Take a sneak peek inside the mind of Nic Collins, drummer for Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics, and Better Strangers! Watch as he listens to “Ghost of Perdition” by Opeth for the very first time—and attempts to play along. What is he listening for? How does he immediately craft an appropriate drum part on the spot? Tune in and find out!
Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame Partners with Bruce Springsteen Archives for Exhibits and Symposium
Today, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame announced a groundbreaking new partnership with the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University. This first-of-its-kind collaboration for the Springsteen Archives will bring compelling exhibits and educational programming to Boston, with work beginning immediately.
“This new partnership will allow both organizations to expand our missions to educate the public about the monumental impact music has made on our society,” said Bob Santelli, Founding Executive Director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University. “We look forward to putting on some unforgettable events and exhibits in Boston and then taking what we have learned here and sharing it with the rest of the country.”
As part of the partnership, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame and the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music will co-host a symposium in Boston this fall, examining the folk music revival from 1958 to 1965. The day-long event will feature legendary folk musicians, filmmakers, music historians and more. Discussion topics will include the origins of the Boston folk scene, the legacy of the Newport Folk Festival, Boston’s comparison to the Greenwich Village movement, and the true story of when Bob Dylan met Woody Guthrie.
Both organizations will also bring a dynamic new exhibit, Music America, to the Boch Center Wang Theatre in January 2026. The exhibit features iconic objects from America’s music history including instruments used by John Coltrane, B.B. King, Prince, and more; famous costumes like Madonna’s wedding dress from the “Like a Virgin” video or the outfit Bruce Springsteen wore on the “Born in the USA” album cover.
“This partnership opens doors to cultural treasures that have defined generations,” said Casey Soward, President and CEO of the Boch Center. “It affirms our belief in music’s power to drive social change and unite people across time and place. The symposium and exhibit are just the beginning of what we envision as a long and meaningful relationship with the Springsteen Archives.”
The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is a cultural and educational initiative of the Boch Center, located inside Boston’s Wang Theatre at 270 Tremont Street. Curated by the Museum Collective, the Hall of Fame is geared to music lovers of all ages, providing educational offerings that ensure legacies are honored and new musical traditions are nurtured for generations to come. These genres of music have historically provided an outlet for individuals of all races and backgrounds, and from every corner of the United States to express their joys, sorrows, and experiences.
Past and current exhibits include Joan Baez: A Life of Music, Art and Activism, All Seeing Eye: Blue Note Records Through the Lens of Francis Wolff; Bruce Springsteen: Portraits of an American Music Icon; Legends of Folk, Americana, Roots Music; Arlo Guthrie: Native Son; Life in Six Strings; Don’t Think Twice: The Daniel Kramer Photographs of Bob Dylan, 1964-65; Boston: A Music Town; The Wang Theatre: A Century of Great Music; historic artifacts from David Bieber Archives and the Cultural Heroes sculptures on loan from Alan LeQuire Galleries in Nashville, TN.
For updates, information about tours and upcoming events and exhibits please visit www.FolkAmericanaRootsHallofFame.org.
The Bruce Springsteen Archives serves as the archival repository for Bruce Springsteen’s written works, photographs, periodicals, and artifacts. The Center also preserves and promotes the legacy of Bruce Springsteen and his role in American music, while creating exhibits, public programs, and education initiatives that explore the works of American music giants like Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Billie Holiday, Patti Smith, Frank Sinatra, Gaslight Anthem, and others.
In addition to its archival mission, The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music creates traveling exhibits, educational conferences, public programs, teacher workshops, and scholastic field trips, all aimed at exploring the American music tradition and providing for academic discourse in various fields of American music.
The collection serves the research and informational needs of music fans, scholars, authors, and others with a serious interest in the life and career of Bruce Springsteen.
The Boch Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit performing arts institutions and a guardian of the historic Wang and Shubert Theatres. As New England’s largest cultural venue, the Boch Center is home to theater, classical and popular music, dance, comedy, opera, Broadway musicals, family entertainment, and more.
Located in Boston’s historic Theater District, the Boch Center also offers a diverse mix of educational, cultural and community outreach initiatives, including the City Spotlights Leadership Program and the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame; collaborates with artists and local nonprofit arts organizations; preserves historic venues; and acts as a champion for Greater Boston’s arts and cultural community. Learn more at bochcenter.org.
The Museum Collective is a consortium of music museum professionals that creates special exhibitions and programs for museums and cultural institutions around the country and Europe. The partners in the Collective have collaborated on a variety of exhibits over the past decade, including a recent exhibit Woody Guthrie: People Are the Song debuting in 2022 at the Morgan Library in New York City. As partners in the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame, the Museum Collective has curated and installed multiple exhibits within the historic Wang Theatre, featuring a variety of artists.
Futurebirds, Jim Lauderdale, and Ramona & the Holy Smokes Join Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2025 Lineup
Cosmic roots-rockers Futurebirds, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, and emerging honky tonk act Ramona & the Holy Smokes have been added to the lineup for the 24th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, slated for Sept. 19-21 in Historic Downtown Bristol, Tenn.-Va.
Headliners The Teskey Brothers, Shane Smith & The Saints, Lukas Nelson, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Band Perry, Joy Oladokun, Steep Canyon Rangers, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Mountain Grass Unit, and many, many more, were announced last month.
This year Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion features over 100 acts of live music across 12 stages in the heart of the twin cities – which are officially recognized by the U.S. Congress as the birthplace of country music. Other acts scheduled to perform at the colossal, three-day include Kaitlin Butts, Ashley Monroe, Fruition, Sister Sadie, Michael Cleveland, The Wilder Blue, Nolan Taylor, Shadowgrass, Ken Pomeroy, Theo Lawrence, The Wildmans, Jarekus Singleton, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Larry Keel’s Electric Larry Land, Denitia, and Chicken Wire Empire.
Presented by Ballad Health and produced by the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music, Bristol Rhythm is an immersive, multi-genre tribute to the legacy of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings and their lasting impact on the soundtrack of our lives. Weekend passes to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion are on sale now for $169.99 with payment plan and upgraded packages available. For groups of 10 people are more, the cost is reduced to $149.99. Applicable taxes and fees are included in the ticket price. Prices will increase in June. Visit BristolRhythm.com for tickets and information.
Folk Veteran Mason Jennings Releases Intimate New Album ‘Magnifier’
After more than two decades as one of modern folk’s most authentic voices, Mason Jennings returns with Magnifier, his 20th studio album, out now via Loosegroove Records. The album’s first single and video, “Castles,” is out now offering a powerful introduction to one of Jennings’ most stripped-back and emotionally resonant works to date.
Recorded solo at his lake house in Minnesota with just vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, kick drum, and snare, Magnifier finds Jennings at his most minimal and honest. These eight songs meditate on love, change, grief, and hope, crafted with the kind of quiet intensity and lyrical precision that has become his hallmark.
“A song is like a boat on the water,” says Jennings. “You’re trying to make it float with as few pieces as possible. If you do it right, it can be very healing.”
Jennings’ long career has been defined by that philosophy. Born in Honolulu, raised in Pittsburgh, and launched into national recognition from Minneapolis in the late ’90s, his debut set the stage for a string of revered releases that balanced poetic introspection with melodic simplicity. Over the years, his work has drawn comparisons to Nick Drake and Tom Waits, yet his voice—emotionally direct, deeply human—remains unmistakably his own.
Standout tracks on Magnifier include:
“Castles” – A tribute to the imaginative inner worlds children create to cope with hardship. Fingerpicked guitar and gentle piano create a hushed, hopeful space.
“Joy in the Face of It All” – A defiant celebration of hope and unity in uncertain times. It’s a call to choose love, community, and resilience.
“Don’t Change” – A tender love song for his wife and also his 3-year-old son. A song about holding on to what’s important in life’s passing moments—a meditation on staying true to oneself amid life’s inevitable shifts.
“Blood Red Sun” – A dark, cinematic track blending Jennings’ love for heavy metal and Westerns— an understated story-song of a man on the run, heavy with implication and mood.
Magnifier follows Jennings’ recent wave of creativity, including his collaboration with Stone Gossard in the genre-bending band Painted Shield and his 2024 release Holy Dive. With Magnifier, Jennings circles back to his acoustic roots, crafting what may be his most personal and affecting album yet.
Jam Rock Giants Widespread Panic Announce 2026 ‘Panic en la Playa’ Concert Vacation
Widespread Panic and Cloud 9 Adventures announce details for the thirteenth-edition of their beloved concert vacation, Panic en la Playa. This all-inclusive destination event returns to the shores of the Caribbean and takes over Hard Rock Riviera Maya for four nights of music by Widespread Panic in Mexico from January 20-24, 2026.
Widespread Panic will perform on each of the four nights, creating another unforgettable experience for their devoted fanbase. The concert vacation also features afternoon and late night shows from Circles Around The Sun, Eggy, Sierra Hull, Karina Rykman, and the Playa Allstars – a super-group of talented musicians curated specially for the event which includes Eric Krasno, Ivan Neville, Jennifer Hartswick, Chali 2na, Tony Hall, Cochemea Gastelum, and Raymond Weber.
Guests can expect first-rate production, unmatched acoustics, and a spacious dance floor during this intimate concert vacation. With specialty chef-curated food stalls, tequila bars, and wait service throughout the crowd, fans can enjoy the show without ever having to lose their prime dancing spot.
Beyond the music, fans have access to one-of-a-kind experiences. Daytime programming includes morning yoga, Artist hosted poolside games, and more to be announced – plus creative theme nights that electrify the vibe and bring the community together. This intimate event has cultivated a close-knit community of loyal returning guests, first time attendees, artists, and hotel and event staff alike – making it no surprise that past editions have quickly sold out.
Panic en la Playa’s all-inclusive experience returns to Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Guests can choose from a wide array of room categories including premium suites that overlook the main stage, rooms with semi private swim out pools, or private sky terraces for sunbathing and late night get-togethers. Returning guests can look forward to the same fan-friendly venue layout with updated resort offerings, including an array of new restaurant concepts as well as guest room refreshes, to keep the experience feeling familiar and new at the same time.
Fans looking to give back can link up with nonprofit organization Positive Legacy. Positive Legacy continues to make an impact in the Riviera Maya region through grant funding and hands-on projects to benefit local humanitarian and environmental efforts.
Panic en la Playa is brought to you by Cloud 9 Adventures. Cloud 9 is the premier provider of international concert vacations at all-inclusive resorts and on luxurious cruise ships, bringing bands and fans together in intimate settings, creating unforgettable memories & life-changing experiences since 2003.
Joe May Blends Brazilian Roots and ’70s Pop on New Album ‘Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks’
Brazilian-born, North Carolina-based songwriter and producer Joe May unveils his latest studio project, Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks, a genre-fluid ode to life’s messy contradictions. Out today, the album merges the sunlit harmonies of ’70s West Coast pop, Brazilian rhythms, and sly wit into a danceable yet introspective journey. Anchored by live brass arrangements from Aretha Franklin/O’Jays collaborator Brad Wilcox and recorded on analog gear at May’s home studio, Alta Mira, the LP is a testament to collaboration, vulnerability, and finding joy in impermanence.
“You can be silly AND methodical,” May says. “This project was about letting others in, working everything out as we went, and finding joy even in the goofiest corners of music.”
Collaborative energy pulses throughout the album’s eight tracks. May not only wrote, performed, produced, and mixed the record but also drew from the talents of his newly curated band and guest contributors. The horn arrangements, handled by Brad Wilcox, a veteran known for work with Aretha Franklin and The Temptations, adding layers of grandeur. “When I heard Brad’s horn arrangements for the first time, I knew it had to be him,” shares May. “The shock, to me, came when he actually responded to my email. He’s been a great mentor throughout this process.”
The album reflects May’s unique cultural influences, blending the rhythmic buzz of his Brazilian roots with his lifelong affection for pop rock. “I spent my youngest years back in Rio, watching concerts from my dad’s shoulders,” he recalls. Inspired by greats like Tim Maia and Steely Dan, MASH channels warm brass counterpoint, jazzy grooves, and masterful production inspired by both Brazilian and American traditions.
Much of the album was crafted in Joe May’s home studio, Alta Mira, which he built around classic analog gear. “I built the studio around many of my favorite pieces of classic American and British analog audio gear. If I want it to sound like my favorite classic records, I should use the same tools as them, right?” he explains. The studio has since become a hub for regional artists, further deepening his ties to the local music community in Charlotte.
Standout tracks on MASH include its buoyant first single, “Ignoring the Feeling,” which balances introspection with optimism. Accompanied by a retro-inspired music video, the track quickly amassed thousands of plays on Spotify. Also on the album is “Vitamin D in the Shade,” a lush, Beatles-esque ballad that captures May’s most vulnerable songwriting. “I was just scared when I wrote that,” says May. “There’s no satire in it – just me trying to find some sense of grounding.”
“Halfway to the Edge,” a crunchy, funk-driven journey, anchors the project. Cleverly penned lyrics weave a tale of disconnection, hope, and mischief in a way that is quintessentially Joe May. Cheeky turns of phrase, like “struggling to stay ahead, now that I’ve seen you’re behind,” showcase May’s knack for injecting humor without losing emotional complexity.
May will celebrate the release of MASH alongside his dazzling nine-piece ensemble, Joe May’s Month of Mondays, with a pair of performances this weekend in North Carolina. On Friday, May 16th, May, will take the stage at Charlotte, NC’s Visulite Theatre with support from Charleston, SC’s The Psycodelics. On Saturday, May 17th, May, and regional jam powerhouse Duck will visit Raleigh, NC’s Pour House.
Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks is now streaming on all major platforms. In addition, the project is available for purchase on 140g vinyl via Raleigh, NC’s Pour House Pressing. Limited copies remain! Order your album now. For more information on Joe, upcoming performances, and more, please visit his official website.
Joe May – Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks
You Still Do
Halfway to the Edge
Vitamin D in the Shade
Ignoring the Feeling
Union Pacific Getaway Car
Honeycomb Sun
Pictures in the Photobooth with a Stranger
Catch My Groove
Darren Waller and JRod Release Reflective New Single “Streets Get Cold”
Former NFL star and recording artist Darren Waller teams up with rising vocalist JRod for a new single, “Streets Get Cold,” a reflective track that dives into the emotional aftermath of a breakup. The song blends moody melodies and honest lyrics, capturing that tug-of-war between going back to someone or facing the discomfort of growth and moving on. The music video shows the highs and lows of a relationship and the tough choice to finally move on when it’s over.
Waller explains, “There’s that window after a breakup where you’re torn-part of you wants to go back, almost like a withdrawal, and part of you knows you need to sit with the discomfort of loneliness, grief and self-reflection to move forward and grow.
“Streets Get Cold” captures that push and pull. JRod and I tapped into the pride, ego, and fear that show up in those moments. We often try to suppress where we’re really at emotionally in these situations, so this one’s about letting yourself feel it all – no masks, no filters.”
The single is part of Waller and JRod’s upcoming collaborative EP, Cadillac Problems, dropping this spring. Its release coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, a cause close to Waller’s heart. As someone who’s been open about his recovery from addiction and ongoing journey with mental health, Waller continues to use music as a tool for healing and connection.
Since stepping away from football in 2024, Waller has gone all-in on music, a passion he discovered the same year he entered the NFL. In the past year, he’s dropped multiple EPs, earning attention for his genre-blending sound and emotionally honest storytelling.
Pop Visionary G Flip Launches New Era with Retro-Inspired Single “Disco Cowgirl”
Ushering in their next era, acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist G Flip has returned with their anxiously awaited new single “Disco Cowgirl.”
“‘Disco Cowgirl’ is the first taste of a new era,” shares G Flip. “It’s the first stop on a larger ride that I can’t wait to share with the world.” On “Disco Cowgirl,” G Flip takes a bold, stylistic leap, embracing slick, 1980s-inspired production. Reverb-drenched drums and shimmering synthesizers build to an anthemic chorus as G reflects on the intensity of a connection that burned bright and faded fast. The song captures the ache of fleeting love and its emotional aftermath, wrapped in the warm glow of retro-pop nostalgia. Co-written and co-produced by G Flip and longtime collaborator Aidan Hogg, “Disco Cowgirl” was brought to life in G’s Los Angeles studio. G played the majority of the instruments on the track – affirming their reputation as a hands-on, multi-talented force in pop music.
Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor Releases Debut Solo Album ‘Story The Crow Told Me’
Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor recently released his debut solo album Story The Crow Told Me on Equal Housing Records via Firebird Music. Recorded at his own Hartland Studios and co-written/produced with Jody Stevens (Luke Bryan, Jake Owens), Story The Crow Told Me is a coming-of-age saga about a dreamer who carved his path to the top, one song at a time. The album is sharply written and wildly creative, featuring cameos from Molly Tuttle, Marty Stuart and even Old Crow alums Critter Fuqua and Willie Watson, as well as poignant samples from Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.
Along with the announcement, Secor has also released the debut single “Dickerson Road,” a tribute to East Nashville’s boulevard of broken dreams featuring guitar from The Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston. The official video was featured this morning at Rolling Stone, who said “Featuring strung-out, skronk-blues guitar from the Cadillac Three’s Jaren Johnston, the track evokes the gritty, hustling, danger-around-the-corner vibe of Dickerson Pike, a gasoline alley of car lots, tire shops, and seedy motels.”
About the new single, Secor explains: “The Grand Ole Opry has stars and the Hall of Fame has plaques, and in the year 2000 there was one premier destination for Nashville’s castoffs, rejects, n’er-do-wells, petty thieves, lowlifes, losers and users; so like a barfly to a bottle I went to where I felt I belonged, straight up Dickerson Road. Nowadays you can only catch a fleeting glimpse of the misfit glory that once teemed down this boulevard of broken dreams, but once in awhile I’ll see some stray dog licking at some grease trap and know they’re still clawing their way to the top of trash pile down on The Dick.”
Now a Nashville resident for 25 years, Secor reflects on a quarter century spent in Music City and beyond with an album that is equal parts coming-of-age story, road-warrior autobiography, and love letter to the city that watched him grow into a man. Story The Crow Told Me details a Kerouac-worthy journey through the misfit wilderness of life, love, longing, and leaving home, filled to the brim with spoken-word vocal performances, punky tempos, bluegrass harmonies, honking harmonica, and fiddle. With these 12 songs, Secor showcases the full range of his musical talents – playing nearly a dozen instruments across the album and co-writing every track. Skilled in reinterpreting the sounds of the past for today’s audience, Secor sets the past 25 years of his music-making life to a new soundtrack.
“There are a lot of things happening at this point in my life that are causing me to be more retrospective,” he explains. “I’ve been in the game a long time. I do enjoy looking forward, but old-timey music is about simultaneously looking forward and backward at the same time. That’s why it’s a regressive art. You go back with it, but that’s where the strength is. The challenge is to carry the substance of the past into the present.”
Ketch Secor is a wheel-spinning multitasker whose recent projects include TEDx Talks, online variety shows, documentaries like Ken Burns’ Country Music (where he served as a consultant and interviewee) and Louder Than Guns (which he co-produced with Doug Pray and David Greene), a children’s book, a stage musical, and even the launch of a primary school in Nashville. His two-time GRAMMY-winning band Old Crow Medicine Show just celebrated their 25-year anniversary with the GRAMMY-nominated album Jubilee and the first-ever vinyl release of their debut album O.C.M.S., remastered by producer David Rawlings.
Story The Crow Told Me Tracklist
1. Busker’s Spell
2. Talkin’ Doc Blues
3. Ghost Train
4. Dickerson Road
5. Old Man River
6. Catch Me If You Can
7. Highland Rim (feat. Marty Stuart)
8. Junkin’
9. On The Wall
10. Thanks Again
11. Holes In The Wall
12. What Nashville Was
Old Crow Medicine Show tour dates:
August 23 – Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
August 28 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed (Supporting Turnpike Troubadours)
August 30 – Union Hall, VA @ The Coves Amphitheater
August 31 – Paintsville, KY @ Alley Fest Music Festival
September 12-13 – Saanen, Switzerland @ Gstaad Festival
September 26 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory (Supporting Turnpike Troubadours)
October 9 – Kalispell, MT @ Wachholz College Center
October 10 – Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
October 11 – Billings, MT @ The Pub Station
October 12 – Rapid City, SD @ The Monument
October 23 – Charlottesville, VA @ Ting Pavilion
October 24 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
December 30 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
December 31 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Country Star Scotty McCreery Teams with Hootie & The Blowfish on Summer Anthem “Bottle Rockets”
Scotty McCreery, is ready to kick-off the summer with the release of his breezy new single, “Bottle Rockets,” featuring the iconic Hootie & The Blowfish, out now. The track, co-written by McCreery, Brent Anderson, Derek George, Jeremy Bussey, Monty Criswell, Frank Rogers, Bobby Hamrick, Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld and produced by Rogers, takes us back to the carefree teenage days of summer.
North Carolina native McCreery called on his South Carolina neighbors, Hootie & The Blowfish, who recorded a new version of their mega-hit “Hold My Hand” for the track, to join him in reflecting on the simpler times.
“This song takes me back to those summers of having fun with no responsibilities with good times and good tunes. For me growing up in the Carolinas, Hootie & the Blowfish were just massive and such a huge part of great summers growing up. That’s what this song ‘Bottle Rockets’ is about.” -Scotty McCreery
Next week, McCreery will be headed overseas to the United Kingdom for five headlining shows in Belfast, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London with Caylee Hammack as his opening act. Fans will then be able to see him stateside in Nashville, TN where he will be on-stage at the Grand Ole Opry on June 4th and performing during CMA Music Festival in Nissan Stadium on June 5th. McCreery will tour at fairs and festivals throughout the summer. This Fall, he will be co-headlining the Two for the Road Tour alongside Dustin Lynch. The tour is set to kick-off on November 6th in Saginaw, MI.