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Stoner Rock Desertfest London 2026 Reveals Final Lineup and Day Splits

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

Stoner Rock Desertfest London 2026 Reveals Final Lineup and Day Splits

Camden is preparing for its annual transformation into a pilgrimage site for the riff-worshipping community, as Desertfest London officially completes its 2026 lineup. The fourteenth edition of the festival has just released day and stage splits, cementing a weekend that balances legendary reunions with a heavy focus on homegrown British talent. Friday kicks off with a dose of desert rock royalty as John Garcia leads Hermano at the Electric Ballroom, while Saturday shifts the spotlight to local heroes Green Lung for a headline set at the Roundhouse. The weekend culminates on Sunday with the long-awaited Desertfest debut of Clutch, an act that has topped attendee wish lists for over a decade. Beyond the headliners, the bill is bolstered by the reunion of Florida sludge pioneers Cavity and the return of stoner icons The Sword, alongside new additions like Church of the Cosmic Skull and Wytch Hazel. With stage takeovers spanning from the cavernous Roundhouse to the intimate grit of The Black Heart, this final announcement confirms that the 2026 gathering will be one for the ages.

New additions to Desertfest 2026:
CHURCH OF THE COSMIC SKULL
WYTCH HAZEL
INHUMAN NATURE
CAVITY
MOLOCH
DAUFODT
KUSHTHULU
IRON SLUG
TROLL MOTHER

Indie Rockers The Happy Fits Reveal Initial 2026 ‘Lovesick’ Tour Dates

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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The New Jersey indie-rock outfit The Happy Fits are transitioning into their next decade with a renewed sense of purpose and a massive itinerary for 2026. Following the departure of founding member Ross Monteith earlier this year, the band has solidified its new quartet lineup with long-time collaborators Nico Rose and Raina Mullen stepping in as full members. This evolution is mirrored in their fourth studio album, ‘Lovesick’, a 15-track exploration of emotional recalibration that balances their signature cello-driven energy with a new vulnerability. Having just wrapped a marathon headline run to close out 2025, the group is wasting no time, announcing a two-month trek that will bring their high-energy stage show to major markets across North America. From the Higher Ground in Vermont to the Aztec Theater in San Antonio, the “Lovesick Tour” represents the first full-scale live manifestation of a band that has successfully turned a major transition into a creative rebirth.

Tour Dates:

03/13 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Ballroom

03/14 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live

03/15 – Buffalo, NY @ Electric City

03/17 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s

03/18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Old National Center

03/20 – Lansing, MI @ Grewal Hall

03/21 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre

03/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

03/24 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s

03/26 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown

03/28 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater

03/31 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades

04/01 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst

04/02 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater

04/04 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park

04/05 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory

04/07 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater

04/08 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater

04/10 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater

04/11 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theater

04/14 – Tampa, FL @ Jannus Live

04/15 – Jacksonville, FL @ FIVE

04/17 – Gainesville, FL @ Heartwood Stage

04/18 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall

04/20 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theater

04/21 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom

04/23 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel

04/24 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre

04/25 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27

04/27 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater

04/29 – Harrisburg, PA @ XL Live

05/01 – Baltimore, MD @ The Recher

05/02 – Providence, RI @ Fete Music Hall

05/03 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place

Alt-Poppers Cry Club Charges Into 2026 With ‘Retaliate’ and New Album Announcement

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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Alt-Poppers Cry Club Charges Into 2026 With ‘Retaliate’ and New Album Announcement

Melbourne’s queer pop-punk duo Cry Club has found a way to turn the stress of the modern world into a “torch-and-pitchfork party soundtrack.” Following their return in late 2025, the pair has announced their third full-length album, ‘High Voltage Anxiety’, set to drop this March. The new single, “Retaliate,” serves as a blistering electro-punk rally cry against wealth disparity and the systemic apathy of the modern age. This record represents a major milestone for Heather Riley and Jonathon Tooke, as it marks their first time taking complete creative control by self-producing, self-engineering, and self-recording the entire project. After 18 months spent touring Europe and supporting heavy hitters like The Darkness, the duo has emerged with a sound that is as fiercely political as it is cathartically danceable.

Post-Punk Anishinaabe Artist Ribbon Skirt Delivers Captivating Live Session on KEXP

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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Post-Punk Anishinaabe Artist Ribbon Skirt Delivers Captivating Live Session on KEXP

There is a visceral, raw energy that happens when memory and culture collide with the jagged edges of post-punk, and Montreal’s Ribbon Skirt brought exactly that to the KEXP studios. Led by Anishinaabe musician Tashiina Buswa, the four-piece ensemble delivered a haunting four-song set that showcased the “Indigenous Futurism” of their critically acclaimed 2025 debut album, ‘Bite Down’. The performance, recorded this past October, weaves through driving rhythms and angular guitar work while Buswa’s vocals explore themes of grief, resilience, and her relationship with her heritage. From the frantic, urgent pace of “Off Rez” to the seismic closing energy of “Earth Eater,” the session captures why this group was a shortlist finalist for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize. It’s a powerful testament to a band that has successfully navigated a bold transformation, emerging as one of the most essential and fearless new voices in the Canadian indie scene.

Reggae Reggae Legends UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell Announces Initial 2026 ‘Big Love’ Tour Dates

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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There is a timelessness to Ali Campbell’s voice that seems to unify generations, and the founding frontman of UB40 is leaning back into that legacy with the announcement of his 2026 Big Love Tour. Following a marathon of sold-out European dates, the tour kicks off at the Grenada Reggae Fest before moving through a string of high-profile U.S. stops in Florida, Texas, and the Northeast. Campbell remains the unmistakable face and sound of the group, backed by the same world-class band that has toured with him since 2008 to ensure that “butter-smooth” delivery of hits like “Red Red Wine” and “Kingston Town” stays perfectly intact. For Campbell, this run is a celebration of more than four decades on the road and a testament to the unifying power of reggae, which he views as his enduring global legacy. As he heads into these 2026 dates, including co-headlining spots with Matisyahu, the message remains simple: the music brings people together, and he has zero intention of slowing down.

Tour Dates:

Apr 11 – Grenada, West Indies – National Cricket Stadium

Apr 15 – Apopka, FL – Apopka Amphitheatre

Apr 16 – Cocoa Beach, FL – Cocoa Riverfront Park

Apr 17 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheatre

Apr 19 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Ekhard Hall

Apr 25 – Austin, TX – The Far Out (Main Stage)

May 1 – Atlantic City, NJ – Oceans Casino w/ Matisyahu

May 2 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Casino w/ Matisyahu

May 3 – New York City – Kings Theatre

Power Metal Titans Powerwolf Share Anthemic Live Version of “Alive or Undead”

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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Power Metal Titans Powerwolf Share Anthemic Live Version of “Alive or Undead”

There is a specific kind of theater that only a Powerwolf show can provide, and their latest live cut of “Alive or Undead” captures that ritual in its most high-definition form. Originally found on their 2021 album ‘Call Of The Wild’, the track has been transformed into a massive, choral centerpiece for their upcoming live release, ‘Wildlive (Live at Olympiahalle)’. Recorded during a sold-out night in Munich on the Wolfsnächte Tour 2024, the performance features the kind of opulent dramaturgy the band is known for—complete with cinematic stage sets and a rousing, euphoric interaction with the audience. According to the band, the release serves as a manifestation of the “magic” shared during those arena dates, aiming to preserve the intensity that short recap videos usually miss. With the full album arriving this February via Napalm Records, the wolves are clearly ready to prove once again that they occupy a heavy metal category all their own.

Tour Dates:

26.06.26 DE – Büren / Büren Open Air

05.07.26 ES – Barcelona / Rock Fest Barcelona

11.07.26 BG – Mogilovo / Midalidare Rock in the Wine Valley

29.07.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air

30.07.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air

31.07.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air

01.08.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air

08.08.26 DE – Hamburg / Elbriot Festival

09.08.26 BE – Kortrijk / Alcatraz Open Air

14.08.26 CZ – Moravsky Krumlov / Rock Castle

16.08.26 CH – Cudrefin / Rock The Lakes

28.08.26 DE – Coburg / HUK Open Air Sommer

29.08.26 DE – St. Goarshausen / Loreley

Hard Rocker Holy Wars Return With Haunting New Single “Metamorphosis”

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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Hard Rocker Holy Wars Return With Haunting New Single “Metamorphosis”

It’s often said that art is the only way to make sense of a world that’s stopped making sense, and for Kat Leon of Holy Wars, that’s more than just a theory. The Los Angeles duo’s latest track, “Metamorphosis,” is a heavy, industrial-tinged dive into the mechanics of grief, written after the staggering loss of Leon’s parents and sister. Sonically, it sits in that dark, fertile ground between the jagged edges of Nine Inch Nails and the atmospheric weight of Evanescence—a sound they’ve been honing on massive festival stages like Download and Rock am Ring over the past year. This isn’t just another rock song; it’s a document of a band hitting their stride by embracing the “shadow self” and turning personal wreckage into something visceral and collective. As they gear up to join the ShipRocked cruise in early 2026, Holy Wars are proving that they’ve found their clarity on the road, emerging with a confidence that only comes from surviving the fire.

Post-Hardcore Band Gouge Away Releases ‘Live at BBC’ EP and Plots 2026 Tour

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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Post-Hardcore Band Gouge Away Releases ‘Live at BBC’ EP and Plots 2026 Tour

Have you ever noticed how some bands just seem to bottle lightning when the “On Air” sign glows? Florida’s Gouge Away is one of them. Following their 2024 LP ‘Deep Sage’, the group has finally dropped their ‘Live at BBC’ session digitally—four tracks recorded in the hallowed, history-soaked halls of Maida Vale for Daniel P. Carter’s Rock Show. It’s raw, it’s urgent, and it captures that specific brand of controlled chaos they do so well. But the real story here is what’s coming in 2026. After a spring run supporting Wednesday, they’re jumping into the deep end of the stadium circuit, opening for the Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age. It’s a massive leap from the DIY fundraiser they’re playing in Portland this February, but if anyone can make a stadium feel as visceral as a basement show, it’s this lot.

Tour Dates:

Feb 19 – Portland, OR — High Limit Room ^
Mar 13 – Knoxville, TN — Mill & Mine %
Mar 14 – Atlanta, GA — Variety Playhouse %
Mar 15 – Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl %
Mar 17 – New Orleans, LA — Tipitina’s %
Mar 19 – Austin, TX — Emo’s %
Mar 20 – Dallas, TX — Granada Theatre %
Mar 21 – Oklahoma City, OK — Beer City Music Hall %
Mar 22 – Lawrence, KS — Granada Theater %
Mar 24 – St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall %
Mar 26 – Minneapolis, MN — First Avenue %
Mar 27 – Milwaukee, WI — Turner Hall %
Mar 28 – Indianapolis, IN — The Vogue %
Mar 30 – Columbus, OH — The King of Clubs %
Mar 31 – Buffalo, NY — Asbury Hall %
Apr 01 – Boston, MA — Roadrunner %
Apr 04 – Asheville, NC — Orange Peel %
Apr 05 – Winston-Salem, NC — Ramkat %
Apr 21 – Portland, OR — Revolution Hall %
Apr 22 – Portland, OR — Revolution Hall %
Apr 23 – Seattle, WA — The Moore %
Apr 24 – Vancouver, BC — The Vogue %
Sep 20 – Vancouver, BC — BC Place $
Sep 26 – Las Vegas, NV — Allegiant Stadium $
^ Fundraiser for Northwest Abortion Access Fund with Dry Socket
% with Wednesday
$ with Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age

Alt-Pop Artist Jessie Murph Releases Raw Live Cover of “Hallelujah”

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

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Alt-Pop Artist Jessie Murph Releases Raw Live Cover of “Hallelujah”

Genre-defying artist Jessie Murph has officially released her powerful live cover of “Hallelujah,” recorded earlier this month during her standout set at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball. Reimagined with her signature vulnerability and raw vocal delivery, the stripped-back performance has already sparked widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and restraint. This release follows a massive season for the young artist, who recently debuted the deluxe edition of her chart-topping sophomore album, ‘Sex Hysteria’, and premiered the deeply personal short film ‘Sex Hysteria The End’, directed by Logan Rice. Having just wrapped the European leg of her Worldwide Hysteria Tour, Murph continues to cement her status as one of today’s most compelling voices while looking toward an even busier year in 2026.

R&B R&B Singer Zipporah Makes Stunning Debut with Single ‘Consequences’

Music

Eric Alper

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Dec 25, 2025

0

R&B R&B Singer Zipporah Makes Stunning Debut with Single ‘Consequences’

Australia’s thriving R&B scene has a bold new protagonist in Zipporah, who has officially arrived with her debut single, ‘Consequences.’ A raw and intimate exploration of emotional fallout, the track blends smooth R&B with soulful jazz inflections and velvet-toned vocals. To craft this dynamic soundscape, the Torres Strait Islander artist collaborated with ARIA-winning producers Finbar Stuart and Nikodimos, layering rich beats with live keys and horns. Born into a family of performers, Zipporah infuses the track with cultural depth and a sense of grounded identity that serves as the perfect introduction to her artistry. ‘Consequences’ marks the first taste of her upcoming debut mixtape, NAUNGU URUI, which is set to further solidify her position as one of the most exciting emerging voices in local soul and jazz-inflected production.