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BAD SUNS Announce Massive 2026 “Accelerator” Headlining Tour

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

BAD SUNS Announce Massive 2026 “Accelerator” Headlining Tour

Following the massive success of their late-summer release Accelerator, Bad Suns have officially announced a major headlining tour for 2026. The trek kicks off with a run of European and UK dates in February and March before hitting North America for 24 high-energy nights. Since its debut, Accelerator has been hailed as the band’s strongest work in over a decade, propelled by the success of the lead single “Communicating,” which climbed to #19 on the alternative rock radio charts. Formed as teenagers in 2012, the trio of Cristo Bowman, Gavin Bennett, and Miles Morris have evolved their signature blend of ’80s synth sheen and indie rock into something more contemplative and purposeful. This tour represents a victory lap for a band that has successfully pushed into a bright new era, verifying their status as mainstays of the alternative scene.

Tickets for the newly announced dates go on sale today, Friday, December 19th, at 10 AM local time. Fans can expect a setlist that balances the dreamy, contemplative heights of the new record with the infectious energy of their early hits. From intimate UK stops like Glasgow’s King Tut’s to iconic US venues like Asbury Park’s The Stone Pony, the tour is designed to bring the vibrant atmosphere of Accelerator to life across two continents. With over ten years of collective growth behind them, Bad Suns are entering 2026 with a renewed vitality that is evident in every note of their new material. It is a sophisticated next step for the group, proving that their magnetic sound is only getting sharper with time.

Bad Suns 2026 Tour Dates:

UK/EU Dates

Feb 28 – Glasgow, UK @ King Tut’s
March 2 – Dublin, Ireland @ Whelan’s
March 4 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
March 5 – London, UK @ Electric Ballroom
March 7 – Cologne, Germany @ Artheater
March 8 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Kavka
March 9 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
March 12 – Prague, Czechia @ Cafe V Lese
March 13 – Berlin, Germany @ Privatclub
March 14 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Hotel Cecil

North American Dates

March 27 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO
March 28 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO
March 30 – Madrid Theatre – Kansas City, MO
March 31 – Red Flag – St. Louis, MO
April 2 – Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI
April 3 – Elevation at the Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
April 4 – Hi-Fi Indianapolis – Indianapolis, IN
April 5 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
April 7 – Higher Ground Ballroom – South Burlington, VT
April 8 – Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT
April 10 – The Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ
April 11 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
April 12 – Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA
April 14 – The Underground – Charlotte, NC
April 15 – Music Farm – Charleston, SC
April 17 – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL
April 18 – House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista, FL
April 19 – Saturn – Birmingham, AL
April 21 – George’s Majestic Lounge – Fayetteville, AR
April 22 – Tower Theatre – Oklahoma City, OK
April 24 – The Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX
April 25 – Brewster Street Ice House – Corpus Christi, TX
April 28 – El Rey Theater – Albuquerque, NM
April 29 – Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ

ERIC CLAPTON Unearthed Vault Gems for ‘Journeyman: Deluxe Edition’

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

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ERIC CLAPTON Unearthed Vault Gems for ‘Journeyman: Deluxe Edition’

Eric Clapton has returned to his multi-platinum 1989 landmark, Journeyman, with a newly remastered Deluxe Edition that recently arrived on November 21, 2025. This expanded release was born from a serendipitous moment when Clapton, browsing YouTube, discovered fan-uploaded outtakes that spurred him to dig back into his own archives. The result is a 16-track collection that adds four significant bonus cuts—including the recently unearthed single “Forever” and the rare “Higher Power”—mixed and mastered anew for this definitive edition. Recorded during a period of creative and personal resurgence, the original album saw Clapton collaborating with an elite circle of guests like George Harrison, Phil Collins, and Chaka Khan, and this reissue verifies the enduring power of his craftsmanship as he moved beyond a decade of personal struggle.

The Deluxe Edition serves as a sonic bridge between Clapton’s 1980s commercial peaks and the raw blues integrity that defined his late-career mastery. Featuring high-fidelity remasters of staples like “Pretending” and the Grammy-winning “Bad Love,” the project captures Clapton at a pivotal moment of transition, using his guitar to reflect a life reclaimed. By integrating these four “lost” sessions gems—three of which were previously unreleased—the record provides a complete picture of the Journeyman era that was once only available in fragmented bootlegs. Now available across all digital platforms and on 180g vinyl and CD via Bushbranch/Surfdog Records, this reissue highlights the endless capacity of a legendary artist to chase his music wherever the journey leads, even decades after the first note was struck.

Eric Clapton – Journeyman: Deluxe Edition Tracklist:

Pretending
Anything For Your Love
Bad Love
Running on Faith
Hard Times
Hound Dog
No Alibis
Run So Far
Old Love
Breaking Point
Lead Me On
Before You Accuse Me
Higher Power (Bonus Track)
Border Song (Bonus Track)
Forever (Bonus Track)
That Kind of Woman (Bonus Track)

KARNIVOOL Unveils Animated Visual Epic for New Single “Opal”

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

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KARNIVOOL Unveils Animated Visual Epic for New Single “Opal”

Australia’s progressive titans Karnivool have released a majestic new video for their latest single, “Opal,” offering a striking visual companion to the third track from their long-awaited album In Verses. Directed by Adam Rule of Rhythm Films, the video utilizes a painted, animated aesthetic designed to mirror the album’s cover art and the “sleeping giant” concept that has anchored the song since its inception. Following the summer releases of “Aozora” and “Drone,” “Opal” showcases a band at their most energized, blending raw power with delicate beauty. Recorded with longtime collaborator Forrester Savell, the upcoming ten-track journey marks the band’s first full-length statement in over a decade, arriving February 6, 2026, via Cymatic Records and The Orchard.

In Verses is described as a cathartic exploration of frustration and identity, capturing the quintet tearing down their own creative walls to find a renewed sense of purpose. The tracking phase, which began in early 2025, reflects a band operating in their healthiest and most focused creative space to date. Each track, from the atmospheric opener “Ghost” to the expansive “Opal,” serves as an homage to Karnivool’s evolution while responding to the jarring shifts in the global landscape since their last output. For both die-hard fans and newcomers, this record verifies the band’s status as masters of their craft, delivering a sophisticated blend of technical precision and profound emotional resonance that is primed to define the progressive rock landscape in 2026.

Karnivool – In Verses Tracklist:

Ghost
Drone
Aozora
Animation
Conversations
Reanimation
All It Takes
Remote Self Control
Opal
Salva

OLD SETTLER’S MUSIC FESTIVAL Returns “Back to Ben” for 2026 Lineup

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

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OLD SETTLER’S MUSIC FESTIVAL Returns “Back to Ben” for 2026 Lineup

The 39th annual Old Settler’s Music Festival has officially unveiled its lineup for a highly anticipated return to its Texas Hill Country roots at Camp Ben McCulloch. Dubbed “OSMF 2026: Back to Ben,” the festival takes place April 17–19, 2026, offering a reimagined experience that prioritizes the intimate community spirit that has defined the event since 1987. Headlining the weekend is the progressive bluegrass powerhouse Railroad Earth, alongside a stellar roster including The Brothers Comatose, The Last Revel, and local favorite Shinyribs. As a volunteer-led nonprofit, Old Settler’s remains a cornerstone of the Americana and roots scene, providing a multigenerational sanctuary for late-night campfire jams and world-class performances beneath the iconic local oak trees.

This year’s “Back to Ben” theme emphasizes a return to the festival’s traditional values: family-friendly camping, music workshops, and an unpretentious atmosphere just a stone’s throw from Austin. The curated bill also features virtuosic talent like Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper and 2025 Youth Talent Contest winner Ira Thorne Clifton, verifying the festival’s commitment to both legends and rising stars. With Early Bird passes available now, organizers expect a swift sell-out for this limited-capacity homecoming. Whether you’re there for the high-energy main stage sets or the spontaneous picking sessions by Onion Creek, OSMF 2026 promises a sophisticated yet soulful celebration of the American roots tradition.

Old Settler’s Music Festival 2026 Lineup:

Railroad Earth
The Brothers Comatose
The Last Revel
Lindsay Lou
Shinyribs
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Shelby Means
Two Runner
Magoo
Warren Hood Quartet with Emily Gimble
Billy Bright Band
Foggy Memory Boys
Feeding Leroy
Brother Thunder
Louisiana Surf Department
Ira Thorne Clifton

ARCHSPIRE Announces “Long Roads Big Loads” North American Tour

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

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ARCHSPIRE Announces “Long Roads Big Loads” North American Tour

Technical death metal titans Archspire, self-proclaimed as the world’s fastest band, are hitting the road this spring for the massive “Long Roads Big Loads Tour.” Supporting their highly anticipated new album Too Fast to Die—arriving April 10th, 2026—the run features an uncompromising support package including Undeath, Crown Magnetar, and Mutilation Barbecue. Known for their staggering BPMs and irreverent humor, the band is using this tour to debut new material and “expose” their new drummer to North American audiences for the first time. The trek kicks off in Calgary on April 24th and tears through major markets like Toronto, New York, and Chicago before a hometown finale in Vancouver on June 6th.

Fresh off the success of their blistering single “Carrion Ladder,” Archspire is promising a high-octane live experience that pushes the boundaries of human endurance. The band’s commentary remains characteristically blunt, warning fans that they’ll be “abusing gas station bathroom stalls” across the continent while encouraging crowds to heckle the new guy behind the kit. With Too Fast to Die poised to verify their status as the apex predators of the tech-death scene, this tour is set to be one of the most intense extreme metal events of 2026. Fans can expect a setlist packed with their signature “Stay Tech” precision and the kind of chaotic energy that only a band of this velocity can generate.

Archspire “Long Roads Big Loads Tour” Dates:

April 24 – Calgary, AB @ The Palace Theatre
April 25 – Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall
April 26 – Saskatoon, SK @ Coors Event Centre
April 27 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Park Theatre
April 30 – Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix Concert Theatre
May 01 – Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Beanfield
May 02 – Quebec City, QC @ Salle Montaigne
May 03 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium Upstairs
May 05 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
May 06 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
May 07 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
May 08 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
May 09 – Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club
May 11 – Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
May 12 – Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
May 13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
May 15 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
May 16 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
May 17 – Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Bomb Factory
May 18 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
May 20 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave / Eagles Club
May 21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
May 22 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
May 23 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
May 24 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada
May 27 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
May 29 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
May 30 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
May 31 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
June 02 – Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
June 04 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
June 05 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
June 06 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre

What Barack Obama’s 2025 Playlist Says About Joy, Curiosity, and Great Vibes

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

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What Barack Obama’s 2025 Playlist Says About Joy, Curiosity, and Great Vibes

Barack Obama has always shared his book lists, movie picks, and summer playlists like a friend passing notes across the table, and his 2025 favorite music list continues that tradition with joy, curiosity, and heart. One scroll through these songs reveals a listener who moves easily between eras, genres, and moods, finding connection in pop bangers, soul-searching ballads, global rhythms, and intimate storytelling. This playlist feels less like a flex and more like an invitation, offering clues about how Obama listens, reflects, unwinds, and stays plugged into the world around him. Let’s dig into what this mix quietly says about taste, empathy, optimism, and a lifelong love of good songs.

One thing that jumps out immediately is how global this playlist is. There is Afrobeats, Latin pop, indie folk, K pop, soul, Americana, and quiet singer songwriter moments all sitting together peacefully. Burna Boy, Rosalia, Ganavya, Mora, Xavi, and BLACKPINK share space with Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, and The Beths. It suggests a listener who is endlessly curious, genuinely paying attention, and happy to let music be a bridge instead of a boundary. This is what cultural optimism sounds like.

There is also a strong emotional through line here. Songs like “Please Don’t Cry,” “Silver Lining,” “Bury Me,” and “I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again” point to empathy and reflection, while tracks like “Abracadabra,” “Man I Need,” and “Jump” bring sparkle, confidence, and movement. It is a balance of dancing in the kitchen and staring out the window energy. The kind of list that understands life is complicated but still very much worth enjoying.

Most of all, this playlist feels generous. It lifts up emerging voices alongside established icons, and it celebrates sincerity without taking itself too seriously. It tells us that Barack Obama still listens like a fan, not a curator, and that he values feeling connected, curious, and hopeful. If this is what leadership looks like in headphones form, it is hard not to smile, press play, and feel a little better about the world for the length of a song.

Barack Obama’s 2025 favorite music list reads less like a playlist and more like a personality test, and the results are deeply comforting. This is the sound of someone who loves joy and groove but also leaves room for reflection, tenderness, and the occasional late night headphones moment. From Olivia Dean and Chappell Roan to Kendrick Lamar and SZA, the list hums with warmth, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. It feels like a reminder that good taste is not about chasing trends, but about staying open to feeling things.

One thing that jumps out immediately is how global this playlist is. There is Afrobeats, Latin pop, indie folk, K pop, soul, Americana, and quiet singer songwriter moments all sitting together peacefully. Burna Boy, Rosalia, Ganavya, Mora, Xavi, and BLACKPINK share space with Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, and The Beths. It suggests a listener who is endlessly curious, genuinely paying attention, and happy to let music be a bridge instead of a boundary. This is what cultural optimism sounds like.

There is also a strong emotional through line here. Songs like “Please Don’t Cry,” “Silver Lining,” “Bury Me,” and “I Wish I Could Go Travelling Again” point to empathy and reflection, while tracks like “Abracadabra,” “Man I Need,” and “Jump” bring sparkle, confidence, and movement. It is a balance of dancing in the kitchen and staring out the window energy. The kind of list that understands life is complicated but still very much worth enjoying.

Most of all, this playlist feels generous. It lifts up emerging voices alongside established icons, and it celebrates sincerity without taking itself too seriously. It tells us that Barack Obama still listens like a fan, not a curator, and that he values feeling connected, curious, and hopeful. If this is what leadership looks like in headphones form, it is hard not to smile, press play, and feel a little better about the world for the length of a song.

DAVID VILA DIÉGUEZ Decodes Political Defiance in ‘Spanish Punk’

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

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DAVID VILA DIÉGUEZ Decodes Political Defiance in ‘Spanish Punk’

What does democracy sound like when it’s shouted through a distortion pedal? This is the central question of David Vila Diéguez’s groundbreaking new study, Spanish Punk: Screaming for Democracy in a Postdictatorial State, released today, December 19, 2025. Emerging from the long shadow of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in 1975, Spain’s transition to democracy was anything but smooth. Diéguez argues that punk was far more than a raucous musical export; it was a “rebellious cultural matrix” and a DIY response to the contradictions of a state attempting to reinvent itself. Through a meticulous analysis of fanzines, lyrics, and subcultural style, the book explores how bands like Eskorbuto, La Polla Records, and Kortatu challenged the hegemonic “Transition” narrative, posing urgent questions about who was being left out of the newly “free” society.

Blending historical, philosophical, and musicological research, Diéguez—a scholar and musician himself—demonstrates how punk served as the “cultural glue” for oppositional movements and anti-establishment identities. With a foreword by Isabela Raygoza, the book delves into the “rupturist discourse” of the era, examining how a generation used noise to navigate the uneasy aftermath of literal fascism. From the working-class streets of the Basque Country to the broader anti-capitalist struggles of the 1980s, Spanish Punk verifies that the movement’s supposed “nihilism” was actually a deeply engaged political commitment. It is a long-overdue and intellectually captivating exploration of cultural resistance that finally gives the Spanish punk epoch the scholarly searchlight it deserves.

LUCA BRAGALINI Unveils Definitive Study of ‘Duke Ellington’s Symphonic Visions’ In New Book

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 19, 2025

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LUCA BRAGALINI Unveils Definitive Study of ‘Duke Ellington’s Symphonic Visions’ In New Book

The culmination of a decade-long study, Duke Ellington’s Symphonic Visions by Luca Bragalini has arrived as the first book entirely dedicated to the legendary composer’s works for the symphony orchestra. Released on December 15, 2025, as part of the acclaimed American Made Music series, this meticulous work unfolds across seven chapters that deep-dive into Ellington’s most complex orchestral scores. From unraveling the cultural challenges behind recording “La Scala, She Too Pretty to Be Blue” to the remarkable discovery of the unpublished score Celebration, Bragalini utilizes personal interviews and immersive archival research to shed light on a previously obscure aspect of Ellington’s oeuvre. The book even examines a poignant posthumous symphonic ballet sketched by Ellington on his deathbed, providing a rare look into the final creative thoughts of an American icon.

Published in English through a collaboration with the International Center for American Music, the book transcends narrow musicology by integrating art history, sociology, and urban history to explore Ellington’s political ideologies and his connection to the Harlem Renaissance. The narrative is brought to life with unpublished photographs from a prominent postwar Italian photojournalist who captured Ellington’s collaboration with the Orchestra Sinfonica della Scala in Milan. By tracing a journey that spans Harlem, Europe, and Canada, Bragalini verifies Ellington’s status not just as a jazz pioneer, but as a symphonic visionary whose work intersected deeply with religion and African American community identity. It is an engaging, interdisciplinary read that finally decodes the enigmatic persona of Ellington within the world of classical instrumentation.

TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Announces 53rd Annual Summer Solstice Pilgrimage

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 18, 2025

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TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Announces 53rd Annual Summer Solstice Pilgrimage

When the sun hangs highest over the San Juan Mountains this June, the box canyon of Telluride will once again transform into a high-altitude sanctuary for the 53rd annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Taking place June 18–21, 2026, this legendary gathering is far more than a series of concerts; it is a summer-solstice pilgrimage for a global community known as “Festivarians.” From the main stage at Town Park to the late-night pickin’ sessions that echo through the campgrounds until dawn, the festival fosters a unique sense of togetherness. As Zach Tucker of Planet Bluegrass notes, the magic lies as much in the person sitting next to you as the virtuosos on stage. For legends like Peter Rowan and modern stars like four-time Grammy nominee Sierra Hull, the festival represents a “beautiful homecoming” where the boundaries between performer and fan dissolve into the thin, mountain air.

Founded in 1974, Telluride Bluegrass has earned its reputation as the “granddaddy of the modern festival circuit” by embracing an expansive sonic identity that welcomes everyone from Sam Bush and Emmylou Harris to Mumford & Sons and Janelle Monáe. Beyond the main stage, attendees can find intimate workshop performances at Elks Park or catch the prestigious NightGrass indoor sets. Planet Bluegrass continues to lead the industry in sustainable “festivation,” operating with a fierce independence and a strict “Leave No Trace” ethic. With tickets and camping passes historically moving at lightning speed, organizers are encouraging both “old-heads” and newcomers to secure their spots early. Whether you are navigating the canyon for the first time or returning for your fiftieth year, the 2026 gathering promises to verify why this storied event remains the gold standard for adventurous acoustic music.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2026 Info:

Dates: June 18–21, 2026
Location: Town Park, Telluride, Colorado
Tickets: On sale now via shop.bluegrass.com
Official Guides: First-timers and “Bluegrass with Kids” guides available at bluegrass.com

ANEIA KI Debuts with Emotional and Cinematic Ballad “When I Am With You”

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 18, 2025

0

ANEIA KI Debuts with Emotional and Cinematic Ballad “When I Am With You”

London-based and classically trained artist Aneia Ki has officially entered the spotlight with her debut single, “When I Am With You.” Produced in collaboration with London-based producer Tony Sage, the track is a masterfully crafted emotional ballad that feels tailored for the winter season. Opening with gentle piano arpeggios, the composition immediately draws listeners into a vulnerable storytelling journey. Aneia’s vocal delivery is the centerpiece here, starting with a soft, breathy tone that builds into a powerful, liberating performance. As the narrative evolves, Sage’s production introduces swelling synths and driving drum-machine patterns, expanding the sonic space and transforming the intimate piano piece into a cinematic experience that balances restraint with raw power.

Lyrically, the single explores the deep complexities of mental and emotional connection, offering a sense of closure that is both personal and universal. Fans of Enya’s atmospheric textures or Charlotte Cardin’s emotional precision will find much to admire in the way Aneia balances her detailed, focused verses with soaring, expansive choruses. The elegant piano progressions serve as a sophisticated foundation for her gorgeous voice, verifying her technical background while showcasing a fresh, modern R&B and alternative-pop sensibility. It is an impressive introduction for a new artist, proving she has a keen eye for detail and a voice capable of navigating profound emotional depths with ease.