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Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night Announce Enchanting 2025 Blackmore’s Night Tour

Eric Alper
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Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night Announce Enchanting 2025 Blackmore’s Night Tour

Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and award-winning singer Candice Night return to the stage in November 2025. This tour is a musical journey through the band’s 25-year-long history, featuring songs from across their entire discography and offering fans an enchanting evening celebrating the music of Blackmore’s Night.

Six dates are set for November along the East Coast.

With a shared love for the tradition of Renaissance and folk-rock music, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and award-winning lyricist and singer Candice Night founded Blackmore’s Night in 1997. They have been enchanting audiences around the world ever since. Blackmore’s Night defines its music as Renaissance folk-rock, a unique and original genre of music inspired by the melodies and the tradition of the Renaissance period, translated into contemporary music.

In 1997, Blackmore’s Night released their debut album, Shadow Of The Moon, which immediately went gold in Japan and earned awards worldwide.

What followed was a success story that is one of its kind. After hitting off the celebrations for their 25th anniversary with a fully remixed edition of their debut album Shadow Of The Moon in 2023, Candice and Ritchie continued the festivities with the worldwide release of an anniversary edition of their acclaimed third studio album Fires At Midnight in 2024. Originally released in July 2001, Fires At Midnight entered the Official German Album Charts at No. 9 in 2001, making it Blackmore’s Night’s first record to hit the Top 10 Charts in Germany. The band’s latest studio album, Nature’s Light, brought Blackmore’s Night back to the German Top 10, and it has reinforced the relationship with the fanbase globally.

Meanwhile, their devoted fan base has grown exponentially as the band continues performing their mystical music for all ages. From grandparents to children, everyone is enjoying their medieval mood music and gypsy dances. Clearly, the music of Blackmore’s Night connects with fans on a deep level, allowing them to experience an entirely different era of merriment. In the age of digital music, new fans discover Blackmore’s Night every single day, making the band possibly the most-streamed artist of its genre. At the helm of this band is award-winning lyricist and vocalist, Candice Night, who not only contributes her unique, entrancing vocals, but also deftly navigates seven medieval woodwinds, including chanters, shawms, pennywhistles and recorders. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and celebrated guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, who traverses between acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, mandola and hurdy gurdy. Further enhancing the band’s inspired sound are keyboardist/back-up vocalist Bard David; violinist Scarlett Fiddler; back-up vocalist/rhythm guitar, Lady Jessie; bassist/rhythmic guitarist Earl Grey; and percussionist Troubadour of Aberdeen. With lyrics penned by Night, the collective embraces the aura of the old-world inn, from madrigals and ballads to good old-fashioned Renaissance-inspired pub songs.

Their sold-out concerts in castles and UNESCO sites worldwide are filled with thousands of fans dressed in Renaissance garb, dancing and singing as if time stood still. No clocks… no pressure… just the gaiety and camaraderie of a medieval pub. Everyone joins in and loses their stress in the music. The recent induction of Blackmore’s Night into the ‘Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame’ is yet another testament to their incredible artistry. In addition to her work with Blackmore’s Night, Candice Night released her deeply personal solo album Sea Glass in 2025. A collection of heartfelt songs inspired by life, love, and reflection, the album showcases her captivating vocals and intimate songwriting in a more contemporary setting. Sea Glass has already touched fans worldwide, offering yet another dimension of Candice’s artistry beyond the Renaissance-inspired world of Blackmore’s Night.

Blackmore’s Knight 2025 Tour Dates:

Nov 9 – Alexandra, VA @ The Birchmere
Nov 13 – Lititz, PA @ Mickey’s Black Box
Nov 15 – Newtown, NJ @ Newtown Theater
Nov 20 – Wilmington, DE @ The Queen
Nov 23 – Cohoes, NY @ Cohoes Music Hall
Nov 29 – Tarrytown, NY @ Tarrytown Music Hall

Indie-Pop Darlings Fickle Friends Announce Self-Titled Album and Drop New Single ‘Joe’

Eric Alper
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Indie-Pop Darlings Fickle Friends Announce Self-Titled Album and Drop New Single ‘Joe’

Last week saw Brighton’s favourite indie pop troubadours Fickle Friends reveal the news of their upcoming eponymous third studio album, Fickle Friends, out 7th November via their own label, Palmeira Music. Today, they share the irrefutably fun and slightly chaotic single ‘Joe’. The four piece are embarking on a November UK tour, including a date in their native town’s coveted Green Door Store on album release day. The tour has sold out already in Brighton, London and Oxford – buy tickets for the remaining shows here.

‘Joe’ follows a line of successful singles, ‘Feral’, ‘Swoon’, ‘Dream’, ‘Happier’ and most recently, UP!. A testament to their exceptional talents and loyal fanbase, the aforementioned singles have hit tremendous streaming heights through an entirely independent approach, without having leaned on traditional industry support.

With their self-titled album, Fickle Friends are rewriting their own story – a radiant indie pop record that marks both a return, and a rebirth. Entirely self-produced and creatively directed by the band, Fickle Friends is a true DIY triumph – proof of what happens when artists trust their instincts and embrace total independence. It’s a love letter to joy, friendship, and finding your way back to the things that make you feel alive.

Across Fickle Friends’ 11 tracks, the band capture the euphoria and chaos of being alive right now, marrying cosy production and huge hooks with lyrics that are both deeply personal and wildly relatable.

After years of relentless touring and two acclaimed albums, the band stepped back to breathe, to rediscover why they started making music in the first place. The break wasn’t just necessary, it was transformative. What emerged was a renewed sense of purpose, and the songs that would become Fickle Friends.

At its heart, this is an album about happiness. Messy, complicated, hard-won happiness. It celebrates the friends who lift you up, the nights that stretch until morning, the thrill of falling in love, and the joy of finally letting yourself live unapologetically.

“This album feels like the most authentic we’ve ever been,” says vocalist Natassja Shiner. “It’s the sound of falling back in love with music, with being a band, and with life itself. It’s honest and FUN.”

Toto Legend Steve Porcaro Returns with Reflective New Album ‘The Very Day’

Eric Alper
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Toto Legend Steve Porcaro Returns with Reflective New Album ‘The Very Day’

Steve Porcaro-legendary songwriter, synth pioneer, and founding member of Toto-makes a long-awaited return this fall with The Very Day, his first solo album since 2016. Out now on Green Hill Music, the album begins its reveal today with the release of the radiant new single “Miss Jane Sinclair,” a breezy piano-driven track written in collaboration with author and longtime friend David Kamp.

A platinum-selling songwriter best known for penning songs like Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and shaping the sonic landscape of ’80s pop with his signature synth textures, Porcaro has spent a lifetime in the studio crafting songs for others. His role as a behind-the-scenes architect of that sound was recently spotlighted in the HBO documentary Yacht Rock, which revisited the smooth pop era he helped define. But with The Very Day, he turns inward-finishing a deeply personal collection of tracks decades in the making.

“I found myself in this fortunate position where the coast was clear,” says Porcaro. “After years of spinning plates and making a living in music, I finally had the space to do what I love: be in the studio and finish my songs. This album is the start of a new chapter for me-no touring, no compromises, just making music on my own terms.”

Porcaro wrote and recorded the songs on The Very Day with a carefully chosen cast of friends and collaborators, including Michael McDonald, Jude Cole, Gardner Cole, and Jason Scheff. With a producer’s ear and a composer’s sensibility, Porcaro approached each track like casting a film-inviting voices and musicians who best served the story of the song. Though he’s never considered himself a lead vocalist, he sings several songs on the album, including “Miss Jane Sinclair.”

“I’ve always had a soft spot for a great hook, but I also grew up loving music that pushed the envelope-Steely Dan, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Yes,” he says. “Now I get to follow that instinct and be true to myself. These songs come from that place.”

Blake Davis, General Manager of Green Hill Music, adds: “Steve Porcaro is one of the great architects of modern pop. His touch-whether in the studio or behind the keyboard-has influenced generations. We’re honored to release The Very Day, a record that reflects both his legacy and his freedom to create exactly the music he wants to make.”

Texas Legend Robert Earl Keen Announces 2025 Holiday Tour ‘The Greatest Christmas On Earth’

Eric Alper
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Texas Legend Robert Earl Keen Announces 2025 Holiday Tour ‘The Greatest Christmas On Earth’

For fifteen years now, legendary Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen has thrown his own kind of Christmas party, one that involves venues quite a bit larger than your usual great uncle’s living room and a few thousand more guests.

At this point, the REK Christmas tour has become part of some families’ traditions right alongside sweet potato casserole or leaving out treats for the reindeer. This year will be no different, with Keen and company announcing their 2025 holiday season tour: The Greatest Christmas On Earth.

From December 4th to the 21st, load up the kids-no matter if they’re grown or not-and head to the travelling musical circus where the Robert Earl Keen Band plan on bringing themes like lions, tigers, tight ropes, and clowns into the fold among Keen’s classic, singalong tunes to tour stops throughout the Southeast and Texas. Of course, each night wouldn’t be complete without a performance of the most dysfunctional holiday anthem ever, “Merry Christmas From The Family.” And that’s exactly the spirit of a Robert Earl Keen Christmas show: check all of your family, work, or life baggage at the door and have a good time, even if, no…especially if, you’re sitting next to your own argumentative kin. It’s a perfect 90 minutes of not having to make small talk with Brother Ken, New Wife Kay, Fred and Rita, and Cousin David!

Tickets for The Greatest Christmas On Earth tour, kicking off with a REK hometown show in Kerrville, Texas, on December 4th. Artist presale begins on Wednesday, October 8th at 10am local. Registration is now live via robertearlkeen.com/tour. General on sale is Friday, October 10th at 10am local.

Greatest Christmas On Earth Tour Dates:
Dec. 4 – Kerrville, TX – Arcadia Live Theatre
Dec. 6 – Tyler, TX – UT Tyler Cowan Center
Dec. 7 – Oxford, MS – The Lyric
Dec. 9 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
Dec. 10 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater
Dec. 12 – Charlotte, NC – Carolina Theatre
Dec. 13 – Chattanooga, TN – Walker Theatre
Dec. 14 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
Dec. 16 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
Dec. 18 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Dec. 19 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Dec. 20 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Dec. 21 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

Atlanta Rap Phenom J.I.D Rolls Out ‘Sk8’ Video Featuring Ciara & Earthgang

Eric Alper
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Atlanta Rap Phenom J.I.D Rolls Out ‘Sk8’ Video Featuring Ciara & Earthgang

Critically acclaimed rapper and Atlanta native J.I.D. releases the official music video for “Sk8,” a standout track from his critically acclaimed album God Does Like Ugly. Shot across the city’s legendary roller rinks, including the storied Golden Glide and Cascade rinks, the visual celebrates the heartbeat of Atlanta’s skate scene and the community that shaped it.

Directed by Maya Table, “Sk8” blends high-energy performance with vibrant, kinetic camerawork that glides through the rink like wheels on lacquered wood. The video starring Ciara and Earthgang, who appear on the song, also features special appearances from Atlanta legends, culture-shapers, and friends, including Kilo Ali, Jermaine Dupri, Bijan Robinson, Baby Kia, BunnaB, Jace, Key!, Swavay, Ben Reilly, Jasper, KP the Great, Queen Flip, and NuFace.

The video comes on the heels of J.I.D’s recently announced God Does Like World Tour, which will see the rapper play some of the biggest venues of his career as a headliner.

The tour announcement comes soon after God Does Like Ugly. The 15-track album features some of music’s biggest luminaries, including Clipse, Ciara, Don Toliver, Ty Dolla $ign, Vince Staples, Westside Gunn, 6lack, Jessie Reyez, Earthgang, Mereba, and Baby Kia.

Folk-Pop Storyteller Louis O’Hara Announces Debut Album ‘A Peaceful Kind of Fun’

Eric Alper
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Folk-Pop Storyteller Louis O’Hara Announces Debut Album ‘A Peaceful Kind of Fun’

West Wales songwriter Louis O’Hara has announced the release of his debut album, A Peaceful Kind of Fun, out 7th November 2025 on Libertino Records. The news arrives alongside the release of “Finally Stick”, the album’s second single, on Tuesday 23rd September.

A Peaceful Kind of Fun is a 14-track collection that distils O’Hara’s poetic lyricism, tender folk roots, and subtle chamber-pop flourishes into a deeply personal yet quietly universal debut. Recorded with his band His Burley Chassis and produced by James Trevascus (Billy Nomates, Young Fathers, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis) in Spain, the album is shaped by themes of memory, loss, joy, and the places and people that anchor a life.

Throughout the record, O’Hara draws from family history, friendships, and rural West Wales landscapes to create songs that are intimate yet resonant. “The Kid In Me” channels recurring dreams of playing football for Wales as an ode to imagination and daydreaming. “Just Grand” (the album’s first single) is a tender farewell to his grandfather. “Sunnyhill Farm” recalls childhood summers spent on his aunt and uncle’s dairy farm. “Munnelly” traces his grandfather’s memories of the corncrake bird in rural Ireland, entwined with the fragility of dementia. Other highlights include “Magpie”, a love song to his closest friend, “Married”, written in celebration of his brother’s wedding, and “Plant a Tree”, which gathers pieces of life advice into a song of gratitude.

New single “Finally Stick” embodies the duality at the heart of O’Hara’s writing – beginning with the joy and lightness of love’s early stages before descending into the exhaustion and fallout of a relationship’s end. Its arrangement layers piano, clarinet, cello, electric guitar, and theremin, with a spoken-word bridge nodding to 1950s vocal groups such as The Ink Spots and The Capris.

The album gathers together fragments of memory, relationships, and place, weaving them into songs that honour the connections which shape a life. Moving between moments of joy, loss, and reflection, A Peaceful Kind of Fun lingers on the small details that stay with us – the echoes of childhood, the presence of family, the landscapes of home.

Album Tracklisting:

1. The Kid In Me

2. Just Grand

3. Sunnyhill Farm

4. Mewn Llun

5. Munnelly

6. Magpie

7. Audrey

8. Llygaid Glas

9. Married

10. Finally Stick

11. Tŷ Ger Y Môr

12. Tears

13. Truman’s Road

14. Plant a Tree

About Louis O’Hara:

Louis O’Hara is a singer-songwriter from Pembroke Dock, West Wales, whose music blends tender folk sensibilities with poetic lyricism and chamber-pop textures. His songs draw from memory, place, and quiet emotional truths, often described as nostalgic, emotional, and intimate.

After years living in Bristol and London, O’Hara returned to West Wales in 2024, a move that inspired the writing of his forthcoming debut album (due late 2025). Written between a cherished nylon-string guitar and his grandmother’s piano, the record reflects on themes of loss, love, and friendship, arranged with his band His Burley Chassis and recorded in Spain with producer James Trevascus (Billy Nomates, Young Fathers, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis).

His earlier EPs Clay (2024) and Pass The Blame (2025) established him as one of Wales’ most affecting new voices, drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Sparklehorse, and Paul McCartney. With “Just Grand”, Louis O’Hara offers a glimpse into the emotional honesty and lyrical clarity of his upcoming full-length record.

Rock Powerhouse Orianthi Announces 2026 UK Tour Following ‘Some Kind of Feeling’

Eric Alper
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Rock Powerhouse Orianthi Announces 2026 UK Tour Following ‘Some Kind of Feeling’

Following the release of her new album Some Kind of Feeling, critically acclaimed guitarist and singer Orianthi is pleased to announce her January 2026 UK Tour.

Dates include Manchester, Band on the Wall (Jan 24), Glasgow, Oran Mor (Jan 25), Leeds, Brudenell (Jan 28), London, O2 Academy Islington (Jan 29), Planet Rocks’ Winter’s End (Jan 31) and Southampton, The Brook (Feb 1).

Orianthi’s new album Some Kind of Feeling was released digitally by Woodward Avenue Records on June 27th. The CD will be released on August 15th, followed by the vinyl on September 19th.

Orianthi produced three songs from the new album including “First Time Blues” feat. Joe Bonamassa, “Ghost,” and “Bad For Each Other.” The remaining seven songs on the album, including the current single “Attention,” are produced by Kevin Shirley (Black Country Communion, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa).

MANCHESTER, BAND ON THE WALL
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY 2026

GLASGOW, ORAN MOR
SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2026

LEEDS, BRUDENELL
WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2026

LONDON, O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON
THURSDAY 29 JANUARY 2026

PLANET ROCK’S WINTER’S END
SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 2026

SOUTHAMPTON, THE BROOK
SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2026

Alt-Pop Artist Rosie Carney Returns with Haunting New Single ‘Here’

Eric Alper
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0
Alt-Pop Artist Rosie Carney Returns with Haunting New Single ‘Here’

Irish singer-songwriter Rosie Carney makes a striking return today with “Here,” her brand new single which was co-produced by Ross MacDonald of The 1975 and Ed Thomas (FKA twigs, Cat Burns, Amaarae).

“Here” marks Carney’s first new music since her 2022 acclaimed sophomore record, i wanna feel happy and unveils a dramatic sonic evolution for the artist. The track is accompanied by a music video directed by Cal McIntyre (The Last Dinner Party) and cinematography by Charlotte Croft, filmed in rural Ireland.

Working closely with MacDonald and Thomas over months of sessions in London, Carney built a sonic world that pulls from shoegaze, alt-pop, and electronic textures, while remaining rooted in the raw emotional honesty that has defined her songwriting.

Alt-Pop Storyteller Jann Klose Brings Stop-Motion Magic to ‘When I’m With You’

Eric Alper
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0
Alt-Pop Storyteller Jann Klose Brings Stop-Motion Magic to ‘When I’m With You’

Jann Klose has unveiled the official music video for his latest single, “When I’m With You,” a joyful, synth-rock celebration of human connection. The video-shot entirely using stop-motion cinematography-was directed by Texas-born filmmaker Sam Casey and filmed on location throughout New York City, including iconic landmarks like Times Square, Lincoln Center, and the High Line.

The visually captivating video is the product of over 2,000 photographs, taken in a whirlwind six-hour shoot. Each frame was carefully captured one step at a time-echoing the lyricism and sentiment of the song itself. Jann’s idea to incorporate the concept of a “Daumenkino” (flipbook in German) into the visual storytelling adds a personal and playful layer to the experience, blending innovation with heart.

“I had this idea of shooting a full-on stop motion music video in NYC and pitched it to Sam just days after we met,” says Klose. “He loved it and jumped on board immediately. It was exhausting but exhilarating, and the result is beautiful. Along the way, we engaged with random fans on the street-something that really reflects the soul of the song, ‘When I’m With You.'”

Director Sam Casey embraced the challenge of using stop motion in a city that never pauses: “This is the first project I’ve done using stop-motion, and it was a blast. Jann’s vision for the flipbook opening-his ‘daumenkino’-set the tone. Shooting in NYC with moving elements all around us while controlling just one or two subjects gave the video a surreal, dreamlike quality. You don’t get multiple takes with stop motion, which makes each frame more intentional and alive.”

The single, co-written with Everett Bradley (Bon Jovi, Seal), is a vibrant and emotionally resonant anthem about intimacy, presence, and joy. Everett also co-produced and performed on the track, with production support from Marcus Dembinski, known for his work on Klose’s previous single “Surrender.”

“Now it’s an upbeat celebration with deep undertones of the human connection experience,” says Bradley.

Dembinski adds: “We leaned into influences like 80s synth pop, Billy Joel, A-ha, and the B-52s, and paired them with Jann’s powerhouse vocals and acoustic energy to craft a new sound for him-one that’s bold, bright, and honest.”

With its one-of-a-kind stop-motion artistry, spontaneous New York moments, and heartfelt storytelling, the “When I’m With You” music video is a vivid reminder that joy lives in the little things and connection is always just one step away.

Electro Duo TURNSPIT Cast a Spell with ‘Cinderella Girl’

Eric Alper
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0
Electro Duo TURNSPIT Cast a Spell with ‘Cinderella Girl’

Leeds-based duo TURNSPIT unveil their latest single ‘CINDERELLA GIRL’, out today. Building on the momentum of their debut track ‘SURRENDER’, the new release explores themes of transformation and rebirth, weaving lyrical depth with their distinctive sonic palette.

Drawing influence from an eclectic array of sources, from the surreal atmospheres of David Lynch and Takashi Miike soundtracks, to the experimental edge of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and Sonic Mook compilations, TURNSPIT have carved out a sound both cinematic and unpredictable. Recent live performances alongside Adult DVD, Honesty, and Night Tapes have cemented their place within the local scene, where their shows flow seamlessly between moments of intimate electronica and high-energy club intensity.

Entirely self-produced, the duo’s disciplined writing process keeps them in constant creative motion. Their inspirations stretch beyond music, pulling from experiences, events, and ideas that shape the world around them. “We’re especially drawn to the uncanny and the surprising,” they explain, “the things that feel like they’re about to fall apart, but somehow don’t.”

TURNSPIT recently performed at the inaugural Soho Electronic Music Festival and play the Mill Hill Chapel in Leeds 16th October. More dates to follow.

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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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