Riding high on the explosive global success of their hit single “Dirty Work,” worldwide K-pop sensation, aespa, is back with even more fire with their new release “Dark Arts” – out now via SM Entertainment / Virgin Records. Teaming up with KRAFTON’s PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, “Dark Arts” is a fierce new anthem that channels unshakeable determination, fearless ambition and thrill of the battle.
K-pop superstars, aespa, known for their unique sound and captivating performances, are collaborating with KRAFTON’s PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, a global leader in the battle royale genre, on their new single “Dark Arts.” This partnership offers fans a fresh and diverse experience, merging the distinct universes and symbolism of both entities.
“Dark Arts” encapsulates a fierce determination to achieve victory in intense battles for survival. The track features aggressive rhythms and fast-paced guitar sounds, effectively conveying the tension of combat. It creates a dynamic synergy with aespa’s unique hip style, building high expectations among global music fans.
Starting with the first teaser content released on June 21, aespa’s collaboration with PUBG:BATTLEGROUNDS has continued to build excitement with a main film teaser video and images showcasing aespa transformed into fierce in-game warriors. With the full version of the main film set to be released on aespa’s official YouTube channel alongside the track, anticipation is high for an enthusiastic response from fans. Aespa’s first-ever live performance of “Dark Arts” will happen at the PNC 2025 Grand Finals on July 27 at the Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul.
Last month, the global K-pop sensation released “Dirty Work”, which debuted at #5 on the Billboard’s Global 200 chart and #2 on Billboard’s Global Excluding US chart, marking the group’s highest ranks and second and third top 10 on the respective Billboard charts. Additionally, the single debuted #1 on Spotify’s “Top Songs Debut Global” charts on June 27-29. Earning over 1.01 million pre-orders and over 27 million music video views, the song not only ranked high on major domestic music charts but also is leading on other global charts, including five No. 1 positions on China’s largest music platform QQ Music. Additionally, it holds the No. 1 spot on KuGou Music’s Digital Album Sales chart and Japan’s AWA real-time Rising chart, showcasing its strong global presence.
Today, rising singer-songwriter Thomas Edwards shared that he has signed a record deal with Warner Music Nashville. To celebrate the announcement, the East Tennessee-born artist will release a new song, “Drunk Enough,” this Friday (7.18).
“I’m so excited to be working with Warner and their great team of driven people,” Edwards said. “After spending the last four years in town improving my craft as a writer and artist, I am excited to let these songs out in the world with great partners at Warner. I look forward to challenging myself as a creative and all the great music to be made ahead!”
Edwards’ boozy new song “Drunk Enough,” out Friday, was penned by the singer along with Dave Cohen and Aaron Ratiere. The track follows previously released “Old Crowd” and his debut song “Runnin’ Through That T,” which was inspired by his collegiate football career at the University of Tennessee. The ode to Rocky Top garnered attention from Tennessee fans and beyond, inspiring the singer to continue honing his craft off the field. Edwards is set to release additional new music soon.
Multi-platinum Australian band Vacations has announced they will release their 2018 debut album, Changes, on vinyl for the first time, along with a special 10th Anniversary first-time vinyl combo of their first two EPs, Days (2015), and Vibes (2016) on September 5th.
Changes, will be available as a baby blue vinyl, and features their platinum single “Telephones'” and fan favorite “Honey” and Days/Vibes will be a split double mint and baby pink 180G vinyl and include fan favorite “Day Dreamin,” double-platinum certified single “Young,” and certified gold track “Relax.”
All three records not only continue to resonate with longtime fans, but also played a pivotal role in catapulting the band to global recognition, laying the groundwork for their sustained success and cult following. The band adds, “These early releases mean the world to our fans, we can’t thank everyone enough for their support over the years.” Pre-order here.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Days, lead singer and songwriter Campbell Burns announced today two special solo shows at the First Unitarian Church in Brooklyn, NY on September 12th and 13th. Burns exaplains, “I moved to NYC earlier this year, and I wanted to do something to celebrate the milestone. After seeing a few shows at churches around Brooklyn, I felt like I wanted to try my own take on it. I’ve been trying out more solo performances lately, and whilst they are terrifying, I think they’re the final boss as an artist (for me, anyway) in a live context. These shows will be part celebration, part practice. I may try to tell some jokes too, and I think I want to cover Yung Lean or Sade, who knows!”
Brighton indie riser Opal Mag shares brand new track ‘Kitchen Song’. Taking influences from the likes of Mazzy Star, The Sundays, The Breeders, and The Smashing Pumpkins, Opal Mag blends hazy, atmospheric soundscapes with confessional, unfiltered lyricism. Writing for the dreamers and the bedroom dwellers, her songs feel like secrets whispered late at night; raw, intimate, and achingly real.
With recent supports ticked off alongside acts including Black Honey and Phoebe Green, and several festival appearances lined up in the coming months, the songwriter’s early releases have already won acclaim from tastemakers Stereogum, So Young Magazine and Under The Radar, and found a home on stations such as BBC 6 Music (Emily Pilbeam), KEXP (Cheryl Waters) and Triple J (Colby Robertson).
Speaking ahead of the release, the newcomer explained: “‘Kitchen Song’ is a love letter to quiet, solitary nights spent in the sanctuary of my bedroom. While the world celebrates outside – voices lifted in karaoke, lights flashing through windows – I find a quieter kind of joy. I dance barefoot across the floor, play with makeup like it’s paint on a canvas, try on outfits just for the thrill of transformation. I eat popcorn by the handful, strum my guitar in soft, wandering melodies, lose myself in the dreamy corners of Pinterest and flick through old magazines like they’re portals to another time. Nostalgic films and TV shows hum in the background, and the radio plays songs that seem to understand exactly how I feel. It’s not loneliness – it’s magic. A night made just for me.”
In a spellbinding solo performance, Japanese musician Keizo Ishibashi breathes new life into the folk standard “The Water is Wide” using his self-invented Cantawheel. Inspired by the Medieval hurdy-gurdy, the device fuses tradition with innovation, delivering a rich, continuous resonance that blurs the line between strumming and bowing. A haunting tribute to centuries of musical craftsmanship.
Nashville-based country artist Onoleigh announces the launch of OVATION, a new live music series designed to spotlight rising talent while giving back to the community through charitable partnerships.
Curated and hosted by Onoleigh herself, the series debuts with a powerhouse lineup including: Paul Sidoti (Taylor Swift’s longtime guitarist and vocalist) – Noah Thompson (winner of American Idol Season 20) – Erin Kirby (rising country artist, duet with Kameron Marlowe) – Carson Beyer (accomplished singer-songwriter with 4 million streams) – MisterMoon (featured on season 26 of NBC’s The Voice)
The first installment of OVATION will directly benefit the W.O. Smith Music School, a Nashville nonprofit that provides high-quality music education to children from low-income families for just 50 cents a lesson. The event’s primary sponsor, Free Guitars for Kids, is donating multiple guitars to the school, reinforcing the mission of putting instruments, and opportunity, into the hands of Nashville’s youth.
“Music saved my life,” says Onoleigh, who has shared stages with John Oates, KT Tunstall and Smokey Robinson and released her debut EP First Rodeo earlier this year. “When I volunteered at W.O. Smith, I saw firsthand how deeply they impact kids’ lives. OVATION is my way of paying it forward-bringing artists together to celebrate music while uplifting the community.”
Set in iconic venues across Music City, each OVATION event features a full house band and a rotating lineup of guest performers. With every show aligned to a nonprofit partner, the series is as much about purpose as it is performance, proving that music can entertain, inspire, and uplift all at once.
Country music’s riveting artist, Gavin Adcock, released new song “Sunset,” his latest offering from the forthcoming album Own Worst Enemy, this past Friday 7/11.
The brand-new album, Own Worst Enemy, is set to release August 15th via Adcock’s own Thrivin’ Here Records LLC under exclusive license to Warner Music Nashville, and serves as the follow-up to Adcock’s debut for the label, Actin’ Up Again, which released just under a year ago (August 2, 2024).
During week of release, Actin’ Up Again topped more than 15 million on-demand U.S. streams, eventually being crowned the largest major-label country debut from a solo male artist released in 2024.
Collectively, Adcock’s releases thus far have pushed the rebel-rouser over the BILLION global streams mark in addition to recently receiving four RIAA certification plaques: “A Cigarette” (PLATINUM), “Run Your Mouth” (GOLD), “Deep End” (GOLD), and “Four Leaf Clover” (GOLD).
With Adcock’s new, co-written, song “Sunset” now available, the raucous Georgia-native has shared more details surrounding his new project Own Worst Enemy.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), producers of the SEMA Show, the major trade-only automotive aftermarket event held annually in Las Vegas, has announced the return of SEMA Fest for Friday, November 7. Back for its third year, SEMA Fest 2025 promises an all-star music lineup of Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes and Neon Trees, high-performance automotive demonstrations, drifting, motorsports, custom vehicles, and more. SEMA Fest caps off the week-long SEMA Show, taking place November 4-7, 2025, both conveniently located within the Las Vegas Convention Center campus with SEMA Fest returning to the Bronze lot.
Early bird pre-sale tickets are available July 16–starting as low as $65–with the general on-sale kicking off this Friday, July 18 at 10 am PT via semafest.com. General admission and VIP concert access tickets are available, as are combined tickets, offering entry to both SEMA Fest and SEMA Show Friday public access of the indoor SEMA Show. This exclusive bundle gives automotive enthusiasts rare access to the world’s largest automotive aftermarket trade event–typically reserved for industry insiders–alongside performances from some of today’s biggest bands.
Beyond iconic sets from rock greats Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes and Neon Trees, SEMA Fest 2025 is set to deliver adrenaline-fueled automotive action with live motorsports demonstrations. Fans can expect drifting exhibitions, high-speed precision driving, and high-horsepower showcases that bring the world of extreme automotive performance to life. In addition to the live action, SEMA Fest will feature an expanded display of exclusive, custom, and concept vehicles–many of which can’t be seen anywhere else outside of SEMA Fest–giving enthusiasts rare, up-close access to some of the most innovative and cutting-edge builds in the automotive world.
Before the music starts at SEMA Fest, automotive enthusiasts can cap off the week with a rare opportunity to experience the SEMA Show during SEMA Show Friday – Open to the Public, taking place Nov. 7. A bucket list event for car lovers, the SEMA Show offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the trends, builds, and innovations driving the aftermarket industry. It’s the ultimate way to celebrate car culture before heading into a night of live entertainment at SEMA Fest.
“SEMA Fest brings the excitement of car culture and live music together like never before,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “When combined with the rare opportunity to walk the SEMA Show floor during Friday’s public access, it creates an unforgettable experience for enthusiasts. It’s the ultimate way to celebrate the industry, the community, and everything that makes car culture so special.”
Founded in 1963, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. The association started highlighting the passion of the industry and sharing it with the enthusiast public in 2011 with the SEMA Cruise, which evolved in 2014 with SEMA Ignited, and then once more in 2021 with the SEMA Show Friday – Open to the Public. In 2023, SEMA first introduced SEMA Fest, a new event that celebrated the relationship between music, motorsports, and car culture. It’s since become a one-of-kind live and epic event that is a true bucket list experience for music lovers and car enthusiasts.
In 2023, the SEMA Show attracted 160,000 attendees and 2,400 brands, making it the top convention in Las Vegas, as reported by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s research center. 2025 looks to be even bigger with 4.6 million sq. ft. of exhibit space booked by thousands of leading brands leading up to the industry’s most important gathering of the year.
SEMA Fest 2024 delivered high-energy performances from Cage The Elephant, Sublime, featuring original members alongside Jakob Nowell, Fitz and The Tantrums, and Petey. Fans also witnessed adrenaline-fueled drifting exhibitions from the skilled team at OPTIMA Unleashed, adding to the festival’s signature mix of live entertainment and car culture. The inaugural SEMA Fest in 2023 set the tone with a diverse lineup of chart-topping and emerging artists, including Imagine Dragons, Incubus, Wiz Khalifa, AJR, Third Eye Blind, Bush, Ludacris, Walk The Moon, The Struts, and more.
Renowned singer, songwriter, musician, artist, and best‑selling author Josh Ritter releases his new song, “Truth is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Blinding),” today.
The song is the latest unveiled from his anticipated new album, I Believe in You, My Honeydew, out September 12 via Thirty Tigers.
Of the track, Ritter shares, “I don’t remember writing this song. I hardly ever do. I remember beginning with the daydream of a night drive through the desert. I arrived at a lookout and, here, looking up at the stars from the parking lot of my mind, I caught a glimpse of something thoroughly unexpected. TRUTH revealed itself to me for an instant. The song was done when I woke up from the daydream. I recorded this song in one take. Thanks to Sam Kassirer for realizing that it was the one, and to Rich Hinman for the glorious solo. I released this song previously on an EP, lest something should happen to me and it be forgotten. Now, I’m doing my best to make sure that it won’t.”
In celebration of the new music, Ritter will tour throughout this fall, including newly confirmed solo shows at Los Angeles’ Masonic Lodge, Portland’s The Old Church (two nights), and Seattle’s St. Mark’s Cathedral, among others. See below for the complete tour itinerary. Tickets for the new shows will be available for pre‑sale starting tomorrow, July 16, at 10:00 a.m. local time, with general on‑sale following this Friday, July 18, at 10:00 a.m. local time. A portion of the proceeds from pre‑sale tickets sold via joshritter.com will be donated to Immigrant Defense Project. Pre‑sale sign‑up and full details can be found at www.joshritter.com/#tour.
Throughout his decades‑long career, Ritter has established himself as “one of the most perceptive artists making music today” (American Songwriter), releasing twelve albums to date and earning the respect of countless music legends, with artists such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Bob Weir having performed and recorded his songs.
With the release of I Believe in You, My Honeydew, Ritter shares ten new tracks that further demonstrate the insightful and engaging artistry that he’s celebrated for, including “You Won’t Dig My Grave,” which was released last month. Produced by Sam Kassirer (Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim), the new album features Ritter alongside his Royal City Band: Kassirer (piano, organ, synthesizer, accordion), Zachariah Hickman (acoustic and electric bass, thumb piano, mandolin), Rich Hinman (guitars, pedal steel, mandolin), and Ray Rizzo (drums, percussion).
The new project follows Ritter’s 2024 mini‑album, Heaven, or Someplace as Nice, which he recorded with legendary jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and his acclaimed 2023 full‑length project, Spectral Lines. Of the record, Paste praised, “Josh Ritter is like a more open‑hearted version of Leonard Cohen. His lyrics draw on the divine, but he seems to see a little heaven in all the people around him,” while No Depression declared, “a hopeful tapestry that encourages listeners to sit with each other in introspection, but not to forget to sing along.”
In addition to his work as a musician, Ritter is also a national bestselling author, having released two novels to date: 2011’s Bright’s Passage and 2021’s The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All, for which the film rights have recently been optioned for development. Released to critical attention, Stephen King wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Bright’s Passage “shines with a compressed lyricism that recalls Ray Bradbury in his prime…This is the work of a gifted novelist.”
I BELIEVE IN YOU, MY HONEYDEW — TRACK LIST
You Won’t Dig My Grave
Honeydew (No Light)
Truth is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Blinding)
Noah’s Children
Wild Ways
Thunderbird
Kudzu Vines
I’m Listening
The Wreckage of One Vision of You
The Throne
JOSH RITTER — CONFIRMED TOUR DATES BOLD on sale this Friday, July 18, at 10:00 a.m. local time
August 9 — Three Rivers, PEI — Cloggeroo Festival (solo show) August 10 — Truro, NS — Marigold Cultural Centre (solo show) August 20 — Westport, CT — Levitt Pavilion* August 21 — Portland, ME — State Theatre* August 22 — South Burlington, VT — Higher Ground* August 23 — Easthampton, MA — Arcadia Folk Festival August 24 — Lowell, MA — Lowell Summer Music Series* October 1 — Los Angeles, CA — Masonic Lodge (solo show) October 7 — Portland, OR — The Old Church (solo show) October 8 — Portland, OR — The Old Church (solo show) October 10 — Seattle, WA — St. Mark’s Cathedral (solo show) October 11 — Moscow, ID — University of Idaho Admin Auditorium (solo show) November 1 — Rochester, NY — Concerts at Beston Hall November 2 — Grand Rapids, MI — St. Cecilia Music Center November 3 — Ann Arbor, MI — The Ark November 4 — Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre November 6 — St. Louis, MO — The Sovereign November 7 — Chicago, IL — Thalia Hall November 8 — Minneapolis, MN — Fitzgerald Theater November 9 — Des Moines, IA — Hoyt Sherman Place November 12 — Pittsburgh, PA — Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall November 13 — Washington, D.C. — Lincoln Theatre November 14 — Philadelphia, PA — Keswick Theatre November 16 — New York, NY — Brooklyn Steel
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, a deluxe edition of John Prine’s beloved and GRAMMY-nominated album will be released via Oh Boy Records on September 12. Available for pre-order and pre-save now, the digital deluxe edition features five previously unreleased demos and alternate takes, along with the never-before-heard track “Hey Ah Nothin’,” out today with an accompanying music video. A long-lost gem sure to delight both longtime fans and newcomers alike, this addition offers an intimate glimpse into the album’s creation and the spontaneous spirit that defined the sessions. The album will also be released on vinyl for the first time ever, newly remastered from the original tapes. Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings is widely cherished for its warmth, wit, and depth, and this new edition provides an even closer look at one of the most joyful and creatively fertile periods in Prine’s storied career.
A special edition of the LP, exclusive to the John Prine online shop, will be pressed on blue and green split-colored vinyl to match the iconic album cover. It will come in a jacket featuring pop-up artwork of the original album that includes a custom-designed checkerboard set, complete with Lost Dog-themed pieces that can be used for both checkers and chess. Fans can also find exclusive colored vinyl editions in standard jackets at indie record stores and vinyl clubs. Additional exclusive merch items will be offered online as part of the release.
Originally released in 1995, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings followed Prine’s Grammy-winning album The Missing Years and further cemented his legacy as one of America’s greatest songwriters. Produced by Howie Epstein of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the album captured Prine at a personal and artistic high, filled with the joy of new love, fatherhood, and unshakable creative chemistry.
Backed by an all-star ensemble including Heartbreakers pianist Benmont Tench and guest vocals from Carlene Carter and Marianne Faithfull, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings is a vibrant showcase of Prine’s unmatched lyrical gifts. The album flows effortlessly from the wry contentment of “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” to the epic storytelling of “Lake Marie,” a song Bob Dylan once cited as one of his favorites.
With its blend of heartfelt ballads, surreal narratives, and playful humor, Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings remains one of Prine’s most expansive and beloved works. At 14 tracks and nearly an hour in length, it captures the richness of the midlife experience, honest, relaxed, and fully alive. Thirty years on, this release offers a fresh invitation to revisit an album that continues to comfort, surprise, and inspire.
Additionally, the Prine family will host the fourth annual You Got Gold: Celebrating the Songs of John Prine in Nashville from October 9-12, 2025. This will be the final year for this highly anticipated event and will feature performances at some of the city’s most legendary venues, including the historic Ryman Auditorium (October 10, John Prine’s birthday), The Basement East (October 9), The Bluebird Cafe (October 9), and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater (October 11). Proceeds from the week will benefit The Hello in There Foundation, which was established by the family of John Prine as a way for his fan network, friends, and family to celebrate his memory and generous spirit through a philanthropic commitment to community care. For tickets and more information on this event, visit yougotgold.johnprine.com/tickets.
Track Listing: New Train Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody All the Way With you We Are the Lonely Lake Marie Humidity Built the Snowman Day is Done Quit Hollerin’ at Me Big Fat Love Same Thing Happened to Me This Love Is Real Leave the Lights On He Forgot That It Was Sunday I Love You So Much It Hurts
Bonus Songs: *available digitally and on deluxe CD* Ain’t Hurting Nobody – alternate version All the Way With You – Acoustic Version Lake Marie – Demo version Humidity Built the Snowman – solo acoustic version Quit Hollerin At Me – alternative version Hey Ah Nothin’ – previously unreleased track
