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Smart Way to Find Gigs and Tours as a Freelance Musician

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Being a freelance musician isn’t easy. You don’t just play music — you also look for gigs, communicate with venues, work on promotion, and take care of travel and equipment. Gigs don’t appear on their own anymore. You have to go out and find them, build connections, and constantly maintain your reputation. Today, with so many artists on the market, it’s important to have a clear plan to find work consistently.

And let’s be honest — even the most passionate musicians sometimes need financial support. Touring costs money. Reaching your goal and staying there is expensive. That’s why loan options for US freelance musicians have become the norm. Today, it’s not about “not managing,” it’s about investing in growth. If you’re ready to take your career seriously and stop waiting for a chance to come along, this article will show you how to get gigs as a musician and not miss out on opportunities in the digital age.

What Makes Gigs and Tours Important for Freelance Musicians 

Playing gigs is how most musicians make money, plain and simple. But there’s more to it than just cash. Every show is a chance to get better. The more you play in front of people, the more confident and relaxed you’ll feel on stage. You learn what songs connect with the crowd and how to fix things when something goes wrong—because it will, at some point. Plus, when you play shows, you meet people: venue owners, other musicians, fans, even the bartender who might give your number to someone looking for a band. Touring is a big step, but it’s the same idea—just in new places. That’s how you grow a real audience. If you want to make a living from music, you have to get out there and play. 

Ask Local Venues and Bars Directly 

This might sound old school, but it works. Put together a short introduction—just a few sentences about who you are and what music you play. Practice it so you don’t freeze up. Walk into local bars, coffee shops, or restaurants and ask if they book live music. Try to go when it’s not busy, so you’re not competing with a crowd. Be polite and don’t take it personally if they say no or don’t have time. If you can talk to the manager or owner, ask about playing a short set, maybe even for tips at first. Leave a business card, or write your number on a napkin if that’s all you have. And most importantly, contact them in a few days. That’s how you show you’re serious and not just another person passing through. 

Use Social Media to Announce Availability 

Social media might feel fake sometimes, but it’s a real way to find gigs. Start with the basics: promote your music on YouTube shorts, write a caption saying you’re looking for shows, and make sure people know how to reach you. Use hashtags with your city or style, like #NashvilleGigs or #JazzVocalist. If you see a venue you want to play, tag them or comment on their posts. If someone comments or sends you a message, https://playlistpush.com/blog/how-to-promote-music-on-youtube-shorts-artists-musicians/answer as soon as you can. The trick is to keep posting, even if you don’t get a lot of likes at first. The more you share, the more likely someone will notice and offer you a spot. 

Join Musician Groups and Forums 

How to book shows as an independent artist? It’s a question every freelance musician faces sooner or later, especially when traditional methods don’t seem to work. One of the most effective ways is also one of the simplest — being part of the community. Many musicians find gigs by word of mouth, not ads. There are Facebook groups and online forums where musicians post about shows, jam sessions, or even people needing a last-minute fill-in. Find groups for your city or your kind of music and introduce yourself. You don’t have to spam your music everywhere—just join the conversation, answer questions, and be friendly. People remember helpful musicians, not just those looking for work. Stick around long enough and you’ll start seeing posts about open gigs or even new bands forming. 

Register on Gig and Booking Websites 

There are websites created specifically for musicians and bands looking for work. They are like online boards that tell you how to find gigs for musicians. Set up a profile on sites like GigSalad. Add a few good photos, a couple of song clips or videos, and fill in your calendar so people know when you’re free. Be honest about what you can do—don’t say you can play weddings if you’ve never done one. Respond quickly to messages. Clients can leave reviews, which help a lot when someone’s deciding whether to book you. These sites are especially useful for private parties, weddings, and events you might not hear about otherwise. 

Build a Simple Website or Online Portfolio 

Having your website with a musician’s bio creates a serious image. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just use your name or band name, share a short story about yourself, put up some music or video clips, and add a way for people to contact you. List your upcoming shows if you have any. If you’ve ever been in the local paper or have a nice review, add that too. Think of your website as your digital business card—anyone who Googles you should find it. 

Keep a List of Promoters and Stay in Touch 

Promoters are the people who put together shows and book bands. When you meet one, write down their name, email, and what show you played. Every couple of months, send a short note about what you’ve been up to and remind them you’re looking for gigs. Don’t send long messages or spam them; just a quick update. If you get booked, show up on time, play your set, and say thanks afterward. If you make things easy for them, they’ll remember you next time. 

Reach Out to Event Planners and Wedding Coordinators 

Private events can pay well, but planners need musicians who show up on time and act professionally. Find planners or coordinators in your city—many have public websites. Send a short email saying who you are, what you play, and include a link to a performance video. List any festivals and gigs you’ve played, even if they were small. If they reply, respond promptly and clearly about your rates, what equipment you bring, and how long you can play. After the event, say thank you and ask if they’ll keep you in mind for the future. 

Make Use of Music Industry Contacts 

Every contact matters. If you’ve met people through music lessons, band camps, recording studios, or even family friends who work in the arts, keep in touch. A quick email or text now and then goes a long way. You never know who might have a tip about a concert or recommend you for something cool. Always say thank you and offer to help if you can. Treating people well is the best long-term strategy. 

Being a working musician means knowing how to get music gigs — and making sure you get paid for them. It’s not just about playing well; it’s about showing up, staying visible, and treating your music like a real job. Keep putting yourself out there, and the right gigs will follow.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

5 Surprising Facts About Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’

Released on May 23, 2011, Born This Way bursts from the speakers like a gospel sermon inside a neon cathedral. Co-produced and co-written by Gaga alongside RedOne, DJ White Shadow, and Fernando Garibay, it’s more than an album—it’s a manifesto. Packed with arena-sized beats, glam-metal glam, queer anthems, and religious iconography, Born This Way redefines pop music as a place where freak flags fly high and sax solos save souls. It hits #1 in more than 20 countries, sells over a million copies in its first U.S. week, and becomes Gaga’s most radical—and beloved—statement to date.

1. A Song Written in Ten Minutes, A Classic For Decades
Gaga writes “Born This Way” in Liverpool in ten minutes, calling it an immaculate conception of melody and message. She channels Whitney Houston’s voice in her head and Carl Bean’s legacy in her heart. The result: a global anthem that name-checks drag queens, celebrates every identity, and takes no lyrical detours. It’s a pop hymn with synths instead of pews.

2. Clarence Clemons Blows the Roof Off the Edge
When Gaga needs a sax solo for “The Edge of Glory,” she calls up E Street legend Clarence Clemons. He jumps on a plane and records his parts that same night, wrapping by 3 a.m. in true rock-and-roll fashion. His soaring lines bring Springsteen soul to Gaga’s synth cathedral. It’s disco, it’s drama—it’s divine.

3. “Judas” Rides the Line Between Gospel and Goth
Equal parts scripture and scream, “Judas” flips Bible stories into club thunder. Gaga sings of love, betrayal, and washing the feet of a bad decision with industrial beats and 1980s pop choruses. Critics hear echoes of “Bad Romance,” but this time the crucifix is sequined. She writes it, designs the cover in Microsoft Word, and walks into controversy like it’s the runway.

4. “Americano” Marches Through Mariachi and Protest
Fusing Spanish, techno, and vaudeville, “Americano” takes a stiletto-stomped stand against Arizona’s SB 1070 law. Inspired by Edith Piaf and Judy Garland, Gaga blends immigration politics with glittering synths and layered vocals. It’s not just a song—it’s a statement in fishnets and flamenco heels.

5. It’s the Freedom Album, in Any Language You Speak
From faux-German feminist techno on “Scheiße” to the Gregorian gloom of “Bloody Mary,” Born This Way refuses to stay in one genre or one tongue. Gaga sings in English, Spanish, French, and pure fire. With influences from Madonna to Iron Maiden, the album dances across borders, beliefs, and expectations.

Born This Way is more than a collection of songs—it’s a cultural landmark dressed in latex and eyeliner. With bold production, fearless lyrics, and a heart that beats for the marginalized, Gaga builds a pop world where everyone belongs. Over a decade later, it still plays like a battle cry for self-love and liberation. Not just born this way—forever staying that way.

5 Surprising Facts About The Kinks’ ‘Something Else by The Kinks’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About The Kinks’ ‘Something Else by The Kinks’

Released on September 15, 1967, Something Else by the Kinks twinkles like a late-summer twilight in a dusty English village. Their fifth studio album trades rock-star bravado for string flourishes, afternoon daydreams, and observational gems from Ray Davies’s ever-curious pen. Embracing baroque pop, music hall whimsy, and chamber balladry, it marks a turning point in the band’s sound—and the first full album produced by Ray himself. It’s not just another Kinks record. It’s a quiet revolution dressed in corduroy.

1. “Waterloo Sunset” Took a Decade to Happen in Ten Hours
Ray Davies carries the melody to “Waterloo Sunset” in his mind for years before letting it spill into tape. The final recording session stretches ten hours, with echo tricks and tape delay weaving magic into every guitar line. Ray imagines the scene from a hospital balcony, watching the Thames shimmer with memories. Terry and Julie never had it so cinematic.

2. “Death of a Clown” Was Born in a Daydream at Mum’s House
Dave Davies drifts off at a wild party and wakes up in a swirl of circus surrealism. Suddenly, he’s a clown—performing, spinning, fading. He rushes to his mum’s out-of-tune piano and taps out three notes that soon become “Death of a Clown.” Nicky Hopkins plays the intro by plucking piano strings like a harp. The result: a solo hit hiding in a full-band costume.

3. “David Watts” Is a Double-Layered Daydream in Blazer and Tie
“David Watts” skips to the rhythm of envy with a perfectly pressed schoolboy crush. Ray pens it after watching a concert promoter swoon over his brother Dave, adding a cheeky wink to the sharp uniform of pop. “He is so gay and fancy free,” Ray sings, balancing admiration, irony, and ambiguity like a pint on a pub piano.

4. Ray and Rasa Make Music Hall Magic
Rasa Davies, Ray’s wife at the time, lends her voice like a ghost in the machine—floating through choruses, swirling around harpsichords. Her harmonies light up “Two Sisters” and “Death of a Clown” like an unseen narrator. It’s not just a family affair—it’s chamber-pop alchemy in a velvet frame.

5. “No Return” Goes Bossa Nova Without a Passport
In the middle of English suburbia, Ray slips into a samba rhythm on “No Return.” It sways with soft bossa nova brushstrokes, like Astrud Gilberto on a foggy London morning. A nylon-stringed detour that feels like sipping espresso under a rainy awning, it’s a gentle reminder that even the Kinks can float down a Brazilian breeze.

Something Else shuffles, winks, and strums its way into rock history. Though it sold modestly in its day, the album grew into a beloved oddity, a cult cathedral for anyone seeking English wit with a side of sonic peculiarity. With Waterloo Sunset as its golden crown and Ray Davies behind the mixing desk, the album captures a band evolving from loud lads to literate legends—one village green at a time.

5 Surprising Facts About Sheryl Crow’s Self-Titled Album

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Sheryl Crow’s Self-Titled Album

Sheryl Crow’s self-titled second album lands on September 24, 1996, with a stomp, a shimmer, and a sharper edge. Trading the jam-session spirit of Tuesday Night Music Club for a self-produced, deeply personal statement, Crow writes with swagger and sings with the ease of someone who knows exactly where every chord should fall. Blending folk, rock, blues, and a little cosmic mischief, it becomes a defining record of the ’90s—and one of Crow’s boldest artistic declarations.

1. The UFO Gospel According to Sheryl
“Maybe Angels” opens the album like a flickering X-Files rerun on a Delta blues frequency. Sheryl spins lines about government secrets, heavenly choirs, and Kurt Cobain floating beside Lennon. It’s a conspiracy lullaby dressed in Wurlitzer and fuzz. Somewhere between Roswell and redemption, the groove soars.

2. Walmart vs. the Chorus
“Love Is a Good Thing” rolls in like a protest sign with a power chord. Sheryl calls out gun sales at discount stores with laser-precise lyrics—and Walmart hears it loud and clear. The retail giant pulls the album from shelves, which only makes it louder. Rock and roll, meet retail resistance.

3. Johnny Cash Finds “Redemption Day”
Buried deep in track ten is a folk-blues lament Crow wrote after visiting Bosnia on a USO trip. “Redemption Day” hums with moral gravity and gospel glow. Years later, Johnny Cash records it for his final album, turning it into a gravel-throated benediction. The song becomes a bridge across generations.

4. “A Change Would Do You Good,” Hat-Trick Edition
Sheryl, Jeff Trott, and Brian MacLeod write “A Change Would Do You Good” by literally pulling lyrics from a hat. Each verse becomes a coded message: one about a producer, one about Madonna, and one—finally—about Crow herself. Soul, sass, and Staple Singers energy keep it all spinning.

5. If It Makes You Fuzzy
“If It Makes You Happy” tries on a parade of sonic outfits—punk, country, funk—before landing on its now-iconic slow-burn rock strut. Crow lays down the vocals like a smoky truth bomb while guitars drip with just the right amount of chaos. It becomes an anthem for the cathartic and the chaotic alike.

With Sheryl Crow, the artist becomes the architect. The album swerves from swampy riffs to satellite beams, folk musings to full-throttle rebellion, and finds power in every pivot. Triple platinum sales, Grammy wins, and retrospective acclaim follow—but it all begins with one woman taking full control of her story. Twenty-nine years later, it still makes you happy, and it still makes you think.

5 Surprising Facts About Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Surrealistic Pillow’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Jefferson Airplane’s ‘Surrealistic Pillow’

Released on February 1, 1967, Surrealistic Pillow lands like a velvet meteor in the middle of America’s consciousness. Jefferson Airplane’s second studio album—and the first with Grace Slick and Spencer Dryden—ushers in a technicolor sound that defines the San Francisco scene. With its dreamy harmonies, fuzz-drenched guitars, and cosmic curiosity, the record becomes a cornerstone of psychedelic rock and a flagship for 1960s counterculture. Here are 5 mind-blowing facts about the classic album.

1. The “Spiritual Advisor” with a Guitar
Jerry Garcia floats through Surrealistic Pillow like a ghost in paisley—credited as “spiritual advisor,” he also twirls in and out of songs with spectral guitar work. He fine-tunes “Somebody to Love,” fingerpicks the ether on “Today,” and casts spells on “Comin’ Back to Me.” Legend places him at the center of the studio’s astral map, arranging harmonies like tarot cards. Garcia doesn’t just drop in—he levitates through.

2. A Title Plucked From the Psychedelic Ether
While lounging amid incense trails and Technicolor soundscapes, Garcia muses the music feels “as surrealistic as a pillow.” The phrase lingers in Marty Balin’s mind like a bell in a canyon. Soon, it drapes across the album like velvet over a lava lamp. It suggests softness with strange edges—equal parts Salvador Dalí and dorm-room daydream.

3. “White Rabbit” Marches to a Boléro Beat
Grace Slick composes “White Rabbit” at a red piano with missing keys, conjuring Alice and psychedelics in the same breath. Its slow-build intensity mirrors Ravel’s Boléro, a hypnotic rise into euphoric disorientation. Add a hint of Miles Davis’s Sketches of Spain and you’ve got a march not just through Wonderland, but through the looking glass of San Francisco’s Summer of Love.

4. The Cover Photo Came With Hieroglyphic Walls
Photographer Herb Greene shoots the album cover in his own dining room, where the wallpaper pulses with primitive symbols and half-drawn mythologies. The band lounges like Greco-Roman muses transported to Haight-Ashbury. RCA tints it pink instead of blue, and Marty Balin loves the accidental brilliance. It becomes an icon—psychedelia framed in wallpaper and whimsy.

5. A Song Penned on a Very Enlightening Evening
“Comin’ Back to Me” drifts into existence after Marty Balin shares a joint with Paul Butterfield and picks up a guitar while the rest of the band vanishes into the night. Only Casady, Garcia, and Grace Slick remain, and they record the song in a single take. It glows like candlelight on the edge of a trip—gentle, ghostly, and entirely suspended in time.

More than five decades later, Surrealistic Pillow still hums with mystery and imagination. From dorm rooms to desert festivals, its echoes ripple through indie ballads, acid-folk experiments, and cinematic dreamscapes. Inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2024, the album remains a sacred artifact—forever chasing white rabbits through the fog of history.

BBYKOBE Steps Into the Spotlight with Debut EP ‘She Luv BBYKOBE’ Featuring R&B-Rap Alchemy and Star-Studded Credits

Eric Alper
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BBYKOBE Steps Into the Spotlight with Debut EP ‘She Luv BBYKOBE’ Featuring R&B-Rap Alchemy and Star-Studded Credits

Writer, producer, and vocalist BBYKOBE releases his inventive debut EP, She Luv BBYKOBE, out now on Warner Records. The six-song project is an artful masterclass in cutting-edge rap and R&B, demonstrating the qualities that have made the Detroit hitmaker a go-to for Playboy Carti, Future, Travis Scott, Ty Dolla $ign, and The Weeknd, among others.

BBYKOBE’s long-awaited set follows another in a string of huge behind-the-scenes wins: He scored three placements on JACKBOYS 2 earlier this month, producing “PBT” featuring Scott, Tyla, and Vybz Kartel; co-producing “CHAMPAIN & VACAY” starring Scott and Don Toliver, and contributing vocals/adlibs to “OUTSIDE” alongside Scott and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. Before that, BBYKOBE worked on three songs on Carti’s MUSIC, including “Rather Lie” featuring The Weeknd, not to mention the pair’s earlier 2024 smash hit, “Timeless.”

Despite his remarkable successes, BBYKOBE arrives on She Luv BBYKOBE as a burgeoning new artist, pairing rich, vibe-heavy soundscapes with a wildly fluid vocal approach that, on a cut like recent single “FRIENDS,” can have him sounding like three or more people in less than two minutes. “DRUNK N RIGHTEOUS” is no exception. BBYKOBE coasts over a trippy mix of shimmering keys, creaky guitar, deep bass, and endless texture: “One more drink, I’m feeling right / You get drunk and you get righteous / I can’t argue when you like this.”

She Luv BBYKOBE was preceded by two other singles: the Midwest rap banger “RIP HUTCH” with Motor City vet G.T., and BBYKOBE’s hypnotic and melodic debut, “BBYGIRL.” He prefaced all of that with an increasingly explosive studio portfolio that includes cowriting the culture-shifting “Like That” by Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 – not to mention working across groundbreaking albums like Scott’s UTOPIA (including the single “I KNOW ?”) and pitching in on songs and projects from artists like Ty Dolla $ign, Cash Cobain, Lil Wayne, and Roddy Ricch, to name a few.

Now, after crafting hits for others, BBYKOBE is rewriting the game for himself. 

Spencer Hatcher Drops Steamy New Country Single “When She Calls Me Cowboy,” Honoring Classic Love Songs with a Modern Touch

Eric Alper
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Spencer Hatcher Drops Steamy New Country Single “When She Calls Me Cowboy,” Honoring Classic Love Songs with a Modern Touch

Spencer Hatcher released a new, after-dark focus track, “When She Calls Me Cowboy,” available now across all digital retail and streaming partners. With a heartfelt, nostalgic feel rooted in classic country storytelling brushed with a modern polish, the steamy country tune centers around a term of endearment used behind closed doors.

“I’ve always loved a classic country song – like Conway Twitty’s ‘I’d Love to Lay You Down’ – that captures the tender, private moments between a man and his woman,” says Hatcher. “‘When She Calls Me Cowboy’ is in that tradition. It still has that tenderness, and a beat you can dance around your kitchen to, just like in the song.”

Penned by hit songwriters Marv Green (Lonestar’s BMI Song of the Year, “Amazed”), Bart Butler (Jon Pardi’s “Your Heart or Mine”) and Tim Nichols (Tim McGraw’s GRAMMY-winning No. 1 “Live Like You Were Dying”), “When She Calls Me Cowboy” explains how “cowboy” can mean so much more than other affectionate nicknames like “baby” and “darlin’.”

And when she calls me cowboy
Lets her hair fall down boy
Gets that look in her eye says I better hold on tight
It’s gonna be a good night
When she turns out the lights
That’s her way of sayin’ I need you right now boy
When she calls me cowboy

The sultry track, thick with pedal steel, was produced by Jason Sellers, Ilya Toshinskiy (Jelly Roll) and Mickey Jack Cones (Joe Nichols).

Daughtry Announces New EP ‘Shock to the System (Part Two)’ Out Sept. 12, Drops Powerful New Single “The Bottom”

Eric Alper
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Daughtry Announces New EP ‘Shock to the System (Part Two)’ Out Sept. 12, Drops Powerful New Single “The Bottom”

Following a landmark year that included back-to-back #1 singles at Active Rock with “ARTIFICIAL” and “PIECES,” and sold-out tours with Breaking Benjamin, Staind, and Disturbed, multi-platinum rock band Daughtry is keeping up the momentum with the announcement of their upcoming EP SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (PART TWO), arriving September 12th via Big Machine Rock.

Following the April release of the haunting “THE DAY I DIE,” which set the tone for this next chapter, Daughtry delivers another bold preview today with the new single “THE BOTTOM,” available now on all platforms.

Built on a swaggering groove that cuts through a haze of distortion, “THE BOTTOM” finds Chris Daughtry flexing his vocal range with a hypnotic cadence as he confesses, “I was down in a hole until I clawed my way back from the bottom.”

The track captures the raw honesty and sonic intensity that define SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (PART TWO) and gives fans a deeper glimpse into the EP’s emotional core.

Regarding the album, Daughtry states, “SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM is about facing the things we’ve ignored and confronting the wake-up calls that force us to go deeper and get honest. These songs unlocked something in me as a writer and a human being. PART TWO is the result of that journey.”

SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (PART ONE) delivered major milestones for the band, scoring their first-ever #1 at Active Rock with “ARTIFICIAL,” followed by another #1 with “PIECES.” The project drew widespread praise from outlets such as Billboard and Spin, who highlighted the palpable heaviness and fearless creative evolution of this new era.

SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (PART TWO) Track Listing:

  1. THE SEEDS
  2. DIVIDED
  3. THE DAY I DIE
  4. THE BOTTOM
  5. TERRIFIED
  6. RAZOR
  7. ANTIDOTE

Tour Dates:

07/26/25 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center ^
07/27/25 – Memphis, TN @ FedExForum ^
07/29/25 – Wichita, KS @ Intrust Bank Arena ^
07/30/25 – Catoosa, OK @ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa ^
08/01/25 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena ^
08/02/25 – Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena ^
08/04/25 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater ^
08/06/25 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre ^
08/07/25 – Palm Desert, CA @ Acrisure Arena at Greater Palm Springs ^
08/08/25 – Arcadia, WI @ Ashley for the Arts 2025 **
08/09/25 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre ^
08/10/25 – Oro Station, ON @ Boots and Hearts Festival 2025
08/13/25 – Ridgefield, WA @ Cascades Amphitheater ^
08/14/25 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre ^
08/19/25 – Boise, ID @ Western Idaho Fair 2025
08/24/25 – Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Center ^
08/27/25 – Providence, RI @ Amica Mutual Pavillion ^
08/28/25 – Manchester, NH @ SNHU Arena ^
08/30/25 – Halifax, NS @ Halifax Citadel National Historic Site ^
10/01/25 – Virginia Beach, VA @ The Dome *
10/03/25 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City *
10/04/25 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summer Stage *
10/07/25 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway *
10/08/25 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater *
10/10/25 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center at The Heights *
10/11/25 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill *
10/12/25 – Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion *
10/15/25 – Indianapolis, IN @ Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park *
10/17/25 – Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre *
10/18/25 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater *
10/20/25 – Youngstown, OH @ Covelli Centre Arena *
10/22/25 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP *
10/24/25 – Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater *
10/25/25 – Atlanta, GA @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park *
10/31/25 – Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theatre *
11/01/25 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium *
11/05/25 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory at The District *
11/08/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ UPMC Events Center *
11/09/25 – Pikeville, KY @ Appalachian Wireless Arena *
11/11/25 – Dallas, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory *
11/12/25 – Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall *
11/14/25 – Port Charlotte, FL @ Field of Dreamz Country Classic Music Festival *
11/15/25 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ FTL War Memorial Auditorium *
^ with Creed, Mammoth

  • with Seether
    ** with ZZ Top, Darius Rucker

Geoffrey Himes’ New Book ‘Willie Nelson: All the Albums’ Explores 70 Years of Music, Album by Album

Eric Alper
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Geoffrey Himes’ New Book ‘Willie Nelson: All the Albums’ Explores 70 Years of Music, Album by Album

A comprehensive new book examining Willie Nelson’s extraordinary seven-decade recording career will be released October 7. WILLIE NELSON: ALL THE ALBUMS: THE STORIES BEHIND THE MUSIC by music journalist Geoffrey Himes offers the first album-by-album analysis of one of America’s most prolific recording artists, 152 solo and collaborative albums Nelson recorded between 1954 and 2025.

The book represents a departure from traditional celebrity biographies, focusing instead on Nelson’s musical evolution and artistic development. While the personal stories that have often defined Nelson’s public persona—his IRS troubles, Farm Aid activism, and advocacy for marijuana legalization—provide context, Himes keeps the primary focus on the recordings that have made Nelson a beloved and influential figure across multiple generations of music fans.

Himes traces Nelson’s entire career through the lens of each album, examining Nelson’s influences and early songwriting career, the circumstances surrounding each recording, studio musicians and personnel, and how each release fit into Nelson’s artistic evolution. The author set out to “write the definitive biography of his music,” that would “illuminate how the songs changed as Nelson moved through all his Phases and Stages. I want to explore how the recordings cast their spells upon us, the listeners, at each stop along the way.”

Nelson’s career has been marked by dramatic highs and lows, and Willie Nelson: All the Albums shines a light on both the failures and the triumphs. Throughout it all, Nelson has demonstrated a remarkable ability to transform personal pain into dignified, resilient music. His signature sound blends the honky-tonk traditions of Texas dance halls with the sophisticated rhythms and harmonies of jazz and blues, creating something uniquely his own.

The book weaves Nelson’s musical journey into a compelling narrative about the singer’s lifelong exploration of responding to divorce, death, and life’s other challenges with honest pain and resilient dignity. Each album profile includes a sidebar with sleeve art, recording and release dates, single releases, chart positions, and a grade. The text, combined with more than 200 images of Nelson on and offstage, creates a unique visual and textual journey into the musical core of this American treasure.

Geoffrey Himes wrote about music in the Washington Post on a weekly basis between 1977 and 2020. He has also written for Rolling Stone, Paste, The New York Times, Jazz Times, Nashville Scene, Oxford American, DownBeat, Smithsonian, Texas Music Magazine, and other outlets. His book on Emmylou Harris, In-Law Country, was published in 2024. He won ASCAP/Deems Taylor Awards for Music Feature Writing in 2003, 2005, 2014, and 2015.

TESLA’s Frank Hannon Releases Raw and Soulful Single “One More Time” as a Tribute to Dickey Betts

Eric Alper
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TESLA’s Frank Hannon Releases Raw and Soulful Single “One More Time” as a Tribute to Dickey Betts

You don’t expect one of the architects of arena rock to release a cell phone recording and call it his most honest work. But Frank Hannon, longtime TESLA guitarist and a decades-deep tone chaser, isn’t bluffing. His new single “One More Time,” the lead offering from the upcoming Reflections album, strips everything down to the bones—bottleneck slide, raw signal path, and the kind of melodic phrasing you only get from someone who’s lived through the fire.

There’s a looseness to “One More Time” that’s immediately inviting. It doesn’t feel like a “take”—it feels like a moment. Tracked with an Audigo mic straight into his phone, the sound is surprisingly lush, full of warmth, and free from the compression-ridden artifacts you might expect. You hear wood, air, and touch. That’s what makes the song so effective: Hannon’s not trying to impress, he’s just speaking the language.

The track rides a slow-blues shuffle, echoing the melodic sensibilities of his late father-in-law, Dickey Betts—whose influence is openly acknowledged and deeply felt. You can hear traces of Betts’ lyrical phrasing, especially in the way Hannon bends into notes like they’re old friends he’s greeting after a long absence. It’s less about speed or flash and more about breath and feel. That’s the Betts legacy—and Hannon honours it without mimicry.

The accompanying video shows Hannon with horses, at home, playing Betts’ old Gibson SG. It’s about as unvarnished as you can get, and that’s the point. This isn’t a product; it’s a document. A love letter to the guitar, to a mentor, and to a way of life that’s increasingly rare.

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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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