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Grammy-Winning Producer Brent Maher Brings ‘Night of the Orphan Train’ To WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour

Eric Alper
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Grammy-Winning Producer Brent Maher Brings ‘Night of the Orphan Train’ To WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour

Brent Maher brings selections from his audiobook ‘Night of the Orphan Train: A Musical Novel’ to the nationally syndicated WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour on Monday, March 2nd at 7 pm ET, streaming live and airing on RFD TV. Joining him for the evening are Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Trey Hensley, vocalist Brooke Spencer, Meagan Taylor and the Kiddos, and multi-instrumentalist Fats Kaplin. The performance draws from a 20-song soundtrack built around a story inspired by the true Orphan Train Movement, which relocated more than 250,000 children across America between 1854 and 1929.

Alongside the broadcast announcement, the music video for “I Will Hold You In My Heart” is out now, a duet featuring Brooke Spencer and Sarah Holbrook that sits at the emotional center of the project. The song is one of the standout tracks from the full soundtrack, built around devotion, separation, and the kind of love that holds across distance and uncertainty. ‘Night of the Orphan Train,’ published by One Audio Books, is available on Amazon, Audible, and Barnes & Noble.

Maher carries seven Grammy-winning records, more than 20 number-one singles, and a production history that runs through The Judds, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, and Jelly Roll, among others. He was inducted into the Audio Engineering Society Hall of Fame in 2017 and has been honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Music Masters series. His song “Why Not Me” is currently featured in the 2025 season of The Bear on FX/Hulu, and “Lesson in Leavin’,” recut by Sierra Ferrell featuring Nikki Lane, dropped in July 2025.

Fender Launches Nationwide Search For First-Ever Guitar Correspondent

Eric Alper
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Fender Launches Nationwide Search For First-Ever Guitar Correspondent

Fender has announced a first-of-its-kind initiative as part of its 80th anniversary celebration: a nationwide search for its inaugural Guitar Correspondent. Beginning this spring, one selected guitarist and storyteller will hit the road to cover five major U.S. music festivals and concerts between April and September 2026, offering a perspective that goes beyond traditional festival reporting.

Rather than focusing on setlists or red carpet moments, the Guitar Correspondent will spotlight the gear, rigs, tones, tech teams, and behind-the-scenes human moments that define live performance. From soundcheck through encore, the role centers on documenting the instruments and craftsmanship that shape the sound of modern music.

The initiative arrives alongside the 75th anniversaries of the Telecaster® and Precision Bass®, two instruments that helped define popular music across generations. With this program, Fender aims to highlight how guitars continue to influence culture today through the artists and crews who bring live shows to life.

Applications open February 24 through March 10 here. The winner will be announced March 24. The selected correspondent will receive all-access festival credentials, travel and accommodations covered by Fender, a $10,000 cash prize, and a collaborative kickoff session with the Fender team ahead of the first event.

Nashville Emerging Artist Belles Teams Up With Dolly Parton on “Son of Jolene,” Arriving April 17

Eric Alper
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Nashville Emerging Artist Belles Teams Up With Dolly Parton on “Son of Jolene,” Arriving April 17

Belles has announced “Son of Jolene,” a collaboration with Dolly Parton arriving April 17th and pre-save it here. The track imagines a chance encounter years later with Jolene’s son, a character-driven continuation of Parton’s classic built around vivid storytelling and a modern country edge. PEOPLE, which debuted an exclusive feature on the song, called it the equivalent of a musical and generational bridge between the two artists. “Having her lend her voice to this record is beyond anything I could have imagined,” Belles says. “It feels like a full-circle moment and a true honor.”

The single arrives ahead of Belles’ debut full-length album, due later in 2026 via East Music Row Records, and follows her self-titled EP, a six-track collection covering love, heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery. Her breakout single “Crazy As Me” drove a 400% increase in streams, crossed 30 million social media views, cleared 2 million Spotify streams, and hit No. 3 on the iTunes Country Chart. She has performed alongside Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, and Jake Worthington, and carries over 1.5 million social media followers into this next chapter.

Belles kicks off promotion for “Son of Jolene” at Country Radio Seminar in Nashville (March 18th through 20th), hosting meet-and-greets with radio and industry executives at the Omni Hotel Nashville alongside East Music Row Records, performing six acoustic sets across the three days, and running a merchandise giveaway in the suite.

Crashing Wayward Release Video For New Single “Holding For Dear Life”

Eric Alper
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Crashing Wayward Release Video For New Single “Holding For Dear Life”

Crashing Wayward have released the video for “Holding For Dear Life,” directed by Jack Banks, with the single hitting all platforms this Friday, February 27th via Golden Robot Records. The Las Vegas-based five-piece (Peter Summit on vocals, David Harris and Tucker Jones on guitar, Carl Raether on bass, and Jon Gunder on drums) built their reputation on their debut album ‘LISTEN!’, which earned a 7/10 from Classic Rock magazine and radio traction across the U.S. and Canada. “Holding For Dear Life” is the first look at their forthcoming six-song EP ‘The Fight Within,’ due in Q3 2026.

The single was produced by Shawn McGhee (Disturbed, Drowning Pool, Strung Out, Dark Chapel) and arrives with theatrical vocals, hypnotic guitar lines, and a lyrical core built around devotion, obsession, and survival. Lines like “Holding on to a modern love / Holding on to new religion / I’m saying my prayers tonight” frame love as faith and connection as something that can save or destroy in equal measure. It is the sound of a band working at full stretch, and it lands.

A national tour runs from late April through early May, opening April 23rd in Palmdale, California and moving through Kansas City, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Denver before closing May 9th in Draper, Utah, with a hometown Las Vegas stop at Backstage Bar & Billiards on May 6th.

TOUR DATES:

Thu. Apr. 23 – Palmdale, CA @ Transplants Brewing Co

Sat. Apr. 25 – Santa Ana, CA @ Stages

Wed. Apr. 29 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads

Thu. Apr. 30 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Bigs Bar

Sat. May 2 – Rapid City, SD @ The Park

Wed. May 6 – Las Vegas, NV @ Backstage Bar & Billiards

Thu. May 7 – Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater

Fri. May 8 – Denver, CO @ The Roxy Theatre

Sat. May 9 – Draper, UT @ Leatherhead’s Sports Bar

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Nazgul Steals the Show at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Eric Alper
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Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Nazgul Steals the Show at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Nazgul, a Czechoslovakian wolfdog, is the unlikely star of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics after escaping his kennel and sprinting down the cross-country skiing course alongside the competitors. The moment went viral instantly, and it is not hard to see why: a dog running a Olympic race with total commitment is the kind of thing that cuts through everything else on the internet in about thirty seconds flat.


Laszlo Buring Reimagines Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” In the Style of Mark Knopfler

Eric Alper
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Laszlo Buring Reimagines Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” In the Style of Mark Knopfler

Dutch guitarist Laszlo Buring has turned “Eye of the Tiger,” Survivor’s iconic Rocky III theme, into something that sounds like it could have lived comfortably on a Dire Straits record. The arrangement trades the original’s punchy arena energy for the warm, fingerpicked texture of Mark Knopfler’s playing, drawing on the feel of “Once Upon a Time in the West,” “Communiqué,” and traces of “Sultans of Swing.” It stays unhurried and intimate through most of the track before opening up in a final solo that earns its moment. “It’s not getting any easier, finding songs to give the Dire Straits style treatment,” Buring says, “but I feel like I stumbled upon a nice one. A lot more laid back – except for the final solo – than the original.”

Ziggy Marley Releases “Racism Is A Killa” From New Album ‘Brightside,’ Due April 18

Eric Alper
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Ziggy Marley Releases “Racism Is A Killa” From New Album ‘Brightside,’ Due April 18

Ziggy Marley has released “Racism Is A Killa,” the first proper single from his new studio album ‘Brightside,’ due April 18th on CD and vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day, with a digital release following on May 1st. The eight-track album was co-produced by Ziggy and his brother Stephen Marley at Ziggy’s newly built Rebel Lion Studio in Los Angeles, recorded using 432Hz, a frequency associated with meditation and mindful practice. The record also includes “Many Mourn for Bob,” a recent tribute to his late father.

‘Brightside’ was made alongside a constellation of longtime collaborators, including vocalist Nikka Costa, Trombone Shorty, Sheila E., and Jake Shimabukuro. The album’s eight songs move through themes of wellness, mental health, and global urgency. “You see what’s happening in the world, what’s happening to people, and it really brings me down sometimes,” Marley says. “I realized the album was going to have an introspective side to it. The music became my therapy.”

The full tracklist: “JAH We Give Glory,” “Racism Is A Killa,” “Hey People Now,” “Why Let The World,” “Many Mourn For Bob,” “Sweet Divine,” “Make It Paradise,” and “Brightside.” The summer tour opens April 11th in Honolulu, with all proceeds from that show benefiting The Waikiki Community Center, and builds to headline dates at the Hollywood Bowl on June 21st (with Burning Spear and Zuri Marley) and Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 24th for Kaya Fest. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue join at Tanglewood on July 14th, and the run closes September 17th at Ravinia Festival in a co-headline with Thievery Corporation.

TOUR DATES:

Sat. Apr. 11 – Honolulu, HI @ Republik (all proceeds to The Waikiki Community Center)

Sat. Apr. 18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Licorice Pizza (Record Store Day in-store)

Fri. May 1 – New Orleans, LA @ Jazz Fest

Fri. Jun. 19 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Tucson Theatre

Sat. Jun. 20 – San Diego, CA @ Open Air Theatre (with Burning Spear)

Sun. Jun. 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl (with Burning Spear and Zuri Marley DJ Set)

Tue. Jun. 23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Venue TBA

Wed. Jun. 24 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Kaya Fest)

Thu. Jun. 25 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up

Sat. Jun. 27 – Jackson Hole, WY @ Snow King Summit Stage

Sun. Jun. 28 – Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater (with J Boog)

Wed. Jul. 1 – Seattle, WA @ Venue TBA (with J Boog)

Sun. Jul. 5 – Enoch, BC @ Venue at The River Cree

Wed. Jul. 8 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore (with J Boog)

Thu. Jul. 9 – Waukee, IA @ Vibrant Music Hall

Fri. Jul. 10 – Grand Rapids, MN @ Venue TBA

Sat. Jul. 11 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark (with J Boog)

Mon. Jul. 14 – Lenox, MA @ Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood (with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave)

Tue. Jul. 15 – Sidney, ME @ Bowl In The Pines (with J Boog)

Mon. Jul. 20 – Martha’s Vineyard @ The Tabernacle

Tue. Jul. 21 – Nantucket, MA @ Chicken Box

Wed. Jul. 22 – Nantucket, MA @ Chicken Box

Thu. Sep. 17 – Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Festival (co-headline with Thievery Corporation)

Milwaukee’s New 4,500-Capacity Landmark Credit Union Live Opens In The Heart Of Deer District

Eric Alper
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Milwaukee’s New 4,500-Capacity Landmark Credit Union Live Opens In The Heart Of Deer District

Landmark Credit Union Live officially opens this week in the heart of Deer District, adding a new 4,500-capacity indoor venue to Milwaukee’s live entertainment scene.

Celebrating Community

The opening celebration begins this evening with a community event featuring performances from Vinyl Department, DJ Lukewarm, The Steph Lippert Project and Chicken Wire Empire. The event will benefit Grace Weber’s Music Lab, a Radio Milwaukee program supporting music and arts education. Landmark Credit Union Live will continue to partner with Radio Milwaukee on programming focused on education, access and awareness of career pathways within live entertainment. Details on these initiatives will be shared at a later date.

Built for Live Music

A collaboration between Live Nation and FPC Live, Landmark Credit Union Live is slated to host more than 70 events annually, spotlighting emerging talent and national touring artists alike. Beyond concerts, the venue will serve as a community hub for private events and local gatherings.

Landmark Credit Union Live is custom built for live music, featuring state-of-the-art sound and elevated experiences for fans and artists alike. Artists and touring crews will have access to backstage amenities including well-appointed lounge spaces, a gym and a private patio.

Food and beverage options complement the concert experience, with concessions ranging from Koko’s Bavarian specialties and local partnerships with Sheboygan Pasty Co., Third Space Brewing and 3 Sheeps Brewing.

Milwaukee-Inspired Design

The venue pays tribute to Milwaukee’s heritage with special design elements by Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s in-house global design group, including:

  • Drum Wall and “Message in a Bottle” Bar: Inspired by the lore of Drum’s Hollow and Milwaukee’s hidden waterways, these photo-worthy features create immersive moments inside the venue.
  • TYME Machine Photo Booth: Created in partnership with naming partner Landmark Credit Union, the photo booth nods to the city’s nostalgic ATM network and gives fans a keepsake on concert nights.
  • Custom Art: Artwork throughout the venue by Milwaukee artist Taylor Berman weaves together native wildlife and lake-to-land landscapes celebrating the region’s natural environment. A sheet music mural backstage also recognizes Milwaukee as the longtime home of Hal Leonard, one of the world’s largest sheet music publishers.

Elevated Premium Experiences

Those seeking an elevated concert experience can enjoy premium suites, boxes and memberships, with amenities including dedicated entrances and parking. At the heart of the premium offering is the Vinyl Room, an exclusive lounge open on show nights to premium ticketholders. Inspired by 1970s Japanese listening rooms, it celebrates analog artistry with a DJ spinning vinyl and chef-curated menus.

Economic Investment in Downtown

The venue will bring significant economic impact to downtown Milwaukee and has already created more than 200 jobs across operations, hospitality, security and other roles, with starting wages of $20 an hour.

2026 Lineup

Landmark Credit Union Live hosts its first official performance Feb. 27, headlined by Rainbow Kitten Surprise. The 2026 lineup includes Bossman Dlow, Miguel, Mariah the Scientist, Boys Like Girls, Puscifer, Ari Lennox, Yellowcard and the Fray with Dashboard Confessional, among others. Special events include APFC 23: Milwaukee Fight Night 10 and the Christian Yelich Home Plate Charity Concert featuring Jake Owen. The full schedule is available at landmarkculive.com.

Saturday Night Live Star Marcello Hernández Adds Third Niagara Falls Show After Two Sellouts

Eric Alper
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Saturday Night Live Star Marcello Hernández Adds Third Niagara Falls Show After Two Sellouts

Marcello Hernández is adding a third night at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario, after his June 12th and 13th shows sold out immediately. The new date is Sunday, June 14th at 7:00 pm, with tickets on sale now via ticketmaster.ca.

Hernández is a current cast member on Saturday Night Live, where his recurring characters and “Weekend Update” appearances have built him a devoted following. His debut Netflix comedy special, ‘American Boy,’ premiered in January 2026 and landed in the platform’s Top 10. In 2025, TIME named him one of its Latino Leaders, The Hollywood Reporter placed him on its Latin Power List, and Variety included him among its Power of Young Hollywood honorees. He also took home a Webby Award for Outstanding Comedy Performance for his SNL work.

The OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino holds 5,000 seats and is ranked the top venue of its size in Canada, situated inside Fallsview Casino Resort overlooking the Horseshoe Falls.

TOUR DATES:

Fri. Jun. 12 – Niagara Falls, ON @ OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino (SOLD OUT)

Sat. Jun. 13 – Niagara Falls, ON @ OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino (SOLD OUT)

Sun. Jun. 14 – Niagara Falls, ON @ OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

Queens of the Stone Age Revive the “Catacombs Tour” For a Five-Date West Coast Run

Eric Alper
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Queens of the Stone Age Revive the “Catacombs Tour” For a Five-Date West Coast Run

Queens of the Stone Age are bringing back the “Catacombs Tour” for a five-date west coast run beginning April 24th in Joshua Tree, California, wrapping May 1st in Lincoln. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 27th at 10 am PT. The run opens at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, a homecoming of sorts for frontman Josh Homme, who grew up in nearby Palm Desert.

The Catacombs Tour is a distinct production, built around the band’s ‘Alive in the Catacombs’ concert film and live EP, recorded inside the Catacombs of Paris. The live show augments Queens of the Stone Age’s signature desert rock sound with strings and additional instrumentation, pulling from both catalog deep cuts and established hits in a more layered, considered setting than a standard headlining show. The 2025 run earned universal acclaim, and this edition picks up where that left off.

The five dates move through California and up the coast, with stops at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage, the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, and the Paramount Theatre in Seattle before closing at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. After this run wraps, Queens of the Stone Age join Foo Fighters for an extended U.S. summer tour.

TOUR DATES:

Thu. Apr. 24 – Joshua Tree, CA @ Joshua Tree Retreat Center

Fri. Apr. 25 – Rancho Mirage, CA @ Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage

Sun. Apr. 27 – Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Wed. Apr. 29 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre

Fri. May 1 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Casino Resort

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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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