Algal the Bard turns the clock way back with a medieval tavern take on Green Day’s “Basket Case”, performed entirely on Middle Ages era instruments and delivered with a wink and a tankard raised high. From mandolin to flabiol to lute-guitar, Algal not only arranged the piece but played every part himself, crafting a bardcore romp that sounds ready for a candlelit singalong. It is punk rock reimagined for stone walls, wooden benches, and absolutely zero concern for modern anxiety.
Bardcore Troubadour Algal The Bard Tackles Green Day’s “Basket Case”
Blues Rock Firebrand ZZ Ward Expands ‘Liberation’ Deluxe
Blues rock powerhouse ZZ Ward releases ‘Liberation: Deluxe Edition’, out now as a vibrant expansion of her acclaimed album, adding unreleased gems like the new single “Halfway There” alongside electrifying live recordings captured at East West Studios in Los Angeles and the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis. The deluxe set deepens the spirit of independence and self-expression that defined the original release, revealing new layers of emotion and raw performance energy, including a standout live take on “Cadillac Man” recorded inside the historic walls of Sun, where Ward taps into the timeless magic of blues history while celebrating a major personal and artistic milestone.
Anthemic Canadian Rock Trio The Honest Heart Collective Return With “Outrun”
Thunder Bay anthemic rock outfit The Honest Heart Collective return with the new single “Outrun”, out now on all major streaming platforms and paired with a playful, cinematic video directed by Scott MacKay and Ryan Novak at Generator. Built on grit, sincerity, and big sing along hooks, the song blends punk urgency, heartland rock, and folk-rooted storytelling while reflecting on time, patience, and the constant chase that defines modern life. Following a strong run of tours and festival appearances including dates with Royal Tusk, BRKN LOVE, and Matthew Good, plus a standout slot at Frank Turner’s Lost Evenings VII, “Outrun” captures a band fully in stride and ready for the next chapter.
UK Thrash Hardcore Upstarts Guilt Trip Ignite With “Burn”
Manchester five piece Guilt Trip step into a bigger spotlight with the release of their ferocious new single “Burn”, out now with an official video and marking their first release following a global signing with Roadrunner Records. The track channels classic thrash muscle with hardcore bite and a modern, arena-ready punch, built for chaos, movement, and that inevitable wall of death moment. Fronted by Jay Valentine and fueled by jagged riffs from Jak Maden and Sam Baker, plus the relentless rhythm section of Tom Aimson and Lily Kilcoyne, Guilt Trip pair raw aggression with anthem instincts as they tour alongside Kublai Khan and bring their sound to stages primed for impact.
Progressive Heavy Metal Newcomers Spiral Fracture Unleash “Soul Allegiance”
Progressive heavy metal band Spiral Fracture introduce themselves with the powerful debut single “Soul Allegiance”, out now alongside an official music video. Dense with emotion and driven by crushing riffs, the song dives deep into themes of inner conflict, betrayal, and fractured identity, setting a bold tone for their debut album ‘Grace in Decay’, due January 23, 2026. Blending progressive ambition with extreme metal intensity, Spiral Fracture frame their sound around meaning and momentum, offering a first look at an album shaped by catharsis, reflection, and a clear artistic vision.
Canadian Sleaze Rock Faves Dirtbag Republic Go Analog Again
Canadian sleaze rock outfit Dirtbag Republic turn the volume up and the clock back with vinyl reissues of their cult favourites ‘Dirtbag Republic’ and ‘Downtown Eastside’, both out now via ElasticStage in the UK. Pressed on vinyl for the first time, the records capture the band’s glam punk swagger and streetwise storytelling, with cuts like “Can You Feel It”, “Homeless”, and “Junkie Girl” lighting up their raw Vancouver underground energy. The reissues also fuel what comes next, with proceeds helping fund the mixing of their upcoming fifth studio album, set for release in 2026, as the band close one chapter and confidently build the next.
Rock Icons +LIVE+ Return To Canada With ‘Mental Jewelry’
In celebration of the 35th anniversary of ‘Mental Jewelry’, multi-platinum alternative rock icons LIVE return to Canada for their first coast to coast tour in over two decades. Fronted by Ed Kowalczyk, the band brings Big Wreck along for the ride on the “Like A Rollin’ Thunder Tour 2026”, with Econoline Crush opening the first leg and The Damn Truth joining the final dates. The tour celebrates an album produced by Jerry Harrison that helped define 1990s alternative rock, while LIVE dig deep into a career-spanning set packed with favorites including “Lightning Crashes”, “I Alone”, “All Over You”, “Lakini’s Juice”, “The Dolphin’s Cry”, and “Pain Lies on the Riverside”, reconnecting with Canadian fans city by city.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
FEB 23 – ABBOTSFORD – ABBOTSFORD CENTRE +
FEB 24 – KELOWNA – PROSPERA PLACE +
FEB 26 – CALGARY – GREY EAGLE +
FEB 27 – EDMONTON – ROGERS PLACE +
MAR 1 – SASKATOON – SASKTEL CENTRE +
MAR 2 – WINNIPEG – CANADA LIFE CENTRE +
MAR 5 – HAMILTON – TD COLISEUM +
MAR 6 – OTTAWA – CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE +
MAR 7 – LONDON – CANADA LIFE PLACE +
MAR 9 – OSHAWA – TRIBUTE COMMUNITIES CENTRE +
MAR 10 – LAVAL – PLACE BELL *
MAR 11 – QUEBEC CITY – VIDEOTRON CENTRE *
MAR 13 – MONCTON – AVENIR CENTRE *
MAR 14 – HALIFAX – SCOTIABANK CENTRE *
- – LIVE / BIG WRECK / ECONOLINE CRUSH
- – LIVE / BIG WRECK / THE DAMN TRUTH
Indie Jazz Breakout Mei Semones Shines Live On KEXP
Mei Semones delivers a spellbinding full-band performance live on KEXP, recorded in the station’s Seattle studio and now out now for repeat listens. Moving fluidly between intricate guitar work, elastic rhythms, and luminous melodies, the set flows through “Dumb Feeling”, “I Can Do What I Want”, “Tora Moyo”, and “Kodoku”, with Semones joined by Ransom McCafferty, Noam Tanzer, Claudius Agrippa, and Noah Leong, plus a warm introduction from Cheryl Waters. It is the kind of session that captures an artist in full command of nuance and feel, relaxed, confident, and completely magnetic.
Cinematic Metal Band In Virtue Unveil “Gunslingers Of The New American Desert”
Los Angeles genre-defying metal band In Virtue announce their third studio album ‘Age of Legends’, out now, and introduce the record with the powerful new single “Gunslingers of the New American Desert”. Blending power, progressive, and melodic death metal with cinematic storytelling, the song opens a dark, immersive world led by a flawed antihero inspired by the myth of Sisyphus. Frontman Trey Xavier calls it the heaviest track in the band’s catalogue, setting the emotional and sonic tone for a full-bodied concept album that invites listeners into a sweeping journey of consequence, self-reflection, and hard-earned reckoning.
Bluegrass Stars The Infamous Stringdusters Share “Dead Man Walking”
The Infamous Stringdusters are celebrating two decades of pushing bluegrass forward, and the new single “Dead Man Walking” keeps that momentum flying. Its a country-infused dobro banjo burner with the kind of drive that makes you lean in closer, and it follows the first taste of their upcoming record, “Working Man Blues”. The band is set to release their 20th studio album ’20/20′ in January 2026, and the title says plenty about the milestone energy powering this era.
Fiddle player and songwriter Jeremy Garrett traces “Dead Man Walking” back to a character who needs to zoom out and truly see their life, then make a real shift. With Larry Keels voice in his head, Garrett sent over a verse or two, and Keel fired back with lyrics Garrett describes as awesome and uplifting, landing on a powerful chorus and a cool hook. With Chris Pandolfi, Travis Book, Andy Hall, and Andy Falco alongside Garrett, The Infamous Stringdusters keep blurring the lines between bluegrass, Americana, country, and indie-folk, and ’20/20′ arrives with twenty brand new songs and that same bold curiosity under bright stage lights or deep in the studio.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
1/21 – Patchogue, NY – Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts
1/22 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
1/23 – Beverly, MA – Cabot Theater
1/24 – Stowe, VT – Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center
1/25 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
1/27 – Buffalo, NY – Electric City
1/28 – Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron $$
1/29 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre $$
1/30 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall $$
1/31 – Appleton, WI – Ice Dance Music Festival
2/1 – Stoughton, WI – Stoughton Opera House
2/20-22 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House
2/24 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
2/25 – Jackson, WY – Jackson Hole Center for the Arts
2/26-27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Commonwealth
3/18 – Rutland, VT – Paramount Theatre
3/28 – EMS Spring Bluegrass Festival