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Babyface Adds Two More Las Vegas Shows at Palms Casino Resort This November

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Due to popular demand, Babyface will return to the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort on Friday, November 14th and Saturday, November 15th. Both shows are scheduled to begin at 8 pm.

During his multi-night Las Vegas engagement, which kicked off last summer, Babyface takes the audience back in time as he performs a curated selection of his iconic, award-winning hits (“Whip Appeal,” “Every Time I Close My Eyes,” “When Can I See You Again”) as well as songs he has written and produced for renowned artists, including Whitney Houston, Madonna, Boyz II Men, and many more.

Presales start tomorrow (Tues, July 22nd) at 10 am local time ahead of the general sale on Friday, July 25th.

Babyface is a 13-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces. He is the only producer to win the Producer of the Year category four times, three times of which were in consecutive years from 1995-1997, a record he holds to this day. Babyface is also co-founder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and P!nk.

Dead & Company to Stream Golden Gate Park Concert Live in IMAX for One Night Only

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Fans can experience Dead & Company like never before with a special one-night-only IMAX live concert event, streaming directly from Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The group will perform three nights in their hometown from August 1-3 to celebrate the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary. The August 3rd performance will be shown in 30 IMAX theaters nationwide, giving fans the chance to experience the legendary performance on the biggest screen possible.

Doors open at 5:30 pm PT, with the concert running from 6-10 pm PT with a 30-minute intermission. Each attendee will also receive a collectible mini poster and lanyard. Tickets are available via IMAX.

Fans can look forward to an incredible series of performances, featuring unique sets by Dead & Company each of the three nights. Each night will begin with up to 75-minute special guest sets from Billy Strings on Friday, August 1st, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson on Saturday, August 2nd, and Trey Anastasio Band on Sunday, August 3rd.

Dead & Company was founded in 2015 by Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, John Mayer and Bobby Weir. The band also features Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge and Jay Lane. The band last performed in San Francisco in July 2023 with three sold-out concerts at Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Those shows drew an audience of over 118,000 fans across three nights, bringing thousands of visitors to the Bay Area, and making a tremendous impact on the local economy. According to Destinations International’s Event Impact Calculator, the Total Estimated Direct Spend for that weekend was $21 million, and the Total Estimated Economic Impact was $30.9 million.

Def Leppard to Rock Caesars Palace with Third Las Vegas Residency in 2026

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Def Leppard announces a triumphant return to Las Vegas with their third residency that promises a brand new electrifying production to showcase their timeless catalog of hits along with some new surprises that fans and newcomers alike will love. Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency will set the strip alight from February 3 through 28, 2026, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. These new shows follow the band’s sold-out residency successes in 2019 and 2013

“Las Vegas has always been such a main attraction for Def Leppard,” says frontman Joe Elliott. “There’s no place on earth where you can have the likes of Adele, U2, and The Eagles all playing sold-out shows on the same night! We’re really looking forward to coming back for our third Vegas residency and to do a run at the iconic Colosseum at Caesars Palace is such an honor given the giants that have blessed that stage!”

Presales start tomorrow (Tues, July 22nd) at 10 am local time ahead of the general sale on Friday, July 25th.

Show dates are February 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 2026.

Def Leppard’s summer 2025 tour, produced by Live Nation, sees the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees headline select amphitheaters across the country, bringing their electrifying stage show to fans with special guests Bret Michaels, The Struts, and Extreme. The tour continues through August 31st, wrapping in Virginia Beach, VA.

Last week, the 80s rockers surprised fans in Ottaway when they brought out Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello for a special performance of their single “Just Like 73.” The song soared to No. 1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock chart upon its release last year.

Dashboard Confessional, Japanese Breakfast, Joyce Manor Lead Dream Lineup for Night Moves Music Fest 2025

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Night Moves Music Fest is set to return for its third year on November 8, 2025, bringing one day of live music and outdoor fun to Community Maritime Park at 301 W. Main St. in downtown Pensacola, Fla. This year’s lineup includes nationally recognized headliners Japanese Breakfast, Dashboard Confessional, and Joyce Manor, along with locally beloved artists like Ben Loftin and the Family, Ego Death, and Katie Dineen. Additional performances will include rising acts such as Origami Angel and Wishy.

After nearly 100% growth in its second year, Night Moves Music Fest is on track for its biggest year yet in 2025. Curated by The Handlebar and the Pensacola-based nonprofit Night Moves, the festival is a 2025 grant recipient of the annual Pensacola Foo Foo Festival event series produced by Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. (ACE), taking place October 30, 2025, through November 10, 2025. 

“We’re extremely happy to be recognized by ACE and Foo Foo Fest to bring another music festival to Pensacola this fall. We love where we live and are proud to have a small impact in making it a better place. This is a dream lineup for us, and we’re so thankful for the chance to bring these artists to our town — many of them for the first time ever,” said Robert Goodspeed, Director, Night Moves.

Night Moves Music Fest is an all-ages, rain-or-shine event. Tickets go on sale Friday July 25, 2025, with multiple tiers available. In addition to live music, the festival will feature local food trucks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options, and vintage vendors in a market-style area. 

For full ticket and event details, visit nightmovesfest.com or foofoofest.com

‘Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy’ Documentary Set to Screen in Toronto And On TVO In July

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Following celebrated selections at the 2025 American Black Film Festival and the Caribbean Film and Arts Festival, the vibrant and powerful new documentary Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy will screen in Toronto at Hot Docs on July 24, 2025, and at the Nia Centre For The Arts on Emancipation Day, August 4, 2025, as part of a national rollout. Directed and produced by Ian Mark Kimanje, this dynamic film captures the cultural, historical, and emotional impact of Caribbean Carnival in ways never before seen on screen.

Told through a powerful blend of interviews, archival storytelling, and breathtaking visuals shot across Canada, the UK, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States, the film highlights Carnival’s roots in joy-driven resistance and its continued evolution into a global cultural force. With events now celebrated in over 85 cities worldwide, Carnival stands as both a spiritual tradition and a modern-day celebration of freedom.

The documentary is anchored by Ian Mark Kimanje’s personal journey. The Kitchener-based filmmaker, who also serves as co-writer and producer, set out to explore why Carnival resonates so deeply with African and Caribbean diasporas across generations. His experience meeting a woman on the parade route—whose own story of finding healing and joy through Carnival during her cancer treatment—provided the spark for the film’s deeper emotional lens.

“This woman’s story reminded me that Carnival isn’t just celebration,” Kimanje says. “It’s a life force. It’s memory, legacy, and resistance wrapped in colour, sound, and movement.”

Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy was brought to life through the talents of an award-winning production team. In addition to Kimanje, the film is produced by Emily Jane DeVries and Robert Lang with writing by Allen Booth. The cinematography is led by Russell Gienapp, with editing by Mark Stork and Sonia Godding Togoba. The film’s original score was crafted by Freetown Collective, Sheriff Mumbles, and Derek Brin, who also handled music supervision and sound editing.

Executive Producers include Robert Lang, Emily Jane DeVries, and Ian Mark Kimanje, with additional support from Jane Jankovic and Alexandra Roberts (TVO) and Patrice Ramsay (Knowledge Network). Distribution and development support comes from Film Garage North, Kensington Communications, the Canada Media Fund, and Rogers Documentary Fund.

The film weaves historical research, modern cultural commentary, and intimate storytelling to show how Carnival has always been a vehicle for expression and survival—from its origins as a form of rebellion among enslaved Africans to its current-day role as a multi-million-dollar contributor to local economies. In 2023 alone, Toronto Carnival generated $465.7 million in GDP for Ontario, drawing 1.67 million attendees and energizing the city’s streets with sound, beauty, and purpose.

Through every feather, drumbeat, and dance move, the film makes one thing clear: Carnival is joy, and joy is power.

20 Storytelling Songs That Feel Like Novels

You don’t always need 300 pages to feel something deep. Sometimes, all it takes is a song—four minutes of melody and truth that spins a world into being. The best storytelling songs take you somewhere, introduce characters you feel like you’ve known forever, and leave you changed by the end. It’s literature with a chorus. It’s poetry you can dance to. It’s a short story you hum on repeat.

Here are 20 storytelling songs that feel like novels—told in three verses and a bridge, and filed alphabetically so you don’t have to choose a favorite. (We couldn’t either.)


“Alice’s Restaurant” – Arlo Guthrie
An 18-minute folk epic about Thanksgiving, garbage, and draft resistance. It’s got chapters. It’s got satire. It’s basically a musical novella.

“A Boy Named Sue” – Johnny Cash
A dad, a grudge, and one legendary fistfight. Shel Silverstein’s lyrics unfold like a gritty western short story, with a surprise ending that hits like a moral.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
It’s Shakespeare meets rock opera. A confessional, a murder, a trial, a thunderstorm, and an existential crisis—all in six minutes.

“Cat’s in the Cradle” – Harry Chapin
The story of fatherhood told through missed moments and mirrored lives. It’ll stop you in your tracks—and maybe make you call your dad.

“Cortez the Killer” – Neil Young
A haunting, sweeping saga of conquest and love. Part history, part dreamscape, fully unforgettable.

“Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman
Two people chasing escape and hope. The details are spare, but every word lands like a scene you’ve lived through.

“Hurricane” – Bob Dylan
A courtroom, a boxing ring, a broken system. Dylan tells Rubin Carter’s story with urgency and journalistic fire.

“Jolene” – Dolly Parton
A woman pleads with another not to steal her man—and in just a few verses, Dolly paints a love triangle you’ll never forget.

“Lyin’ Eyes” – Eagles
She lives in the city, married for comfort, loving someone else. The story stretches across decades in just six minutes of twang.

“Ode to Billie Joe” – Bobbie Gentry
Mystery, gossip, grief. The entire town talks about the body in the river, but nobody says what really happened. Still chilling.

“Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” – Jim Croce
One side of a conversation, but the heartbreak comes through crystal clear. It’s a break-up story you feel in your gut.

“Pancho and Lefty” – Townes Van Zandt / Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard
An outlaw ballad for the ages. Two lives, one betrayal, and a whole lot of dust and regret.

“Red Dirt Girl” – Emmylou Harris
A tale of dreams, heartbreak, and staying put. It’s not just about one girl—it’s about all of us who wonder what could’ve been.

“Sam Stone” – John Prine
A soldier comes home, but not all the way. Prine’s lyrics are as spare and devastating as the best short fiction.

“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” – Vicki Lawrence
A Southern murder mystery with a twist ending you’ll never see coming. One song, three deaths, and justice served cold.

“The River” – Bruce Springsteen
A blue-collar romance in a town of few chances. Bruce packs an entire novel’s worth of love, work, and memory into one river metaphor.

“The Weight” – The Band
A surreal road trip with Biblical overtones and unforgettable characters. Every verse adds another layer to the myth.

“The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” – Gordon Lightfoot
A haunting ballad that chronicles a true Great Lakes shipwreck with the precision of a historian and the heart of a poet.

“Two Black Cadillacs” – Carrie Underwood
Two women. One funeral. One shared secret. Every verse is a slow reveal, like a thriller in harmony.

10 Tips for Turning One Collab Into a Long-Term Music Relationship

You know that moment when you hit record and everything just clicks? The harmonies sync, the beats lock in, and you’re smiling halfway through the take because this feels right. That’s the magic of a great music collaboration. But what if that one song could lead to ten more? A tour? A lifelong friendship built on shared melodies and studio snacks?

Here are 10 tips to help that first spark become something lasting, fulfilling, and creatively unstoppable.

1. Communicate Like You’re in a Band—Because You Are
Talk about everything: goals, vibes, schedules, snacks. Great music comes from clear, honest communication and mutual respect.

2. Celebrate the Wins, Big and Small
Whether it’s 100 streams or a shoutout from a local DJ, celebrate it together. That builds trust and momentum.

3. Show Up (Even When You’re Not on the Mic)
Be there for their solo gigs. Share their posts. Support their side projects. Being present off the track means more on it.

4. Create a Ritual Together
Maybe it’s pre-session coffee, a post-show playlist, or trading memes during late-night mixing. Rituals make collaboration feel like home.

5. Keep the Ideas Flowing
Even when you’re not recording, throw voice notes, lyric snippets, or groove ideas at each other. A shared Notes app is your new best friend.

6. Talk About the Future, Creatively and Logistically
Dream together—albums, visuals, tours. Planning shows you both see a future in the partnership.

7. Be Open to Growth and Weird Ideas
Some of the best long-term collaborators are the ones who say, “Sure, let’s try a synth kazoo bridge.” Trust builds when curiosity leads.

8. Split the Work, Share the Credit
From writing to promo, divide the load and share the love. Equal energy fuels longevity.

9. Laugh Often, Especially at Yourselves
Funny vocal takes. Terrible song titles. Inside jokes. Laughter keeps the friendship alive, even when the sessions go late.

10. Keep the Music First
Every decision, every post, every late-night debate—come back to the music. If that stays the heart, the rest will follow.

The best collaborations feel less like work and more like play. When two (or more) musicians create with openness, consistency, and joy, one track can turn into a mixtape, a tour, a band, or even a bond that lasts decades. Keep making music, keep showing up—and let the long-term magic happen, one harmony at a time.

My Chemical Romance’s Isolated Vocals For “Helena (So Long & Goodnight)”

Released in 2005, “Helena” became an emo anthem and a heartfelt tribute to Gerard and Mikey Way’s late grandmother. Though written late in the process, it shaped the entire sound of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.

Goldy Locks Sparks National Conversation With “Buy the Record, Not the Bod” Campaign

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Goldy Locks, the electrifying frontwoman of The Goldy lockS Band and a trailblazing pro wrestling personality, has ignited a powerful new movement that calls out the exploitation of women in the music industry — and demands real support for working artists. Her new photo campaign, titled “Buy the Record, Not the Bod,” boldly features Goldy posing nude, shielded only by physical copies of her music. The message is unmistakable: this isn’t about sex, it’s about survival — and it’s time to fund the art, not just ogle the artist.

“I’ve had enough of people telling women like me to start an OnlyFans if we want to keep making music,” says Goldy. “This campaign is my answer. I’ll strip down for the message, not for a subscription. I’ll get vulnerable not for clicks, but to push a conversation that needs to happen. If you love an artist, buy their album. Don’t just stream it and scroll on.”

Goldy’s campaign arrives at a time when musicians earn on average $0.003 to $0.005 per stream on major platforms like Spotify — a figure that forces many independent artists, especially women, to consider alternative revenue models that often rely on sexualization. But Goldy is choosing a different path — one grounded in creativity, courage, and conviction.

“You want to support women? Support their work. Their art. Their grit. I’d rather be covered in CDs than ask strangers to subscribe to a fantasy,” she says.

Goldy’s approach also highlights the very real financial backbone that physical media and merchandise still provide to working artists. According to a 2024 Nielsen report, vinyl sales rose for the 18th consecutive year, with younger fans driving demand for physical product as a show of genuine support. For indie musicians, merch and album sales at shows often cover the basic costs of touring and recording — something no amount of streaming royalties can achieve.

“Artists make money off what you take home with you — a T-shirt, a CD, a download. That’s what keeps the music alive. And when fans buy something directly from me, they’re not just buying a record. They’re funding the next one.”

Beyond the economics, “Buy the Record, Not the Bod” serves as a cultural statement on how female artists are expected to navigate an industry that frequently ties success to sex appeal. “I wanted this campaign to empower women who feel like they have to sell themselves short — or sell themselves, period — to stay relevant,” says Goldy. “You don’t need perfect abs to be powerful. You need to believe your worth isn’t tied to the algorithm.”

Goldy’s journey from wrestling ring to stage to spotlight has always been driven by fearless reinvention. As a former TNA Impact Wrestling performer, entrepreneur, podcast host, and rock powerhouse, she’s stood alongside legends like Stevie Nicks, Nickelback, and Maroon 5. But it’s her honesty and resilience that have earned her a devoted following across generations and genres.

The inspiration for the campaign came from a higher place, too. “This idea came to me in prayer,” Goldy shares. “I was asking how to move forward as an artist, and I had this vision. Every store owner I spoke with said yes — before I even finished explaining. It reminded me there’s so much goodness out there, so many people who still believe in art with a purpose.”

Her new single, “I Didn’t Know,” featuring Mickie James Aldis and country rap icons The LACS, expands her reach even further. The track tells a story of betrayal, heartbreak, and rediscovery — a fitting companion to her current message of self-worth and reclaiming power.

Goldy is using every tool at her disposal to shift the narrative — not just for herself, but for younger women watching. “I want to show the next generation that they can lead with talent, truth, and bravery. That they don’t have to go along with everything just because it’s popular.”

The campaign is gaining traction on social media with fans using #BuyTheRecordNotTheBod to share their own stories, purchases, and support for women in music on her socials: YouTube and Spotify, Website, Facebook or Instagram. Goldy encourages others to join the movement by:

  • Buying or downloading music directly from artists
  • Purchasing physical albums, vinyl, and merchandise
  • Sharing the work of indie creators across platforms
  • Encouraging conversations about equity and respect in entertainment
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  • As Goldy puts it: “This isn’t about modesty or morality. It’s about agency. I took control of my body and my message. And now I’m asking the world — will you take action, or just take a peek?”

Michael Lawson Releases Emotionally Charged Single “It’s Love” From Upcoming EP ‘Vibe Talking’

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With roots in Seattle, Washington and a creative home now in Hoover, Alabama, roots-rock artist Michael Lawson continues his extraordinary musical resurgence with the release of his heartfelt new single “It’s Love.” Out now on all streaming platforms, “It’s Love” is the lead single from Lawson’s upcoming seven-song EP Vibe Talking, a piano-forward collection of songs that showcases his melodic sensibilities and hard-earned perspective.

A former frontman of a pre-grunge Seattle thrash band in the 1980s, Lawson took a 25-year detour before re-emerging as a singer-songwriter in 2019. The road back began with open mics in Tuscaloosa and took a transformative turn when he began recording at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. That journey now reaches a new peak with “It’s Love,” a single that blends Lawson’s emotional depth with refined musicianship and studio magic.

“If you have a song, I’d like to sing along… Cuz I’m on your side.”

Written on Christmas Eve during a quiet moment of last-minute shopping, the song came to life in just a few hours. “The line popped into my head while driving,” Lawson shares. “From there, the rest just flowed. I rushed home and finished it that night.”

Produced by Jimbo Hart (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit), “It’s Love” captures a sense of spiritual and emotional renewal. Lawson explains that the song explores how love can be both the force that breaks us and the one that heals. “Love is the one ingredient that can move us from hurt to healing, from disillusionment to truth. We’re all on the same team, and that realization is powerful.”

Joining Lawson on the track is a cast of seasoned musicians: Jimbo Hart on bass, Justin Holder (The Band Loula) on drums, Trevor McKay (Eric Gales Band) on guitars, and Brad Kuhn (Shenandoah) on piano and keyboards. The track was recorded and mixed by Wes Sheffield at FAME Studios and mastered by Randy Merrill, delivering a rich sonic palette that supports Lawson’s warm, earnest vocals and piano-driven arrangement.

“It’s Love” follows Lawson’s summer 2024 releases “Tennessee River Shakedown” and “Tears and Whiskey,” each of which drew praise for their blend of southern soul and introspective songwriting. With “It’s Love,” Lawson leans even further into what he calls the “emotive core” of his music—a sound that feels both classic and timely.

Though this marks his fifth studio release, Lawson feels the EP Vibe Talking represents a creative homecoming. “I hadn’t played piano much in 25 years, but it came back like an old friend,” he says. “The piano allows me to tap into the melodic side of my songwriting in a way that feels natural and real.”

With each new release, Lawson adds new depth to his story—a story defined not by fame or flash, but by sincerity, craft, and connection. “It’s Love” offers all of that and more, an anthem for unity and healing in a time that sorely needs both.