Modern rock-outfit Waking Stone has released “Make Money”, a sharp-edged single that critiques the pervasive greed of the current era. As the fourth track from their upcoming album, the song presents a stark vision of a society where corporate ambition is prioritized over human welfare. While the band’s previous three singles leaned into an upbeat-and-hopeful protest style, this new release adopts a more intense and visceral tone. Critics have already noted the group’s ability to forge a unique path in the modern scene through music that provides a sense of palpable freedom. This latest anthem serves as a high-energy rallying cry that confronts the unhinged nature of billionaires gambling with the future.
Netflix Travels Back To Hawkins With New Animated ‘Stranger Things’ Series This April
Netflix expands the Hawkins universe with a new animated spin-off premiering on April 23, 2026. This series rewinds the timeline to the winter period between the second and third seasons of the original show. The plot examines the aftermath of a creature escaping the Upside Down following Eleven’s efforts to close the gate. By focusing on this specific gap, the project offers a fresh look at the characters during their younger years. This production is a nostalgic and essential addition to the supernatural franchise.
Kent Nishimura Displays Acoustic Guitar Mastery With Stunning New Cover Of Toto’s “Rosanna”
Acoustic guitarist Kent Nishimura has delivered a breathtaking solo rendition of the 1982 Toto hit “Rosanna”. Performing with just a single guitar, Nishimura manages to replicate the intricate layers of the original pop-rock anthem through extraordinary fingerstyle technique.
Ben Reel Reaffirms The Power Of Love On His Twelfth Album ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’
Irish troubadour Ben Reel released his twelfth studio album ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’ on January 23, 2026, through Mars Music Group. The record launches with raw rock energy before transitioning into soulful R&B-infused grooves. This musical evolution evokes the spirits of Otis Redding and Van Morrison while maintaining Reel’s signature sound. The focus track “Better Be Better” utilizes pounding drums and sixty-inspired guitars to narrate a desperate plea for relationship survival. This project marks another chapter in a career spanning over thirty-five years, which began in 1989 with the band Promised Land during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The album serves as a reminder of human connection in a world facing conflict and climate anxiety. Regarding the central theme, Reel states: “In the chaos, love is our anchor. It starts within—facing our fears, learning to love ourselves—so we can care for others.” This body of work is an uplifting and deeply-human collection that prioritizes internal growth. Reel notes that “at the end of the day, love and connection are all we truly have.” The songs move from high-intensity rock to reflective passages that highlight his distinctive vocal style.
Reel has built a vast international reputation by blending rock, folk, soul, and reggae across his discography. He has collaborated with industry veterans like Garry W. Tallent of the E Street Band and supported legendary acts including The Cranberries and Jools Holland. His tireless work ethic has led to four studio albums in the current decade alone. From Nashville’s Bluebird Café to major festivals in the Netherlands and Spain, Reel continues to perform for a loyal global fan base. This new release confirms his status as one of the most enduring voices in the Irish music scene.
Bristol Rock Trio Sunglasz Vendor Release Eerie New Single “Was On Fire” Before February Tour
Bristol-based rock trio Sunglasz Vendor have released their new single “Was On Fire”, a track that explores the depths of romantic solitude and unrequited love. The song opens with harsh mechanical screeching before settling into a stop-start rhythm that allows singer-guitarist Rafi Cohen to unpack themes of despair. Recorded with producer Joseph Futak in Hither Green, this release sees the band embracing a more maximalist sound compared to their previous work. The group formed in early 2023 from members of Bristol’s avant-garde scene including Bingo Fury and Ex-Agent.
On the new single, Cohen offers: “’Was On Fire’ documents the feeling of being past it – like the best is behind you and the only way is down.” The lyrics present bleak visions of lonesome life interspersed with sardonic wordplay. This track is the second single from their recent recording sessions, following the success of “I’ll Do To You Yourself” which received support from BBC 6 Music and KEXP. This record is a daringly skittish and raw explosion of rock energy. The band combines the familiar hooks of rock radio with a sense of free-form anarchy.
The trio will mark the release with a four-date tour across the United Kingdom this February. Their live performances have previously earned them opening slots for notable acts such as The Breeders and Squid. The band features a classic guitar-bass-drums lineup where all elements grate against each other to create an anthemic cacophony. Following their debut album ‘Unwinding’, which arrived in May of last year, the group continues to gain momentum within the indie-rock landscape. Fans can catch their impassioned sets in York, Sheffield, Cardiff, and Bristol throughout the month.
Live Dates:
February 6 – York, Young Thugs Studio
February 7 – Sheffield, Hatch
February 12 – Cardiff, Porter’s
February 24 – Bristol, The Croft
Teddy Swims And Green Day Join Super Bowl LX Pregame For Massive Milestone Celebration
Super Bowl LX arrives at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026, with an expansive pregame ceremony featuring music and storytelling. Multi-platinum artist Teddy Swims headlines the tailgate concert while Bay Area native LaRussell performs as the in-stadium house band. The opening ceremony features a special performance by Green Day to usher Super Bowl MVPs onto the field. This event marks the sixtieth anniversary of the championship game and will be broadcast globally in 195 countries. Fans can watch the festivities live on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo starting on Sunday afternoon.
The pregame lineup includes Charlie Puth performing the national anthem and Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful.” R&B artist Coco Jones will also take the stage to deliver “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before kickoff. This production is a vibrant and essential celebration of American culture and sports history. Powerful American Sign Language performances by Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz will be featured throughout the broadcast. The ceremony also includes a joint flyover by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy to honor the nation’s 250th birthday.
Honorary captains for the coin toss include Hall of Famers Lynn Swann, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning alongside three Bay Area youth leaders. New England Patriots fan Jon Bon Jovi and Seattle Seahawks fan Chris Pratt will introduce their respective teams to the crowd. The official coin for the toss is the historic Libertas Americana medal originally commissioned by Benjamin Franklin. This project emphasizes the legacy of the game while looking toward the future of the sport. The entire pregame show sets a dynamic tone for the biggest night in professional football.
Global sensation Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show with a historic multilingual signing program. This performance marks the first time a Super Bowl halftime show incorporates Puerto Rican Sign Language led by Celimar Rivera Cosme. The 2026 celebration blends high-energy musical acts with significant historical tributes to mark multiple national milestones. Each segment of the entertainment reflects the evolving nature of the championship experience. The stadium campus in Santa Clara will serve as the hub for this massive international cultural moment.
Black Reuss Completes A Five Year Conceptual Journey With New Gothic Metal Album ‘Death’
Black Reuss returns in 2026 to unveil ‘Death’, the fourth chapter in a river-of-life concept that began five years ago. This new album follows ‘Metamorphosis’, ‘Journey’, and ‘Arrival’ to complete the project’s first conceptual cycle. The river serves as the central metaphor for a life in constant motion and transformation. This record is a dense and emotionally-charged exploration of melodic gothic metal. Maurizio Dottore wrote, composed, performed, and produced the entire album to ensure a singular creative vision. He is joined by Diego Rapacchietti, the drummer of the Swiss thrash band Coroner, who provided the drum tracks.
The lead single “Oblivion” arrived on January 30, 2026, offering a first glimpse into this immersive soundscape. It was followed on February 13, 2026, by the darker and heavier track “Endgame”. The full album ‘Death’ is released on February 27, 2026, marking the closing of a major passage while hinting at new waters ahead. This music is a monumental and profound reflection on finality and transformation. Tracks like “Phoenix” and “Elysium” explore the spectral spaces where endings reveal a deeper essence. Dottore recorded the instruments at Black Reuss Studio to maintain emotional clarity throughout the process.
The sonic identity of the record was forged through the work of Roberto Macis and Giovanni Versari. Vocals were captured by Roberto De Luca at erreDIelle Studio while Tommy Vetterli recorded the drums at Newsound Studio. This production blends heavy-hitting instrumentation with deep introspection to define the Black Reuss universe. The project treats the concept of death as a threshold into deeper creative currents rather than a final ending. This approach allows the river to continue flowing through hidden and uncharted darkness.
Dublin Duo Burglar Unleash New Single Lovey Ahead Of Mammoth 2026 Irish Tour
Dublin-based duo Burglar have arrived with their new single ‘Lovey’ as they prepare for a series of Irish tour dates. Composed of Willow Hannon and Eduardo Pinheiro, the band formed in college through a shared affinity for acts like Stereolab and Smashing Pumpkins. Their sound blends Hannon’s indie-pop roots with Pinheiro’s background in the Brazilian punk-rock scene. The result is a catchy and energetic style defined by distorted guitars, buzzing synths, and interchangeable vocal leads. This release follows the group being spotlighted in Dork’s HYPE List 2026 and the Irish Times’ 50 People to Watch for 2026.
The new track showcases the duo’s unique mix of dissociative lyricism and confessional-style storytelling. Regarding ‘Lovey’, Pinheiro revealed: “It’s a breakup track I wrote a week after it happened.” The songwriter initially set the material aside for a year before revisiting the narrative to add a more playful perspective. Pinheiro explained: “I tried to make it more fun by saying embarrassing things and commenting on the things I just said.” This record is a sharp and addictive explosion of modern indie-rock energy. The song serves as a reminder that the weight of heartbreak exists primarily within the mind.
Burglar have established themselves as fixtures of the live circuit across the United Kingdom and Ireland. They have previously supported artists such as The Belair Lip Bombs and US Girls while performing at London venues including Moth Club and The Windmill. The upcoming Irish tour dates coincide with this single release to mark the start of a busy-feeling year for the pair. Their music emphasizes harmonic work and high-energy performance for a live setting. Pinheiro noted that while writing the track: “the main thing I tried to remind myself with this was that heartbreak wasn’t (totally) physical.”
The duo continues to refine their sound by leaning into their contrasting musical histories. By pairing Hannon’s Dublin-grown indie influences with Pinheiro’s punk-rock foundations, Burglar creates an uncompromising and fresh sonic identity. Their lyrics often function as a commentary on the songwriting process itself. This approach has allowed them to transcend the local scene and gain significant critical attention. The new single is available now as the band begins their scheduled run of performances.
Live Dates:
4th Feb – Limerick, Kasbah Social Club, Limerick
5th Feb – Roisin Dubh, Galway
6th Feb – Whelan’s Upstairs, Dublin
Fishbone Celebrates 40 Years Of Their Debut With A Massive Double Vinyl And Tour
Fishbone launches a twenty-three city spring tour on April 9, 2026, to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of their debut album ‘In Your Face’. This milestone coincides with the release of the ‘In Your Face/Cover Your Face’ limited-edition double LP reissue. The first disc features a newly remastered edition of the 1986 original, while the second disc contains global reinterpretations of Fishbone songs. Contributing artists include Twin Shadow, Patrick Stump, Silversun Pickups, and Kimya Dawson. This release is a vibrant and essential tribute to the band’s enduring influence on the alternative scene.
The tour begins at August Hall in San Francisco and travels through major cities including Chicago, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles. During these performances, the band will play ‘In Your Face’ in its entirety followed by a second set of career-spanning favorites. The current lineup features Angelo Moore, Christopher Dowd, James Jones, Hassan Hurd, John “JS” Williams II, and Tracey “Spacey T” Singleton. For the first time, the group is offering a VIP experience featuring soundcheck viewing and karaoke with the band. These shows lead into the release of a new studio album scheduled for this summer.
Fishbone Spring Tour Dates:
April 9 – San Francisco, CA, August Hall
April 11 – Seattle, WA, The Crocodile
April 12 – Portland, OR, Mississippi Studios
April 14 – Salt Lake City, UT, Urban Lounge
April 15 – Denver, CO, Bluebird Theater
April 17 – St. Louis, MO, Off Broadway
April 18 – Chicago, IL, House of Blues
April 19 – Detroit, MI, The Shelter
April 20 – Columbus, OH, Scully’s Music Diner
April 22 – Albany, NY, Empire Underground
April 23 – Garwood, NJ, Crossroads
April 24 – Philadelphia, PA, Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia
April 25 – Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn Bowl
April 27 – Cambridge, MA, The Sinclair
April 28 – Washington, DC, Black Cat
April 29 – Carrboro, NC, Cat’s Cradle
May 1 – Orlando, FL, The Beacham Theatre
May 2 – Atlanta, GA, Terminal West
May 4 – Dallas, TX, Studio at The Factory
May 5 – Austin, TX, Mohawk
May 7 – Mesa, AZ, The Nile Theater
May 8 – Los Angeles, CA, Teragram Ballroom
May 9 – Pomona, CA, The Glass House
HEADLINE: American Football Returns To The Road With A Massive Global Tour This Year
Midwest emo icons American Football are launching an extensive global tour this summer with performances scheduled across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Europe. This 2026 run marks the quartet’s first major outing since celebrating the 25th anniversary of their debut album. The band is joining forces with PLUS1 to donate a portion of every ticket sale to Safe Passage International and the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights. This initiative supports those affected by violence and intimidation while defending the rights of migrants and refugees. General ticket sales begin February 6, 2026.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL 2026 TOUR DATES:
05/15 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
05/17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party
05/18 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall
05/19 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater
05/20 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
05/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
05/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
05/24 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
06/19 – Milan, Italy @ Alcatraz
06/20 – Stuttgart, Germany @ Im Wizeman
06/21 – Cologne, Germany @ Die Kantine
06/23 – Brussels, Belgium @ La Madeleine
06/24 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
06/26 – Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy
06/27 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Forum
07/08 – Boston, MA @ Royale
07/09 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
07/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
07/11 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
07/14 – Richmond, VA @ The National
07/15 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
07/16 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
08/07 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
08/08 – Toronto, ON @ The Concert Hall
08/09 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre
08/10 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
08/12 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
08/13 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre
08/14 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
08/15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
08/16 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue