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New York Saxophonist Alden Hellmuth Collides Jazz, Punk and Improvisation on New Album ‘Tether’

Eric Alper
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New York Saxophonist Alden Hellmuth Collides Jazz, Punk and Improvisation on New Album ‘Tether’

Alden Hellmuth plays saxophone like someone who grew up equally obsessed with Charlie Parker and Japanese punk bands, because she did. The New York-based saxophonist and composer announces her sophomore album ‘Tether’ today alongside the release of lead single “Face The Wall,” a clamorous, gripping collision of jazz and punk that signals exactly where this record is headed. ‘Tether’ arrives June 26 via LEITER, the label co-founded by Nils Frahm, on limited-edition vinyl and all digital platforms.

“Face The Wall” sets the tone with purpose. Written under the influence of Deerhoof and Otoboke Beaver, the track puts bassists Logan Kane and Miller Wrenn at the center, creating a space for them to explore sound and texture in relation to each other while drummer Justin Brown, known for his work with Thundercat, locks everything into place. Hellmuth’s alto saxophone cuts through the low-end density with bright, nimble precision. It’s a genuinely exciting piece of music.

The album’s concept grew from a single performance. Kane and Wrenn were both playing a DIY show at LA space Non Plus Ultra, and Hellmuth, struck by the grit of the room and the energy of both players, decided to bring them together. “I felt really inspired by the grittiness of the space and suddenly thought, why not bring all of us together to write music with that ethos for two bassists?” The result is an eight-track suite that draws on the free jazz double bass ensembles of Ornette Coleman and Andrew Hill, panning each bassist left to right and building a sonic world unlike anything in Hellmuth’s previous work.

The range across ‘Tether’ is striking. Opener “Microfictions” channels Anthony Braxton’s Ghost Trance Music approach to expansive improvisational ideas built on meticulous melodic structures. “Guesswork” settles into meditative bass harmonics and textural melodies. “Satellite (K)” is the group’s take on the John Coltrane standard, full of wonky polyrhythmic interchanges. “Fake(rs)” operates as a choose-your-own-adventure piece, written in cyclical groupings that players can enter at any point, allowing the music to transform itself in real time. Pianist Paul Cornish and trumpeter Yakiv Tsvietinskyi round out the ensemble as featured guests.

Hellmuth’s biography reads like someone who’s been running toward this record her whole life. Growing up in Hartford, Connecticut, the birthplace of pioneering saxophonist Jackie McLean, she started playing in middle school and never stopped pushing. She studied at the Hartt School, relocated to New York, released her debut album ‘Good Intentions’ in 2024 to widespread acclaim, and won the 2025 German Jazz Prize for Debut Album of the Year International. She also earned the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award in 2024.

Between those achievements, she enrolled in the Master’s program at the Herbie Hancock Institute at UCLA, where she was mentored by Ambrose Akinmusire, Walter Smith III, and Hancock himself, including a chance to tour with the legend. That’s not a conventional path. It’s the kind of education that shows up directly in the music, and ‘Tether’ is the proof.

“This album is simply me and my love of music,” Hellmuth says. “It’s wholly authentic and that’s all that will ever matter.” For a record that pulls from Anthony Braxton, Japanese punk, Coltrane, and DIY performance spaces in equal measure, that authenticity is exactly what holds it all together. Pre-order is open now. The album release show takes place July 22 at Brooklyn’s Close Up.

Alden Hellmuth Live Dates:

May 5––Brooklyn, NY––Sister’s

May 13––New York, NY––Close Up

May 18––New York, NY––Close Up

June 20––Philadelphia, PA––Solar Myth/Ars Nova

June 23––Brooklyn, NY––Seeds

July 2––Brooklyn, NY––Close Up w/ Sylvie Courvoisier Trio

July 8––Basel, CH––Bird’s Eye Club

July 10––Frankfurt, DE––Jazzclub Montez

July 12––Rotterdam, NL––North Sea Jazz Festival

July 13––Berlin, DE––TBA

July 14––Mantua, IT––TBA

July 22––Brooklyn, NY––Close Up (Tether Album Release Show)

August 13––Brooklyn, NY––Jazz Gallery w/ Sylvie Courvoisier

August 15––Stowe, VT––TBD w/ Anthony Wilson Nonet

‘Tether’ Tracklisting:

  1. Microfictions
  2. Fake(rs)
  3. Definitely Not Friends
  4. Guesswork
  5. Supply Chain
  6. Satellite (K)
  7. Witness
  8. Face The Wall

Pop Powerhouse Jamie Fine Brings the Heat With New Anthem “Good Things Come in Twos”

Eric Alper
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Pop Powerhouse Jamie Fine Brings the Heat With New Anthem “Good Things Come in Twos”

Jamie Fine doesn’t do subtle, and “Good Things Come in Twos” isn’t asking for permission. The Ottawa-born queer pop powerhouse drops her new single today, a cheeky, electric LGBTQIA+ anthem built around lust at first sight and the charged energy of a one-night connection igniting on an LA nightclub dance floor. It’s confident, provocative, and exactly the kind of song that makes a room louder. Listen here.

The lyrics lean all the way in. Lines like “Your dad would hate me if he only knew that after 10 pm, you call me daddy too” land with the kind of playful audacity that’s become Fine’s signature, and the countdown to “I can take you higher baby, 3, 2, 1” before the payoff of “they say good things come in twos” ties the whole thing together with a wink. It’s fun because it’s fearless.

“Good Things Come in Twos” follows fan favourites “cups of coffee” and “homesick,” and will appear on Fine’s upcoming EP ‘Everything Led Me To You,’ due June 12. The EP is a deeply personal collection tracing her journey through the relationships that shaped her. As Fine puts it, “Everything Led Me To You is a project that encompasses love, loss, heartbreak, some of my favourite lessons and finally, an acceptance of how all of it led me to where I am now, a place I’m very thankful to be.”

The release arrives at a strong moment in Fine’s career. She wrapped her first-ever U.S. headlining tour earlier this year, then jumped straight into a support run with Calum Scott on his U.S. tour in April. Coming up, she has a spot at the FIFA Fan Fest in Vancouver this June, with more dates to be announced.

The numbers reflect a fanbase that’s been paying close attention. Over 100 million global streams, a four-time Juno nomination record, a Platinum single in Canada with “If Anything’s Left,” and Double-Platinum status in South Africa. Nearly 1.5 million followers worldwide are drawn to her unfiltered personality, quirky humor, and the emotional honesty she brings to everything she makes.

Fine has always been clear about why she writes. “I write music for me, it’s cathartic. It helps me process my experiences.” That openness is what makes her music land the way it does, whether she’s digging into something tender or, as with “Good Things Come in Twos,” turning a dance floor moment into an anthem worth screaming back.

Gabrielle Cavassa Announces Herself to the World With Blue Note Debut ‘Diavola’

Eric Alper
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Gabrielle Cavassa Announces Herself to the World With Blue Note Debut ‘Diavola’

Gabrielle Cavassa has arrived. The award-winning vocalist releases ‘Diavola’ today via Blue Note Records, a debut that establishes her not just as a remarkable singer but as a fully formed bandleader, songwriter, and song interpreter with something genuinely distinct to say. Forbes has already called her “the next major force in jazz.” ‘Diavola’ makes the case without argument.

The album is co-produced by Joshua Redman and Don Was, two figures whose combined experience covers decades of recorded music at the highest level. Redman handled production details while Was focused on listener impact, and together they built a framework that gives Cavassa’s interpretations room to develop their full range of tones and colors. The cast assembled around her is equally formidable: Jeff Parker on guitar, Larry Grenadier on bass, Brian Blade on drums, Paul Cornish on piano, and Redman himself on tenor saxophone.

‘Diavola’ explores the coexistence of opposing forces, the angel and the devil, possession and surrender, urgency and repose. It’s a dualism that sits at the center of Cavassa’s artistry and personal identity, and she refuses to resolve it neatly. “I’m not willing to let go of either,” she says, “or I haven’t been able to.” That tension is exactly what makes the album compelling from start to finish.

Redman’s involvement goes beyond the studio. He first invited Cavassa in as a collaborator for his own Blue Note debut ‘where are we’ in 2023, a partnership that gave her both a major platform and a creative foundation she’s now built something entirely her own upon. “Josh was with me every step of the way,” she says. “He was the comfort and the trust through the whole process. And Don was bringing this wisdom of absolutely one-in-a-million experience.”

The critical world has been tracking Cavassa for a while now. Her feature appearance on Redman’s 2023 album prompted DownBeat to declare her “a star in the making.” Stereophile wrote that her voice “gets under your skin,” calling it “almost physical in its intimacy” and praising her “intuitive interpretations” that make you “sit very still in your chair.” That’s not hype. That’s a specific description of what it feels like to actually listen to her.

The biography behind all of this is as unconventional as the music. Born in Escondido, California of Italian descent and largely self-taught, Cavassa credits the Bay Area music scene rather than formal training as her real education. She relocated to New Orleans in 2017, absorbed the local club scene, independently released an eponymous debut in 2020, and in 2021 won the prestigious International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition. Each step built toward this moment.

‘Diavola’ is out now. Cavassa is on the road through November with dates spanning New York, New Orleans, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and beyond, including a stop at the Detroit Jazz Festival in September and a run of West Coast dates in the fall.

Gabrielle Cavassa Tour Dates:

May 1-3––Birdland––New York, NY

May 5––Caffè Vivace––Cincinnati, OH

May 6––Blue LLama––Ann Arbor, MI

May 7––Edwins––Cleveland, OH

May 8––The Jazz Kitchen––Indianapolis, IN

May 9––Regattabar––Boston, MA

May 15––New Orleans Jazz Market––New Orleans, LA

Sept. 6––Detroit Jazz Festival––Detroit, MI

Sept. 19––Caymus-Suisun––Fairfield, CA

Sept. 25––Callanwolde Fine Arts Center––Atlanta, GA

Nov. 4––Sam First––Los Angeles, CA

Nov. 5––Kuumbwa Jazz Center––Santa Cruz, CA

Nov. 7––SFJAZZ––San Francisco, CA

Nov. 20––Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center––Livermore, CA

Grace Ives Joins Olivia Rodrigo’s 2027 Arena Tour and Drops New Video for “Fire 2”

Eric Alper
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Grace Ives Joins Olivia Rodrigo’s 2027 Arena Tour and Drops New Video for “Fire 2”

Grace Ives is having a year. The Brooklyn-raised vocalist, songwriter and producer has just been announced as support for Olivia Rodrigo’s 2027 arena tour across the U.K. and Europe, joining for dates in London, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Munich next spring. For an artist whose critically acclaimed album ‘Girlfriend’ has already landed on Pitchfork’s best music of 2026 list, the booking feels exactly right.

The announcement lands alongside the release of the official music video for “Fire 2,” a fan-favourite track from ‘Girlfriend.’ Directed by Grace’s longtime creative and romantic partner Samuel Metzger, the video is out now and matches the album’s warm, personal energy with visuals that feel genuinely intimate rather than calculated.

‘Girlfriend’ is the record that made all of this possible. Released this spring via True Panther/Capitol Records, it earned Pitchfork’s Best New Music designation and drew widespread praise from The New York Times, NPR, Stereogum, and NYLON. Produced alongside Grammy Award-winner Ariel Rechtshaid (Charli xcx, Vampire Weekend, Kelela) and John DeBold (HAIM, Dora Jar, Dijon), with mixing by Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, MGMT), the album documents a life in flux, created during a period of profound personal change after a nearly three-year hiatus from music.

The result is Grace’s most expansive and sonically ambitious work to date. Where her 2022 breakout ‘Janky Star’ established her as one of indie pop’s sharpest and most relatable voices, ‘Girlfriend’ builds on that foundation with something more assured and more wide-open. NYLON called ‘Janky Star’ “the year’s most relatable pop record.” ‘Girlfriend’ takes that instinct and scales it up without losing any of the intimacy that made people fall for Grace in the first place.

She’s currently in the middle of a headline tour across North America and Europe running through June 2026, with ten dates already sold out. The run kicked off April 17 in Philadelphia and winds through Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Paris, London and beyond before wrapping at London’s Village Underground on June 16. ‘Girlfriend’ is available on signed Girlfriend Pink vinyl, CD, and now on 7″ vinyl as well.

Grace Ives Live:

April 17––Underground Arts––Philadelphia, PA

April 18––Bar Le Ritz PDB––Montreal, QC

April 20––Longboat Hall––Toronto, ON

April 21––El Club––Detroit, MI

April 22––Lincoln Hall––Chicago, IL

April 23––7th Street Entry––Minneapolis, MN

April 25––The Bottleneck––Lawrence, KS

April 27––Bluebird Theater––Denver, CO

April 28––Urban Lounge––Salt Lake City, UT

April 30––Polaris Hall––Portland, OR

May 1––Neumos––Seattle, WA

May 2––Fox Cabaret––Vancouver, BC

May 5––The Independent––San Francisco, CA

May 7––Teragram Ballroom––Los Angeles, CA

May 8––Constellation Room––Santa Ana, CA

May 9––The Rebel Lounge––Phoenix, AZ

May 11––Brushy Street Commons––Austin, TX

May 12––White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)––Houston, TX

May 13––Club Dada––Dallas, TX

May 15––Blue Room at Third Man Records––Nashville, TN

May 16––The Masquerade––Atlanta, GA

May 17––Cat’s Cradle Back Room––Carrboro, NC

May 19––The Atlantis––Washington, DC

May 20––The Sinclair––Cambridge, MA

May 21––Music Hall of Williamsburg––Brooklyn, NY

June 6––Primavera Sound––Barcelona, ES

June 8––Hasard Ludique––Paris, FR

June 10––Rotonde/Botanique––Brussels, BE

June 12––Kantine am Berghain––Berlin, DE

June 14––Paradiso (Small Hall)––Amsterdam, NL

June 16––Village Underground––London, U.K.

2027 Dates with Olivia Rodrigo:

March 19––Avicii Arena––Stockholm, SE

March 20––Avicii Arena––Stockholm, SE

March 23––Ziggo Dome––Amsterdam, NL

March 24––Ziggo Dome––Amsterdam, NL

April 1––Olympiahalle––Munich, DE

April 2––Olympiahalle––Munich, DE

April 5––O2 Arena––London, U.K.

April 6––O2 Arena––London, U.K.

April 8––O2 Arena––London, U.K.

April 9––O2 Arena––London, U.K.

Jon Pardi Marks a Decade of ‘California Sunrise’ With Three Vault Tracks and Limited-Edition Vinyl

Eric Alper
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Jon Pardi Marks a Decade of ‘California Sunrise’ With Three Vault Tracks and Limited-Edition Vinyl

Ten years ago, Jon Pardi walked into a bro-country landscape and refused to play along. The result was ‘California Sunrise,’ a 3x-Platinum, chart-topping album that revived honky-tonk swagger at exactly the right moment and launched one of modern country’s most distinct careers. Now, via MCA, Pardi marks the milestone with ‘California Sunrise (10th Anniversary Edition),’ out June 12, featuring three previously unreleased vault tracks and a limited-edition vinyl release.

The three new additions are worth the price of admission on their own. “Drinkin’ and Dancin'” brings sunshine-soaked singalong energy, “If I Had Another Heart” leans into devoted country-rocker territory, and “How Did You Know” swings with easy, swaying flirtation. All three slot naturally alongside the original 12 tracks, sounding less like leftovers and more like songs that simply needed the right moment to surface.

Pardi puts it plainly. “Ten years ago I made a record that would unknowingly change my life. Since then, it’s been one hell of a ride, my family has grown, I’ve seen the world, and I’m out here living my dream. It’s pretty damn cool to see how much people continue to embrace this project even all these years later. Thankful for the last ten and looking forward to the next.”

The original album earned that kind of gratitude honestly. ‘California Sunrise’ spawned five Platinum-or-better singles, headlined by the 7x-Platinum “Head Over Boots” and the 6x-Platinum “Dirt On My Boots.” That mix of playful romance, hard twang, and lived-in authenticity didn’t just define Pardi’s sound, it helped ignite a neo-traditional movement that has since reshaped the entire format. That’s a real legacy, not a talking point.

The anniversary edition arrives while Pardi is very much in forward motion. His current single “Boots Off,” from his fifth studio album ‘Honkytonk Hollywood,’ recently hit No. 1 at Country Radio in the U.K., underscoring how far his reach has extended beyond North America. The track is a line-dancing love song driven by his trademark party-starting strut, and it fits cleanly into a catalog built on exactly that kind of fearless, carefree-country instinct.

‘Honkytonk Hollywood’ itself is the spiritual successor to everything ‘California Sunrise’ set in motion. The 17-track album showcases the same commitment to staying true to his roots while giving his signature sound new spark. Four Top 5 albums, fourteen RIAA-certified singles, six No. 1s, and 9.3 billion global streams later, Pardi has more than earned his place as one of country music’s most reliable and distinctive forces.

His headlining Honkytonk Hollywood Tour 2026 continues across the U.S., U.K. and Canada through the fall. Full tour dates are available at JonPardi.com. ‘California Sunrise (10th Anniversary Edition)’ is out June 12. “How Did You Know” is streaming now.

Snow Patrol Celebrate Two Decades of ‘Eyes Open’ With a Definitive 36-Track Anniversary Edition

Eric Alper
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Snow Patrol Celebrate Two Decades of ‘Eyes Open’ With a Definitive 36-Track Anniversary Edition

Twenty years ago, Snow Patrol released the album that changed everything for them. Today, on the anniversary of its original U.K. release, the Northern Irish rock icons announce a 20th anniversary deluxe edition of ‘Eyes Open,’ arriving July 24th with 36 tracks, rare B-sides, live recordings, and newly commissioned artwork.

The numbers behind the original release are staggering. ‘Eyes Open’ was the best-selling U.K. album of 2006, remains the 15th best-selling album of the 2000s, and is certified 8x Platinum in both the U.K. and Ireland. It spawned six singles, including the Grammy and Brit-nominated “Chasing Cars,” the most played song of the 21st century on U.K. radio. That’s not legacy, that’s bedrock.

Gary Lightbody reflects on returning to the material. “While we don’t spend too much time looking back, and are currently writing the next album, it was a joy to revisit ‘Eyes Open’ and take that particular trip down memory lane. It was ‘Eyes Open’ that truly opened the whole world to us and took us to places we never dreamed we’d get to when we first started out.”

The expanded collection goes well beyond a simple repackage. Seven B-sides, including fan favourite “Warmer Climate,” join the standalone single “Signal Fire” from the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack. Rare live and acoustic recordings drawn from historic performances at Berlin’s Columbiahalle, Toronto’s Opera House, and a stripped-back MENCAP Little Noise Sessions set at London’s Union Chapel round out the package, alongside remixes by Freelance Hellraiser and Minotaur Shock.

Original design agency Big Active has been commissioned to reimagine the iconic artwork, and Lightbody has written exclusive new sleeve notes offering a personal retrospective on the album’s impact. The reissue arrives in multiple formats including a Gold 2LP, Clear 2LP, and Cream 2LP, giving collectors every reason to revisit one of rock’s most enduring records.

The announcement follows the No. 1 U.K. Official Charts debut of Snow Patrol’s latest studio album, ‘The Forest Is The Path,’ in 2025. The ‘Eyes Open’ reissue drops during a major summer tour across the U.K. and Ireland. A rare recording of “The Only Noise” is streaming now alongside a lyric video.

Tucker Wetmore Wins First ACM Award in London Surprise During Sold-Out U.K. Tour Finale

Eric Alper
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Tucker Wetmore Wins First ACM Award in London Surprise During Sold-Out U.K. Tour Finale

Tucker Wetmore just had the kind of night that doesn’t happen twice. Closing out a three-show sold-out run at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town, the Washington-born country singer was handed his first-ever ACM Award, named 2026 New Male Artist of the Year, in a surprise presentation that stopped the room cold. The Academy of Country Music sent the trophy internationally, a first in recent history, making the moment as unprecedented as the career it celebrates.

The reveal unfolded onstage when a video message from Thomas Rhett interrupted the show, followed by Wetmore’s mother, Sia, walking out to present the award in person. Wetmore, visibly overwhelmed, told the crowd, “I’m at a loss for words right now for the first time in a long time. I can’t do any of this without you guys. I can’t do any of this without that woman right there.” It’s the kind of moment that reminds you why live music still matters.

The ACM win lands at the peak of a run that’s been building fast. Wetmore has back-to-back No. 1 singles to his name, with “Brunette” climbing toward a third. He spent three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the U.K. Radio Country Airplay chart, a number that speaks to how far his fanbase has stretched beyond North America. Over 2 billion global career streams back all of it up.

His debut album What Not To made history as the biggest country album debut from a new artist in 2025, landing at No. 15 on Billboard’s all-genre 200 Albums chart. It’s a record built on hard-won life lessons wrapped in laid-back singalongs and soul-scouring balladry, exactly the kind of writing that turns casual listeners into devoted ones. Before that, platinum singles “Wine Into Whiskey” and 2x Platinum “Wind Up Missin’ You” put him on the Billboard Hot 100 and announced his arrival with real authority.

The Brunette World Tour, presented by NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer, has already sold out New York, Boston, and consecutive London nights. Upcoming dates include a debut at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a slot at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest 2026, and select dates alongside Jordan Davis, HARDY, and Brooks & Dunn. The 61st ACM Awards stream live globally on Prime Video on May 17, 2026, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Brunette World Tour Upcoming Dates:

June 21, 2026—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun!+

July 2, 2026—Calgary, AB—Cowboys Music Festival

July 18, 2026—Indianapolis, IN—Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park!+

Aug. 14, 2026—La Vista, NE—The Astro Amphitheatre%+

Aug. 20, 2026—San Diego, CA—Gallagher Square at Petco Park@#

Aug. 21, 2026—Saratoga, CA—The Mountain Winery@#

Aug. 22, 2026—Paso Robles, CA—Vina Robles Amphitheatre@#

Aug. 23, 2026—Los Angeles, CA—Greek Theatre@#

Sept. 15, 2026—Knoxville, TN—Homer Hamilton Amphitheater

Sept. 18, 2026—Chicago, IL—The Salt Shed@#

Sept. 19, 2026—Detroit, MI—Masonic Temple@#

Sept. 20, 2026—Pittsburgh, PA—Stage AE@#

Oct. 2, 2026—Wichita, KS—WAVE$+

Oct. 3, 2026—Waukee, IA—Vibrant Music Hall$+

Oct. 23, 2026—Mesa, AZ—Mesa Amphitheatre+=

Oct. 24, 2026—Las Vegas, NV—The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas+=

Oct. 27, 2026—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre+=

!with special guest Maddox Batson

@with special guest William Beckmann

$with special guest George Birge

%with special guest Braxton Keith

+with special guest Jacob Hackworth

#with special guest Stella Lefty

=with surprise guest

Oklahoma Country Storyteller Wyatt Flores Hits the Road With New Single “Drive All Night”

Eric Alper
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Oklahoma Country Storyteller Wyatt Flores Hits the Road With New Single “Drive All Night”

Wyatt Flores has a gift for turning a feeling into something you can drive to, and “Drive All Night” is his most direct expression of that yet. Out today via MCA/Island Records, the new single is the second release from the Oklahoma singer-songwriter this year, and it arrives with a tour, a Stagecoach moment, and a whole lot of momentum behind it. Listen here.

Flores is clear about where the song came from. “I always leave for long drives as the sun’s going down,” he explains. “Most of the next album was written on the heels of a breakup, except this one. This was the last song written on the album. If she’s questioning if you’re serious about her, driving all night is the fastest way to prove it.” That kind of specificity is exactly what makes him one of the most compelling voices in country music right now.

The production team behind the track is equally impressive. Charlie Handsome (Post Malone, Morgan Wallen), Jacob “JKash” Hindlin (Dua Lipa), and Gian Stone (Maroon 5) built the sonic bed, giving Flores room to do what he does best. He debuted the track at Stagecoach this past weekend, where he was also joined by The Fray’s Isaac Slade for a performance of “How To Save A Life” that Country Chord called “incredible.”

“Drive All Night” follows “Runnin’ On E,” which Billboard praised for its “self-aware lyrics paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm.” That track further cemented what Welcome to the Plains established, that Flores is operating at a level most artists take a decade to reach. Rolling Stone called his debut “the defining album of the 23-year-old Flores’ career.” NPR called it “some of the most powerful music I’ve heard in a very long time.”

The accolades keep stacking up. Rolling Stone named him one of 25 “Future of Music” artists. He’s an Amazon Breakthrough Artist of the Year, a Spotify Hot Country Class of 2024 pick, and a CMT Listen Up selection. He’s performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and CBS Mornings, made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and has surpassed 325 million streams. His breakout “Please Don’t Go” scaled the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, and “Before I Do” with Jake Kohn landed on the Twisters soundtrack.

The extensive “Drive All Night Tour” is underway and runs through November, with stops at festivals, amphitheatres, and headline clubs across North America. He joins George Strait and Cody Johnson at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium tomorrow, supports The Red Clay Strays on select arena dates, and links up with Koe Wetzel for additional shows later this year. Canadian fans can catch him at Quebec City’s Festival d’été de Québec on July 10 and Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on August 30.

Wyatt Flores Confirmed Tour Dates:

May 2—Clemson, SC—Memorial Stadium#

May 28—Panama City Beach, FL—Gulf Coast Jam

June 11—Wilmington, NC—Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre

June 13—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo

June 14—Birmingham, AL—Avondale Brewing Company

June 18—North Lawrence, OH—The Country Fest

June 19—Bloomington, IL—Tailgate N’ Tallboys

June 20—West Des Moines, IA—Val Air Ballroom

June 23—Wichita, KS—The Cotillion

June 25—Bonner Springs, KS—Azura Amphitheater

June 26—South Greenfield, MO—Baker Spain Stampede

July 10—Quebec City, QC—Festival d’été de Québec

July 17—Petersburg, IL—Menard County Fair

July 18—Hastings, NE—Adams County Fairgrounds

July 19—Cheyenne, WY—Cheyenne Frontier Days

July 21—Deadwood, SD—Deadwood Mountain Grand

July 23—Three Forks, MT—Headwaters Country Jam

July 25—Fargo, ND—UP District Festival Field~

August 7—Oshkosh, WI—Xroads41 Music Festival

August 8—Elkhorn, NE—The Club at Indian Creek‡

August 22—Helix, OR—Wheatstock Music Festival

August 26—Spokane, WA—Spokane Arena*

August 27—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena*

August 29—Portland, OR—Moda Center*

August 30—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena*

September 17—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre||

September 18—Columbia, SC—University of South Carolina||

September 19—Richmond, VA—Virginia Credit Union LIVE! At Richmond Raceway||

September 24—Pikeville, KY—Appalachian Wireless Arena||

September 25—Huntsville, AL—The Orion Amphitheater||

September 26—Brandon, MS—Brandon Amphitheater||

October 2—Ocean City, MD—Country Calling Festival

October 17—Salt Lake City, UT—Redwest Music Festival

October 28—Knoxville, TN—Thompson-Boling Arena*

November 15—Pittsburgh, PA—Citizens Live at The Wylie

November 21—Nashville, TN—The Truth

#with George Strait and Cody Johnson

~with special guest Shelby Stone

‡with special guest Kashus Culpepper

*supporting The Red Clay Strays

||with Koe Wetzel

Multi-Platinum Hitmaker Toosii Drops Autobiographical New Single “Proud of Me”

Eric Alper
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Multi-Platinum Hitmaker Toosii Drops Autobiographical New Single “Proud of Me”

Toosii has always known where he came from, and “Proud of Me” makes sure everyone else does too. Out now via South Coast Music Group/Capitol Records, the new single arrives after weeks of viral anticipation and delivers exactly what his fanbase has been waiting for, a definitive anthem of perseverance built on his signature melodic storytelling and lyrical wit.

The music video, directed by City James and shot in Baton Rouge, roots the song firmly in local community and culture. It’s an autobiographical statement, recalling the supporters and skeptics who shaped Toosii’s path to stardom while speaking directly to anyone still grinding toward their own version of it. The track hits hardest because it’s earned, not manufactured.

The release lands at one of the most compelling moments of Toosii’s career. He’s enrolling at Louisiana State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree and fulfill a dream of joining its historic football program, a move that says everything about who he is beyond the music. He’s also donating a percentage of “Proud of Me” proceeds to youth organizations in Baton Rouge, putting real investment behind his connection to the city.

The momentum behind this release is substantial. Last year’s “Even Then” hit with raw emotional force, and his collab with YoungBoy Never Broke Again on “Please Don’t Go” arrived during YoungBoy’s MASA Tour, where Toosii served as direct support on a run that grossed more than $75 million and ranked as the seventh-biggest rap tour of 2025. He’s also logged time as an opening act on Rod Wave’s Nostalgia Tour and headlined his own sold-out run in 2023.

With over 7 billion streams, a Billboard Hot 100 top-five hit in “Favorite Song,” and the platinum-selling album NAUJOUR anchoring his catalog, Toosii has built one of the most loyal fanbases in modern hip-hop. “Proud of Me” is the next step, and with new music on the horizon, he’s just getting started.

NAV and Quavo Link Up Again on New Hip-Hop Track “Mutt”

Eric Alper
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NAV and Quavo Link Up Again on New Hip-Hop Track “Mutt”

Six years is a long time, but NAV and Quavo make it feel worth the wait. The Toronto rap heavyweight and the Migos legend reconnect on “Mutt,” their first collaboration since 2020’s Good Intentions – Brown Boy 2 Deluxe, and it lands exactly the way you’d want it to. Produced by Money Musik and directed by Orazio, the video was shot in Miami and delivers the kind of swaggering energy both artists built their names on.

The track arrives in the middle of a strong run for NAV. He’s been consistently dropping, with “Trimski” featuring Young Thug and “CURB,” shot in Tokyo and released exclusively on Instagram and YouTube, keeping his name in the conversation between projects. He also made surprise appearances at this year’s Coachella at both Swae Lee and Young Thug’s sets, a reminder that his presence in the culture extends well beyond the booth.

The numbers behind NAV’s career are hard to argue with. Over 11 billion global streams, 11 million RIAA-certified units, four RIAA Gold albums, and a string of No. 1 debuts that includes Bad Habits and Good Intentions on the Billboard 200. His 2022 album Demons Protected By Angels marked his third No. 1 album and fifth consecutive Top 10 in the U.S. Most recently, OMW2 Rexdale took him to Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Riyadh as he builds toward his next project.

“Mutt” is out now. Watch the video and turn it up.

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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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