Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey confirmed they will reunite for a West End revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1984 musical ‘Sunday in the Park with George’, sharing a photo on January 14th, 2026 of themselves seated at The Art Institute of Chicago in front of Georges Seurat’s iconic painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” which inspired the musical. The production targets a summer 2027 run at the Barbican Theatre in London with direction expected from Tony and Olivier Award winner Marianne Elliott, who previously collaborated with Bailey on the acclaimed gender-swapped revival of ‘Company’. Bailey will play painter Georges Seurat while Grande takes on the role of Dot, his lover and muse, in a musical that explores the cost of artistic obsession across generations, with the second act jumping forward a century to examine the legacy of Seurat’s work. The roles were originated on Broadway by Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters in 1984 and created in London by Philip Quast and Maria Friedman in a 1990 National Theatre staging, with subsequent revivals including a 2008 Broadway production starring Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell and a 2017 Broadway staging featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford. Bailey earned an Olivier Award in 2019 for his rapid-fire performance of “Getting Married Today” in Elliott’s ‘Company’ before appearing in Bridgerton, while Grande began her career on Broadway as a teenager in the musical ’13’ in 2008 before launching her pop career and recently starring as Glinda opposite Bailey’s Fiyero in the film adaptation of ‘Wicked’. The production marks Grande’s first stage role in nearly two decades and her West End debut, following her 2026 Eternal Sunshine tour, which she recently told Amy Poehler may be her last time on the road for a long while.
Pop Punk Festival New Rock City Brings UK Artists To New Jersey Debut
Pop Punk Festival New Rock City Brings UK Artists To New Jersey Debut
New Rock City, Stephen Moss, Sonar Presents, Chasing The Fall, Hoping Forever, Crossroads, Gaslight Anthem, Thursday, Frank Turner, BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing,
New Rock City celebrates its fifth anniversary with its first New Jersey event on Sunday, March 1st, 2026 at Crossroads, partnering with UK music discovery platform Sonar Presents to bring British and American artists together. The international festival of pop punk, punk, alt rock, and nu metal has spent four years in the UK and now returns to its home state with backing from Sonar Presents, collaborating across the Atlantic to showcase worldwide talent. UK pop punk band Chasing The Fall joins the lineup alongside Puerto Rican pop punks Hoping Forever, bringing the legacy of the UK punk and rock scene alongside the raw energy of the US pop punk movement. Chasing The Fall arrives with airtime on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing, on a mission to prove the genre was never just a phase.
Crossroads has served as a cultural music hotspot for nearly three decades, hosting Gaslight Anthem, Thursday, Frank Turner, and more. New Rock City founder Stephen Moss says, “I founded this International Festival in 2022 and it is entirely independent and self-funded, a true grassroots movement. The goal was to create a worldwide platform for bands to access new audiences regardless of their streaming numbers. We will be back in the UK in July but it feels wonderful to be able to bring the festival home to Jersey for the very first time, bringing UK music industry support with us thanks to Sonar Presents.” Tickets are $15 plus standard booking fees, available now and suitable for all ages, supporting independent musicians, grassroots music movements, and the legendary venue.
Yarn Unveil “Good Things” From Upcoming Album ‘Saturday Night Sermon’ Due April 24
Yarn release “Good Things” as the first single from their upcoming album ‘Saturday Night Sermon’, arriving April 24 through 333 Entertainment. The track carries frontman Blake Christiana’s message of gratitude, inspired by Ray Wylie Hubbard’s philosophy that when gratitude exceeds expectations, you’re having a good day. Christiana says, “‘Good Things’ is all about gratitude. Ray Wylie Hubbard always says, ‘When your gratitude exceeds your expectations, that is a good day.’ With that in mind, I threw away all my negative thoughts and self-pity and wrote this song because the truth is, our life is only as good as our reaction to it. And Yarn is pretty damn blessed with a whole lot of ‘Good Things.'” The band expands their sound on the new album with horn sections, organ, and a gospel choir, adding layered textures and depth while maintaining their blend of bluesy rock and roll swagger with outlaw country and Memphis soul. Much of the accompanying video was filmed in a barroom, fitting the music’s character. Since forming in 2007, Christiana has steered the band from New York City bar residencies to stages with Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, Alison Krauss, and Leftover Salmon, with drummer Robert Bonhomme and bassist Rick Bugel forming the core alongside him through more than 10 albums and 17 years on the road.
‘Saturday Night Sermon’ opens with its soaring title track filled with guitar and gospel choir, setting an uplifting tone for the 13-song journey. The album navigates gratitude, love, and the human condition through narrative lyricism, from the singalong encouragement of “Let The Universe” to the heartfelt ballad “Where We Land”, culminating in the reflective “A Welcome New Home”. Rock-leaning tracks like “Longshot”, “Might As Well Be King”, and “Never Enough” add contrast and grit throughout. Christiana adds, “The band has officially found something really special over the past couple of years. It feels like we are finally the live band and album-producing band we always set out to be, and the message we’re aiming to deliver has also found its foothold.” Blake Christiana solo shows are scheduled throughout early 2026, including:
Fri, Jan 9 – Savannah Guitar Lutherie & Mercantile, Savannah, GA (Blake Christiana & Brock Butler Duo)
Thu, Jan 29 – The Room at Cedar Grove, Lewes, DE
Fri, Jan 30 – Unity Hall, Barneveld, NY
Sat, Jan 31 – The Brickhouse, Scarborough, ME
Sun, Feb 1 – Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub, Township of Sparta, NJ
Fri, Feb 6 – Mohawk Taproom & Grill, Schenectady, NY
Fri, Feb 27 – The Hamilton Live, Washington, DC
Sat, Feb 28 – Avalon Theatre, Easton, MD
Thu, Mar 19 – Cafe Eleven, St. Augustine, FL
Fri, Mar 20 – Fogartyville Community Media Arts Center, Sarasota, FL
Tue, Mar 24 – The Funky Biscuit, Boca Raton, FL
Wed, Mar 25 – Green Parrot, Key West, FL
Thu, Mar 26 – Green Parrot, Key West, FL
Fri, Mar 27 – Terra Fermata, Stuart, FL
Fri, May 1 – Purple Fiddle, Thomas, WV
Sat, May 2 – Purple Fiddle, Thomas, WV
Sat, May 23 – Pop’s Farm, Axton, VA
Sun, May 24 – Pop’s Farm, Axton, VA
Faith No More’s Roddy Bottum Announces Speaking Tour For Memoir ‘The Royal We’
Roddy Bottum of Faith No More and Imperial Teen released memoir ‘The Royal We’ through Akashic Books in late 2025, documenting his coming of age in 1980s San Francisco among bicycle messengers, punk rock, and rebellion. The book traces his journey from Los Angeles, where he grew up gay without role models, to San Francisco where he formed Faith No More and toured the world while surviving heroin addiction and the AIDS crisis. Bottum writes about encounters with Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, and Guns N’ Roses alongside recaps of gold records and arena rock, but the core focuses on tragedy, addiction, and life-altering moments told in a clear-eyed voice without self-pity. His pronouncements of achievement and unorthodox heroism flow through the narrative with unstoppable momentum. The book tour launches January 26 at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, continuing to Baltimore, DC, Cambridge, Providence, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Atlanta, Nashville, and additional cities.
HTX Studio Unveils Interactive Piano That Visualizes Music After Three Years Development
HTX Studio transformed a piano into an interactive art piece that visualizes the music being played, completing a project that stretched across three years of development. The team prototyped displays using smoke, vortex rings, paint, oil, and glycerin droplets before settling on a final design that harnesses natural elements to create visual magic alongside sound. After multiple pauses due to unsatisfactory results, the studio persisted until achieving the vision they had carried throughout the process. The completed piano merges performance with visual spectacle, turning each note into something both heard and seen.
Rock The Country Festival Returns For 2026 With Kid Rock, Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean
Rock The Country Tour returns in 2026 with eight multi-city stops celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through rotating lineups and expanded fan experiences. Peachtree Entertainment announced the festival will visit Bellville, Bloomingdale, Sioux Falls, Ashland, Anderson, Hastings, Ocala, and Hamburg across two-day events from May through September. Artists performing across select dates include Kid Rock, Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Creed, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert, Hank Williams Jr., Shinedown, Jon Pardi, Ella Langley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brantley Gilbert, Treaty Oak Revival, Gavin Adcock, Ludacris, and Nelly, with daily throwback happy hour DJ sets and special host appearances by Chelcie Lynn in select markets. Each stop features unique lineups with no two weekends repeating the same artist combination.
The 2026 edition introduces significant upgrades including expanded shade and cooling throughout festival grounds, a newly built fan zone with a second stage presented by Raised Rowdy, and a dedicated food zone showcasing five or more local food trucks with shaded seating areas. VIP guests gain access to premium food offerings curated by David Bancroft, a nationally recognized chef and winner of Food Network’s Iron Chef Showdown, drawing from the bold Southern flavors of his restaurant Bow & Arrow. New Front Porch festival passes offer the ultimate all-inclusive weekend with elevated seating, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, dinner also curated by Chef David Bancroft, a dedicated festival entrance, weekend parking, and additional premium amenities in extremely limited availability. Kid Rock says, “Rock The Country isn’t just a music festival; it’s a movement. In 2026, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, this is a place for hard-working, God-fearing patriots to gather as one and celebrate freedom, music, and the party of the year.”
Rock The Country 2026:
May 1-2 – Bellville, TX @ Austin County Fairgrounds
May 29-30 – Bloomingdale, GA @ Ottawa Farms
June 27-28 – Sioux Falls, SD @ W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds
July 10-11 – Ashland, KY @ Boyd County Fairgrounds
July 25-26 – Anderson, SC @ Anderson Sports & Ent Center
Aug 8-9 – Hastings, MI @ Barry Expo Center
Aug 28-29 – Ocala, FL @ Florida Horse Park
Sept 11-12 – Hamburg, NY @ Erie County Fairgrounds
Vicious Rumors Unleash “Abusement Park” Video And Announce U.S. Tour Dates
Vicious Rumors release the video for “Abusement Park” from their latest studio album ‘The Devil’s Asylum’ alongside a U.S. tour announcement. Founder and guitarist Geoff Thorpe describes the track as machine gun guitars and kick drums paired with melodic, harmony-filled choruses in classic Vicious Rumors style. The nightmare theme park concept emerged during a recording session between Thorpe and Jimmie Evans, evolving into the fourth single from ‘The Devil’s Asylum’. Filmed across Germany, Sweden, Florida, and Kentucky with editing by Ingo Sporl, the video captures the band’s blend of heavy metal and punk rock attitude through catchy riffs and blistering solos.
VICIOUS RUMORS LIVE 2026:
2/25 -Orlando, FL – West End Trading Co.
2/26 – Tampa, FL – The Brass Mug
2/27 – Fort Myers, FL – Stet’s Bar
3/1 – Atlanta, GA – 529
3/3 – Wichita, KS – John Barleycorn’s
3/4 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street
3/5 – Dallas, TX – Haltom Theater
3/6 – Austin, TX – Kickbutt Coffee
3/7 – San Antonio, TX – Fitzgerald’s
3/9 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Theater
3/10 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
3/12 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
3/13 – Reno, NV – Alturas Center Stage
3/14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High Saloon
3/15 – Colorado Springs, CO – LuLu’s Downtown
3/17 – Lincoln, NE – 1867 Bar
3/18 – Iowa City, IA – Wildwood
3/19 – Chicago, IL – Reggie’s
3/21 – Kent, OH – The Outpost
3/24 – Providence, RI – Alchemy
3/25 – Rochester, NY – Photo City
3/26 – Catonsville, MD – Morseburgers Tavern
3/27 – Newark, NJ – Halftime Sports Bar
3/28 – Bristol, CT – Bleachers
3/29 – Harrisburg, PA – HMAC
9/12 – Brooklyn, NY – Rage Of Armageddon Festival
9/18 – Madison, WI – Blades Of Steel Festival
Newcastle Jazz Collective Knats Unveil ‘A Great Day In Newcastle’ Produced By Geordie Greep
Knats deliver ‘A Great Day In Newcastle’ with production from Geordie Greep of black midi, who also appears on one of the album’s tracks. The record arrives March 6 digitally and March 29 physically through Gearbox Records. Stan Woodward and King David-Ike Elechi, lifelong best friends from Newcastle, lead the collective through sophisticated musical arrangements built around Olivier Messiaen’s modes, creating suspended and colorful sounds rooted in their hometown’s working class experience. The compositional approach gives the album an uncanny quality without sacrificing accessibility, balancing their genre-fluid grooves with heavier rock experimentation.
First single “Wor Jackie” centers on North East coal miners through the story of Newcastle football legend Jackie Milburn, who split his days between the pit and the pitch. Cooper Robson’s impassioned poetry navigates the narrative alongside blistering solos from Woodward and tenor saxophonist George Johnson, marking a shift in the band’s aesthetic through storytelling and weightier textures. The track grew from Woodward’s conversation with his grandfather about life as a pitman and his initial vision of a moody march, then evolved when Robson joined the project. This addition brings Northern optimism to themes including toxic masculinity, fighting culture, crime, alcoholism, and the mining industry, with the closing track featuring words from a BBC interview with Durham Miners from the 1960s.
The album’s artwork emulates Art Kane’s late-1950s Harlem photograph, framing ‘A Great Day In Newcastle’ as documentation of regional lived experience. Knats have spent the last year touring as the live band for both Greep and Eddie Chacon on their EU and UK dates, including two sold-out nights at London’s Koko, while earning a Parliamentary Jazz Awards nomination for Best Breakthrough Artist. They’ve also collaborated with Mike Keat of The Cuban Brothers, Simon Bartholomew of The Brand New Heavies, and hometown noise-rock outfit lots of hands. Their performances at The Great Escape, We Out Here, and Love Supreme have built significant word-of-mouth momentum.
Tour Dates:
Jan 21st – 100 Club, London
April 22nd – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton
April 23rd – Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich
April 24th – Where Else?, Margate
April 25th – Brick Lane Jazz Festival, London
April 27th – Quarry, Liverpool
April 28th – Band On The Wall, Manchester
April 29th – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
April 30th – Hare & Hound, Birmingham
May 1st – The Glad Cafe, Glasgow
May 2nd – Cobalt, Newcastle
Miist Launches The Love Project With New Single “Love Will Show Us The Way”
Miist builds her creative world around small gestures that ripple outward. The Love Project arrives in 2026 as her most expansive undertaking yet, combining the upcoming single “Love Will Show Us The Way” with participatory storytelling and practices rooted in connection. This effort grows directly from her podcast Make Me Smile with Miist, now ranked among the Top 10 mental health shows in the United States, where each episode closes with a 15-second action listeners can implement immediately.
Her path to songwriting started in her 30s without formal training, following an early childhood marked by abandonment at age five and a terminal cancer diagnosis in her late 20s. Music became the vocabulary she needed when words alone could not carry what she had lived through. That discovery continues to shape how she creates. Her 2025 release “Could You Lend Me a Smile” began as a tribute to a man who died alone in Tokyo and expanded into a collaboration across 16 languages, drawing artists and audiences into a shared moment of acknowledgment.
The video for “Love Will Show Us The Way” invites fans to submit clips of everyday kindness, simple moments captured without performance. A hug, a smile, presence. Miist has framed the project as collective documentation rather than artistic showcase. For the second consecutive year, she is also giving away two GRAMMY Awards guest tickets to fans whose personal stories connect with her own, redefining the event as something shared rather than exclusive. Later in 2025, she will release a companion book to her podcast, designed with short chapters and music-based reflection that prioritizes momentum over expertise.
There is something quietly radical about insisting that meaningful change happens in 15-second increments. Miist turns attention toward what can be done right now, in the time it takes to send a text or notice someone nearby. The work lands with sincerity and practical warmth, offering tools that fit into a single breath.
XG Hits The Road Again With “The Core” 2026 World Tour Behind New Album ‘The Core’
The global force XG is wasting no time as they announce their massive second global trek “The Core” 2026 World Tour following the release of their debut full-length album ‘The Core’. This ambitious run of shows starts in Japan this February and expands across Asia, North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. Coming off the back of a forty-seven show world tour last year, the group is now ready to showcase the evolution of their signature X-pop sound in a brand new arena setting. These seven performers continue to push the boundaries of the genre with a distinctive style that has quickly earned them a reputation for precision and high-energy stagecraft.
The tour begins with a triple-header at the IG Arena in Yokohama before hitting major venues like Osaka-Jo Hall and the Glion Arena in Kobe. This new stage production brings the true essence of ‘The Core’ to life with powerful choreography and a visual aesthetic that remains completely unique in the current pop landscape. This specific live experience is a high-speed collision of talent and vision. Presales for these dates begin tomorrow, January 13, and the demand is already reaching a fever pitch. XG is a group that thrives on the road and this second world tour cements their status as an unstoppable international touring act.
XG 2nd World Tour: “The Core” 2026 Tour Dates:
Feb 6 – Yokohama, Japan – IG Arena
Feb 7 – Yokohama, Japan – IG Arena
Feb 8 – Yokohama, Japan – IG Arena
Feb 17 – Osaka, Japan – Osaka-Jo Hall
Feb 18 – Osaka, Japan – Osaka-Jo Hall
Feb 21 – Nagoya, Japan – IG Arena
Feb 22 – Nagoya, Japan – IG Arena
Mar 14 – Fukui, Japan – Sundome Fukui
Mar 20 – Sendai, Japan – Miyagi Sekisui Heim Super Arena
Mar 25 – Kobe, Japan – Glion Arena Kobe
Mar 26 – Kobe, Japan – Glion Arena Kobe
Apr 4 – Fukuoka, Japan – Kitakyushu Messe
Apr 5 – Fukuoka, Japan – Kitakyushu Messe