The vocal cast of the Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated blockbuster Kpop Demon Hunters, Arden Cho, EJAE, May Hong, Audrey Nuna, Ji-young Yoo and Rei Ami, have taken on First We Feast’s Hot Ones Versus, the spin-off format that pits two teams against each other with a simple rule: tell the truth or face the Wings of Death. The episode, out now, runs the Huntrix through lyric challenges, the Soda Pop dance challenge, a round of drawing Derpy, and the looming threat of the Last Dab, with the winning team taking home the coveted chicken wing trophy. It is exactly as chaotic as it sounds, and the platinum-selling soundtrack gets a proper workout along the way.
The Claypool Lennon Delirium Return With Epic Concept Album ‘The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy’
The Claypool Lennon Delirium are back. Les Claypool and Sean Ono Lennon have announced their third album, ‘The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy,’ due May 1 via ATO Records, and it arrives as their most ambitious project to date. A 14-song concept record built around morality, mortality and the warnings of artificial intelligence, the album is rooted in the “Paperclip Theory,” the renowned thought experiment about AI safety, and asks a pointed question: in the face of rampant, single-minded efficiency, can human values and empathy survive. The physical edition arrives as a 2-LP tip-on gatefold set paired with a 24-page original comic book, with each song mapped to its own illustrated chapter by longtime collaborator Rich Ragsdale. Vinyl and CD are available for pre-order now.
The album’s story centers on young artist Hippard O. Campus Jr., who rebels against his father, owner of the CLIPNEX corporation and creator of a sentient AI named Cliptron, whose army of robots is converting everything in the land of Cliptopia, humans included, into paperclips. Hipp’s quest takes him across the sea to the Isle of Lucidity, guided by the Ministry of Manatees toward the Great Parrot-Ox, whose Golden Egg of Empathy is the only force capable of reaching Cliptron’s cold, chrome heart. “It is a tale of a technocracy eclipsed by paperclips,” Lennon says, “a young man destined to unravel the fabric of his father’s folly, and a sacred feathered Goddess, played by WILLOW, who holds the egg-shaped key to their future.”
Out today alongside the album announcement is the new single and animated music video “The Golden Egg of Empathy,” featuring WILLOW, whose lead vocal turns the Delirium’s psychedelic-prog theatrics toward something strangely tender and human. The video offers the first moving glimpse into the album’s visual universe, animating the rich illustrations that populate the comic companion. It follows January’s first single “WAP (What a Predicament),” which opened this new chapter with a warped meditation on AI and what happens when empathy gets optimized out of existence. Listeners and critics alike have been calling this the duo’s most fully realized and thematically urgent work yet, a surreal epic that earns every one of its 14 chapters.
The comic book originated from an even larger vision. “Initially Les and I were imagining a feature-length animated film for Parrot-Ox,” Lennon explains, “but we realized there wasn’t enough time, so we asked Rich if he could distill the story into a comic book. He did an incredible job. Now that the story exists in this form, it’s even easier to imagine it becoming a feature someday.” Recorded at Claypool’s Rancho Relaxo studio in Sonoma County and Lennon’s studio The Farm in upstate New York, the album was over three years in the making. “The results are something Shiner and I are very proud of,” Claypool says, “a relevant concept piece accompanied by a colorful, phantasmic comic book.”
The full track listing for ‘The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy’: “Pro-Log,” “WAP (What a Predicament),” “The Wake Up Call,” “Meat Machines,” “Troll Bait,” “Simplest of Deeds,” “Heart of Chrome,” “Through the Horizon,” “Mantra of the Manatee,” “The Golden Egg of Empathy” (feat. WILLOW), “Cliptopia,” “Cliptron Scuttle,” “Melody of Entropy,” and “It’s a Wrap.” Following the album’s release, Claypool hits the road with Claypool Gold, a full-evening tour bringing together Primus, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, and Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, each performing a full set. Tickets and information at primusville.com.
Dublin Alt-Pop Band Soda Blonde Release “Suit & Tie” and Announce First-Ever North America Tour
Soda Blonde are making their North American debut. The Dublin alt-pop band have released a new single, “Suit & Tie,” and announced a 21-date run across the United States and Canada beginning September 11 in Detroit and wrapping October 9 in St. Louis. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m. local time. Built around industrial guitar, liquid production and a relentless forward pulse, “Suit & Tie” was inspired by Ireland’s recent cultural resurgence and marks a distinct new direction for the band.
Vocalist Faye O’Rourke is direct about where the song came from. “I wrote ‘Suit & Tie’ about my own feelings of un-belonging and displacement,” she says. “I didn’t grow up with a strong sense of national identity, and I began to explore my current feelings of loss and isolation through that lens while living in the Liberties, a part of Dublin with a very strong sense of itself. The song became a way of reclaiming something I felt I’d lost.” That kind of raw, specific emotional geography is exactly what has built Soda Blonde’s devoted following across Ireland, the UK and Europe, and it translates powerfully here.
The full North America tour dates are as follows.
September 11 | Detroit, Michigan | Third Man Records (Cass Corridor)
September 12 | Toronto, Ontario | Longboat Hall
September 14 | Boston, Massachusetts | The Red Room at Cafe 939
September 15 | Brooklyn, New York | Baby’s All Right
September 16 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Johnny Brenda’s
September 17 | Washington, D.C. | Union Stage
September 18 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Club Café
September 19 | Columbus, Ohio | Rumba Café
September 21 | Chicago, Illinois | Schubas
September 22 | Madison, Wisconsin | High Noon Saloon
September 23 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 7th St. Entry
September 27 | Seattle, Washington | Sunset Tavern
September 28 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Fox Cabaret
September 29 | Portland, Oregon | Mississippi Studios
October 1 | San Francisco, California | The Chapel
October 2 | Santa Cruz, California | The Crepe Place
October 3 | Los Angeles, California | The Echo
October 4 | Phoenix, Arizona | Valley Bar
October 6 | Denver, Colorado | Larimer Lounge
October 8 | Kansas City, Missouri | Record Bar
October 9 | St. Louis, Missouri | Off Broadway
YUNGBLUD Takes His Bludfest International With Czechia Event June 27
Internationally renowned rock star Yungblud has announced the third installment of his long-awaited, curated festival: Bludfest for June 27th, 2026.
Following the 28-year-old’s record-breaking triple Grammy Rock nomination and win for Best Rock Performance, plus the release of his latest body of work, Idols II, the singer has unveiled plans for Bludfest Year 3, which will kickstart the festival’s global takeover in Hradec Králové, Czechia near Prague.
The multifunctional Park 360 (located 100 km east of Prague, 190 km from Wrocław, 400 km from Berlin, and 110 km from Vienna) will host the event, featuring the British superstar as headliner.
In a huge announcement, Scottish rock heavyweights Biffy Clyro and psychedelic icons Primal Scream have been revealed as part of a lineup which features indie-pop favourites Pale Waves, art-rock trio Palaye Royale, and Atlanta rapper Destroy Lonely. Also added are “Ouija Pop” Irish breakout Bambie Thug and London-based Leap.
Fresh from collaborating with Lil Yachty, Jesse Jo Stark also joins the bill, alongside rising talents Nieve Ella and Pam Rabbit.
Tickets for Bludfest Year 3 go on general sale at 10:00 am GMT (11:00 am CET) on Friday, February 27, preceded by a 24-hour pre-sale window opening Thursday, February 26, at 9:00 am GMT (10:00 am CET). Tickets can be found at bludfest.com.
This year in Hradec Králové, the experience goes beyond the stages. While Bludfest remains a one-day festival, Year 3 gives fans the chance to camp the night before and the night of the event, with a range of camping and glamping options available.
Speaking about Bludfest Year 3, Yungblud said: “We have such an incredible fanbase in Czechia. They are one of the best audiences in the world.”
“The reaction we got from a potential announcement when I said it on stage over there was so big and so electrifying, it kind of cemented that it would be the first international Bludfest. It’s going to be an incredible show.”
He added, “It feels so crazy to have planted a seed two years ago in Milton Keynes that has now grown roots and expanded all the way to Czechia. It cemented the idea that anything is possible when you never take no for an answer and you have a community that will follow you anywhere. I’m really lucky.”
Fans can look forward to the return of the festival’s most iconic features, from the much-loved Make A Friend Tent, where solo festival-goers can connect, to the signature giant ferris wheel and the Beautifully Romanticised Accidentally Traumatized pop-up. Yungblud’s Bludbeer will be back on site, and Gibson returns as sponsor, unveiling a third stage. Bludfest continues to push boundaries with top-tier, multi-genre line-ups at an affordable price, offering a unique festival experience rooted in community and inclusivity.
Nothing More, Catch Your Breath, Archers, and Doobie at Toronto’s History on February 24, 2026
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.
Between the Buried and Me Announce 31-Date US Tour
Between the Buried and Me are heading back across the United States. The progressive metal band has announced a 31-date headlining tour in support of ‘The Blue Nowhere,’ their 2025 album released via InsideOutMusic, kicking off May 15 in Richmond, Virginia and wrapping June 20 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Imperial Triumphant, Fallujah, Thank You Scientist, and The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die join on select dates. “I’m pumped to get back out on the road, especially with such phenomenal bands,” says vocalist Tommy Rogers. “Intensity in its full spectrum. It’s going to be a great night of music. Friends rule. Shows rule. This tour rules.”
The run follows a stretch of European performances through February and March, and comes on the heels of a live recording of album highlight “God Terror,” filmed in Denver during the band’s North American dates, with audio mixed and mastered by longtime collaborator Jamie King and filmed and edited by Randy Edwards. The full tour dates are as follows.
May 15 | Richmond, Virginia | The National
May 16 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Archer Music Hall
May 17 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Palladium
May 18 | Washington, D.C. | 9:30 Club
May 20 | Buffalo, New York | Town Ballroom
May 21 | McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania | Roxian Theatre
May 22 | Detroit, Michigan | The Majestic Theatre
May 23 | Cleveland, Ohio | Globe Iron
May 24 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Bogart’s
May 26 | Indianapolis, Indiana | The Vogue
May 28 | St. Louis, Missouri | The Pageant
May 29 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | The Rave
May 30 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Varsity Theater
May 31 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Bourbon Theatre
June 2 | Boulder, Colorado | Boulder Theater
June 3 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Grand At The Complex
June 5 | Sacramento, California | Ace of Spades
June 6 | Los Angeles, California | The Fonda
June 7 | San Diego, California | Observatory North Park
June 8 | Phoenix, Arizona | Crescent Ballroom
June 10 | Austin, Texas | Mohawk
June 11 | Fort Worth, Texas | Tannahill’s Tavern
June 12 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Tower Theatre
June 13 | Little Rock, Arkansas | The Hall
June 15 | Tampa, Florida | The Orpheum
June 16 | Jacksonville, Florida | FIVE
June 17 | Pensacola, Florida | Vinyl Music Hall
June 18 | Birmingham, Alabama | Saturn
June 19 | Pelham, Tennessee | The Caverns
June 20 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | The Ramkat
Alt-Pop Disruptor Sophie Powers and Chinese Superstar Lexie Liu Team Up on “klepto”
Sophie Powers is back with her sharpest, most kinetic release yet. “klepto,” out now via Encore Recordings, is a collaboration with Chinese superstar Lexie Liu, and it arrives as a hyper-confident, late-night heist of a pop song, co-written with Jutes and Cam Hunter and produced by Mike Gonek. The companion video, filmed with both artists, plays out like a glamorous escape sequence, all bravado and momentum. “This song belongs in the Louvre and in your headphones,” Powers says. “There’s no shame in stealing the spotlight.” Liu is equally direct: “There’s real power in telling a story where no one has to play small.”
The Toronto-born, Los Angeles-based 21-year-old has been building toward this kind of moment since releasing her debut EP ‘Red in Revenge’ and following it with ‘Glitch: Lvl 1’ in 2024. She has accumulated over 80 million global streams, collaborated with Grimes, Dillon Francis, Baby Tate and K-pop acts IVE, ILLIT and NMIXX, and performed supporting sets for YUNGBLUD, Peaches and Waterparks across festival stages including Warped Tour, Slam Dunk and Seoul’s One Universe. A street performance with Crash Adams recently cracked 120 million views on TikTok, a number that speaks to just how wide her reach has grown. Critics have taken notice too, with outlets calling her “one of pop’s most powerful new voices” and “music’s new wunderkind.”
“klepto” is the latest in a streak of singles that includes “popoff,” “muddy” and “spiderwebs,” and Powers is already in the studio working on her first full-length project, due in 2026. The velocity here is real, and “klepto” makes it clear she is not slowing down.
2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season on SiriusXM
SiriusXM will offer listeners nationwide season-long coverage of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES® season, starting with the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this Sunday, March 1 (coverage starting at noon ET).
SiriusXM subscribers will have access to the live call of every one of the 18 events on the INDYCAR calendar, including the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, on Sunday, May 24th, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, plus coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying and practice sessions.
INDYCAR coverage airs on the exclusive SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation channel, which is available in SiriusXM-enabled vehicles (channel 218) and on the SiriusXM app. For a schedule of races go to SiriusXM.com/IndySeries.
In addition to on-track coverage, SiriusXM offers fans weekly INDYCAR-focused shows and podcasts that keep them up-to-date on the latest news from the sport and deliver perspectives from true racing experts.
A new season of SiriusXM’s exclusive INDYCAR show, “Brick-by-Brick” — hosted by Jack Arute and 2013 Indy 500 champ Tony Kanaan airs every Wednesday (5 pm ET) on the SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation channel, and is available on demand on the SiriusXM app.
INDYCAR fans can also tune in to the podcast “Off Track with Hinch & Rossi,” hosted by James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi. New episodes of “Off Track with Hinch & Rossi” debut weekly and can be heard on the SiriusXM app and all major podcast platforms. The podcast will also air on race days on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation.
Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) and SiriusXM will continue its sponsorship collaboration this season, showcasing SiriusXM channels in eye-catching paint schemes on the track. The first collaboration of the 2026 INDYCAR season will see Felix Rosenqvist’s No. 60 Honda feature a special Tom Petty Radio livery – celebrating of the 50th anniversary of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – in Sunday’s season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg.
Tom Petty Radio (SiriusXM channel 31) features music from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, including exclusive tracks from Tom’s personal archives, as well as his acclaimed Buried Treasure radio show.
Oklahoma Southern Rock Band Hillbilly Vegas Release Gritty New Single and Video “I Hope You Know”
Hillbilly Vegas have a new single and video out now. “I Hope You Know” is the first release from the Oklahoma band’s upcoming album ‘A La Mode,’ due in May via Quarto Valley Records, and it hits exactly the way you would expect from a band with five Billboard Rock chart entries to their name. Driven by guitars and a blues-soaked southern rock groove, the track is about a relationship that has reached the point of no return, and vocalist Steve Harris wrote it from a real place. “It’s realizing the person you trusted isn’t in control anymore, and that you can’t fix it for them,” he says. “Sometimes the only thing left to do is let go and hope it gives them the motivation to fix themselves.”
The video, directed by GR1M and filmed at the band’s Oklahoma warehouse during what Harris describes as the worst snowstorm the U.S. had seen in 60 years, leans hard into the spirit of 1970s rock and roll. “We paid tribute to where we come from and the music that built us,” Harris says. “We kept it fun, like rock n’ roll is supposed to be.” The forced simplicity of the shoot, snowstorm and all, gives the whole thing an unforced authenticity that suits the song perfectly. Listeners are already pointing to it as one of the sharpest things the band has put out, calling it a locked-in, emotionally raw statement that shows exactly why Hillbilly Vegas has held a loyal audience for over a decade.
The band’s lineup brings serious pedigree to the project. Guitarist Geraldo Dominelli is a former member of Loverboy and has worked with Paul Rodgers, while bassist Todd Ronning comes from Bad Company. The group is managed by David Spero (Joe Walsh, Cat Stevens, Bad Company) and has built its reputation on relentless live work alongside acts ranging from Blackberry Smoke and The Kentucky Headhunters to Alabama, Travis Tritt and Blake Shelton. ‘A La Mode’ arrives in May. “I Hope You Know” is out now.
Multi-Platinum Nashville Country-Soul Artist Russell Dickerson Drops New ‘Worth Your Wild’ EP March 6
Russell Dickerson is releasing ‘Worth Your Wild,’ a four-track EP produced by Josh Kerr, on March 6. Built around breezy hooks and warm, sun-drenched energy, the project pairs three new tracks with the already-released single “Worth Your Wild” and arrives timed perfectly for spring. The full track listing: “Worth Your Wild” (Russell Dickerson, Parker Welling, Casey Brown), “B.O.A.T.” (Russell Dickerson, Steph Jones, Matt Dragstrem, Chase McGill), “2 Limes, 2 Coronas” (Russell Dickerson, Matt Dragstrem, Josh Osborne), and “Spring Break” (Seth Ennis, Devin Dawson, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds). It is a focused, fun four-song statement from an artist who knows exactly what he is doing.
Dickerson has also been confirmed for a performance at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest, running June 4 through 7 in Nashville. The booking is a natural fit for an artist whose live show has become the signature of his career, with his sold-out RUSSELLMANIA TOUR now extended through 2026 and rolling into the largest venues he has headlined to date. Support across select dates comes from Atlus, Dasha, Tyler Hubbard, Niko Moon, Adrien Nunez and Kevin Powers. Tickets are available now at RussellDickerson.com.
Across nearly four billion career streams and a string of multi-platinum number-one hits including “Yours,” “Blue Tacoma” and “Love You Like I Used To,” Dickerson has built one of country music’s most dependable catalogs. His fourth studio album ‘Famous Back Home,’ a country-soul and arena-rock hybrid, cemented the next chapter of that run. ‘Worth Your Wild’ arrives March 6 and keeps that momentum moving.