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British Singer-Songwriter Ben Denny Mo Releases ‘The Norfkl Tapes’ EP Shaped By Dyslexia And Mediterranean Life

Eric Alper
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British Singer-Songwriter Ben Denny Mo Releases ‘The Norfkl Tapes’ EP Shaped By Dyslexia And Mediterranean Life

British singer-songwriter Ben Denny Mo has released his new EP ‘The Norfkl Tapes,’ capturing the essence of his artistry through a marriage of deeply personal storytelling with dynamic, textured arrangements. The 8-track EP was primarily recorded with producer Jack Murphy at Crystal Studios in North Norfolk, expanding on Ben’s acoustic demos with layers of guitar, drums and keys, with standout track “Medusa” coming from sessions with Rhys Downing at Grange Farm, That Other Studio and Abbey Road where the EP was mastered by Christian Wright. The record is shaped by Ben’s dyslexia, the reason he turned to music in the first place after not being allowed into certain classes at school because they didn’t understand dyslexia or think he was smart enough, with picking up a guitar showing him that none of that mattered. The title ‘The Norfkl Tapes’ reflects this part of his story, offering a subtle nod to the misspellings that once defined his struggle, now reclaimed as a source of strength. Thematically, the EP traces the highs and lows of relationships with songs like “In The Breakdown” and “You and I” wrestling with the pain of letting go while “September” celebrates fleeting love and tender memories, “Lay Me Down” talks of falling in love but having to let them go for the good of both, “Asylum” widens the lens to the struggles of people Ben has observed around him, and the vibrant “Change My Eyes” and myth-inspired “Medusa” bring playful energy to the collection.

Ben’s journey has carried him from the Norfolk countryside to the Maltese island of Gozo where the rhythms of the sea and Mediterranean sun seep into his music, blending acoustic folk, pop and soul with a storyteller’s heart that’s been compared to Jonah Kagen, Dave Matthews Band and John Martyn. Known for his unconventional “two capo” guitar style and soulful, raspy vocal delivery, Ben’s performances are as intimate as they are anthemic, having graced Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, Secret Garden Party and London’s Omeara, while radio support has included two Record of the Week slots on local BBC Introducing and spins on BBC 6 Music. With his band Barefoot Lions he has performed at several festivals in Gozo and is a regular face on the local music scene, while when not writing or performing, Ben works as a chef on Gozo, feeding the soul in more ways than one.

NYC Industrial Metal Act BLACK SATELLITE Release Post-Apocalyptic Video For Third Single “Doom Or Die” From ‘AFTERMATH’

Eric Alper
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NYC Industrial Metal Act BLACK SATELLITE Release Post-Apocalyptic Video For Third Single “Doom Or Die” From ‘AFTERMATH’

NYC-based BLACK SATELLITE artfully fuse industrial and metal influences to create a sound that’s dark, edgy and distinctly their own on their third single and video “Doom or Die” from their self-released second full-length album ‘AFTERMATH’, out now. Singer, songwriter and frontwoman Larissa Vale wanted to go in a completely different direction and write a party song for the end of the world, assuming an alter ego and exploring a concept from an entirely new angle that functions outside of mundane reality. The video was shot in the Nevada desert’s scorching heat with the band filming in Las Vegas for their first time doing a video on the west coast, and Vale notes they didn’t have to pretend to appear stranded in the middle of the desert as they really did feel like they were fighting for their lives in the middle of summer in Vegas. “Doom or Die” follows the sonically intense and lyrically unflinching second single “Kill For You” along with a captivating video, and the first single “Downfall”accompanied by a haunting video.

Ben Grosse mixed the bulk of ‘AFTERMATH’ with Kane Churko producing and mixing/mastering the album’s three singles, with Femmemetalwebzine.net describing the album as fusing industrial and metal influences that transcend conventional boundaries while solidifying their place in the genre, marking the follow-up to their debut album ‘ENDLESS’ hailed by Alternative Press as one of their “12 Bands You Need To Know.”


Greater Manchester Indie Rockers Mercy Kelly Turn Up The Volume With Emotional New Single “Breathe For Her”

Eric Alper
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Greater Manchester Indie Rockers Mercy Kelly Turn Up The Volume With Emotional New Single “Breathe For Her”

Greater Manchester’s indie rock torchbearers Mercy Kelly have returned with their new single “Breathe For Her,” a heart-on-sleeve, stadium-sized statement that cements the band as one of the North West’s most vital voices in indie and alternative rock. Crafted by the dynamic songwriting duo of frontman Jack Marland and lead guitarist Adam Bridge, the track is an emotional odyssey diving headfirst into the depths of love, loss and life’s weightiest moments, displaying vulnerability while weaving Mercy Kelly’s signature lyrical romanticism with shimmering ’80s-inspired textures and razor-sharp pop hooks. The sonic journey feels both intimate and colossal, like a whispered confession shouted from a mountaintop. To capture this bold vision, Mercy Kelly crossed the M62 to record at Liverpool’s legendary Kempston Street Studios, a hallowed space once known as Parr Street Studios where icons like Coldplay and Justin Bieber have laid down tracks alongside local heroes like Keyside, teaming up with producer Alex Quinn to infuse “Breathe For Her” with fresh energy and sonic depth that soars and stings in equal measure. With Marland’s emotive vocals and Bridge’s searing guitar work at the helm, the band’s anthems channel the reckless energy of youth and the ache of lived experience, with “Breathe For Her” marking a defining moment following the breakout success of their earlier single “Speak Too Soon.”

Nashville Arena Rockers Rebels Opera Deliver Debut Single “Smile Now, Cry Later” Channeling Classic Rock Energy

Eric Alper
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Nashville Arena Rockers Rebels Opera Deliver Debut Single “Smile Now, Cry Later” Channeling Classic Rock Energy

Nashville arena rockers Rebels Opera hit the ground running with debut single “Smile Now, Cry Later,” bringing the spirit of the glory days of the late 80’s and early 90’s straight into 2025 with big hooks, massive choruses and driving excitement designed for hands in the air and the live show experience. The band channels the raw, unfiltered energy of AC/DC, Def Leppard, Cinderella and Kix while forging a modern sound that resonates with today’s audiences, infused with classic rock ingredients and a fresh, contemporary edge. The group features brothers Tate Richardson on vocals and Clint Richardson on guitars joined by Paul Klein on bass and Grady Steel on drums, who tore up Rock Fest 2025 with their explosive debut performance. Fresh from Sienna Studios Nashville, they’ve tracked five songs with producer Tuk Smith, including their AC/DC and Kix-charged first single written and produced by Tuk Smith, mixed and mastered by Anthony Foxc, released on all streaming platforms October 15th, 2025 accompanied by a full production video shot by Vidoe Rahim. Their VIP-only demos “Down With The City,” “Love Like A Live Wire,” “Surfing With the Angels” and “Call of the Night” have earned rave reviews and electrifying buzz for their gritty, soulful take on hard rock as they gear up for their debut 10-song album in early 2026.


Dropkick Murphys Announce 2026 For ‘The People…In The Pit’ St. Patrick’s Day Tour With The Aggrolites And Haywire

Eric Alper
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Dropkick Murphys Announce 2026 For ‘The People…In The Pit’ St. Patrick’s Day Tour With The Aggrolites And Haywire

Dropkick Murphys have announced the full routing for their 2026 For The People…In The Pit St. Patrick’s Day Tour with The Aggrolites and Haywire supporting on most dates. The trek kicks off February 9th in Portland, Maine and culminates March 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th in Boston with the band’s annual run of hometown dates during St. Patrick’s Day week.

The 2026 St. Patrick’s Day weekend shows in Boston also celebrate the band’s 30th birthday and include a special family-friendly afternoon mini-concert and meet & greet at MGM Music Hall at Fenway on March 14th at 2 pm, with this special afternoon event benefiting the band’s charitable foundation The Claddagh Fund, where each adult ticket buyer can bring two kids under 13 for free. During the tour, Dropkick Murphys will perform two special hockey post-game solo shows on March 7th with the Milwaukee Admirals, free to attend with a game ticket, and March 11th with the Springfield Thunderbirds, accessible only with a combination ticket package including admission to both the T-Birds game at the MassMutual Center and the concert at the adjacent MassMutual Convention Center Exhibition Hall.

Dropkick Murphys recently released the physical CD and vinyl versions of their latest album ‘For The People,’ which follows the album’s July 4th digital release, with the CD and vinyl releases including five bonus songs “Dropped On My Head,” “Take Your Bow,” “Straight Edge (I Liked You Better),” “A Hero Among Many” and the previously released “Sirens.” The album shows courage and confidence, speaking up against injustices happening in the United States with strength and power that harkens back to Dropkick Murphys’ earliest punk rock roots, serving as more than a title but a heartfelt stance and declaration of who this band is and who they’ve always been. While on tour, Dropkick Murphys have continued to advocate for workers’ rights and human rights as they have for their entire 29+ year career with surprise appearances at many picket lines across the U.S. to support unions fighting for fair wages and better contracts. Before the St. Patrick’s Day hometown shows, Dropkick Murphys head to Europe for a fall headlining tour with Frank Turner and Haywire that kicks off October 15th in Milan, Italy.

Dropkick Murphys 2026 For The People…In The Pit St. Patrick’s Day Tour Dates:

Feb 9 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
Feb 10 – Montclair, NJ @ The Wellmont Theater
Feb 12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
Feb 13 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
Feb 14 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
Feb 15 – North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
Feb 17 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Feb 18 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Feb 19 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Feb 21 – Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal
Feb 22 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
Feb 24 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory
Feb 25 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
Feb 26 – Omaha, NE @ The Admiral
Feb 27 – West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
Mar 1 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
Mar 3 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
Mar 5 – East Moline, IL @ The Rust Belt
Mar 6 – St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Mar 7 – Milwaukee, WI @ Panther Arena
Mar 8 – Louisville, KY @ Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
Mar 10 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
Mar 11 – Springfield, MA @ MassMutual Center
Mar 13 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Mar 14 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway (Matinee)
Mar – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Mar 15 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Mar 17 – Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues

WITCHWISH Explores Love As Legend On New Single “Althea” With Two Instrumental Alternate Versions

Eric Alper
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WITCHWISH Explores Love As Legend On New Single “Althea” With Two Instrumental Alternate Versions

WITCHWISH seeks an answer to what remains of love when it becomes legend with “Althea,” the new single accompanied by two alternate instrumental versions “Lumenveil” and “Emberfall” that together form a sonic triptych like fragments of a woodland dream, a forgotten tale, or a film shot on 16mm. The alternative folk ballad carries cinematic intimacy, blending early 2000s acoustic softness with the raw emotional depth of artists like Hozier, Aurora and Oneheart, with a warm, vulnerable text leading through a story of spiritual devotion on the edge of memory and myth. The aesthetic draws on Bridgerton’s romanticism reimagined through a darker, fantasy-inspired lens, while the instrumental versions act as emotional reflections with Lumenveil bringing light and Emberfall bringing embers, both looping like sacred chants. WITCHWISH is the sound of a soul speaking through fantasy, nostalgia and poetry, born in late 2023 out of the ashes of a novel and a scream as the solo outlet of Stefano Tarroni, singer of the band Gatecloser and author of “The Fall of God,” a fantasy book that laid the foundation for an entire narrative universe, blending acoustic textures with pop, folk, alt-rock and ambient influences somewhere between Hozier’s poetry, Tim Burton’s oddity and an emo heart that still believes in magic.


Drummer Greg Burrows Celebrates Ed Bonoff’s Music On New Album ‘Let’s Not Wait’

Eric Alper
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Drummer Greg Burrows Celebrates Ed Bonoff’s Music On New Album ‘Let’s Not Wait’

GreBu Records has released drummer Greg Burrows’ new album ‘Let’s Not Wait: The Music of Ed Bonoff’ out now, marking only the second album ever entirely dedicated to the music and arrangements of legendary New York composer, arranger and drummer Ed Bonoff, following trombonist Eddie Bert’s 1997 release ‘The Human Factor.’ A long-time friend and collaborator of Bonoff’s, Burrows assembled a powerhouse band of New York’s finest working jazz musicians including Tim Armacost on tenor and soprano saxophones, Gary Smulyan on baritone sax, John Fumasoli on trombone, Hiroshi Yamazaki on piano, Rich Zurkowski on bass, and special guest guitarist Al Orlo, recorded in the spring of 2024 capturing the vibrant energy of the group in full creative flow. The album showcases Bonoff’s expressive writing and timeless swing through a diverse set of pieces from the uplifting opener “Piazza Navona” to the bold and romantic title track “Let’s Not Wait,” plus highlights including “Shout ‘Em, Aunt Tillie,” a hot New Orleans-style take on a Duke Ellington classic, the lyrical “It Just Gets Better,” and “Le Corbeau de Chavignol” inspired by a mischievous café crow in France, with the closing tune “Mitosis” featuring an explosive series of drum trades. The album celebrates the friendship, artistry and enduring creativity of both Greg Burrows and Ed Bonoff, two musicians whose shared passion for jazz has flourished over four decades.

Newbury Pop Punk Trio Fountain Island Gear Up For New EP ‘Motor Hotel’ After BBC Radio 1 Success

Eric Alper
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Newbury Pop Punk Trio Fountain Island Gear Up For New EP ‘Motor Hotel’ After BBC Radio 1 Success

Fountain Island are a three-piece pop punk band from Newbury, UK known for energetic live shows and catchy, summer soaked anthems channeling feel-good vibes with their motto “Every day is a holiday.” Founded in 2020 by singer Alex Porro and named after what All American Rejects singer Tyson Ritter dreamt heaven would be called, their influences stem from early 00s US & UK Pop Punk blended with the Emo and Pop Punk revival of the 2020s, creating their own infectious summer sprinkled tunes trickling through the current UK pop punk scene. Since 2021, they’ve been releasing tracks, with 2023’s “Pretty Little Nightmare” garnering the attention of BBC Radio 1 Introducing’s Rock expert Alyx Holcombe, while their next single “Ain’t Got You” gained the title of Track of the Week on BSB TV. After taking a break in 2024 to write, Jay Barnett & Jamie Holmes became permanent members of Fountain Island in early 2025 with the intention to release new EP ‘Motor Hotel’ in late 2025 or early 2026, positioning the band alongside the likes of State Champs, Neck Deep, Waterparks, girlfriends and Stand Atlantic.


Shaylen Throws Caution To The Wind On Party-Ready Anthem “Jack Gets Me Sober”

Eric Alper
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Shaylen Throws Caution To The Wind On Party-Ready Anthem “Jack Gets Me Sober”

Tennessee whiskey and dive bars take center stage on Shaylen’s new song “Jack Gets Me Sober,” released via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. The party-ready anthem finds the rising powerhouse singer and songwriter throwing caution to the wind in the name of a good time, capturing nights where best intentions and “never agains” don’t stand a chance against Jack Daniel’s and an ex’s blocked number staring back from a phone screen. Penned with co-writers Andrew Baylis, Conor Matthews and Brett Tyler, the track showcases Shaylen’s signature tongue-in-cheek honesty coupled with a shot of self-aware confessions about the messy, unhinged moments of being human. The song follows releases of the confident “Loneliest Man” and emotionally charged “Daddy Issues” earlier this year, plus “Second Time Around” with labelmate Noah Hicks and the brutally honest ballad “To Tell You The Truth.”

Following a decade-long stint pursuing music in LA, Shaylen returned to her home state of Tennessee in 2022 to take a leap of faith into Country music and has since amassed 100+ million streams with independent releases “What If I Don’t,” “Been There Before” and “Let Me Let You.” Quickly cementing her status as one to watch, the vocalist has emerged as one of the most prominent rising female artists in the genre as Holler proclaims she mixes the chandelier rattling delivery of Kelly Clarkson with the cowgirl-next-door charm of Carly Pearce.

Genre-Blurring Alt-Pop Artist Maisi Explores Self-Sabotage On Vulnerable New Single “try” From ‘u Could Be Something’ EP

Eric Alper
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Genre-Blurring Alt-Pop Artist Maisi Explores Self-Sabotage On Vulnerable New Single “try” From ‘u Could Be Something’ EP

Maisi delivers her latest single “try,” a slower and vulnerable track about self-sabotage, untapped potential and the quiet wish for someone you love to finally believe in themselves. The genre-blurring alt-pop artist, producer and DJ fuses electro-pop, indie-pop and hyperpop while taking cues from the likes of Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek, MARINA and The 1975, pairing glossy, forward-thinking production with raw, introspective lyricism. Describing her sound as “existential angst pop,” Maisi captures the chaos, humour and anxiety of being in your twenties with music that is as self-aware and emotionally charged as it is danceable. The song connects with a generation more open about mental health than ever before, where phrases like “bed rotting” appear across social media and the struggle to keep moving feels deeply personal but universally shared. Inspired by people in her life who could be brilliant but hold themselves back, “try” serves as both an ode to lost potential and a plea to keep trying.

Maisi has had an exciting year on the live circuit, having already supported artists including Chinchilla, Michael Aldag, piri & tommy, and joining Mae Muller and Sophie and the Giants for upcoming dates. Quickly establishing herself as a standout presence on the London and UK live scene through dynamic performances at showcase nights like Abbie McCarthy’s Good Karma Club and Honour Morrison’s Good Vibes Only, she’s also the creator of The Cxnty School Disco, a chaotic, nostalgia-fuelled club night celebrating 2000s bangers, hyperpop and indie sleaze that has sold out every time and even took over a stage at Truck Festival. She’s throwing a Cxnty School Disco party on October 10th to celebrate the release of “try” and the ‘u could be something’ EP. Maisi’s music has helped her find an audience of 160,000 on TikTok with over 9 million likes and a combined following of over 180,000 across all social media platforms, with her collaboration with piri on “Head” taking over the internet last year, seeing over 40,000 TikTok creations and reaching number 1 in the TikTok charts.

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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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