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Jo Dee Messina Returns With ‘Bridges’, Her First Album In Over A Decade

Eric Alper
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Jo Dee Messina Returns With ‘Bridges’, Her First Album In Over A Decade

Jo Dee Messina is back with her most personal record yet. The country icon releases ‘Bridges’ this Friday, June 5, marking her first new studio album in 12 years. It’s already earned widespread acclaim ahead of release, with praise from American Songwriter, Billboard, PEOPLE, SiriusXM, Taste of Country, and The Tennessean, plus national TV turns on NBC’s TODAY and The Kelly Clarkson Show. The album lands as a major moment in a 30-year career.

The years between records weren’t easy. Over the past decade, Messina faced road bumps both minor and heartbreaking, from loss and struggle to sickness, and she leaned on the things that held her steady: her music, her children, and her faith. All of it runs through ‘Bridges’. Written almost entirely by Messina herself, the album moves through heartbreak and healing, faith and perseverance, and the resilience that has defined her.

The praise has been pointed. The Bobby Bones Show wrote that for Messina, this new chapter isn’t about chart positions or accolades, but about making music that’s honest, meaningful, and true to who she is now. PEOPLE went further, saying the album cements her legendary status in country music. It’s a moving, deeply felt return from one of the genre’s most enduring voices.

Messina’s reach stretches across generations. She’s become a North Star for a new wave of artists, from Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson to Cole Swindell, whose hit “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” pays homage to her classic “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” while Sierra Ferrell and Nikki Lane recently put their own stamp on “Lesson in Leavin’.” Her impact spans genres, eras, and decades.

The release rolls straight into a busy run. Messina plays CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium on June 5, performs at the Grand Ole Opry with a post-show signing on June 9, and launches the Bridges Tour, celebrating 30 years, on June 11. The dates carry through into early 2027.

‘Bridges’ Track Listing:

Welcome To The Show

Some Bridges

Days You Don’t Get Back

Where The Cowboys Ride

Can Anybody

Don’t Let Them Hide Your Beautiful

Message In A Bottle

The Jesus I Know

It’s All About You

Let Me Love You

If He Knew Jesus

Bridges Tour Dates:

06/05/2026 – Nissan Stadium – CMA Fest – Nashville, TN

06/11/2026 – The Bluestone – Columbus, OH +

06/12/2026 – Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center – Carteret, NJ

06/13/2026 – Bowl In The Pines – Sidney, ME

06/18/2026 – American Music Theatre – Lancaster, PA +

06/19/2026 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom – Hampton Beach, NH +

06/20/2026 – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Mashantucket, CT

07/10/2026 – Hodag Country Festival – Rhinelander, WI *

07/17/2026 – Saddle Up for St. Jude – Tuscumbia, AL

07/23/2026 – Canyon County Fair: Bi-Mart Concert Series – Caldwell, ID *

07/24/2026 – Mountain America Center – Idaho Falls, ID +

07/25/2026 – Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY *

07/31/2026 – The Haute Spot – Leander, TX

08/01/2026 – Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX

08/06/2026 – Streator Fest – Streator, IL *

08/07/2026 – Effingham County Fair – Altamont, IL *

08/14/2026 – Batavia Downs – Batavia, NY +

08/15/2026 – Warner Vineyards – Paw Paw, MI

08/22/2026 – Tier 10 Music & Sports Park – Spencer, IN *

08/27/2026 – Central States Fair – Rapid City, SD *

08/29/2026 – Cali Country Cruise 2026 – Long Beach, CA ^

09/04/2026 – Columbia Bank Concert Series at the Oregon State Fair – Salem, OR *

09/05/2026 – Lake County Round-Up – Lakeview, OR *

09/06/2026 – Twin Falls County Fair – Filer, ID *

09/11/2026 – Heart of Country Festival – Independence, KY *

09/13/2026 – Kansas State Fair – Hutchinson, KS *

09/16/2026 – SEMO District Fair – Cape Girardeau, MO *

09/19/2026 – Boots in the Park – Fresno, CA *

09/25/2026 – Shooting Star Casino & Lodge – Mahnomen, MN

09/26/2026 – Mayo Clinic Health Center Event – Mankato, MN

09/27/2026 – Washington Pavillion – Sioux Falls, SD

10/10/2026 – GreyStone Amphitheater – Douglasville, GA

10/23/2026 – Genesee Theatre – Waukegan, IL

11/06/2026 – The Truth – Nashville, TN

01/16/2027 – Renaissance Theatre – Mansfield, OH

03/06/2027 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre – Wisconsin Dells, WI

Luke Bryan Brings Thomas Rhett And HARDY To The Beach For Crash My Playa 2027

Eric Alper
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Luke Bryan Brings Thomas Rhett And HARDY To The Beach For Crash My Playa 2027

Luke Bryan is heading back to Mexico to kick off the year. The country star returns to Moon Palace Cancún for the 12th annual Crash My Playa, running Jan. 13-16, 2027, and he’s bringing a stacked roster of friends along. Thomas Rhett and HARDY headline, joined by Brothers Osborne, Gavin Adcock, and more. It’s an all-inclusive Caribbean getaway built around nonstop live music on the beach.

The lineup runs deep. Star-studded performances come from Brett Young, Avery Anna, Drew Baldridge, Emily Ann Roberts, Lanie Gardner, and DJ Rock, alongside the event’s signature traditions: Dustin Lynch’s Pool Party and Luke Bryan & Friends closing things out. Produced by 100x Hospitality, the weekend pairs premium resort stays with a packed slate of shows.

Bryan sounds thrilled to be back. “There is no time like Playa time!” he said in a statement. “It’s truly the best way to start off the year and this is year 12, which is unbelievable. It is such a fun environment for me and my artist friends to spend time in front of an energetic crowd. Thankful for all who show up.” That easygoing, party-first spirit has made the event a yearly highlight.

Each package covers premium resort accommodation, access to all performances, round-trip airport transportation, unlimited drinks, all-inclusive dining, activities, and off-site excursions, with a full schedule of shows and tours coming soon. “Year after year, Crash My Playa proves that there’s nothing quite like bringing country music fans together on the beach for a weekend of unforgettable shows and nonstop good times,” said Dan Berkowitz, founder and CEO of 100x Hospitality. “We’re thrilled to help create what has become one of the best events of the year, celebrating a shared love for country music and the community that makes this event so special.” All-inclusive packages go on sale June 11 at 1 p.m. EDT via crashmyplaya.com, with a two-day presale for previous attendees and Nuthouse fan club members starting June 9.

Waterfront Blues Festival Brings The Revivalists, Cymande, And July 4th Fireworks Back To Portland

Eric Alper
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Waterfront Blues Festival Brings The Revivalists, Cymande, And July 4th Fireworks Back To Portland

The countdown to summer is on in Portland. Waterfront Blues Festival just released its full daily schedule for 2026, and the Pacific Northwest cornerstone returns to Downtown Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park July 2-4. There’ll be more than 30 performances across three stages, with non-stop music from 1:00 to 10:00 pm each day. It’s a joyful kickoff to the season, and one of the country’s best fully independent music festivals.

The lineup gathers voices from around the world, all carrying the DNA of the blues in wildly different forms. Highlights include The Revivalists, Durand Jones & The Indications, Tank and The Bangas, Cymande, Hailu Mergia, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, Seratones, Toody Cole and Her Band, Glitterfox, and dozens more. It’s a thrilling spread that shows how far the blues travels across genres, borders, and decades.

The weekend stretches well past the main stages. The July 4th Fireworks Show presented by Lithia & Driveway launches from a barge on the Willamette River, choreographed to a musical soundtrack and visible across the city, capping the weekend and marking America’s 250th anniversary. The festival stays family-friendly too, with free entry for kids 12 and younger thanks to Buick GMC of Beaverton and a dedicated kids area, The Playin’ Ground, featuring daily music activities, art from Mike Bennett, and face painting.

Out on the water, the Blues Cruises presented by Kona Big Wave sail the Willamette aboard the Portland Spirit, each with a unique theme, three intimate stages, and an all-star lineup. The Big Easy Cruise runs Thursday, July 2 with Bon Bon Vivant, Kota Dosa, and Reggie Houston’s Box of Chocolates. Cruisin’ to Memphis follows Friday, July 3 with the Cascade Blues Association’s Journey to Memphis Allstars & Finals, Billy Stoops, and Sleeper Wave. The Sail on Sister Cruise on Saturday, July 4 spotlights NW Women Rhythm & Blues, Ms. Vee and a Badass Band, and Mary Flower with Leon Cotter.

There’s plenty to eat and drink too. New food vendors for 2026 include Flying Fish Co., Kate’s Ice Cream, MidCity SmashedBurger, and Cametco Inc. Korean’s Corn Dogs & Bingsoo Desserts, joining returning favorites like Boke Bowl, Cobra Dogs, Bates BBQ, and Al Forno Ferruzza Pizzeria. Drink offerings span Breakside Brewing, Kona Brewing, Portland Cider Co., Maryhill Winery, and Sokol Blosser’s Frozé Slushies. Merchants include Tender Loving Empire, Music Millennium, and the Ink Bus mobile tattoo studio.

The lead-up runs all month. Free community events include KMHD x WBF Live at the Midtown Beer Garden on June 4 and 11, a Summer Kick Off at Director Park on June 13 with Pomegranate and The Gold Experience, and Dad’s Rock at Wonderwood Springs on June 21. After hours, official Late Night Shows take over Jack London Revue and The Downbeat, the latter hosting a Down Home Blues, Funk & Soul Party with Tony TC Coleman’s Band and special guest Kenny Neal across all three nights.

The festival also debuts a first-of-its-kind fundraiser. Dinner on the Bridge takes over the Hawthorne Bridge on the evening of July 4, featuring Chefs Vitaly Paley and Sarah Schafer, with appetizers from Plant Based Papi, República, and Sebastiano’s, plus live music and a spectacular vantage point for the fireworks. “This dinner is an opportunity for people who care deeply about Waterfront Blues Festival and Portland to invest in the future of both,” said Festival Director Christina Fuller. “As we look ahead to the festival’s 40th year, we’re excited to offer unique new experiences that will help ensure this beloved community tradition remains vibrant, sustainable, and accessible for generations to come.” Since 1988, the festival has raised over $10 million for community partners, with 2026 proceeds benefiting Meals on Wheels People and The Jeremy Wilson Foundation.

Violet Grohl Brings “Bug in the Cake” To Fallon

Eric Alper
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Violet Grohl Brings “Bug in the Cake” To Fallon

Violet Grohl took her latest to late night. The rising singer-songwriter performed “Bug in the Cake” as the musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering the track to a national audience on June 4. It’s a confident, magnetic showing that follows the song’s official music video, released days earlier, and builds on the momentum of her earlier single “THUM.”

Violinist Patrick Yim Bridges Chinese And Western Worlds On New Album ‘Bamboo Grove’

Eric Alper
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Violinist Patrick Yim Bridges Chinese And Western Worlds On New Album ‘Bamboo Grove’

Patrick Yim has built something rare and beautiful. The violinist and violist will release ‘Bamboo Grove’ on PENTATONE on August 21, 2026, an album of world premiere recordings made in close collaboration with Chen Yi and Zhou Long, two of the most distinguished composers working at the meeting point of Chinese and Western musical traditions. It’s a luminous, ambitious project that opens up an entirely new sound world for Western strings.

Recorded during a week-long residency at the University of Notre Dame in April 2024, the album gathers four works that reimagine the expressive range of the violin and viola through the textures of Chinese musical culture. The collaboration runs deep, shaped by the composers’ own histories spanning the Cultural Revolution, studies at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, and artistic refinement in New York at Columbia University with mentors Chou Wen-chung and Mario Davidovsky. Across the record, Yim evokes the guqin, erhu, pipa, xiao, lusheng, ancient bell ensembles, Peking opera percussion, and regional folk traditions.

Yim speaks warmly about the partnership at the album’s heart. “I have long admired the work and personal histories of Chen Yi and Zhou Long, and it has been a profound privilege to collaborate with them on this recording and to come to know them personally,” he said. “Their stories of collaborations with artists such as Yehudi Menuhin and Yo-Yo Ma offered a living connection to a remarkable musical lineage. From a performer’s perspective, these works are both idiomatic and imaginative, pushing the limits of Western instruments through a deep familiarity with their traditions and a rich creative vision. It is an honor to bring this music to life and share it with a wider audience.”

The program is full of discovery. It opens with Zhou Long’s ‘Bamboo Grove’ for unaccompanied violin, a 2024 work commissioned for Yim and premiered at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, inspired by Ruan Xian of the famed Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. Chen Yi’s ‘Xian Shi’, heard in its trio version for viola, percussion, and piano, was her earliest orchestral composition and the first viola concerto by a Chinese composer, featuring a striking four-finger rapid pizzicato roll that’s unprecedented in the viola repertoire. Zhou Long’s ‘Tales from the Nine Bells’ draws on a millennia-old legend from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, while Chen Yi’s ‘Suite for Viola and Chamber Winds’ closes the album by evoking the lusheng, ancient set bells, the hsiao and ch’in, and a brilliant Chinese percussion ensemble.

The lead single, the fourth movement of the Suite, “Flower Drums in Dance,” arrives July 31 ahead of the full release. Yim is joined throughout by a deep bench of collaborators, including percussionist Paul Vaillancourt, pianist Shuai Wang, violist Kirsten Docter, clarinetist John Diodati, and the chamber winds led by conductor Paul Hostetter, with Jesse Lewis producing.

Honolulu-born and praised by The Strad for his deeply expressive, finely nuanced playing, Yim has performed at Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Seoul Arts Center, Teatro alla Scala, and the Musikverein. A committed advocate for contemporary music, he has commissioned 70 works, many pairing violin with non-Western instruments, and collaborated with composers including Zhou Long, Chen Yi, Ken Ueno, and Bun-Ching Lam. He serves as Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Notre Dame.

‘Bamboo Grove’ Track Listing:

  1. Zhou Long – Bamboo Grove for Unaccompanied Violin (2024)
  2. Chen Yi – Xian Shi for Viola, Percussion, and Piano (1982)
  3. Zhou Long – Tales from the Nine Bells for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, and Piano (2013)
  4. Chen Yi – Suite for Viola and Chamber Winds: I. Lusheng Ensemble
  5. Chen Yi – Suite for Viola and Chamber Winds: II. Echoes of the Set Bells
  6. Chen Yi – Suite for Viola and Chamber Winds: III. Romance of Hsiao and Ch’in
  7. Chen Yi – Suite for Viola and Chamber Winds: IV. Flower Drums in Dance

Richard E. Grant And Claire Foy Lead The Darkly Satirical Period Romp ‘The Savage House’

Eric Alper
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Richard E. Grant And Claire Foy Lead The Darkly Satirical Period Romp ‘The Savage House’

Paramount has a wickedly sharp period piece on the way. ‘The Savage House’ lands in theatres June 5, led by Richard E. Grant and Claire Foy as Sir Chauncey and Lady Savage, a couple chasing a better life with reckless abandon. Set in 18th century England against a massive Pox outbreak and the Jacobite Uprising, the film plays as a timely, darkly satirical story stuffed with duels, decadence, and bloodshed. The family name carries its own irony, because this is a Savage house indeed. It’s a madcap takedown of class and power, and the ensemble runs deep, with Jack Farthing, Bel Powley, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Vicki Pepperdine, Richard McCabe, and Pip Torrens rounding out the cast.

Video: Zara Larsson Conquers A Hometown Lollapalooza Stockholm Crowd In 2023

Eric Alper
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Video: Zara Larsson Conquers A Hometown Lollapalooza Stockholm Crowd In 2023

Zara Larsson came home and owned the night. The Swedish pop superstar co-headlined the Friday of Lollapalooza Stockholm in 2023, commanding a massive crowd in the city’s beautiful Gärdet park with the charisma of a seasoned headliner. The set was a showcase of modern pop, pairing high-energy choreography with powerful vocals. She opened with the electric “Can’t Tame Her” and rolled through “Ruin My Life,” “Ain’t My Fault,” and the global smash “Lush Life,” then nodded to her country’s legacy with a dazzling cover of ABBA’s “Lay All Your Love on Me.” A standout came when Swedish legend Carola joined her for a duet of “Säg Mig,” a memorable cross-generational moment for the local crowd. From the infectious “Symphony” to the heartfelt “Uncover,” the performance proved Larsson’s versatility and star power in full.

Jack Johnson Maps Out His Sprawling “SURFILMUSIC Tour 2026”

Eric Alper
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Jack Johnson Maps Out His Sprawling “SURFILMUSIC Tour 2026”

Jack Johnson has a big summer and fall ahead. The surf-folk favorite just announced the SURFILMUSIC Tour 2026, a wide-ranging run with special guests Hermanos Gutiérrez that stretches from June through October. The trek opens June 19 in Gilford, New Hampshire, and winds through the Northeast, Midwest, Canada, and the West Coast before wrapping with two nights in Los Angeles on October 10 and 11. It’s a generous, far-reaching itinerary built for the season.

Johnson’s laid-back blend of acoustic songwriting, surf culture, environmental consciousness, and warm live performances has long made him a festival-season fixture. This time he’s paired with Hermanos Gutiérrez, the duo whose cinematic, guitar-driven sound makes a gorgeous match across the run. The two should fit together beautifully night after night.

SURFILMUSIC Tour 2026 Dates:

June 19 — Gilford, NH

June 20 — Mansfield, MA

June 21 — Holmdel, NJ

June 24 — Saratoga, NY

June 26 — Columbia, MD

June 27 — Philadelphia, PA

June 28 — Wantagh, NY

June 30 — Toronto, Canada

July 1 — Canandaigua, NY

July 3 — Burgettstown, PA

July 4 — Noblesville, IN

July 5 — Grand Rapids, MI

July 7 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH

July 8 — Cincinnati, OH

July 10 — Clarkston, MI

July 11 — Chicago, IL

July 12 — Shakopee, MN

September 26 — George, WA

October 6 — Phoenix, AZ

October 9 — Chula Vista, CA

October 10 — Los Angeles, CA

October 11 — Los Angeles, CA

TWEET

Indie Songsmith Jenny Gillespie Mason Shares Dream-Prayer Single “Touch Everyone On Earth”

Eric Alper
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Indie Songsmith Jenny Gillespie Mason Shares Dream-Prayer Single “Touch Everyone On Earth”

Jenny Gillespie Mason has unveiled the final piece of her next record. The songwriter just shared “Touch Everyone On Earth,” the third and last single from her forthcoming album ‘In the Safety of the Light’, due 12th June, 2026 on Native Cat Recordings. Produced by Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Bert Jansch, Vashti Bunyan), the track unfolds like a dream-prayer, drawn from a sleepless night in a New York City hotel room where its narrator imagines the Divine Mother answering a plea to heal a traumatised world. Recorded on Wurlitzer at Georgeson’s suggestion, it carries a plaintive, tender quality that mirrors the act of prayer at its core.

Mason traces the song to a single restless night. “This song draws from a spiritual experience I had on a sleepless night visiting New York City a few years ago. I often have really beautiful, deep experiences there, sometimes pretty intense and weird, that end up changing me,” she explains. “I heard recently the city is built on a bedrock of quartz, so it’s just super charged and can be transformative if you’re open. Noah Georgeson who produced the record suggested I record this song on Wurlitzer which I think fits perfectly as it’s such a plaintive, tender sound and the song’s chorus describes the act of prayer.” It’s a quietly transfixing piece of writing.

The single follows “Rungs of Love” and “Medicine of Light,” which together trace the ladder between earthly love and higher devotion. With this final preview, the full scope of ‘In the Safety of the Light’ comes into view: music spare and intimate in form but expansive in its spiritual ambitions. The album was recorded in spring and autumn 2025 at a private studio in Los Angeles, with most of the songs captured live as an ensemble.

After more than a decade exploring psychedelic pop, jazz, and electronic textures through her project Sis, most recently as Sis and the Lower Wisdom, Mason returned to the acoustic guitar she first began writing on as a teenager. The album moves through questions of how to live a spiritual life while staying fully human, drawing on her practice as an aspiring yogi, her life as a mother and wife, and her deep engagement with the teachings of Mother Mirra Alfassa. Sonically, it glows with 1970s British folk, echoing Catherine Howe and Fairport Convention, while opening into the ambient textures of Hiroshi Yoshimura and the cosmic folk of Beck. It’s a gorgeous, deeply felt return to her roots.

Slightly Stoopid Capture Their 2005 Hometown Peak On Live DVD

Eric Alper
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Slightly Stoopid Capture Their 2005 Hometown Peak On Live DVD

Slightly Stoopid bottled lightning across two nights at the House of Blues in San Diego. Recorded in November 2005 for the band’s first full-length concert DVD, the show catches the Ocean Beach natives unleashing their signature blend of reggae, punk rock, funk, and hip-hop for a packed hometown crowd. It arrived just after their acclaimed 2005 album ‘Closer to the Sun’ had raised their profile, and the performance lands as a raw time capsule of a band hitting its stride. The interplay between co-founders Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald drives everything, their distinct vocals and intricate guitar work backed by a tight rhythm section and vibrant horns. It’s an irresistible document of the Southern California sound they helped pioneer.

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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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