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Jack Kerouac Spirit Lives On In The Massive “The Town And The City Festival” Lineup

Eric Alper
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Jack Kerouac Spirit Lives On In The Massive “The Town And The City Festival” Lineup

Lowell transforms into a sprawling musical tapestry this spring for the seventh edition of “The Town and The City Festival”. The event runs from April 30 to May 2 in 2026 across various downtown spaces. More than 50 musical acts join comedy sets and literary readings to honor the adventurous legacy of Jack Kerouac. This massive gathering turns local theaters and cafes into a singular creative heartbeat for the community.

The 2026 roster features a mix of national legends and regional stars like The Felice Brothers and GA-20. John Doe and David Lowery bring their storied histories to the stage alongside indie rockers Vundabar. Tanya Donelly and Chris Brokaw arrive to debut a new collaboration for the festival crowd. This lineup stands as a vibrant testament to the enduring power of the independent music scene.

Festival producer Chris Porter views the event as a way to showcase the unique energy of his hometown. Porter notes that each year brings a focus on performances by incredible local and regional talent. He says the energy of moving from venue to venue reflects the spirit of Lowell. The schedule also includes a reading by Chris Wrenn from his book Fenway Punk at Lala Books.

Fans of diverse sounds find plenty to discover with sets from Jon Langford & Friends and Steve Wynn. The list of performers continues with The Wolff Sisters, Kris Delmhorst, and country artist Cristina Vane. Additional acts include JVK, Megan From Work, and The Ghouls. Shows take place at venues such as Taffeta, Warp & Weft, and Cobblestones throughout the three day weekend.

Spotify Paid Out Record $11 Billion To Music Industry In 2025, Up 10%

Eric Alper
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Spotify Paid Out Record $11 Billion To Music Industry In 2025, Up 10%

Spotify paid out more than $11 billion to the music industry in 2025, the largest annual payment to music creators from any retailer in history, Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s Head of Music, announced today. The payout represents a more than 10 percent increase from 2024, with independent artists and labels accounting for half of all royalties. Hellman shared that there are now more artists generating over $100,000 per year from Spotify alone than were getting stocked on record store shelves at the height of the CD era. “Despite rampant misinformation about how streaming is working today, the reality is that this is an era full of more success stories and promise than at any point in history,” Hellman stated. Spotify accounts for roughly 30 percent of recorded music revenue, with last year’s payouts growing by more than 10 percent while other industry income sources grew by closer to 4 percent, making Spotify the primary driver of industry revenue growth in 2025.

More than 750 million people around the world are now paying every month for music streaming across all services. Spotify pays out two thirds of all music revenue to the industry, almost 70 percent of what the company takes in, meaning as Spotify revenues grow, music payouts grow as well. For 2026, Spotify’s number one priority is helping more new music and new artists cut through the noise and form real connections with fans. The company is launching SongDNA, allowing fans to explore the collaborations behind songs, such as Addison Rae’s breakout work with Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd, and follow those connections deeper into music catalogs. Spotify is also introducing changes to systems for artist verification, song credits, and protecting artist identity to combat AI-generated content flooding the platform. The company has helped artists generate more than $1 billion in ticket sales to date by connecting fans with live shows through ticketing partners.

Lang Lang To Perform At Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony Before North American Tour

Eric Alper
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Lang Lang To Perform At Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony Before North American Tour

World renowned pianist Lang Lang has announced he will perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games on February 6th alongside a stellar lineup. Lang Lang, one of the most celebrated and influential pianists of our time, will perform with Cecilia Bartoli, the world renowned mezzo-soprano and extraordinary ambassador of the great Italian opera tradition. Two artists with different backgrounds and repertoires who have collaborated for years, sharing a vision of music as a powerful means of connection between people, generations and cultures. Their participation enriches a ceremony already featuring artists such as Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Pierfrancesco Favino, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Matilde De Angelis. The Opening Ceremony promises to be an emotional journey inspired by the theme “Armonia,” uniting sport, art, and culture in the spirit of Olympic values of dialogue and sharing. Created and realized by Balich Wonder Studio, music will play a central narrative role, becoming an integral part of the story unfolding before audiences around the world.

On February 27th, Lang Lang will commence his North American tour at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City in continued celebration of his latest release ‘Piano Book 2’. The international superstar pianist has long been a key figure in bringing classical music beyond its traditional boundaries, engaging new and diverse audiences worldwide. With his magnetic presence and extraordinary talent, he has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, becoming a global emblem of artistic excellence.

On March 4th, The Lang Lang Foundation will host its annual “Music Heals” Gala at the Metropolitan Club in New York City, honoring Steinway and Sons. Lang Lang will be joined by co-chairs Jessie Ding and Yue-Sai Kan, along with an extraordinary lineup of musical guests including Antonia Bennett and Ray Chen, to support the foundation’s signature programs: Keys of Inspiration bringing piano labs to underserved schools, Young Scholars Program cultivating the next generation of exceptional musicians, and Music Heals delivering live music to children facing illness, loss, and other life-changing challenges.

LANG LANG NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
February 27, Carnegie Hall, New York
March 3, Symphony Hall, Boston
March 6, Artis-Naples, Naples
March 9, Kravis Center, West Palm Beach
March 14, Boettcher Hall, Denver, CO
March 17, Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek, CO
March 20, Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA
March 23, Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa, CA
March 26, The Conrad Center, La Jolla, CA
March 29, Music Hall, Tucson, AZ
April 1, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston, TX
April 4, Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX
April 7, Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia
April 8, Symphony Hall, Boston
April 10, Carnegie Hall, New York
May 5, Carnegie Hall, New York

Brenner Debuts With Coming Of Age Anthem “No Bad Blood”

Eric Alper
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Brenner Debuts With Coming Of Age Anthem “No Bad Blood”

Winchester-born 18-year-old Mauro Brenner has released his debut single “No Bad Blood,” a bright, guitar-driven track about running into an ex and realising you’ve finally grown past the version of yourself that loved them. Blending pop rock hooks with confessional storytelling, Brenner writes songs that capture the chaos, humour, and heartbreak of late adolescence. Set against the backdrop of a night out he nearly skipped, the song turns an unexpected reunion into a moment of clarity: the tension’s gone, the hurt has faded, and closure arrives in the form of laughter under neon lights.

With its shout-along chorus and youthful rush, “No Bad Blood” transforms forgiveness into celebration. The track is not about going back but about moving forward, recognising your own growth, and letting the past stay where it belongs. Loud, honest, and confident, the single marks the first taster of an exceptional new young artist bursting onto the pop scene in 2026 with instantly engaging, super-catchy and affecting music that shows talent far beyond his years.

Pepsi Super Bowl LX Commercial Features Polar Bear Getting Caught In Viral Coldplay Moment

Eric Alper
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Pepsi Super Bowl LX Commercial Features Polar Bear Getting Caught In Viral Coldplay Moment

Pepsi has unveiled “The Choice,” its Super Bowl LX commercial directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi. The spot puts taste to the test as a cola-loving polar bear takes the iconic Pepsi Challenge and chooses Pepsi Zero Sugar. The commercial brings the Pepsi Paradox to life, demonstrating that when labels disappear, Pepsi wins on taste. Waititi’s direction guides the journey of bold discovery, inviting viewers to rethink their favorite cola through the eyes of an unexpected taste tester, and getting caught with someone they shouldn’t at a concert.

ERRA Announce New Album ‘silence outlives the earth,’ Share Single “further eden”

Eric Alper
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ERRA Announce New Album ‘silence outlives the earth,’ Share Single “further eden”

Metalcore group ERRA have announced their new album ‘silence outlives the earth’, set to be released on March 6th via UNFD. The record explores themes of existence and the human condition, featuring previous releases “gore of being” and “echo sonata” alongside new single “further eden.” Guitarist Jesse Cash shares: “‘further eden’ was a song that Clint started and we built upon in the studio. The pentatonic leaning roots the song into a lighter energy than we typically employ, and the song feels like a fresh form of expression from the band. We were specific about wanting the music video and accompanying visuals to reflect that lightness.”

ERRA will embark on a six week North American tour this spring, co-headlining with Currents. The tour kicks off on March 6th in Baltimore, with stops in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, New York, Denver, Anaheim, Dallas, and more. The Chicago date at House of Blues has already sold out, with low tickets remaining for shows in Baltimore, Raleigh, Cleveland, Buffalo, New York, Denver, Seattle, and Anaheim.

ERRA TOUR DATES:
March 6, Nevermore, Baltimore, MD
March 7, The Ritz, Raleigh, NC
March 8, The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
March 10, Ritz Ybor, Tampa, FL
March 12, Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville, TN
March 13, House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
March 14, The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
March 15, Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
March 17, History, Toronto, ON
March 18, Mtelus, Montreal, QC
March 20, Palladium, Worcester, MA
March 21, Irving Plaza, New York, NY
March 22, Roxian Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
March 24, Bogarts, Cincinnati, OH
March 25, The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
March 27, St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI
March 28, House of Blues, Chicago, IL
March 31, The Rave, Milwaukee, WI
April 1, Uptown Theater, Minneapolis, MN
April 3, Granada Theater, Lawrence, KS
April 4, Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO
April 5, The Complex, Salt Lake City, UT
April 7, The Showbox, Seattle, WA
April 8, Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
April 10, Channel 24, Sacramento, CA
April 11, House of Blues, Anaheim, CA
April 12, House of Blues, San Diego, CA
April 14, The Marquee, Tempe, AZ
April 15, Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM
April 17, House of Blues, Dallas, TX
April 18, House of Blues, Houston, TX
April 19, Vibes Event Center, San Antonio, TX

Dave Matthews Band Releases ‘Take Me Back Live From The Gorge’ Featuring First Full Performance Of ‘Before These Crowded Streets’

Eric Alper
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Dave Matthews Band Releases ‘Take Me Back Live From The Gorge’ Featuring First Full Performance Of ‘Before These Crowded Streets’

Dave Matthews Band will release ‘Take Me Back Live From The Gorge’, a landmark live album recorded during their annual Labor Day weekend 2025 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington state. The weekend marked the first time that Dave Matthews Band played ‘Before These Crowded Streets’ in its entirety in concert. The project will be available digitally on February 6th, with CD and LP editions arriving May 22nd via ATO Records. Released on April 28, 1998, and now certified quadruple platinum, ‘Before These Crowded Streets’ was the band’s first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. As the sets unfolded last Labor Day weekend, fans slowly realized they were witnessing something unprecedented: song after song from ‘Before These Crowded Streets’, performed in sequence. Hearing it performed in full at the Gorge created a moment that many fans immediately recognized as historic.

‘Take Me Back’ captures the Saturday, August 30, 2025 performance, the only rendition of ‘Before These Crowded Streets’ in its entirety, which unfolded over a 95-minute set marked by bold improvisation and renewed exploration of the 1998 album. The show kicked off with a rare set-opening rendition of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” followed by “You Never Know” and “It Could Happen,” before Béla Fleck & the Flecktones surprised the crowd with an early appearance on “#41.” The band then launched into album opener “Pantala Naga Pampa,” stretching and reshaping the material with expansive instrumental passages. Fleck returned for dynamic takes on “The Last Stop” and “Don’t Drink the Water,” and the long-rumored, rarely performed album closer “Spoon” marked a defining moment of the evening. The band welcomed Jake Simpson on violin for “Satellite” and “Tripping Billies,” before closing with an encore of “What Would You Say.”

From February 13-15, the three 2025 Gorge shows will air for the first time on Volta, where fans can watch the Director’s Cut or take control with Volta’s multiview feature. Dave Matthews Band returns to the Gorge September 4-6 as part of their summer US headline tour, with supporting acts including Stephen Wilson Jr. and Infinity Song on Friday, Watchhouse and Jonah Kagen on Saturday, and Jesse Welles and Sierra Hull on Sunday. Kicking off May 8th at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas, the tour includes a milestone run marking the band’s 50th headlining performance at Saratoga Springs’ SPAC and Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

The Maine Unveil “Die To Fall” From Tenth Studio Album ‘Joy Next Door’

Eric Alper
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The Maine Unveil “Die To Fall” From Tenth Studio Album ‘Joy Next Door’

The Maine have unveiled “Die To Fall,” the first taste of new music from their forthcoming tenth studio album ‘Joy Next Door’, set for an April 10th release date. The propulsive, synth-drenched anthem finds vocalist John O’Callaghan in a moment of reflection and release, singing “I wish that dream came true/ where I don’t pull my parachute/ And I feel alive.” O’Callaghan explains the personal nature of the track: “Most of the personal friction I’ve felt during the making of this record has derived from having to face my own struggle with feeling like I have everything I could have ever dreamed of, yet I can’t seem to allow myself to be fully present and appreciate the weight of a very fortunate life. ‘Die To Fall’ is a dialogue with myself about the desire to let go. Let go of my insecurities, my ego, my worries, let go of ‘me’ for even just a second and truly feel the gravity of all the little moments we can often take for granted.”

Arriving at the height of the band’s career, ‘Joy Next Door’ was written and recorded in sequential order to emphasize the storytelling approach to the album. Following the band’s longstanding tradition of each era relating to a specific color, the ‘Joy Next Door’ era is green. Drummer Pat Kirch notes: “Every album of ours has a color that represents it, and ‘Joy Next Door’ is the green era. The green grass on the album art feels like it matches perfectly with the organic instrumentation and imperfections left intact on the album.” The vibrant and ever-evolving rock band has cultivated over one billion global streams and more than one million followers across social media over their nearly two decade career that’s included nine studio albums, five of which charted on the Billboard 200.

The Maine kick off their first headline tour in nearly two years on March 24th at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas. The 26-date tour finds the beloved five-piece headlining legendary stages across the country from their native Phoenix to Los Angeles, Chicago, Brooklyn and beyond, marking the biggest on sale of their career to date. The band has toured and performed at festivals worldwide, including Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, as well as headlining their own sold-out 8123 Fest in their hometown of Tempe, Arizona.

THE MAINE TOUR DATES:
March 24, Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas, NV
March 25, The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ
March 27, The Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA
March 28, The Novo, Los Angeles, CA
March 29, Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
March 31, The Showbox, Seattle, WA
April 1, Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
April 3, Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO
April 9, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
April 10, The Salt Shed, Chicago, IL
April 11, The Masonic, Detroit, MI
April 12, Kemba Live!, Columbus, OH
April 14, Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA
April 15, History, Toronto, Canada
April 17, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA
April 18, House of Blues Boston, Boston, MA
April 19, 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
April 21, Brooklyn Paramount, Brooklyn, NY
April 23, The Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
April 24, Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN
April 25, The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
April 26, House of Blues, Lake Buena Vista, FL
April 28, Jannus Live, St Petersburg, FL
April 30, House of Blues Houston, Houston, TX
May 1, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX
May 2, The Bomb Factory, Dallas, TX

Mike Green Unveils Dynamic Pop Rock Single “Bug” From Forthcoming Album ‘Hang The Moon’

Eric Alper
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0
Mike Green Unveils Dynamic Pop Rock Single “Bug” From Forthcoming Album ‘Hang The Moon’

Los Angeles music artist Mike Green has unveiled his latest single “Bug,” a vibrant, rhythmic pop rock track that paves the way for his forthcoming album ‘Hang The Moon’. The single is imbued with a dynamic feeling of movement, a tune you can dance to, but with a darker edge as Green probes dilemmas in the manner we navigate structures that seem artificially made, still, and hauntingly familiar. The track pulses forward with cinematic drive, carrying the feeling of someone pacing inside a system they’ve begun to see too clearly. Green manages to express a mix of bewilderment and resolve as he examines how cycles repeat with near-perfect precision, how disorder can mimic design, and how the pressures of modern life blur the line between what’s imposed and what we inherit. The single will be available across all platforms, while the full ‘Hang The Moon’ album will be exclusive to spatial audio supported services such as Apple, Amazon, Tidal, and Deezer, with vinyl editions offered solely through Bandcamp.

The song hooks the listener with contrasting elements: a sharp, vibrant chorus that shines through a shadowy, suspicious mood. The rhythm section functions like a metronome for the panic inside, calm on the surface but flickering underneath. This is the sound of a person observing their surroundings and figuring out that they cannot tell if the cracks they see have always been there or if they are just now waking up to them. “Bug” serves as a signal for the concept that is the ‘Hang The Moon’ album, dealing with themes of repetition, inequality, and the friction between the things we are taught to accept and the things we feel underneath them.

Okeechobee Music Festival Releases Final Tickets For 10 Year Reunion In March

Eric Alper
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0
Okeechobee Music Festival Releases Final Tickets For 10 Year Reunion In March

Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival has released all remaining tickets for its 10-Year Reunion taking place March 19-22, 2026 at Sunshine Grove in South Florida. For the first time ever, the independent Florida festival is offering 2-Day Weekend tickets for Saturday, March 21 through Sunday, March 22, along with a limited batch of Single Day tickets and the final available GA, GA+, and VIP 4-Day tickets. GA Weekend Tickets include two nights camping with arrival to the campgrounds available Saturday at 9:00 AM through 8:00 PM ET, while GA and VIP Single Day Tickets are available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with access to purchase day parking. Tier 1 prices for GA Weekend or Single Day passes are guaranteed through Thursday, January 29 at 10:00 AM ET, with PayPal checkout available for flexible payment options as low as $20 per month.

The festival’s first gathering in three years celebrates the spirit of music, arts, and community with headline performances from Cage The Elephant, Fisher, GRiZ, Knock 2, T-Pain, LCD Soundsystem, and The Lumineers. Additional immersive musical experiences include Incendia, a four-night inferno of underground energy and bass curated by NYC-based production agency Renegade, and the Jungle 51 Stage presenting extended sets by internationally known DJs from sundown to sunrise. The festival will also see the return of the PoWoW!, an all-star jam session pairing unexpected talents for live mashups under the stars deep in the heart of Sunshine Grove, a defining moment since the inaugural event in 2016.

OMF 2026 welcomes the Okee Family to celebrate the 10-Year Reunion on Thursday, March 19 with a very special and exclusive slate of music and experiences available only to 4-Day ticketholders. The evening features full wellness and activity programming and music until sunrise from more than 32 artists, including three huge headline sets from Cage the Elephant, Dirty Heads, and Knock2. The first-ever Aquachobee Dub Reggae Takeover kicks off the festival with a traditional Nyabinghi Drumming Opening Ceremony, followed by performances from Subatomic Sound System featuring reggae legend Mykal Rose, Screechy Dan, and Pirate WiFi, groundbreaking dub master Scientist with Papa Michigan and Sister Nancy, Orlas, and more. Located in Okeechobee County, Sunshine Grove is a picturesque 830+ acre natural oasis featuring sweeping grasslands, pine and palmetto jungles, and expansive lakes and waterways.

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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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