All photo credits belong to Benoit Rousseau and Osheaga.
Photo Gallery: Mark Ambor at Montreal’s Osheaga on August 3, 2025
All photo credits belong to Tim Snow and Osheaga.
Photo Gallery: Kenny Mason at Montreal’s Osheaga on August 3, 2025
All photo credits belong to Benoit Rousseau and Osheaga.
Country Artist Brennen Leigh Announces New Album ‘Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love,’ Out October 3
Acclaimed real country artist Brennen Leigh has announced that her highly-anticipated third album for Signature Sounds, Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love will be released October 3rd. Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love is available for pre-save and pre-order here (and vinyl via Bandcamp).
Indeed, nodding to some of the more cautionary cuts of artists like Lynn, Leigh quickly removes herself from a rubbish romantic relationship in stride on the pedal steel heavy song. Although self-described as a “trashy little tune,” do not discard the wisdom earned from Leigh’s brief suffering by “settling for less than we deserve in love.”
When it comes to Leigh, there is no question. Always and assuredly precise in her ability to craft country music of the highest caliber, her latest album is packed full of playful ear worms, tender tearjerkers and honky tonk quintessence that two steps straight to the heart. Deemed by No Depression as “an adventurous artist wholly and authentically herself,” Leigh embodies classic country that speaks to the heart. As renowned for her musicianship as for her writing, Leigh’s pure country voice, masterful flatpicking, hard hitting, incisive lyrics and vibrant melodies dazzle.
Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love Tracklist:
1. Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love
2. Dumpster Diving
3. Tell Me
4. A Reason To Drink
5. Thank God You’re Gone
6. You’re Finally Hurtin’
7. Nothin’ You Can’t Fix
8. How’s The Getting Over Me Going
9. Texas Tumbleweed
10. Alone In The Lone Star
11. I’m Easy To Love After All
12. Little Magic Wolf
Brennen Leigh Tour Dates:
AUG 23 McKinney Performing Arts Center Mckinney, TX
SEP 9 AMERICANAFEST 2025 Nashville, TN
OCT 2 The Rex Theatre Manchester, NH
OCT 4 CROSSROADS MUSIC SERIES North Andover Center, MA
MAR 7 The Freight Berkeley, CA
Brennen Leigh is an American songwriter, guitar player, mandolin player and singer whose to-the-point storytelling style has elevated her to cult icon status in Europe, Scandinavia, across the United States, South America and the United Kingdom. Her songs have been recorded by Lee Ann Womack, Rodney Crowell, Sunny Sweeney, Charley Crockett, and many others. As renowned for her musicianship as for her writing, it’s easy to see how Leigh caught the ear of greats like Guy Clark, who colorfully endorsed her flatpicking: “Brennen Leigh plays guitar like a motherfucker,” and David Olney, who described her writing as “tender, violent, sentimental, foolish and wise, she is always Brennen. Confident and at ease with herself, without being a jerk about it.”
Alt-Rock Trio The Vidos Drop Sludge Pop Banger “The ICU” Ahead of ‘Future Ex-Husbands’ Tour
Vancouver trio The Vidos return with new single “The ICU.” Known for their signature, and uniquely crafted sludge pop sound, this single is a self-deprecating, slow-burning alt-rock smasher. Riding the momentum of their 2023 EP Right in the Tuchus!, and debut record Right in the Kisser!, “The ICU” digs into the group’s raw vulnerability with equal parts existential crisis and Weezer-style sarcasm. What starts off with soft acoustics quickly swells into gritty, fuzz-washed guitar layers and pure headbanging awesomeness.
Written in a New Year’s resolution haze, “The ICU” began as a janky acoustic riff that came to frontman Brett Hornall in a dream. As he was brushing his teeth (without flossing), it came together.
Starting August 15th, The Vidos are getting hitched on “The Future Ex-Husbands” Canada tour. The tour kicks off in Regina, SK and wraps in Victoria, BC, this September. Tickets are available at THIS location.
Tour Dates:
August 15 – Regina, SK @ O’Hanlans
August 16 – Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos Cantina
August 17 – Medicine Hat, AB @ Local
August 20 – Calgary, AB @ Rec Room
August 22 – Edmonton, AB @ Rec Room South
September 19 – Victoria, BC @ Wicket Hall
Experimental Rapper i61 Embraces Minimalism and Mood on Intimate New Album ‘STORYTELL 2’
i61’s STORYTELL 2 doesn’t beg for attention — it earns it by doing less. Stripped of unnecessary theatrics, the album leans into intimacy and space, offering something that feels less like a declaration and more like a late-night confession. i61, long known for his dense, experimental production and abstract lyricism, takes a quieter route here. The result? An album that lands harder emotionally because it’s not trying so hard to impress.
The anime-inspired opening track — placed even before the traditional intro — sets a tone that’s more visual than sonic. It’s not just an aesthetic gimmick; it frames the record like a film, hinting at the narrative cohesion that follows. i61’s recent time in Japan clearly left a mark, not in a surface-level “weeb” way, but in how he structures space and emotion. You hear it in the pacing, in the restraint, in the deliberate calm between sonic peaks.
Guest spots from OG Buda, 163ONMYNECK, and Thomas Mraz never hijack the album. Instead, they fold seamlessly into the atmosphere — like different voices in the same dream. No one’s flexing for attention here; everyone’s in service of the mood. The features offer texture, not distraction.
Then there’s “ALIEN” — a track that doesn’t just stand out, it floats above everything else like a ghost signal. The production is ice-cold, minimalist, and nearly ambient. Tension builds not through drums or bars, but through space and repetition. It’s one of those tracks where the absence of sound says more than any verse could. The accompanying video — released through Forbes Young’s Telegram channel — mirrors that weightlessness with visual minimalism, driving home the sense of isolation the song captures.
What’s most striking about STORYTELL 2 is how comfortable i61 seems in this quieter, simpler skin. He’s described this album cycle as a conscious effort to communicate more directly — to move away from complex intellectual codes and toward something that lands on first listen. That intent is everywhere in the record: the production is lean, the lyrics hit faster, and the overall tone is more emotionally available than ever before.
Emo Band Moments Of Unleash Raw Power and Honesty on New Single “Threshold”
Portland, Maine’s Moments Of return with “Threshold,” a gripping new single that showcases the band’s evolution into one of emo’s most urgent and emotionally resonant voices.
Built around layered guitars, raw dual vocals, and explosive dynamic shifts, “Threshold” captures the unravelling of a toxic relationship with striking clarity. There’s no hiding behind metaphor—this is unfiltered emotion, delivered with restraint and power.
Benjamin Wilson’s vocal performance is bruised and honest, paired with Jackson Howard’s guitar tones that sway between delicate and devastating. Adam Howarth’s lead work adds sharp detail, while the rhythm section—Dan Dunham (drums) and Kyle Gravel (bass)—grounds everything with controlled chaos and urgency.
Produced by Adam Cichocki (Timber Studios), the track resists gloss in favour of grit, allowing tension and vulnerability to bleed through every second.
Moments Of is for fans of Movements, Citizen, Balance and Composure, and Taking Back Sunday, “Threshold” is both a throwback to emo’s cathartic roots and a leap toward something more fearless and contemporary.
Indie Rock Band Bad Self Portraits Unleash Raw Emotion on “All Bark No Bite” Ahead of Vinyl-First LP ‘I Think I’m Going to Hell’
Bad Self Portraits have never sounded more dangerous. Not because they’re loud. Not because they’re punk. But because they’re honest. “All Bark No Bite” is a track that could only have been written by someone who’s finally stopped lying to themselves.
There’s a lot of talk these days about “trauma-informed” art, but few bands actually get it right. This one does. The second single off their upcoming LP, I Think I’m Going to Hell, hits like a body memory. Every lyric sounds like it’s been tested in therapy and then brought into the studio for a final round of exorcism.
Ingrid Howell’s voice isn’t polished, and that’s the point. She’s not trying to be palatable. She’s trying to be real. When she sings about a mother who passed down blame like an heirloom, there’s no melodrama – just the steely quiet of a person who knows how deep that damage goes.
What elevates the track beyond confessional is the way the band builds around her. The guitars don’t posture. They pace. Jesse White’s drumming feels like it’s holding something in, mirroring the emotional restraint of someone who’s had to make peace with their own rage just to get through the day.
The album’s vinyl-first release via Buy Before You Stream adds another layer of intention. This isn’t music made to be consumed while scrolling. It’s meant to be played start to finish, the way you’d sit with a friend telling you something they’ve never said out loud before.
There’s no resolve at the end of “All Bark No Bite.” No sweet chorus that wraps it all up. But maybe that’s what makes it powerful. It doesn’t offer you comfort – it offers you clarity. And in a culture that rewards repression and rewards prettiness, that’s a radical act.
One Last Day Share Emotive New Single “Still Breathing” with Visceral Video Directed by Shaun Hodson
South UK alternative metal outfit One Last Day have shared a planetary and anthemic new single titled “Still Breathing,” alongside a biting music video directed by Shaun Hodson (Loki Films).
“Still Breathing,” through this, stands as an anthemic and emotive slice of modern alternative metal, baring its personal themes of personal struggle proudly and without shame, as there is, and always will be, a healthy way out of these darker moments.
The release of “Still Breathing” also follows the recent release of “Protect Me From Myself” in late 2024, as well as an appearance at Brighton’s Hammerdown Festival this July. With the promise of more to come in the near future, 2025 is looking to only get bigger for the UK metallers.
KennyHoopla Announces New EP ‘conditions of an orphan//’ with Zac Farro and Mike Elizondo, Out September 19
KennyHoopla continues to stake his place in the indie-rock space. Today, the talented artist announces his new EP, conditions of an orphan// due out September 19th via The Orchard.
Featuring production from Paramore’s Zac Farro and Mike Elizondo (Turnstile, 50 Cent), the EP marks a bold breakthrough for KennyHoopla – one that sees the singer-songwriter embracing the music he grew up admiring, digging deeper than ever into themes of grief, revenge, trauma, and love. To kick off the EP announcement, Kenny has shared the EP’s lead track “orphan//.”
On “orphan//,” Kenny’s commanding vocals charge through ethereal synths and explosive percussion from Zac Farro, who also produced the track. Calling back to Kenny’s pop-punk roots while weaving in new sonic elements, the track combines nostalgia and newness that feels distinct. Exploring personal grief after the passing of his mother three years ago, Kenny shares that “orphan//” is about “trying to sift through the process of grief for someone else. The right answer is that there is no right answer. Pain is fluid.”
conditions of an orphan// is a bold evolution for Kennyhoopla. His fifth proper EP—and his final release before putting out his long-awaited debut album—finds the Cleveland-hailing singer-songwriter embracing an exciting new chapter, and it’s only the beginning.