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Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Riley Green Lead First Performer Announcement for the 61st ACM Awards

Eric Alper
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Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Riley Green Lead First Performer Announcement for the 61st ACM Awards

The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards has its first wave of performers. Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Riley Green will take the stage at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, streaming live exclusively on Prime Video, Twitch, and the Amazon Music app across 240+ countries and territories. More performers, nominations, presenters, and a host are still to come.

The three announced acts arrive with serious credentials. Johnson returns following his 2025 ACM Song of the Year win. Lainey Wilson, reigning Entertainer of the Year and 16-time ACM Award recipient, delivers the world premiere performance of “Can’t Sit Still.” Riley Green, a four-time ACM Award winner, performs his hit “Change My Mind” and headlines the ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green event at Topgolf Las Vegas on May 15.

ACM Awards Week runs May 15 through 17, with “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” at Mandalay Bay Beach on May 16 rounding out the pre-show events. Tickets for the broadcast and all week events are on sale now at AXS.com.

Behind the scenes, Patrick Menton has been upped to Executive Producer, joining longstanding Executive Producer and Showrunner Raj Kapoor. The Emmy-nominated show is produced by Dick Clark Productions, now in its fifth year as the first major awards ceremony to exclusively livestream via Prime Video.

The 61st ACM Awards airs May 17 at 8 p.m. ET.

North London Indie-Pop Talent Natalie Shay Confronts Betrayal on Sharp New Single “sorry for u”

Eric Alper
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North London Indie-Pop Talent Natalie Shay Confronts Betrayal on Sharp New Single “sorry for u”

Natalie Shay has a lot to say, and “sorry for u” says it clearly. The North London indie-pop artist has released the latest single from her upcoming EP, ‘ATMOSPHERE,’ a defiant, sharp-edged track about betrayal, deflection, and the particular frustration of watching someone rewrite history to avoid accountability. It is one of the stronger pop singles she has put her name to.

Crafted with RNDMBEATS (Wes Nelson) and Call Me Loop (Pussycat Dolls), the track sits at the intersection of emotional directness and bright indie-pop production. Shay is specific about what drove it. “I absolutely hate it when someone close to you switches up and sabotages, and rather than take accountability, they either Irish goodbye or convince themselves that things were the other way around,” she said. “That’s what this song is about.”

‘ATMOSPHERE’ is Shay’s most considered project to date, written across two years of collaboration and late-night solo sessions. The EP explores new love, trauma bonds, and the messy emotional space in between. The title track was written with long-time collaborator Kaity Rae, circling the question of whether a connection is real love or simply something in the air. “Every song is a confession in a way,” Shay says. “I write songs to perform them live. That’s my therapy.”

A BRIT School graduate with 20M+ streams, BBC Radio 1, Radio 6 Music, and BBC Introducing support, and coverage in Rolling Stone, Billboard, and CLASH, Shay has built her audience the hard way. She has sold out Omeara, supported Shania Twain at BST Hyde Park, toured with Gavin DeGraw, and played SXSW, Latitude, Reading, and Isle of Wight.

This April, Shay plays her biggest headline show to date at Oslo in London, alongside her first ever regional headline in Manchester. Tickets are on sale now.

Upcoming Shows:

April 17 — Manchester — Deaf Institute Lodge

April 23 — London — Oslo

Paris Alt-Rockers DEMAIN DEMIAN Go Deep Into Twin Peaks Territory With New Single “LIKE A RAT!”

Eric Alper
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Paris Alt-Rockers DEMAIN DEMIAN Go Deep Into Twin Peaks Territory With New Single “LIKE A RAT!”

DEMAIN DEMIAN are drawing from dark source material. The Paris-based alternative rock outfit, founded in 2025, have released “LIKE A RAT!,” a short, dense new single inspired by David Lynch’s Twin Peaks series. Written from the perspective of character Leland Palmer, the track pulls directly from iconic dialogue in the series, building a cinematic atmosphere that feels genuinely oppressive.

The sonic palette is deliberate and well-executed. Saturated grunge guitars, reverberated psychedelic textures, and heavy bass lines lock together into something brooding and cinematic. Subtle tempo shifts throughout and an ethereal outro evoke a passage through the Red Room, pushing the song’s fatalistic mood into full effect. It is a focused, unnerving listen.

DEMAIN DEMIAN position themselves somewhere between grunge, shoegaze, and dream pop, drawing from the 90s sound of The Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure, and Deftones alongside newer alt-rock acts like Superheaven, PÆRISH, Softcult, and Momma. “LIKE A RAT!” channels that lineage with confidence for a band less than two years old.

The group is currently working toward live shows in Paris in the coming months. “LIKE A RAT!” is out now.

Carmine Appice’s Cactus Stream “The Little Red Rooster” Featuring Dee Snider and Tracii Guns Ahead of ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’

Eric Alper
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Carmine Appice’s Cactus Stream “The Little Red Rooster” Featuring Dee Snider and Tracii Guns Ahead of ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’

Carmine Appice is not done with the blues. Cactus, the band he reformed a few years back, has announced ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars,’ due April 3, and the first taste is a hard-hitting new recording of the blues classic “The Little Red Rooster” featuring Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider on lead vocals and Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns on guitar. It hits hard and sounds exactly as good as that lineup suggests.

“It was great working on ‘The Little Red Rooster’ with Dee and Tracii,” said Appice. “It was such an honor to have Dee on the song and to have him make an appearance in the video, especially since he’s retired now. The song Rocks!” The track came together organically, with Appice arranging from the drums up before bringing in the full cast, including James Haslip, who helped finish the song.

The album is stacked. Across ten tracks (plus a CD-only bonus), Cactus assembled a guest list that reads like a hard rock hall of fame: Eric Gales, Billy Sheehan, Pat Travers, Dug Pinnick, Steve Morse, Joe Lynn Turner, Rudy Sarzo, Alex Skolnick, Ted Nugent, and more. Notably, “Purple Haze” features vocals from Melanie, recorded before her passing in 2024, reuniting two acts that shared the bill at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival.

The original Cactus debuted that same year, often described as America’s Led Zeppelin. ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’ traces directly back to that origin, pulling from the same deep blues well that launched the band more than five decades ago. The sequel to 2024’s ‘Temple of Blues’ lands as a serious all-star statement.

‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’ is available to pre-order now on CD and LP. It arrives April 3.

Track Listing:

  1. Back Door Man Pt. 1 & 2 feat. Eric Gales & Billy Sheehan
  2. 300 Pounds Of Joy feat. Ty Tabor
  3. Moanin’ At Midnight feat. Pat Travers
  4. Down In The Bottom feat. Dug Pinnick
  5. Token Chokin’ feat. Bumblefoot
  6. Bad Stuff feat. Steve Morse, Joe Lynn Turner, Derek Sherinian & Tony Franklin
  7. Tail Dragger feat. Rudy Sarzo & Alex Skolnick
  8. The Little Red Rooster feat. Dee Snider, Tracii Guns, James Haslip
  9. Purple Haze feat. Melanie
  10. Spoonful feat. Ted Nugent & Bob Daisley

Bonus Track (CD Only):

  1. Feel So Good feat. Billy Sheehan & Britt Lightning

DMV Hip-Hop Legend Wale Brings “Live in the District” to Nationals Park Over Juneteenth Weekend

Eric Alper
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DMV Hip-Hop Legend Wale Brings “Live in the District” to Nationals Park Over Juneteenth Weekend

Wale is coming home. The Grammy-nominated DMV rapper has announced “Live in the District,” a two-day concert series at the Plaza Stage at Nationals Park on June 20 and 21, Juneteenth weekend. It is his largest hometown live property to date, and the lineup reflects exactly how seriously he takes that distinction.

Day one (June 20) features Smino and DMV-raised R&B singer Alex Vaughn. Day two (June 21) brings Maryland-based rapper Foggieraw and the original members of legendary D.C. Gogo band UCB, playing together for the first time in over 14 years while celebrating the 20th anniversary of their international classic “Sexy Lady.” Day one is already sold out. Day two tickets go on sale March 20 at 10 a.m. ET.

“Live in the District” is part of Wale’s 23-city everything is a lot. tour with Smino, running this summer off the back of his eighth studio album, ‘everything is a lot.,’ released November 2025 on Def Jam. The album debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hip-Hop charts, earning spots on year-end best-of lists from Billboard, Rolling Stone, Complex, ESSENCE, and REVOLT.

The D.C. run builds on a deliberate arc of hometown investment. Wale headlined the Kennedy Center in 2023, MGM Theater in 2024, and The Anthem in 2025 as part of his second annual Gifted Week, a week-long event series he launched alongside management company EQT to honor DMV community and culture.

With over 5.3 billion catalog streams and collaborators including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, SZA, and Rick Ross, Wale arrives at Nationals Park with plenty to celebrate. VIP upgrades are available for both days. Tickets will be available HERE starting Friday, March 20th at 10 am ET

Iron Lung Deliver a Ferocious Full-Set Performance for KEXP

Eric Alper
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Iron Lung Deliver a Ferocious Full-Set Performance for KEXP

Iron Lung took over the KEXP studio, delivering a full-throttle set that has since landed on the channel’s YouTube page. The Seattle hardcore duo of Jensen Ward (drums, vocals, noise) and Jon Kortland (guitar, vocals) tore through a dense, unrelenting run of material including “Lifeless Life,” “Future Corpses,” “Acres Of Skin,” and “Everything Is A Void,” hosted by Jennifer Govola. Twenty-plus minutes of pure compression and force, captured clean.






Alessia Cara, Jully Black, and Shawn Desman Join the 55th Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast

Eric Alper
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Alessia Cara, Jully Black, and Shawn Desman Join the 55th Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast

Four more names just landed on the 55th Annual JUNO Awards broadcast. Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Shawn Desman, and Tanya Tagaq will perform a tribute to Nelly Furtado as part of her induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, joined by special guests and Furtado’s band under Musical Director Herag Sanbalian. Also joining the broadcast are MICO and Sofia Camara, two of Canada’s freshest new voices making their JUNO debut.

The show airs live March 29 at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, and streams globally on CBC Music’s YouTube channel from TD Coliseum in Hamilton. Limited tickets remain.

To mark Furtado’s induction, a dedicated exhibition opens March 25 at the National Music Centre in Calgary, home of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. It is a fitting tribute to a career that has shaped Canadian music on the global stage for more than two decades.

JUNO Week itself runs March 26 through 29, with the KickOff Concert, Songwriters’ Circle, JUNOfest, the Gala, and the main broadcast all taking place across Hamilton. The JUNO Awards Gala Presented by Music Canada streams March 28 at 6 p.m. ET, featuring more than 40 award presentations.

Tickets for the March 29 broadcast are on sale now at ticketmaster.ca/junos.

Berlin Outfit Kreidler Drift Into Ambient Territory With New Album ‘Schemes’ Due May 15

Eric Alper
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Berlin Outfit Kreidler Drift Into Ambient Territory With New Album ‘Schemes’ Due May 15

Kreidler are moving into new territory. The Berlin/Düsseldorf-based trio will release ‘Schemes,’ their ninth album for Bureau B, on May 15. It is a record that leans into ambient space, natural sound, and a lighter rhythmic touch, marking a deliberate shift from the propellent insistence of their earlier work.

The album was recorded primarily at andereBaustelle in Berlin, with additional sessions at Morphine Raum. The trio of Thomas Klein (percussion, drums, found sounds), Alexander Paulick (fretless bass guitar), and Andreas Reihse (synthesisers, electronics, field recordings) made use of instruments and objects found on location, including a gigantic cuboid steel oil tank. Nature and outdoor recordings appear throughout, giving ‘Schemes’ a textural character that feels genuinely distinctive.

The album’s eleven tracks each operate on their own internal logic. Rhythms skip rather than stride. Synth lines meander and overlap. The standout track “Fenix” features Argentine vocalist Leo Garcia, who built his vocal melody over a noisy urban field recording during a chance visit to Berlin. The result is described as a protest song of an unusual kind.

‘Schemes’ is playful without being restless, precise without being rigid. Cover artwork by Luzie Meyer mirrors the album’s spirit, a dialogue on a string where ideas clash and disputes resolve amicably. Bureau B continues to champion exactly this kind of forward-thinking work.

‘Schemes’ arrives May 15 on Bureau B.

Track Listing:

Beads

Klove Twin

Snowflakes

Bellboy

The distance between you

Looming Large

Marble Upset

Via de me

Fenix (ft. Leo Garcia)

Tar

Norah Jones to Receive the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

Eric Alper
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Norah Jones to Receive the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

Norah Jones is being recognized where it counts. The Grammy Museum will present Jones with the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award at the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum’s Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on May 8 at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The evening will also celebrate the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame inducted recordings and honor Warner Records as the year’s label honoree.

The Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award recognizes artists whose influence crosses generations and transcends genre. Inspired by Charles’ legacy as a performer, pianist, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur, the award celebrates creative impact that reshapes the musical landscape. Jones, whose work spans jazz, pop, soul, and country, has built a body of work that is both intimate and far-reaching across more than two decades.

Jones responded to the honor directly. “Ray Charles was my musical hero, and he changed the way so many of us hear and feel music,” she said. “To be recognized in connection with his legacy, and as part of a night that also celebrates such important recorded works, is special for me.” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. called her work a reflection of “deep musicality, emotional honesty and a spirit of exploration.”

Jones will perform during the evening alongside additional artists to be announced. Esteemed journalist Anthony Mason returns as host, with the show produced by former Grammy Awards Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich and musical direction from Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor Cheche Alara.

The 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame class includes 14 inducted recordings, among them 2Pac’s ‘All Eyez On Me,’ Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation 1814,’ Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer,’ and works by Alice Coltrane, Funkadelic, Heart, Nick Drake, Selena, and Eric B. & Rakim, among others.

Country Maverick Gavin Adcock Takes “The Day I Hang It Up Tour” Across 27 Cities This Year

Eric Alper
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Country Maverick Gavin Adcock Takes “The Day I Hang It Up Tour” Across 27 Cities This Year

Gavin Adcock is not slowing down. The Georgia native has announced “The Day I Hang It Up Tour” 2026, a 27-city headline run kicking off May 7 in Hollywood, Florida, and closing November 14 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is his fourth extensive headline tour since 2024, and it is his biggest yet.

The tour draws rotating support from Braxton Keith, Corey Kent, Jake Worthington, Pecos & The Rooftops, Tyler Nance, and The Creekers. Alongside his own headline dates, Adcock joins Morgan Wallen for 16 dates on Wallen’s Still The Problem Tour 2026, cementing his place at the top tier of country music’s current generation.

Adcock has built a loyal, rabid fanbase on the strength of his live show. American Songwriter called him a “modern-day outlaw,” Holler described his performances as a “collision of extremes,” and MusicRow landed on “high-octane.” That kind of press does not come from playing it safe.

“The Day I Hang It Up Tour” scales across club rooms, amphitheaters, and arenas, reflecting exactly where his career stands right now. With venues spread coast to coast and deep into the South, this is a run built for a fanbase that has been growing fast.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 20 at 10AM local time. A fan club presale is running now.

“The Day I Hang It Up Tour” 2026 Dates:

May 7 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live at Seminole

July 3 — Orange Beach, AL — The Wharf Amphitheater

July 29 — Spokane, WA — Gesa Pavilion

July 30 — Idaho Falls, ID — Mountain America Center

Aug. 6 — Abbotsford, BC — Rogers Forum

Aug. 7 — Tacoma, WA — Dune Peninsula

Aug. 9 — Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Aug. 28 — Columbus, OH — KEMBA Live! Outdoor

Aug. 29 — Cincinnati, OH — MegaCorp Pavilion Outdoor

Sept. 11 — Cleveland, OH — Jacobs Pavilion

Sept. 17 — Lubbock, TX — Cook’s Garage

Sept. 19 — Round Rock, TX — Round Rock Amp

Sept. 24 — Baton Rouge, LA — Raising Cane’s River Center

Sept. 25 — Oxford, MS — SJB Pavilion

Oct. 15 — Macon, GA — Atrium Health Amphitheater

Oct. 16 — Birmingham, AL — Coca-Cola Amphitheater

Oct. 17 — Little Rock, AR — First Security Amphitheater

Oct. 22 — Fishers, IN — Fishers Event Center

Oct. 23 — Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Civic Coliseum

Oct. 24 — Cary, NC — Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Oct. 29 — Charlotte, NC — Bojangles Coliseum

Oct. 30 — Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena

Oct. 31 — Estero, FL — Hertz Arena

Nov. 6 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Nov. 7 — Reading, PA — Santander Arena

Nov. 13 — Detroit, MI — Masonic Temple Theatre

Nov. 14 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena

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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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