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Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight And Stephanie Mills Extend Historic ‘Four Icons’ Tour Into 2026

Eric Alper
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Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight And Stephanie Mills Extend Historic ‘Four Icons’ Tour Into 2026

Following two powerful nationwide runs with sold-out shows, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Stephanie Mills have announced the 2026 extension of their landmark tour, The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage. Produced by the Black Promoters Collective, the tour brings four trailblazing voices together for a shared celebration of legacy, artistry, and enduring cultural impact. The new run begins February 12, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida, continuing what has become one of the most celebrated live events in recent years.

Each performance places the focus squarely on the individual and collective influence of these artists, whose careers have shaped generations of soul, R&B, pop, and gospel-infused music. With distinct catalogs and unmistakable voices, the tour highlights both personal histories and shared ground, reinforcing the power of collaboration, respect, and longevity on a single stage.

Presales begin Thursday, November 13 at 10 am local time, followed by the general on-sale Friday, November 15. As the tour moves into 2026, The Queens! continues to stand as a rare and historic moment in live music, honoring not just timeless songs, but the women behind them and the communities they continue to inspire.

The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage. 2026 Tour Dates:
Feb 12 — Jacksonville, FL @ VyStar Arena
Feb 13 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Centre
Feb 15 — St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
Feb 19 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
Feb 20 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Feb 22 — Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena

Chris Stapleton Unveils Cinematic “White Horse” Video Starring Josh Brolin

Eric Alper
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Chris Stapleton Unveils Cinematic “White Horse” Video Starring Josh Brolin

The official music video for Chris Stapleton’s Grammy and CMA Award-winning song “White Horse” is out now via MCA. Produced by Strange Arcade and directed by Running Bear Films, the cinematic short was filmed in Marfa, Texas, and stars Josh Brolin alongside Mae McKagan and Tommy Martinez, with appearances by Stapleton and his wife and longtime collaborator Morgane Stapleton. Exclusive “White Horse” merchandise has also been released in conjunction with the video.

Directors Stephen Kinigopoulos and Alexa King Stone of Running Bear Films describe the visual as a layered narrative shaped by repeated listens to the song. “Listening to ‘White Horse’ over and over again, we visualized a couple on the run and wanted to add some complexity with the parental sheriff relationship between Mae and Josh’s characters,” they share. What began as an action-driven love story evolved into a meditation on trust, release, and emotional reckoning, matching the song’s restless momentum.

The video arrives during another landmark year for Stapleton, who has earned four nominations at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards and three at the upcoming 59th Annual CMA Awards. The release also coincides with two major milestones: ten years since his breakout performance with Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA Awards, and a decade since the release of his debut album ‘Traveller’, a record that reshaped modern country music and cemented Stapleton’s place as one of its defining voices.

Meghan Trainor Announces New Album ‘Toy With Me’ And 2026 Arena Tour

Eric Alper
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Meghan Trainor Announces New Album ‘Toy With Me’ And 2026 Arena Tour

Global pop superstar Meghan Trainor has announced her seventh full-length album ‘Toy With Me’, out April 24 via Epic Records, alongside the reveal of her 2026 headline run, The Get In Girl Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the tour launches next summer and brings Trainor back to major arenas across North America, including Madison Square Garden in New York and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. The announcement arrives with new single “Still Don’t Care,” a bold, upbeat anthem that introduces the album’s confident new chapter.

With ‘Toy With Me’, Trainor leans into a balance of vulnerability and empowerment, pairing self-reflective themes with sharp pop instincts and playful lyricism. “‘Still Don’t Care’ really sets the tone for this whole Toy With Me era,” Trainor shares, describing the song as a reflection of growth, freedom, and choosing joy over perfection. The album follows 2024’s ‘Timeless’, which accompanied her biggest headlining tour to date and coincided with her receiving the Hitmaker Award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards, marking a decade since her debut ‘Title’ and breakout hit “All About That Bass.”

The Get In Girl Tour will feature support from Icona Pop and includes over 30 arena and amphitheatre dates across the US and Canada. Trainor has also partnered with HeadCount to promote voter registration throughout the tour. Presales begin Tuesday, November 18, with general tickets on sale Friday, November 21 at 10 am local time, alongside VIP packages.

Meghan Trainor 2026 The Get In Girl Tour Dates:
June 12 — Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
June 13 — Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
June 16 — Toronto, ON @ RBC Amphitheatre
June 18 — Grand Rapids, MI @ Acrisure Amphitheater
June 20 — Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
June 22 — Kansas City, MO @ Morton Amphitheater
June 24 — St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
June 26 — Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
June 27 — Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
June 30 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center
July 2 — Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
July 4 — Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
July 5 — Hershey, PA @ Giant Center
July 10 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
July 11 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
July 13 — Saint Paul, MN @ Grand Casino Arena
July 15 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
July 17 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
July 18 — Philadelphia, PA @ Xfinity Mobile Arena
July 20 — Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
July 22 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Arena
July 24 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
July 25 — Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena
July 28 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
July 30 — Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
Aug 1 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
Aug 3 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Maverik Center
Aug 5 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
Aug 7 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
Aug 8 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
Aug 11 — San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
Aug 13 — Phoenix, AZ @ Mortgage Matchup Center
Aug 15 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

Dominique Fils-Aimé Delivers A Powerful Full-Band Performance Live On KEXP

Eric Alper
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Dominique Fils-Aimé Delivers A Powerful Full-Band Performance Live On KEXP

Canadian singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé has shared a full live performance recorded at KEXP on September 22, 2025, now available to watch online. Joined by Harvey Bien-Aimée on drums, David Osei-Afrifa on keys, Danny Trudeau on bass, and Étienne Miousse on guitar, Fils-Aimé moves through a deeply expressive set including “Feeling Like A Plant,” “Fall And All,” “Old Love,” “Moi je t’aime,” “There Is Probably Fire,” “Or Let It Burn,” and “Our Roots Run Deep.” Hosted by Larry Mizell Jr., the session captures the full emotional range of her voice and songwriting, pairing clarity, restraint, and intensity in a focused studio setting.


Wave Of The Flood Marks Midpoint Of Year-Long Singles Project With “I Could Die”

Eric Alper
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Wave Of The Flood Marks Midpoint Of Year-Long Singles Project With “I Could Die”

Rising contemporary folk artist Wave Of The Flood reaches the halfway point of her ambitious year-long release campaign with new single “I Could Die.” The track is the sixth in a run of twelve monthly singles, a project designed to celebrate the legacy of the 45rpm single while marking a personal milestone year. Each release stands alone, placing storytelling and immediacy at the center of the project.

The creative force behind Wave Of The Flood, singer-songwriter Lindsay Strachan, launched the series earlier this year to reconnect with the freedom of releasing individual songs. “Releasing a single each month has meant I can be playful with the different topics in my songs without worrying about an overarching album theme,” Strachan says. “My November single is really different from my last, and I’m excited to see the momentum building behind these releases.”

“I Could Die” explores formative relationships and the fragile spaces between hurt, accountability, and repair. “The song reflects on what happens in the space between the sharp awareness of the hurt we inflict on those we love the most and the deep yearning to make things right,” Strachan explains. While emotionally direct, the song is framed with care and intention, offering reflection rather than resolution.

Produced by Kris Drever of Lau, who also contributes guitar, the track features John McDonald on double bass and Dylan Cairns on fiddle. Recorded by Garry Boyle at The Slate Room Studio, “I Could Die” balances warmth and restraint, pairing intimate performances with a clear, uncluttered production.

McFLY Headline Forest Live 2026 With Trio Of Major Forest Shows

Eric Alper
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McFLY Headline Forest Live 2026 With Trio Of Major Forest Shows

Forest Live, Forestry England’s long-running summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has announced McFLY as headliners for its 2026 edition. The power-pop mainstays will return to the forest stages this June with performances at Cannock Chase, Delamere Forest, and High Lodge, Thetford. Support across the dates comes from Twin Atlantic and rising pop trio Remember Monday.

Fresh from their massive 2025 UK arena run, including the 35-date Busted vs McFLY tour, the band bring a live set that reflects their full career arc while spotlighting material from their most recent album ‘Power to Play’. Following a standout Forest Live appearance at Westonbirt Arboretum last summer, Tom Fletcher, Harry Judd, Danny Jones, and Dougie Poynter return to the woodland stages for three large-scale outdoor shows.

More than two decades on from their breakout with “Five Colours In Her Hair,” McFLY remain one of the UK’s most successful pop-rock acts. With seven UK number-one singles including “All About You” and “Star Girl,” seven Top 10 albums, over 10 million sales, multiple Platinum awards, and a BRIT Award for Best British Pop, the band’s catalogue continues to resonate across generations. Their Forest Live appearances place that legacy into one of the UK’s most distinctive live music settings.

Forest Live celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, bringing world-class artists to Forestry England sites while supporting conservation and woodland care across the country. Over the past 25 years, more than two million people have attended Forest Live concerts, with proceeds helping fund tree planting and forest maintenance nationwide. McFLY join an already expansive 2026 lineup that includes Billy Ocean & Marti Pellow, Rick Astley, Garbage & Skunk Anansie, Deacon Blue & Lightning Seeds, Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, The Kooks, and UB40 ft Ali Campbell.

McFLY – Forest Live 2026 Dates:
June 17 – Thetford Forest, High Lodge
June 21 – Delamere Forest
June 28 – Cannock Chase

Esprit D’Air Enter A New Era With Fourth Album ‘Aeons’

Eric Alper
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Esprit D’Air Enter A New Era With Fourth Album ‘Aeons’

Award-winning alternative metal band Esprit D’Air have released their fourth studio album ‘Aeons’, out now. Entirely written and self-produced by the band, the record features recent singles “Chronos” and “Silver Leaf,” both of which were voted Best New Metal Track of the Week by Metal Hammer readers. The album follows ‘Constellations’, ‘Oceans’, and ‘Seasons’, continuing a run of releases that have placed Esprit D’Air firmly in the Official Charts.

“Aeons is about time — how it can trap us, test us, and push us to the edge,” says bandleader Kai. Written against a backdrop of global uncertainty, the album explores cycles of struggle, resilience, and renewal. Across its tracks, themes of conflict and despair sit alongside determination and forward motion, shaping a record rooted in reflection without losing momentum.

Esprit D’Air features Kai alongside Vincent Velazco, Takeshi, and Yusuke. Following a European tour spanning ten countries, the band are supporting ‘Aeons’ with a grassroots UK and Ireland tour, opting for smaller venues to present the new material up close. Unlike previous albums that featured guest collaborators, ‘Aeons’ marks a fully independent chapter, written, produced, and realized entirely by the band.

Arrows Of Athena Channel Distance And Devotion On New Single “Abandoned Love”

Eric Alper
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Arrows Of Athena Channel Distance And Devotion On New Single “Abandoned Love”

Boston-based cinematic electronic rock duo Arrows of Athena return with their new single “Abandoned Love,” out now via their own Belhaven Records. Written and recorded during sessions at Monza Studio, the track centers on emotional closeness maintained across physical distance, inspired by vocalist and lyricist Jac-Lyn Gibson reflecting on her marriage while working apart from her husband. The song captures that sense of presence felt even when someone is far away.

“Abandoned Love” is a high-intensity blend of electronic alt-rock, driven by pulsing synths, heavy guitars, and a glossy, kinetic core. The song marks the duo’s first release since their 2024 debut album ‘The Ghost Archives’ and continues the collaboration between Gibson and multi-instrumentalist and producer Scott Lerner. “The concept of our busy lives and coming home to one another at the end of the day just spilled out of me,” Gibson shares. “I think it’s a great testament to how love, although sometimes abandoned, can conquer all.”

Serving as a thematic and sonic bridge, “Abandoned Love” also acts as the first glimpse of Arrows of Athena’s forthcoming sophomore album ‘Daydreaming’, due in early 2026. The track builds on the foundation set by debut single “Reckless Heart,” expanding the project’s palette of ’90s-inspired electronic rock, dance beats, and melodic urgency. “It felt like a great follow up musically,” Gibson explains, describing the song as a continuation of a story centered on commitment, change, and connection.

Arrows of Athena emerged during the pandemic after Gibson and Lerner, longtime collaborators dating back to their time in Boston rock band Pure Fiction, reconnected creatively. Since then, the duo have carved out a distinctive sound that balances pop hooks, abrasive textures, and introspective lyricism. With ‘Daydreaming’ in progress and the possibility of live performances on the horizon, “Abandoned Love” marks a clear step forward into the next phase of the project.

Other Brother Darryl Revisit A Defining Song With ‘(Re)Watch The Trees’

Eric Alper
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Other Brother Darryl Revisit A Defining Song With ‘(Re)Watch The Trees’

Boston alt-country and Americana collective Other Brother Darryl have released ‘(Re)Watch The Trees’, a new suite revisiting one of the most defining songs from their acclaimed debut album ‘Roll Shine Roll’. Out now, the release expands on the original single “Watch The Trees” with two additional versions and a new live video, offering a deeper look at a song that has come to represent the band’s identity. The project arrives following a strong year that includes two 2025 Boston Music Awards nominations.

‘(Re)Watch The Trees’ includes three components: “Watch The Trees – Live Acoustic From Q Division,” recorded and filmed at the renowned Cambridge studio; an accompanying performance video; and “Watch The Trees – Demo Version,” which captures the song in its earliest form. “‘Watch The Trees’ has become a story of the before and after,” says guitarist and vocalist Nate Leavitt. “Now it’s become the song that most people identify us with.” Co-writer Dan Nicklin adds that the song’s strength lies in its specificity without explanation, allowing listeners to bring their own meaning to it.

The live version was produced by the band alongside Terrence Reeves, recorded and mixed at Q Division, and filmed with the full eight-piece lineup intact. The demo version, recorded at Nicklin’s Henley Row Studios, reveals how fully formed the song was from its earliest writing session. Both versions underscore the emotional weight the song carries, particularly through the continued presence of late bandmate Dave Mirabella, whose contributions remain central to the group’s spirit and sound.

Released earlier this year, ‘Roll Shine Roll’ marked a creative milestone for Other Brother Darryl, delivering singles including “Drive,” “Until I Do,” and “Gypsy Girl,” and crystallizing a harmony-rich Americana sound shaped by long friendships and shared history. With ‘(Re)Watch The Trees’, the band pause to reflect before moving forward, offering a focused, intimate look at a song that continues to grow alongside them as they begin work on their next chapter.

Paul Stone & The Basement Collective Rekindle Analogue Warmth On “Embers”

Eric Alper
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Paul Stone & The Basement Collective Rekindle Analogue Warmth On “Embers”

Yorkshire-based Paul Stone & The Basement Collective return this autumn with their new single “Embers,” a modern analogue jazz recording centered on connection, presence, and shared human experience. Led by vocalist, songwriter, and producer Paul Stone, the track was recorded live in the band’s self-built basement studio, anchored by a vintage Neve console and the natural interplay of musicians performing together in one room.

“Embers” leans into warmth and restraint, allowing performance and feel to guide the arrangement. The recording approach reflects the group’s commitment to authenticity, capturing subtle dynamics and chemistry rather than relying on studio polish. The track has already received support from Robbie Vincent on Jazz FM’s Music Garden, where it was highlighted for its soulful production and underlying message.

2025 has marked a significant return for Stone following time away from the spotlight to focus on family. Since then, the project has earned airplay from Jazz FM, BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Leeds, CBC Canada, Radio 2 Hong Kong, and KCSM in the US, alongside organic editorial support on Spotify’s UK Jazz playlist. With further original releases planned and festival appearances on the horizon in 2026, Paul Stone & The Basement Collective continue shaping a distinct voice within the UK jazz landscape through analogue craft and considered songwriting.

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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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