Decked out in their finest 1970s disco-era attire, the Jewish a cappella ensemble Y-Studs has released a creative retelling of the Hanukkah story through a soulful cover of the Jackson 5 classic “One More Chance.” The group aims to bridge the gap between cultural heritage and musical legacy, using the high-energy sounds of Motown to mirror the triumphant spirit of the Maccabees. By blending iconic pop melodies with the timeless history of the Festival of Lights, the group honors the immense influence the Jackson 5 brought to the world stage while offering a fresh, rhythmic perspective on the holiday’s traditional themes of resilience and joy.
Rob Thomas, Alexa Ray Joel, Pat Monahan, and Rufus Wainwright Lead All-Star Billy Joel Tribute at Carnegie Hall
New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall is set to become a massive living tribute to the “Piano Man” as Michael Dorf Presents his 21st annual “Music Of” concert. This year’s celebration centers on the legendary catalog of Billy Joel, featuring a star-studded roster including Rob Thomas, Rufus Wainwright, and Alexa Ray Joel, all backed by Joel’s actual eight-piece touring band. Under the direction of longtime musical director David Rosenthal, the evening will traverse decades of hits from ‘Cold Spring Harbor’ to the anthems that defined the American songbook. In a historic first for the series, the event completely sold out before a single performer was even announced, a testament to both Joel’s enduring cultural gravity and the trust fans place in this annual benefit for music education.
The impact of this one-night-only event extends far beyond the walls of the Stern Auditorium, with 100% of net proceeds directed toward a diverse group of non-profits like Save the Music and Young Audiences NY. Since its inception in 2004, Dorf’s series has raised over $2 million for underserved youth, honoring icons from Joni Mitchell to David Byrne while funding the next generation of players. For those who missed out on the sold-out Carnegie Hall tickets, a limited opportunity remains through an exclusive live rehearsal show at City Winery on March 11th. This intimate preview offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the arrangements before they hit the big stage, all while supporting a mission that has defined Michael Dorf’s four-decade career in live music production.
Electronic Duo 3OH!3 Returns to Boulder Roots for Annual “303 Day” Celebration
Returning to the very stage where they once stood in line as fans, Boulder’s own 3OH!3 has announced a homecoming headliner at the Boulder Theater for their annual “303 Day” celebration. The March 2026 event serves as a centerpiece for the duo’s ongoing 15th-anniversary festivities for their landmark album, ‘Streets Of Gold’. Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte have spent the last year re-energizing their grassroots legacy, following up a massive arena run alongside Simple Plan with fresh singles “SLUSHIE” and “HIT ME HARDER.” While the special guest for the Colorado date remains under wraps, the energy is already high following a string of sold-out anniversary shows in Anaheim and Brooklyn. For a band that built its reputation on the chaotic, high-octane spirit of basement parties on “The Hill,” this theater play represents a full-circle moment, bringing their polished platinum-certified anthems back to the specific streets that first inspired them.
Stoner Rock Desertfest London 2026 Reveals Final Lineup and Day Splits
Camden is preparing for its annual transformation into a pilgrimage site for the riff-worshipping community, as Desertfest London officially completes its 2026 lineup. The fourteenth edition of the festival has just released day and stage splits, cementing a weekend that balances legendary reunions with a heavy focus on homegrown British talent. Friday kicks off with a dose of desert rock royalty as John Garcia leads Hermano at the Electric Ballroom, while Saturday shifts the spotlight to local heroes Green Lung for a headline set at the Roundhouse. The weekend culminates on Sunday with the long-awaited Desertfest debut of Clutch, an act that has topped attendee wish lists for over a decade. Beyond the headliners, the bill is bolstered by the reunion of Florida sludge pioneers Cavity and the return of stoner icons The Sword, alongside new additions like Church of the Cosmic Skull and Wytch Hazel. With stage takeovers spanning from the cavernous Roundhouse to the intimate grit of The Black Heart, this final announcement confirms that the 2026 gathering will be one for the ages.
New additions to Desertfest 2026:
CHURCH OF THE COSMIC SKULL
WYTCH HAZEL
INHUMAN NATURE
CAVITY
MOLOCH
DAUFODT
KUSHTHULU
IRON SLUG
TROLL MOTHER
Indie Rockers The Happy Fits Reveal Initial 2026 ‘Lovesick’ Tour Dates
The New Jersey indie-rock outfit The Happy Fits are transitioning into their next decade with a renewed sense of purpose and a massive itinerary for 2026. Following the departure of founding member Ross Monteith earlier this year, the band has solidified its new quartet lineup with long-time collaborators Nico Rose and Raina Mullen stepping in as full members. This evolution is mirrored in their fourth studio album, ‘Lovesick’, a 15-track exploration of emotional recalibration that balances their signature cello-driven energy with a new vulnerability. Having just wrapped a marathon headline run to close out 2025, the group is wasting no time, announcing a two-month trek that will bring their high-energy stage show to major markets across North America. From the Higher Ground in Vermont to the Aztec Theater in San Antonio, the “Lovesick Tour” represents the first full-scale live manifestation of a band that has successfully turned a major transition into a creative rebirth.
Tour Dates:
03/13 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Ballroom
03/14 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live
03/15 – Buffalo, NY @ Electric City
03/17 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
03/18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Old National Center
03/20 – Lansing, MI @ Grewal Hall
03/21 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
03/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
03/24 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
03/26 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
03/28 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater
03/31 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
04/01 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
04/02 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater
04/04 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
04/05 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
04/07 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
04/08 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
04/10 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater
04/11 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theater
04/14 – Tampa, FL @ Jannus Live
04/15 – Jacksonville, FL @ FIVE
04/17 – Gainesville, FL @ Heartwood Stage
04/18 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
04/20 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theater
04/21 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
04/23 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
04/24 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
04/25 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27
04/27 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater
04/29 – Harrisburg, PA @ XL Live
05/01 – Baltimore, MD @ The Recher
05/02 – Providence, RI @ Fete Music Hall
05/03 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
Alt-Poppers Cry Club Charges Into 2026 With ‘Retaliate’ and New Album Announcement
Melbourne’s queer pop-punk duo Cry Club has found a way to turn the stress of the modern world into a “torch-and-pitchfork party soundtrack.” Following their return in late 2025, the pair has announced their third full-length album, ‘High Voltage Anxiety’, set to drop this March. The new single, “Retaliate,” serves as a blistering electro-punk rally cry against wealth disparity and the systemic apathy of the modern age. This record represents a major milestone for Heather Riley and Jonathon Tooke, as it marks their first time taking complete creative control by self-producing, self-engineering, and self-recording the entire project. After 18 months spent touring Europe and supporting heavy hitters like The Darkness, the duo has emerged with a sound that is as fiercely political as it is cathartically danceable.
Post-Punk Anishinaabe Artist Ribbon Skirt Delivers Captivating Live Session on KEXP
There is a visceral, raw energy that happens when memory and culture collide with the jagged edges of post-punk, and Montreal’s Ribbon Skirt brought exactly that to the KEXP studios. Led by Anishinaabe musician Tashiina Buswa, the four-piece ensemble delivered a haunting four-song set that showcased the “Indigenous Futurism” of their critically acclaimed 2025 debut album, ‘Bite Down’. The performance, recorded this past October, weaves through driving rhythms and angular guitar work while Buswa’s vocals explore themes of grief, resilience, and her relationship with her heritage. From the frantic, urgent pace of “Off Rez” to the seismic closing energy of “Earth Eater,” the session captures why this group was a shortlist finalist for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize. It’s a powerful testament to a band that has successfully navigated a bold transformation, emerging as one of the most essential and fearless new voices in the Canadian indie scene.
Reggae Reggae Legends UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell Announces Initial 2026 ‘Big Love’ Tour Dates
There is a timelessness to Ali Campbell’s voice that seems to unify generations, and the founding frontman of UB40 is leaning back into that legacy with the announcement of his 2026 Big Love Tour. Following a marathon of sold-out European dates, the tour kicks off at the Grenada Reggae Fest before moving through a string of high-profile U.S. stops in Florida, Texas, and the Northeast. Campbell remains the unmistakable face and sound of the group, backed by the same world-class band that has toured with him since 2008 to ensure that “butter-smooth” delivery of hits like “Red Red Wine” and “Kingston Town” stays perfectly intact. For Campbell, this run is a celebration of more than four decades on the road and a testament to the unifying power of reggae, which he views as his enduring global legacy. As he heads into these 2026 dates, including co-headlining spots with Matisyahu, the message remains simple: the music brings people together, and he has zero intention of slowing down.
Tour Dates:
Apr 11 – Grenada, West Indies – National Cricket Stadium
Apr 15 – Apopka, FL – Apopka Amphitheatre
Apr 16 – Cocoa Beach, FL – Cocoa Riverfront Park
Apr 17 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
Apr 19 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Ekhard Hall
Apr 25 – Austin, TX – The Far Out (Main Stage)
May 1 – Atlantic City, NJ – Oceans Casino w/ Matisyahu
May 2 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Casino w/ Matisyahu
May 3 – New York City – Kings Theatre
Power Metal Titans Powerwolf Share Anthemic Live Version of “Alive or Undead”
There is a specific kind of theater that only a Powerwolf show can provide, and their latest live cut of “Alive or Undead” captures that ritual in its most high-definition form. Originally found on their 2021 album ‘Call Of The Wild’, the track has been transformed into a massive, choral centerpiece for their upcoming live release, ‘Wildlive (Live at Olympiahalle)’. Recorded during a sold-out night in Munich on the Wolfsnächte Tour 2024, the performance features the kind of opulent dramaturgy the band is known for—complete with cinematic stage sets and a rousing, euphoric interaction with the audience. According to the band, the release serves as a manifestation of the “magic” shared during those arena dates, aiming to preserve the intensity that short recap videos usually miss. With the full album arriving this February via Napalm Records, the wolves are clearly ready to prove once again that they occupy a heavy metal category all their own.
Tour Dates:
26.06.26 DE – Büren / Büren Open Air
05.07.26 ES – Barcelona / Rock Fest Barcelona
11.07.26 BG – Mogilovo / Midalidare Rock in the Wine Valley
29.07.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air
30.07.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air
31.07.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air
01.08.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air
08.08.26 DE – Hamburg / Elbriot Festival
09.08.26 BE – Kortrijk / Alcatraz Open Air
14.08.26 CZ – Moravsky Krumlov / Rock Castle
16.08.26 CH – Cudrefin / Rock The Lakes
28.08.26 DE – Coburg / HUK Open Air Sommer
29.08.26 DE – St. Goarshausen / Loreley
Hard Rocker Holy Wars Return With Haunting New Single “Metamorphosis”
It’s often said that art is the only way to make sense of a world that’s stopped making sense, and for Kat Leon of Holy Wars, that’s more than just a theory. The Los Angeles duo’s latest track, “Metamorphosis,” is a heavy, industrial-tinged dive into the mechanics of grief, written after the staggering loss of Leon’s parents and sister. Sonically, it sits in that dark, fertile ground between the jagged edges of Nine Inch Nails and the atmospheric weight of Evanescence—a sound they’ve been honing on massive festival stages like Download and Rock am Ring over the past year. This isn’t just another rock song; it’s a document of a band hitting their stride by embracing the “shadow self” and turning personal wreckage into something visceral and collective. As they gear up to join the ShipRocked cruise in early 2026, Holy Wars are proving that they’ve found their clarity on the road, emerging with a confidence that only comes from surviving the fire.