Page 493 – That Eric Alper

Neil Diamond Musical ‘A Beautiful Noise’ Makes Canadian Premiere In Toronto

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

Neil Diamond Musical ‘A Beautiful Noise’ Makes Canadian Premiere In Toronto

The smash hit musical A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical arrives in Canada for the first time with its Canadian premiere at Mirvish’s Toronto’s Princess Of Wales Theatre, running April 28 through June 7, 2026. Starring Nick Fradiani in the title role, the production traces the rise of Neil Diamond from a Brooklyn kid to a global rock icon, set to a catalog that includes “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” and “Forever In Blue Jeans.” Created in collaboration with Diamond himself, the touring production brings the scale, emotion, and songbook of his career into a theatrical setting built for big voices and bigger moments.

Directed by Michael Mayer, choreographed by Steven Hoggett, and written by Anthony McCarten, the musical blends biography with spectacle, following in the tradition of landmark jukebox productions while standing firmly on its own. Fradiani reprises the role after a successful Broadway run, joined by a large ensemble cast and creative team with deep Broadway pedigree. With its Toronto engagement marking a major milestone on the national tour, ‘A Beautiful Noise’ brings Diamond’s songs back to the city in a form designed for shared emotion, full houses, and voices lifted together.

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
April 28 – June 7, 2026
Princess Of Wales Theatre, Toronto

British Rock Newcomer Ty Freeman Steps Into Truth On “Better Man” Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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British Rock Newcomer Ty Freeman Steps Into Truth On “Better Man” Single

Birkenhead born, Liverpool raised artist Ty Freeman sharpens his voice and vision on “Better Man,” out now, a live recorded soul rock confession tracked at Real Sound Recording Studio in Milan. Written during a period of emotional collapse and clarity, the song leans into warmth, grit, and vulnerability, carried by raw vocals and the imperfect electricity of friends playing together in the room. Mixed by Chris Taylor and mastered by Graeme Lynch, the track nods to the Northern soul ache of The Verve and the fragile power of classic British alternative without slipping into imitation. Directed by Frank Felsen, the accompanying video mirrors that internal shift through stark, cinematic imagery. Following earlier single “One Way Love” and recent standout live shows in Zurich and London, “Better Man” captures an artist choosing honesty over armor, letting soul, scars, and conviction sit plainly in the spotlight.

Pop Icon Melanie C Launches New Era With “SWEAT” And Dance Floor Energy

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Pop Icon Melanie C Launches New Era With “SWEAT” And Dance Floor Energy

International pop icon Melanie C returns with “SWEAT,” a high-gloss electro house single that kicks off her next chapter with motion, joy, and physical release at the center. Built around a sample of Diana Ross’ “Work That Body,” the track pulses with vintage workout video flair while folding in club-ready momentum shaped across sessions in London, Stockholm, and Los Angeles. The accompanying video, directed by Graham Cruz, matches the song’s playful intensity, spotlighting movement as celebration. “SWEAT” also names her forthcoming ninth studio album, arriving May 1, 2026 via Virgin Music Group, a record that brings together her pop history, DJ instincts, and lifelong love of rave culture into a sound designed for shared energy and escape.

Bret Michaels Brings “Live And Amplified” Hits To Fallsview Casino Stage

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Bret Michaels Brings “Live And Amplified” Hits To Fallsview Casino Stage

Fallsview Casino Resort is ready to rock and get the party started on February 6 as Bret Michaels returns to play the hits we know and love as part of the Live & Amplified 2026 tour at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino.

“Bret Michaels is known for some of the best live shows celebrating an incredible catalogue of hit music while delivering an energetic and exciting fan experience!” says Cathy Price, Vice President of Marketing & Resort Operations, Niagara Casinos.

Whether he’s selling out stadiums or headlining hit TV shows, Bret Michaels consistently brings his iconic energy and star power to over three generations of loyal fans. As one of music’s most legendary singers and songwriters, Michaels counts “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”, “Go That Far” & “Nothing But A Good Time” as part of his robust catalogue of mega-hits. Other hits include “Something to Believe In,” “Talk Dirty To Me,” “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and many more. On television, Michaels’ shows include the record-breaking enduring hit Rock of Love with Bret Michaels and a recent turn as the audience-favourite Banana in Fox’s hit The Masked Singer. Michaels still finds time to give back through his Life Rocks Foundation which supports a myriad of charities & causes around the globe.

Show date & performance
Bret Michaels: Live & Amplified 2026
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026Showtime: 8:00pmVenue: OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

Pop Punk Staples State Champs Mark ‘Around The World And Back’ With 2026 Shows

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Pop Punk Staples State Champs Mark ‘Around The World And Back’ With 2026 Shows

Albany pop punk mainstays State Champs are celebrating ten years of ‘Around The World And Back’ with eight special headlining shows across the US in early 2026. The anniversary run honors the band’s beloved sophomore album, which helped define a decade of modern pop punk and featured fan favorites like “Secrets” and “All You Are Is History.” Each date brings a rotating lineup of friends including Cartel, Origami Angel, Real Friends, Driveways, Harrison Gordon, Broadside, and Just Friends, turning the shows into tight-knit celebrations of a record that still hits with speed and heart. Alongside the tour, exclusive vinyl variants of ‘Around The World And Back’ are available to pre-order, featuring refreshed artwork and four cover songs gathered together on vinyl for the first time.

The announcement follows the release of the band’s recent single “Common Sense,” out via Pure Noise Records, which leans harder into punchy riffs and forward momentum while keeping their melodic instincts sharp. It also arrives after their 2024 self-titled album expanded their sound without leaving behind the hooks and energy that carried them from basement shows to packed rooms. Together, the tour and reissue reflect a band looking back with gratitude while staying fully engaged in the present, inviting longtime listeners and new fans alike to sing these songs loud again.

2026 State Champs North America Tour Dates:
January – Miami, FL – Emo’s Not Dead Cruise
January 9 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
January 10 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic
January 11 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora
January 13 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
January 16 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
January 17 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
January 18 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
February 6 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

Railbird Music Festival 2026 Brings Tyler Childers And The Lumineers To Lexington

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Railbird Music Festival 2026 Brings Tyler Childers And The Lumineers To Lexington

Railbird Music Festival returns June 6 and 7, 2026 with Tyler Childers and The Lumineers set to headline at The Infield at Red Mile in Lexington. The two-day event brings more than 30 artists across three stages, blending roots, Americana, indie, and country into a lineup that reflects Kentucky’s musical heartbeat. The bill features standout performances from Zach Top, Ella Langley, Caamp, Mt Joy, Sam Barber, Muscadine Bloodline, Stephen Wilson Jr, Houndmouth, Robert Earl Keen, Shane Smith And The Saints, The Wallflowers, Margo Price, Watchhouse, Shakey Graves, Waylon Wyatt, Evan Honer, and more.

Set inside the storied horse racing grounds of Red Mile, Railbird pairs live music with curated bourbon experiences and wide-open festival space built for discovery and connection. Ticket options range from GA and GA+ to VIP, Platinum, and the immersive 2-Day Superfecta package, offering everything from shaded lounges and premium viewing areas to on-stage access and all-day dining. With its carefully stacked lineup and setting rooted in local tradition, Railbird 2026 shapes up as a weekend where sound, place, and shared experience come together in full stride.

Scottish Alt Rock Band Desert Kites Face The End Of Innocence On “Summer Light”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Scottish Alt Rock Band Desert Kites Face The End Of Innocence On “Summer Light”

Scottish alternative rock band Desert Kites capture youth, unease, and emotional fallout on “Summer Light,” a cinematic single that drifts between beauty and reckoning. Built on chiming guitars and wide, swelling melodies, the song draws from the reflective side of Brit rock and alternative traditions, pairing nostalgia with a sharpened sense of urgency. Lyrically, it wrestles with societal greed, environmental collapse, and shared indifference, yet never loses its human core, offering moments of resolve amid the haze. Formed in Dundee during lockdown by songwriter and guitarist Shaleph O’Neill, alongside drummer Michael Szeremet and bassist and engineer Stuart Hanna, Desert Kites favor poetic imagery over straight narrative, letting feeling and texture guide each movement. “Summer Light” lands as a reflective and affecting statement, one that lingers like the last glow before night fully settles in.

Irish Punk Funk Project Def Nettle Tear Back In With “Nothing For It” Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Irish Punk Funk Project Def Nettle Tear Back In With “Nothing For It” Single

Irish punk funk outfit Def Nettle roar back after a year away with upcoming single “Nothing For It,” a volatile rush of tension, release, and defiance led by frontman Glen Brady. Following the folktronic curveball “Get Me Here,” remixed by DJ Arveene, and the hard-hitting “Headwrecker,” the new track leans into anxiety and disorientation before detonating into massive, physical choruses. Built on pummeling drums and swirling electronics, it twists retro futurism into something confrontational and alive, rejecting polished rebellion in favor of sweat, movement, and friction. The song lands with force and attitude, carrying the same restless energy that defined debut album ‘DN001’ while sharpening Def Nettle’s voice as one of the most unpredictable and uncompromising acts in the Irish underground.

Post Hardcore Veterans Story Of The Year Ignite ‘A.R.S.O.N.’ Era With “Gasoline”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Post Hardcore Veterans Story Of The Year Ignite ‘A.R.S.O.N.’ Era With “Gasoline”

Post hardcore mainstays Story Of The Year return at full throttle with the announcement of their eighth studio album ‘A.R.S.O.N.,’ arriving February 13, 2026 via SharpTone Records. The band kick off the new chapter with “Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb),” one of the heaviest tracks in their catalog, driven by scorched guitars, a punishing breakdown, and vocals that swing between fury and release. Written as a moment of rupture and clarity, the song captures the instant when restraint disappears and instinct takes over, delivering raw energy with purpose and precision.

An acronym for All Rage Still Only Numb, ‘A.R.S.O.N.’ pushes Story Of The Year’s emotional core into sharper focus, channeling anxiety, inner pressure, and survival through big hooks and relentless momentum. Produced once again by Colin Brittain, the album builds on the foundation of ‘Tear Me To Pieces’ while zeroing in on what defines the band at their strongest: massive guitars, propulsive drums, and lyrics that live close to the edge. It is a record that sounds combustible and controlled at the same time, the kind that demands volume and rewards catharsis, reinforcing why Story Of The Year continue to stand as one of the genre’s most enduring voices.

A.R.S.O.N. Tracklisting:
Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb)
Disconnected
See Through
Fall Away
3 am
Into The Dark
My Religion
Halos
Good for Me / Feel so Bad
Better Than High
I Don’t Wanna Feel Like This Anymore

Story Of The Year Tour Dates:
January 22–26 – Miami, FL – Emo’s Not Dead Cruise
February 14 – Perth, Australia – Langley Park
February 20 – Wayville, Australia – Adelaide Showground
February 22 – Breakwater, Australia – Geelong Showgrounds
February 28 – Scoresby, Australia – Caribbean Community
March 1 – White Hills, Australia – Bendigo Jockey Club
March 5 – Fairy Meadow, Australia – Thomas Dalton Park
March 7 – Eastern Creek, Australia – Sydney Dragway
March 8 – South Maitland, Australia – Maitland Showground
March 12 – East Toowoomba, Australia – Queens Park Toowoomba
March 14 – Byron Bay, Australia – Byron Bay Cavanbah Centre Sports And Cultural Complex
March 15 – Sandstone Point, Australia – Sandstone Point Hotel

Vampire Weekend Press Madison Square Garden Shows On ‘Weekend At The Garden’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 3, 2026

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Vampire Weekend Press Madison Square Garden Shows On ‘Weekend At The Garden’

Vampire Weekend have unveiled ‘Weekend At The Garden,’ the third installment in their vinyl-only live series Frog On The Bass Drum. The limited edition double LP captures the band’s sold-out two-show takeover of Madison Square Garden in October 2024, with disc one drawn from the Saturday night performance and disc two documenting the Sunday matinee. Pressed by Third Man Records and limited to 3,000 copies, the release preserves a landmark moment with the scale, looseness, and crowd energy that defined the weekend.

Frog On The Bass Drum has become a home for extended ideas and live-only moments, following Volume 1’s ten-minute take on “Jokerman” by Bob Dylan and Volume 2’s doubled-up rendition of “Bambina” from Milan. Subscribers also receive a limited edition pennant and a new issue of The Quarterly Report written by the band, adding context and texture beyond the grooves. ‘Weekend At The Garden’ stands as a focused snapshot of Vampire Weekend in full command of a massive room, shaped by the momentum of the Only God Was Above Us Tour and the rare electricity of a one-night-and-one-matinee run.

LP 1: