Lunar New Year 2026 begins on February 17, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse and launching the 15-day Spring Festival. Marking the first new moon of the lunar calendar, the holiday is widely celebrated across China and Chinese communities worldwide, with traditions rooted in family, symbolism, and renewal.
The Fire Horse appears only once every 60 years. In the Chinese zodiac cycle, each year pairs one of 12 animals with one of five elements. In 2026, the heavenly stem “Bing” aligns with the earthly branch “Wu,” creating a year associated with passion, independence, and forward momentum. Many see it as a time charged with drive and bold energy.
Preparations begin days before New Year’s Day. Homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away lingering bad luck, red banners are hung to invite good fortune, and festive cakes are made to symbolize growth in the year ahead. Lunar New Year’s Eve, February 16, centers on a reunion dinner featuring symbolic dishes such as fish for surplus and dumplings shaped like gold ingots for prosperity.
The celebration continues through visits with family and friends, red envelopes filled with money for children and unmarried relatives, and temple trips to offer prayers for the year ahead. It concludes on March 3 with the Lantern Festival, when glowing displays mark the first full moon of the lunar year and signal the close of the holiday season.
Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims, a time centered on prayer, reflection, charity, and community. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of February 17 or 18, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, and will last through March 19. Because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar Hijri system, the month shifts about 10 to 12 days earlier each year.
Fasting begins at dawn and ends at sunset each day. On the first full day of fasting, Muslims abstain from all food and drink, including water, from sunup to sundown. The fast is broken each evening with a meal known as iftar, while a pre dawn meal called suhoor prepares those observing for the day ahead.
Muslims believe Ramadan marks the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage. It is practiced to deepen faith, cultivate self restraint, grow closer to God, and develop empathy for those in need.
Fasting hours vary depending on where a person lives. In the Northern Hemisphere, daily fasts this year range from about 12 to 13 hours at the start of the month, increasing as the days lengthen. In parts of the Southern Hemisphere, fasting can last 14 to 15 hours at the beginning. The month concludes with communal prayers and celebrations marking the end of the fast.
The 16th edition of the “Happy Together” tour rolls out in 2026 with a lineup stacked with ’60s pop favorites. Named for The Turtles’ 1967 No. 1 hit “Happy Together,” the tour begins May 23 in Biloxi, MS at IP Casino Resort and Spa and continues through late August, with roughly 50 shows expected by early September.
Returning this year are The Association, Gary Puckett, The Vogues, and The Cowsills, alongside Ron Dante, the voice of The Archies, performing classics from The Archies and The Turtles. Mark Volman did not perform in 2025 and died last September, while fellow Turtles founder Howard Kaylan remains retired. The lineup also features The Troggs, The Fortunes, and Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago, performing the band’s early singles.
The Turtles’ official Facebook page shared its endorsement on Dec. 11, writing, “We want to congratulate and send our full endorsement of the other fantastic artists on next year’s HTT line up. We have always hoped that the legacy and essence of The Happy Together Tour would be of fun, memories, and entertaining music fans for years to come. -Many blessings, The Turtles.” Together, the artists represent dozens of Top 10 hits that defined AM radio.
Confirmed 2026 dates include: May 23 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort and Spa May 26 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre May 27 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater May 28 – Melbourne, FL – Maxwell C. King Center for the Perf. Arts May 29 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall May 30 – Hiawassee, GA – Anderson Music Hall May 31 – Myrtle Beach, SC – The Carolina Opry Theater Jun 02 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere Jun 03 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere Jun 04 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak Jun 05 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Center of the Perf. Arts Jun 06 – Westbury, NY – Westbury Music Fair Jun 07 – Lowell, MA – Lowell Memorial Auditorium Jun 09 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent Jun 10 – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus Jun 11 – Red Bank, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at Count Basie Center for the Arts Jun 12 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort Jun 13 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre Jun 14 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre Jul 22 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre Jul 30 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Auditorium Aug 01 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre Aug 02 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom Aug 06 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC Aug 08 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park Aug 11 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe Aug 13 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit Aug 15 – Lima, OH – Crouse Perf. Hall at Veterans Memorial Civic and Conv. Ctr. Aug 22 – Huber Heights, OH – The Rose Music Center Aug 23 – Wabash, IN – Honeywell Center Aug 26 – Effingham, IL – Effingham Performance Center Aug 27 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate PAC Aug 28 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate PAC Aug 29 – Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
Lessons & Lace: Everything I Know About Dreams, Heartbreak, and Magic I Learned from Stevie Nicks arrives September 15, 2026. Written by music journalist Rachel Brodsky, this 256-page portrait dives deep into the life and lessons of one of rock’s most resilient and revered voices.
“Just dance. This will pass. Love will find a way. It always does.” That spirit runs through every page. Drawing from years of archival interviews and insights from people in Stevie’s world, the book pairs sharp storytelling with full-color line illustrations that capture both grounded truth and otherworldly vision.
Stevie Nicks’ journey unfolds with honesty and detail. She pushed through sexist narratives, helped lift a struggling mid-level rock band into global success, built a powerhouse solo career, and faced addiction head-on. Through it all, she stayed fiercely connected to her creativity, mysticism, and romantic heart.
Lessons & Lace stands as a tribute to a woman, style icon, prolific writer, and mentor whose influence continues to echo across generations. It invites readers to reflect, to dream bigger, and to embrace their own wild edge. Preorders are available now ahead of its September release.
Following a record-breaking and fastest ever sell-out of its 2026 edition on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August 2026, Reggae Land is matching demand by expanding into a three day festival for the first time, with Friday 31st July just announced and headlined by global superstar Burna Boy, who plays the festival for the first time. Sign up now for Friday 31st July tickets via www.reggaeland.co.uk because these are set to fly and capacity is strictly limited.
One of the most influential artists of his generation, Burna Boy’s appearance represents another landmark moment for Reggae Land. The newly added Friday transforms the festival into a three-day celebration for the first time in its history. It takes place at Milton Keynes National Bowl ahead of the sold-out weekend complete with the high production values Reggae Land is known for.
The award winning Nigerian singer and songwriter blends Afro fusion, dancehall and hip-hop into catchy, indelible hits that have soundtracked summers for the last decade. Expect to hear favourites like ‘Last Last, Ye’ and ‘City Boys’, with magnetic charm and smooth flowing rhythms opening the weekend with a statement show and setting the tone for what is already shaping up to be the festival’s biggest year yet.
The announcement follows extraordinary demand for Reggae Land 2026, which sold out in record time after tickets went on sale last week. With over 120 artists already confirmed across seven stages, Reggae Land’s rapid rise continues to position it as one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most culturally significant festivals.
From roots reggae and dancehall to dub, jungle and carnival energy, Reggae Land has become a defining platform for Caribbean music and culture in the UK. The addition of Friday underscores the festival’s evolution, driven directly by fan demand and community momentum.
Tickets for Friday 31st July go on sale Friday 20th February at 9AM from £69.50 + booking fee. Sign up now via www.reggaeland.co.uk
“Dogs’ lives don’t have to have meaning.” Inspire memories of witty Snoopy sayings and bring classic comic scenes to life with LEGO Ideas Peanuts: Snoopy’s Doghouse (21368). This model building kit for adults features a posable Snoopy figure which comes with 2 alternative leg builds for sitting and standing and 2 neck positions for lying down and standing. Display him lying on top of his house with his friend Woodstock on his belly, sitting up typing on his LEGO typewriter or in standing poses. The interior walls of the doghouse can be folded out to create a starry night sky, the perfect backdrop for Snoopy and Woodstock to ’toast’ marshmallows on the campfire A delightful gift for Peanuts comic lovers and Snoopy merch collectors, the set offers a fun way to create your own nostalgic home decor. And you can enjoy enhanced building with the LEGO Builder app, zooming and rotating with 3D instructions, while saving and tracking progress. Set contains 964 pieces.
NOSTALGIC HOME DECOR – Celebrate over 75 years of an iconic comic strip with the LEGO Ideas Peanuts: Snoopy’s Doghouse (21368) model building kit
COLLECTIBLE FIGURES – Build the posable Snoopy figure, with 2 alternative leg builds for sitting and standing and 2 neck positions for lying down and standing, plus a Woodstock figure
RECREATE CLASSIC SCENES – Rebuild Snoopy to lie on top of his house with Woodstock on his belly, sit up typing on his LEGO typewriter or stand with Woodstock next to the house
CHANGE IT UP – Remove the house from its base and open out the interior walls to reveal a starry night sky, then display Snoopy and Woodstock ’toasting’ marshmallows on the campfire
SNOOPY GIFT FOR ADULTS – Treat yourself or give this charming display model to other Peanuts comic lovers and Snoopy merch collectors
COLLECT YOUR BUILDS – With the LEGO Builder app, you can create your models using 3D instructions, track your progress and save all your sets within the app
THE LEGO FANS’ CHOICE – This LEGO set for adults is part of the LEGO Ideas collection, where each building kit is created by a Fan Designer, voted for by LEGO fans and produced by the LEGO Group
DIMENSIONS – Snoopy’s doghouse in this 964-piece set measures over 10 in. (25 cm) high, 6.5 in. (17 cm) wide and 5.5 in. (14 cm) deep, and it makes a fun piece of shelf or desk decor.
Calgary’s veteran indie-alternative trio Flowshine is set to ignite the airwaves with the release of their high-stakes new single, ‘After School at Bobby’s House’. Merging the clever storytelling of Doctor Hook & The Medicine Show with the raw energy of modern rock, the track serves as a “soft offering” in response to the political pressures currently facing the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Alberta. Recorded in makeshift spaces and refined through marathon 18-hour sessions, the single captures the “excitement and nervous resolve” of young love and the transformative power of coming out.
‘After School at Bobby’s House’ marks a bold evolution for a band that has spent over fifteen years carving a path “a little left of centre”. Frontman Jeremiah Erhardt—who penned the track while navigating a Master’s degree in forestry and recovering from emergency surgery—describes the song as a defiant embrace of identity. With lyrics like “I want to paint my toes, try on your mama’s clothes” and “I’m coming over, I’m coming out,” the band trades their traditional Canadiana roots for a sharp, forward-moving landscape of “ear candy” and big harmonies. Erhardt admits to a sense of fear regarding the release but remains steadfast: “I don’t want to be ashamed of our province—we have to help, love, and respect each other”.
Produced by Erhardt and Eric Svilpis, and featuring a jazz-trained rhythm section with Dallen Muise and Calen Blondal, Flowshine continues to prove why they have been regional finalists in CBC Searchlight and mainstays on campus radio charts nationwide. Having shared stages with rock heavyweights like Chilliwack and Five Alarm Funk, the band is now preparing to take ‘After School at Bobby’s House’ on the road across British Columbia and Alberta. From small-town pubs to festival stages, Flowshine invites audiences to “jump in our canoe” and experience a messy, joyful, and unapologetically honest musical journey.
Catch Flowshine Live on the 2026 Tour:
August 1 & 2: Thirsty Bear Waterton – Kitchen & Bar – Waterton Park, AB
September 26: The Black Dog Freehouse – Edmonton, AB (Free Entry)
Macedonia-born, Toronto-based artist Betty Strings (Elizabeth Anne Cook) unveils “Trust Myself,” a powerfully vulnerable new single that transforms years of trauma and healing into an anthem of self-reclamation.
Co-written with 2007 Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo and songwriter Paul William Stephens, and brought to life by the instrumental artistry of Matt Fasullo on banjo, the track emerged from an extraordinary creative process where Cook channeled her story in real time during Zoom writing sessions.
“We all got on Zoom, we decided on a topic I was struggling with that week—for instance, TRUST,” Cook explains. “I told my story, Paul took notes, Brian came up with a beautiful melody, and we all wrote the song together, in one session. It was beyond any of us. It was magic.” Written in late 2022 but held until Cook had completed the healing work necessary to sing it authentically, “Trust Myself” captures the painful journey of learning to trust again when the voice inside your head has become your own abuser, echoing with lines like “After all the pain they put me through / Never believing in my magic / And now you’re telling me I have it / And I can trust myself with loving you.”
The song chronicles Cook’s path from survival mode to genuine connection, documenting what happens when someone who has only known chaos, addiction, and abuse is finally offered unconditional love. “My normal was toxicity, addiction, and abuse. I became so addicted to the chaos that the light was so foreign to me,” Cook shares. The track confronts the devastating reality of becoming your own abuser, when the protective voice that once kept you safe from danger becomes the very thing preventing you from accepting love and truth.
Cook’s therapist told her she had to treat her mind like an addiction and complete the 12-step program on herself—a terrifying prospect when the person you’re supposed to trust most has become dangerous. The five-year journey that brought Cook to this moment of authentic expression involved surrendering control to faith, asking God to free her not just from her past but from herself. With Melo and Stephens guiding her through the storytelling and Fasullo’s banjo work adding emotional texture, “Trust Myself” became a vehicle for Cook to reclaim the joyful, passionate young woman who had been waiting on the other side of fear, the version of herself she always dreamt of being even when surrounded by darkness.
“Trust Myself” is one of six songs Cook wrote with her collaborators in 2022, all circling back to the central theme of getting in her own way and learning what trust looks like when you’ve only known pain. The decision to wait until now to release the music speaks to Cook’s commitment to authenticity—she needed to do the work first, to stand firm in trust and acceptance, before she could sing these songs with the conviction they deserved.
“I wasn’t ready to bring them fully to life until I’d done the work, so I am able to sing and talk about them, in all of their authenticity,” she reflects. The result is a deeply moving piece of art that transforms personal struggle into universal truth, offering hope to anyone who has ever had to learn to trust themselves again. Betty Strings emerges as an artist unafraid to excavate her own story, turn debris into beauty, and prove that the road map home—no matter how many times it’s been burned to ashes—can always be rebuilt.
Canadian country-folk artist Joanna Bronson steps into the spotlight with two stirring singles that capture the emotional landscape of small-town life and love. “Highway 28,” and “Norwood,” both out now, mark the arrival of a songwriter whose voice feels both timeless and deeply personal. These tracks offer the first glimpse into Bronson’s forthcoming debut album ‘Highway 28,’ slated for release in March 2026, a collection that serves as an intimate love letter to her hometown and the roads that shaped her.
Recorded with acclaimed East Coast musician and producer J.P. Cormier in his studio outside Halifax, the album showcases Bronson’s gift for emotional honesty and grounded, roots-driven storytelling. Cormier—a lifelong musical hero of Bronson’s—played all additional instruments, and handled the mixing and mastering, building a sonic world around songs Bronson recorded exactly as she wrote them: just her voice, her guitar, and the stories she needed to tell. The collaboration represents a significant milestone in Bronson’s artistic development, with the result being a record that sounds the way these songs were always meant to be heard – warm, intimate, and achingly real.
“At its core, this record is a love letter to my hometown,” Bronson reflects. “Every song began with something real – a feeling, a conversation, or a moment that actually happened.” The album explores acceptance, memory, and the quiet wondering of what might have been, written from the perspective of time and distance when the heart has had space to heal and reflect, beautifully portrayed in the title track “Highway 28″. Holding both reflection and a wishing-well curiosity for the life that almost was. “Norwood” takes listeners down a different road exploring different aspects of letting love back in. Together, the songs create a small-town world of love and loss – the kind of places that never really let go of their memories.
The recording process itself became a defining moment in Bronson’s journey. “Hearing J.P sing harmony on Norwood for the first time was a moment I’m not sure I’ll ever top,” she shares. The organic approach – Bronson laying down her vocals and guitar parts while Cormier built the instrumentation around them – resulted in an honest, intimate record that honors the songs’ original essence while elevating them with nuanced production. Each track maintains the story-forward authenticity that has become Bronson’s signature, rooted in the kind of lived experience that connects with audiences on a deeply human level.
Over the past three years, Bronson has honed her craft performing alongside her father and fellow entertainer Danny Bronson. The duo has connected with audiences at local venues, jamborees, and headline performances including the Millbrook Fall Festival, building a reputation for intimate, story-forward shows. Her work has garnered attention from YourTV, where she appeared on Making Music and The Skinny to discuss her music and creative process. With a growing regional presence and a commitment to authentic songwriting, Bronson is establishing herself as an emerging voice in the Canadian country-folk scene, equally at home on small stages and festival lineups.
Bronson’s songwriting carries additional significance as she draws from relationships and experiences that lend her work a distinct sense of perspective and offers authentic LGBTQIA+ representation to the country-folk genre. Her approach to storytelling is universal in its emotional resonance while remaining deeply personal and true to her lived experience. This authenticity extends beyond subject matter – it’s woven into every aspect of her artistry, from the vulnerability in her vocal delivery to the careful attention she pays to each lyrical detail. The songs on ‘Highway 28’ invite listeners into a world where honesty and heart create the kind of connection that transcends genre boundaries.
With “Highway 28” and “Norwood” paving the way, Bronson is building a body of work that celebrates the kind of songs that bring people together. Whether on stage or in the writing room, she continues to grow her craft and share her journey – one song, one story, and one listener at a time. The full album ‘Highway 28’ promises to be a defining statement from an artist who captures the quiet beauty and raw honesty of life in small towns, weaving heartfelt stories that resonate long after they’re heard.
— Today, celebrated Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer Paula Letang announces the release of her latest single, “Giving You More,” a vibrant exploration of emotional generosity that further cements her status as a premiere voice in modern soul. Produced by Letang herself and co-written with Kwanele Sifunda (Khwezi), the track arrives as a masterclass in genre-fluidity, seamlessly blending vintage grooves with a contemporary, self-assured lyricism.
“Giving You More” captures a definitive moment of artistic evolution for Letang, who drew from a subconscious well of reflection to craft the song’s narrative. Moving beyond the standard tropes of the genre, the track dives into the quiet internal dialogue of love and the delicate balance of what we choose to offer others. “My hope is that listeners hear it and see themselves in it,” Letang shares. “Especially if they’ve ever wondered what their role is in the love they’re in”.
The single’s power lies in its relatable, grounded intimacy, featuring standout lines that resonate with universal truth:
“So, I’m giving you more than I did before / Didn’t really think that I had much more / You found the key to unlock the door”.
This lyrical depth is paired with a sophisticated production that reflects Letang’s diverse musical upbringing in the Commonwealth of Dominica and Canada, where early experiences with guitar and piano helped form her signature sound.
Media interest in Letang has intensified following her consistent international chart success, including Top 30 placements on the The UK Soul Chart for “Sunshine” and “Bring it Back Around,” alongside a #1 hit on the Radio Indie Alliance Chart with “Do Me Right”. “Giving You More” represents a bold step forward in this trajectory, offering a fresh story hook through its cross-continental production – recorded between the soulful hubs of Toronto and the rhythmic influences of her heritage.
Beyond the studio, Letang remains a pillar of the cultural community as a two-time ByBlacks.com Radio Personality of the Year. As the creator and host of the All About The Funk radio show and the founder of the Toronto Funk & Soul Music Festival, she has dedicated her career to nurturing local talent and celebrating the timeless genres that inform her own work.
“Giving You More” is out now on all major platforms via Mazouk Music Productions.
