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The Favors (FINNEAS & Ashe) Announce Debut Tour and Forthcoming Album ‘The Dream’

Eric Alper
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The Favors (FINNEAS & Ashe) Announce Debut Tour and Forthcoming Album ‘The Dream’

Today, on the heels of releasing their romantic, harmony-drenched single “The Hudson,” The Favors (FINNEAS & Ashe) announce their debut run of shows as a band, performing in Los Angeles, Red Rocks, and New York. Fans can enjoy an evening with The Favors’ as they play their upcoming album The Dream (out September 19) at iconic venues Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9/18), Red Rocks Amphitheatre (9/26), and Summerstage in Central Park (10/1).

THE FAVORS TOUR DATES:

September 18: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery

September 26: Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

October 1: New York City, NY @ Central Park Summerstage

October 3: Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival

October 10: Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival

Longtime friends and collaborators, the award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer FINNEAS and multi-platinum artist Ashe first captured hearts with their 2019 hit “Moral of the Story” and followed it up with 2021’s “Till Forever Falls Apart.” In June 2025, they officially christened their collaborative partnership as The Favors. “The Hudson” is the new band’s latest single, a piano-driven ballad that builds to a dramatic climax.

Their forthcoming album together; The Dream, is out on September 19 via Darkroom Records.

Pre-order/add/save HERE.

Drawing deep inspiration from the golden era of the Laurel Canyon, The Favors songs that are equally appropriate for the last dance in a smoky bar circa 1977 or a sunset slot at Coachella in 2027. The Dream channels the intimate storytelling and sun-soaked melancholy of artists like The Mamas and the Papas, Carole King and Crosby, Stills & Nash, Simon and Garfunkel and Fleetwood Mac—filtered through a cinematic lens that stretches coast to coast. Largely written and recorded in Nashville where Ashe resides and Los Angeles where FINNEAS is from, The Dream is a no-rules project that revives the warmth and groove of ’70s pop with razor-sharp songwriting, lush harmonies, and a distinctly modern edge.

“This is the way every artist dreams of making an album,” grins Ashe. “People don’t sing together anymore when they’re recording, but it was so romantic and fun.” FINNEAS adds, “It’s a true ‘long-play album’ in its real intended meaning. Hopefully, you can have friends over, cook a meal, and play this on vinyl front-to-back.” Ashe concludes “I want you to feel simultaneously warm, fuzzy, and heartbroken at the same time.”

Live Nation Urban Launches Creator Network with Breakr to Power Culture-First Brand Partnerships

Eric Alper
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Live Nation Urban Launches Creator Network with Breakr to Power Culture-First Brand Partnerships

Today, Live Nation Urban officially unveils the Live Nation Urban Creator Network, a bold new platform redefining how culture gets activated. Built in partnership with Breakr, the creator marketing and payments platform behind some of the biggest creator-led campaigns in music and media, this national network brings together the infrastructure, creators, and cultural strategy to help brands authentically show up — whether on stage, online, or in real life.

At its core, the Creator Network is not just a campaign tool — it’s a movement engine. Powered by a curated collective of thousands of top Black creators and backed by Breakr’s broader database of 75,000+ creators and 55 million data points, Live Nation Urban can now offer brands a new kind of media channel: culturally-embedded, locally relevant, and instantly scalable.

“Creators have long been an integral part of how we market our tours and festivals,” says Live Nation Urban President Shawn Gee. “But the demand from our brand partners pushed us to think bigger—to move beyond treating creator marketing as an internal tool and instead build a business model around it. As brands increasingly looked to us to help them connect authentically with Black audiences, even outside the context of our events, it became clear there was an opportunity to create something larger. With the Live Nation Urban Creator Network, we’re building the largest network of Black creators in the industry—powered by our platform, driven by culture.”

FOR BRANDS & CMOs: THIS IS A CULTURE-FIRST MEDIA STRATEGY, BUILT FOR NOW

Live Nation Urban is the steward of some of the most iconic live experiences in America — from Roots Picnic to ONE Musicfest, Broccoli City, and more. But this Creator Network is designed to move far beyond festival grounds. With Breakr’s embedded tech, real-time payments, and campaign automation, Live Nation Urban now gives brands a plug-and-play creator infrastructure that can be deployed around any cultural tentpole, not just their own.

Think: a brand wants to activate around Juneteenth, or a product launch at an HBCU in Atlanta, or a digital campaign tied to the BET Awards — LNU can now curate, execute, and amplify with precision and speed. This is more than influencer marketing. It’s cultural media-as-a-service, with reach, narrative control, and conversion power all under one roof.

FOR CREATORS: THIS IS YOUR SPOTLIGHT, BACKED BY THE BIGGEST NAMES IN ENTERTAINMENT

The Live Nation Urban Creator Network offers exclusive access to high-value campaigns, VIP entry to top festivals, collaboration opportunities with brands like Hulu, STARZ, and BET and — most importantly — guaranteed payment within 48 hours of campaign delivery via BreakrPay™. That means creators can stop chasing checks and start scaling their craft, backed by a platform that sees them as partners, not vendors.

“In just five years, creators have gone from supporting cast to the headliners of our growth story,” says Live Nation Urban’s Vice President of Marketing Malcolm Gray. “Today, we’re opening the doors to an exclusive creator network—pairing brands with unrivaled cultural capital and turning influence into record-breaking results.”

IMPACT THAT REACHES BEYOND THE INTERNET

This initiative sits alongside Live Nation Urban’s broader mission to invest in and scale Black entrepreneurship and creativity. Through the Black Lilly Capital Investment Fund, LNU has already made strategic investments into companies like Breakr — helping seed the infrastructure to build a more equitable creator economy.

This isn’t about moment marketing. It’s about movement marketing — and giving creators and brands the blueprint to win together.

To learn more or apply for the 2025 Creator Class, visit: https://creators.livenationurban.com/

Don Broco Drop Explosive New Single “Cellophane” and Announce Global Tour with Fearless Records

Eric Alper
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Don Broco Drop Explosive New Single “Cellophane” and Announce Global Tour with Fearless Records

UK rock juggernauts Don Broco are charging into a bold new era with the release of their explosive new single “Cellophane,” out today via their new label home, Fearless Records. The track launches alongside the announcement of their forthcoming US, UK and Australian tour dates, with tickets on sale Friday, July 27.

Blending biting riffs, stomping drums, and a vocal performance that flips effortlessly between smooth melodies, snarled verses, and angsty screams, “Cellophane” marks a razor-sharp evolution of the band’s signature genre-bending style. Equal parts nu-metal revival and festival-ready rock anthem, the Dan Lancaster (Blink-182, Muse, Bring Me The Horizon) produced song is built to make you bang your head and move your feet, all while grappling with something much heavier beneath the surface.

“‘Cellophane’ is about realizing you’re not as tough as you thought,” the band shares. “That maybe you mentally don’t have what it takes, but at the same time are afraid of getting the help you need.”

DON BROCO’s unique blend of rock, metal, pop, and electronic textures has already earned them chart-topping albums (Amazing Things, Technology, Automatic), sold-out arena tours across the UK, and global acclaim for their wildly energetic live shows. The signing to storied label Fearless Records marks the next leap forward.

“We signed DON BROCO because they’re one of the most ambitious and creatively fearless bands in modern rock,” shares Andy Serrao, President of Fearless Records. “They don’t follow trends – they build worlds, and that vision lines up perfectly with what we do at Fearless. We’re not here to reinvent them; we’re here to amplify what makes them special and help take it global. This is a band built for the future, and we’re proud to be part of what’s next.”

This fall, the band will bring their electric live energy across UK, Australia and North America, performing new material alongside fan favorites.

Ben Folds Announces 2026 Australian ‘Ben Folds & A Piano’ Tour

Eric Alper
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Ben Folds Announces 2026 Australian ‘Ben Folds & A Piano’ Tour

Frontier Touring and Chugg Entertainment are thrilled to welcome Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter and New York Times Best Selling author, Ben Folds, back to Australia next February and March as part of his Ben Folds & A Piano Tour. The tour features an intimate live musical experience, with Folds performing past and current hits, and sharing stories from over three decades as a platinum-selling singer-songwriter and former frontman for Ben Folds Five.

Ben is currently on the road, weaving his way throughout the USA for the remainder of 2025 before heading to Australia early 2026. Ben Folds & A Piano tour kicks off in Brisbane at the Fortitude Music Hall on February 18th, before two New South Wales shows at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on February 20th and Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul on February 21st. The tour continues at Canberra Theatre Centre on February 22nd, across to Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide on February 24th, then two Victorian shows at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne on February 26th and Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo on February 27th before heading west for a final show at Riverside Theatre, Perth on March 1st.

Presales start on Monday, August 11th at 10 am local time ahead of the general sale Tuesday, August 12th.

Ben Folds is an Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter who has created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, a holiday album, and numerous collaborative records.

He currently tours as a pop artist while also performing for over two decades with some of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras.

Folds, who served for eight years as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, stepped down from his post when Donald Trump announced his takeover of the Center. On October 25-26, 2024, just days before the US presidential election, Folds recorded two sold-out performances with the NSO, which he released as a live album in July that debuted at the top of the Billboard classical and classical crossover charts.

A New York Times Best Selling author, Ben also creates new music for film, TV and theater, with original new music he composed to be featured in an animated Peanuts special airing this summer on Apple TV.

In 2022, he launched a music education charitable initiative in his native state of North Carolina entitled Keys For Kids, which provides funds and keyboards to existing nonprofits that offer free or affordable piano lessons to school-age children from economically disadvantaged households. For the past 15 years, he has been an outspoken advocate for arts funding, music education and music therapy in the US as a member of Americans For The Arts and the Arts Action Fund.

Ben Folds & A Piano 2026 Australian Tour Dates:

Feb 18 – Brisbane, QLD @ The Fortitude Music Hall
Feb 20 – Sydney, NSW @ State Theatre
Feb 21 – Thirroul, NSW @ Anita’s Theatre
Feb 22 – Canberra, NSW @ Canberra Theatre Centre
Feb 25 – Adelaide, SA @ Thebarton Theatre
Feb 26 – Melbourne, VIC @ Palais Theatre
Feb 27 – Bendigo, VIC @ Ulumbarra Theatre
Mar 1 – Perth, WA @ Riverside Theatre

Rob Thomas Releases New Single “Picture Perfect” Ahead of Upcoming Album ‘All Night Days’

Eric Alper
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Rob Thomas Releases New Single “Picture Perfect” Ahead of Upcoming Album ‘All Night Days’

Rob Thomas shares the newest single from his upcoming album All Night Days, out September 5th on Universal Records. “Picture Perfect” is a nostalgic and romantic earworm of a song. Rob croons about wanting a “picture-perfect moment,” inspired by his love of ‘80s films. The lyric video gives a nod to the classic romantic comedy Say Anything, and “Picture Perfect” deserves its serenading boombox moment.

On his sixth solo album, All Night Days, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Rob Thomas continues to craft songs about living life to the fullest, even if those “All Night Days” come less often than they used to. Produced by Gregg Wattenberg (John Legend, Goo Goo Dolls) and Grant Michaels, this record is as fitting a soundtrack for Saturday night, as much as it is for Sunday morning. The album marks his first release in partnership with Universal Records.

To kick off the album, Rob shared two tracks that showcase dual sides of the album — the sunny and swaggering lead focus single “Hard To Be Happy,” paired with the intimate acoustic b-side “Thrill Me.”

Ahead of the album release, Thomas is currently on an extensive headlining tour with dates in the US, Australia, and New Zealand, marking his first full tour since Matchbox Twenty’s wildly successful Slow Dream Tour, and his first headlining tour since 2019’s Chip Tooth Tour.

One Hundred Moons Unveil Hypnotic Video for New Single “Black Avalanche” from Forthcoming Album ‘Black Avalanche’

Eric Alper
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One Hundred Moons Unveil Hypnotic Video for New Single “Black Avalanche” from Forthcoming Album ‘Black Avalanche’

One Hundred Moons has dropped the official video for their haunting new single, “Black Avalanche,” inviting viewers into an immersive visual journey. The video is the perfect visual companion to the song, capturing its raw intensity and haunting atmosphere.

Filmed in an open field, the imagery distorts and shifts like liquid light, pulling you into a world where nothing stays still. The band performs amidst this kaleidoscopic landscape, the colours and textures blending, dissolving, and reassembling like something pulled straight from the edge of a dream.

As the day fades and night falls, smoke billows through the scene, wrapping everything in a haunting, ethereal layer. The restless energy of the visuals mirrors the song’s tension, each shot charged with a sense of urgency and mystery. It’s the kind of mystical and mesmerizing experience you can’t look away from, much like the band’s music itself. The influences of My Bloody Valentine’s sonic weight, Slowdive’s dreamlike atmospherics, and Radiohead’s haunting emotional depth all bleed through, both in the track and in the video’s otherworldly visuals.

The video breathes life into the track’s soul, pulling viewers into a world where reality shifts and flows, forever in motion. “Black Avalanche” serves as the first glimpse into the One Hundred Moons’ upcoming album of the same name, setting the stage for a darker, more atmospheric journey into uncharted territory.

ONE HUNDRED MOONS is a Toronto shoegaze revelation, guiding listeners through ethereal soundscapes and introspective melodies. The band—Collin Young, Jen Vella, Justin Hunt, Matt Laplante, and NJ Borreta—creates lush, layered textures using cascading guitars, hypnotic rhythms, and captivating vocals. Their music draws influence from acts like My Bloody Valentine and Radiohead, blending the dreamy ambiance of shoegaze with the emotional gravity of post-rock and the grit of ’90s alt-rock. With a sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern, they explore themes of longing, transformation, and inner reflection. Known for their immersive live performances and critically acclaimed debut, ONE HUNDRED MOONS has quickly carved out a space in the indie music world. Each performance showcases their technical precision and deep emotional resonance, proving them to be thoughtful musicians with a clear artistic vision. As they continue to evolve, ONE HUNDRED MOONS is redefining the possibilities of dream pop and shoegaze.

Nine Inch Nails Launch North American Leg of ‘Peel It Back’ Tour with Sold-Out Oakland Arena Show

Eric Alper
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Nine Inch Nails Launch North American Leg of ‘Peel It Back’ Tour with Sold-Out Oakland Arena Show

On Wednesday night, Nine Inch Nails kicked off the North American leg of their acclaimed “Peel It Back” world tour with a sold-out show at Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA.

The 26-date run will include two-night stands at United Center in Chicago (August 19 and 20), Barclays Center in Brooklyn (September 2 and 3) and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles (September 18 and 19), where the tour will wrap up.

Due to fan demand and overwhelming response to the production debuted on the European tour, the band decided to release previously held tickets for the North American run, which are available at NIN.com.

Joining Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the Nine Inch Nails touring lineup features Robin Finck, Alessandro Cortini, and Josh Freese, who returned to the stage with the band for the first time since 2008. All members were in attendance at the opener, where fans erupted in applause as Freese made his long-awaited return. Boyz Noise opened the show and will join all upcoming dates.

The show opened with an intimate performance on the B-stage, featuring reimagined versions of “Right Where It Belongs,” “Ruiner,” and “Piggy.” Throughout the night, the band delivered standout performances of “Sin,” “The Perfect Drug,” “Hurt,” and more, enhanced by striking new visuals-including during “Heresy.” A major highlight was the electrifying live debut of “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” from TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), performed alongside tour openers Boys Noize.

Each night of the tour offers a distinct experience, with a setlist that evolves and draws from the band’s expansive 37-year catalog. The Oakland performance featured the cutting-edge four-act production, designed by creative director Todd Tourso and MTLA.studio.

The ‘Peel It Back Tour,’ which marks the band’s first live outing since 2022, launched at Dublin’s 3Arena in June. The Times, in an opening night review, said, “The show was a revelation – a thrilling onslaught that combined angst, sincerity and a nightmarish otherworldliness…” Evening Standard proclaimed, “Trent Reznor is the last great art rock star.” NME noted, “[The band] delivered a stacked setlist of huge hits and rarities” while Kerrang hailed the tour as “mind-blowing.”

NINE INCH NAILS – PEEL IT BACK WORLD TOUR 2025 – NORTH AMERICAN LEG
Wed Aug 06 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Fri Aug 08 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
Sun Aug 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Tue Aug 12 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Thu Aug 14 – West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center
Fri Aug 15 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Sun Aug 17 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Tue Aug 19 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Wed Aug 20 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Fri Aug 22 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Sat Aug 23 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Tue Aug 26 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Wed Aug 27 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Fri Aug 29 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sun Aug 31 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Tue Sep 02 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Wed Sep 3 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Fri Sep 05 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center
Sat Sep 06 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Tue Sep 09 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena
Wed Sep 10 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
Fri Sep 12 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Sat Sep 13 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
Tue Sep 16 – Phoenix, AZ – PHX Arena
Thu Sep 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
Fri Sep 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Ready For The World Announce New Album ‘Ready Sonique’ with First Single “Feelin U”

Eric Alper
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Ready For The World Announce New Album ‘Ready Sonique’ with First Single “Feelin U”

Ready For The World have given fans their first taste of their forthcoming album, Ready Sonique, which will arrive on September 19th, via the SRG-ILS Group/Virgin Music/(UMG) label imprint.

Ready Sonique is a stunning fusion of past and present that blends their platinum legacy with genre-pushing new energy. Founding members Willie Triplett and Gerald Valentine are joined by powerhouse newcomers David Lyve and cameo appearances from Scola of Dru Hill, Tiffanie Porter aka P.ily, Kharisma and Aveon to deliver a fearless album of soulful grooves, cutting-edge beats, and lyrical depth.

From the creators of Oh Sheila, Love You Down, and Digital Display, Ready Sonique reinvents R&B by combining lush live instrumentation with Trap, Neo-Soul, EDM, Afrobeats, and more. The album was five years in the making and reflects a full-circle moment in music-paying homage to their roots while boldly stepping into the future.

The first offering from “Ready Sonique” is “Feelin U”, was written by Gerald Valentine, Tiffanie Porter and David Watkins and produced by Willie Triplett and Gerald Valentine. The sensuous Hip-Hop inspired upbeat R&B ballad invoking an eargasm from a threesome-lead swing. A deep best friendship between a man and a woman takes a passionate turn after an unexpected, electrifying night together. As they both bask in the afterglow, replaying every moment with longing and awe, her alluring ex-lover, a captivating bisexual woman reappears, eager to rekindle the spark and reclaim her place in the mix.

Nicola Roberts Joins West End Production of ‘Hadestown’ as Persephone

Eric Alper
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Nicola Roberts Joins West End Production of ‘Hadestown’ as Persephone

It is announced today that international music artist Nicola Roberts from the BRIT Award-winning group Girls Aloud, will join the West End production of multi award-winning Hadestown in the role of Persephone from 16 September 2025 until 18 January 2026.

Nicola Roberts said: “I am beyond thrilled to be joining the cast of Hadestown in London. This show is a true masterpiece, and I am honoured to be a part of such a talented and inspiring team. The role of Persephone has such depth and complexity, she feels light and sorrow, joy and darkness. Her songs are rich with emotion and an absolute joy to sing, and I’m excited to explore every facet of her character on stage. I am grateful for this incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to share this journey with audiences in London. Let’s take a trip to the underworld together!”

Roberts joins Desmonda Cathabel as Eurydice; Chris Jarman as Hades; Cedric Neal as Hermes; and Dylan Wood as Orpheus.

Melanie Bright, Allie Daniel and Lauran Rae play the Fates; Femi Akinfolarin, Michelle Andrews, Ollie Bingham, Laura Delany and Sebastian Lim-Seet play the Workers, with Lucinda Buckley, Juan Jackson, Oisín Nolan-Power, Lindo Shinda and Jasmine Triadi as Swings.

Nicola Roberts first rose to prominence in 2002 as a member of the BRIT Award-winning group Girls Aloud, formed on ITV’s Popstars: The Rivals. The group went on to achieve a record-breaking run of 20 consecutive UK Top 10 singles, including four number ones, and released five hit studio albums-securing their status as one of the most defining British pop acts of the 2000s. Following the group’s hiatus in 2013, Nicola released her critically acclaimed debut solo album, Cinderella’s Eyes, before going on to enjoy success as a songwriter for other artists.

In 2020, Nicola won the inaugural season of ITV’s The Masked Singer UK as ‘Queen Bee’, earning praise for her powerful and distinctive vocal performances. Later that year, she made her West End debut in Josie Rourke’s Olivier Award-winning revival of City of Angels at the Garrick Theatre, playing the dual roles of Avril and Mallory.

In 2024, Nicola reunited with bandmates Cheryl, Kimberley and Nadine for The Girls Aloud Show-a sold-out 30-date UK and Ireland arena tour that celebrated the group’s music, legacy, and their late bandmate Sarah Harding. The tour played to over 300,000 fans and received widespread critical acclaim.

Off stage, Nicola is a passionate advocate for social issues. She has campaigned for fair representation in the beauty industry through her make-up line Dainty Doll, helped secure legislation banning underage use of tanning beds, and continues her charitable work with organisations including Barnardo’s and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, through the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.

Blending American songwriting traditions, from indie folk, to pop, blues, and New Orleans-inspired jazz, Hadestown has music, lyrics, and book by acclaimed Tony and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winner Anaïs Mitchell who originated Hadestown as an indie theatre project and acclaimed album, before transforming the show into a genre-defying new musical alongside artistic collaborator and Tony Award-winning director Rachel Chavkin.

Hadestown takes you on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back, intertwining two mythic love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone. A deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience, Hadestown invites you to imagine how the world could be.

The Hadestown creative team includes David Neumann (Choreography), Rachel Hauck (Scenic Design), Michael Krass (Costume Design), Bradley King (Lighting Design), Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz (Sound Design), Liam Robinson (Music Supervision and Vocal Arrangements), Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose (Arrangements and Orchestrations), Ken Cerniglia (Dramaturgy), Maria Crocker (UK Associate Director), and Tarek Merchant (Musical Director & Associate Music Supervisor). Casting by Jacob Sparrow. Additional casting by Rob Kelly.

Hadestown is produced in London by Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, Tom Kirdahy and the National Theatre in association with JAS Theatricals.

Los Straitjackets Drop “Spinout” Video Ahead of First All-Original Album in 13 Years, ‘Somos Los Straitjackets’

Eric Alper
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Los Straitjackets Drop “Spinout” Video Ahead of First All-Original Album in 13 Years, ‘Somos Los Straitjackets’

Rock’n’roll veterans Los Straitjackets have shared their new single “Spinout” today along with an official video. The track is the latest to release off their forthcoming album Somos Los Straitjackets, the masked quartet’s first new album of all-original material in over 13 years, which is due out September 19th through Yep Roc Records.

A reimagined version of a song originally recorded by guitarist Eddie Angel’s other band The Neanderthals over 20 years ago, “Spinout” is bolstered by guest vocals from voice-over king Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Transformers, Rick & Morty).

“Another song with a past,” stated Angel. “I originally recorded this with my band The Neanderthals. This is an upgraded version with key changes and the genius of Tom Kenny doing voiceovers.”

“Spinout” follows the release of “Polaris,” a track inspired by the vintage tones of surf rock’s golden age and an official video that follows a once-legendary luchador exiled from the squared circle, embarking on a surreal pilgrimage to play the slightly-mythic arcade game titled Polaris. The suspenseful lead single “High Wire Act” is also out now, featuring retro surf-attack hooks and a raucous, spry groove. Glide recently hailed “Los Straitjackets make their long-awaited return with Somos Los Straitjackets” while Americana UK stated “this four-piece has coalesced into a tight rocking outfit.”

Los Straitjackets have served as America’s premier surf rock band for over three decades. They have taken their combo sound around the world, making instrumental records, but also assuming the role of all-star backing band along the way, most notably with Nick Lowe for over a decade. It’s that collaboration that fuels Somos Los Straitjackets. The lineup that has been touring since founder Danny “Daddy-O-Grande” Amis had to drop out of day-to-day operations because of his (winning) battle against multiple myeloma is Eddie Angel, longtime bassist Pete “Mr. Pete” Curry, drummer Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague (The Sprague Brothers, Deke Dickerson) and Rochester guitar hero Greg “Gregario” Townson (The Hi-Risers, John Ellison).

After recording with producer Alex Hall (JD McPherson, The Cactus Blossoms) at Reliable Recorders for Lowe’s 2024 album Indoor Safari, the band knew they had met the man who could capture the renewed sound of this group. They began by tracking early demos at Pete Curry’s Powow Fun Room studio in LA, then continued to fine-tune the new songs at soundchecks and even peppered them into live sets. The result is a down and dirty, electrifying, and beautiful album that pulsates with wit, twang and thunderous rock n’ roll. Somos also features two re-recordings of pandemic-era remote compositions (Townson’s “Genesee River Rock” and Angel’s “April Showers”) as well as a reimagined version of “Spinout,” a track recorded by Eddie’s other band The Neanderthals (bolstered by some guest vocals from voice-over king Tom Kenny).

“The recording process we used this time was different,” stated Angel. “We got together numerous times at the studio to work up the songs, then we recorded demos to listen back to. Having some time to tweak the songs, and in some cases play them live, really helped when it came time to record.”

With shimmering tremolo, relentless drum grooves, and hooks so catchy they don’t need lyrics to get stuck in your head, Somos Los Straitjackets is produced with a vintage touch but packed with fresh intensity. It’s both a love letter to rock ‘n’ roll’s past and a declaration of purpose with feet firmly planted in the present. It demonstrates why Los Straitjackets have reigned as the kings of modern instrumental rock for over thirty years.

TRACK LISTING:
01) Bumper Car
02) Polaris
03) Genesee River Rock
04) High Wire Act
05) Numbskull
06) Two Steps Ahead
07) April Showers
08) Cry for a Beatle
09) Catalina Farewell
10) Copy Cat
11) Sentimental Fool
12) Bad Apple
13) Wicker Park
14) Spinout
15) Virgon

TOUR DATES:

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets:
08/12 – North Truro, MA @ Payomet Performing Arts Center
08/13 – Natick, MA @ Center For Arts In Natick
08/15 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes
08/16 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest Cafe

Los Straitjackets:
10/03 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Moe’s Alley
10/04 – Albany, CA @ The Ivy Room
10/05 – San Francisco, CA @ Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (w/ Nick Lowe)
10/22 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
10/23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall
10/24 – Homer, NY @ Homer Center for the Arts
10/25 – Rochester, NY @ Temple Theater
10/26 – Buffalo, NY @ Sportsmens Tavern
10/28 – Old Saybrook, CT @ Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
10/29 – Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse
10/30 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
10/31 – Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall
11/01 – Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts
11/02 – Troy, NY @ Hangar on the Hudson

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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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