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Kid Kapichi Unveil Vulnerable New Single ‘Stainless Steel’ and Announce 2025 UK Underplay Tour

Eric Alper
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Kid Kapichi Unveil Vulnerable New Single ‘Stainless Steel’ and Announce 2025 UK Underplay Tour

UK alt-punks Kid Kapichi dawn a new age with the release of their new single “Stainless Steel,” a deeply personal track for frontman Jack Wilson. The new track arrives alongside an official lyric video, available below.

“I wrote the lyrics during a particularly difficult few months last year. I realized that I’m not invincible or immune from my own mental health issues, hence ‘I’m not made of stainless steel…’ It came about during one of the darkest periods of my life, and a lot of the songs written around that time feel like a blur or like they were written by someone else. Listening back to them now feels like advice given to me from my past self. It’s comforting to know that I got out of that place and am doing better, but it’s also a stark reminder that you aren’t in control of when you may slip again.

“‘Stainless Steel’ also felt like a new direction for us; slowing things down and stripping things back after years of sensing that ‘more is more.’ It finally felt like less could be…”

Meanwhile, KK have confirmed an extensive UK headline tour for October / November 2025. These “up-close & personal” shows will see the new lineup taking to the road for the very first time. A number of UK festival appearances are also in place for August, preceded by a warm-up headline show in Bristol; see the full list of dates below.

Tour Dates:

Aug 15 – Thekla, Bristol
Aug 16 – Beautiful Days, Devon
Aug 23 – Victorious, Portsmouth
Aug 24 – Camper Calling, Alcester

“UK Underplay Tour” Tour Dates:

Oct 16 – The Booking Hall, Dover
Oct 17 – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
Oct 18 – Boileroom, Guildford
Oct 19 – Concorde 2, Brighton
Oct 21 – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
Oct 22 – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham *SOLD OUT
Oct 24 – Deaf Institute, Manchester *SOLD OUT
Oct 25 – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow *SOLD OUT
Oct 26 – The Cluny, Newcastle
Oct 28 – Key Club, Leeds
Oct 29 – Mash, Cambridge
Oct 31 – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes

Victony Links with Terry G for Cross-Generational Afropop Anthem ‘Tanko’

Eric Alper
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Victony Links with Terry G for Cross-Generational Afropop Anthem ‘Tanko’

Rising Afropop sensation Victony shares his new single “Tanko,” featuring legendary Nigerian rapper Terry G. A dancefloor-ready anthem, the song juxtaposes Victony’s soft vocals against Terry’s high-energy tone in a cross-generational link-up. The title “Tanko,” borrowed from street football slang, becomes more than just a game. It’s Victony’s metaphor for duality: of dreams and discipline, temptation and tenacity, the come-up and the constant.

On the track, Victony thumps his chest with unapologetic pride: “Too many nights I’m hustling, too many girls I am shuffling,” a hook that blurs the sacred and the scandalous, before handing the mic to Terry G, whose verse careens with unpredictability, bringing back the frenetic madness that defined an era.

Terry G, dubbed the “Akpako Master” and “Ginjah Master,” is renowned for his high-energy hits like “Free Madness,” “Testing Microphone,” and “Run Mad,” which have become anthems in Nigeria’s vibrant music scene. His 2013 album, Book of Ginjah, further solidified his status as a trailblazer in the industry.

“Tanko” arrives two months after the one-year anniversary of Victony’s acclaimed debut album, Stubborn. The album marked a pivotal moment in his artistic evolution, featuring standout collaborations with the likes of Teezo Touchdown, Asake, Saint Jhn, Shallipoppi, and more. With Stubborn, Victony pushed sonic boundaries, crafting a bold and genre-defying project that celebrates the diversity and richness of African music on a global scale.

The Castellows Share Stripped-Back Storytelling on ‘Acoustic Live Sessions’

Eric Alper
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The Castellows Share Stripped-Back Storytelling on ‘Acoustic Live Sessions’

The project includes stripped-back takes on Homecoming standouts like “Old Way,” “Sheltered,” and their version of Patty Loveless’s “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am,” as well as new acoustic recordings of previously released “Alabama Stone,” It also features the heartfelt focus track “Red Dirt Girl.” Each song was captured live, offering listeners an up-close look at the heart behind the music.

Originally released on May 30, their debut EP Homecoming introduced the trio’s unique blend of nostalgia and modern Country through vivid storytelling inspired by life on the road, their Georgia farm roots, and the meaning of home. Acoustic Live Sessions gives fans a new way to connect with that same spirit, stripped down to just the voices, lyrics, and instruments that shaped it.

Acoustic Live Sessions Track Listing & Credits:
1. Alabama Stone (Caroline Watkins, Josh Dorr, Eleanor Balkcom, Powell
Balkcom, Lily Balkcom)
2. Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold) (Dan Seals, Bob McDill)
3. Sheltered (Eleanor Balkcom, Lily Balkcom, Powell Balkcom and Daniel
Tashian)
4. Old Way (Ellie Balkcom, Powell Balkcom, Casey Beathard, and Jimi Bell)
5. You Don’t Even Know Who I Am (Gretchen Peters)
6. Red Dirt Girl (Rodney Crowell)

The Castellows are currently on the road with Thomas Rhett for his Better in Boots Tour and will kick off their headline The Homecoming Tour this fall.

The Homecoming Tour dates:
SEP 13 Austin, TX Antone’s
OCT 2 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
OCT 3 Charlotte, NC Amos’ Southend
OCT 4 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theater
OCT 9 Isle of Palms, SC The Windjammer
OCT 10 Athens, GA Georgia Theatre
OCT 17 Lincoln, NE Bourbon Theatre
OCT 18 Kansas City, MO PBR Big Sky Bar
OCT 24 Asheville, NC Grey Eagle
OCT 30 Nashville, TN Brooklyn Bowl
Oct 31 Columbus, OH The Bluestone
Nov 1 Bloomington, IN Bluebird Nightclub
Nov 6 Baton Rouge, LA Texas Club
NOV 7 College Station, TX Stage 12 @ Brookshire Brothers
NOV 8 The Woodlands, TX. Dosey Doe
NOV 13 Allentown, PA Arrow @ Archer Music Hall
NOV 14 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Nov 15 Warrendale, PA Jergels Rhythm Grille
NOV 20 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
NOV 21 Milwaukee, WI The Rave II
NOV 22 Chicago, IL Joe’s on Weed

Lauren Freebird Captures Quiet Heartbreak in ‘Ceiling Fan’

Eric Alper
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Lauren Freebird Captures Quiet Heartbreak in ‘Ceiling Fan’

Country-rock artist Lauren Freebird releases her new single, “Ceiling Fan,” now available on all digital streaming platforms. Lauren Freebird’s “Ceiling Fan” captures the quiet unraveling that happens when love goes silent. Set against acoustic guitar, soft fiddle, and her signature unforced delivery, the song channels the weight of emotional detachment and the inner voice that surfaces when something isn’t right.

“If I move real fast, my eyes can sometimes catch a single blade / on the bedroom ceiling fan,” she sings. “Helps to numb these thoughts away / a way to run away from the possibility / of falling for you / so I’ll focus on the blades.” It’s a subtle yet striking metaphor – a snapshot of distraction as self-defense, set against the backdrop of late-night stillness.

Reflecting on the song’s inspiration, Freebird shares, “When we wrote ‘Ceiling Fan,’ Todd had brought in a beautiful poem that offered a glimpse into the mind of a woman caught in an empty, transactional relationship.

“Sadly, it’s a feeling many women are all too familiar with. The loneliest I’ve ever felt was when I wasn’t alone. The words moved us so deeply, we finished the song around a campfire in just 30 minutes.”

Brandon Wisham Drops Summer-Ready Country-Rock Anthem ‘She’s Good’

Eric Alper
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Brandon Wisham Drops Summer-Ready Country-Rock Anthem ‘She’s Good’

 Breakout country artist Brandon Wisham shares his brand-new single “She’s Good” – a full-tilt country-rock banger built for summer nights. The fourth song released by the 22-year-old rising star, “She’s Good” is the latest testament to his formidable vocal chops and first-rate songwriting talent.

Still riding high off his recent recognition as SiriusXM The Highway’s latest Highway Find – an honor previously granted to country heavyweights like Parker McCollum and Luke Combs – “She’s Good” marks one of the most dynamic offerings yet as he prepares to hit the road this fall with Tyler Hubbard, Lakeview, Austin Snell, and more to be announced.

“Myself, Jared Conrad, and Chandler Baldwin wrote ‘She’s Good,’ which is a feel-good song bottling sunshine and a light breeze with each lyric – yet a story that channels heartbreak, marrying the two ideas to make you feel both emotions,” says Wisham.

Produced by his frequent collaborator Brandon Hood (Ty Myers, Mackenzie Carpenter), “She’s Good” explodes with a high-energy sound forged with the help of A-list musicians like guitarist Tom Bukovac (a multi-award-winning session player known for his work with legends like Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, and more). As the song opens, Wisham leans into his romantic side and paints an adoring portrait of the one he loves: “If I’m Johnny, she’s June, yeah, she melts me with the bluest/Eyes that I’ve ever seen/I’m a little hell-bent, she’s an angel heaven-sent/Too good for a guy like me.” With its blazing guitar riffs, pounding drums, bright keyboard melodies, and punchy background vocals, “She’s Good” doubles down on its euphoric mood at the chorus (“She’s good/As that Gulf Coast weather/Late July, 85, nothing better/Like mama’s apple pie, cold beer Friday nights/Like a bait-takin’, record-breakin’ bass on the line”). But at the refrain’s final lines, Wisham flips the script and reveals the devastating truth of the situation: “She’s good/As it gets in a country song/Too bad she’s good as gone.”

Earlier this week, Capitol Music Group announced that Wisham had signed a deal with the iconic label group in partnership with The Core Records. Hailed as a “bold new voice in country music” (Entertainment Focus), he made his debut in March with the arrival of “Back Together,” returned in May with “Better Than The Day” (his first feature on SiriusXM’s The Highway), and found himself crowned a Highway Find upon releasing the introspective coming-of-age anthem “Growin’ Up” in June.

Raised in Williamston, South Carolina, Wisham achieved major success with the first song he ever wrote – the heartrending “Pain Won’t Last,” a track he penned at age 19 about losing his father to Covid. Along with cutting his own version of “Pain Won’t Last” for 2023’s platinum-certified Religiously. The Album., country superstar Bailey Zimmerman enlisted Wisham as support for a major tour that launched in Los Angeles in early 2024. Known for his impassioned live performance, Wisham later toured with Josh Ross and made his CMA Fest debut this June.

Bootie Brown Unveils Genre-Defying Single ‘UnAwake’

Eric Alper
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Bootie Brown Unveils Genre-Defying Single ‘UnAwake’

Legendary rapper, producer, and creative force Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson) continues to redefine sonic boundaries with the release of his latest single “UnAwake,” a vibrant, genre-blurring anthem that fuses opera, soul, funk, and experimental hip-hop into one hypnotic soundscape.

A founding member of the iconic alternative hip-hop group The Pharcyde, Brown helped shape the West Coast’s non-gangsta rap identity with era-defining tracks like “Passin’ Me By” and “Drop.” Now, with “UnAwake,” he’s pushing the envelope once again, this time into UltraHipFunkWave, a genre which he has created, that is as visionary and undefinable as Brown himself.

Legendary rapper, producer, and creative force Bootie Brown (Romye Robinson) continues to redefine sonic boundaries with the release of his latest single “UnAwake,” a vibrant, genre-blurring anthem that fuses opera, soul, funk, and experimental hip-hop into one hypnotic soundscape.

A founding member of the iconic alternative hip-hop group The Pharcyde, Brown helped shape the West Coast’s non-gangsta rap identity with era-defining tracks like “Passin’ Me By” and “Drop.” Now, with “UnAwake,” he’s pushing the envelope once again, this time into UltraHipFunkWave, a genre which he has created, that is as visionary and undefinable as Brown himself.

Originally produced by Fabrice Grassin, the track takes unexpected, cinematic turns with Brown’s bold orchestration. He enlisted an opera singer and a live violinist to deepen the drama and tension within the arrangement, adding lush textures that elevate the song’s emotional weight. The addition of Chicago soul singer Peven Everett brings a pulsing, danceable energy, accentuating the track’s ethereal yet grounded duality.

True to Brown’s multidisciplinary spirit, “UnAwake” feels like a soundtrack to a dream-state revolution, a swirling blend of abstract thought, emotional gravity, and unapologetic rhythm. It’s a reminder that Bootie Brown is not just a voice from the golden era of hip-hop, but a sonic explorer charting new territory for future generations.

Chase McDaniel Confronts Generational Pain on ‘My Side Of The Family’

Eric Alper
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Chase McDaniel Confronts Generational Pain on ‘My Side Of The Family’

Big Machine Records singer-songwriter Chase McDaniel wrestles with the possibility of a generational curse in “My Side Of The Family” – listen below and watch the Robby Stevens-directed music video.

Bringing audiences even closer to the unfiltered story at the core of his autobiographical debut album, Lost Ones, McDaniel digs deeper into his past without holding back during this internal dialogue. For as heavy as the subject matter may be, however, he offsets this weight under producer Lindsay Rimes with a lithe and light melody of deftly plucked banjo, acoustic guitar, and fiddle that’s further driven by his dynamic delivery.

On the verses penned by McDaniel, Zach Kale, and Seth Mosley, he counts his blessings, including a loving future wife and supportive father-in-law. Yet, the brutally openhearted and honest hook sees him grapple with what could happen down the line, “Do I got them same demons running in my blood / ‘Cause I got that strange feeling, if I have son / That I’m gonna pass down the same things.” He confesses, “So, I pray he don’t take after me and my side of the family.”

Making its mark during National Suicide Prevention Month, Lost Ones – dropping September 19 – is a body of work born from his calling of bringing strength to anyone who feels hopeless or adrift. With every track co-written by McDaniel, like his current chart-climbing single “Burned Down Heaven,” the 12-track introduction shares the most painful aspects of his life, including his struggle with depression and the life-altering experience of losing his father to addiction.

Ho99o9 Unleash ‘Tomorrow We Escape’ with Heavy-Hitting Collaborations

Eric Alper
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Ho99o9 Unleash ‘Tomorrow We Escape’ with Heavy-Hitting Collaborations

Los Angeles by way of New Jersey outlaws Ho99o9 (horror) have detailed their third album, Tomorrow We Escape, out September 9th. With features from Chelsea Wolfe, Greg Puciato, and MoRuf (full track listing below), today they’ve released a new, Dave Sitek-produced track “Incline” feat. Nova Twins, Pink Siifu, and Yung Skrrt. It arrives with a politically charged, fashion-forward video that you can see here. The track follows the first single “Upside Down,” a neck-snapping blend of warped guitars, woozy melodies, and driving bass lines.

A true amalgamation of all the band’s influences—experimental hip-hop, digital hardcore, future-facing punk, metal, jarring industrial, and off-kilter electronics—the album is their most emotionally charged offering to date, rooted in personal struggle and triumph.

Tomorrow We Escape Track Listing:

1. I Miss Home (feat. MoRuf)
2. Escape
3. Target Practice
4. OK, I’m Reloaded
5. Psychic Jumper
6. Incline (feat. Nova Twins, Pink Siifu & Yung Skrrt)
7. Upside Down
8. Tapeworm (feat. Greg Puciato)
9. Immortal (feat. Chelsea Wolfe)
10. LA Riots
11. Godflesh

Mad Sneaks Confronts Beauty in Discomfort with New Single “Dirty Blood”

Eric Alper
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Mad Sneaks Confronts Beauty in Discomfort with New Single “Dirty Blood”

Mad Sneaks, the Brazilian band known for its dense, introspective sound inspired by ’90s rock, presents their new single “Dirty Blood” — a work that doesn’t ask permission to enter: it invades, unsettles, and, paradoxically, comforts.

Without following a linear narrative, the lyrics unfold as a fragmented outpouring, with no promises of healing or easy solutions. It’s the raw exposure of intimate chaos, like molecules colliding all at once. Between drags of a cigarette and thoughts teetering on the edge of collapse, each fragment of the song intensifies the emotional delivery, revealing the most honest way to narrate feelings that don’t fit into traditional structures.

“Dirty Blood” delivers dirty poetry in its most visceral sense — not to beautify suffering, but to accept it as an inevitable part of blooming. The metaphor is powerful: one must decay before sprouting again, like a seed that only germinates after it breaks down. The black sheep — often a symbol of rejection — is redefined here as the purest and most integral, a manifesto of authenticity in a world of masks and manufactured speeches.

This is not a song made to please. It provokes, challenges, and invites reflection. It’s for those who understand that there is beauty in discomfort, truth in exhaustion, and purity in what, at first glance, seems impure.

Hallmark & Grand Ole Opry Unite for ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas’ Starring Nikki DeLoach, Kristoffer Polaha, with Music by Brad Paisley

Eric Alper
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Hallmark & Grand Ole Opry Unite for ‘A Grand Ole Opry Christmas’ Starring Nikki DeLoach, Kristoffer Polaha, with Music by Brad Paisley

Hallmark Channel and the Grand Ole Opry are setting the stage for a magical trip across time with A Grand Ole Opry Christmas, a new, original movie starring Nikki DeLoach (Curious Caterer Mysteries, Our Holiday Story) and Kristoffer Polaha (A Biltmore Christmas, The Christmas Quest), premiering this year during Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas programming event. Production begins later this month at iconic locations including the Grand Ole Opry House. The movie will feature familiar faces from the Opry’s star-studded cast, with artists to be announced.

The network also announced that Grammy Award-winning country music superstar and Opry member Brad Paisley will write original music for A Grand Ole Opry Christmas and will also perform. Additionally, Paisley will write and record the official anthem for the network’s 2025 Countdown to Christmas on-air campaign.

“As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th birthday this year, this is the perfect time for us to partner with this beloved, iconic American institution and create Christmas magic together,” remarks Darren Abbott, Chief Brand Officer, Hallmark. “Nikki and Kris are fan favorites and we know they will beautifully bring to life this emotional and heartfelt story that is sure to become an instant classic.”

“Our goal in this milestone year is to put the Opry, its artists and the rich songwriting traditions that have made country music a global sensation in front of more people than ever before,” shares Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties, the Opry’s parent company. “Our partnership with Hallmark brings these elements to life this holiday season through a creative and uplifting take on a uniquely Nashville story.”

“Having the incredibly talented Brad Paisley write and perform original music for the movie is what Christmas dreams are made of,” Abbott adds. “And we’re equally excited to have him write and record an original song that will be the soundtrack of our on-air campaign throughout the season.”

“The Hallmark Channel to me is a major part of finding the joy and the spirit of the holidays,” remarks Paisley. “We turn it on and leave it on in our house like Christmas tree lights or decorations, it’s a major part of the atmosphere for us. I loved the challenge of creating that same magic with this music by letting it take you to the same place that these movies and this world Hallmark has built. Can’t wait for you to hear what all we’ve done. Also, knowing the Opry is the setting for one of these movies is very inspiring.”

Hallmark is launching an exclusive collection of Hallmark and Opry co-branded products, including greeting cards, apparel, accessories, jewelry and gifts – the perfect way for fans to celebrate Christmas in country style. The collection will be available to shop later this year at Hallmark.com, Shop.Opry.com, The Opry Shops and at the Hallmark Christmas Experience in Kansas City.

The film is described as Gentry Woods (DeLoach), daughter of late country music icon Jett Woods – half of the famed duo Winter and Woods – abandoned her dream of a songwriting career and distanced herself from her father’s legacy following his tragic car accident 30 years prior. When the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent Jett at their centennial celebration at Christmas, she’s hesitant to return to the place steeped in bittersweet memories. Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue’s oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995. Gentry’s lifelong friend Mac (Polaha) a country music talent manager, finds himself in 1995 as well. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Gentry gets precious time with her father, creative inspiration to finish the song she began decades earlier as a teen and learns surprising answers to questions about her father that have followed her for the last three decades.

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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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