Napalm Records proudly welcomes Eye Of Melian to its roster, the Tolkien-inspired symphonic project founded by Martijn Westerholt of Delain and Finnish vocalist Johanna Kurkela of Auri. Alongside this exciting partnership, the band announces their new album ‘Forest of Forgetting’, set for release on February 20, 2026.
Named after a powerful singing spirit from Tolkien’s mythos, Eye Of Melian creates a cinematic and ethereal soundscape that draws listeners into a world of myth and imagination. Their music blends lush orchestration with elegant melodies, crafting a dreamlike experience that feels both timeless and transportive.
The first single from the album, “Blackthorn Winter,” offers a glimpse into this enchanted realm. With its sweeping arrangements and haunting atmosphere, the track captures the band’s signature score-like style. Johanna Kurkela shared, “’Blackthorn Winter’ ended up becoming a very personal song to me after writing the lyrics about living here in Finland, where winter feels like it never ends and summer is the best day of the year.”
Martijn Westerholt reflected on the creative journey behind ‘Forest of Forgetting’: “This album has been a really inspiring process—both for me as a songwriter and in what each of us brought to it. It has a lot of what Eye Of Melian is known for: cinematic, score-like arrangements, minor chords, and those epic, mysterious atmospheres. The lyrics tie everything together; they bring out the worlds and stories that the music hints at and make the whole thing feel complete. The collaboration between us on this record felt very natural. We’ve really found our way of working as a team, and I’m proud of what we created together.”
Las Vegas just got a whole lot louder, brighter, and more romantic! New Kids On The Block have officially extended their debut Las Vegas residency, “The Right Stuff,” at Dolby Live at Park MGM with 16 brand-new dates through 2026. That brings the total to 24 exclusive shows next year, and fans couldn’t be more thrilled.
To celebrate the extension, the band hit the Vegas Strip in true NKOTB style. They received the keys to the city from Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom, then headed to the iconic Little White Wedding Chapel for a recommitting ceremony that sealed their love affair with Sin City. The photo op was pure Vegas magic, and the band’s excitement was contagious.
The new dates will take place in June, July, and October, with presales beginning Monday, November 17 and running through November 20. General onsale kicks off November 21 at 10 a.m. PT, giving Blockheads plenty of time to grab their spot for what promises to be an unforgettable experience. Get the tickets here.
“What we’ve built here in Vegas, together with our incredible Blockheads, feels truly magical,” said Donnie Wahlberg. “The energy in that room each night— the lights, the lasers, flying up to the balcony to see all our blockheads dancing and singing along— is so far beyond anything we’ve ever done before. Vegas has been so welcoming to us, we couldn’t leave just yet! We are having the absolute best time and are so excited and honored to be asked to extend our stay here at the Dolby through 2026.”
The Philadelphia Flyers will host the first-ever “Phish Night at the Flyers” at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, January 8, when the Flyers host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. This special Phish-themed night features special experiences, including a pregame concert by Rift and a limited edition, one-of-a-kind co-branded Phish-Flyers T-shirt. WMMR’s Casey Boy from the Preston & Steve show will host the pre-game concert.
Flyers fans and Phish fans interested in attending “Phish Night at the Flyers” must purchase tickets through the special ticket package link here.
“The Philadelphia Flyers and Phish both have tremendously loyal and passionate fan bases that have intersected over the past several decades with historic live shows at the arenas we’ve called home,” said Flyers Chief Revenue and Business Officer Todd Glickman. “From the Flyers faithful to the Phish fans, I cannot wait to see everyone come together under one roof at Xfinity Mobile Arena to ‘surrender to the flow’ on January 8.”
The Flyers and Phish have a decades-long connection. Before the band performed at the Flyers original home, the Spectrum, for the first time (Dec. 15, 1995), the band visited the team’s training center to meet members of the team. Prior to the show that evening, guitarist and vocalist Trey Anastasio wore a Flyers #10 John LeClair jersey, much to the delight of the fans in attendance. Two of Phish’s historic performances at The Spectrum are available on the album, The Spectrum ’97, which captures the band at the classic venue during a fall ’97 apex and celebrates a standout two-night stand across 33 songs. The band also has an interesting history at Xfinity Mobile Arena, performing the National Anthem before two Flyers games there in 1997 and 1999, and later playing back-to-back shows over Thanksgiving weekend in 2009.
Every ticket purchased through this special ticket package link includes a commemorative Flyers x Phish T-shirt and entrance to a pregame concert by Rift. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Waterwheel Foundation.
Phish and Flyers Fans interested in attending Phish Night at The Flyers can purchase tickets here.
Lightning in a Bottle returns to Buena Vista Lake, California, for its 2026 edition over Memorial Day Weekend, May 20 to 24. The festival, now in its 23rd year, has revealed a genre-spanning lineup that includes Empire of the Sun, Mau P, Sara Landry, Zeds Dead, Chase & Status, Mochakk, Barry Can’t Swim, Of The Trees, Overmono, and drag icon Trixie Mattel. Known for its eclectic programming and immersive experience, the festival continues to be a cornerstone of the West Coast music scene.
Beyond the music, Lightning in a Bottle offers attendees a rich cultural experience through The Compass, a dedicated space for workshops and talks. Topics range from indigenous wisdom to climate action, creating a space for learning, reflection, and community engagement. The festival’s commitment to blending art, music, and consciousness remains central to its identity.
Pass options include three-day and five-day tickets, with add-ons for pre-set camping and RV packages. VIP passes unlock access to backstage lounges at Lightning, Thunder, and Woogie stages, along with exclusive bars and pop-up activations. Tickets go on sale November 14 at 11 a.m. PT via the official festival website.
End Overdose, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing drug-related overdose deaths, has announced a new partnership with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). Through this collaboration, NIVA’s member venues will receive quarterly opioid overdose response training and access to free naloxone and fentanyl test strips. These tools are designed to equip venue staff with the resources needed to respond effectively in emergency situations and help save lives.
The initiative includes a streamlined order form created by End Overdose, allowing venues to easily request naloxone, a proven overdose-reversal medication, and fentanyl test strips, which detect the presence of the potent opioid in substances. End Overdose founder and CEO Theo Krzywicki emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting that their national certification program is available both online and in person. “The independent venue ecosystem is vital to the health of live entertainment across the country, making this partnership a perfect fit to ensure lifesaving tools are available where they’re needed most,” Krzywicki said.
NIVA represents a wide range of independent venues, including comedy clubs, performing arts centers, and dinner theaters, all of which host millions of attendees annually. The partnership officially launches this week, with End Overdose beginning staff training across the network. “Live shows are built on connection, and connection means looking out for one another,” said NIVA Executive Director Stephen Parker. “Their generosity and commitment to our live community will save lives.”
Folk Alliance International (FAI), the world’s leading nonprofit for folk music, has announced recipients and nominees for the International Folk Music Awards (IFMAs), keynote speakers, and complete programming for its 38th annual conference, taking place January 21–25, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
New Orleans icons Big Freedia and Tank (of Tank and the Bangas) will serve as the 2026 conference’s keynote speakers.
Lifetime Achievement Awards will honor:
Taj Mahal – five-time GRAMMY winner and global blues ambassador
Clifton Chenier – zydeco pioneer and Louisiana cultural icon
Louisiana Folk Roots – celebrating Cajun and Creole joie de vivre
Clifton Chenier / Photo by Reed and Susan Erskine Courtesy Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian InstitutionTaj Mahal / Photo credit: David McClister
2025 IFMA Nominees
Artist of the Year Abbie Gardner, Carsie Blanton, Crys Matthews, I’m With Her, Ordinary Elephant, and Sam Robbins
Album of the Year Arcadia (Alison Krauss & Union Station), CHURCH (Flamy Grant), Room on the Porch (Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’), Reclamation (Crys Matthews), Wild and Clear and Blue (I’m With Her), Woody at Home, Vol. 1 & 2 (Woody Guthrie)
Song of the Year “Ain’t Afraid to Die” (Woody Guthrie); “Crying in the Night” (Andrew Bird & Madison Cunningham); “I Bought Me a President” (Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer); “Room on the Porch” (Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’); “Sleeves Up” (Crys Matthews); “Sisters of the Night Watch” (I’m With Her)
Global Folk Album Award (with Songlines Magazine) Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali, Trio Da Kali, Hajda Banda, Rastak, The Baltic Sisters, and Votia
New this year, the Global Folk Album Award recognizes the worldwide reach of folk traditions.
The Rising Tide Award (Levitt Foundation) goes to guitarist Yasmin Williams. The People’s Voice Award honors Kyshona for her activism and “heartfelt empathy” (NPR). Spirit of Folk Awards recognize Laura Thomas (ComboPlate Booking), Rachel Ornelas (New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival), FAI Deputy Director Alex Mallett, and community builder Cindy Cogbill. The Clearwater Award will be presented to the Edmonton Folk Music Festival for decades of environmental leadership. Four DJs—Susan Forbes Hansen (WHUS), Kieran Hanrahan (RTE Radio 1), Ron Olesko (Folk Music Notebook), and Michael Stock (WLRN)—will be inducted into the Folk Radio Hall of Fame.
Programming Highlights
Panels include:
Songs That Carry Us: Indigenous Perspectives on Folk Tradition
Beyond “Woke”: Rethinking Lead Belly in the Era of Cowboy Carter
Human Art in a Generative AI Age
Panelists feature Ani DiFranco, Gina Chavez, Irma Thomas, Leyla McCalla, Louis Michot, Ann Powers, and Nick Spitzer.
Over 150 artists from 34 countries will perform, including Kyshona, The Milk Carton Kids, Steve Poltz, Yasmin Williams, Leyla McCalla, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, Chuck Prophet, Bruce Sudano, Pieta Brown, Ramy Essam, Emily Scott Robinson, Beth Nielsen Chapman, The Steel Wheels, Rainbow Girls, Tray Wellington, Mamadou Diabate, Las Cafeteras, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Emma Swift, Feng E, Great Lake Swimmers, Sean Ardoin, Jim White, Cary Morin Duo, Jason Ricci & Damon Fowler, Ordinary Elephant, Corey Ledet Zydeco & Black Magic, Doug MacLeod, OKAN, Angelique Francis, Luke Winslow-King, Las Guaracheras, and Aysanabee.
About the Conference
The Folk Alliance International Conference is the largest global gathering of folk musicians and industry professionals, uniting artists, presenters, and organizations for five days of showcases, networking, and professional development. The first night features the International Folk Music Awards—celebrating folk’s leaders, legends, and emerging voices. The 2026 theme is “Rise Up.”
Cardi B continues her unstoppable run with the release of “Am I The Drama (The Snow Mix),” a fresh take on her standout track featuring Atlanta hip-hop icon Jeezy and rising star Latto. The remix of “ErrTime” adds new layers of energy and lyrical firepower, surprising fans and expanding the sonic universe of her platinum-certified sophomore album Am I The Drama?.
The album has already made history, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and holding its place for seven consecutive weeks. Cardi B is now the first female rapper to see both of her first two albums debut at the top spot. The release also marked the biggest week of 2025 for an R&B/hip-hop album by a female artist. Her single “Outside,” the album’s lead track, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance, reinforcing her place among the most celebrated artists in the genre.
Cardi’s momentum is set to carry into 2026 with her first-ever U.S. arena tour, The Little Miss Drama Tour, launching February 11 in Palm Desert, California. Due to overwhelming demand, additional dates have been added in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, promising fans a high-energy experience that matches the intensity of her chart-topping music.
The album’s impact has been felt across platforms, with “Dead” featuring Summer Walker, “Magnet,” and “Safe” featuring Kehlani all reaching No. 1 on Apple Music’s Top Songs chart. The project became the fastest album to reach RIAA platinum, surpassing one million units in under 24 hours and earning two Guinness World Records through her partnership with Walmart. Cardi celebrated the release with a live album event hosted by Apple Music and TikTok, a Bodega Baddie pop-up in Washington Heights, and a DoorDash collaboration called The Cardi Bodega, delivering signed merch and curated treats to fans nationwide.
Dutch brother duo Baby Condor are back with their latest single “Seventeen,” a lush and emotionally rich track that glides through memory, transformation, and the beauty of growing up. With a sound that blends pop, country, folk, and indie influences, “Seventeen” is a cinematic experience wrapped in orchestral warmth and vintage production. It’s a continuation of Baby Condor’s mission to create timeless, soul-infused music for the modern listener.
The song was created entirely in Mermaid Studio, a space the brothers built themselves. Nolle and Beinte Groen wrote, arranged, produced, and recorded “Seventeen” using hand-soldered gear and analogue effects that give the track its signature handcrafted feel. The result is a sound that’s melancholic yet dynamic, grounded in storytelling and elevated by soaring melodies. “Seventeen is about how the world is changing faster than anyone can keep up with,” says Nolle Groen. “It’s a reflection on growing up, losing touch with the past, and still trying to hold onto what makes us human.”
Live strings, horns, and intricate harmonies layer over organic percussion and shimmering guitars, creating a sonic landscape that nods to the golden era of songwriting. Inspired by legends like Paul Simon, Harry Nilsson, Marvin Gaye, and Brian Wilson, Baby Condor channels nostalgia into something fresh and forward-thinking. The track feels like a road trip through time, with every note echoing down sunlit coastlines and endless highways.
Since forming Baby Condor, Nolle and Beinte have poured themselves into the artistry of analogue recording and authentic songwriting. Every track is built from the ground up, a reflection of their belief that music should carry soul, story, and sincerity. “For us, authenticity in music is everything,” adds Beinte Groen. “Not just entertainment—but atmosphere, identity, and truth. ‘Seventeen’ is that pursuit captured in sound.”
Cheap Trick is turning the volume all the way up with the debut of their brand-new video for “The Riff That Won’t Quit,” a blazing single from their upcoming album All Washed Up. Following the electrifying “Twelve Gates,” this track is a sonic celebration of everything fans love about the band: relentless energy, infectious hooks, and a groove that grabs hold and doesn’t let go. With the album set to release November 14 via BMG, the countdown is officially on.
All Washed Up marks the band’s twenty-first studio album, and it’s a full-throttle ride from start to finish. Produced by Cheap Trick and Julian Raymond, mixed by Chris Lord Alge, and recorded across a constellation of legendary studios—Sound Emporium Studios, Blackbird, Love Shack, Zen in Nashville, and Sweetzerland Studios in LA—the album pulses with the spirit of rock and roll’s golden heart. Every note is crafted with precision and passion, and the band’s signature sound shines brighter than ever.
Fans will be thrilled to know that All Washed Up is dropping in multiple formats. Whether you’re spinning it digitally, sliding it into your CD player, or dropping the needle on classic black vinyl, there’s a version for every kind of listener. And for collectors, the Orange Marble vinyl variant is a must-have. Limited to just 1,000 units and available exclusively through the band’s new D2C store, it’s a piece of rock history you can hold in your hands.
The Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies, the Ashkenaz Foundation, and the Department of Music in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design are proud to announce the launch of the fourth season of “Sound and Sense: Jewish Music @ York” with a special event marking YIVO’s centennial featuring distinguished scholars and musicians sharing their unique artistry. Tickets are available here.
Founded in 1925, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research has been the destination over the last century for knowledge of and research about Yiddish language, culture, and civilization. Through its treasured collections and robust programming and educational initiatives, YIVO has helped preserve the precious legacy of one thousand years of Ashkenazi Jewish life.
In this special event marking YIVO’s centennial, we will be joined by distinguished scholars and musicians who will share their unique insights and artistry as we delve into the distinct legacy of Yiddish song collection in Canada. The event will include lectures by internationally recognized scholars Itzik Gottesman and Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett interspersed with musical performances by award-winning musicians Lenka Lichtenberg and Joseph Landau.
“Sound and Sense: Jewish Music @ York” is a performance and lecture series dedicated to showcasing the multicultural diversity of Jewish musical expression as well as the ongoing intersections between Jewish and non-Jewish musical practices and communities. The initiative is driven by an inclusive philosophy that believes in the power of music to serve as a bridge-builder and a vehicle for cultural exchange and dialogue.
The series has been made possible via the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation.
