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Becky Buller Releases Star-Studded Covers Album ‘Songs That Sing Me’

Eric Alper
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Becky Buller Releases Star-Studded Covers Album ‘Songs That Sing Me’

Becky Buller, the ten-time IBMA Award winner (with three 2025 nominations), has released her long-awaited covers album, Songs That Sing Me, on Dark Shadow Recording.

The project features an impressive roster of collaborators, including Molly Tuttle, Becky Isaacs Bowman, Béla Fleck, Sierra Hull, Ricky Skaggs, Abigail Washburn, Dan Tyminski, Andrea Zonn, Jim Lauderdale, Alison Brown, Jeff Hyde, Missy Raines, Chris “Critter” Eldridge, Jay Starling, Ned Luberecki, Sharon White, Stuart Duncan, Cheryl White, The Becky Buller Band, and more.

“This collection of songs is singing me into being. They awoke a deep love of music within me. They continue to teach me how to form melody and lyric. Their sonic energy pulses through me, shaping and coloring my own creativity. These echoes are my way of thanking the artists who shared them with me. I hope they inspire you, too. Bless you for giving them a listen.” – Becky Buller

Producer/engineer Stephen Mougin added: “This project was a long time in the making as many of the songs feature unique bands, assembled to serve the specific needs of each particular tune and feature some of Becky’s talented friends. There’s heartbreak and joy, love and loss, and a really fun children’s song for good measure. It was a treat to revisit the music that shaped her love of song and rhyme, and bring our creative stamp to the process.”

Bruce Springsteen Announces ‘Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition’ With Unreleased Recordings and Film

Eric Alper
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Bruce Springsteen Announces ‘Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition’ With Unreleased Recordings and Film

Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska” will be explored with more context and depth than ever before this fall, with the release of a five-disc box set featuring many never-before-heard and previously-undiscovered recordings. “Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition” will arrive on Oct. 17 from Sony Music, and include The E Street Band’s fabled “Electric Nebraska” sessions and solo outtakes from the era, as well as a newly shot performance film of “Nebraska” in its entirety – and a 2025 remaster of the original album. Together, they represent a wholly unprecedented look into the sonic world of this improbable lo-fi masterpiece turned enduring Springsteen classic.

“Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition” is previewed today with a previously-unreleased version of “Born in the U.S.A” (which was originally written alongside “Nebraska”), featuring Springsteen backed by Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent, in a trio rendition from late April 1982. “We threw out the keyboards and played basically as a three-piece,” Springsteen reflected. “It was kinda like punk rockabilly. We were trying to bring ‘Nebraska’ into the electric world.”

In addition to “Electric Nebraska” — which features Tallent, Weinberg, Danny Federici, Roy Bittan and Stevie Van Zandt — the set’s collection of “Nebraska Outtakes” unearths Springsteen solo rarities including more songs from the original “Nebraska” home recordings (“Losin’ Kind,” “Child Bride,” “Downbound Train”) and tracks from a one-off 1982 solo studio session (“Gun In Every Home,” “On the Prowl”). Also included is a present-day performance film of the “Nebraska” album – played in sequence for the first time ever and captured at New Jersey’s Count Basie Theatre by Thom Zimny. Having never toured behind “Nebraska,” Springsteen revisits the material more than 40 years later. “I think in playing these songs again to be filmed, their weight impressed upon me,” said Springsteen. “I’ve written a lot of other narrative records, but there’s just something about that batch of songs on ‘Nebraska’ that holds some sort of magic.”

One week after the release of “Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition,” the feature film “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere” will arrive in theaters from 20th Century Studios on Oct. 24 and chronicles the making of Springsteen’s “Nebraska.” Directed by Scott Cooper, and adapted by Cooper from Warren Zanes’ “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” the film stars Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen and Jeremy Strong as his longtime manager and producer Jon Landau, alongside Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, Paul Walter Hauser, Gaby Hoffman, Marc Maron and David Krumholtz.

Pre-order “Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition” in both 4-LP plus Blu-Ray and 4-CD plus Blu-Ray configurations here: https://brucespringsteen.lnk.to/Nebraska82EE

“Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition” Tracklist

Disc 1: Nebraska Outtakes

1. Born in the U.S.A.

2. Losin’ Kind

3. Downbound Train

4. Child Bride

5. Pink Cadillac

6. The Big Payback

7. Working on the Highway

8. On the Prowl

9. Gun in Every Home

Disc 2: Electric Nebraska

1. Nebraska

2. Atlantic City

3. Mansion on the Hill

4. Johnny 99

5. Downbound Train

6. Open All Night

7. Born in the U.S.A.

8. Reason to Believe

Disc 3: Nebraska (Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ)

1. Nebraska

2. Atlantic City

3. Mansion on the Hill

4. Johnny 99

5. Highway Patrolman

6. State Trooper

7. Used Cars

8. Open All Night

9. My Father’s House

10. Reason To Believe

Disc 4: 2025 Remaster

1. Nebraska

2. Atlantic City

3. Mansion on the Hill

4. Johnny 99

5. Highway Patrolman

6. State Trooper

7. Used Cars

8. Open All Night

9. My Father’s House

10. Reason To Believe

Disc 5 (Blu-Ray): Nebraska (Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ)

1. Nebraska

2. Atlantic City

3. Mansion on the Hill

4. Johnny 99

5. Highway Patrolman

6. State Trooper

7. Used Cars

8. Open All Night

9. My Father’s House

10. Reason To Believe

Vickie Vaughn Teams With Ronnie McCoury for Funky Bluegrass Single “Travel On”

Eric Alper
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Vickie Vaughn Teams With Ronnie McCoury for Funky Bluegrass Single “Travel On”

For her fourth single for Mountain Home Music Company, reigning IBMA Bass Player of the Year (she’s nominated again this year) Vickie Vaughn dishes up a funky acoustic anthem of escape in “Travel On,” with a little help from long-time pal Ronnie McCoury.

“Nathan Blake Lynn is literally the coolest person living in Western Kentucky,” says Vaughn, who grew up in the area and cut her musical teeth playing at its Kentucky Opry. “I first met him when I was a nerdy high schooler, and I heard him sing a John Hartford song. He was sporting dreads and was so talented. Years later, he wrote ‘Travel On,’ and I was pretty captivated by the feel of the song.” 

With Sister Sadie’s Deanie Richardson producing (and dishing out some soulful fiddle) Vaughn and her studio band — guitarist Cody Kilby (Travelin’ McCourys), Casey Campbell (mandolin), and banjoist Wes Corbett (Sam Bush Band) — are in lively form, as she and McCoury, who produced a self-released EP for her more than a decade ago, give voice to a deliciously modern spin on a bluegrass theme that echoes the title of fellow western Kentuckian Bill Monroe’s 1959 hit, “Gotta Travel On”:

Put the wheels on the road
Try to loosen up the load
Gonna roll, roll, roll, roll, roll
Down the interstate
And I feel like I’ve gotta travel on

It’s an exuberant performance that’s given extra life by an extended outro that finds fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar taking turns at offering sizzling licks over a hard-grooving vamp before Vaughn takes ownership — “My turn,” she exclaims — to deliver the closing flourish on her bass.  

“How could a Bluegrass song have such a sweet groove?” Vaughn recalls wondering at her first hearing of “Travel On.” “I knew there and then that I had to record it myself!”

“Travel On” is streaming in Dolby Atmos spatial audio on Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. Listen to it HERE.

Garth Brooks to Kick Off Summerfest 2026 at American Family Insurance Amphitheater

Eric Alper
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Garth Brooks to Kick Off Summerfest 2026 at American Family Insurance Amphitheater

Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is thrilled to announce that Garth Brooks will kick off Summerfest on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. Summerfest 2026 kicks off with a highly anticipated opening night concert featuring one of the world’s greatest live performers.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, September 12th, at 10 am local time. Each ticket purchased will also include complimentary admission to Summerfest 2026, valid on any day of the festival.

This marks Brooks’ first-ever performance at Summerfest, and his first show in Milwaukee in over a decade.

Before the show, concert goers are invited to join the Official Summerfest Garth Brooks Pre-Party, inside the South Gate of Henry Maier Festival Park, with live entertainment, food, beverages, specialty cocktails, and more. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

McMillin Confronts Heartbreak With New Single “Falling Out of Falling in Love”

Eric Alper
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McMillin Confronts Heartbreak With New Single “Falling Out of Falling in Love”

Alternative rock artist and Nashville native McMillin releases new single, “Falling Out of Falling in Love.” The single is now available on all digital streaming platforms.

McMillin has always been known for his genre-bending sound and emotionally charged lyrics, but his latest single, “Falling Out of Falling in Love,” pushes both to a whole new level. Channeling raw introspection through his love for The Eagles and Blue Oyster Cult-esque “guitarmonies,” the track is a striking mix of classic rock influence and modern vulnerability.

Speaking on the song, McMillin shares: “The lyrics were inspired by a need to take some time for myself after my dating life imploded. I had spent so much time chasing validation through having a partner that I forgot to nurture and water my own personal growth.” That honesty pulses through every riff and lyric as he traces the fallout of love, and the unexpected self-discovery that comes after.

He sings: “‘Cause if it took a goodbye to see the world around me / then maybe it’s the kind of thing that only happens / when it’s time to work on yourself / guess I’m falling out of falling in love.” It’s a heavy, sobering realization: sometimes the most painful goodbyes are exactly what we need to grow.

The song opens with McMillin isolated, emotionally wrecked. What’s so powerful is that by the end, he’s still alone, only now, it’s different. It’s clarity, not collapse: “Waking up alone again / finally it’s for the best, I said / it can be simple to let all the voices in your head / be a quiet drone for a while.”

With “Falling Out of Falling in Love,” McMillin proves he hasn’t lost his touch. In fact, he might just be getting sharper. Gritty, melodic, and brutally honest, this track doesn’t just speak to heartbreak, but reclaims it.

Neo Stereo Unleashes Anthemic New Single “Get Up Stand Up”

Eric Alper
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Neo Stereo Unleashes Anthemic New Single “Get Up Stand Up”

Australian musician Mark Cassius, known as Neo Stereo, just dropped his second release of the year—“Get Up Stand Up”. The new song is a high-energy anthem that explodes into a big anthemic feel at the first chorus.

The track is about shaking off doubt, pushing through hard times, and grabbing life by the horns. Cassius sings with power and emotion, mixing moments of vulnerability with a fearless call to action. Lyrics like “So don’t give in, to all the people’s problems / Let’s not wait, now meet your fate / Get up, stand up, I’ll let you know / Get up, stand up, welcome to the show” provide the track with both grit and heart encouraging listeners to keep fighting the fight. In his words, “This song is a call to presence and freedom, and a reminder to seize the moment.”

Over his 25+ years in music, Cassius has built a unique style that blends indie rock roots with cinematic electro sounds. His debut album Nightbird (2023) introduced that blend, and singles like “Ballerina Girl” and “Change Your Mind” showed just how far he could take it. With “Get Up Stand Up”, he ties it all together—catchy hooks, emotional lyrics, in a high energy musical vehicle.

The track was produced with Jackson Barclay at The Grove Studios and fine-tuned in his own home studio setup. “Get Up Stand Up” is a reminder to stay present, fight for your freedom, and keep moving forward, even when life feels heavy.

Danny Elfman Celebrates a Decade of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas In Concert’ at the Hollywood Bowl

Eric Alper
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Danny Elfman Celebrates a Decade of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas In Concert’ at the Hollywood Bowl

Danny Elfman, Los Angeles’ reigning Pumpkin King, will return to the Hollywood Bowl for what has become a Halloween tradition with an all-new performance of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas In Concert. Marking ten years since its first shows at the bowl in 2015, the performances, on Saturday, October 25th and Sunday, October 26th, will feature Elfman – who composed the original film music, lyrics, and score – singing the songs of Jack Skellington, the film’s beloved Pumpkin King character, as well as Barrel. This year’s cast includes Janelle Monáe as Sally, Keith David as Oogie Boogie, John Stamos as Lock, and Riki Lindhome as Shock. Elfman and the cast will be accompanied by a live orchestra while the film plays on large screens, and stunning visuals from the movie are projected on the screens and façade of the Hollywood Bowl, transporting the audience into “Halloween Town.” 

On these special shows, Danny shares, “I guess it’s safe to say this is becoming a Halloween tradition by now. That makes me so happy. I can’t wait to see all the Halloween freaks, monsters, gods and goddesses to celebrate together!”

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 5, at 10 AM PT. Presales begin Wednesday, September 3, at 10 AM through Thursday, September 4, at 11:59 PM. The presale will be available exclusively to select fans, including Disney+ Perks subscribers who can purchase tickets directly through Disney+ Perks.* For more details and to purchase, visit Ticketmaster.com. Tickets for October 25th will be available HERE, while tickets for October 26th will be available HERE.

Get to the Bowl early to enjoy the Hollywood Bowl/Halloween Town transformation with special pre-show activities including a costume contest (Tim Burton-inspired costumes are encouraged!), unique photo opportunities, and trick-or-treating stations.

This year’s performances mark the 12th & 13th time that Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas In Concert will appear at the Hollywood Bowl. There were two sold-out shows in 2015 and for three nights each in 2016, 2018, and 2023, due to overwhelming demand. Past performances have featured Catherine O’Hara, Billie Eilish, Phoebe Bridgers, Paul Reubens, Weird Al, Ken Page, and many others. 

Conductor John Mauceri, founding Director of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, will once again be leading the full orchestra and choir performing the film’s classic score and cherished songs live to picture along with the all-star cast and special guest artists performing the film’s acclaimed songs live, plus an unforgettable virtuosic interlude with violinist Sandy Cameron.

The concert is produced by Laura Engel & Richard Kraft of Kraft-Engel Productions and Alison Ahart Williams, Tim Fox & Georgina Ryder of AMP Worldwide in association with Disney Concerts.

Rosie Flores Announces New Album ‘Impossible Frontiers’ and Major Milestones at 75

Eric Alper
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Rosie Flores Announces New Album ‘Impossible Frontiers’ and Major Milestones at 75

Trailblazing guitarist, singer, and songwriter Rosie Flores is set to release her highly anticipated new album Impossible Frontiers on September 26, 2025 via Mule Kick Records.

Backed by her Austin band, Rosie Flores and The Talismen, the record showcases the fearless artistry and genre-crossing spirit that has defined her decades-long career. The album’s single – “Lines” will be out August 29th – streaming everywhere

This milestone year marks a string of major achievements for Flores: she will headline at AMERICANAFEST 2025, is being inducted into the San Diego Musician’s Hall of Fame, and recently received one of the nation’s highest honors in folk and traditional arts, the NEA National Heritage Fellowship.To celebrate her 75th birthday, Flores will embark on a nationwide tour through the end of the year, including a 15-show run supporting rock legend Robert Plant in November.

“I’m so excited for everybody to hear this record, Impossible Frontiers..aptly named! It was a joy working with my band’s fresh ideas – producer Ed Stasium brought some of the songs to an even higher level. Impossible Frontiers needs to be on every turntable!” – Rosie Flores

Impossible Frontiers blends Flores’ signature guitar work with an adventurous mix of rockabilly and country influences, carried by her deeply expressive songwriting. The album reflects her lifelong commitment to honoring tradition while forging new creative paths.

Rosie Flores has pioneered a path in male-dominated rock and country scenes with powerful songs she has written, sung, and performed as a respected lead guitarist. A daughter of San Antonio, this multi-award-winning artist has absorbed and helped preserve the legacies of Texas greats such as Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, T-Bone Walker, and Doug Sahm.

In the 1970s, Flores rose to prominence on the “cowpunk” circuit alongside Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, and Los Lobos. Her 1987 solo debut established her as a first-rank singer and songwriter and laid the foundation for the alt-country movement.

Today, she is spotlighted in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s exhibition Western Edge: The Roots & Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock. Flores is a 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellow, and with Impossible Frontiers, she continues her lifelong journey of pushing musical boundaries while celebrating the rich traditions that shaped her artistry.

Indigenous Hip-Hop Trailblazer Drezus Hosts National Music Centre Panel on Music and Reconciliation on September 30

Eric Alper
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Indigenous Hip-Hop Trailblazer Drezus Hosts National Music Centre Panel on Music and Reconciliation on September 30

The National Music Centre (NMC) will mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 by opening Studio Bell with free admission. To honour the day, NMC will present a powerful panel discussion led by acclaimed Indigenous hip-hop artist Drezus, exploring the power of music for reconciliation. 

“For me, music has always been a tool for storytelling and speaking the truth,” said Drezus. “On this day, I’m honoured to be among other artists who are using their voices to heal, to teach, and to inspire. This panel is about showing how our culture and our music can help lead Canada toward a more honest and united future.”

Panelists include Rex Smallboy a pioneering figure in Native rap and founding member of War Party, the first Indigenous hip-hop group to break into the mainstream music industry in Canada; Curt Young, an award-winning artist, who utilizes culture as a powerful teaching tool; and Wendy Walker, an award-winning Indigenous songwriter, performer, playwright, and filmmaker whose work weaves together music, storytelling, and cultural truth-telling.Each panelist will also perform one song live.

“National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a time to listen, reflect, and learn,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, NMC. “At the National Music Centre, we believe music has the power to open hearts and create pathways to healing. By bringing together powerful Indigenous voices, we hope to amplify their stories and highlight the role of music as a force for reconciliation and understanding.”

As part of the day’s activities, NMC will also highlight the updated Speak Up! exhibition, which explores the stories and voices of Indigenous musicians and activists who have used the power of music and art to advocate for social justice, human rights, and cultural resilience. Curated by David McLeod and National Music Centre’s Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee, recent additions to the exhibition include Beatrice Deer, Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, Ray St. Germain, Harry Rusk, and Kelly Fraser, alongside earlier additions Drezus (2023) and War Party (2020). Visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibition and reflect on the history and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The Speak Up! exhibition and panel are supported by TD who, in 2025, renewed its support of NMC’s Indigenous programming through the OHSOTO’KINO initiative, so named after a Blackfoot phrase that means ‘to recognize a voice of.’ OHSOTO’KINO is led by NMC’s Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee, who act as a guiding voice for exhibitions and programs at Studio Bell.

Fest2Fall Brings Barenaked Ladies, Dwayne Gretzky, Sloan and Born Ruffians to Cambridge This September

Eric Alper
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Fest2Fall Brings Barenaked Ladies, Dwayne Gretzky, Sloan and Born Ruffians to Cambridge This September

It’s been a tough year for festivals in Canada. With high-profile cancellationslike Taste of the Danforth and Toronto Oktoberfest, many communities are feeling the loss of shared culturalexperiences. At the same time, more Canadians are choosing to travel closer to home, putting their money intodomestic tourism, and this summer’s unseasonably cool weather has left people eager for fall-themedcelebrations.That’s where Fest2Fall comes in.

Returning to Dickson Park in Cambridge on September 19 & 20, 2025, thefestival is determined to give people something worth showing up for: world-class Canadian music, local foodand craft beer, and a community-first atmosphere.

This year’s lineup is headlined by Barenaked Ladies on Saturday and Toronto’s beloved Dwayne Gretzky onFriday, alongside Canadian favourites Sloan and Born Ruffians. The festival’s strength lies not in being radicallydifferent from others, but in ensuring every detail—from the music to the food to the sense of place—feels likean experience people want to support.

“Festivals across Canada are struggling, but we’ve built Fest2Fall around the things that matter most: greatCanadian music, local community, and a reason for people to gather,” says Collin McKinnon, Festival Directorand Owner of Farm League Brewing. “When you combine that with the trend of people staying closer to homeand looking for authentic experiences, it becomes something people don’t just attend—they embrace.”

Now in its third year, Fest2Fall has quickly become a highlight of the Cambridge fall calendar. Set in the heart ofDickson Park, the festival pairs live Canadian music with the flavours of the season – locally-loved dishes,regional craft beers, and a vendor alley full of Made-in-Ontario treasures. It’s an event that feels rooted in thecommunity while giving residents and visitors alike a reason to gather and celebrate together.

Event Details:

Location: Dickson Park, Cambridge, Ontario

Dates: Friday, September 19 & Saturday, September 20, 2025

Headliners: Dwayne Gretzky (Sept 19) & Barenaked Ladies (Sept 20)

Tickets: On sale now at Fest2fall.com

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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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