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Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart’s ‘Bongo Fury’ Returns With Massive 50th Anniversary Edition

Eric Alper
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Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart’s ‘Bongo Fury’ Returns With Massive 50th Anniversary Edition

Available now via Zappa Records/UMe, Bongo Fury (50th Anniversary Edition) shines a spotlight on Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart’s creative partnership that peaked in 1975 with their joint album, Bongo Fury. A new six-disc (5CD/1 Blu-ray) Super Deluxe Edition box set celebrates this iconic collaboration through a wealth of rare recordings, including two full unreleased concerts. Produced by Zappa Vaultmeister Joe Travers, this new, expanded collection boasts Bob Ludwig’s 2012 master of the core album’s nine tracks, along with five additional session outtakes and oddities from The Vault (a.k.a. “Bonus Fury”), and 2025 stereo mixes of the live material from the 16-track masters by Craig Parker Adams, all of it remastered in 2025 by John Polito at Audio Mechanics. The set features 57 tracks in total, of which more than 80% has never been released. 

Notably included in the expanded collection are two full, unreleased concerts from Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas, on May 20 and 21, 1975, which spawned much of the recordings on Bongo Fury, plus a trio of live cuts recorded during the tour’s opening gambit on April 10, 1975 at Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium in Claremont, Calif. One of them, “Portuguese Lunar Landing,” is a true Vault treasure – a rehearsal composition that has never been heard officially until now. As Travers reveals in the liners, “Claremont CA were the first shows of the tour. Of the master tapes, FZ only saved one rehearsal reel and the first reel of show 1. The rehearsal reel is clearly marked “Save Port. Lunar Landing.” With the release of this rehearsal version, it’s the first time this composition has been heard officially! A Nugget!”

The Blu-ray contains the core album newly remixed in immersive Dolby Atmos® and 5.1 surround sound by Karma Auger and Erich Gobel at Studio1LA, the same team behind the acclaimed Dolby Atmos and surround mixes of 2022’s Waka/Wazoo, 2023’s Over-Nite Sensation, 2024’s Apostrophe (’), and 2025’s One Size Fits All releases. Auger and Gobel mixed directly from the 16-track album master tapes, along with the hi-res stereo 2025 remaster at 24-bit/192kHz and 24-bit/96kHz options for the main album, plus three bonus Vault-culled surround tracks. One is for the original version of “The Torture Never Stops,” while the other two are six-channel surround sound mixes done by Zappa himself at UMRK in 1993 — “Debra Kadabra” and “Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead”— during the last year of his life for a rumored project for Disney that never came to fruition.

The lavish Super Deluxe Edition box comes complete with an 18-page booklet and unseen black and white photos from the archives of Sam Emerson plus rare color and live photos by John Williams, as well as liner notes and new historical essays by Zappa/Mothers Bongo Fury bandmember Denny Walley, and, as always, The Vaultmeister Travers.  

Bongo Fury has also been newly mastered for vinyl in all analog from the original tapes by Bernie Grundman and is available in three separate vinyl offerings: a 2LP on 180-gram black vinyl, with the main album and a bonus record of highlights from the box set, plus a booklet and a frameable black and white lithograph of Zappa and Beefheart; a 1LP on 180-gram black vinyl; and a limited edition 1LP color pressing on 180-gram “Orange & Black Galaxy” vinyl, with a black and white lithograph of Zappa, Beefheart and the Mothers, that is available exclusively at Zappa.com, uDiscover Music, and Sound of Vinyl. For more information or to order, visit: https://zappa.lnk.to/BongoFury50thPR

Additionally, the Super Deluxe Edition is available digitally, with all 57 tracks available in both hi-res 24-bit/96kHz and standard-res 16-bit/44.1kHz options. A standalone Dolby Atmos mix of the core album’s nine tracks is also available on all Atmos-supporting hi-res streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music and Tidal.

The 50th anniversary of Bongo Fury is being commemorated with a new merch collection, featuring a replica tour t-shirt and orange, mustache-emblazoned ashtray. Check out all the new offerings at Zappa.com.

Frank Zappa and Don Van Vliet, later christened Captain Beefheart by Zappa, met as teenagers in the late 1950s in Lancaster, Calif., bonding over a shared love of blues, R&B, doo-wop, and outsider art, and dreaming up a radical new kind of music that defied convention. Their early friendship was intense and formative, marked by deep mutual admiration as well as clashing personalities that would periodically strain their relationship. As their careers developed, Zappa became both a collaborator and catalyst for Beefheart’s most significant work, contributing production, composition, and guidance to Trout Mask Replica (1969), the landmark album that crystallized Beefheart’s surreal, avant-blues vision and remains one of the most challenging and influential records in rock history. That same year, Beefheart appeared on Zappa’s quintessential album, Hot Rats, lending his unmistakable growl to “Willie the Pimp,” a track that bridged Zappa’s jazz-rock ambitions with Beefheart’s raw vocal presence. Despite cycles of estrangement and reconciliation, their creative dialogue endured, shaped by shared roots and creative rivalry. This long, complex personal and musical relationship ultimately found renewed expression in Bongo Fury (1975), a collaborative album, mostly recorded live on tour, that captured the volatile, joyous chemistry of two lifelong friends whose artistic paths, however divergent, were always magnetically linked.

1975 was a fertile year for the ever-prolific Zappa who started the year completing his twentieth album, One Size Fits All, as well as a score of other material destined for future projects. In the midst of this early-year activity, which also included a trip to London to deal with a lawsuit against The Royal Albert Hall about the cancellation of a 200 Motels concert that had been scheduled at the famous venue in 1971, Zappa received a call from his teenage friend turned musical collaborator, Don Van Vliet. In addition to apologizing for his negative comments in the press about Zappa in the years following 1969’s experimental rock benchmark, Trout Mask Replica, Van Vliet was seeking Zappa’s help in resolving yet another one of his recurring contractual nightmares.

Zappa’s solution for some quick cash for his old friend was to make Van Vliet a member of The Mothers and to hit the road for some shows. However, The Mothers was in flux as drummer Chester Thompson and percussionist Ruth Underwood exited following the last round of recording sessions, so he started recruiting a new lineup. He called up Bruce Fowler, who had left after the 10 Year Anniversary Tour in May 1974, to come play trombone, his brother Tom Fowler to handle bass, and brought back George Duke on keyboards and Napoleon Murphy Brock on sax and vocals. To this mix he enlisted a young 25-year-old drummer named Terry Bozzio who would go on to tour with Zappa for the next three years and play on some of such classic albums as Zoot Allures (1976), Zappa In New York (1976), Sheik Yerbouti (1979) and of course Bongo Fury. To fill out the band’s instrumentation, Zappa brought in his old grade-school friend, Denny Walley, to play slide guitar. With Beefheart on vocals, harmonica, and (yes) shopping bags, what turned out to be the final incarnation of the early-1970s Mothers (Duke and the Fowler Brothers would leave Zappa following the tour), they embarked on a mid-1975 tour and its resultant, mostly live album, Bongo Fury, which was released in October 1975. All this flurry of activity had been undertaken essentially to help cure Van Vliet’s contractual ills.

Zappa took full advantage of having Beefheart and his unique creative mien available to him for what became Bongo Fury, itself a phrase that Beefheart howled in the back half of “Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top.” Tracks like “Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead” and “Debra Kadabra” both contained lyrical references to things Zappa and Beefheart shared during their early years (a la “The Brainiac” and other folklore from their friendship). While “Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy,” “Advance Romance,” and “Muffin Man” would make the eventual album, “Portuguese Lunar Landing,” “The Velvet Sunrise” (replete with a nightly lecture on a theme from a certain “Dr. Maurice”), “A Token of My Extreme”(with lyrics), and “George’s Boogie” would debut live on tour.

The tour itself, unnamed at the time but now known as the “Bongo Fury Tour,” lasted about a month and half and featured songs from across Zappa’s eclectic career-spanning oeuvre, including from his albums, 1973’s Over-Nite Sensation and 74’s Apostrophe(‘), through to 68’s Cruising With Ruben & The Jets and 1969’s Uncle Meat and Hot Rats and 1966’s embryonic Freak Out! Rehearsals started in late April through the beginning of May, with the last date coming in Phoenix, Ariz., on May 26. The shows scheduled at The Armadillo Headquarters in Austin, Texas, were professionally recorded with the Record Plant Mobile truck. The timing of the live recordings was quite beneficial, as Beefheart was notoriously unpredictable with memorizing the lyrics. Even so, his performance was consistent for these recordings, considering this incarnation of The Mothers had been playing the material for some time together by then. From the tapes, Zappa only released the Bongo Fury record along with a performance of “The Torture Never Stops (Original Version)” on You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 in 1991. The rest of the concerts have remained unheard until now.

“When I listen to this album, I still can’t believe how fortunate I was to be part of it,” recalled slide guitarist Denny Walley in the liner notes. (Walley had met both Zappa and Beefheart in elementary school back in 1955.) “Frank’s directing technique incorporated hand signals that needed to be understood,” Walley continued. “You never knew what would happen next, so you had to be ready for anything. I loved it! This was like being paid to go to college.”

Once the tour was finished, Zappa went back into the Record Plant during the summertime to make the Bongo Fury album. Most of it was taken from the two Armadillo shows with some very crafty editing and overdubs, along with material culled from sessions at Caribou Studios in December 1974. Zappa had also made longer edits of two featured tracks on the record – “Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy” and “200 Years Old” – but due to vinyl side-length limitations, had to cut them both down to fit the wax requirements. Both tracks are now reinstated to their respective fuller lengths in the Bonus Fury section of the collection. “200 Years Old” featured both Zappa and Beefheart singing together in the studio, overtop a track recorded at Caribou a number of months prior. The longer, eight-minute version now shows off more soloing and vocal sources from the issued master. Also included on Bonus Fury is the unreleased gem, “Born To Suck,” which features Zappa and Beefheart singing over the guitar solo from One Size Fits All’s “Florentine Pogen” in the studio during production for Bongo Fury.

Two compositions were written by Beefheart (“Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top” and “Man With the Woman Head”), with the rest penned by Zappa. The album’s final mix was created on August 9, 1975, and EQ copies were turned into Warner Bros. on August 11, 1975, with a scheduled release date of October 2, 1975. Upon that release, the contractual hang-up that caused Beefheart to call Zappa in the first place had re-reared its ugly head, ultimately resulting in Bongo Fury not being released in the UK. (Its first official UK release was the 1989 CD edition.)

In many ways, Bongo Fury marked the end of an era. Not only did it serve as the final Zappa/Beefheart collaboration – though the two lifelong friends would often speak highly of each other in the ensuing years – it was also the final ’70s release under The Mothers monicker, which was retired in 1976. The 50th Anniversary Edition of Bongo Fury is a perfect encapsulation of the intertwined Zappa/Beefheart mythos, a pair of true Muffin Men to the end.

FRANK ZAPPA / CAPTAIN BEEFHEART / MOTHERS: BONGO FURY 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS

Tracklists

5CD + 1BLU-RAY AUDIO SUPER DELUXE EDITION
CD 1
Bongo Fury – The Original Album – 2012 Remaster + Bonus Fury – Bonus Tracks
The Original Album
1. Debra Kadabra
2. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
3. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top
4. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
5. 200 Years Old
6. Cucamonga
7. Advance Romance
8. Man With The Woman Head
9. Muffin Man
Bonus Fury – Bonus Tracks
10. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy (Long Version)
11. Man With The Woman Head (Isolated Vocal)
12. Muffin Man / A Little Green Rosetta (Alternate Take)
13. 200 Years Old (Long Version)
14. Born To Suck (Vocal Session Snoop)
15. Born To Suck

CD 2
Armadillo World Headquarters – Live In Austin, TX, 5/20/1975
1. 5-20-75 Show Start
2. “Put A Shirt On Man”
3. Apostrophe’
4. Stink-Foot
5. I’m Not Satisfied
6. Debra Kadabra
7. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
8. The Velvet Sunrise
9. Pound For A Brown – Part I
10. Pound For A Brown – Part II
11. Sleeping In A Jar

CD 3
Armadillo World Headquarters – Live In Austin, TX, 5/20/1975
Continued
1. “Enjoy The Steambath”
2. The Torture Never Stops (Original Version)
3. Camarillo Brillo
4. Muffin Man
5. Advance Romance
6. Montana
7. Duke’s Things
8. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top
9. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
10. Echidna’s Arf (Of You) / Terry’s Solo
11. The Ampeg Mini-Moog Controller Guitar Experiment
12. Willie The Pimp

CD 4
Armadillo World Headquarters – Live In Austin, TX, 5/21/1975
1. “Good Evening, Ladies And Gentlemen”
2. Apostrophe’
3. Stink-Foot
4. I’m Not Satisfied
5. Debra Kadabra
6. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
7. The Velvet Sunrise
8. Pound For A Brown – Part I
9. “We’ve Had A Bomb Threat”
10. Pound For A Brown – Part II

CD 5
Armadillo World Headquarters – Live In Austin, TX, 5/21/1975
Continued
1. Advance Romance
2. Florentine Pogen
3. Montana
4. Camarillo Brillo
5. Muffin Man
6. Willie The Pimp
7. Claremont Rehearsal
8. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
9. Portuguese Lunar Landing

BLU-RAY AUDIO
Bongo Fury – The Album + Bonus Audio
Dolby Atmos / 24-bit/96kHz Dolby TrueHD 5.1 / 24-bit/192kHz PCM Stereo / 24-bit/96kHz PCM Stereo
Bongo Fury – The Album
1. Debra Kadabra
2. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
3. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top
4. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
5. 200 Years Old
6. Cucamonga
7. Advance Romance
8. Man With The Woman Head
9. Muffin Man
Bonus Audio
1. The Torture Never Stops (Original Version)
2. Debra Kadabra (1993 UMRK 6-Channel Mix)
3. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead (1993 UMRK 6-Channel Mix)

2LP BLACK VINYL EDITION
LP One – Side 1
1. Debra Kadabra
2. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
3. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top
4. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
5. 200 Years Old

LP One – Side 2
1. Cucamonga
2. Advance Romance
3. Man With The Woman Head
4. Muffin Man

LP Two – Side 3
1. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy (Long Version)
2. Man With The Woman Head (Isolated Vocal)
3. Muffin Man / A Little Green Rosetta (Alternate Take)
4. Born To Suck

LP Two – Side 4
1. The Torture Never Stops (Original Version, 2025 Mix)
2. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead (Claremount Soundcheck)
3. 200 Years Old (Long Version)

1LP BLACK VINYL EDITION
Side 1
1. Debra Kadabra
2. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
3. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top
4. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
5. 200 Years Old

Side 2
1. Cucamonga
2. Advance Romance
3. Man With The Woman Head
4. Muffin Man

1LP ORANGE & BLACK GALAXY VINYL EDITION
Side 1
1. Debra Kadabra
2. Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
3. Sam With The Showing Scalp Flat Top
4. Poofter’s Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
5. 200 Years Old

Side 2
1. Cucamonga
2. Advance Romance
3. Man With The Woman Head
4. Muffin Man

The Pussycat Dolls Are Back With New Single “Club Song” and Classic Albums Reissued This May

Eric Alper
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The Pussycat Dolls Are Back With New Single “Club Song” and Classic Albums Reissued This May

Further igniting the hottest reunion of the year, The Pussycat Dolls are celebrating two decades as a pop force of nature with brand new reissues of their breakthrough debut album PCD and its fan favorite follow-up Doll Domination out May 8, 2026 via UMe.

PCD will arrive in multiple configurations, including limited-edition Vinyl, CD, and a special Digital Deluxe Expanded Edition. The standard 1LP Black Vinyl will receive a wide release at retailers nationwide, with a 2LP “Hot Like Me” Tangerine Color Vinyl—complete with bonus tracks—available only on the group’s official D2C store HERE.  The new CD version of PCD lands in brick-and-mortar stores everywhere and through online partners. Doll Domination is also dropping on 2LP Black Vinyl for the first time, as well as on CD.

In addition to featuring all of the original classics, PCD serves up a new perspective on some of the most irresistible and infectious pop anthems of the 21st century.

 The Digital Deluxe Edition of PCD entitled PCD Forever boasts three brand-new remixes. Highlights include a modern tech house remix of “Beep” (feat. will.i.am) by highly sought-after artist and producer Devault (Tate McRae, Sabrina Claudio), and a high-energy rework of “Don’t Cha” (feat. Busta Rhymes) by rising UK producer, songwriter and vocalist Charlotte Plank. Also included is the official release of the viral “Don’t Cha” Showmusik TikTok remix, which gained traction online after Nicole Scherzinger shared a video using the audio and leaned into the trend.

The Pussycat Dolls continue to make waves with their brand new single, “Club Song,” out now. The track marks the group’s first new recording since 2019’s “React.” Produced by Mike Sabath (RAYE, Jade) and written by Nicole Scherzinger alongside Sabath, Caroline Ailin (Dua Lipa), and Solly (Teddy Swims), the release signals an exciting new chapter for the Dolls.

With Pussycat Dolls’ season officially in full swing, the iconic multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated pop powerhouse will notably embark on their first global headline tour in 17 years produced by Live Nation. It kicks off on June 5, 2026, in Palm Desert, CA at Acrisure Arena, and concludes on October 13, 2026, in London, UK at The O2. Lil’ Kim and Mya will join as special guests in North America and Lil’ Kim will be featured in the U.K. and Europe. The upcoming 2026 run brings Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, and Ashley Roberts back together once again, marking a powerful new chapter for the global pop phenomenon. 

Tickets go on sale through today at 10am local time via Live Nation. For More information, visit HERE.

Last year, The Pussycat Dolls dropped an Official Remix of Don’t Cha” [feat. Busta Rhymes] by history-making Canadian house music artist and DJ BLOND:ISH. Thus far, the latter has generated 2.1 million Spotify streams and counting. 

Pussycat Dolls initially unleashed PCD on September 12, 2005. It instantly caught fire, cementing the group as a phenomenon. It vaulted to #5 on the Billboard 200 and eventually went 4x-Platinum. Igniting Pussycat Dolls pandemonium, “Don’t Cha” captured #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Platinum certification. Beyond the latter, the album also included the recently certified 5x-Platinum “Buttons” and 3x-Platinum “Stickwitu,” which garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.” The record has impressively tallied streams in the billions with “Don’t Cha” eclipsing over 779 million Spotify streams and 623 million YouTube views.

Released three years later on September 19, 2008, Doll Domination bowed at #4 on the Billboard 200, netting their highest debut. It touted the Hot 100 Top 10 “When I Grow Up,” scoring 392 million Spotify streams and counting. Plus, it flaunts staples “Bottle Pop” [feat. Snoop Dogg], “Whatcha Think About That” [feat. Missy Elliott], “I Hate This Part,” “Hush Hush,” and more.

Loreen Shares Euphoric New Single “Coming Close” One Week Before Album ‘Wildfire’ Arrives

Eric Alper
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Loreen Shares Euphoric New Single “Coming Close” One Week Before Album ‘Wildfire’ Arrives

Today, multi-platinum, award-winning artist Loreen releases her brand-new single “Coming Close”, arriving one week ahead of her forthcoming album Wildfire, due 27th March 2026 via Polydor France. Listen HERE.

Following the darker, raw dancefloor intensity of “Wildfire,” the new single “Coming Close,” written alongside Andrew Jackson (Halsey, Dua Lipa, Avicii), Joe Housley and Charlie Martin (Only The Poets, Dylan, Maisie Peters), shifts into something more transcendent and expansive. Rooted in a sense of spiritual awakening, the track explores the feeling of heightened awareness where, through the noise and distortion of the world, clarity begins to surface and everything around you feels alive, connected and grounded in love. At its core, “I feel you coming close” becomes a mantra of that awakening, a sense of energy, presence and collective spirit drawing nearer as you open yourself up. Sonically, Loreen’s soaring, long-drawn vocals glide over an elevated BPM and pulsing EDM beat, creating a euphoric, almost other-worldly experience that captures the moment where chaos gives way to connection.

Loreen says: “Even in a world that can feel distorted, there is something true rising underneath it all. For me, Coming Close is about learning to see beyond that distortion, and realising that everything around us is alive, connected, and rooted in love. It’s a collective awakening, something subtle but powerful and you can feel it getting closer and closer.”

Loreen recently announced the Wildfire Tour spanning seven countries including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, France, Poland and the Netherlands. The tour opens in Dublin’s National Stadium on 22nd September 2026, before travelling through Glasgow, Manchester and London, continuing across Europe and culminating at the iconic Paradiso in Amsterdam on 6th October.

Her upcoming album Wildfire has been a decade in the making and will include her first single “Feels Like Heaven” co-written by Sia, the title track “Wildfire”, the critically praised “Is It Love” alongside the global phenomenon “Tattoo”, which topped charts in more than ten countries and reaffirmed her place as one of the defining artists of her generation.

Wildfire follows a career-defining catalogue of era-spanning releases, including “Euphoria”, alongside “Forever”, “Gravity”, and “Warning Signs”, each exploring themes of love, vulnerability, identity and cosmic connection. Nine years on from her last album and fourteen years since her debut, her work has amassed billions of streams worldwide, establishing her as one of modern pop’s most spiritually resonant and emotionally fearless voices.

Wildfire will be available in multiple physical formats including CD and three vinyl editions: Day, Dusk and Midnight (availability varies by territory). Pre-order HERE.

WILDFIRE ALBUM TRACKLIST

1. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
2. FEELS LIKE HEAVEN
3. WEAPONS
4. IS IT LOVE
5. CANT PULL ME DOWN
6. MELT
7. WILDFIRE
8. COMING CLOSE
9. SET ME FREE
10. TATTOO
11. LOSE THAT LIGHT FT. 6LACK
12. KISS THE SKY
13. TRUE LOVE

WILDFIRE 2026 TOUR DATES

22 September – Dublin, Ireland – National Stadium
24 September – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
25 September – Manchester, UK – O2 Victoria Warehouse
26 September – London, UK – O2 Brixton Academy
28 September – Cologne, Germany – Carlswerk Victoira
29 September – Brussels, Belgium – Cirque Royale
30 September – Paris, France – Salle Pleyel
2 October – Berlin, Germany – Astra
3 October – Warsaw, Poland – Stodola
5 October – Hamburg, Germany – Grobe Freiheit
6 October – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso

Grace Ives Returns After Three Years With Bold and Expansive New Album ‘Girlfriend’

Eric Alper
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Grace Ives Returns After Three Years With Bold and Expansive New Album ‘Girlfriend’

Girlfriend, the highly anticipated new album from vocalist, songwriter and producer Grace Ives is out today via True Panther/Capitol Records—get it here.

Written and produced alongside Grammy Award-winner Ariel Rechtshaid (Charli xcx, Vampire Weekend, Kelela) and John DeBold (HAIM, Dora Jar, Dijon), along with mixing by Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, MGMT), Girlfriend marks Grace’s return to music after a nearly three-year hiatus. Created during a period of profound personal change, the album documents a life in flux—moving from chaos toward clarity, isolation toward connection—while ushering in the most expansive and sonically ambitious music of her career. Girlfriend is available for physical purchase on signed Girlfriend Pink vinyl and on CD—order here.

“I shifted from escaping to exploring,” says Grace. “Having some personal freedom made me realize that I’m allowed to take up space—to be social, to talk about how I feel, to try new things. This album is about giving myself room to fail, to experiment, and to become more honest in the music.”

The eagerly awaited album features previously shared singles, “Stupid Bitches,” “Avalanche,” “Dance with Me” and “My Mans.” The New York Times hailed “Stupid Bitches” as “melodic but idiosyncratic electro-pop that has the intimacy of a softly whispered secret.” Stereogum praised “Avalanche” as “a refreshing whirlwind that exudes empowerment in a sincere,
exciting way.” Accompanying the album, Grace has also shared the music video for “Trouble”—watch here.

In support of Girlfriend, Grace will embark on a headline tour with dates across North America and Europe through June 2026. Kicking off April 17 in Philadelphia, PA, the run will include stops in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Paris, London and more. See below for full tour routing and visit graceives4u.com for more information.

Girlfriend follows Grace’s 2022 breakout album Janky Star, which was hailed as one of
the best of the year by The New York Times, NPR and Pitchfork, among many others. NYLON lauded Janky Star as “a playful, irreverent, and unexpectedly resonant collection of songs” that was the “year’s most relatable pop record.” In celebration of the release, the Brooklyn-raised vocalist and songwriter made her T.V. debut with “Lullaby” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” toured North America and Europe, and made appearances at Pitchfork Music Festival, Outside Lands and more.

GRACE IVES LIVE
April 17––Underground Arts––Philadelphia, PA
April 18––Bar Le Ritz PDB––Montreal, QC
April 20––Longboat Hall––Toronto, ON
April 21––El Club––Detroit, MI
April 22––Lincoln Hall––Chicago, IL
April 23––7th Street Entry––Minneapolis, MN
April 25––The Bottleneck––Lawrence, KS
April 27––Bluebird Theater––Denver, CO
April 28––Urban Lounge––Salt Lake City, UT
April 30––Polaris Hall––Portland, OR
May 1––Neumos––Seattle, WA
May 2––Fox Cabaret––Vancouver, BC
May 5––The Independent––San Francisco, CA
May 7––Teragram Ballroom––Los Angeles, CA
May 8––Constellation Room––Santa Ana, CA
May 9––The Rebel Lounge––Phoenix, AZ
May 11––Brushy Street Commons––Austin, TX
May 12––White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)––Houston, TX
May 13––Club Dada––Dallas, TX
May 15––Blue Room at Third Man Records––Nashville, TN
May 16––The Masquerade––Atlanta, GA
May 17––Cat’s Cradle Back Room––Carrboro, NC
May 19––The Atlantis––Washington, DC
May 20––The Sinclair––Cambridge, MA
May 21––Music Hall of Williamsburg––Brooklyn, NY
June 6––Primavera Sound––Barcelona, ES
June 8––Hasard Ludique––Paris, FR
June 10––Rotonde/Botanique––Brussels, BE
June 12––Kantine am Berghain––Berlin, Germany
June 14––Paradiso (Small Hall)––Amsterdam, NE
June 16––Village Underground––London, U.K.

Samara Cyn Dares You to Go Analog on Explosive New EP ‘Detour’

Eric Alper
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0

One of the most captivating voices in music, Samara Cyn releases her latest project, the Detour EP today. In celebration, Samara shared an explosive music video for the lead single “oooshxt!” that received large critical acclaim lauded by Rolling Stone, Billboard, Complex, XXL, and many more, positioning the young artist as a foremost visionary and one-of-a-kind creative force in music today.

The project reveals a thrilling new artistic chapter as the budding artist ventures into captivating new terrains – sonically and personally. Featuring production by longtime collaborators Ovrkast., Whit Kane, Sherwyn, Two Fresh, Luke Titus, Kendo and Pera, the project showcases Samara’s masterful ability to shine in more alternative and unconventional realms, defying confines and establishing a sound completely her own, while still remaining one of today’s premiere lyricists.

The Detour EP serves as an immersive escape into Samara’s universe where freedom is the essential weightless balance. Encased in captivating melodies that draw from a boundless sonic source, the project issues a visceral challenge to the modern listener: to sever invasive digital attachments and reclaim a primordial human state. By advocating for a total “detox” from the noise and weight of the modern world, Samara transforms her music into a homecoming, reminding listeners that beneath the frantic pace of today’s digital era, we remain fundamentally human and freedom is within reach.

Samara’s colossal rise has no end in sight as she comes off an explosive 2025, with an ever growing list of co-signs ranging from Denzel Washington, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Doechii, Nas, Doja Cat, Rapsody, Alicia Keys, Isaiah Rashad, Teddy Swims and more. Samara also made her festival debut at Camp Flog Gnaw last November, delivering one of the night’s most electrifying sets, as she brought her scintillating catalog to life in front of thousands alongside guests Smino and Sherwyn. Earlier on, she made her late night TV debut on The Daily Show performing her breakout track “hardheaded” from her critically acclaimed backroads EP, showcasing her strength as a performer and creative force. Rounding out the year, she completed her first ever national US tour supporting Smino on his Kountry Kousins Tour who personally selected Samara to support him as an admirer of the young artist which led to a genuine friendship between the two artists.

Originally hailing from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Samara Cyn spent her formative years as a child in an army family, constantly on the move and adapting to new environments. This nomadic upbringing profoundly influenced her dynamic approach to music. Now based in Los Angeles, Samara embarked on her musical journey in 2019 when she wrote her first song, transforming what began as a therapeutic outlet into a passionate career. Writing music quickly shifted from a casual hobby to a vital part of her life, aiding her in navigating through various emotional landscapes. As her skills sharpened and her unique sound blossomed, Samara gained significant traction on streaming platforms. With over 70 million total global streams, Samara has quickly taken the industry by storm, garnering early co-signs from the likes of Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Doechii, Nas, Doja Cat, Rapsody, Alicia Keys, Isaiah Rashad, Teddy Swims and large critical acclaim from only a handful of staggering releases. Samara Cyn’s blend of heartfelt lyrics and captivating melodies is not only garnering her a substantial audience but also marking her as a promising talent to watch. She was also hand selected to tour with Nas and Smino on their respective celebrated tours. Her debut EP, The Drive Home, was released later in 2024, which symbolizes her journey to figuring out her self-identity, adding another layer of depth to her evolving narrative. Most recently, Samara released her follow up Backroads EP that received large critical acclaim COMPLEX, Billboard, The FADER, XXL, Pigeons & Planes, UPROXX, Essence, NPR, HYPEBEAST, OKAYPLAYER and more. In July 2025, Samara made her late night debut on The Daily Show where delivered a stunning performance of her song “hardheaded” from the Backroads project. Samara has also been featured in a range of campaigns with brands such as Nike, Kia, Ganni and TommyGirl (Hilfiger). In addition to her musical endeavors, Samara also launched her own brand called “Third Eye Lazy,” further bolstering her brand and expanding her creative footprint.

ILLENIUM, David Guetta and Dustin Lynch Collide on Genre-Smashing New Single “Die Living”

Eric Alper
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ILLENIUM, David Guetta and Dustin Lynch Collide on Genre-Smashing New Single “Die Living”

GRAMMY-nominated electronic artist ILLENIUM has dropped “DIE LIVING,” his latest track with GRAMMY Award-winning global DJ/producer David Guetta and multi-Platinum country star Dustin Lynch. The track is a genre-blurring anthem that fuses soaring future bass emotion with arena-ready dance energy and country grit. Get it HERE.

“DIE LIVING” made its debut during the opening weekend of ILLENIUM’s Sphere residency, channeling the energy and grandeur of the moment with soaring, cinematic builds, a thunderous drop, and an anthemic hook that bridges the the worlds of dance and country music with help from two of the best of their respective genres. 

The track arrives in the wake of ILLENIUM’s highly anticipated album ODYSSEY, a project that signals a new era of emotional storytelling, maximalist production, and immersive sonic world-building. Featuring collaborations with top artists including Ellie Goulding, Kid Cudi, and Ryan Tedder, the album achieved major success earning ILLENIUM his fourth consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard Top Dance Albums Chart.

The momentum sets the stage for what will be one of the biggest years in ILLENIUM’s career, as he becomes only the second electronic artist to headline the Sphere in Las Vegas this March. Serving as the creative canvas for the experience, Sphere’s cutting-edge immersive technologies, from the world’s highest-resolution wraparound LED display to its state-of-the-art concert audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, elevate ODYSSEY into a truly multi-sensory spectacle, marking one of ILLENIUM’s most ambitious projects to date. Following two highly successful weekends, the show will return for its final run April 2–4. The groundbreaking production has earned widespread acclaim from Billboard, Las Vegas Weekly, EDM Identity, EDM.Com, and more. Get tickets HERE.

ILLENIUM continues to be one of the most influential forces in modern electronic music, with over 10 billion global streams, a GRAMMY nomination for Fallen Embers, and a catalog that includes the platinum-certified “Takeaway”with The Chainsmokers & Lennon Stella, “Good Things Fall Apart” with Jon Bellion, “Crawl Outta Love,” “Hearts on Fire,” and “Nightlight.” Across his four studio albums, from Ashes to Awake to Ascend to ILLENIUM, he has shaped a generation of melodic bass and crossover electronic records while headlining iconic stages including Coachella, Lollapalooza, EDC, Ultra, and Madison Square Garden.

ODYSSEY TRACKLIST:

1. Odyssey 

2. Into the Dark – Mako

3. Forever – Tom Grennan & Alna

4. With Your Love – Ryan Tedder

5. Feels Like You – Elley Duhé

6. In My Arms – HAYLA

7. Don’t Want Your Love – Ellie Goulding

8. Slave to the Rithm – Bring Me The Horizon

9. War – LØ Spirit

10. I’ll Come Runnin’ – Zeds Dead & Mako

11. Take Me Back – Dean Lewis

12. Love Is a Chemical – Lauren Alaina

13. Feel Alive – Bastille & Dabin

14. Monster – Emmy

15. Refuge – Norma Jean Martine

16. Not Ordinary – Kid Cudi

17. Paris

18. To the Moon – Alok

19. Ur Alive – WYLDE

ILLENIUM PRESENTS ODYSSEY:

Thursday, 4/2/26: Las Vegas, NV – Sphere – with SLANDER

Friday, 4/3/26: Las Vegas, NV – Sphere – with DJ Diesel

Friday, 4/4/26: Las Vegas, NV – Sphere – with Tape B

ILLENIUM TOUR DATES

5/2/2026 – Empire Music Festival – Miami, FL

5/30/2026 – Stay In Bloom – New York, NY 

6/28/2026 – Electric Forest Festival – Rothbury, MI

7/24/2026 – Tomorrowland Festival – Belgium

8/1/2026 – Veld Festival – Toronto, ON

9/6/2026 – North Coast Music Festival – Chicago, IL

11/19-22/2026 – Ember Shores Festival – Cancun, MX

ILLENIUM is a GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum artist, producer, and songwriter whose emotionally charged sound has built one of electronic music’s most passionate communities.  In the process, he’s made history: selling out some of the world’s largest stadiums, topping charts, earning gold and platinum certifications, and amassing billions of streams. His music resonates with millions of fans across the globe for its intensity, intimacy, and ability to turn pain into something positive.  After surviving a near-fatal heroin overdose in 2012, he embraced the phoenix as a symbol of rebirth—a reflection of his recovery and the healing power of music. The logo has since become a visual and spiritual emblem for both ILLENIUM and his fans, representing transformation, resilience, and the strength found in vulnerability.  Born Nick Miller and based in Denver, ILLENIUM initially introduced himself back in 2013 with a series of momentum-building releases before breaking through with 2016’s “Ashes.” Fueled by a boundary-breaking sound, he has notched four consecutive #1 debuts on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart, beginning with the Gold-certified Ascend [2019], Fallen Embers [2021], ILLENIUM [2023], and now ODYSSEY [2026]. Along the way, he delivered a string of smashes, including the 2x-Platinum “Good Things Fall Apart” [feat. Jon Bellion], Platinum “Feel Good” [feat. Daya] with Gryffin, Gold-certified “In Your Arms” with X Ambassadors and “Crashing” [feat Bahari]. Fallen Embers received a GRAMMY® nomination in the category of “Best Dance/Electronic Music Album” and took home “Top Dance/Electronic Music Album” at the Billboard Music Awards.  Known for pushing creative boundaries, ILLENIUM has collaborated across genres with artists like Teddy Swims, Spiritbox, JVKE, iann dior, Avril Lavigne, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker.  Now signed to Republic Records and based in Los Angeles, ILLENIUM recently released his highly anticipated album ODYSSEY, ushering in a new era of emotional storytelling and immersive, maximalist production, with features from Ellie Goulding, Kid Cudi, and Ryan Tedder. Following the release, he launched a nine-night ODYSSEY run at Sphere in Las Vegas becoming only the second electronic artist to headline the venue—and brought out special guests including Alok, Dab The Sky, Wooli, Levity, Audien, Ray Volpe, SLANDER, DJ Diesel, and Tape B.

DJ. Producer. Artist. David Guetta is a musical trailblazer, an international icon and the most cherished electronic artist of our generation. He has over 80 million monthly listeners, 50 billion streams, 40 million albums sold worldwide, 15 Grammy nominations and 2 Grammy Awards plus 110m followers across his social channels. He has won the accolade for best electronic artist at the MTV Europe Music Awards six times, four LOS40 Music Awards, the ‘Dance Act of the Year’ at iHeartRadio Music Awards, ‘DJ of the Year’ at the NRJ Music Awards, #1 producer by 1001Tracklists and ‘Producer of the Year’ at the BRITs. 2025 also saw Guetta win his 3rd iHeartRadio Music Award for Dance Artist of the Year and this year was once again voted the world’s best DJ in the DJ Mag ‘Top 100’ for the fifth time. Guetta is the #1 streamed DJ on Spotify and steadily in the Top 10, with a peak at #4 of the most listened to artists in the world on the platform. Guetta has collaborated with the world’s biggest stars including Sia, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, OneRepublic, Teddy Swims, Kid Cudi, J Balvin, Raye, among many others. Such work has resulted in numerous hit singles both in the dance/electronic space as well as in the pop world, with 12 tracks achieving over 1 billion streams including “Hey Mama” (3.4 billion), the hotly anticipated follow-up to Spotify global #1 and streaming monster, “I’m Good (Blue)” (3.5 billion) that hit #1 at the US Top 40 & US Dance Radio charts and “Titanium” (2.8 billion). 7 of Guetta’s singles have also reached the #1 spot on the UK singles chart. This year, Guetta’s smash-hit ‘Beautiful People’ saw him team back up with Sia, achieving over 200 million streams. His latest hit, ‘Gone Gone Gone’ with Teddy Swims, Tones And I, explores a stylistic shift in production from David – showcasing his long-standing ability to take risks and innovate. A master creative across genres, Guetta has also gone from strength to strength with his underground-focused Future Rave project alongside Morten, and he is additionally working on new music for his underground alias Jack Back, and has released numerous releases alongside the wonder-kid DJ/producer Hypaton. His global domination of the live stage shows no sign of slowing down. Guetta will return to his exclusive Las Vegas residency at LIV Club inside the Fontainebleau beginning spring 2026, ahead of his highly anticipated return to Ibiza for two summer residencies. Fans can catch his signature high-production performances at the island’s newest and largest venue, UNVRS, as well as at Ushuaïa Ibiza, home to his world-famous F*** Me I’m Famous! Party. Beyond Ibiza, Guetta continues to dominate the global festival circuit, headlining many of the world’s biggest stages including the massive achievement of selling over 240,000 tickets across 3 shows at the iconic Stade de France in June 2026. Reaffirming his status as one of electronic music’s most influential live performers. As he continues to dominate the global charts and play some of the most exciting sets of his career, all while expanding his creative vision, exploring new sounds and evolving as an artist, David Guetta demonstrates time and time again why he is the most cherished electronic artist of our generation. 

Dustin Lynch has “built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard), achieving 10 numbers ones; four Top 5 albums; MULTI-PLATINUM status with 10 RIAA-certified singles; and tallying over 5 BILLION cumulative global streams. Rolling out new music beginning with the chill summer jam “Easy To Love,” Dustin marked his milestone 10th number one with “Chevrolet (feat. Jelly Roll)” from his sixth studio album Killed The Cowboy (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville). The follow-up to Blue In The Sky, which delivered the history-making 2X PLATINUM, six-week number one “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter)”—the most-played song at Country radio in 2022, landing at number one on  Country Aircheck/Mediabase and number two on the Billboard Year-End Country Airplay charts—also featured hits number one “Stars Like Confetti” and “Party Mode.” Lynch has headlined packed venues to sold-out crowds like his Killed The Cowboy Tour, in addition to touring with country’s biggest names including Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley, and Blake Shelton. Hosting his see-and-be-seen pool parties for the last decade, Lynch marked Wynn Nightlife’s first-ever country music artist residency in Las Vegas with his 2025 club set and is returning to the iconic venue in 2026. Most recently, he expanded his sound with the Club Set Remixes EP—a genre-blending project featuring high-energy dance remixes of his biggest hits by top DJs including MOONLGHT and MC4D. With his latest releases, Lynch expands his original EDM offerings with “Home To You,” a track with MC4D that carries his unmistakable country undertone into the global dance scene, “Getaway Car,” a track that captures a full-throttle rush where country drive meets escape velocity, built for fast decisions, open roads, and disappearing into the night with no destination required and “DIE LIVING,” a collaboration with ILLENIUM and David Guetta that fuses soaring future bass emotion with arena-ready dance energy and country grit. Since his PLATINUM breakout “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012, the Tennessee native has earned industry recognition as a Grand Ole Opry member, as well as high-profile nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards.

Wyatt Flores Launches the ‘Drive All Night’ Tour With Urgent New Single “Runnin’ On E”

Eric Alper
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Wyatt Flores Launches the ‘Drive All Night’ Tour With Urgent New Single “Runnin’ On E”

Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Wyatt Flores shares his highly anticipated new song, “Runnin’ On E,” today via MCA/Island Records; Listen/share HERE. The track is the first brand new release from Flores this year, with more music to come soon.

Of the track, Flores shares, “‘Runnin’ On E’ is a part of the story of my last two years, being old enough to know better, too young to care. As my world back home changes, I’ve been working through my own story of not settling down yet. Like a lot of themes coming on my album, this touches on my feelings of not being deserving and trying to hide that I struggle with self-worth. I’m excited to start this new chapter with a new sound that I took over a year to find. I’ve never been more proud of the direction I’ve gone with the fellas.”

Produced by Charlie Handsome (Post Malone, Morgan Wallen), Gian Stone (Justin Bieber, Maroon 5) and Jacob Kasher Hindlin (Charlie Puth), the new track arrives as Flores kicks off his extensive “Drive All Night Tour” this month, which includes stops at Nashville’s The Truth, Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s, St. Paul’s Palace Theatre, Grand Rapids’ GLC Live at 20 Monroe, Charleston’s The Refinery and Phoenix’s The Van Buren among many others. See below for complete tour itinerary. 

In addition to the headline dates, Flores will join Turnpike Troubadours and Cross Canadian Ragweed for their “The Boys From Oklahoma” show at Stillwater, OK’s Boone Pickens Stadium on April 11, George Strait and Cody Johnson for a special show at Clemson, SC’s Memorial Stadium on May 2 and Koe Wetzel for select dates in the fall.

The performances add to a breakout year for Flores, who released his first live album, Live At Cain’s Ballroom, last spring (stream/purchase here), following his full-length debut album, Welcome to the Plains (stream/purchase here). Produced by Beau Bedford (Orville Peck, Shane Smith & The Saints), the album was released to overwhelming critical acclaim and led Flores to be featured on NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk Concert” series, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS Mornings’ “Saturday Sessions” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

Born and raised in Oklahoma, the Mexican-American artist has established himself as one of country music’s most vital voices. His debut album, Welcome To The Plains, received widespread critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone praising the record as “full of enough musical and lyrical range to be the defining album of the 23-year-old Flores’ career,” while NPR called it “some of the most powerful music I’ve heard in a very long time,” and The Bluegrass Situation naming it “one of the most remarkable records of 2024.”

Flores has also been recognized as one of Rolling Stone’s 25 “Future of Music” artists, was awarded the PLUS1 Rising Star Award, received a nomination for Emerging Act of the Year at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards, was selected as Amazon’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year, included in Spotify’s Hot Country Class of 2024 and CMT’s Listen Up class, and made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Additionally, Flores has garnered over 325 million streams to date, saw his breakout single, “Please Don’t Go,” scale the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and had his song, “Before I Do,” with Jake Kohn featured on the soundtrack for the Twisters movie.

WYATT FLORES CONFIRMED TOUR DATES

March 20—New York, NY—An Evening with The Grand Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall
March 25—Austin, TX—Rodeo Austin
March 26—Fort Worth, TX—Billy Bob’s Texas
March 27—Lubbock, TX—Cooks Garage~
March 29—Little Rock, AR—The Hall*
March 31—Sioux Falls, SD—The District†
April 1—St. Paul, MN—Palace Theatre‡
April 3—Grand Rapids, MI—GLC Live at 20 Monroe‡
April 4—Columbus, OH—KEMBA Live! – Indoor Music Hall‡
April 11—Stillwater, OK—Boone Pickens Stadium – The Boys From Oklahoma
April 14—Greensboro, NC—Piedmont Hall‡
April 15—Charleston, SC—The Refinery‡
April 16—Statesboro, GA—The Blue Room‡
April 18—Georgetown, TX—Two Step Inn
April 22—El Paso, TX—Lowbrow Palace+
April 23—Phoenix, AZ—The Van Buren+
April 26—Indio, CA—Stagecoach Festival
May 2—Clemson, SC—Memorial Stadium#
May 28—Panama City Beach, FL—Gulf Coast Jam
June 13—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo
June 18—North Lawrence, OH—The Country Fest
June 19—Bloomington, IL—Tailgate N’ Tallboys
June 25—Bonner Springs, KS—Azura Amphitheater
June 26—South Greenfield, MO—Baker Spain Stampede
July 10—Quebec City, QC—Festival d’été de Québec
July 17—Petersburg, IL—Menard County Fair
July 18—Hastings, NE—Adams County Fairgrounds
July 19—Cheyenne, WY—Cheyenne Frontier Days
July 21—Deadwood, SD—Deadwood Mountain Grand
July 23—Three Forks, MT—Headwaters Country Jam
August 7—Oshkosh, WI—Xroads41 Music Festival
August 8—Elkhorn, NE—The Club at Indian Creek‡
August 22—Helix, OR—Wheatstock Music Festival
September 17—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre||
September 18—Columbia, SC—University of South Carolina||
September 19—Richmond, VA—Virginia Credit Union LIVE! At Richmond Raceway||
September 24—Pikeville, KY—Appalachian Wireless Arena||
September 25—Huntsville, AL—The Orion Amphitheater||
September 26—Brandon, MS—Brandon Amphitheater||
November 15—Pittsburgh, PA—Citizens Live at The Wylie
November 21—Nashville, TN—The Truth

~with special guests Taylor Hunnicutt and Lance Roark
*with special guest The Droptines
†with special guest Pepe Lil Burro Jr.
‡with special guest Kashus Culpepper
+with special guest Noah Rinker
#with George Strait and Cody Johnson
||with Koe Wetzel

Parker McCollum Drops Deluxe Edition of Self-Titled Album With Four New Tracks Including “Big Ole Fancy House”

Eric Alper
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Parker McCollum Drops Deluxe Edition of Self-Titled Album With Four New Tracks Including “Big Ole Fancy House”

Chart-topping, multi-Platinum Country star, Parker McCollum, has released the Deluxe Edition of his critically acclaimed album, PARKER MCCOLLUM (via MCA)- out now. PARKER MCCOLLUM Deluxe Edition features four additional tracks including, “Montgomery County,” “The One Before the One,” “Wind My Friend,” and his fan-favorite and highly requested track, “Big Ole Fancy House.” These new tracks extend McCollum’s most artistically authentic project that Music Row acknowledges –  “McCollum has never sounded more like himself than he does on his fifth studio album.”

Parker McCollum DELUXE Edition Track Listing:
My Blue (Parker McCollum, Scooter Carusoe)
Big Sky (Parker McCollum, Charlie Magnone, Jarrod Morris)
Solid Country Gold (Parker McCollum, Jon Randall, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
Watch Me Bleed (Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna)
Killin’ Me (Parker McCollum, Monty Criswell, Randy Rogers)
Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues featuring Cody Johnson (Danny O’Keefe)
Sunny Days (Parker McCollum, Tony Lane, Lee Miller, Randy Montana)
Permanent Headphones (Parker McCollum)
New York Is On Fire (Parker McCollum, Nick Bockrath, Adam Wright)
Come On (Parker McCollum, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose)
What Kinda Man (Parker McCollum, Natalie Hemby, Jeremy Spillman)
Hope That I’m Enough (Parker McCollum, Jessi Alexander, Matt Jenkins)
Enough Rope (Chris Knight, Austin Cunningham)
My Worst Enemy (Parker McCollum, Wade Bowen)
Montgomery County (Parker McCollum)
Big Ole Fancy House (Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey)
The One Before the One (Randy Rogers, Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes)
Wind My Friend (Parker McCollum, Jeff Hyde)

Earlier this month, McCollum headed to New York City to promote the Deluxe release with live performances of “Big Ole Fancy House” on the TODAY Show, and his current radio single “Killin’ Me” on FOX & Friends.

On March 18th, McCollum hosted a special fan event during 2026 CRS week in Nashville. Held at Rosemary & Beauty Queen, the “Big Ole Fancy House Party” packed the house with fans to hear McCollum play some of his biggest hits and new tracks featured on the PARKER MCCOLLUM Deluxe Edition.

McCollum will be taking the stage at the famed Houston Rodeo this evening in celebration of the Deluxe release. This marks his fourth appearance at NRG Stadium for the rodeo and was where he originally announced the album’s release in 2025. Dropping the project’s Deluxe Edition at this year’s performance is a full-circle moment for McCollum and Houston Rodeo.

Fans can see Parker out on the road through 2026 where he’ll be returning to the legendary Red Rock Amphitheatre, following three consecutive years performing to sold-out crowds, and will be heading overseas later this year for his first-ever international shows.

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Parker McCollum has reached the ranks of a bona fide Country music superstar by connecting with fans and critics alike through his relatable and authentic sound. McCollum has been named an ‘Artist to Watch’ by Rolling Stone, Billboard, SiriusXM, CMT, RIAA, and more with American Songwriter noting, “The Texas native teeters on the edge of next-level superstardom.” Music Row listed McCollum as their 2021 Breakout Artist of the Year and Apple also included him as one of their all-genre “Up Next Artists” Class of 2021. A dedicated road warrior, McCollum made his debut at the famed Grand Ole Opry in 2021 and has sold out major concert venues around the U.S. In March 2022, McCollum made his debut at RODEOHOUSTON to a sold-out crowd with over 73,000 tickets sold. In 2026, McCollum will make his fourth consecutive appearance at Houston’s signature event. McCollum has earned an ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year (2022), took home “Breakthrough Video of the Year” (a fully fan-voted honor) at the 2022 CMT Music Awards and scored two back-to-back CMA Awards nominations (2022 & 2023) for New Artist of the Year. He was nominated for a CMA Award for “Song of the Year” (2024) for his explosive Platinum hit “Burn It Down” – marking his third straight nomination. McCollum scored his second ACM Award for “Visual Media of the Year” (2023) for his music video for “Burn It Down.” The hit single marked his fourth consecutive #1 – following his other chart toppers “Pretty Heart,” “To Be Loved By You,” and “Handle On You.” In 2025, McCollum released his self-titled fifth studio album, PARKER MCCOLLUM, which is a critically acclaimed artistic achievement.

Country Traditionalist Spencer Hatcher Gets the Party Started With New Single “Love Button”

Eric Alper
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Country Traditionalist Spencer Hatcher Gets the Party Started With New Single “Love Button”

Spencer Hatcher knows exactly what kind of country music he makes, and “Love Button” is proof he is very good at it. The Virginia-raised, Shenandoah Valley-bred traditionalist has released his new single today via QHMG/Stone Country Records, a barn-burning honky-tonk party tune featuring fiddle and Eddie Cochran-inspired rockabilly guitar that hits with the kind of good-time energy that is genuinely hard to manufacture. It is his first new music since his critically acclaimed debut EP ‘Honky Tonk Hideaway’, released last November.

The track was produced by Jason Sellers, Ilya Toshinskiy (Jelly Roll), and Mickey Jack Cones (Joe Nichols), and written by three tunesmiths who know their way around a No. 1 country hit, David Lee Murphy, Shane Minor, and Brice Long. Hatcher is enthusiastic about what they captured. “It’s raw, pure country music, very ’90s country, and it’s been getting a phenomenal response at my live performances,” he says. “‘Love Button’ is definitely a feel-good, happy, fun song that people can sing along to.”

“Love Button” arrives on the strength of serious momentum. His debut radio single “When She Calls Me Cowboy” became a Top 10 Most Added Song at US Country Radio out-of-the-box, and the official music video just reached No. 1 on Taste of Country’s fan-voted “Top 10 Video Countdown” this past Saturday, capping 20 consecutive weeks in the countdown’s Top 5. Taste of Country has named Hatcher one of its “RISERS: 2026 Artists to Watch,” declaring him potentially country music’s next big traditionalist.

Saving Country Music has called Hatcher “one of the most promising up-and-coming voices in traditional country music,” and Billboard has noted his sound “fits the ’90s-country revival that’s still turning heads among the genre’s base.” Recently signed to WME, he has been opening for Larry Fleet, Diamond Rio, Aaron Tippin, and Josh Turner while continuing to headline his own shows, often setting venue attendance records. On TikTok alone, he has amassed over 71 million organic views.

Hatcher has a run of April and May dates coming up across Georgia, Virginia, and the Shenandoah Valley. For a full list of upcoming shows, visit spencerhatchermusic.com.

April/May Tour Dates:

Apr. 09 – Athens, GA – Duke’s & Dottie’s

Apr. 10 – Savannah, GA – Saddle Bags

Apr. 11 – Augusta, GA – Dirty Boots Augusta

May 01 – Galax, VA – Rex Theatre

May 02 – Winchester, VA – Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival (w/ Graham Barham)

May 23 – Massanutten, VA – ValleyFest 2026

Niall Horan Announces Fourth Solo Album ‘Dinner Party’ With Warm and Cinematic Title Track

Eric Alper
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Niall Horan Announces Fourth Solo Album ‘Dinner Party’ With Warm and Cinematic Title Track

Niall Horan will release Dinner Party, his fourth solo studio album, on June 5 via Capitol Records. Today, he shared the intimate title track—a moving tale of how a chance encounter at a dinner party sparks a once-in-a-lifetime sense of connection. With a growing sense of euphoria, he sings, “Knives, forks / And things I’ve never felt before / Crashing lights / When you first saw me / Yeah, I met you at a dinner party / Chandeliers, 2 a.m. coffee/ Yeah, I met you at a dinner party.” Horan wrote the song with John Ryan, Jamie Scott, Afterhrs and Julian Bunetta. Listen to “Dinner Party” HERE. Pre-order / pre-save the album HERE.

“Dinner Party is a thank you to the past and a hello to the present, covering the big life events and the small, sometimes messy, in-between moments that actually make them up,” Niall Horan explains. “Much of the album explores that tug of war between falling in love while being terrified of losing them and how that risk is actually the best part. There’s love, intimacy, fear, loss, hope, dreams—all wrapped together across it.”

There’s something about sharing a table that feels like sharing a future and Dinner Party brings the listener into that experience with warmth, wit and sincerity. The album is cinematic and organic, with songs that play like memories being gently created. Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, Horan’s longtime collaborators, served as executive producers. His other creative partners and co-writers included Afterhrs, Amy Allen, Ian Franzino, Andrew Haas, Steph Jones, Rocky Block and Joel Little.

Horan, who recently teamed up with Myles Smith on “Drive Safe,”  is featured on the cover of GQ HYPE

which describes Dinner Party as “a collection of sincere sepia-toned songs that Horan says he began to write in 2024 after turning 30, when he was able to slow down, reflect on the past, savor the present, and imagine his future.” Read the feature HERE.

The multi-Platinum-selling singer/songwriter first rose to prominence as part of the internationally acclaimed One Direction and has since firmly established himself as a powerhouse solo artist, selling over 90 million records worldwide. He launched his solo career with the Platinum-certified album Flicker—featuring the triple-Platinum hit “Slow Hands”—and followed it with 2020’s Heartbreak Weather, which ranked No. 1 on both Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart and the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart. The Show, his third studio album, topped the same two charts as well as tallies in numerous other countries. Lead single “Heaven” debuted as the highest new entry on both the Global and U.S. Spotify charts, giving Horan the biggest streaming day of his solo career.

His 2024 global headline trek “THE SHOW” LIVE ON TOUR brought his music to packed arenas across multiple continents, culminating in a sold-out North American run and over 1.2 million tickets sold worldwide. Beyond music, Horan has become a fan favorite as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” winning three seasons—an achievement that underscores his ability not only to create hits but also to inspire and mentor the next generation of talent. His performance for President Joe Biden at the White House further cemented his status as an artist with both global reach and cultural impact.

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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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