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Guns N’ Roses Announce Four New North American Dates

Eric Alper
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Guns N’ Roses Announce Four New North American Dates

Guns N’ Roses have revealed four new upcoming dates across Canada and the United States, including stops in Edmonton, Salt Lake City, Denver and Nampa, ID. Tickets will be available starting with the Nightrain presale beginning on September 18th. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on September 20th at 10am local time on gunsnroses.com.

Check out the full confirmed itinerary below. Following Guns N’ Roses upcoming dates in September and October, the tour will then conclude in Mexico City with the band headlining Hell & Heaven Festival on November 5th.

This new leg of shows comes following the band’s largest run to date consisting of performances in Europe across stadiums and arenas this year, including acclaimed festival performances at Glastonbury and London’s Hyde Park.

In addition to their US tour, the band recently debuted new music. Listen to Guns N’ Roses new single “Perhaps” HERE and watch the accompanying official music video HERE.

Embedded in popular culture, Guns N’ Roses’ landmark diamond-selling 1987 opus, Appetite For Destruction, stands out as “the best-selling U.S. debut album ever” and “the 11th best-selling U.S. album of all time.” Following its release, Guns N’ Roses shook the world with the one-two punch of the over 7x-platinum Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, clinching the top two spots on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart upon arrival. With total sales of 100 million units thus far, their catalog also consists of G N’ R Lies (5x-platinum), The Spaghetti Incident? (platinum), Greatest Hits (5x-platinum), and Chinese Democracy (over 6 million worldwide). Not to mention, they are one of the most-streamed rock bands in the world with an average of 27 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The band’s Not In This Lifetime… Tour ranked as the “fourth-highest grossing concert tour of all time,” selling 5 million-plus tickets and included a headline performance at Coachella. Guns N’ Roses never stop with more touring on the horizon and other surprises—the “Nightrain” keeps rolling at full speed.

UPCOMING 2023 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
Fri Sep 15 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
Sun Sep 17 – Atlanta, GA – Music Midtown Festival
Wed Sep 20 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Sat Sep 23 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium
Tue Sep 26 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome
Thu Sep 28 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park
Sun Oct 1 – San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium
Fri Oct 6 – Indio, CA – Power Trip Festival
Sun Oct 8 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
Wed Oct 11 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field
Sat Oct 14 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Mon Oct 16 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
Thu Oct 19 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place*
Sun Oct 22 – Nampa, ID – Ford Arena*
Tue Oct 24 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center*
Fri Oct 27 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena*
Sun Nov 05 – Mexico City, MX – Hell & Heaven Festival
* new tour date

Olivia Rodrigo Announces 18 New Dates On Guts World Tour

Eric Alper
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Olivia Rodrigo Announces 18 New Dates On Guts World Tour

Due to incredible fan demand, multi-platinum, three-time Grammy award-winning artist Olivia Rodrigo announced 18 new dates on her highly anticipated 2024 GUTS world tour. Produced by Live Nation, the colossal global tour will now include third and fourth shows in New York, London and Los Angeles, as well as second shows in Chicago, Montreal, Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris, San Francisco and more, bringing the tour to 75 dates. The tour kicks off on Friday, February 23 in Palm Springs, CA at Acrisure Arena, with stops across North America and Europe in Miami, Toronto, New York, London, Manchester, Glasgow and more before wrapping up with four massive shows in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum in August 2024. The Breeders, PinkPantheress, Chappell Roan, and Remi Wolf will join on select dates across the tour.

Following the incredible success of her 2022 debut tour The SOUR Tour, the GUTS world tour will be Olivia’s first arena tour, taking her to iconic venues around the world including Madison Square Garden, Kia Forum, Sportpaleis, The O2 and more.

One of the most highly awaited albums of the year, GUTS arrived September 8 via Geffen Records as the follow-up to Rodrigo’s 4x Platinum 2021 full-length debut SOUR. The album features her No. 1 hit “vampire” and the new focus track “get him back!” The New York Times hailed “get him back” as a “playful, infectious and dryly hilarious singalong” while The Atlantic called it “fantastic.” On September 12, Rodrigo released the music video for the track, shot on iPhone 15 Pro in collaboration with Apple. View HERE. Like “vampire,” GUTS’ second single “bad idea, right?” was named a Best New Track by Pitchfork, who hailed the latter as “one of the best pop performances of the year.”  Released last month alongside its B-movie-inspired video, “bad idea right?” also drew raves from the likes of Rolling Stone (who called it a “sugary headbanger”) and the New York Times (who praised the track as a “bright, kaleidoscopic head-rush of a pop song…” in its weekly column “The Playlist”).

NORTH AMERICA TICKETS

  • Fans of Olivia Rodrigo are being asked to register ahead of tickets going on sale for the GUTS world tour to help block bots, reduce resale and get more tickets directly into the hands of fans who want to attend the show. Fans can register now until Sunday, September 17 at 10 PM ET HERE for both the onsale as well as American Express® Early Access (details below). Once registration closes, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code that grants them access to the sales on Wednesday, September 20 and Thursday, September 21. Fans who previously registered for the sales now have the option to update their show preference to one of the newly announced dates.
  • AMERICAN EXPRESS EARLY ACCESS: American Express is the official card of the GUTS world tour. After registering, American Express Card Members may have the opportunity to enter American Express Early Access for tour dates in North America. American Express®Card Members can register now until Sunday, September 17 at 10 PM ET HERE for a chance to unlock access to tickets and use their American Express® Card to complete the ticket purchase if selected. American Express® Early Access begins Wednesday, September 20 at 3 PM local time.
  • Standard tickets will range from $49.50 – $199.50 plus taxes and applicable fees in the U.S. Additional ticket options including a limited number of Charity Platinum and VIP packages will be available for purchase as well, with a portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales going to Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good.

EUROPE + UK/IRELAND TICKETS

  • Fans of Olivia Rodrigo are being asked to register ahead of tickets going on sale for the GUTS world tour to help block bots, reduce resale and get more tickets directly into the hands of fans who want to attend the show. Fans can register now until Sunday, September 17 at 10 PM BST HERE for onsale. Once registration closes, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code that grants them access to the onsale starting Thursday, September 21. Fans who previously registered for the sales now have the option to update their show preference to one of the newly announced dates.
  • AMERICAN EXPRESS EARLY ACCESS (UK + IRELAND): American Express is the official card of the GUTS world tour. After registering, American Express Card Members may have the opportunity to enter American Express® Early Access for tour dates in the UK and Ireland. American Express Card Members can register now until Sunday, September 17 at 10 PM PT HERE for a chance to unlock access to tickets and use their American Express Card to complete the ticket purchase if selected. American Express Early Access begins Wednesday, September 20 at 3 PM local time.

VIP: The GUTS world tour will also offer VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

SILVER STAR TICKETS: Olivia Rodrigo will be introducing Silver Star Tickets on her upcoming tour, making a limited number of $20 USD plus taxes and fees (or the local currency equivalent) tickets available at a later date. Olivia is launching this program to make it as easy and affordable as possible for her fans to make it out to her shows. Silver Star Tickets must be purchased in pairs with a limit of 2 per purchase. These seats will be located next to each other and the seat locations will be revealed the day of show when picked up at the venue box office.

Ticket locations within the venue will include limited view seats, lower and upper level seating, as well as the floor.

OLIVIA RODRIGO’S FUND 4 GOOD: In conjunction with the GUTS world tour, Olivia Rodrigo will be launching Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good, a global initiative committed to building an equitable and just future for all women and girls through direct support of community based non-profits that champion girls’ education, support reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will go to Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good. This includes all standard tickets, Silver Star Tickets, VIP packages and Charity Platinum tickets.

GUTS WORLD TOUR 2024 DATES:
Fri Feb 23 – Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena ~
Sat Feb 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center ~
Tue Feb 27 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center ~
Wed Feb 28 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ~
Fri Mar 01 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center ~
Sat Mar 02 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center ~
Tue Mar 05 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center ~
Wed Mar 06 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center ~
Fri Mar 08 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center ~
Sat Mar 09 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena ~
Tue Mar 12 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center ~
Wed Mar 13 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center ~
Fri Mar 15 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center ~
Sat Mar 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum ~
Tue Mar 19 – Chicago, IL – United Center ~
Wed Mar 20 – Chicago, IL – United Center ~ – NEW SHOW
Fri Mar 22 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena ~
Sat Mar 23 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena ~
Tue Mar 26 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre ~
Wed Mar 27 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre ~ – NEW SHOW
Fri Mar 29 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena ~
Sat Mar 30 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena ~ – NEW SHOW
Mon Apr 01 – Boston, MA – TD Garden ~
Tue Apr 02 – Boston, MA – TD Garden ~ – NEW SHOW
Fri Apr 05 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Apr 06 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Mon Apr 08 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden + – NEW SHOW
Tue Apr 09 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden + – NEW SHOW
Tue Apr 30 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena =
Wed May 01 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena = – NEW SHOW
Fri May 03 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live =
Sat May 04 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live = – NEW SHOW
Tue May 07 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro =
Wed May 08 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro = – NEW SHOW
Fri May 10 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena =
Sat May 11 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena = – NEW SHOW
Tue May 14 – London, UK – The O2 =
Wed May 15 – London, UK – The O2 =
Fri May 17 – London, UK – The O2 = – NEW SHOW
Sat May 18 – London, UK – The O2 = – NEW SHOW
Wed May 22 – Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis =
Fri May 24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome =
Sat May 25  – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome = – NEW SHOW
Tue May 28 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum =
Thu May 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena =
Sat Jun 01 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena =
Tue Jun 04 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena =
Wed Jun 05 – Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle =
Fri Jun 07 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle =
Sun Jun 09 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena =
Tue Jun 11 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion =
Wed Jun 12 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena =
Fri Jun 14 – Paris, France – Accor Arena =
Sat Jun 15 – Paris, France – Accor Arena = – NEW SHOW
Tue Jun 18 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi =
Thu Jun 20 – Madrid, Spain – WizInk Center =
Sat Jun 22 – Lisbon, Portugal – Altice Arena =
Fri Jul 19 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center ^
Sat Jul 20 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena ^
Tue Jul 23 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena ^
Wed Jul 24 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena ^
Fri Jul 26 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center ^
Sat Jul 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center ^
Tue Jul 30 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena ^
Wed Jul 31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center ^
Fri Aug 02 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center ^
Sat Aug 03 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center ^ – NEW SHOW
Tue Aug 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^
Wed Aug 07 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^ – NEW SHOW
Fri Aug 09 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena ^
Sat Aug 10 – Portland, OR – Moda Center ^
Tue Aug 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum +
Wed Aug 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum +
Fri Aug 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum + – NEW SHOW
Sat Aug 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum + – NEW SHOW

Support Key
+ The Breeders
^ PinkPantheress
~ Chappell Roan
= Remi Wolf

Stability AI Partners with Iconic Artist Peter Gabriel to Launch Series of AI Animation Challenges titled #DiffuseTogether

Eric Alper
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0
Stability AI Partners with Iconic Artist Peter Gabriel to Launch Series of AI Animation Challenges titled #DiffuseTogether

Stability AI, the world’s leading open-source artificial intelligence company, together with music legend Peter Gabriel, announces the debut of its Stability AI DiffuseTogether Challenge. This groundbreaking initiative combines the power of generative AI imaging with the talents of a Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer, and is the first in a series of AI animation challenges that will feature other popular musicians from different genres.

“These powerful, transformative AI tools are for the first time within reach of all of us. We have the chance to weave new realities together from the threads of our own imagination and creativity,” said Peter Gabriel. “I’ve built my world out of sound and I’m now asking the visual artist community to create its own uncharted audio-visual dreamscapes with a carpet of my music. With your creativity and experiences, along with the transmutational power of Stable Diffusion, we can generate all manner of extraordinary and curious new adventures. Let’s use the light of the full moon and get this vessel underway.”

Peter Gabriel started his solo work in 1975 after leaving his old school group Genesis. He has released eleven studio albums, including film soundtracks for Alan Parker’s ‘Birdy’, Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ and Philip Noyce’s ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ as well as numerous live albums. His wider musical career has included multiple Grammy Awards, the world-renowned Real World Studios, the formation of the Real World Records label, and in 1980 the creation of WOMAD, the festival that has launched the careers of many artists from around the world and last year celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Peter Gabriel co-founded the human rights organization WITNESS (Witness.org) in 1992, the organization that pioneers the use of cameras and technology in human rights campaigning, and in 2007, alongside Sir Richard Branson, he founded The Elders (theelders.org) which was launched by Nelson Mandela.  In 2006, Peter Gabriel was awarded the prestigious Man of Peace title by The Nobel Peace Laureates and in 2008 was also included in the Time 100 list. He has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. He remains engaged in a wide variety of tech-based businesses throughout a variety of creative industries and is currently releasing new music each full moon and will be on tour during 2023.

Lil Wayne Releases ‘Tha Carter III’ Deluxe Edition Vinyl Package In Celebration Of 15th Anniversary

Eric Alper
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Lil Wayne Releases ‘Tha Carter III’ Deluxe Edition Vinyl Package In Celebration Of 15th Anniversary

5x GRAMMY Award-winning music mogul Lil Wayne announces the release of Tha Carter III Deluxe Edition vinyl package on 2LP and 3LP, celebrating the 15th anniversary of his 8x platinum, 3x GRAMMY Award-winning opus.

The special edition 3LP package comes with a bonus LP of music, including the entirety of the infamous The Leak EP on vinyl for the first time. The package also includes artwork from the New Orleans artist Jay McKay (Art By Jay).

The announcement comes in the midst of Lil Wayne’s critically acclaimed, sold-out Welcome to Tha Carter Tour. Wayne kicked off 2023 by receiving the prestigious Global Impact Award at The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective Pre-GRAMMY event. He released the hard-hitting track “Kant Nobody” featuring DMX, produced by Swizz Beatz, as well as delivered explosive verses on Swizz’s Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2 with the track “This Sh*t Right Here.”

Lil Wayne rewrote the entire game in his image. The five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum rap icon, Young Money Entertainment founder, acclaimed author, pro skater, philanthropist, and history-making superstar continues to leave an indelible tattoo on the culture. He has cemented his legacy forever as “one of the best-selling artists of all time,” tallying sales in excess of 100 million records worldwide with 25 million albums and 90 million digital tracks sold in the United States alone. In 2022, Wayne earned his first Diamond certification from the RIAA with his generational smash hit “Lollipop” feat. Static Major. Not to mention, he has garnered 26 BET Awards, 4 Billboard Music Awards, 7 MTV Awards, 4 Soul Train Awards and 8 BMI Awards. Among many milestones, he emerged as “the first artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100″ and has logged a staggering 183 entries – the 3rd most of all time.

With a discography highlighted by five career spanning #1 debuts beginning with 2008’s 8x platinum, 3x GRAMMY® Award-winning opus Tha Carter III and its 6x platinum, 2011 successor Tha Carter IV, he released the latest version of the series – Tha Carter V – in 2018. Not only did it clinch #1 on the Billboard 200, but it also achieved “the second-largest streaming week for an album in history.” Every song on the tracklisting charted on the Billboard Hot 100 as he became “the first artist to debut two songs in the top 5.” It all bulldozed the way for his thirteenth full-length, Funeral, a year later. Simultaneously, Wayne owns and operates Young Money Entertainment as C.E.O. The company ignited the careers of two of the most successful artists ever—Drake. Nicki Minaj and 14 RIAA- certified platinum recording artist, Tyga. Additionally, Wayne is the co-founder of Young Money APAA Sports; the full-service agency currently represents over 40 athletes and has negotiated over $1 Billion in contracts to date. The committed philanthropist founded The One Family Foundation –  a charitable group focused on helping underserved youth.

Sir Rod Stewart Unveils Wolfie’s Whisky

Eric Alper
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Sir Rod Stewart Unveils Wolfie’s Whisky

Music industry icon Sir Rod Stewart has announced his next release: Wolfie’s Whisky, a blended Scotch whisky that embodies his reputation as ‘the Cockney Scotsman’ and pays tribute to his Scottish heritage and cheeky chappie image.

Designed to reflect Rod’s rock ‘n’ roll heritage with subtle nods to Americana, Wolfie’s was inspired by the legendary musician’s early hell raising days with the Faces.

“Wolfie’s is a rascal of a thing and with just a sip the whisky takes you back to the good old days. Fine-tuned and perfectly balanced, Wolfie’s is a delight both over ice and mixed into a favourite cocktail,” says Rod.

“It’s a fine tipple, whether you’re partying with friends, celebrating a Celtic win or reminiscing with family. For me, Wolfie’s depicts the carefree behaviour of my more mischievous days and the excitement of what life still has to offer – let the good times roll!”

Wolfie’s Blended Scotch Whisky (40% ABV) is wonderfully balanced with flavours of warming cinnamon, fresh vanilla and baked apple. The whisky has a delicate taste of sweet peat and pears in syrup before finishing with candied citrus peels and a gentle oak spice.

With its unique blend of rock ‘n’ roll roots, Americana and Scottish heritage, Wolfie’s is bringing something new to the Scotch whisky market. Distilled on the banks of Loch Lomond by an expert team with decades of whisky-making know-how and an all-Scottish team behind the brand, Wolfie’s truly has Scotland at its heart.

Referencing the opening track from Rod’s 1991 album Vagabond Heart, the lyrics ‘Rhythm of My Heart’ are emblazoned on the base of the bottle. Rod’s recording of the song was a nod to his own Scottish heritage having adapted the melody from the traditional folk song, Loch Lomond.

Wolfie’s will be available to buy online for £35 from Monday 19 June and in the meantime fans are encouraged to sign up at www.wolfiesiscoming.com to gain access to an exclusive presale from Friday 16 June. They’ll also be in with the chance of finding one of 1,000 bottles of Wolfie’s that have been signed by Rod.

With the initial limited run of bottles marked as first releases, Wolfie’s will initially be available to buy online across the UK and in Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. It will also launch in America in July as Rod embarks on his North American tour.

Farm Aid 2023 to Air on Circle Network, SiriusXM and FarmAid.org

Eric Alper
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Farm Aid 2023 to Air on Circle Network, SiriusXM and FarmAid.org

Farm Aid announced today that its sold-out music, food and farm festival will be broadcast on Circle Network, SiriusXM and FarmAid.org. The program will include music from the day and videos that tell the stories of Indiana farmers. Farm Aid 2023 is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana.

This marks the third consecutive year that award-winning country lifestyle network Circle Network will bring the annual Farm Aid festival to a television audience, and the 14th year that SiriusXM has carried the show on satellite radio.

Farm Aid 2023 will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, as well as Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Allison Russell, The String Cheese Incident, and Particle Kid.

Circle Network will broadcast the festival on television, beginning at 7 p.m. ET, with live and prerecorded segments from Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. Circle also will stream Farm Aid 2023 on its app, Circle Now, available free in app stores, throughout the day, beginning with the press event at 11:30 a.m. Fans can find Circle Network on DISH Network, over the air with an antenna and on many cable TV channel lineups across the country. Visit www.FindCircleNetwork.com to learn more about how to watch Circle Network. The show also will be available on Circle Country via streaming platforms, including Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Peacock, VIZIO SmartCast, Xumo, Tubi, Redbox and more.

Beginning at 12 p.m. ET, SiriusXM subscribers will be able to listen to the full Farm Aid 2023 festival on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse (channel 61), Dave Matthews Band Radio (channel 30) and Grateful Dead Channel (channel 23) via SiriusXM radio and on the SXM App. The live coverage also will include backstage interviews with artists and family farmers, hosted by SiriusXM’s Dallas Wayne and Ari Fink. All coverage will feature a behind-the-scenes look at Farm Aid 2023 and the organization’s year-round work to strengthen family farm agriculture.

Farm Aid will livestream the full festival from the stage beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET with the Farm Aid press event at FarmAid.org and on Farm Aid’s YouTube channel. The press event, featuring Farm Aid artists and farmers from across the region, offers fans at home a special opportunity to experience a dynamic conversation between farmers and artists.

Farm Aid is partnering with digital fundraising platform Fandiem to inspire fans to give back for a chance to win a “Front & Center VIP Experience.” Fans can donate to win online at Fandiem.com/farmaid for a chance at an all-expenses-paid trip to Farm Aid 2023, including two VIP Experience tickets with access to the VIP Experience club and more.

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. For more than 35 years, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $70 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Vault Music Launches “Cassette Culture 3.0” With 50 Exclusive Live Albums From New York City’s Top Independent Musicians

Eric Alper
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0
Vault Music Launches “Cassette Culture 3.0” With 50 Exclusive Live Albums From New York City’s Top Independent Musicians

Vault Music, the digital music format for limited-edition music, is proud to announce Cassette Culture 3.0, a web3 revival of the tradition of “cassette culture” on the company’s blockchain-based music format.

Traditionally, “cassette culture” refers to an international music scene that emerged in the postpunk period of the late 1970s through the 1990s. It involved amateur musicians, often recording at home on cassette tapes, creating non-mainstream or alternative music. These recordings were then duplicated on cassette in limited quantities and distributed freely or sold at low cost within the scene, differentiating this concept from the use of cassettes for illegal copies, mix tapes, bootlegs, or other common uses.

While cassette culture was culturally significant among musicians and music fans alike, most notably via the taping sections at Grateful Dead shows, it lacked the ability to create meaningful income for artists—until now.

By bringing cassette on-chain via the company’s blockchain-based music format, Vault Music is proud to launch Cassette Culture 3.0, a hybrid of cassette culture and web3 music.

With its unalterable and fully tradable digital format, Vault Music is the first company to create on-chain archives of live performances that reflect the current music culture in New York City. This fusion of old and new reinvents the way music enthusiasts consume and share music, providing a new way for the underground music scene to thrive.

“What we’ve built at Vault Music takes the taping movement and makes it above board and on chain,” said Nigel Eccles, CEO and co-founder of Vault Music. “I’ve always loved collecting music and the tradition of taping culture, but we wanted to bring it back to life with modern technology. By doing so, we’re not only preserving these performances in a non-degrading format, but we’re also giving independent musicians a new way to earn a viable living from their music.”

To date, Vault Music has captured 50 live concert performances from New York City’s iconic and underground venues, including Bowery Electric, The Bitter End, Baby’s All Right, Mercury Lounge, and many more. Each will be released as limited-edition live albums on the company’s blockchain-based music platform and mobile app, which is available on iOS and Android.

Vault Music’s platform and digital format empower artists to control the price and scarcity of their music. Unreleased music and live performances can be released as digital albums that can be bought and resold by fans.

More importantly, by preserving these performances as live albums on chain, artists can quickly and easily share live performance experiences with a larger fanbase, a major advantage for independent artists who are unable to tour extensively. And unlike vinyl and other physical formats, artists earn royalties every time an album is sold or resold on Vault Music, creating long-tail earning potential.

Built on the Solana blockchain, Vault Music uses its proprietary Vault Protocol, an open and fully decentralized standard for purchasing, playing, and sharing limited-edition music releases, to store and encrypt audio and visual media for each drop.

Each live performance can be purchased and played in high-quality audio along with rich-media extras such as concert videos, voice memos, backstage photos, and more. Each live album drop can be purchased via credit card, PayPal, Phantom wallet, or in-app purchase via Vault Music’s mobile app.

To date, Vault Music has recorded live performances from AKTHESAVIOR, Juniper, Middle Part, Anna Shoemaker and more, including live drops from artists such as Kids That Fly, Telescreens, SUM SUN, Charlotte Rose Benjamin, and D’Lourdes. In total, Vault Music has recorded over 50 live concerts in New York City, which will drop weekly.

Vault Music is not stopping with New York City, however. In the months ahead, the company will expand its Cassette Culture 3.0 initiative to Los Angeles, Nashville, Austin, Amsterdam, and London by the end of 2023, with a focus on spotlighting the top independent and underground musicians in each scene.

“Our objective is to create the definitive archive of the best live music experiences around the world,” says Eccles. “By making each album strictly limited edition, our inventory will truly serve as the ultimate inventory of collectible time capsules from the most vibrant underground music scenes.”

To learn more about Cassette Culture 3.0 and to collect the latest drops, visit drop.vault.fan/nyc

Toronto Indie Rock Band The Alter Kakers Celebrate Breakup Liberation in ‘When You’re Gone’

Eric Alper
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0
Toronto Indie Rock Band The Alter Kakers Celebrate Breakup Liberation in ‘When You’re Gone’

All things end. Some things must end.

Steve Bronstein of Toronto indie rock band The Alter Kakers wrote the group’s latest single, “When You’re Gone”, years ago near the close of a relationship. But unlike the more common musical theme in breakup songs, the singer isn’t sad about the conclusion – he relishes it.

“Instead of having a remorseful feeling about it, it takes a self-aware approach,” Bronstein explained. “Looking forward to the freedoms ahead.”

Incorporating clever wordplay and poignant truths, Bronstein brays over an upbeat but dirty instrumental, which includes drums, guitar, and even violin.

“When You’re Gone” has been a long time in the making. Bronstein originally wrote its lyrics about 30 years ago, then stashed them away. A decade ago, the bed tracks were recorded at Metalworks with the band’s original singer, Matt Dratva. Fast-forward to modern day, and The Alter Kakers decided to revisit the song and turn it into something complete.

As part of the transformation, the band realized it would be better suited to be played in a more acoustic manner. That led to more of a strumming approach, with drummer Dan Barsi playing a snappy snare beat to anchor it. The Alter Kakers recorded it in one take with everything live off the floor with no click.

“The vocal, especially in the beginning of the song, feels intimate, almost conversational,” the band said.

The violin solo – played by friend of the band Colin Maier of Quartetto Gelato – was overdubbed later.

“When You’re Gone” is the second song The Alter Kakers have published in the last eight weeks, following up the July release of “Stopped Being In Love.” Like their previous songs, “When You’re Gone” has an accompanying video, which the band shot and edited itself.

Scenes of the band performing “When You’re Gone” were captured at Underpass Park in Toronto’s Corktown district, fully immersed in the urban fabric of the city.

“(We went to Corktown) to take advantage of the graffiti as a backdrop and give the video a gritty vibe,” the band said. “We got lucky with some of the graffiti, especially the large spray painted word, ‘DENIAL,’ which seemed to fit perfectly with the subject of the song, and Steve sang a few verses in front of it to highlight it.”

As excited as The Alter Kakers are about their recorded music, they especially pride themselves on their live performances. Bronstein, Barsi, and bassist/vocalist Cary Corvair can be found around Toronto, entrancing crowds with original music and covers of greatest hits. Forever showmen, The Alter Kakers have taken venues like The Dakota Tavern by storm.

The band’s name is a testament to their stature and nature – alter kaker is a Yiddish term for an old person, or as the band likes to call it, “an old fart.” That level of self-awareness helps when creating a song like “When You’re Gone.”

Grammy-Winning ‘Slack Key’ Guitarist Jim ‘Kimo’ West Drops Enchanting Album “Of Wood and Spirit: American Guitar Stories”

Eric Alper
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Grammy-Winning ‘Slack Key’ Guitarist Jim ‘Kimo’ West Drops Enchanting Album “Of Wood and Spirit: American Guitar Stories”

Grammy-winning Hawaiian “slack key” guitarist, producer, and composer Jim “Kimo” West unveiled his latest album, “Of Wood and Spirit: American Guitar Stores,” on August 14, 2023. This release marks the beginning of a tour that will enchant audiences across the United States and Europe. It will also include a special benefit concert, “The Hana Sound Returns,” dedicated to supporting the people of Maui, featuring Leokane Pryor and CJ Helekahi.

Jim “Kimo” West’s journey into the enchanting world of “ki ho’alu” or Hawaiian “slack key” guitar began in Hana, Maui, in 1985. Here, he was introduced to the captivating sounds of Gabby Pahinui, Sons Of Hawaii, Sonny Chillingworth, and Atta Isaacs. These influences left an indelible mark on his musical soul, leading him to explore the rich tradition of alternate tunings and the soul-stirring melodies of slack key guitar.

Kimo’s reputation as one of the world’s preeminent slack key guitarists is evident in his music, which has garnered over seventy-five million spins on leading streaming platforms. He received a Grammy Award in 2021 for his album “More Guitar Stories” and a Grammy nomination in 2019 for “Moku Maluhia-Peaceful Island.” Additionally, Kimo is a four-time Na Hoku Hanohano (the Hawaiian ‘Grammy’) nominee and a two-time recipient of the LA Treasures Award for his unwavering commitment to preserving the acoustic guitar tradition.

“Of Wood and Spirit” takes listeners on a musical journey. Kimo’s innovative compositions and intricate fingerpicking style are showcased while staying true to the essence of slack key guitar. The album seamlessly weaves in influences from genres such as West African guitar, New Age, Classical, and Americana music. It serves as a testament to Kimo’s deep reverence for the American landscape and the spiritual energy unique to each location. The universal language of music connects them all.

Kimo’s “Of Wood and Spirit” tour celebrates music, culture, and the rich history of slack key guitar. Audiences can expect an immersive experience as Kimo shares the stage with some of the world’s finest slack key players and musicians.

As a sneak peek of the album, Kimo has released the single “Ghost Town Waltz.” Featuring a new video with  “crowdsourced” photos and video clips, woven together in a compelling montage by acclaimed video artist Doug Henry.

This hauntingly beautiful track invites listeners into an evocative soundscape where lingering melodies dance through the remnants of a deserted town.

Jim “Kimo” West Concerts:
September 6, 7:30 PM
The Hana Sound Returns-a benefit for Maui
with Leokane Pryor and CJ Helekahi
SOhO , Santa Barbara CA
Tickets https://www.sohosb.com/events/hana-sound-returns-jim-kimo-west-soho-santabara

September 17, 2023 3 PM
Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Ojai CA
https://www.beatricewood.com/jim_kimo_west_2023.html

October 18 – November 20 2023
Nacht Der Gitarren (International Guitar Night Europe)
Info: https://internationalguitarnight.com/nacht-der-gitarren/

Dec 2 2023  7 PM
With Richard Smith
Lord of The Strings Holiday Show
Mission Viejo Civic Center, Mission Viejo CA
https://lordofthestringsconcerts.com/tickets

Watch Steve Miller Perform The Only Acoustic Version Of “The Joker” You’ll Ever Want To Hear

Eric Alper
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Watch Steve Miller Perform The Only Acoustic Version Of “The Joker” You’ll Ever Want To Hear

Steve Miller performs “The Joker” live in the Howard Stern Show studio.

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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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