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15 Of The Most Dangerously Awesome Bands of All Time

Eric Alper
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15 Of The Most Dangerously Awesome Bands of All Time

Some bands turn up. These bands blow the roof off. Whether it was their sound, their look, or their absolute refusal to play anything gently, they made every performance feel like the earth tilted a little more toward mayhem—in the most thrilling way possible. Here are 15 bands shook the stages.

Motörhead
If speed had a national anthem, Motörhead wrote it. Lemmy’s bass lines hit like meteorites, and every live show felt like a motorcycle roaring through your soul. Leather, volume, legend.

The Who
Drums flying, guitars crashing, and Pete Townshend windmilling like the stage was a hurricane. Maximum R&B? Try maximum everything.

Sex Pistols
Anarchy in the UK and feedback in your face. The Sex Pistols came to ignite. Every performance was a glorious mess of punk spirit and sneering brilliance.

Rage Against the Machine
They made political fury sound like a stadium chant. With riffs sharp enough to cut steel and grooves heavy enough to move tectonic plates, Rage was—and is—a musical juggernaut.

KISS
More glitter than Vegas, more fire than a dragon convention. KISS made concerts feel like space battles where the guitars always won. And yes, those boots are taller than your dreams.

Slipknot
Masks on, volume up. Slipknot shredded the bar. Their percussion section alone sounds like a haunted freight train barreling through a thunderstorm.

The Stooges
Iggy Pop: barefoot, shirtless, fearless. The Stooges delivered punk before punk had a name. Every show was part circus, part riot, and 100% unforgettable.

GWAR
Part metal band, part sci-fi theater, part foam-splattered fever dream. Some bands walk to the stage, but GWAR invaded. You don’t go to a GWAR show, you survive one.

AC/DC
Plug in, buckle up, and prepare for liftoff. AC/DC turned simple riffs into seismic waves, and Angus Young’s duckwalk is a national treasure. Loud is their love language.

Metallica
Master of Puppets? More like masters of everything heavy. Metallica brought thrash into the mainstream and turned headbanging into a cardio workout. Still faster than most Wi-Fi.

Guns N’ Roses
The most dangerous band in the world, and not just because of the guitars. GNR made swagger sound poetic and chaos look cool. From Sunset Strip bars to global domination—just don’t be late for the encore.

The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger struts, Keith Richards shreds, and the rest of the band holds down the groove like it’s stitched into their DNA. They are rock history.

The Prodigy
Rave? Punk? Electro-armageddon? The Prodigy made music that made your pulse race and your speakers sweat. “Firestarter” was a mission statement.

The Clash
Punk with a passport. The Clash smashed genre walls and danced through reggae, ska, and dub without missing a beat. Joe Strummer shouted the future.

Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails builds music like architecture for the senses. Trent Reznor creates soundscapes that buzz, echo, and roar. Every moment pulls the listener into another world.

These bands never waited for permission, and they never needed a seatbelt. They were all-in, full-throttle, and ready to blow your speakers with one power chord or synth pulse at a time. Rock, punk, metal, or mayhem—it’s all better with a little danger.

Alex Williams Reimagines Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” For Genre-Blurring Album ‘Space Brain’

Eric Alper
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Alex Williams Reimagines Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” For Genre-Blurring Album ‘Space Brain’

Alex Williams brings a gritty Southern rock edge to Judas Priest’s iconic anthem “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” the next offering from his third studio album Space Brain, out July 18 via Lightning Rod Records.

A bold reinterpretation of the heavy metal classic, Williams’ version leans into swampy riffs and backwoods swagger while staying true to the driving pulse of the original. “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” is one of 10 renditions that comprise Space Brain, which reimagines additional hits from the likes of Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Cinderella, Motorhead and more, transforming arena-shaking metal into storytelling-driven roots rock.

Williams on the new song: “I love Judas Priest, and Rob Halford is a legend. I was 10 years old the first time I heard this song. It was featured in a soundtrack to a video game called Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which introduced me to many other great songs, including ‘Yankee Rose’ by David Lee Roth.”

“You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” follows Williams’ smoky take on Ratt’s “Round and Round,” which was named a Song You Need to Know by Rolling Stone. Produced by GRAMMY-winning producer and longtime collaborator Ben Fowler (Charley Crockett, Lynyrd Skynyrd) in Nashville, Space Brain doesn’t push Williams away from his country pedigree but instead expands his interpretation of that sound altogether. Backed by modern-day guitar heroes like Rob McNelley (Bob Seger, Wynonna Judd), Dan Dugmore (Linda Ronstadt, ZZ Top) and Mike Payne (Luke Bryan), Williams masterfully reconstructed each song, aiming to emphasize storytelling over sheer sonic power.

The end result is a daring, genre-blurring record that showcases Williams as a vocalist with arena-sized swagger and a formidable interpreter. While country music has a long history of honoring its pioneers through countless artists within the genre, Space Brain is something different; this album tips its hat to a different musical influence – proving that Williams isn’t just walking the line, he’s rewriting it.

Space Brain also features Williams’ and Cody Jinks’ previously released gritty take on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Flying High Again”. The album follows his 2022 LP Waging Peace, which received widespread acclaim from Forbes, No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation and Holler who hailed the release as “smartly arranged, intricate and inventive.”

Williams is currently on the road with stops in Chicago, Nashville and more – see below for a full list of dates or visit his website for more information.

Space Brain:
1. Nobody’s Fool (feat. Tom Keifer) [Cinderella]
2. Ace of Spades [Motorhead]
3. Flying High Again (feat. Cody Jinks) [Ozzy Osbourne]
4. Gettin’ Better [Tesla]
5. Look What The Cat Dragged In [Poison]
6. Youth Gone Wild [Skid Row]
7. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming [Judas Priest]
8. Wild Side [Motley Crue]
9. Round and Round [Ratt]
10. Night Train [Guns N’ Roses]

Alex Williams Tour Dates:
6/14 – Des Moines, IA – Free Range Music & BBQ Festival
6/21 – Cadillac, MI – Coyote Crossing Resort
6/27 – Newport, KY – The Southgate House Revival +
6/28 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s Bar on Weed St. +
7/18 – Indianapolis, IN – Turntable
7/26 – Mount Horeb, WI – Mount Horeb Country Music Faire
8/1 – Nashville, TN – Chief’s on Broadway
8/22 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
8/23 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
8/29 – Waterloo, NE – Buck’s Bar and Grill
8/30 – Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel
9/5 – Urbana, IL – The Canopy Club
9/6 – Brooklyn, WI – Main Street Music
9/20 – Dunn, NC – Bird’s Nest Listening Room
10/9 – Whitleyville, TN – North Springs Music Festival

* with Addison Johnson
+ with Tennessee Jet and Hannah Dasher

Asleep At The Wheel Celebrate 50 Years With Texas Tribute Album ‘Riding High In Texas’

Eric Alper
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Asleep At The Wheel Celebrate 50 Years With Texas Tribute Album ‘Riding High In Texas’

Asleep at the Wheel are honoring their home state of Texas with the forthcoming Riding High in Texas, due on August 22nd via Bismeaux Records and Signature Sounds Recordings. The ten-song collection features some of the best tracks about the 28th state from songwriters like Jimmie Rogers, Guy Clark, and Charlie Daniels—with some A-list collaborations with Lyle Lovett and Billy Strings.

“It’s been fifty five years for Asleep At The Wheel as a band, and fifty of them have been spent in Texas,” says the incomparable band’s founder and fearless leader, Ray Benson. “We are known worldwide for being a Texas band and playing Texas and Western Swing music, and it gives us great pride to carry this torch and responsibility.”

Out on August 22nd via Bismeaux Records and Signature Sounds Recordings, the record dubbed Riding High In Texas is a ten-song collection of some of the best songs about the 28th state from a wide range of songwriters like Jimmie Rogers, Guy Clark, and Charlie Daniels-with some A-list collaborations with Lyle Lovett and Billy Strings, to boot. And for a band whose lineup is ever-changing-since 1970, the Wheel has had over one hundred members come through-Riding High In Texas is also an opportunity to introduce a new face in the band with fiddler and vocalist Ian Stewart joining Benson and company. Suggested to Benson by long-time Asleep At The Wheel band member, Danny Levin, Stewart fit right into the ensemble. “Danny’s word was enough for me,” says Benson. “He knows the gig as much as anyone.”

The Texas-swing group shares the first single from Riding High In Texas, “Texas In My Soul.” Written by Ernest Tubb and popularized by Willie Nelson, “Texas In My Soul” was chosen for the project because it resonated with, in Benson’s words, “How we felt in 1974 when the band moved to Texas.” Ripe with everything that makes the Wheel the Wheel, “Texas In My Soul” is full of tTwin fiddles, steel guitar licks, and a crispy, clean piano solo, all underpinning Benson’s smooth delivery of the song’s classic lyrics: “It is there I know my place is. I see only smiling faces.”

Riding High In Texas Tracklist:
Riding High In Texas
Texas In My Soul
Long Tall Texan
Texas
Texas Cookin’
Lonesome Pine Special
T for Texas (Blue Yodel #1)
All My Exes (Live in Texas)
There’s Still a Lot of Love in San Antone
Beaumont Rag

Allure of Megaways Slots

Eric Alper
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0

By Mitch Rice

Megaways slots have exploded in popularity over recent years, becoming some of the most-played games in online casinos. But what exactly are Megaways slots, and what is driving players to flock to these games in ever-greater numbers? Read more below.

Megaways Game Format

The key innovation that sets Megaways slots at Rocket Play Australia apart lies in their use of an expanding reel format, patented by software provider Big Time Gaming. Whereas a typical online slot has a fixed number of symbols per reel, usually 3 to 5, Megaways slots have a variable number of symbols on each reel. This allows for an exponentially higher number of payline combinations compared to fixed-reel slots.

Specifically, Megaways slots use the following reel format:

  • Reel 1: 2 to 7 symbols
  • Reel 2: 2 to 7 symbols
  • Reel 3: 2 to 7 symbols
  • Reel 4: 2 to 7 symbols
  • Reel 5: 2 to 7 symbols
  • Reel 6: 2 to 7 symbols

This adds up to a minimum of 64 paylines (when all reels show 2 symbols) up to an astonishing 117,649 ways to win (when all reels show 7 symbols). Every spin brings a different reel layout to create unique tension and anticipation.

YearMegaways Slot LaunchesAverage Maximum Paylines
20161117,649
20172117,649
20185117,649
201917112,897
202032111,042
202152116,719
2022~50117,649
2023~50117,649
2025~50117,649

The table above tracks the rapid growth in Megaways slot game launches annually, alongside the huge payline advantage they retain over conventional slots.

Key Player Benefits Fuelling Popularity

So why has this innovative slot format struck such a chord with players worldwide? Several key factors underpin the appeal of Megaways slots:

Excitement and Suspense

The varying reels and massive number of paylines generate great anticipation with every spin. Players never know which symbols will land or how many paylines will form, keeping the experience fresh and exciting. This adds an engaging dynamism lacking in fixed payline slots.

Higher Win Potential

The sheer number of winning combinations feasible on any spin ratchets up the win potential substantially compared to conventional slots. Landing just 3 or 4 adjacent matching symbols can bring in big payouts thanks to thousands of paylines being triggered. This boosts the prospect of sizeable wins even from moderate stakes.

Adaptable Stakes

While some Megaways slots require minimum bets of $0.20 or more per spin, many implement a penny slot format with $0.01 minimum stakes. This positions them as a reasonably affordable game option for more budget-conscious players. Yet, they still offer the chance of outsized payouts due to the expanded paylines. Adaptable stakes widen their appeal across player profiles.

Enhanced Gameplay Variety

Top software houses like Big Time Gaming and Blueprint Gaming have expanded the Megaways format across diverse slot themes from sci-fi to Ancient Egypt. This underscores the versatility of Megaways as a gaming innovation that can be moulded to various game narratives. Players benefit from enjoying Megaways big-win potential in a range of imaginative new slots.

Outlook for Continued Growth

Megaways slots have carved out an increasingly prominent position in online casinos worldwide on the back of their innovations in reel mechanics and expanded ways to win. Their ability to deliver an immersive, exciting playing experience with each unique spin looks set to ensure Megaways remain a player favorite for years to come.

As developers cook up new varieties of Megaways titles spanning a multitude of themes, we can expect their popularity ascent to continue unabated. These games exemplify how fresh ideas in slots game design can still create compelling new experiences for players. Megaways show no signs of relinquishing their title as the hottest ticket in online slots any time soon.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Roger Street Friedman Confronts Suburban Paranoia in New Video “The Land of the Leaf Blower and the Mighty SUV”

Eric Alper
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Roger Street Friedman Confronts Suburban Paranoia in New Video “The Land of the Leaf Blower and the Mighty SUV”

Americana singer-songwriter Roger Street Friedman releases a topical new music video for his song “The Land Of The Leaf Blower And The Mighty SUV” from his recent LP Long Shadows. The video was directed by Ciro Ayala of Provoke Films, and it utilizes a surreal but grounded visual narrative to comment on the constant fear of imaginary threats that plagues our nation.

Holding up a mirror to predominately white American suburbs, Friedman comments: “We live in the safest communities in the country. Of course crime exists – I’m not pretending it doesn’t. But in places like this, it’s statistically very low. And yet, we’ve convinced ourselves we’re under constant threat. From what, exactly? From who? And what might happen if we finally stopped to answer?”

Long Shadows saw Friedman turning his eye towards past events, some close to home and others a world away, and in the tradition of the great storytellers before him, focusing on raw emotions – love, anger, dismay, fear, isolation and ultimately, hope – in ways that make his points relatable to any listener. The album was met with critical acclaim from No Depression, The Aquarian, Magnet Magazine, Glide Magazine and many more. For the record, Friedman enlisted some of his closest friends to help including drummer Justin Guip (Levon Helm Band), bassist Andy Hess (Gov’t Mule, The Black Crowes) and keyboardist Jeff Kazee (Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Bon Jovi).

Terrified of failure, Friedman put aside music for 25 years. However, a series of extremely emotional events, including the death of both his parents, getting married, and the birth of his daughter all in the span of two years, led him back to songwriting, culminating in his 2014 debut, The Waiting Sky. Since returning to music, he has released four full-length albums, garnering praise from No Depression, Goldmine, and more. His most recent release, LOVE HOPE TRUST, impressed the likes of Relix and American Songwriter, who wrote ” With LOVE HOPE TRUST, [Friedman] finds all the attributes and emotions expressed in the title, and far more.”

C.J. Lewandowski and Bobby Osborne’s Final Recordings Shine on Upcoming Album ‘Keep On Keepin’ On’

Eric Alper
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C.J. Lewandowski and Bobby Osborne’s Final Recordings Shine on Upcoming Album ‘Keep On Keepin’ On’

“When Bobby passed, I was at a loss,” says C.J. Lewandowski, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys’ mandolinist and mentee to the late, great bluegrass legend Bobby Osborne. Lewandowski wasn’t just mourning the loss of a dear friend, he was unsure of what to do with the album he’d begun recording with Osborne just months before his passing. “I wanted to give up on what we had accomplished in the studio,” Lewandowski remembers. “I didn’t want to hear his voice. I was contemplating quitting music altogether.” One night sitting alone on his porch in the Smokey Mountains, Lewandowski felt as if Osborne was sitting next to him. He claims that his old friend told him, “I gave you something, now do what you want with it.” 

Over the coming weeks, those words wouldn’t leave Lewandowski’s mind. After chewing on the meaning behind it all, things began to come into focus. While he couldn’t make this album with Osborne anymore, he could finish it for him. And so became the upcoming LP, Bobby Osborne, C.J. Lewandowski, & Friends’ Keep On Keepin’ On. Featuring the last few tracks ever recorded by the 91-year-old member of The Osborne Brothers and later, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Keep On Keepin’ On finds a whole host of folks who loved Osborne—both personally and musically—paying their respects in a way that adds one more jewel to Osborne’s Bluegrass crown. For the remaining songs featuring Osborne only in inspiration, the all-star cast includes members of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame, stars of Osborne’s beloved Grand Ole Opry, Grammy award-winners, members of The Rocky Top X-Press, Osborne’s sons, and many other friends and fans of Bobby Osborne. A testament to Osborne’s continuing influence on bluegrass, at least a dozen of the performers on Keep On Keepin’ On are under the age of forty (including Lewandowski), underscoring the resounding impact Bobby Osborne’s music has made on the current crop of roots music makers—nearly eighty years since he was first discovered as a teenage talent. 

This past week, the fourth single from Keep On Keepin’ On was released: “She’s No Angel” by C.J. Lewandowski & Del McCoury (featuring Ronnie McCoury). In the midst of dealing with the loss of Osborne, Lewandowski was asked to participate in a tribute to his hero at the 2023 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Show. “I was not as excited as I should’ve been,” Lewandowski remembers. “But I knew I had to do it for my old friend.” The tribute ended up being the highlight of the evening, and later that night Lewandowski found Del, Ronnie, and Rob McCoury jamming with Bobby Osborne Jr. “I rounded the corner and here was Del singing ‘She’s No Angel.’ So, I hopped in and sang the low part while Bobby Jr. got his dad’s part. It was so inspiring and energizing to be a part of that. Bobby Jr. and I were walking out, and he mentioned the idea of asking Del and the boys to be on the project. That’s the point where I realized that I had something I needed to complete. I needed to do this project to help cope with the grief and depression I had locked up inside of me, holding on to the things Bobby and I would never get to do.” This studio version of “She’s No Angel” features Lewandowski on vocals, Del McCoury on guitar and vocals, Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Bobby Osborne Jr. on bass, Wynn Osborne on banjo, and Aynsley Porchak on fiddle.

C.J. Lewandowski is a GRAMMY-nominated mandolin player and the founder of the bluegrass ensemble, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. Lewandowski’s contributions to bluegrass music were recently highlighted in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “American Currents: State of the Music” exhibition in 2024, where his artifacts were displayed alongside those of his mentor, Bobby Osborne.

Fans can listen to “She’s No Angel” today at this link ahead of the August 22nd release of Keep On Keepin’ On via Turnberry Records.

Keep On Keepin’ On Tracklist:

“Keep On Keepin’ On” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Sam Bush)

“Lonesome Feeling” – C.J. Lewandowski & Vince Gill (feat. A.J. Lee and The Rocky Top X-Press)

“Where The Soul Never Dies” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski

“Rosie Bokay” – C.J. Lewandowski & Paul Brewster (feat. Wyatt Ellis and John Meador) 

“Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Molly Tuttle and The Osborne Boys)

“She’s No Angel” – C.J. Lewandowski & Del McCoury (feat. Ronnie McCoury) 

“Don’t Know Why” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Wyatt Ellis) 

“Fern Branch” – C.J. Lewandowski & Wyatt Ellis (feat. Del McCoury and Ronnie McCoury)

“Cora Is Gone” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Rob McCoury and Billy Strings)

“Blue Heartache” – C.J. Lewandowski & Jaelee Roberts (feat. The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys)

“Rank Stranger” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Wyatt Ellis)

“Rocky Top” – Bobby Osborne & C.J. Lewandowski (feat. Wyatt Ellis and The Osborne Boys)

“Too Old to Die Young” – Bobby Osborne & C.J.Lewandowski 

The Last Revel Unleash Fast-Grass Fury With “Go On” From Upcoming Album ‘Gone for Good’

Eric Alper
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The Last Revel Unleash Fast-Grass Fury With “Go On” From Upcoming Album ‘Gone for Good’

Sometimes songwriters find inspiration in the most unexpected ways, or the case of The Last Revel’s Ryan Acker, unexpected places. While on a solo mule deer hunting trip, the roots of the band’s new single, “Go On,” began to grow. “A particularly long and cold day of backcountry hiking in the Absaroka Mountains near Livingston, Montana, led me to a mule deer buck with one side of his antlers broken off,” Acker remembers of the encounter, “I assume of which he lost fighting another buck for their territory.” He nicknamed the deer the “twilight fighter” and daydreamed comparisons between the battle-worn buck and how sometimes people can be driven blind by love, greed, anger, and pride.

Musically, “Go On” feels a little like the chaos of a territorial mule deer encounter. That, and a jubilant, weight-of-the-shoulders relief. “My bandmate, Lee Henke, helped me steer the lyrics in this songs towards narrations of a failed relationship,” says Acker. “The chorus feels great to yell, and the absolutely breakneck speed that we played it in the studio helps the song reflect the lyrical sentiment.” With the energy of one of The Last Revel’s lauded live performances, the group romps through the two-and-a-half-minute tune, leaving not an ounce of gas in the tank: “With or without you, go on.” 

“The Last Revel’s fast-grass new single, ‘Go On,’ is a must-hear,” wrote Whiskey Riff.

“Go On” is the latest single from The Last Revel’s upcoming album, Gone for Good. “This is a step in our careers that feels like there’s no going back. There’s a level of commitment now that, just a couple of years ago, we didn’t fathom we could take on,” says Acker, and this new release reflects that sentiment in a sure-footed and career-defining way. Produced by Trampled by Turtles’ Dave Simonett, the ten-track LP shines with The Last Revel’s commitment to never give up, signed in blood by musical brothers Acker, Henke, and Donatelle. A multilayered ode to the life of an artist, life on the road, and what it means to be a human being in uncertain times, Gone for Good finds the Americana/indie-folk outfit exploring the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of what it means to pursue your dreams in real time, and doing so with their hard-won and road-honed delivery.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MK43Kk726kU%3Fsi%3D525asO5ZFtcPKPgW

Fans can stream or purchase “Go On” today at this link, check out The Last Revel’s previously-released single, “Solid Gone,” here, and pre-order or pre-save Gone for Good ahead of its July 18th release on Thirty Tigers right here. The Last Revel return to the road on June 21st at Abayance Bay Marina in Rexford, Montana. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at thelastrevel.com/tour.

Gone for Good Tracklist:

Solid Gone

Static

Go On

Jealousy

Wait Up

Simple Wheel

Holy Moly

Tall Grass

Until Death

Porcelain

Catch The Last Revel On Tour: 

June 21 – Abayance Bay Marina – Rexford, MT

June 26 – The Racoon Motel – Davenport, IA #

June 27 – Blue Ox Music Festival – Eau Claire, WI

June 29 – Thesis Beer Project – Rochester, MN &

July 17 – Lander Presents: Summer Concert Series – Lander, WY

July 19 – Pine Creek Lodge – Livingston, MT

July 25 – FloydFest – Floyd, VA

Aug. 2 – Red Lodge Summer Fest – Red Lodge, MT

Aug. 3 – Bluegrass and Beer Festival – Keystone, CO

Aug. 7 – Cedar Lounge – Superior, WI

Aug. 8 – Ledgestone Vineyards – Greenleaf, WI

Aug. 9 – Whey Pit at Seven Acre Dairy – Belleville, WI

Aug. 29-31 – Rhythm & Roots Festival – Charlestown, RI

Sept. 10-13 – Bender Jamboree – Las Vegas, NV

Sept. 18 – Red Room at Cafe 939 – Boston, MA

Sept. 19 – 118 North – Wayne, PA

Sept. 20-21 – Annapolis Baygrass Festival – Annapolis, MD

Sept. 20 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY

Sept. 24 – Shitty Barn – Spring Green, WI

Sept. 25 – Garcia’s – Chicago, IL

Oct. 8 – Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO +

Oct. 9 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO +

Oct. 10 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT +

Oct. 11 – Shrine Social Club – Boise, ID +

Oct. 15 – The Crocodile – Seattle, WA +

Oct. 16 – Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR +

Oct. 18 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA +

Oct. 19 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA +

Oct. 20 – Music Box – San Diego, CA +

Oct. 22 – Meow Wolf – Sante Fe, NM +

Oct. 24 – Parish – Austin, TX +

Oct. 25 – The Kessler Theater  – Dallas, TX +

Nov. 6 – The Burl – Lexington, KY +

Nov. 7 – HI-FI – Indianapolis, IN +

Nov. 8 – The Basement East – Nashville, TN +

# =  With Lena Marie Schiffer

& = With Clay Fulton & The Lost 40

+ = With Oliver Hazard

Bourbon & Beyond Returns With Phish, Pat Benatar, and a Full Pour of Culinary Firepower

Eric Alper
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Bourbon & Beyond Returns With Phish, Pat Benatar, and a Full Pour of Culinary Firepower

Bourbon & Beyond, the World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival, is returning to Louisville, Kentucky, for its 7th year, and producers Danny Wimmer Presents have announced an exciting roster of culinary and spirits talent who will curate elevated food-and-beverage pairings on-site alongside the stacked music lineup slated for 2025. The event takes place September 11-14 at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville and will include multi-sensory opportunities and programming showcasing the country’s best chefs and rich bourbon culture. The four-day destination event has expanded to five music stages and more than 120 music artists, plus the festival’s culinary and bourbon experiences, following Bourbon & Beyond’s record-breaking year in 2024 and its win as Pollstar’s Global Festival of the Year 2025.

Leading the Fork & Flask curated by Kroger Stage culinary demonstrations at Bourbon & Beyond are hosts Chef Chris Santos (Chopped) and Chef Edward Lee (The Mind of a Chef). They will be joined by acclaimed chefs including Chef Claudette Zepeda (Top Chef Season 15; founder of Chispa Hospitality), Chef Esther Choi (Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped), local Louisville chef Anthony Lamas (Seviche: A Latin Restaurant; Bar Rescue), and Chef Lawrence Weeks (North of Bourbon).

The Fork & Flask curated by Kroger Stage will also feature bourbon expert Chris Blandford and Chef Amanda Freitag (Top Chef and Chopped) and showcase premium brands including Old Rip Van Winkle, Angel’s Envy, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Buffalo Trace, and more. This year’s programming will spotlight Kentucky Proud products, celebrating locally sourced ingredients and the farmers and producers who help make Kentucky a world-class culinary destination.

Programming highlights throughout the weekend include a taping of The Firkin Podcast with Redferrin and “Family Cookin’” with Terry Bradshaw and his son-in-law Chef Noah Hester, who have just announced their family cookbook. New panels such as “New School of American Whiskey” and “Buzzed About Bourbon” will bring together the voices that shape how we discover, discuss, and drink bourbon—from podcasts and social media to behind-the-scenes branding.

Join actress Elizabeth Banks (Archer Roose Wines) for Unscripted & Uncorked, a refreshingly unfiltered Q&A on how music, movies, and a good drink can bring people together. Beloved comedian and Fathertime founder Jim Gaffigan returns to Bourbon & Beyond for another round of laughs, stories, and bourbon-fueled insights. World-renowned bourbon expert Fred Minnick is back with his Blind Bourbon LIVE workshop, along with many more opportunities for fans to get up close and personal with bourbon experts.

Other special guests participating in the culinary and bourbon programming include 49 Winchester, Trombone Shorty, Kelly Hansen, Redferrin, Salt Hank, Katie Crutchfield, and more.

Attendees at Bourbon & Beyond can also enjoy a variety of onsite food and beverage offerings inspired by Kentucky’s explosion in the culinary world. Selections from local and regional restaurants are specially curated by Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC.

“Bourbon & Beyond is where the heart of music meets the soul of bourbon country and is hands down one of the most exhilarating festivals in the nation. I’m excited to crank up the heat on the stage, with chefs rocking out their best dishes alongside some of your favorite performers. We’re crafting a lineup of chefs that celebrate bourbon in the most delicious and daring way possible—where every sip feels like a high-five and every bite is a thrilling encore,” said Chris Santos, celebrity chef and judge on Food Network’s Chopped.

In addition to the culinary and bourbon experiences, Bourbon & Beyond offers incredible headlining music talent with something for everyone: The Lumineers, Benson Boone, and Alabama Shakes (reunion) on Thursday; Phish (playing two sets—their only festival appearance of 2025 and first Louisville show in three decades), Khruangbin, and Joe Bonamassa on Friday; Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, Jack White, and Vance Joy on Saturday; and Noah Kahan, Goo Goo Dolls, and Megan Moroney on Sunday. Additional must-see sets during the four-day event include Cage The Elephant, TV On The Radio, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lake Street Dive, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Foreigner (in one of the final announced dates of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2024 inductees’ Farewell Tour), Third Eye Blind, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, and many more.

The initial lineup of culinary talent and spirits panelists at Bourbon & Beyond includes (subject to change):

The Fork & Flask curated by Kroger Stage — Celebrity Chefs & Artist Pairings, hosted by Chris Santos & Edward Lee; Bourbon Experts & Celebrity Guests hosted by Amanda Freitag & Chris Blandford

    Amanda Freitag

    Barb Parish (Brown-Forman)

    Brandon O’Daniel (Copper & Kings, Nelson’s Green Brier)

    Brandon Smith (Bardstown Bourbon Co.)

    Brent Elliott (Four Roses Distillery)

    Bri Hlava (mixologist)

    Brian Probus (Firkin Podcast)

    Brooklyn Lytle (mixologist)

    Bruce Russell (Wild Turkey)

    Carrie Van Winkle (Pappy & Co.)

    Chaz Fister (Maker’s Mark)

    Chef Anthony Lamas

    Chef Brian Landry

    Chef Edward Lee

    Chef Esther Choi

    Chef Noah Hester (Bradshaw Bourbon; The Bradshaw Family Cookbook)

    Chef Jackie Joseph

    Chef Lawrence Weeks (North of Bourbon)

    Chris Blandford (Kroger Wine & Spirits)

    Chris Santos

    Christian Huber (Starlight Distiller)

    Claudette Zepeda

    Dan Calloway (Bardstown Bourbon Co.)

    Dr. Blake Layfield (Maker’s Mark)

    Elizabeth Banks (actress, Archer Roose Wines)

    Elizabeth McCall (Woodford Reserve)

    Fred Minnick (bourbon expert)

    Fred Booker Noe III (James B. Beam)

    Freddie Noe (James B. Beam)

    Greg Keely (Larrikin Bourbon)

    Harlen Wheatley (Buffalo Trace)

    Ian Sulkowski (Brown-Forman)

    Jason Brauner (Watch Hill Proper)

    Jim Gaffigan (Fathertime Bourbon)

    John Waddell (Peerless Distilling Co.)

    Kathryn Crutchfield

    Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee)

    Kelly Hansen (Foreigner)

    Kenny Coleman (Pursuit Spirits)

    Kyle Wallace (mixologist)

    Lili Lambert (mixologist)

    Melissa Rift (Old Forester)

    Neil Alvarado (mixologist)

    Neil Giraldo (artist, Three Chord Bourbon)

    Owen Martin (Angel’s Envy)

    Preston Van Winkle (Old Rip Van Winkle)

    Redferrin (artist)

    Ryan Cecil (Bourbon Pursuit)

    Salt Hank (Henry Laporte)

    Shaylyn Gammon (Blue Run Spirits)

    Terry Bradshaw (football legend; Bradshaw Bourbon; The Bradshaw Family Cookbook)

    Trey Zoeller (Jefferson’s Bourbon)

    Trombone Shorty (artist)

    Tyler Zoller (Louisville Bourbon Buzz)

    Wes Henderson (True Story Whiskey)

    49 Winchester (band)

Workshops will run from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily during the festival, and full details on demonstrations and tastings, along with a complete schedule, will be announced soon.

Another highlight of Bourbon & Beyond is the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar. Featuring the best bluegrass bands, line dancing, and expertly curated picks of Kentucky’s finest, it brings the bourbon trail right to Bourbon & Beyond. Bourbon lovers can also visit Chris Picks MiniBar for select single barrels curated especially for the festival; The Hunter’s Club for rare and vintage pours; and the Jack Daniel’s Sports Bar and Char House, the perfect oasis to complete the festival experience. Visit BourbonAndBeyond.com for a full description of festival experiences.

Having welcomed more than 210,000 fans in 2024, Bourbon & Beyond has become the premier destination event of the fall, combining incredible nonstop music with the best food and spirits Kentucky has to offer—with Forbes exclaiming, “Featuring some of America’s best chefs, the Louisville festival’s celebration of the culinary arts, spirits, live music and more makes it one of America’s most unique festival offerings.”

New for 2025:

    Friday headliner Phish will play two sets, with Phish Phriday hotel packages at the Galt House available through Jampack.

    Music artist Chance Peña has been added to Thursday’s lineup.

    New RV camping is available at the University of Louisville.

    A Bourbon & Beyond Student Offer is accessible with a .edu email address through FEVO.

    Festival-grounds updates:

        Expanded MINT VIP: three-story elevated structure with more space, shade, seating, restrooms, and bars

        Dedicated towel-and-chair zones

        Added picnic seating in GA

        Improved stage layout to reduce sound bleed

        New rideshare pickup for easier arrival and departure

    Join us at The Fox Den in Louisville for the semifinals of the Battle of the Strings on June 14 and the finals on June 21, where unsigned bluegrass bands can compete for a chance to perform onstage at Bourbon & Beyond.

Fans can still join the fun at the World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival by securing passes at BourbonAndBeyond.com or via Shop Pay at dwpbourbon.com, which allows for a buy-now, pay-later installment plan. Four-day and single-day GA and Mint VIP, as well as four-day Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP passes, are still available. Hotel packages are also offered through Jampack.

Bourbon & Beyond 2025 gratefully acknowledges the support of its hospitality, government, and stage-programming partners: Crowne Plaza, Galt House Hotel, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Venues, Kroger, Louisville Marriott Downtown, Louisville Metro, Louisville Tourism, Team Kentucky, Traeger, and YETI Coolers.

Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Bourbon & Beyond is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.

Award-winning festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) recently announced a long-term agreement with Kentucky Venues to host both Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life at the Highland Festival Grounds. The 10-year commitment, running from 2026-2035, underscores DWP’s and the city’s dedication to Louisville’s cultural and economic future. In 2024, the two festivals generated more than $33 million in total economic impact, according to Louisville Tourism.

‘This Wheel’s Still On Fire’ Exhibit Celebrates Levon Helm’s Enduring Legacy

Eric Alper
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‘This Wheel’s Still On Fire’ Exhibit Celebrates Levon Helm’s Enduring Legacy

The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is honoring a rock-and-roll legend with its newest display, This Wheel’s Still On Fire: The Legacy of Levon Helm. The exhibit, curated by Museum Collective, will feature never-before-displayed items, including personal photographs, instruments from members of The Band, tour memorabilia, awards, and interviews with friends and fellow musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Max Weinberg, and more. This Wheel’s Still On Fire will also allow guests to follow in Helm’s footsteps and play the drums, as Ramble Band guest drummer and multi-instrumentalist Charley Dayton provides a video tutorial. The exhibit opens inside the lower lobby of the Boch Center Wang Theatre on August 15 and will be on public display during tours and on all show days. Tour tickets will be available for purchase later this month at FolkAmericanaRootsHallofFame.org.

“This exhibit gives audiences a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most unique and influential artists in American music history,” said Casey Soward, President and CEO of the Boch Center. “We’re thrilled to bring Levon Helm’s legacy to life for fans in Boston and beyond.”

To kick off the new exhibit, the Boch Center Wang Theatre is hosting a members-only VIP opening on August 14 that will include a question-and-answer session with Bob Santelli, founding executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University; Levon’s daughter, acclaimed musician Amy Helm; and other special guests. To learn about becoming a member, visit www.FARHOF.org/support/individual-giving.

This Wheel’s Still On Fire: The Legacy of Levon Helm explores the life, legacy, and continued influence of Levon Helm. From his earliest years growing up in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, Levon was surrounded by music and community. Helm began his music career in high school when Ronnie Hawkins invited him to join his band. By the early 1960s, Levon and Hawkins had recruited Canadian musicians Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson, and Robbie Robertson to form Levon and the Hawks, which later became Bob Dylan’s backing group, The Band.

After The Band’s 1976 performance in The Last Waltz, the original line-up parted ways, and Levon returned to Woodstock to build a home and studio. During this time, he focused on his solo music and acting career. The Band reunited in 1983 without Robbie Robertson and continued to record and tour. In 1998, Levon was diagnosed with throat cancer, which damaged his vocal cords. As a way of recovering from treatment and gathering musicians and community together, Levon opened his Barn to host Midnight Rambles—intimate concerts inspired by shows he had seen as a teen. Before his death in 2012, Levon instructed friends and family to “keep it going,” and the Midnight Rambles continue to keep Levon’s legacy alive, the community gathered, and the music flowing. This exhibit invites guests to join in the song as we celebrate an artistic life well lived, a connected community, and Levon’s enduring legacy.

The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is a cultural and educational initiative of the Boch Center, located inside the Wang Theatre at 270 Tremont St., Boston, Massachusetts. Curated by the Museum Collective, FARHOF is geared to music lovers of all ages, providing educational offerings that ensure legacies are honored and new musical traditions are nurtured for generations to come. These genres of music have historically provided an outlet for individuals of all races and backgrounds, from every corner of the United States, to express their joys, sorrows, and experiences.

Recent and current exhibits include Joan Baez: A Life of Music, Art, and Activism; All Seeing Eye: Blue Note Records Through the Lens of Francis Wolff; Bruce Springsteen: Portraits of an American Music Icon; Legends of Folk, Americana, Roots Music; Arlo Guthrie: Native Son; Life in Six Strings; Don’t Think Twice: The Daniel Kramer Photographs of Bob Dylan, 1964-65; Boston: A Music Town; The Wang Theatre: A Century of Great Music; historic artifacts from David Bieber Archives; and the Cultural Heroes sculptures on loan from Alan LeQuire Galleries in Nashville, TN.

About the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame

In 2019, the Boch Center expanded its educational programming and launched the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF), Boston’s living music museum, which celebrates the lifeblood of America’s musical and cultural heritage. Folk music provides an outlet for individuals of all races and backgrounds to express their highest joys and deepest sorrows.

FARHOF is dedicated to honoring the past, celebrating the present, and nurturing the future of folk and Americana-roots musicians. By learning from the past, the Boch Center and FARHOF hope to influence meaningful conversations today.

Housed in the Wang Theatre, FARHOF celebrates folk, Americana, and roots music through displays, memorabilia, artifacts, events, lectures, exhibits, concerts, and educational programs.

Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Nettles Release “Our Highway” From ‘The Bondsman’

Eric Alper
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Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Nettles Release “Our Highway” From ‘The Bondsman’

Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Nettles are excited to announce the release of their new video for “Our Highway.” The song is part of the musical accompaniment to the TV series The Bondsman, a supernatural horror series released in April 2025, currently streaming on Amazon Prime. The collection of songs inspired by the show, are almost all written and performed by Bacon and Nettles, with some of the tracks included in the series and on the record.

In The Bondsman, Kevin Bacon stars as Hub Halloran, a bounty hunter brought back to life by the Devil to capture escaped demons. With his estranged family, Hub confronts his past sins on this dangerous quest. Jennifer Nettles plays Maryanne Dice, Hub’s ex-wife and former country music partner who still dreams of becoming a recording artist in Nashville. The series combines horror, action, and heartfelt moments, highlighting Hub’s journey of redemption and unexpected opportunities for life, love, and country music.

Bacon states, “Our Highway is the second song that Jennifer and I wrote that is in the show, The Bondsman. Our characters are musicians. It was fun to go back and write songs from my character, Hub Halloran’s point of view when he was a young man. This would be a song that they had written together, when they were first going out. It’s a great driving tune about escaping with the one you love and sticking together. It was a great songwriting exercise but also a great acting exercise.”

Nettles weighs in: “Kevin Bacon is a dream collaborator. Everyone knows he’s an iconic storyteller, but his gifts extend far beyond the camera. He shines as a songwriter! We wrote these songs for The Bondsman,  but quickly came to realize they stood firmly on their own as a studio project. We had a ball bringing these songs to life in the studio, in the way we heard them as musicians (to live outside of and beyond the show). “Our Highway” is the story of two people heading out on the road in search of a dream. And who knows? We just may head out on the road to share it!!”

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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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