Japanese musician haruka_2go has developed an unusual performance style that involves playing two recorder flutes at the same time. One recorder is played traditionally with the mouth while the second is balanced using a loaf of bread and played with the nose, creating a distinctive multi-instrument technique that has captured attention online for its creativity and precision.
Indonesia Travel Essentials: Internet, Transport, and Apps
By Mitch Rice
Indonesia Travel Essentials start to feel easy when you handle three things early: an internet that stays steady, transport that does not waste your day, and a small set of apps you will actually open. Indonesia is warm, loud in the best way, and full of small moments that do not wait for you to find a signal.
An internet that stays reliable
Airport WiFi can be slow, and hotel WiFi can drop right when you need a map. If you want your phone working the moment you step outside into the humid air, set up an Indonesia eSIM before you fly. You land, switch on data, and you are ready to order a ride, message your hotel, or check a ferry time without hunting for a shop.
If you prefer one setup that you can use across stops, Jetpac is a simple option to keep in mind, especially when you are bouncing between islands and do not want to swap plans.
Getting around without stress
In most cities, ride-hailing is the easiest day-to-day option. Use cars when it is raining or when you have luggage. Use motorbikes for short hops through traffic, but only if you feel comfortable with it.
For longer distances, trains are a calm way to travel in Java. You get a seat, a bit of air conditioning, and a window view of rice fields and small towns. For islands, ferries and short flights are common. Build in buffer time. Indonesia runs on real life, not perfect schedules.
Apps you will use every day
Keep this set on your home screen:
- Gojek or Grab for rides and food delivery
- Google Maps for walking routes and saved pins
- WhatsApp for hotels, drivers, and local tours
- Google Translate for menus and quick chats
- Traveloka or Tiket.com for flights, hotels, and some ferries
- KAI Access if you are booking trains in Java
A small tip that saves time: screenshot your booking details and hotel address. Reception can be patchy on the road.
Jakarta: big city energy, fast moves
Jakarta is a real working capital, not a beach town, and it is worth seeing for its food and street-level rhythm. The city feels hot and busy, with the hum of scooters, mall music drifting out to the sidewalk, and sudden rain that cools the air for ten minutes.
Try a bowl of soto Betawi or nasi uduk from a spot that is full at lunchtime. If you are here in the wet season, keep a light rain jacket in your day bag and plan rides instead of long walks.
Bali: temples, surf towns, and slow afternoons
Bali has layers. You can spend the morning at a temple, the afternoon on a beach road lined with frangipani, and the evening in a small warung with grilled fish and sambal. The air often smells like incense and motorbike exhaust, especially near busy streets, and the sound of offerings being set down blends into daily life.
Quick wrap-up
Indonesia Travel Essentials come down to staying connected, moving smart, and keeping your apps simple. An Indonesia eSIM helps you avoid the first-day scramble, and Jetpac can be handy if you want one setup that follows you from city streets to island docks.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
A Practical Habit Music Fans Are Adopting When Buying Gear Online
By Mitch Rice
For many music fans, listening is only one part of the hobby. Over time, the interest often expands into collecting records, upgrading headphones, experimenting with speakers, or even building a small home listening setup. The growth of online shopping has made it easier than ever to explore these options. A person can now compare dozens of headphones, turntables, or audio accessories without leaving home. However, the convenience of e-commerce also means that purchases happen quickly, sometimes faster than people intend. Because of that, more music fans have started paying closer attention to how they buy gear online. Instead of simply ordering the first item they like, they spend a few extra minutes checking reviews, comparing prices across retailers, and looking for possible discounts. For example, some consumers browse PromoCodie before making a purchase to see if there are any special offers available for the products they plan to buy. This small step has gradually become a practical habit for those who frequently buy audio equipment or music-related products.
One reason this habit is becoming common is that prices for music gear can vary widely depending on the retailer or timing of the purchase. A pair of headphones, for example, may appear at one price on a brand’s official website but be discounted on another platform during a limited promotion. Similarly, retailers sometimes release short-term deals tied to holidays, product launches, or seasonal sales. Because of this, experienced buyers often avoid rushing to checkout immediately after deciding on a product. Instead, they quickly check whether another store offers a better price or whether a promotion is currently available. Coupon and promotion platforms help simplify this process by collecting information from multiple retailers and organizing it in one place. Rather than searching through dozens of individual websites, users can quickly see whether a discount might exist. For people who regularly upgrade audio equipment or purchase music-related items, this kind of resource can save both time and money.
I realized how useful this habit could be during a simple purchase a while ago. I had been planning to buy a small pair of desktop speakers for my workspace because I often listen to music while writing or working. After reading several reviews and watching comparison videos, I chose a model that seemed reliable and well balanced for everyday listening. I added the speakers to my cart and was ready to pay, since the price seemed reasonable. Just before completing the purchase, I decided to quickly search online to see whether there might be a discount available. Within a few minutes I found a promotional offer listed on a coupon site that worked with the retailer I was using. The savings were not huge, but they were noticeable enough to make the purchase feel smarter. That moment made me realize how easy it is to overlook these small opportunities simply because we are used to buying things quickly online.
Since then, checking for available deals has become a natural step in my shopping routine, especially when buying music equipment. Audio gear often represents a long-term investment, whether it is a new set of headphones, a turntable, or a collection of vinyl records. Taking an extra minute to confirm whether a discount is available adds a sense of confidence to the purchase. Instead of wondering later whether the same product might have been cheaper somewhere else, I know I have already checked the available options. Over time, this small habit has made my online shopping process feel more deliberate and organized. For music fans who regularly explore new gear or expand their collections, a simple search before checkout can make the entire buying experience more thoughtful and satisfying.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
Sebastian Bach To Front Twisted Sister For Select Reunion Shows
Heavy metal singer Sebastian Bach will step in for Dee Snider for a series of upcoming Twisted Sister shows as the band marks its 50th anniversary. Snider recently stepped away from the reunion plans due to degenerative arthritis, and members Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda confirmed that the former Skid Row frontman will join the group for select dates with Snider’s support.
The fall run reunites Twisted Sister following a ten-year hiatus after their 40 and Fuck It Tour. Drummer Joey Cassata will replace Joe Franco for the shows, with bassist Russell Pzutto completing the lineup alongside French and Ojeda. Specific tour dates are expected to be announced soon.
John Summit and Dom Dolla To Headline Up The Sky Music Festival In Aspen
Electronic DJs John Summit and Dom Dolla will headline the second annual Up The Sky Music Festival on August 7 and 8 at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colorado. The two-day event returns with a lineup that also includes Empire of the Sun, Parcels, Leon Thomas, Polo and Pan and more, bringing electronic and indie sounds to the base of Buttermilk Mountain.
Set against the panoramic mountain views of Aspen, the festival blends a summer music experience with a destination getaway in the Rockies. Organizers describe the event as Aspen’s signature summer festival, pairing live performances with the scenic setting of the resort area.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 5 at 10 am local time with GA, VIP and cabin packages available. VIP passes include front-of-stage viewing access, a dedicated festival entrance, shaded lounge areas, premium seating and climate-controlled restrooms.
VIP ticket holders will also have access to exclusive bars with complimentary select alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, additional drinks available for purchase, and curated food stations available throughout the day inside the VIP Village.
Alanis Morissette and Ella Langley To Headline Spotify 20 Live Event At SXSW
Alanis Morissette and Ella Langley will headline Spotify 20: Live at Stubb’s on March 14 during SXSW in Austin, marking the start of Spotify’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The event will also feature a special DJ set from St. Vincent, bringing together voices that have shaped the past two decades of music with artists helping define what comes next.
SXSW holds a special place in Spotify’s history. In 2010, co-founder Daniel Ek delivered a keynote at the festival that previewed the platform ahead of its U.S. launch the following year. To mark the milestone, Spotify has also released a new Spotify x SXSW playlist highlighting artists who have performed at the long-running Spotify House stage over the years.
Additional programming during SXSW 2026 includes a Featured Speaker Session with Spotify Co-CEO Gustav Soderstrom, Grammy-winning singer Lainey Wilson, and podcast host David Friedberg discussing the evolution of digital music and the future of creativity across music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Spotify will also host a conversation between Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins and Nick Jonas to discuss his film “Power Ballad” and the idea of reinvention in music. The week’s programming will also include a Spotify for Artists Masterclass and a Heart & Soul wellness space within the SXSW Artist Lounge created in partnership with Backline.
Sting Celebrates ‘Mercury Falling’ With Expanded Edition Release
Sting marks the 30th anniversary of his solo album ‘Mercury Falling’ with the release of ‘Mercury Falling (Expanded Edition)’, now available digitally on streaming platforms via UMe. The updated edition celebrates the GRAMMY-nominated and Platinum-certified record with a collection of rare and previously unavailable material from the era.
The expanded release adds 19 bonus tracks including B-sides, remixes and non-album recordings, many appearing on streaming platforms for the first time. Among the highlights is Sting’s recording of “Moonlight”, featured on the soundtrack to the film “Sabrina”, with music by John Williams and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
Originally released in 1996, ‘Mercury Falling’ reached the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 and marked Sting’s third collaboration with producer Hugh Padgham. The album earned two GRAMMY nominations, including Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot”.
The expanded edition concludes with live recordings from the television program TFI Friday, including performances of “You Still Touch Me”, “Lithium Sunset”, and “Message In A Bottle”. The release follows the recent expanded reissue of Sting’s debut solo album ‘The Dream Of The Blue Turtles’.
TRACK LISTING:
MAIN ALBUM
The Hounds of Winter
I Hung My Head
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot
I Was Brought to My Senses
You Still Touch Me
I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying
All Four Seasons
Twenty Five to Midnight
La Belle Dame Sans Regrets
Valparaiso
Lithium Sunset
BONUS TRACKS
Moonlight
The Bed’s Too Big Without You
Lullaby to An Anxious Child
Beneath a Desert Moon
This Was Never Meant to Be
The Pirate’s Bride
Giacomo’s Blues
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (A&G Classic Edit)
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (A&G Full Testament Mix)
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (A&G Great Divide Mix)
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (A&G Great Divide Dub)
I Was Brought To My Senses (Steve Lipson Remix)
Sister Moon (Hani Commissioned Club Mix)
Sister Moon (Hani Commissioned Dub Mix)
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (Single Edit)
You Still Touch Me (Edit)
You Still Touch Me (Live At TFI Friday)
Lithium Sunset (Live At TFI Friday)
Message In A Bottle (Live At TFI Friday)
Charley Crockett Announces ‘Age of the Ram’ U.S. Tour
Americana singer Charley Crockett has announced the Age of the Ram Tour, an extensive run of headline dates and festival appearances across the U.S. in 2026. The tour begins May 30 in Danville, Virginia and continues through the summer and fall with stops in Philadelphia, Detroit, Omaha, Bend and many more cities. Support across select shows will include Nat Myers, Sierra Hull and Pony Bradshaw, while Durand Jones & The Indications join the lineup for a late summer stretch beginning September 16.
Promoted by Live Nation and FPC Live, the tour arrives as Crockett prepares to release his new album ‘Age Of The Ram’ on April 3 via Island Records. The project marks his third album in a year and the third full-length collaboration with Grammy Award-winning co-producer Shooter Jennings. It also completes The Sagebrush Trilogy, an ambitious three-album cycle that has defined Crockett’s recent creative period.
Presales for the tour are underway ahead of the general on sale on Friday, March 6 at 10 am local time. The run concludes October 2 at Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, New Jersey after a series of late summer shows with Durand Jones & The Indications across the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast.
TOUR DATES:
Apr 24 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
May 29 – Nashville, TN @ Music City Rodeo
May 30 – Danville, VA @ The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia
May 31 – Scaly Mountain, NC @ Bear Shadow Festival
June 17 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
June 18 – La Fayette, NY @ Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
Jun 19 – Greenfield, MA @ Green River Festival
June 20 – Charles Town, WV @ The Event Center at Hollywood Casino
June 22 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
June 23 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
June 25 – Davenport, IA @ Rhythm City Casino Resort
Jun 26 – Eau Claire, WI @ Blue Ox Music Festival
June 27 – Paw Paw, MI @ Warner Vineyard
June 28 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha
June 30 – Billings, MT @ Downtown Billings
July 04 – Calgary, AB @ Spruce Meadows
July 08 – Casper, WY @ Ford Wyoming Center
July 10 – Saint Paul, MN @ Minnesota Country Club Festival
July 11 – Alta, WY @ Grand Targhee Festival
July 12 – Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
July 14 – Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield
July 15 – Spokane, WA @ BECU Live at Northern Quest Resort & Casino
July 16 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
July 18 – Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre
July 27 – Goshen, IN @ Elkhart County 4-H Fair
Aug 27 – Canyon, TX @ The Lumberyard Canyon
Aug 28 – Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob’s Texas
Aug 29 – Fort Worth, TX @ Billy Bob’s Texas
Aug 30 – Helotes, TX @ Floore’s Country Store
Sept 01 – Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre
Sept 02 – Dothan, AL @ The Plant
Sept 04 – Savannah, GA @ Johnny Mercer Theatre
Sept 05 – Charlottesville, VA @ Ting Pavilion
Sept 09 – Orlando, FL @ Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Sept 10 – Hollywood, FL @ Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sept 12 – Robinsonville, MS @ Horseshoe Casino’s Bluesville – Bluesville
Sept 14 – Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live!
Sept 15 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
Sept 16 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Saint Louis Music Park
Sept 17 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre
Sept 19 – Youngstown, OH @ Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre
Sept 21 – Wilmington, NC @ Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
Sept 22 – North Charleston, SC @ Firefly Distillery
Sept 24 – Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept 25 – Atlanta, GA @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
Sept 26 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Festival
Sept 29 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Mainstage Theater
Oct 01 – New York, NY @ SummerStage in Central Park
Oct 02 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summer Stage
Kate Hudson Shares Pearl Jam Stories During Guest DJ Session On SiriusXM’s Pearl Jam Radio
Kate Hudson recently hosted a guest DJ session on SiriusXM’s Pearl Jam Radio, sharing stories about the band and discussing their connection to her new film “Song Sung Blue”. A longtime fan of Pearl Jam, Hudson reflected on discovering the band in the 1990s and spoke about how Eddie Vedder plays a meaningful role in the story behind the movie.
Hudson explained that the film tells the true story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a married couple who performed as the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning and Thunder. Their lives changed after Vedder invited them to perform on stage with Pearl Jam during a 1995 show at Summerfest in Milwaukee. Vedder has also supported the film and allowed the use of the Pearl Jam song “Alive” in the movie.
During the SiriusXM appearance, Hudson shared memories of the band’s impact on her growing up and expressed excitement about introducing fans to the story behind the film. She also teased playing some of her favorite Pearl Jam songs as part of the session.
Hudson’s guest DJ set is now available on SiriusXM’s Pearl Jam Radio channel and can also be heard on demand through the SiriusXM app.

