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The Unsung Hero of Every Great Event: Why Your Orlando Stage Rental Matters More Than You Think

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Have you ever been to an event where you missed a key moment? Perhaps it was a heartfelt wedding toast obscured by the crowd, a crucial slide in a presentation that was too low to see, or a band that felt miles away, unable to connect with the audience. These moments are lost because the event lacked a clear focal point, a command center for the experience.

This is where the unsung hero of event planning comes in: the professional stage. It’s far more than just a raised platform; it’s a strategic tool designed to direct attention, guarantee safety, and elevate the entire production. In a thriving industry where the global stage rental market is estimated at $2.5 billion in 2025, understanding its value is no longer optional. This guide will explore the critical benefits, cost factors, and expert tips you need to secure the best stage rental for your Orlando event.

More Than a Platform: Redefining the Role of a Stage

A stage’s primary function is to create a distinct visual hierarchy. It tells every guest exactly where to look, ensuring that important moments are seen and heard by everyone, not just those in the front row. Without a proper stage, performers, presenters, and even the guests of honor can get lost in the noise, diminishing the impact of your carefully planned event.

Selecting the ideal stage involves balancing critical variables: the precise dimensions needed for your talent, the appropriate height for audience sightlines, the required weight capacity for equipment, and the right surface type for the performance. This is where the true power of a stage reveals itself—it’s the command center of your event. But balancing the right dimensions, height, and capacity with your budget can feel like a complex puzzle. Fortunately, planning the perfect foundation for your event is more straightforward than ever. With a modern and easy-to-use online stage builder, you can visualize and price out different configurations in minutes, ensuring the final result perfectly matches your vision. You can customize your stage rental with the easy-to-use stage builder with Miami Sound Rental, just one of the best stage rental in Orlando, and see how it works.

The High-Impact Benefits of Professional Staging

Investing in a professional stage rental delivers tangible advantages that resonate with both seasoned planners looking to justify a budget and first-time organizers aiming for a flawless event.

Uncompromising Safety and Compliance

Safety is the absolute priority. A professional stage is engineered for structural integrity, guaranteed to meet specific weight-bearing capacities, and installed by trained technicians. Industry safety standards are constantly evolving, and a reputable provider stays current with all regulations. This commitment to compliance protects you from liability and provides essential peace of mind.

Elevating Professionalism and Production Value

Nothing elevates the perceived quality of an event faster than a professional stage. A clean, well-maintained platform with crisp skirting and a polished backdrop creates an immediate sense of professionalism. It signals to attendees that every detail has been considered, reflecting positively on the organizers, sponsors, and brands involved.

Seamless Technical Integration

Modern stages are built to work in harmony with technology. They are designed for the seamless integration of sound systems, large video walls, and complex lighting rigs. Professional trussing and stage components can safely support heavy audio-visual equipment, ensuring optimal performance for speakers, musicians, and visual presentations without compromise.

Customization for Maximum Impact

The days of one-size-fits-all platforms are over. Modular stage designs have become the industry standard, allowing for incredible versatility. This flexibility means you can create anything from a simple riser for a keynote speaker to a multi-level concert stage or a custom-built T-shaped runway for a fashion show. Customization ensures the stage perfectly complements your event’s theme, venue layout, and audience flow.

Decoding Stage Rental Costs in the Orlando Market

One of the first questions organizers ask is, “How much does a stage rental cost?” The simple answer is that there is no standard price. Costs vary widely based on your specific needs, but understanding the key factors will help you budget effectively.

  • Size & Complexity: The primary cost driver is the stage’s total square footage and height. Custom shapes, like circular platforms or runways, also influence the price due to the additional components and labor involved.
  • Venue & Logistics: An indoor setup on a flat surface is typically more straightforward than an outdoor stage on uneven ground, which may require additional leveling and weatherproofing. Ease of access for delivery trucks and installation crews also plays a role.
  • Duration: Rentals are typically calculated on a per-day basis. While multi-day events often receive discounted rates, the total duration is a significant factor in the overall cost.
  • Add-Ons: Essential accessories contribute to the final price. These include stairs for access, guardrails for safety, ADA-compliant ramps for accessibility, stage skirting for a finished look, and integrated trussing to support lighting and sound equipment.

For context, a small, simple stage suitable for a speaker at a corporate meeting might be a few hundred dollars. In contrast, a large, covered outdoor stage for a major concert can range into the thousands or tens of thousands per day, depending on the scale and required features.

A Stage for Every Story: Events That Demand the Spotlight

While any gathering can benefit from a focal point, a professional stage is non-negotiable for certain events.

  • Corporate Events & Conferences: A stage is crucial for ensuring that speakers, panel discussions, and product reveals are visible to every attendee. It also provides a branded backdrop that reinforces the event’s messaging.
  • Weddings & Private Parties: From elevating the head table to providing a dedicated space for the band or DJ, a stage creates a celebratory centerpiece for toasts, first dances, and live performances.
  • Concerts & Festivals: For live music, a stage is the entire show. It is essential for audience sightlines, provides a dynamic platform for performers, and must be robust enough to support tons of sound and lighting equipment.
  • Fashion Shows: A specialized runway is the foundation of any fashion event. It dictates the flow of the show, enhances garment presentation, and provides optimal viewing angles for the audience and photographers.

The Orlando Advantage: Why High Standards are the Norm

Orlando isn’t just a city; it’s a world-class destination for tourism, major conventions, and spectacular events. This creates an environment where guest expectations are exceptionally high. The market data confirms this, showing that Orlando’s hotel market leads the nation’s top 25 hotel markets, a trend driven by rising group occupancy and major events.

In such a high-stakes, competitive atmosphere, a mediocre or unsafe stage isn’t merely an oversight—it’s a critical failure. It can damage an event’s reputation and negatively reflect on the brand. This is why Orlando’s event industry demands excellence, and professional staging is a cornerstone of that standard.

Your Checklist for Success: Choosing the Right Orlando Stage Partner

  • Review Their Inventory: Do they offer a comprehensive, “one-stop shop” solution? A partner who can provide staging and complementary equipment like professional sound, lighting, and video walls can streamline your planning process significantly.
  • Prioritize Safety & Compliance: Don’t hesitate to ask about their safety protocols, certifications, insurance coverage, and adherence to current industry standards. A professional company will be transparent and proud of its safety record.
  • Assess Their Technical Expertise: Can their team offer expert advice? A true partner will help you determine the best stage configuration for your specific event, venue, and technical requirements, not just rent you equipment.
  • Look for Customization Options: Do they offer flexible, modular stage solutions? Even better, do they provide user-friendly tools, like an online stage builder, that empower you to design and visualize your ideal setup?
  • Check Reviews & Portfolio: Look for testimonials and photos from past work, especially for events similar to yours in the Orlando area. This is the best way to gauge a company’s reliability, quality, and experience.

Conclusion: Your Event’s Foundation for Success

A stage is not an afterthought or a simple line item in a budget. It is a fundamental investment in audience engagement, production quality, and unwavering safety. It serves as the physical foundation upon which your event’s most memorable moments and successful outcomes are built.

Don’t let your main event get lost in the crowd. When you’re ready to build the perfect focal point for your Orlando event, explore a solution that puts customization and professional quality at your fingertips.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Understanding Prescription-Only Medications: What Patients Need to Know About Access and Support 

Eric Alper
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0

By Mitch Rice

More Australians are turning to prescription-only treatments when managing complex or chronic health concerns. Whether it’s after years of trial and error with standard options or simply a desire for more tailored support, patients are increasingly asking: “What else is out there, and how do I access it?” 

This interest in specialist care is often linked to online searches for terms like “prescription alternatives,” “medication access pathways,” or even “clinics that support complex conditions.” But one thing becomes clear pretty quickly: it can be hard to find clear, helpful information, especially if you’re looking for something beyond your local GP’s standard toolkit. 

This blog unpacks how prescription-only medications work, how telehealth is changing access across Australia, and what to consider if you’re exploring new treatment options. 

What Are Prescription-Only Medicines? 

Prescription-only medications are classified as medicines that can’t be sold without a doctor’s authorisation. These treatments are typically used for managing specific or ongoing health issues and are only available after a professional has reviewed your health history and assessed whether the medicine is safe and appropriate. 

This process is designed to protect patients and ensure treatments are only used when clinically indicated. Unlike over-the-counter options, prescription-only medicines are part of a regulated system that prioritises individual care and medical oversight. 

Some people find this process reassuring, knowing they’re being cared for responsibly. Others find it frustrating or intimidating, especially if they’ve had negative healthcare experiences in the past. That’s where supportive telehealth services can make a big difference. 

Why Some Patients Seek Alternative Pathways 

Many people searching for prescription access aren’t just looking for medication. They’re looking for a better healthcare experience, one where they’re seen, heard, and taken seriously. 

Some common motivations include: 

  • Feeling dismissed or overlooked by traditional care models
  • Living with a long-term condition that hasn’t improved with standard treatments
  • Wanting to better understand emerging or specialised options
  • Needing access to support without geographical, financial, or emotional barriers

It’s not about chasing quick fixes. It’s about finding care that feels more personal, considered, and flexible. 

The Rise of Telehealth in Australia 

Telehealth has rapidly become a game-changer for Australians managing chronic health needs or seeking specialised care. Where once you’d wait months to see a specialist, or travel hours to a clinic, now you can speak with a qualified doctor from the comfort of your home. 

This shift is particularly useful for: 

  • Regional and rural residents who have limited local services
  • People with mobility issues or mental health conditions that make in-person appointments challenging
  • Patients with busy lifestyles who need support outside standard hours
  • Anyone who wants privacy and discretion when discussing sensitive health issues

Telehealth services offer the same level of clinical professionalism you’d expect in a bricks-and-mortar clinic, but in a format that puts convenience and patient choice front and centre. 

What Happens in a Telehealth Prescription Appointment? 

Here’s what you can usually expect during a telehealth appointment that may involve prescription-only treatments: 

  1. Initial Consultation – A registered doctor will ask about your health history, current symptoms, and any previous treatments you’ve tried.
  2. Assessment of Suitability – They’ll determine whether a prescription is clinically appropriate, based on your specific situation.
  3. Education and Next Steps – If a treatment is recommended, they’ll explain how it works, what to expect, and how to monitor your response.
  4. Ongoing Support – You’ll often have the option to book follow-up appointments or request repeat prescriptions if needed.

One platform offering this kind of experience is easykind, a telehealth service built for people who’ve found the healthcare system hard to navigate. Their approach focuses on honesty, accessibility, and respect for patients’ lived experience. Whether you’ve been through the system before or are just beginning to explore your options, easykind’s clear and compassionate care model helps remove the guesswork. 

Common Myths About Prescription Access in Australia 

“It’s too hard to get a prescription unless you’re really sick.”
Not true. What matters most is whether the treatment is clinically appropriate, not how severe your symptoms are on paper. If your condition affects your quality of life, it’s worth having a conversation with a healthcare provider. 

“Telehealth doctors just say yes.”
Reputable telehealth services provide a balanced and ethical approach. They won’t hand out prescriptions indiscriminately, and they also won’t dismiss you if you’ve done your research and have reasonable questions. 

“You need to see a specialist in person.”
While that may be true in some cases, many prescription assessments can now be done entirely online, especially for people with well-documented symptoms or clear treatment goals. 

“All prescription services are the same.”
There are major differences in care quality, communication, and patient experience. That’s why it’s worth choosing a service like easykind that prioritises education, transparency, and support at every step. 

How to Know if You’re Ready to Explore New Options 

If you’re considering prescription-only treatments but aren’t sure where to start, ask yourself: 

  • Have I tried other options and still feel like something’s missing?
  • Do I feel empowered to ask questions, or do I often feel shut down?
  • Am I open to working with a provider who will assess my case with fresh eyes?
  • Would I benefit from a more personalised, respectful healthcare experience?

If you answered yes to one or more of these, it might be time to speak with a provider who specialises in helping patients navigate less common care pathways. 

What to Look for in a Telehealth Service 

When choosing a telehealth provider to support your prescription journey, consider the following: 

  • Clear information – Is it easy to understand how the service works?
  • Registered professionals – Are the doctors qualified and transparent about their approach?
  • Non-judgemental communication – Do they listen without rushing or brushing you off?
  • Simple follow-up process – Can you access ongoing care if needed?

Finding the Right Healthcare Solution 

Prescription-only medications aren’t about chasing a magic solution, they’re about finding the right support for your unique needs. Whether you’ve spent years searching for relief or are just starting to look into your options, you deserve care that meets you where you are. 

Through services like easykind’s patient-first telehealth model, Australians can access honest, informed support without the pressure, confusion, or wait times that too often come with complex health decisions. You can find other providers using channels like Health Direct. 

Everyone’s journey is different. What matters most is finding a service that sees you as a whole person, not just a list of symptoms. And that’s a prescription worth exploring. 

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Jazz Visionary Sean Mason Previews ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ With Soulful New Single “Open Your Heart”

Eric Alper
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Jazz Visionary Sean Mason Previews ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ With Soulful New Single “Open Your Heart”

GRAMMY-nominated jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Sean Mason shared his new single “Open Your Heart.” The track is the latest to release off his upcoming new album A Breath of Fresh Air, due out October 24th, which finds him delivering a sweeping statement as a soul having undergone a journey of redemption and renewal. Disarming the emotional detachment of a world filled with screens, “Open Your Heart” is a lustful ballad that invites the listener to feel its warmth in their soul. The single is also paired with a vivid, intimate studio performance video – giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look into the recording of the album.

Mason previously shared the album’s opening track and lead single “Rediscovery,” which he described as “the very genesis of the album’s narrative, a sonic exploration into the heart of my transformation.” A full-throttle, mid-tempo swing, “Rediscovery” winks at several facets of the jazz continuum, flirts with a stop-time passage, and is both deeply rooted in tradition and effortlessly self-authentic while joyful all throughout.

A Breath of Fresh Air is the follow-up to Mason’s critically acclaimed debut album The Southern Suite, released in 2023 by Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records, and was hailed by NPR, Downbeat, Jazziz, and more. A deeply personal and impressively cohesive exploration of Mason’s North Carolina roots, The Southern Suite showcased an ambitious compositional mind wedded to debonair, earthy, utterly contemporary pianism steeped in the vast lineage of jazz keyboard idioms. That first impression was vividly amplified by his 2024 duo collaboration with powerhouse vocalist Catherine Russell, My Ideal, which earned Mason his first GRAMMY nomination, as well as a 2025 Bistro Award for “Outstanding Recording.” Reuniting The Southern Suite’s stellar cast, A Breath of Fresh Air features trumpeter Tony Glausi, tenor saxophonist Chris Lewis, bassist Felix Moseholm, and drummer Domo Branch.

In the wake of a personal creative crisis that sparked a spiritual and musical epiphany, A Breath of Fresh Air delivers a startling left turn from Mason’s previous work, capturing his assertion of creative independence within a fervid musical democracy. It was self-produced and recorded over the course of just two days at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, NY with Mason and his band recording old-school, with no sheet music, steady eye contact, and no booths or barriers between them. Looking to capture the frisson of a live concert, he harkened back to “the way all of my favorite records were made, with the cats in the same room,” he says. “I teach the tunes by ear, sending voice messages, singing the melody, and playing the changes so the guys can internalize the tunes. I write the sheet music after the session.”

This conversational aesthetic reflects Mason’s new-found confidence that he’s on the right path as an artist and a human being after years of growing unease and the lack of freedom to explore the entire scope of his artistic identity. Refusing to constrain himself in predefined boxes, Mason has expanded exponentially with an approach that seamlessly internalizes a vast set of cultural influences from jazz and far beyond. Mason and his comrades have forged a singular sonic synthesis and a highly flexible, contingent style that provides him with infinite possibilities to improvise and compose, transmuting inspiration into singular personal expression. As his mentor Branford Marsalis notes, “the album sounds like Ahmad Jamal and Horace Silver had a baby.”

More than an album, A Breath of Fresh Air is a multimedia experience that also includes a short film about the band’s creative process, a video series documenting the music as it was being recorded, and an accompanying photo essay paired with Mason’s cogent text offering an elaborate glimpse at the deep well of inspiration behind the project. It’s the work of an artist who’s found himself—spiritually, creatively, and emotionally. Guided by his wide-open ears and the creative synergy generated by the diverse voices of his quintet, Mason has bounded past the roles and expectations that held him back.

“For me, it’s a testimony,” he says. “Artistically, our inspiration comes from all over, but the magic comes from transmuting those influences into a cohesive artistic language, making it our own. This is the path I need to walk.”

Sarah McLachlan and MUNA’s Katie Gavin Shine on New Country-Tinged Single “Reminds Me”

Eric Alper
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Sarah McLachlan and MUNA’s Katie Gavin Shine on New Country-Tinged Single “Reminds Me”

Today, 3X GRAMMY Award winner and global phenomenon Sarah McLachlan released “Reminds Me” featuring MUNA’s Katie Gavin, the third single from Better Broken, is due out this Friday via Concord Records. The pedal-steel-laced reverie is a heartfelt meditation on love’s ability to restore and uplift. McLachlan and Gavin capture the tender balance of vulnerability and joy, celebrating how transformative love can be. Pre-order the album and stream “Reminds Me” HERE.

“‘Reminds Me’ was written on acoustic guitar during COVID. I went down the Yellowstone rabbit hole on TV and kind of fell in love with the whole cowboy country music thing and thought, ‘I want to write a love song.’” I want to write a cowboy love song. That’s kind of what it was called for a while,” McLachlan shares. “It was also an anniversary present for my partner-so that was sort of the impetus to write it. I just wanted it to be simple and pure and beautiful, maybe a little bit sappy. And I love that we got Katie Gavin to sing on it in the studio.”

Named one of fall’s most anticipated albums by the New York Times, McLachlan’s tenth studio album and debut release for Concord Records, Better Broken takes its title from its opening track – a soul-searching reflection on the fortitude that comes from weathering life’s constant storms – and furthers her legacy with a selection of songs that speak an uncompromising but radically illuminating truth about the state of the human condition. 

Mainly recorded at the legendary Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, Better Broken instills a potent new energy into her lush and moody form of pop-rock, with contributions from esteemed musicians like Wendy Melvoin (a former guitarist for Prince and the Revolution), drummer Matt Chamberlain (Bob Dylan, David Bowie), multi-instrumentalist Benny Bock (Lucy Dacus, beabadoobee), and pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz (Kacey Musgraves, Florence + the Machine). In a monumental leap for McLachlan, Better Broken finds her widening her creative circle and working with producers Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius) and Will Maclellan (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers). 

The tracklisting’s myriad high points include “One In a Long Line,” an irrepressible anthem railing against the rapid erosion of women’s rights in recent years, “Long Road Home,” a rapturous love song, “Gravity,” the first song recorded for the album, and the “resolute” (The New York Times) title track. All throughout Better Broken, McLachlan and her fellow musicians bring an ineffable beauty to her expression of longing and grief and fierce determination.

Over the course of her three-decades-long career, McLachlan has won 3 GRAMMY Awards,12 JUNO Awards, and sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan also founded the groundbreaking all-female music festival Lilith Fair, featuring an A-list lineup for female alternative musicians of the moment, including Sheryl Crow, Jewel, The Indigo Girls, Lisa Loeb, Fiona Apple, Erykah Badu, Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant and more. Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery, a new documentary directed by Ally Pankiw and produced by Dan Levy’s Not A Real Production Company made its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival last week and is set to premiere on Hulu on September 21.

McLachlan is also a philanthropist and the founder of Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM), a not-for-profit that offers music instruction and mentorship at no cost to children and youth facing barriers to access. SoM was founded in Vancouver in 2002 and it currently serves over 1,200 students a year with locations in Vancouver, New Westminster and Edmonton. McLachlan personally covers the administrative costs so that every dollar raised goes directly to support the students.

Better Broken Tracklisting

    Better Broken
    Gravity
    The Last to Go
    Only Way Out Is Through
    Reminds Me (feat. Katie Gavin)
    One In a Long Line
    Only Human
    Long Road Home
    Rise
    Wilderness
    If This Is the End…

Nine Inch Nails Unleash First-Ever Film Score With Industrial Fury on ‘TRON: Ares’

Eric Alper
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Nine Inch Nails Unleash First-Ever Film Score With Industrial Fury on ‘TRON: Ares’

TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – featuring all original music created by Nine Inch Nails for the third installment in the groundbreaking TRON film franchise – was released today via Interscope Records. The album marks the first-ever film score by the pioneering group.  As a work by Nine Inch Nails, TRON: Ares is a bracing departure from the acclaimed scores that bandmates Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have composed under their own names, winning two Oscars, three Golden Globes, a GRAMMY and an Emmy in the process. TRON: Ares’ architecture in sound: pulsating synths, distorted textures, and haunting melodies. Not one second of orchestra. Instead, the album erupts with the full force of Nine Inch Nails, breaking boundaries and humming with menace, melancholy and momentum as analog soul and digital dread collide. Listen HERE. See below for track listing. Disney’s TRON: Ares releases in U.S. theaters on October 10. Reznor and Ross served as Executive Producers on the film.

The New York Times hailed lead single “AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE” as “a return to the buzz-bomb synthesizers, stomping march beat, stereo ricochets and gut-wrenching vocals of the band’s heyday.” The track debuted at No. 1 on both the Official Physical Singles and the Official Vinyl Singles charts in the UK earlier this month. Stateside, with the single’s ascent into the top 10 of Billboard’s Alternative Airplay tally, Nine Inch Nails has the distinction of charting top 10 hits across four decades – from the 1990s to the 2020s.

Reviewing the official video for “As Alive As You Need Me To Be,” Rolling Stone noted, “[Director Maxime Quolin] centers the clip around a close-up performance from Trent Reznor, while using an array of different effects to bend space and warp reality. For all the mesmerizing technical wizardry on display, there’s something distinctly tactile about the look of the video, especially as the tension in the visuals builds alongside the music.”

Tonight, Nine Inch Nails will wrap up the North American leg of their sold-out “Peel It Back” world tour with a second consecutive show at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA. Along with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Nine Inch Nails’ touring lineup includes Robin Finck, Alessandro Cortini and Josh Freese. Boys Noize will support.

Covering the opening night of the band’s two-night-stand at Barclays Center, Brooklyn Vegan said, “‘Peel It Back’ tour is a marvel of sight and sound.” The arena run, which marks the band’s first live outing since 2022, launched at Dublin’s 3Arena in June. The Times said, “The show was a revelation — a thrilling onslaught that combined angst, sincerity and a nightmarish otherworldliness…” Evening Standard proclaimed, “Trent Reznor is the last great art rock star.”

Tickets are on sale HERE for the inaugural Future Ruins, a one-day music festival created and curated by Reznor and Ross to celebrate the visionary composers shaping the sound of modern cinema and television. Set for November 8, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, the event features live performances across three stages—including select sets with full orchestra. Future Ruins invites audiences to experience the duo’s groundbreaking score work—and that of their peers—not as background, but as the main event.

Founded in 1988 by Reznor, Nine Inch Nails is widely considered one of the most innovative, influential acts in modern music. Known for fusing industrial, electronic, rock and ambient sounds into emotionally raw and sonically aggressive compositions, the band has won two GRAMMY® Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

Track Listing – TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1. INIT
2. FORKED REALITY
3. AS ALIVE AS YOU NEED ME TO BE
4. ECHOES
5. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
6. IN THE IMAGE OF
7. I KNOW YOU CAN FEEL IT
8. PERMANENCE
9. INFILTRATOR
10. 100% EXPENDABLE
11. STILL REMAINS
12. WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?
13. BUILDING BETTER WORLDS
14. TARGET IDENTIFIED
15. DAEMONIZE
16. EMPATHETIC RESPONSE
17. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
18. A QUESTION OF TRUST
19. GHOST IN THE MACHINE
20. NO GOING BACK
21. NEMESIS
22. NEW DIRECTIVE
23. OUT IN THE WORLD
24. SHADOW OVER ME

Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, k.d. lang & More Honor Anne Murray at Opry House Tribute

Eric Alper
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Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, k.d. lang & More Honor Anne Murray at Opry House Tribute

Legendary country and pop icon Anne Murray is being honoured with the can’t-miss concert event of the year. The Music of My Life: An All-Star Tribute to Anne Murray is coming to The Opry House on October 27 with a star-studded lineup of performers including Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, k.d. lang, Kathy Mattea, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, Larry, Steve, and Rudy Gatlin as the The Gatlin Brothers, Natalie Grant, Michelle Wright, Shenandoah, Collin Raye, Victoria Shaw and many more, with additional appearances by Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz, iconic country singer Brenda Lee, and the legendary Randy Travis.

Get tickets at: https://bit.ly/AnneMurrayNashville.

Anne Murray is a global music icon whose signature voice and time-honoured music have defined a career spanning over five decades. A trailblazer in pop, country, and adult contemporary music, she has sold over 55 million albums worldwide, surpassed 1 billion global streams, and paved the way for artists such as Céline Dion, Shania Twain, k.d. lang, Alanis Morissette, and Sarah McLachlan.

Murray is one of only four female solo artists to win the Country Music Association’s ‘Album of the Year’ between 1967 and 1990 including Loretta Lynn (1971), Olivia Newton-John (1974), Anne Murray (1984) and KT Oslin (1988). She has toured the U.S. for over 40 years and performed to audiences across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Pacific Rim, and home country Canada. Murray co-hosted the CMA Awards alongside Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Kenny Rogers, and delivered enduring hits such as “Could I Have This Dance” from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, which topped the U.S. country charts.

Her career has been recognized with four Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, three CMA Awards, and a record-breaking 26 JUNOs. A Companion of the Order of Canada, Murray is honoured with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Nashville’s Walkway of Stars, and Canada’s Walk of Fame to inductions into multiple Halls of Fame in both the U.S. and Canada—cementing her legacy as one of the most celebrated and influential artists both musically and philanthropically.

Drive-By Truckers Revisit Southern Rock Classic With ‘The Definitive Decoration Day’

Eric Alper
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Drive-By Truckers Revisit Southern Rock Classic With ‘The Definitive Decoration Day’

The Drive-By Truckers will release The Definitive Decoration Day on November 14, 2025, via New West Records. The 4-LP box set features the 15-track album remixed by its original producer David Barbe, remastered by Greg Calbi, and cut at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, UK. The new collection includes the previously unreleased double album Heathens Live at Flicker Bar, Athens, GA – June 20, 2002, as well as a 40-page, full-color book featuring never-before-seen photos and artwork, as well as a new essay written by Drive-By Truckers’ biographer Stephen Deusner, author of Where the Devil Don’t Stay: Traveling the South with the Drive-By Truckers. Originally released in 2003, the album garnered widespread critical acclaim, with Pitchfork saying Decoration Day is “one of the more ambitious records of the (very) early 21st century” and one that “further confirms the Drive-By Truckers’ status as the most poetic and insightful Southern rockers in existence today.”

Today, Uncut Magazine premiered the newly remixed and remastered album version of “Sink Hole” alongside the previously unreleased live version of the song featured on Heathens Live at Flicker Bar, Athens, GA – June 20, 2002. Loosely based on the 2002 Oscar Award-winning short film The Accountant—directed by Ray McKinnon and starring Walton Goggins—the song tells the story of a struggling farmer fighting back against a banker foreclosing on his family farm.

Decoration Day was the Drive-By Truckers’ first album with Jason Isbell, who joined the band in late 2001. It features the DBT standards, “Sink Hole,” Marry Me,” “My Sweet Annette,” and Isbell’s first songs with the band: “Outfit” and the title track. “The legacy of the band has definitely grown,” says Isbell, “and there’s a new appreciation for the Truckers and especially for that era of Decoration Day. Without them you wouldn’t have the kind of work being done by MJ Lenderman and Wednesday and Waxahatchee and a bunch of other acts. I can hear the Truckers in all that music.”

Heathens Live at Flicker Bar, Athens, GA – June 20, 2002 is a stripped-down, acoustic performance from the band’s hometown, recorded a year before Decoration Day’s release. The previously unreleased album is a rich, historic document in the band’s evolution and a holy grail for their fans, featuring the band performing several of these songs for the first time ever. Says Hood, “We decided that it would be fun to go play an acoustic late-night show at the tiny Flicker Bar, less than a block away from our beloved 40 Watt Club. We ended up playing a set that included all but one song off of our new, but still unfinished album. I didn’t even know until recently that there was an existing tape of the show. This is a beautiful document of our band at a very crucial and joyous moment in time. I’m so happy that it exists.”

Decoration Day remains an incredibly influential album in the Drive-By Truckers’ catalog, one that has connected with new generations of artists and fans. Karly Hartzmann of Wednesday says, “Decoration Day reminds me that a song can be a piece of advice, a grudge, a suicide note, a bargaining for mercy, or a veneer over the rot. It’s music that delivers the bad news but kisses the bruises it leaves.” 

Craig Finn of The Hold Steady says, “Decoration Day was the Drive-By Truckers’ three songwriters firing on all cylinders—alternately thoughtful, pissed off, charming, surly and often hilarious. I marvel at this record. It’s a true American classic.” 

BJ Barham of American Aquarium adds, “This is, without a doubt, one of my desert island records. Without DBT’s Decoration Day, there is no American Aquarium. Long live DBT!” 

The Definitive Decoration Day follows the band’s deluxe edition of their album Southern Rock Opera, originally released in 2001, as well as The Complete Dirty South, originally released in 2004. It will be available across digital platforms, standard black vinyl, and as a 3-CD set. A limited olive color vinyl edition will be available at independent retailers, and a limited to 150 blue-and-burgundy-swirl color vinyl edition will be available at Seasick Records in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition, a special, limited-to-300 HeAthens red-and-black vinyl edition will be available at local participating retailers in Athens, Georgia, and for pickup at the New West Records’ Athens office. A limited-to-1,000 burgundy color vinyl edition is available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.

The Definitive Decoration Day Track Listing: 
 
The Original Album Remixed & Remastered: 
 
1. The Deeper In
2. Sink Hole
3. Hell No, I Ain’t Happy
4. Marry Me
5. My Sweet Annette
6. Outfit
7. Heathens
8. Sounds Better in the Song
9. (Something’s Got to) Give Pretty Soon
10. Your Daddy Hates Me
11. Careless
12. When the Pin Hits the Shell
13. Do It Yourself
14. Decoration Day
15. Loaded Gun in the Closet

Heathens Live at Flicker Bar, Athens, GA – June 20, 2002: 
 
1. Flicker Heathens (intro)
2. Do It Yourself
3. Careless
4. The Deeper In
5. Sink Hole
6. Hell No, I Ain’t Happy
7. Marry Me
8. Outfit
9. Heathens
10. My Sweet Annette
11. (Something’s Got to) Give Pretty Soon
12. Your Daddy Hates Me
13. Decoration Day
14. Loaded Gun in the Closet
15. Panties in Your Purse
16. TVA
17. Uncle Frank
18. The Living Bubba

Halestorm, Lindsey Sterling, and Apocalyptica at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on September 19, 2025

Eric Alper
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Halestorm, Lindsey Sterling, and Apocalyptica at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on September 19, 2025

All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.

Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm
Lindsey Sterling
Lindsey Sterling
Lindsey Sterling
Lindsey Sterling
Lindsey Sterling
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica

Kansas City Rock Band World Engine Unleash Genre-Bending Debut ‘Coded Names’

Eric Alper
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Kansas City Rock Band World Engine Unleash Genre-Bending Debut ‘Coded Names’

Kansas City based rock band World Engine just released their first record of the year and their first full length album, Coded Names. The eight-song record mixes loud guitars, spacey synths, and straight-from-the-heart lyrics, showing off the group’s love for both old-school rock and modern sounds.

The album opens with, “Cerebellum”, a song that starts with the sound of wind and radio static before the full instrumentation carries it onward. The song has plenty of energy, setting the mood for the album right away. Halfway through, “In the Rain” makes its entrance. It starts with the sound of falling rain, then bursts into huge guitars and powerful vocal work. The song has a grit that fans of guitar driven rock will love. The closer, “Step Away,” eases things down with a sentimental feel that sends listeners off on a good note.

World Engine formed in 2020 and includes singer Tristan Clemons, guitarist Zach St. Denis, drummer/keyboard player Alex Brezik, and bassist Callum Duncan. They first made noise with their EP Orbit, and now Coded Names takes things up a notch. Producers Justin Mantooth and Andy Oxman helped shape a sound that’s bold, and full of life.

“We attempted to make something for everyone and blended many genres to fit our own sound” the band says. They accomplished their goal and have delivered an album uniquely their own.

Ray Charles’ Long-Out-of-Print ‘Love Country Style’ Returns in Tangerine Master Series

Eric Alper
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Ray Charles’ Long-Out-of-Print ‘Love Country Style’ Returns in Tangerine Master Series

Ray Charles long out of print “Love Country Style” is set to be reissued by Tangerine Records on October 24th. Founded by Ray Charles in the 1960s, Tangerine Records is proud to celebrate the 17x GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and pianist’s singular legacy with the Tangerine Master Series, a new slate of reissues highlighting Charles’ best-known music alongside classic records long out of print, and ready for rediscovery.

Each album has been restored and remastered under the direct supervision of The Ray Charles Foundation, painting a vivid new portrait of an artist and icon whose impact continues to expand and inspire.

The Tangerine Master Series continues with today’s release of Charles’ long-overdue reissue of 1963’s milestone Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul, available now at all DSPs, on CD, and vinyl for the first time in more than half a century. A top 10 stew of jazz, soul, and pop standards highlighted by the GRAMMY Award-winning, top 5 hit, “Busted,” as well as the top 20 favorite, “That Old Lucky Sun,” Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul made it abundantly clear that by the 1960s, Ray Charles didn’t so much ignore genres, but had become a genre unto himself. Bootlegged across Europe for decades, this is the first and only legitimate reissue of this essential album on vinyl – as well as its first appearance on CD since the 1990s – now fully restored and remastered with the full cooperation of the Ray Charles Foundation

Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul follows the Tangerine Master Series’ recent release of a newly remastered edition of 1974’s Come Live With Me, a blend of pop and gospel-infused soul that sees Charles demonstrating his unmatched versatility available now at all DSPs and on vinyl for the first time in over 50 years; a CD edition arrives on Friday, September 26.

Next up in the Tangerine Master Series is 1970’s out-of-print classic Love Country Style, available for the first time since its original release, on Friday, October 24.

A fan favorite that’s one of the finest examples of Charles’ crossover work, Love Country Style is the most soulful of his country records, as well as arguably the album that’s the most connected to the current sound of today’s country superstars. The album finds Charles once again embracing his love for the genre by delivering heartfelt renditions of songs by Mickey Newbury and Jimmy Webb with his signature blend of soul and sophistication. Backed by lush gospel-tinged arrangements, songs like his iconic version of “Ring of Fire” and “Don’t Change On Me” (which hit the top 20 at R&B as well as the overall top 40) highlight Charles’s unrivaled ability to transform country standards into something unmistakably his own. Out of print since its original release more than 50 years ago, Love Country Style now finally returns, fully restored and remastered in cooperation with the Ray Charles Foundation.

“Love Country Style, released in June 1970, drinks deeply from the country music well of genius, but is as rhythm-and-blues-rooted as it is in the countrypolitan idiom,” writes author/DJ/cultural critic Ayana Contreras in an exclusive essay penned expressly for this new reissue. “[The album] draws from top-shelf country material from ‘Ring Of Fire’ (written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore and popularized by Johnny Cash) to ‘I Keep It Hid’ (penned by Jimmy Webb, known for his classics ‘Wichita Lineman’ and ‘By The Time I Get To Phoenix’). Both tracks are nothing short of revelations. In his hands, ‘Ring Of Fire’ is cast as a chorus of half-breathless seduction well-suited for an isolated mid-century modern motel somewhere in the high desert of the American Southwest.

“Charles went on to release four more well-received country albums during his career…And although Modern Sounds Vol. I was nominated for Album of the Year, and Charles went on to ultimately win 17 GRAMMYs in his lifetime (in rhythm & blues, gospel, and pop), a Country Music-specific GRAMMY win eluded him…. Love Country Style remains as a testament. The album embodies Charles’s ability to cross genres with ease, weaving country traditions into his R&B and gospel sensibility. In doing so, he left a lasting imprint on the soundscape of American popular music.”

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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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