Multi-platinum, BRIT Award-winning, and GRAMMY-nominated global pop visionary MIKA releases his highly anticipated new album Hyperlove today via Republic Records. Marking his first English-language studio album since 2019, Hyperlove introduces a bold new chapter, one rooted in raw emotion, and the fearless joy that has defined MIKA’s career. Released alongside the album is “Excuses For Love,” a euphoric, bass-driven single that captures the heart of Hyperlove’s message: radical emotional honesty in a world that encourages restraint. Listen here.
Across Hyperlove, MIKA returns to the piano as the emotional core of his songwriting, pairing his classically trained voice with richly textured, vintage production. Built entirely from analogue and retro sources, the album explores the tension between human vulnerability and modern technology, while reaffirming music’s power to connect, uplift, and transcend. The album reunites MIKA with Nick Littlemore, the creative force behind Empire of the Sun and PNAU, and producer of MIKA’s acclaimed The Origin of Love. Adding another distinctive layer, legendary filmmaker and cultural icon John Waters appears as a guest narrator across the album, delivering sharp, and witty interludes.
To celebrate the release, MIKA will bring his dazzling, kaleidoscopic live show back to North America next spring. The Spinning Out Tour launches April 29, 2026 in Boston and will travel through major cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Austin, and more.
For nearly two decades, MIKA has remained one of pop music’s most distinctive voices. Born Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., he burst onto the international stage with the 2007 smash “Grace Kelly” and the multi-platinum debut Life in Cartoon Motion, which sold over 8 million albums, generated more than 2.8 billion streams, and topped charts in 12 countries. His acclaimed catalogue includes The Boy Who Knew Too Much, The Origin of Love, No Place in Heaven, and My Name Is Michael Holbrook, alongside collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande, Gregg Wells, and more.
Beyond music, MIKA is an internationally celebrated television personality. He has served as a judge on X Factor Italy, a coach on The Voice France, and the host of the Rose d’Or–winning Italian series Stasera Casa Mika. In the UK, he continues to mentor emerging talent on The Piano, now entering its fourth season, and in 2025 he expands his global television presence as a coach on La Voz Spain. In 2020, following the Beirut explosion, MIKA produced the global benefit event I Love Beirut, raising over €1 million for relief efforts and reaching audiences in 106 countries.
With Hyperlove, MIKA delivers an album fueled by curiosity, craftsmanship, and an unwavering belief in the power of love without excuses.
SPINNING OUT TOUR — NORTH AMERICA 2026: April 29 — Boston, MA — Citizens House of Blues May 1 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring May 2 — New York, NY — The Rooftop at Pier 17 May 4 — Laval, QC — Place Bell May 5 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore May 7 — Chicago, IL — Riviera Theatre May 9 — Dallas, TX — Factory in Deep Ellum May 10 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater May 13 — Los Angeles, CA — Orpheum Theatre May 14 — San Francisco, CA — The Castro (SOLD OUT)
Interscope Records announces the release of Vacancy, the brand new album from GRAMMY-nominated R&B artist Ari Lennox. Marking her third full-length release since 2022. Vacancy signals a sophisticated new chapter defined by creative autonomy, confidence, and growth. Listen to VacancyHERE.
Recorded over the course of three years in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami, Vacancy reflects a deeply intentional process shaped by patience, self-reflection, artistic freedom, and collaboration. Ari wrapped the album’s final sessions in summer 2025 alongside the project’s executive producer, Elite, bringing the record into focus with clarity and conviction. She co-wrote every track on the album, showcasing sharp lyricism in addition to her celebrated vocal performances.
The album opens with the Elite-produced “Mobbin’ in DC,” a soulful nod to Ari’s hometown roots. Early singles — “Under the Moon,” the title track “Vacancy”— reunited the singer with GRAMMY-winning producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, the duo behind her Billboard-charting, RIAA platinum-certified single “Pressure.” Their renewed collaboration brings a timeless sensibility to the project, allowing Ari’s emotive delivery and vocal nuance to take center stage once again.
The album’s focus track, “High Key,” produced by J White Did It, demonstrates the playful vocal energy found all over the project. The latest single, “Twin Flame,” produced by Tommy “TBHits” Brown and Leather Jacket, is a tender yet intoxicating lovers’ ode that captures the thrill of emotional intimacy. The track has quickly gained momentum at radio and among fans, and Ari showcased its emotional depth with a performance on The Jennifer Hudson Show earlier this week.
Other standout tracks include “Soft Girl Era (Dupri/Cox), the retro-leaning “24 Seconds” (Trickey Stewart/Dream Sarah), the playful “Horoscope,” and the anthemic “Hocus Pocus.” The album features one guest appearance: Jamaican music icon Buju Banton on “Company,” produced by SupaDups and Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor. The track blends R&B and dancehall with effortless chemistry, resulting in a fusion that feels both timeless and contemporary.
In addition to her television performance, Ari Lennox has continued to elevate her live presence with standout appearances, including Robert Glasper’s Blue Note residency in Los Angeles and a featured set at the 80th EBONY Power 100 Gala. Vacancy is available now on all streaming platforms.
Vacancy Tracklist: 1. Mobbin In DC 2. Vacancy 3. Pretzel 4. Under The Moon 5. High Key 6. Twin Flame 7. Soft Girl Era 8. Deep Strokes 9. 24 Seconds 10. Cool Down 11. Horoscope 12. Wake Up 13. Company (Feat. Buju Banton) 14. Dreaming 15. Hocus Pocus
Today, SIENNA SPIRO releases the highly anticipated official music video for her heart-shattering phenomenon of a single “Die On This Hill.” Premiering on Lyrical Lemonade, the spare but deeply moving visual is the first that Lyrical Lemonade founder Cole Bennett has directed for a female pop solo artist and the first to live on Lyrical Lemonade’s tastemaking YouTube channel (21 million subscribers).
The black-and-white “Die On This Hill” video cuts through the deafening buzz to remind us of the emotional weight at the center of the song, which SIENNA has described as “about stubborn love — the kind that makes you stay when you know you should leave.” In a sparsely furnished room, she sits across from a life-sized burlap man and sings her heart out to him. In another shot, she slow-dances with him. But as the song moves toward a devastating finale, we see SIENNA on the floor surrounded by shredded fabric and tufts of cotton — handfuls of nothing commemorating a hollowed-out illusion of love.
Says SIENNA, “Making new friends is always special, but getting to work with them is a privilege. Bringing this video to life taught me so much. I am so grateful for the love that this song has been shown so far and to get to work with such an incredible artist in Cole, who I also can call a friend!”
Says Cole Bennett, “I immediately was a fan of SIENNA, even before I met her, but once we became good friends it really clicked that she is a once in a generation talent. She played me ‘Die On This Hill’ a couple weeks before its release and it blew my fucking mind. We continued to let the friendship grow before jumping into working with each other. Through that I was able to understand her more and how she wants her art to be communicated to the world. I had never really done a video for a pop artist like this so it was all very new territory for me. I was a bit nervous, but the excitement outweighed that. I’m incredibly thankful to have gotten to work with SIENNA and I hope to do more.”
The video arrives as “Die On This Hill” holds steady in the Top 10 of Spotify’s global chart (#9), affirming SIENNA’s status as one of only three UK artists in the bracket (next to RAYE and Olivia Dean) and the only one in the Top 10 who has yet to release a debut album. With over 200 million global streams to date, the staggering ballad continues to climb the Billboard Hot 100, where it’s currently #21 and trailed by SIENNA’s earlier single “You Stole The Show” (#63), which has surpassed 125 million global streams.
Of course, this isn’t the first time SIENNA’s brought “Die On This Hill” to life. Part of the hit’s explosion includes the spellbinding live performances she’s shared. Earlier this month she brought an unforgettable rendition to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, inspiring a standing ovation and flabbergasting her host — watch HERE. SIENNA also sang it on Later… with Jools Holland and TODAY, not to mention her six-night run opening for Sam Smith’s historic “To Be Free: New York City” residency in late 2025.
Moreover, fans will get a chance to witness SIENNA’s gift in person on her forthcoming “The Visitor Tour,” which sold out within seconds, inspiring her to add more dates to what will be her first-ever North American headlining run. The stateside leg launches on March 3 at the historic Troubadour in West Hollywood and concludes with back-to-back nights at New York’s Bowery Ballroom (March 17 and 18) before she proceeds to the UK and Europe. Go HERE for all ticket info and to view the full itinerary.
SIENNA entered 2026 shortlisted for the BRIT Awards’ highly esteemed Critics’ Choice for 2026 award, placing her in a class that includes Adele, Dua Lipa, James Blake, Lewis Capaldi, and Smith, among others. She also landed on Vevo DSCVR’s “Artists to Watch” list for 2026 — after receiving similar nods from the likes of Billboard, Stereogum, Pigeons & Planes, HypeBae, and L’Officiel — and was recently featured on the cover of Notion Magazine. She also starred in Gap’s “Give Your Gift” holiday campaign, performing a soulful reinterpretation of Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb” backed by a diverse, multi-generational choir.
With her increasingly renowned mix of staggering vocals, emotional storytelling, and immense poise, it’s almost impossible to believe that SIENNA is just 20 years old. And yet, she’s found a global audience by not only releasing cinematic, soulful, and timeless yet subtly modern songs, but also — especially — by performing them live to jaw-dropping effect. A DIY-minded artist who first started penning songs when she was only 10, SIENNA’s earliest inspirations included Frank Ocean, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, and Amy Winehouse. She soon began integrating jazz elements into her music while gently leaning toward more contemporary sonic aesthetics, as heard on her stunning early 2025 debut EP SINK NOW, SWIM LATER.
She turned plenty of heads then, bringing breakout track “MAYBE” to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, joining Teddy Swims on his summer U.S. tour, and stopping by COLORSxSTUDIOS to play her track “Dream Police,” but things accelerated quickly from there. Now, with a new project on the way, SIENNA SPIRO is continuing to evolve. She’s figuring out before our eyes where she stands when it comes to love, femininity, and adulthood, and is building an immersive world to match.
Catch SIENNA SPIRO at one of the dates below to watch that world come to life in person.
Social drinking patterns are changing, with many people opting for a unique beverage experience that elevates social events. In particular, music venues have noticed this trend and have begun offering a wide range of beverages.
The right drink can be the difference between a good and an awesome concert. Here are the top 5 drinks that you are likely to see at concerts and why they remain popular among concertgoers.
1. Cannabis Drinks
The popularity of cannabis drinks has been steadily increasing as people are looking for healthier ways to get a buzz. Consumers looking for an alternative to smoking cannabis will find that cannabis-infused drinks, like Crescent 9 THC Seltzer, are a great option when they want to relax and unwind after a concert.
Moreover, cannabis drinks are easy to drink while providing uplifting and euphoric effects, making them ideal for a relaxed concert environment. These drinks provide attendees with a calm, social experience that enhances their enjoyment of the show.
These drinks are popular nationwide at bars and music venues because of how they elevate the concert experience. They are also a healthier alternative to alcohol.
2. Water (Flat and Sparkling)
The most crucial beverage at a concert is water, so that the crowd can stay hydrated. Most music venues now provide bottled water, refillable water stations, and sparkling waters in cans.
Sparkling water also continues to become a popular beverage choice among concert-goers, as it offers the refreshment of a beverage without being as heavy as a carbonated drink. Many patrons will alternate between water and other beverages during the concert.
3. Beer
Beer has always been a large part of live music venue beverage sales. Beer is easy to store and serve, and is generally well known to most patrons at the venue. Beer is also a perfect complement to the laid-back and fun atmosphere of a concert.
4. Ready-to-Drink Cocktails (RTDs)
Ready-to-drink (RTD) and pre-mixed cocktails are wildly popular at events and concerts, so many venues offer a massive RTD variety. These drinks eliminate the typical wait times associated with the traditional preparation of cocktails. They offer a consistent, high-quality flavor that hardly ever fails to delight.
People typically choose to buy canned margaritas, vodka sodas, and hard lemonades at events. As these drinks can be served quickly, concertgoers do not need to wait in long lines to get them. This way, they do not miss any performances.
For venues, RTDs are convenient because each drink tastes the same, regardless of how busy the bar may be. More importantly, for concertgoers, RTDs offer a sense of familiarity along with convenience.
5. Energy Drinks and Sodas
Energy drinks and sodas are perfect if you want to maintain alertness and energy level so you can enjoy an extended performance or stay awake throughout a long event, particularly during a late-night performance.
Energy drinks and regular sodas (e.g., cola or lemon-lime) are commonly consumed due to their energizing properties. These drinks are especially popular at electronic dance and music festivals, which can last for several hours. They provide quick energy, and concertgoers typically pair them with food to sustain themselves until the last act.
Savoring the Moment, One Sip at a Time
The right beverage can dramatically enhance your experience at concerts and events. Good refreshments make live performances go from great to outstanding.
. For unforgettable experiences at events, concerts, and live performances, all you need is your favorite people, some great music, and a wonderful beverage to complement the vibe.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
Today, Holly Humberstone announces her highly anticipated second album Cruel World, to be released on 10 April 2026. One of the defining voices of her generation returns with an album that captures the tension between pain and pleasure, where chaos and acceptance exist side by side. Renowned for her forensic songwriting ability – nominated for an Ivor Novello for her debut EP and winning the BRIT Rising Star in 2022 – Holly has grown into a global force, whose lucid storytelling resonates far beyond her own walls. Entering Cruel World, Holly escapes into a dark fairytale world of her own making, where childhood relics, monsters and memory collide. Today Holly allows us to look through the looking glass with the soaring new single “To Love Somebody”, accompanied by an enchanting video directed by Silken Weinberg (Ethel Cain). Inspired by Victorian theatre, Brothers Grimm and Nosferatu, “To Love Somebody” is a visceral opening statement for the 26-year-old, as the new year begins. Love now, for Holly, is both grounding and destabilising. “The record explores love as beautiful and inherently painful,” she says.
“In To Love Somebody I wanted to capture that contradiction: to love somebody, is to hurt somebody and to lose somebody, well at least you got to love somebody. In order to feel extreme happiness, you have to know extreme sadness. That’s the tension of the record,” says Holly. The past two have been defined by repair, belonging, and rediscovering talismans to her past, moments that were forgotten when she was catapulted into the public sphere at just 20-years-old. Where her top 3 debut album Paint My Bedroom Black was marked by turbulence and longing, Cruel World is anchored in stability and recollection. Visually, Holly has built a world with her sister Eleri and creative director Silken Weinberg, inspired by childhood trinkets unearthed while leaving the Haunted House she grew up in. From ballet shoes, to Alice in Wonderland books, and films like Edward Scissorhands and James and the Giant Peach, sifting through her girlhood belongings reframed the ghosts of her past into something playful and magical.
From winning the BRIT Rising Star in 2022 having only released two EP’s and an Ivor Novello nomination for “Haunted House”, to releasing her top #3 critically acclaimed debut album Paint My Bedroom Black in 2023, Holly has become known for her unflinching honesty and ability to articulate the quiet turbulence of young adulthood. Selling out Brixton Academy and Eventim Apollo, to headline tours in North America, Holly recently joined Sam Fender on his Australian tour in November with a run of headline dates. This February Holly will tour Europe for a run of intimate headline dates, with a UK tour in March and April, culminating at Shepherds Bush on 2 April 2026.
Holly’s story began with Falling Asleep At The Wheel, the breakthrough EP that revealed a young woman translating her haunted childhood home and three-sister household into vivid, unforgettable songs like “Vanilla,” “Overkill” and “Deep End.” The intimacy and precision of her lyrics marked her as a diarist of the small details that make up big emotions. That voice quickly carried her from her gothic family home to the international stage: performing “London Is Lonely” live to millions at the BRIT Awards in 2022, supporting Olivia Rodrigo and Girl in Red across North America, and releasing her acclaimed debut album Paint My Bedroom Black in 2023, written partly in hotel rooms while living the dream she had imagined as a girl.
Cruel World was written with a new discipline through daily studio sessions with collaborator Rob Milton and draws deeply on love – romantic, platonic, and feminine. Raised among strong women, Holly speaks to the way girls are taught to see one another as competition, unlearning that instinct and reclaiming solidarity as survival. Gothic love songs on the record like “Die Happy”, which was BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record in November, explore devotion, danger and desire, pulling from fairytales, Dracula and the ache of seasons changing.
INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES ● 09 February 2026 — AB Club, Brussels, BE ● 10 February 2026 — Kulturkirche Köln, Cologne, DE ● 11 February 2026 — Peter Edel, Berlin, DE SOLD OUT ● 13 February 2026 — Nalen, Stockholm, SE SOLD OUT ● 14 February 2026 — Lille (Little) Vega, Copenhagen, DK SOLD OUT ● 16 February 2026 — Zonnehuis, Amsterdam, NL ● 17 February 2026 — Les Étoiles, Paris, FR ● 29 March 2026 — Old Fruit Market, Glasgow, UK ● 30 March 2026 — New Century Hall, Manchester, UK SOLD OUT ● 01 April 2026 — Electric, Bristol, UK SOLD OUT ● 02 April 2026 — Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK SOLD OUT ● 12 April 12, 2026 — Coachella, California ● 07 June 2026 — Governors Ball, New York City
For GRAMMY Artist to Watch Kashus Culpepper, music has always been about following an authentic path rather than a predictable one. His journey now culminates in the stunning Act I, his highly anticipated debut album that deftly mixes Americana twang, intimate soul and searing Southern rock.
“Creating music has been the greatest joy of my life,” shares Culpepper. “What a magical thing it is. My debut album Act I serves as a beginning of that journey. I want to thank my label, band, friends and family for helping me bring this album to life! And thank you to every musical idol I’ve ever had.”
Some of culture’s most coveted co-signs pre-date the album’s release and usher in this moment. Icons and musical heroes like Elton John have claimed Kashus is, “if Bill Withers made country music,” [here] and John Mayer shared he’s “as good as it gets.” Rolling Stone declares: “If what we’ve heard so far is any indication, expect 2026 to be a breakthrough year for this Alabama singer;” while Paste concludes that, “the idea that Act I is Culpepper’s debut album is challenging… since he seems like one of those inevitable artists who has always been;” Nashville Lifestyles calls the debut “a blockbuster… the scene-stealing talent is just getting started;” and Parade logs the album as one of the five most highly anticipated country albums of the year.
Today’s 18-track release reveals the different facets of Culpepper’s sound and storytelling. The silky soul of “Break Me Like” and “Alabama Beauty Queen” are emotional high points, with the latter serving as a love letter to his hometown. The sweeping piano ballad “Cherry Rose” emerged from a friend’s frustration with work she hated, evolving into a song about people “doing work, just to get by, because they have to.” The swirling rock of “In Her Eyes” begins with a guitar tuning he learned at a blues café in the Mississippi Delta, before evolving into a ferocious, psychedelic number about knowingly getting involved with the wrong person. “Broken Wing Bird” features a guest turn from Sierra Ferrell, with the pair’s distinctive voices seamlessly blending over a delicate guitar part.
Culpepper chose to record Act I at Ivy Manor Studio in Muscle Shoals—a decision rooted in both Alabama pride and musical history. “So much history between the soul giants of the world, like Aretha and Wilson Pickett, and then some of my favorite bands, like the Allman Brothers,” he notes. The converted mansion became the birthplace of his distinctive sound, a blend of country, soul and blues that reflects everything he absorbed growing up.
This year Culpepper takes his timeless new album on the road for headliners in New York, Boston, Nashville and more amidst dates in Australia with Wyatt Flores and an opening slot supporting Eric Church. For more information or tickets, visit kashusculpepper.com.
Act I Tracklist Intro (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett) Southern Man (feat. Marcus King) (Kashus Culpepper, Bear Rinehart) Alabama Beauty Queen (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston, Diego Urias) Woman (Kashus Culpepper, Anderson East) Break Me Like (Kashus Culpepper, Grady Block, Hank Compton) Believe (Kashus Culpepper, Foy Vance) Stay (Kashus Culpepper, Jordan Dozzi, Jacob Durrett) Mean To Me (Kashus Culpepper, Oscar Charles, Diego Urias, Matt Warren) Broken Wing Bird (feat. Sierra Ferrell) (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist) Better Weather (Kashus Culpepper, Luke Preston) That’s The Feeling (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist) Man Of His Word (Kashus Culpepper, Natalie Hemby) In Her Eyes (Kashus Culpepper, Brent Cobb, Oscar Charles) Is It True (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Rocky Block) After Me? (Kashus Culpepper, Mark Addison Chandler) Out Of My Mind (Kashus Culpepper, Brian Elmquist) House On A Hill (Kashus Culpepper, Rhett Akins, Jimi Bell) Cherry Rose (Kashus Culpepper, Mikky Ekko, Brian Elmquist)
Alabama-born country crooner Kashus Culpepper encompasses the sound of the South. A student and reverent purveyor of Southern music – country, soul, blues, folk and rock – Culpepper’s husky, sandpaper growl bellows like a freight train over self-penned stories that are as raw and real as they are haunting. Finding his voice in church as young as five years old, it wasn’t until 2020’s global pandemic that Culpepper went from listener to performer, picking up a guitar and learning cover songs to play at barrack bonfires in Rota, Spain during his deployment with the Navy. Covers soon became originals, and once he landed home on U.S. shores, Kash played dive bars up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast, making a name for himself with the fresh-yet-reminiscent sound that oozes from his very being. Crashing into prominence, Culpepper sold out headline club shows throughout the South before formally releasing a single song. With Nashville taking notice, Culpepper found a musical home at Big Loud Records. Culpepper has joined Leon Bridges, Sierra Ferrell and Darius Rucker on tour – embarking this year on a headlining run as well as dates with Wyatt Flores and Eric Church. Named one of the 2026 Shazam Fast Forward Class, WXPN’s Artist to Watch for January 2026, 2026 Nashville Scene Artist to Watch, GRAMMY.com’s 25 Artists to Watch in 2025, Apple Music Zane Lowe’s 25 Artists for ’25, 2025 Variety Power of Young Hollywood Impact Report, Opry NextStage Class of 2025, Billboard’s February 2025 Country Rookie of the Month, 2025 Amazon Music Bonfire Artist to Watch, Apple Music’s February 2025 Country Riser of the Month, 2025 Pandora Country Artist to Watch and Martin Artist Showcase Class of 2025, Rolling Stone declares: “If what we’ve heard so far is any indication, expect 2026 to be a breakthrough year for this Alabama singer.” Culpepper’s debut album Act I is out now.
Luke Bryan, who recently ranked in the Top 20 of Pollstar’s Artists of the Millennium List based on ticket sales, will kick off the “Word On The Street Tour” with back-to-back shows on May 29 and 30 in Gilford, New Hampshire. Luke was one of only two country artists to make Pollstar’s Top 20, having sold more than 20 million concert tickets in his career.
Openers on the tour include Drew Baldridge, Karley Scott Collins, Lanie Gardner, Randall King, Zach John King, Shane Profitt, Raelynn, Lauren Watkins, Jake Worthington, and DJ Rock.
Pollstar Top Artists of the Millennium
Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, January 30 at 10am local time at www.lukebryan.com.
The ticket presale for Luke’s fan club members begins Tuesday, January 27 at 8am local time through Thursday, January 29 at 5pm local time. For details go to www.LukeBryan.com.
Citi is the official card of the “Word On The Street Tour.” Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, January 27th at 8am local time through Thursday, January 29 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.
The tour is produced by Live Nation.
“Word On The Street Tour” Schedule:
5-29 Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
5-30 Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
6-5 Myrtle Beach Carolina Country Music Fest+
6-11 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena
6-12 Lubbock, TX United Supermarkets Arena
6-13 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater
6-18 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena
6-19 Des Moines, IA Casey’s Center**
6-20 Winsted, MN Winstock Country Music Festival+
6-25 Allentown, PA PPL Center
6-26 Buffalo, NY Taste of Country+
6-27 Nashville, TN Alan Jackson Last Call at Nissan Stadium+
7-9 Kansas City, MO Morton Amphitheater*
7-10 Moline, IL Vibrant Arena
7-11 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre*
7-23 Southaven, MS Bank Plus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
7-24 Brandon, MS Brandon Amphitheater
7-25 Orange Beach, AL The Wharf Amphitheater
7-30 Rapid City, SD Summit Arena at The Monument
7-31 Billings, MT First Interstate Arena at MetraPark
8-6 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
8-7 Airway Heights, WA BECU Live at Northern Quest
8-8 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
8-14 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
8-15 Long Beach, CA Long Beach Amphitheater
8-22 Charlotte, NC Truliant Amphitheater
8-26 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
8-27 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
8-29 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center*
9-10 Tampa, FL MIDLFORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre*
9-12 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre*
9-26 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
** on sale Feb. 6
* on sale Feb 13
+ festival or event show
Luke’s 2026 tour schedule will also include the Extra Innings Festival on February 27, the Houston Rodeo on March 9, and Sanford Stadium (Dooley Field) at the University of Georgia on April 25 with Jason Aldean. The longtime friendsfirst rocked Sanford Stadium in 2013 as part of Jason’s Night Train tour, which marked the one and only concert event ever to be held in the venue at that time. The show will include openers Zach Top, Lauren Alaina as well as DJ Rock and Dee Jay Silver. The “Live Between the Hedges” concert series is presented by Pruitt Health.
Luke hosted his 11th annual Crash My Playa concert in Mexico last week, featuring headline sets from Riley Green and Dierks Bentley, plus two of his own. On the final evening, his “Luke Bryan & Friends” set featured him performing with friends and special guests Shenandoah and Parker McCollum, as well as Dierks Bentley, Dustin Lynch, Priscilla Block, George Birge, and Kameron Marlowe, who joined them onstage. Other performers throughout the four-day event included Chase Matthew, Joss Ross, The Castellows, and DJ Rock.
Luke will return to ABC’s American Idol as a celebrity judge for his ninth consecutive year, alongside Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie, when the show premieres Monday, Jan. 26.
Luke’s career achievements include 27 billion global streams, 12 million global album sales, and over 48 million track sales worldwide. He has accumulated 130 million digital single units, with 19.5 million album certifications and more than 110 million single certifications. Recognized as one of the most-streamed artists in SoundExchange’s 20-year history, Luke received the Hall of Fame Award. His discography boasts 32 #1 singles, 17 of which he co-wrote, totaling 58 weeks at #1.
Luke has hosted the ACM Awards five times and the CMA Awards four times, earning over 50 major music awards, including five Entertainer of the Year titles. His honors also include six CMT Artist of the Year awards, NSAI Artist/Songwriter of the Year, and he was the first recipient of the ACM Album of the Decade Award for Crash My Party. Additionally, he has won seven CMT Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and four American Music Awards. He was named Billboard’s Top Country Artist of the 2010s and recognized as the Most Heard Artist of the Decade by Country Aircheck. He received the Artist Humanitarian Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters and the ACM Lifting Lives Award for his dedication to using music to improve lives. Recently, Luke was inducted into the Star Trail of Fame by The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, celebrating his significant influence. The Rodeo fosters agriculture through an annual, family-friendly event that educates, entertains, supports Texas youth, highlights Western heritage, and offers ongoing community educational programs.
Tedeschi Trucks Band (TTB), the GRAMMY Award-winning band led by the dynamic wife and husband duo of Susan Tedeschiand Derek Trucks, has announced the details for their sixth studio album, Future Soul, and released the first single “I Got You.”The 11-track collection, the band’s most powerful album to date, will be released on Friday, March 20th via Fantasy Records in the middle of TTB’s 10-show headlining run at NYC’s Beacon Theatre. The infectious “I Got You,” written by guitarist/vocalist Mike Mattison, takes cues from the spirit of Derek and the Dominos and Delaney & Bonnie to create a driving, mid-tempo classic. PRESS HERE to listen and PRESS HERE to watch the official video. PRESS HERE to pre-save Future Soul on DSPs and to pre-order on CD and vinyl.
“‘I Got You’ is a breath of fresh air and pretty different for us,” shares Trucks. “It feels like the band, but it doesn’t feel like anything we’ve done before.”
Produced by Mike Elizondo (Twenty One Pilots, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Carrie Underwood) and co-produced by Trucks, Future Soul – recorded at their own Swamp Raga Recording (Jacksonville, FL) as well as Phantom Studios (Gallatin, TN) – marks the follow-up to TTB’s 2022 conceptual quadruple studio album, I Am The Moon, and their latest live release, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Leon Russell Present:Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisited (LIVE AT LOCKN’) (2025). The heart, honesty, and full-band collaboration on Future Soul makes the forthcoming album the most unique collection to date from the revered 12-piece powerhouse ensemble. The majority of the songwriting was done by Trucks, Tedeschi, Mattison, Gabe Dixon, and Tyler Greenwell with the music sonically pulling from a variety of influences including funk, rock ‘n roll, blues, soul, punk, and much more. Track listing for Future Soul below.
To support the album’s release, Tedeschi Trucks Band has announced their Future Soul 2026 Tour, produced by Live Nation. Following the band’s residency at the Beacon Theatre in New York City from March 10-28, the 35-date headlining outing will kick off April 14th in Dallas for the spring leg, which also stops in Fort Worth, Houston, Raleigh and Atlanta, the latter as a co-headlining show with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. To launch the summer and fall portion of the tour, TTB – “one of the best bands on the road today” – returns to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for their annual double header on July 31st and August 1st. They’ll then bring their electrifying and acclaimed live show across the U.S. stopping in such cities as Seattle, Berkeley, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Washington, DC, Bridgeport, St. Augustine, Tampa, and Milwaukee, among many others, before wrapping with a four-night stand in Chicago from October 23-27. Four dates in August will feature co-headlining shows with Alabama Shakes. Also joining will be very special guest Sheryl Crow for two shows in September, Lukas Nelson on select dates throughout the tour, and JJ Grey & Mofro and Molly Tuttle in various cities, respectively. TTB is also set to perform at numerous festivals this year including Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Telluride Bluegrass Festival in addition to their own Sun, Sand & Soul experience in April. See below for all upcoming tour dates.
TTB Swamp Family Fan Club presales for the Future Soul 2026 Tour will be available starting Tuesday, January 27 at 10am local time. Citi is the official card of the tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, January 27 at noon local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete details visit www.citientertainment.com. Promoter and local presales will start Wednesday, January 28 at 10am local time with the public on-sale commencing Friday, January 30 at 10am local time. VIP options will also be available for a limited time. Note: ticket on-sales for the Los Angeles, Seattle, and Lenox shows will be at a later date. To sign up for the TTB Swamp Family presale, head over to https://www.tedeschitrucksband.com/swamp-family and visit www.tedeschitrucksband.com/tour for more information and to purchase tickets.
Future Soul has a lot to live up to…and it does. Tedeschi Trucks Band’s debut studio album, Revelator, won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Blues Album, while 2018’s Live From the Fox Oakland was nominated for a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy. Since forming in 2010, TTB has been nominated for numerous Americana Music Honors & Awards and won Band of the Year in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2023 at the Blues Music Awards. They’ve sold out Madison Square Garden and over 20 nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. In 2024, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi (hailed as “two of the best roots rock musicians of their generation” by NPR) performed at the Kennedy Center Honors, honoring Bonnie Raitt, Grateful Dead, and more, and the full band played the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring one of their biggest influences, Joe Cocker, with an all-star set featuring special guests Nathaniel Rateliff, Teddy Swims, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams, Chris Robinson, and more.
Known for its world-class musicianship, Tedeschi Trucks Band is Susan Tedeschi (guitar, vocals), Derek Trucks (guitar), Mike Mattison (guitar, vocals), Gabe Dixon (keys, vocals), Brandon Boone (bass), Tyler “Falcon” Greenwell (drums, percussion), Isaac Eady (drums, percussion), Mark Rivers (vocals), Alecia Chakour (vocals), Kebbi Williams (saxophone), Emmanuel Echem (trumpet) and Elizabeth Lea (trombone).
Future Soul Track Listing
Crazy Cryin’
I Got You
Who Am I
Hero
What In The World
Future Soul
Under The Knife
Be Kind
Devil Be Gone
Shout Out
Ride On
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND TOUR DATES
New dates in bold
Beacon Theatre Residency:
Tuesday, March 10 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, March 11 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre – SOLD OUT
Friday, March 13 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre – SOLD OUT
Saturday, March 14 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, March 18 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre
Friday, March 20 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre – SOLD OUT
Saturday, March 21 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, March 25 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre
Friday, March 27 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre
Saturday, March 28 – New York, NY @ The Beacon Theatre – SOLD OUT
Future Soul 2026 Tour:
Tuesday, April 14 – Dallas, TX @ Music Hall at Fair Park ~
Wednesday, April 15 – Fort Worth, TX @ Will Rogers Auditorium ~
Friday, April 17 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion sponsored by Huntsman ^
Sunday, April 19 – Georgetown, TX @ Two Step Inn +
April 23-25 – Miramar Beach, FL @ Sun, Sand and Soul 2026 +
Tuesday, April 28 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre #
Wednesday, April 29 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek $
Sunday, May 3 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival +
Sunday, June 14 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival +
June 18-21 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Bluegrass Festival +
Saturday, June 20 – Missoula, MT @ Zootown Music Festival +
July 22-26 – Floyd County, VA @ FloydFest +
Friday, July 31 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^!
Saturday, August 1 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^!
Tuesday, August 4 – Seattle, WA @ TBA ^
Wednesday, August 5 – Seattle, WA @ TBA ^
Friday, August 7 – Portland, OR @ Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn ^!
Saturday, August 8 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater ^
Sunday, August 9 – Stateline, NV @ Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic ^!
Wednesday, August 12 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre ^!
Thursday, August 13 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl ^!
Sunday, August 16 – San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park ^
TBA – Los Angeles, CA @ TBA
Saturday, August 22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Ruoff Music Center %
Sunday, August 23 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater %
Tuesday, August 25 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Acrisure Amphitheater %
Wednesday, August 26 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center %
Friday, August 28 – Washington, DC @ Wolf Trap ^!
Saturday, August 29 – Washington, DC @ Wolf Trap ^!
Monday, August 31 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts ^
Wednesday, September 2 – Lenox, MA @ Tanglewood ^!
A music website isn’t just a digital poster anymore. It might host your tracks, videos, event listings, merch, email signups, press photos, and a contact form for bookings. That’s a lot of value in one place, which is exactly why attackers and spam bots love targeting small websites. The good news is you don’t need a huge budget or great technical skills to protect yourself. You mainly need a few smart settings, consistent habits, and the right basics, especially encryption and SSL.
This guide keeps things practical and everyday-friendly, so you can secure your music website without turning it into a full-time job.
1) Use an SSL Certificate
If your website address starts with https://, that “s” is a big deal. It means your site is using SSL/TLS Encryption. It encrypts the connection between your visitor’s device and your website.
Why does SSL matter for a music website?
Even if you’re not a bank, your visitors still share personal information with you, such as:
email addresses (newsletter signups)
messages (contact forms and booking requests)
login details (if you have a member area)
shipping details (if you sell merch)
Without SSL, information sent through your site can be easier to intercept on shared networks (like public Wi‑Fi). With SSL, the data is “scrambled” during travel so it’s much harder for anyone to read.
Pro Tip: A cost-effective way to do this is to get a cheap ssl/tls certificate and install it on your hosting. Once it’s active, make sure your whole site uses HTTPS, not just a few pages.
Two simple checks:
Your site should always load with https://
Your browser should not show “Not Secure” warnings on your pages
A huge number of website break-ins don’t start with Hollywood-style hacking. They start with:
weak passwords
reused passwords (from old data leaks)
fake login pages or phishing messages
bots trying common passwords repeatedly
Habits that can stop common attacks
Use a strong, unique password for your website admin, hosting, domain settings, and email.
Turn on two-step verification (2FA) wherever possible. This usually means a second code or approval step besides your password.
Limit who has admin access. If a collaborator only needs to post updates, don’t give them full control.
Also: never “share” one admin login with multiple people. Give each person their own login, so access can be removed cleanly if needed.
3) Update Website Regularly
Music websites often grow over time, with new galleries, music players, event calendars, popups, and shop add-ons. The problem is that every extra add-on is another thing to maintain.
Fewer moving parts = fewer problems
Update your website platform, theme, and add-ons regularly
Delete anything you’re not using (not just “turn off”)
If you’re worried an update might break your site, take a backup first. Which leads to the next point.
4) Take Regular Backups
Even with SSL and strong logins, mistakes happen, bad updates, accidental deletions, broken settings, or a compromised password. Backups are how you recover quickly without panic.
A simple backup approach that works
Automatic backups (daily or weekly depending on how often you update)
Store at least one copy off your website server (so if the server has issues, your backup is still safe)
Test restoring once in a while (a backup you can’t restore is just a file)
Encryption tip for backups
Backups often contain personal details (emails, messages, order info). Treat them like private documents:
Store them somewhere protected with strong passwords
If your backup tool offers it, encrypt the backup file so it’s unreadable if stolen
5) Don’t Store Sensitive Payment Data
Selling merch and tickets is great, but it also increases risk if payment handling is done the wrong way.
A safe budget rule is: don’t store card details on your website. Use a checkout setup that processes payments on secure systems designed for that purpose. Your website should ideally only receive confirmation that an order was completed.
SSL is non-negotiable here. If you sell anything, your entire site, especially cart and checkout pages, should run on HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate from CheapSSLweb.
6) Be Careful with Uploads
Music sites are media-heavy. Uploads are normal: press kits, posters, photos, track previews. But upload features can be abused if they’re too open.
If you ever upload files using a file transfer method, choose an option that is encrypted (so your login details and files aren’t sent openly).
7) Use “Traffic Control” to Reduce Bot Noise and Takedowns
Small sites can get hit by spam bots, fake signups, and “traffic floods” designed to knock a site offline. You don’t need an expensive setup, but you should use basic protections your hosting or website platform may offer, such as:
blocking repeated failed logins
limiting how fast someone can send form submissions
filtering obvious bot traffic
These settings often live under “security,” “firewall,” or “protection” menus.
Conclusion
A secure music website is mostly about doing the fundamentals consistently. Start with SSL encryption via CheapSSLweb certificates, tighten logins, keep things updated, and back up regularly; those steps alone stop most common website problems before they start.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
Straight from the era of MySpace backgrounds, side-swept bangs, and playlists built for late-night overthinking, emo lyrics have always had a special talent for saying the quiet parts out loud. These songs captured heartbreak, isolation, longing, and emotional honesty with zero filter and maximum intensity.
From early 2000s pop-punk staples to darker alternative confessionals, these tracks became emotional shorthand for an entire generation. Here are ten songs that music fans still point to when talking about the most emotionally heavy lyrics ever put to record.
Taking Back Sunday – “You’re So Last Summer” A relationship breakdown delivered with raw intensity and bitter honesty, capturing the moment when regret and resentment collide.
Bayside – “A Synonym for Acquiesce” This song turns emotional pain into stark imagery, focusing on vulnerability and the lasting marks left by toxic relationships.
Hawthorne Heights – “Ohio Is for Lovers” An anthem of heartbreak and abandonment that defined mid-2000s emo with its unfiltered emotional delivery.
Fall Out Boy – “The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes” Sharp, sarcastic, and emotionally charged, this track blends heartbreak with biting wit and dramatic flair.
Brand New – “Play Crack the Sky” A quiet, devastating meditation on dependency and loss that unfolds slowly and deliberately.
Bright Eyes – “Bowl of Oranges” A reflective look at loneliness and emotional growth, delivered with poetic introspection rather than volume.
Blink-182 – “I Miss You” Dark imagery and longing meet pop accessibility, showing a more vulnerable side of the band.
Simple Plan – “Perfect” A direct expression of disappointment and unmet expectations that resonated deeply with younger listeners.
My Chemical Romance – “Helena” A theatrical exploration of grief and devotion, pairing emotional weight with grand, dramatic presentation.
Nine Inch Nails – “Hurt” A stark, minimal reflection on pain and self-examination that remains one of the most emotionally intense songs of its era.
These songs didn’t just soundtrack bad days. They gave listeners language for emotions they didn’t yet know how to articulate. Emo lyrics mattered because they were honest, uncomfortable, and deeply human, and decades later, they still hit just as hard.
