit Union Amphitheatre†
August 17 /// Jackson, WY /// Snow King Mountain
August 23 /// Charleston, SC /// Marcus King
Band Family Reunion Festival
August 24 /// Charleston, SC /// Marcus King
Band Family Reunion Festival
August 31 /// Aspen, CO /// Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival
September 5 /// Madison, IN /// Unbroken Circle
Festival At Bicentennial Park
September 11 /// Davenport, IA /// Capitol Theater*
September 12 /// Lincoln, NE /// Pinnacle Bank Arena‡
September 15-21 /// Seattle, WA /// Keeping The
Blues Alive at Sea Alaska
September 25 /// Green Bay, WI /// Resch Center§
September 26 /// Milwaukee, WI /// Fiserv Forum§
September 27 /// Des Moines, IA /// Casey’s Center§
September 28 /// St. Louis, MO /// Evolution Festival
October 2 /// Detroit, MI /// Little Caesars Arena§
October 3 /// Lexington, KY /// Rupp Arena§
October 9 /// Indianapolis, IN /// Gainbridge Fieldhouse§
October 10 /// Grand Rapids, MI /// Van Andel Arena§
October 11 /// Cleveland, OH /// Rocket Arena§
October 12 /// Peoria, IL /// Civic Center Theater*
October 14 /// Lawrence, KS /// Liberty Hall*
October 16 /// Sugar Land, TX /// Smart Financial
Centre At Sugar Land**
October 17 /// Stephenville, TX /// Twisted J Live
October 18 /// Austin, TX /// Moody Center**
October 19 /// Fayetteville, AR /// JJ’s††
October 21 /// Starkville, MS /// Rick’s Cafe††
October 23 /// Memphis, TN /// Graceland*
October 24 /// Fairhope, AL /// Live at Five*
October 25 /// Birmingham, AL /// Legacy Arena at The BJCC‡
October 30 /// Catoosa, OK /// Hard Rock Live
October 31 /// Little Rock, AR /// The Hall‡‡
November 1 /// Gonzales, LA /// Boots On The Bayou
November 2 /// Corpus Christi, TX /// Concrete Street Pavilion‡‡
November 5 /// Lubbock, TX /// Cook’s Garage (indoors)‡‡
November 6 /// Albuquerque, NM /// Revel‡‡
November 11-16 /// Los Angeles, CA /// Blue Note LA
May 29 /// Panama City Beach, FL /// Gulf Coast Jam

*with Angel White
†with Chris Stapleton
‡with Cody Johnson
§with Eric Church
**with Dwight Yoakam
††Laci Kaye Booth
‡‡Carter Faith

All Aboard! Mumford & Sons Revive the Railroad Tour with Star-Studded House Band and Southern Soul

Music

Eric Alper

-

Jul 18, 2025

0

All Aboard! Mumford & Sons Revive the Railroad Tour with Star-Studded House Band and Southern Soul

Mumford & Sons today unveil new details for their upcoming Railroad Revival Tour stops in Louisiana and South Carolina. The New Orleans date on August 3 will now be held at Champions Square and will feature Baskin, LA’s Lainey Wilson, while the South Carolina date on August 4 will now be held at Simpsonville, SC’s CCNB Amphitheatre and will feature Charleston, SC’s Darius Rucker. Stops at Richmond, VA’s Allianz Amphitheater on August 5 and Burlington, VT’s Champlain Valley Exposition Center on August 7 will also feature yet-to-be-announced special surprise guests.

Kicking off next month, the four-date run will feature Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane alongside an all-star traveling “house band” on all stops, which includes Nathaniel Rateliff, Trombone Shorty, Madison Cunningham, Lucius, Chris Thile, Celisse, Leif Vollebekk, Ketch Secor and more. Originally conceived as a way to reimagine the way musicians experience the country while touring and therefore change the way music is made and performed, each stop will feature a unique, once-in-a-lifetime concert featuring new music, collaborations, shared musicianship and communal spirit.

Of the tour, Mumford shares, “We felt we had some unfinished business on the great American railroad. So, we’ve spent a lot of time cooking up this idea for another rolling festival to rip through the south and east of the U.S., picking up exactly where we left off in New Orleans and ending in Vermont. The spirit of what we do, at its core, is always about people and collaboration. So, every show will be a collaborative performance from a bunch of our favourite people on the planet, and every show will be different. This will, without doubt, be the coolest house band we’ll ever get to play in.”

Lovett adds, “One of the best and most enjoyable parts of sharing our journey together as Mumford & Sons has been the opportunity to venture down paths less travelled. We couldn’t be more excited to be doing that again this year with the announcement of our latest adventure. Another great habit we’ve developed as a band has been to share and collaborate as we go—and that’s led us to a community of kindred brothers and sisters. We’ve invited a handful of them to join us on the train tracks, and it’s going to make for one hell of a show.”

Moreover, Jess Wolfe from Lucius adds, “There’s something romantic, analog, old school about traveling by train. Seeing each landscape unfold before you. Can’t imagine a more fitting way to spend a week capturing some magic with Marcus, Ben, Ted and so many dear friends than on this free spirit ride up the eastern seaboard.”

Originally held in 2011, the first Railroad Revival tour featured Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show and made stops in Oakland, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Tempe, AZ, Marfa, TX, Austin, TX and New Orleans, LA. A documentary titled, Big Easy Express, directed by Emmett Malloy followed the journey and went on to win Best Long Form Music Video at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

The Railroad Revival tour adds to landmark year for Mumford & Sons following the release of their acclaimed fifth studio album, RUSHMERE. In addition to the upcoming performances, the best-selling, beloved trio will embark on a 32-date North American arena and amphitheater tour this summer and fall including stops at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium (two nights) and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena as well as extensive dates across Europe.

Brent Cobb & The Fixin’s Turn Up the Volume on New Southern Rock Album ‘Ain’t Rocked in a While’

Music

Eric Alper

-

Jul 18, 2025

0

Brent Cobb & The Fixin’s Turn Up the Volume on New Southern Rock Album ‘Ain’t Rocked in a While’

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Brent Cobb and his band The Fixin’s release their anticipated new album, Ain’t Rocked in a While, today via Ol’ Buddy Records/Thirty Tigers.

Produced by Cobb and Oran Thornton, Ain’t Rocked in a While captures the electric energy of Cobb’s live shows, while still keeping his signature storytelling at the forefront. Recorded live to tape at The Black Palace in Springfield, MO, the album finds Cobb returning to his roots, as he blends his timeless country sound with influences from classic rock. Alongside today’s release, a new lyric video for “Bad Feelin’” is also out now.

In celebration of the new album, Cobb & The Fixin’s will perform a special pop-up album release show at Nashville’s The Blue Room on July 15 in addition to an extensive headline tour through this fall. Upcoming stops include New York’s Bowery Ballroom, Los Angeles’ Troubadour, Chicago’s Joe’s on Weed St., Washington, D.C.’s The Hamilton, Tucson’s Club Congress and Portland’s Aladdin Theater, among many others. See below for complete itinerary. Full details can be found at www.brentcobbmusic.com/tour.

Reflecting on the project, Cobb shares, “I feel like sometimes when people come to our shows, there might be a disconnect. People might view me as just a singer-songwriter. You know, sit down and tell ‘em a nice, little Southern story. Sing ‘em a song. And our live show kinda rocks. Sometimes people are taken aback. I want people to have an album of reference.”

In addition to Cobb (vocals, guitar), The Fixin’s are Len Clark (drums), Matt McDaniel (guitars) and Josh Williams (bass).

Based in Ellaville, GA, Cobb has released five albums to date including 2023’s acclaimed record, Southern Star—a love-letter to his southern roots, filled with the sounds and stories of his home state of Georgia. Of the record, Rolling Stone declared, “Few artists embody the South quite like Brent Cobb…he summons the easygoing vibes and sounds of his native Georgia,” while No Depression praised, “A true songwriting craftsman with a disarming drawl and plainspoken lyricism, Cobb’s music often feels like it exudes a sense of authenticity and tradition.”

In addition to his work as an artist, Cobb is an esteemed songwriter with cuts by Luke Combs, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Riley Green, Little Big Town, Hailey Whitters, Whiskey Myers and many more. Additionally, his song, “Snakebite,” was featured in the first season of Paramount’s “Landman” this past fall, and he released his first children’s book, Little Stuff, in 2021, which was written as a reflection on what’s truly important in life and was inspired by Cobb’s song of the same name from his album, Keep ‘Em On They Toes.

AIN’T ROCKED IN A WHILE TRACK LIST
1. Beyond Measure
2. Ain’t Rocked in a While
3. Bad Feelin’
4. Do It All the Time
5. Even If It’s Broke
6. In Our Hands
7. Power Man
8. Take Yer Meds
9. Til Dawn
10. Beyond Measure (Fixin’s)

BRENT COBB CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
July 11 /// Fort Worth, TX /// Billy Bob’s
July 15 /// Nashville, TN /// The Blue Room
July 18 /// Redmond, OR /// FairWell Festival
July 19 /// Whitefish, MT /// Under The Big Sky Festival
July 20 /// Whitefish, MT /// The Remington
August 1 /// Bozeman, MT /// Sweet Pea Festival
August 15 /// Des Moines, IA /// Iowa State Fair
August 16 /// Hobart, IN /// The Art Theater
August 17 /// Cadillac, MI /// Coyote Crossing Resort
August 22 /// Douglas, GA /// Martin Center
August 28 /// Columbus, OH /// A&R Bar
August 29 /// Lexington, VA /// Lime Kiln Theater
September 25 /// Minneapolis, MN /// Fine Line
September 26 /// Davenport, IA /// Racoon Motel
September 27 /// Chicago, IL /// Joe’s on Weed St.
September 28 /// Grand Rapids, MI /// The Stache
September 30 /// Flint, MI /// The Machine Shop
October 1 /// Cleveland Heights, OH /// Grog Shop
October 3 /// Toronto, ON /// The Velvet Underground
October 4 /// Buffalo, NY /// Buffalo Iron Works
October 5 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
October 7 /// Washington, D.C. /// The Hamilton
October 8 /// Ardmore, PA /// Ardmore Music Hall
October 10 /// Woodstock, NY /// Levon Helm Studios
October 12 /// Fall River, MA /// Narrows Center of the Arts
October 13 /// New York, NY /// Bowery Ballroom
November 7 /// Kansas City, MO /// Knuckleheads Saloon
November 8 /// Mcalester, OK /// Dancing Rabbit Music Festival
November 10 /// Albuquerque, NM /// Revel
November 11 /// Tucson, AZ /// Club Congress
November 13 /// Los Angeles, CA /// Troubadour
November 16 /// Menlo Park, CA /// The Guild
November 18 /// Healdsburg, CA /// Little Saint
November 20 /// Portland, OR /// Aladdin Theater
November 21 /// Seattle, WA /// Tractor Tavern
November 22 /// Spokane, WA /// The District at Knitting Factory
November 23 /// Great Falls, MT /// The Newberry
December 4 /// Las Vegas, NV /// The Theater at Virgin Hotels*
December 5 /// Las Vegas, NV /// The Theater at Virgin Hotels*

*supporting The Red Clay Strays

That Eric Alper

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All Aboard! Mumford & Sons Revive the Railroad Tour with Star-Studded House Band and Southern Soul

Brent Cobb & The Fixin’s Turn Up the Volume on New Southern Rock Album ‘Ain’t Rocked in a While’

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