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Indie Pop Artist MORGXN Releases Emotional New Video for “H O L Y”

Eric Alper
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Indie Pop Artist MORGXN Releases Emotional New Video for “H O L Y”

Indie-pop artist MORGXN is proud to announce the release of the official music video for his latest single, “H O L Y”. Directed by Neta Ben Ezra, the video features Carl and Leo, a couple who opened their home to share their deeply moving love story.

“Generational love – especially in a state like Tennessee – is just not something I ever grew up seeing,” shares MORGXN. “So it means a lot to mark their story and mine with this video.”

The video brings to life the message of “H O L Y,” a song that celebrates love in all its forms, showcasing the deep connection between two people and the authenticity that comes with vulnerability. The track, written by MORGXN, Jesse Brock and Stephanie Middleton, explores the sacredness of love – not because of perfection, but because of its true, raw beauty.

“H O L Y” is a taste of more new music from MORGXN, with his recent EP HEARTLAND: PART I released on July 4. The EP perfectly encapsulates MORGXN’s ability to create music that feels both personal and universal, speaking to the complexities of relationships and the strength that comes from embracing love, flaws, and all.

With heartfelt songwriting, raw emotion, and a clear vision of what love and home can be, MORGXN continues to establish himself as a powerful storyteller and fearless advocate for authenticity in both art and life. His music, which combines indie-pop sensibilities with soul-baring lyricism, creates space for vulnerability, identity, and connection. As an artist who lives openly and creates fearlessly, he not only shares his truth but also invites others to do the same, inspiring a growing community that sees itself reflected in his work.

MORGXN is known for his breakout hit “Home” (feat. Walk the Moon), which landed in the Top 10 at Alternative Radio. A former Broadway performer (Spring Awakening), he’s played major festivals like Lollapalooza, Firefly, and Hangout, and shared stages with X Ambassadors, Skylar Grey, and Miike Snow. His music has been featured on ABC, HBO, NBC, and PBS, including performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Indie Pop Artist Hannah Bahng Announces Sophomore EP ‘The Misunderstood’ and North American Tour

Eric Alper
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Indie Pop Artist Hannah Bahng Announces Sophomore EP ‘The Misunderstood’ and North American Tour

Rising indie singer-songwriter hannah bahng has released her highly anticipated sophomore project, The Misunderstood EP, out now via her independent label Bahng Entertainment.

The Misunderstood EP will include hannah’s latest single “Sweet Satin Boy,” which was officially released this past summer. The song was first introduced during her set at Rolling Stone’s Future of Music SXSW Showcase and throughout The Abysmal Tour in Europe this past spring.

Written, composed and produced by hannah alongside her longtime collaborator Andrew Luce (iann dior, Role Model, Lil Nas X), the emotionally raw track explores the painful pull of a relationship you know you should leave but can’t seem to let go of.

The accompanying music video, directed and produced by hannah herself, further showcases her creative vision and hands-on approach, continuing to solidify her status as one of Gen Z’s most exciting multi-hyphenates.

“Sweet Satin Boy” follows the EP’s previous single, “what never lived” (January 2025), a haunting reflection on mourning a love that never truly existed.

To support the new music release, hannah has also today announced the North American leg of The Misunderstood World Tour, which will include her first-ever shows in Canada and Mexico. The 25-date run begins October 21 in Orlando, FL and wraps up December 3 in Dallas, TX.

The Misunderstood World Tour North American dates:
Tues, Oct 21 – Orlando, FL – The Social
Thurs, Oct 23 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
Sat, Oct 25 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
Sun, Oct 26 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
Tues, Oct 28 – Washington, D.C. – Lincoln Theatre
Thurs, Oct 30 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Sat, Nov 1 – Philadelphia, PA – TLA
Sunday, Nov 2 – Boston, MA – Royale
Tues, Nov 4 – Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD
Wed, Nov 5 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
Fri, Nov 7 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Sun, Nov 9 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Tues, Nov 11 – Denver, CO – Summit
Wed, Nov 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Grand at Complex
Fri, Nov 14 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Sat, Nov 15 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
Sun, Nov 16 – Seattle, WA – Showbox @ The Market
Tues, Nov 18 – San Francisco, CA – Regency
Thurs, Nov 20 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
Fri, Nov 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
Tues, Nov 25 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Wednesday, Nov 26 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
Fri, Nov 28 – Mexico City, MX – ABB
Tues, Dec 2 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Wed, Dec 3 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues

sombr Announces 2026 UK & European Tour Following Global Chart Success

Eric Alper
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sombr Announces 2026 UK & European Tour Following Global Chart Success

Continuing his worldwide momentum, 20-year-old singer-songwriter, producer, and breakthrough artist of the year sombr will embark on a 2026 UK and European headline tour. The run commences on February 10 in Stockholm, Sweden at Annexet, sees him take over iconic venues such as O2 Academy Brixton in London, UK on March 8, and concludes at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland on March 16. Speaking to overwhelming international demand, he will notably be performing his most expansive and extensive set yet.

sombr soundtracks summer 2025 with “back to friends.” It recently vaulted to #1 on Spotify’s Global Weekly Chart as the “#1 most-streamed song in the world this week” with over 540 million total streams and counting. Plus, it has held #1 on the Billboard Alternative Radio chart for a staggering five weeks. It notably reached the top spot after 10 weeks, marking his first #1 and the quickest Alternative Airplay accession for a musician making their debut on the tally in nearly a decade.

It’s no wonder VMAN recently crowned him “Gen Z’s new favorite indie rockstar.”

Meanwhile, magnetic hit “undressed” also continues to climb the charts, approaching 400 million streams as it reaches the Top 10 at Top 40 Radio. His newest release “we never dated” is following in the same footsteps, and saw sombr take the cover of Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist upon release.

From sharing his first taste of music online in 2021, to quickly garnering millions of monthly listeners and penning concurrent chart-topping singles, sombr’s rise has been meteoric. The breakout artist has spent the last few months selling out venues around the world, making his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and captivating a global fanbase through his vulnerable storytelling and steady stream of new music.

After selling out his North American and European headline tour pre-sale instantly, sombr will perform at venues around the world this summer/fall, including at New York’s Gramercy Theatre, back-to-back nights at New York’s Brooklyn Steel and Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre and a show at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre. sombr will also take his dynamic live show to Australia and New Zealand in December. The dates sold out instantly upon presale and include four slots at Spilt Milk Festival, nights in Sydney, Melbourne and more.

A New York-native raised on the Lower East Side, sombr-born Shane Boose-started making music in his bedroom while studying classical music as a student at the prestigious public school, LaGuardia High School. His breakout hit “Caroline” (2022) took the internet by storm, and he has since released a series of EPs and singles, climbing to over 46 million Spotify monthly listeners. Now based in Los Angeles, sombr continues to explore young romance and heartbreak through his music-all of which is self-written and released via Warner Records.

TOUR DATES
October 12-Theatre of Living Arts-Philadelphia, PA
October 13-The Lincoln-Washington, D.C.
October 15-Center Stage-Atlanta, GA
October 17-Southside Music Hall-Dallas, TX
October 18-Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater-Austin, TX
October 20-Ogden Theatre-Denver, CO
October 21-The Complex-Salt Lake City, UT
October 24-Shadowbox SoDo-Seattle, WA
October 25-Roseland Theater-Portland, OR
October 27-Fillmore-San Francisco, CA
October 28-El Rey Theatre-Los Angeles, CA
October 29-El Rey Theatre-Los Angeles, CA
October 31-The Van Buren-Phoenix, AZ
November 1-Fox Theater Pomona-Pomona, CA
November 2-The Fonda Theatre-Los Angeles, CA
November 5-Brooklyn Steel-New York, NY
November 6-Brooklyn Steel-New York, NY
December 2-Auckland Town Hall-Auckland, NZ
December 4-Festival Hall Melbourne-Melbourne, VIC
December 6-Spilt Milk Festival-Ballarat, VIC
December 7-Spilt Milk Festival-Perth, WA
December 9-Hordern Pavilion-Sydney, NSW
December 11-Fortitude Music Hall-Brisbane, QLD
December 13-Spilt Milk Festival-Canberra, ACT
December 14-Spilt Milk Festival-Gold Coast, QLD

2026 UK/EU TOUR DATES
February 10-Annexet-Stockholm, Sweden
February 11-KB Hallen-Copenhagen, Denmark
February 13-Inselpark Arena-Hamburg, Germany
February 15-Stodola-Warsaw, Poland
February 16-Forum Karlin-Prague, Czech Republic
February 18-Gasometer-Vienna, Austria
February 19-Tonhalle-Munich, Germany
February 20-Halle 622-Zurich, Switzerland
February 22-Alcatraz-Milan, Italy
February 24-Riviera-Madrid, Spain
February 25-Razzmatazz-Barcelona, Spain
February 27-Salle Pleyel-Paris, France
March 2-AFAS Live-Amsterdam, Netherlands
March 4-Columbiahalle-Berlin, Germany
March 5-Palladium-Cologne, Germany
March 6-AB-Brussels, Belgium
March 8-O2 Academy Brixton-London, UK
March 12-Academy-Manchester, UK
March 13-O2 Academy-Birmingham, UK
March 15-O2 Academy-Glasgow, UK
March 16-3Arena-Dublin, Ireland

Alt Rock Icons The Charlatans UK Announce New Album ‘We Are Love’ Out October 31

Eric Alper
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Alt Rock Icons The Charlatans UK Announce New Album ‘We Are Love’ Out October 31

The Charlatans UK kick off a new era today with the news of their 14th studio album, We Are Love, out Friday, October 31, via BMG. The announcement comes accompanied by the album’s first offering, the title track “We Are Love,” which the Manchester band debuted live this summer at a landmark hometown show at Castlefield Bowl.

“We Are Love” is a celebratory statement of intent, an urgent, limber, clattering love song to the human race. Propelled forward by driving drums and anthemic guitar, frontman Tim Burgess describes it as “like an open-top car ride in the credits of your favorite movie, driving along the coast to somewhere amazing.”

One of the first tracks to emerge as they were writing, it became a pathfinder for the record, as guitarist Mark Collins explains: “Early on, we thought it felt right. And it turned out that way: first single, title track, second song on the album. And things started forming around ‘We Are Love.’ There was a certain energy to it that drove us forward.”

One of the best-loved UK bands of the last four decades, The Charlatans UK’s career spans 13 albums, 22 Top 40 UK singles, three Number One UK albums and era-defining anthems like “The Only One I Know,” “North Country Boy” and “One to Another” – We Are Love launches a bold new era, one that finds them at peace with their past whilse looking forward to a bright future.

An eight-year gap between albums is the longest ever for one of the UK’s most enduring bands. A combination of covid, solo projects, life’s complexities and the fact that its five members – Tim Burgess (vocals) Martin Blunt (bass), Mark Collins (guitar), Tony Rogers (keyboards) and Pete Salisbury (drums) – live scattered across Europe, meant that it took longer than usual for the stars to align at the right place, right time, right vibe. They took the time to carefully select a recording A-team of production duo Dev Hynes (aka Blood Orange and Lightspeed Champion) and Fred Macpherson (Spector, Rachel Chinouriri, Jessica Winter, Taahliah), plus legendary producer Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur, The Cranberries), alongside a list of engineers, mixers and collaborators that reads like a who’s who of alt rock greatness. The result has been well worth the wait.

Recorded at two places that are totemic in The Charlatans UK’s history – Rockfield in Wales and their own Big Mushroom space in Middlewich, Cheshire – Burgess cites hauntology and psychogeography as two concepts that swirled in his head as the band dug into the album making. For one thing, their return to storied farm studio Rockfield for the first time in almost 30 years, since they made their fifth album Tellin’ Stories, was an important step. As a band, they hadn’t been there since keyboard player Rob Collins was killed, in the middle of that album’s sessions, in a car crash at the bottom of the track leading to the farm. Throughout the record, you can hear The Charlatans UK’s awareness of the stuff that’s made them – the highs and the lows; the desire to honor their own mighty legacy, whilst not being defined by it; a career-long drive to be progressive and innovative.

“The whole idea of hauntology and psychogeography is represented by us going back to Rockfield, where so much history has happened for The Charlatans,” says Burgess. “That was important as a way of honoring every member who’s played in the band. So we’re honouring ourselves, our past, feeling that energy and reincarnating it, doing something fresh, brand new.”

This introspection brought home the fact that love is the glue that has held The Charlatans UK together for so long, and that’s reflected in the 11 tracks that make up this forward-thinking, future-facing album. Alongside the album announcement, The Charlatans UK have also shared plans for a December UK tour, playing headline shows in Leeds, Stoke, Bath, London, Manchester, and Glasgow.

Americana Artist Coyle Girelli Honors Mac Davis On Sun Records Album ‘Out Of This Town’

Eric Alper
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Americana Artist Coyle Girelli Honors Mac Davis On Sun Records Album ‘Out Of This Town’

Upon watching a performance video of vocalist Coyle Girelli, iconic songwriter Mac Davis gushed that Girelli could be the next Roy Orbison. Davis should know, having worked with some of the best musicians of his era, including the King of Rock n’ Roll. Girelli is his own man as an artist, but his rich vocals and captivating phrasing evoke the cinematic romanticism of Orbison.

Today, everyone can experience Girelli’s mesmerizing singing on his second single, “Everyone But Me and You,” from his record, Out of This Town, out now on Sun Records. The 12-track album features darkly seductive duets with KT Tunstall, Jaime Wyatt, and Cassandra Lewis. Out of This Town will be available on vinyl, CD, and via all streaming services.

The songs on Out of This Town have sat dormant for years, as beautiful ghost demos of what could have been. Girelli, who produced the record, remained faithful to the raw allure of the initial song sketches.

“Mac reminded me of how instinctive songwriting should be,” Girelli said. “You could hear that on the demos-they had a rough feeling to very big songs. We wanted to preserve that on this album.”

The album’s latest single, “Everyone But Me and You,” features the cosmic Americana singer-songwriter Cassandra Lewis as a sultry duet partner. The song conjures the plush longing of lovelorn ballads from the 1950s – an intimate portrayal of the late night pining of two lovers separated with a moody guitar, lush strings, and mournful pedal steel. Written solely by Davis, the track was previously released in 1994 as a duet with his longtime friend Dolly Parton on his album Will Write Songs for Food.

Girelli’s nuanced production has a dramatic sweep. His vocals occupy a sacred sonic space supported by sparse acoustic guitar, and a touch of ethereal ambience. Slowly, the song ascends into an atmospheric sense of symphonic grandeur with a haze of instrumentation, featuring teardrop pedal steel, Lewis’s winsome harmony vocals, elegiac strings, and moony synth textures.

“When Coyle sent me the song, I felt a familiar connection. It lives in that cinematic, symphonic country universe I love,” said Lewis. “I heard echoes of Roy Orbison and Nancy Sinatra. As a huge fan of Dolly and the timeless style Sun Records continues to champion, I felt honored to put my own little cosmic flair on it. We really wanted to capture that haunted, desperate feeling you get when you don’t know if someone else feels the same way you do – that lonely, hopeful liminal space. It was a smooth, collaborative process, working with Coyle and our engineer. I love that he’s preserving these styles and bringing that history forward.”

Out of This Town represents a once-in-a-lifetime pairing of talents, dating back over a decade ago when Girelli and Davis first got together in Los Angeles. “We sat down with a couple of cups of coffee and a bunch of guitars. We wrote our first song together in an hour of being introduced,” Girelli recalled.

Davis saw a kindred spirit in Girelli, and the two shared natural personal and musical connections. Out of This Town features several songs from Davis’ personal backlog rescued from a literal bag full of Davis’ handwritten lyrics on yellow legal pads. The rest of the album-more than half of the songs-were co-written by Davis and Girelli. Davis died in 2020, before he and Girelli could complete this body of work together.

The album is a testament to an artistic synergy that transcends generations and genres. Girelli and Davis’ pedigrees and journeys in the music industry could not be more different. What brought them together is a singular commitment to the sanctity of the song.

The British-born New York-based Girelli is a solo artist, a platinum-selling songwriter, a musical-theater composer, a record producer, a multi-instrumentalist, and the frontman for the indie-rock bands Your Vegas and The Chevin. In addition, Girelli has composed for BTS, Robin Schultz, Westlife, and co-written the record-breaking French musicals, Robin des Bois and Les Trois Mousquetaires.

Grammy-winning songwriter, artist, and actor Mac Davis was a Lubbock, Texas-born musician best known for penning Elvis Presley hits such as “In the Ghetto” and “A Little Less Conversation.” Davis also had a successful solo career with songs like “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me,” he hosted The Mac Davis Show, and acted in films. In 2000, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Indie Pop Artist Ethan Regan Releases Emotional New Single ‘Cartilage’ From EP ‘Honey Honey Honey’

Eric Alper
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Indie Pop Artist Ethan Regan Releases Emotional New Single ‘Cartilage’ From EP ‘Honey Honey Honey’

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Ethan Regan has released his emotional new single “cartilage”, today via Columbia. Following the reflective tone of his previous release, “decay,” “cartilage” continues Ethan’s exploration of loss, healing, and self-discovery, with dreamy textures and an aching vocal delivery that invites his fans into a world of reflection and emotional honesty. The track is featured on the 6 track EP ‘honey honey honey’ out now.

A deeply introspective track, “cartilage” explores the emotions throughout heartbreak and the slow unraveling of identity in its aftermath. Ethan captures the devastation of letting go with unflinching vulnerability, weaving his signature rustic harmonies and production into a soundscape that feels both nostalgic and deeply personal.

honey honey honey tracklist:
dirty
spaceman
decay
get by
cartilage
heat

Rock Artist Matt Maeson Releases Reflective New Album ‘A Quiet And Harmless Living’

Eric Alper
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Rock Artist Matt Maeson Releases Reflective New Album ‘A Quiet And Harmless Living’

Matt Maeson has released his third studio album, A Quiet And Harmless Living out now via Atlantic Music Group. On the album, the Virginia-born and Nashville-based multiplatinum singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist chronicles the recent changes in his life, including getting married, moving from Austin to Nashville, and becoming a father.

The album channels the complicated feelings, uneasy thoughts, and self-doubt into arresting anthems anchored by relatable and raw emotion. “It was very healing to write this,” Maeson shares. “I was going through a lot. So, A Quiet and Harmless Living is about deconstruction and figuring out who I am now as a person in a completely different season.”

Today, Maeson also shares his latest single and video for “Downstairs.” Maeson reveals about the song, “‘Downstairs’ was one of the first songs I wrote for this album. It was written out of exhaustion and my tendency to isolate myself when things are hard. I’d just had my son, and I was having a very hard time with it. I found myself racing through the days to get everything that had to be done over with so I could go isolate myself downstairs. I ended up having a few buddies come over months after I’d started the song and they helped me finish it in that very same room downstairs.” Listen to “Downstairs” here and watch the new music video, directed by Matthew Daniel Siskin, below.

Maeson recently confirmed his 42-date tour which will reunite him with his full band to play 27 dates in North America from late September through early November, and 15-dates in Europe and the UK in January and February 2026. The tour will stop in cities including Austin, Los Angeles, Toronto, Nashville, and Brooklyn in North America and Dublin, Paris, Munich, Amsterdam and more in the EU/UK (full dates below). A VIP package will be offered for each date which includes soundcheck viewing access, one signed, show specific tour poster, one exclusive merch gift, one commemorative VIP laminate, early merch shopping access, and VIP early entry to the show.

A Quiet And Harmless Living is Matt Maeson’s first album since his 2024 live record, That’s My Cue: A Solo Experience and his sold-out solo tour of the same name. It was written during and chronicles a period of profound change in Maeson’s life. “I was trying to appease everyone by juggling being a good father, husband, and artist,” he shares. “I was failing at all of it, because I was doing too much. It broke me down to a point where it came out in the lyrics. I was writing about all of the ups and downs of fatherhood, marriage, and a career in an industry that demands all of your time and punishes you for the time you don’t give. There was a whiplash of emotions, but fatherhood gave me the punch in the face I needed like, ‘Your job isn’t the only thing that matters anymore’. It actually took the pressure off. My career could fail, but I’d still have the best thing in the world: my son. It gave me the ability to be brutally truthful.”

Given the changes at home, Matt primarily wrote at night, working often between 11 pm and 2 am. He listened to everything from Mk.gee, Big Thief, and Adrianne Lenker to the scores of Final Fantasy VII and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. To bring the music to life, he collaborated closely with producer and friend Owen Lewis, leveraging the talents of Nashville session musicians to complete the vision. This time around, the bulk of the material was developed on piano, including the first single “Everlasting,” which wrestles with the idea of leaving it all behind, before dusting yourself off and finding comfort in the mantra-like chant, “Grit your teeth and make us proud. Fake it when you don’t know how.”

On “Downstairs” palm-muted electric guitar slips into the undertow of the distortion-boosted refrain, “I just wanna drift away downstairs.” Meanwhile, on “Cursive,” Maeson duets with Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra trading off on introspective verses. “Andy and I have become super close,” Maeson says. “He’s been through it all, and he has two kids who are a little older. It’s the only song to address my place with religion and faith. As a kid, you rely on what you’re indoctrinated with. When you get to 32 and all of it falls apart, you have to figure out what you believe.”

Ultimately, A Quiet and Harmless Living is the sound of growing and finding balance. “At the end of the day, I’m just a good father and husband who makes and plays music sometimes,” he smiles. “I’m so happy with this record. I made something that spoke to me, and I’m content, man.”

Country Gospel Legend William Lee Golden & The Goldens Release Emotional ‘Elvira’ Video Honoring Family Legacy

Eric Alper
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Country Gospel Legend William Lee Golden & The Goldens Release Emotional ‘Elvira’ Video Honoring Family Legacy

Country and Gospel Music Hall of Famer, Grand Ole Opry member, and Oak Ridge Boy William Lee Golden, together with his family band The Goldens, proudly unveils their heartfelt new music video for “Elvira,” a standout track from their Golden Classics collection.

Adding a deeply personal touch, the video features William Lee’s grandson, Elijah Golden, taking the lead on vocals, capturing a powerful generational connection through music. Directed by Jeff Panzer, the video includes appearances by cherished family members Elizabeth, Chris, and Elijah Golden, Aaron McCune, and the late Rusty Golden, whose presence in the video serves as a moving tribute, coming one year after his passing.

“When we decided to record our version of “Elvira,” it was one that I knew would sound the best with my grandson, Elijah, on lead vocals,” shares William Lee. “Elijah grew up to this song and always loved it. We wanted to feature him in the video as well, and it was tough as he’s been away to college at Brown University. We loved the end result and felt it was appropriate to honor my son Rusty Golden and Joe Bonsall, who both passed away within a week of each other one year ago. I love and miss them both very much.”

William Lee Golden and The Goldens, were recently inducted into the 28th Annual North American Country Music Association International (NACMAI) along with fellow honorees Billy Dean, Marty Raybon (of Shenandoah), and Mark Wills. In front of a roaring audience and a venue full of support, William Lee, his son Chris, and his granddaughter Elizabeth Golden took the stage, performing several songs from their three-album collection, Golden Classics, before their official induction. The group has also released several other videos, including “Southern Accents,” “Stand By Me,” “If I Could Only Hear My Mother Pray Again,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Old Country Church,” “The Long And Winding Road,””I Saw The Light,” and “Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On.”

Country Pop Artist Lanie Gardner Releases Sophomore Album ‘Faded Polaroids’ Featuring Mick Fleetwood

Eric Alper
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Country Pop Artist Lanie Gardner Releases Sophomore Album ‘Faded Polaroids’ Featuring Mick Fleetwood

Named by the Recording Academy as a “2025 Artist to Watch,” Lanie Gardner has officially announced her sophomore album Faded Polaroids, out now via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Alongside the announcement, the North Carolina native has released the album’s powerful lead song, “High Divin,'” featuring legendary Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood on the drums.

A full-circle moment for the 25-year-old artist – whose breakout came from a viral cover of “Dreams” (now at over 100M views) – “High Divin'” is an atmospheric anthem with a heart of self-reflection. Wrapped in shimmering guitars and soaring vocals, it captures the emotional leap of the journey of self-sabotage, while honoring the path that led her there.

“It’s one of the most important songs on the album for me,” Gardner shares. “I was going through a pretty rough patch and needed to give myself a little tough love.”

Produced by Oscar Charles, Jonathan Singleton, Chris Ganoudis and Don Miggs, Faded Polaroids expands on the raw honesty of Gardner’s 2024 debut A Songwriter’s Diary, offering a sonic scrapbook of self-discovery, family roots, romantic twists, and personal healing. Across 18 tracks, Gardner blends country storytelling with indie-rock grit, small-town pop, and boundary-free emotion – a genre-bending vision uniquely.

“I created the idea of Faded Polaroids using actual polaroids. Some brand new, others nicotine-stained, withered, torn and worn from being passed down through the years,” says Gardner. “It felt like zooming out on my whole life and finally seeing the bigger picture. These snapshots – these songs – are the most beautiful parts of me. They tell the story of where I come from, who I come from, what I’ve learned and who I’m becoming. I hope these songs encourage people to take the time to make their own version of that too. I think it’s important that we all do.”

Born and raised in the tiny Appalachian mountain town of Burnsville, NC, Gardner grew up in a family of natural musicians, learning to sing from her mother and guitar from her father. A loner-turned-artist with a gift for turning diary entries into cathartic anthems, she eventually left home for Nashville, chasing the Grand Ole Opry dream of her late grandfather – a dream that comes full circle with her Opry debut on August 6. Get tickets here.

Following her recent Polaroids EP and breakout debut album – which earned her a “2025 Artist to Watch” nod from both the Recording Academy/GRAMMY and Amazon Music – Faded Polaroids finds Gardner stepping fully into her sound. From the soul-cleansing “Takin’ The Slow Ride” and smoldering “Concrete Cowboy,” to the rootsy, nostalgic title track and breezy “Love You Like Appalachia,” the album captures a rising star in her magic hour – honest, unfiltered, and unforgettable.

Americana Artist Ketch Secor Of Old Crow Medicine Show Releases Debut Solo Album ‘Story The Crow Told Me’

Eric Alper
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Americana Artist Ketch Secor Of Old Crow Medicine Show Releases Debut Solo Album ‘Story The Crow Told Me’

Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor releases his debut solo album Story The Crow Told Me on Equal Housing Records via Firebird Music. Recorded at his own Hartland Studios and co-written/produced with Jody Stevens (Luke Bryan, Jake Owens), the the album is a poignant reflection on a quarter century spent in Music City that features special guests Molly Tuttle, Marty Stuart, The Cadillac Three’s Jaren Jaren Johnston, and Old Crow alumni Critter Fuqua and Willie Watson.

With these 12 songs, Secor showcases the full range of his musical talents – playing nearly a dozen instruments across the album and co-writing every track. Skilled in reinterpreting the sounds of the past for today’s audience, he sets the past 25 years of his music-making life to a new soundtrack.

Also today, Secor released the official video for the album’s coda “What Nashville Was,” featuring Molly Tuttle, as well as a sample from Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash’s “Girl From The North Country.”

About the song, Secor explains: “I’m at a loss for what to tell you about this song. Isn’t it every kid’s dream to run the bases on the ball diamond of life, batting and fielding with their heroes? Maybe it’s as simple as that, I just wanted to sing one with Bob and Johnny, and so I jotted my name in ballpoint under theirs in gold. But this song is also about a city where dreams take flight or flounder, where brilliancy is rewarded or disregarded. And about the hope that anyone strumming at the foot of this ever-changing skyline will do so with a spirit deserving of a place as soulful as this one is. It was the Queen of England who crowned it Music City. Now it’s up to us to make sure it stays that way.”

The album has received acclaim from American Songwriter, Holler, Music Row, NPR Music, Relix and Rolling Stone, who debuted the video for the album’s first single “Dickerson Road” and proclaimed it “bristles with the same energy of its namesake.” This morning, Billboard published an extensive feature with Secor and premiered the video for “What Nashville Was.”

This week, Secor announced additional tour dates on his Story The Crow Told Me Tour that will make upcoming stops in Chicago, Annapolis, and Joe’s Pub in New York City on November 4. In addition to a full touring schedule for Old Crow Medicine Show throughout the rest of the year, he’ll also join the Railroad Revival Tour with Mumford & Sons and Friends in August as a member of the “house band” along with Celisse, Chris Thile, Leif Vollebekk, Lucius, Madison Cunningham, Nathaniel Rateliff and Trombone Shorty.

On Monday, it was announced that Secor will become the new host of Tennessee Crossroads, the long-running travel and culture series, during its 39th season beginning this September. The beloved series airs on public television stations in Tennessee and the Southeast and reaches viewers nationwide online. Secor will also lend his signature curiosity and warmth to Jaunts, the show’s digital companion taking viewers on quick discoveries across the region.

“I am thrilled and honored to take the reins of one of my state’s most watched and beloved programs, PBS’s Tennessee Crossroads,” he explains. “Continuing the legacy of founding host the late great Joe Elmore I’ll be exploring the places and people who make the volunteer state so vibrant (and so worth a visit!) Tennessee is my home, and, with its abundant cultural offerings and regional distinctions, has been my deepest well of inspiration as an artist. I’m honored to share with viewers my passion for and knowledge of our state and learn even more on this journey together. Let’s go!”

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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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