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10 Tips For Picking the Right Song to Pitch to Spotify’s Playlists (and Everyone Else’s)

Eric Alper
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10 Tips For Picking the Right Song to Pitch to Spotify’s Playlists (and Everyone Else’s)

Picking the right song to pitch to Spotify curators or playlist editors isn’t a science—but it sure isn’t a guessing game either. One song can change everything. And if you’re going to shoot your shot, make sure you’re not firing blanks. Here are 10 tips that just might make the difference between a playlist add and a polite pass.

1. Lead With Your Strongest Hook
The first 15 seconds of your song should stop someone mid-scroll, mid-thought, mid-latte. Curators hear hundreds of tracks a week—your song doesn’t just have to be good. It has to be unforgettable immediately.

2. Choose the Song Your Fans Already Love
Check your stats. What’s getting streamed, saved, shared, and shouted out in your comments? The people have spoken—and often, their favourite track is your best bet for playlists too.

3. Match the Mood, Not Just the Genre
Playlists aren’t sorted by record store sections. They’re sorted by vibes—chill morning, late-night drive, gym grind, breakup recovery. Pick the track that feels like it belongs in that emotional moment.

4. Quality Over Recency
New doesn’t always mean better. If your last single is two months old but gaining traction, pitch that one. Spotify cares about engagement, not timestamps.

5. Make Sure It Sounds Finished
This isn’t the time for a rough mix. Even if your songwriting is stellar, a half-baked production will lose curators fast. Master it, mix it, polish it—then pitch it.

6. Pick the One With a Story
Every great song pitch comes with a reason. What inspired it? Was it written after a loss, a tour, a late-night phone call? Curators love a song that comes with a moment worth talking about.

7. Don’t Pitch a Niche Just to Be Different
If a song is amazing but totally left-field from your usual sound, save it for later. Playlist editors want to know who you are, not what random directions you can go in.

8. Look at What’s Already Landing on Playlists
Do some playlist stalking. What songs that sound like yours are getting added? If your song fits the tone, energy, and style, you’re not copying—you’re aligning.

9. Think About Longevity
Pick a song you’ll be proud to talk about in interviews, perform live, and have attached to your name. Playlists create discovery, but they also create first impressions.

10. Be Ready to Follow Up
Pitch the song you can support. If it lands, will you push it? Promote it? Tour it? A playlist placement is a door opening—but you’ve got to walk through it, not wait for someone to carry you in.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about getting on a playlist. It’s about making someone’s playlist. That’s the moment you move from background noise to favourite song. And that’s what it’s all about.

If you’re still looking for help, or have any questions, or looking for more information, email me, I’ll be happy to chat – Eric@ThatEricAlper.com and talk soon!

 

Banquets Announce First Show in Nearly a Decade This August in New Jersey

Eric Alper
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Banquets Announce First Show in Nearly a Decade This August in New Jersey

It’s been nine years since Banquets played their farewell show at St. Vitus in Brooklyn, NY. FFO: The Menzingers, The Loved Ones, Saves The Day, Jimmy Eat World, Hot Rod Circuit.

A lot has changed since then, St. Vitus has shuttered its doors, members of Banquets have spread out all over the US, and they’ve all started new chapters in their lives. But recently, there’s been a feeling pulling its four members back together to celebrate what Banquets started many years ago. After a failed attempt of a reunion at The Fest in 2021, they have put together their first official show since February 2016 and what better place to host it than in their home state of New Jersey? Banquets will be playing on Saturday, August 30th at the infamous Crossroads Bar in Garwood, NJ. Joining them will be Bad Boys, ERRTH and Fat Wreck Chords up-and-comers, MakeWar. “It’s been almost 10 years since we did this in front of anyone. There were a couple of times that it was almost there, but life happens. Life is also fleeting.” – Travis (guitar and vocals). Tickets are on sale now and are expected to move quickly. Dig into Banquets discography starting with their 2015 full length ‘Spit At The Sun’ released by Black Numbers.

Tour Dates:
August 30th @ Crossroads – Garwood, NJ w/ Bad Boys, ERRTH, MakeWar

Cartel Celebrates 20 Years of ‘Chroma’ With Re-Recorded Album, Guest Vocals, and Fall Tour

Eric Alper
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Cartel Celebrates 20 Years of ‘Chroma’ With Re-Recorded Album, Guest Vocals, and Fall Tour

Alternative rock band Cartel is excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic album Chroma this year with Chroma – 2025 – a re-recorded version of the record, including new guest vocals from Cassadee Pope (Hey Monday) – and a full US headline tour this fall.

Featuring hit singles including “Honestly” and “Say Anything (Else)”, Chroma debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and has widely been regarded as one of the best pop punk albums of all time.

Chroma – 2025 is set to be released on September 12, 2025 via Field Day Records, and fans can look forward to their first taste this Friday, May 30th with the release of “Honestly – 2025”.

“It’s a privilege to still have the opportunity to share this with all the people who celebrate this record alongside us,” shares front man Will Pugh. “It’s hard to put in to words the level of gratitude we have for this moment, and we hope that is conveyed during this anniversary.”

He continues: “The whole idea was to bring Chroma into a modern place sonically and reconcile the live versions of these songs with what is on record. Our hope is that current fans will rock out harder and that new fans will be able to discover these songs in a modern context.”

In addition to the release of Chroma – 2025 Cartel will be embarking on a North American headline tour this fall, kicking off with the album release on September 12th in Charlotte. The tour features stops in Nashville, Brooklyn, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, San Diego, Austin, and more, concluding with a hometown headline show in Atlanta. Pre-sale tickets for all shows, including VIP packages will be available starting May 28th at www.chroma20.com, with general on-sale starting this Friday, May 30th.

Prior to their fall headline tour, Cartel will be performing at the Vans Warped Tour on June 14-15 in Washington, D.C. and July 26-27 in Long Beach, CA.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
6/14-6/15 – Washington, DC @ Vans Warped Tour
7/26-727 – Long Beach, CA @ Vans Warped Tour
9/12 – Charlotte, NC @ Underground #&
9/13 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music #&
9/15 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry #&
9/16 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Sound Stage #&
9/17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw #&
9/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA #&
9/20 – Boston, MA @ Paradise #&
9/22 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House #&
9/23 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall #&
9/24 – Cleveland, OH @ House Of Blues #&
9/26 – Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues #
9/27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Rave #^
9/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam #^
9/30 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant #^
10/1 – Kansas City, MO @ Truman #^
10/3 – Denver, CO @ Summit #^
10/4 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot #^
10/6 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon #^
10/7 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne #^
10/9 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall #^
10/10 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory #^
10/11 – San Diego, CA @ HOB #^
10/12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren #^
10/14 – Dallas, TX @ Echo #^
10/15 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk #^
10/17 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham #
10/18 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz #
10/19 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida @ Revolution #
10/25 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Heaven) #

# – Hunny
& – Landon Conrath
^ – Macseal

Chase Rice Expands ‘Go Down Singin’’ International Tour With 13 New Dates

Eric Alper
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Chase Rice Expands ‘Go Down Singin’’ International Tour With 13 New Dates

After an incredible response to the launch of his already-extended Go Down Singin’ International Tour, which kicked off in Australia ahead of dates across the U.S. and Canada throughout the summer, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Chase Rice again expands the run with 13 additional dates announced today. Tickets to the newly added shows go on sale to the general public this Friday, May 30 at 10 a.m. local time via ChaseRice.com.

Bringing Rice’s critically acclaimed album Go Down Singin’ to audiences across the globe, the remaining stops on the tour see him joined by fellow singer-songwriters Cory Asbury, Wade Bowen, Gritty Flyright, Tyler Halverson, Hannah McFarland, McCoy Moore, Drake White and Charlie Worsham across various dates.

The international run highlights Rice’s widely celebrated artistic evolution in a live setting. As Billboard declares, “his new music leans toward rootsier, raw-rock driven sounds, trading party anthems for introspective lyrical themes,” while “his voice conveys a crackling warmth of self-reflection and an easy-going comfortableness with his new sound.” Rolling Stone highlights the album as “an excellent collection of poignant, often anthemic country,” noting that it finds Rice “trying to do what creative people are supposed to: grow and change,” while Cowboys & Indians proclaims that “maturity and clarity are the reality on Chase Rice’s new album… one of 2024’s most well-received country albums.”

Rice further showcased this new direction with surprise follow-up project Fireside Sessions, which features all 25 songs from both Go Down Singin’ and prior album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell as live, single-take versions with cowriters including Lori McKenna, Jackson Dean, Hunter Phelps, Randy Montana and more as featured artists.

His latest offering, the brand-new Live From Chief’s EP released in Friday, March as a surprise for fans, includes Rice’s takes on two songs from his heroes – Eric Church’s “Carolina” and George Strait’s “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” – as well as the previously unreleased original, “Cowboy Goodbye.”

Go Down Singin’ International Tour 2025
* denotes newly added dates on sale this Friday, May 30
June 5 || Elizabeth, CO || Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo (Festival)
June 7 || Myrtle Beach, SC || Carolina Country Music Festival (Festival)
June 8 || Norfolk, VA || Norfolk Harborfest (Festival)
June 12 || North Lawrence, OH || The Country Fest (Festival)
June 13 || Huber Heights, OH || Rose Music Center at The Heights (with Drake White)
June 14 || Fishers, IN || Nickel Plate District Amphitheater (with Drake White)
June 19 || Sarnia, ON || Bluewater BorderFest (Festival)
June 20 || Grand Rapids, MI || The Intersection (with Tyler Halverson)
June 21 || Chicago, IL || The Salt Shed (with Tyler Halverson)
June 27 || Fort Stewart, GA || Salute to Summer (Festival)
June 28 || Charleston, SC || The Refinery (with Cory Asbury & Gritty Flyright)
July 9 || Calgary, AB || Calgary Stampede (Festival)
July 11 || Great Falls, MT || The Newberry
July 12 || Thermopolis, WY || Wyoming Discovery Days (Festival)
July 17 || Eau Claire, WI || Country Jam USA (Festival)
July 18 || Hastings, NE || Adams County Fairfest (Festival)
July 19 || Hartington, NE || Cedar County Fair (Festival)
July 25 || Redmond, OR || General Duffy’s Waterhole
July 26 || Eugene, OR || Lane Events Center
July 31 || Klamath Falls, OR || Klamath County Fair (Festival)
August 2 || Cowichan, BC || Sunfest Country (Festival)
August 5 || Post Falls, ID || Stateline Speedway
August 8 || Sunbury, PA || Spyglass Ridge Winery (with Wade Bowen)
August 9 || Oro-Medonte, ON || Boots & Hearts (Festival)
August 13 || Point Pleasant Beach, NJ || Jenks Club
August 14 || Deerfield, MA || Summer Stage at Treehouse Brewing Company (with Wade Bowen)
August 15 || Hyannis, MA || Cape Cod Melody Tent (with Wade Bowen)
August 16 || Wantagh, NY || Mulcahy’s (with Wade Bowen)
August 21 || Saint-Agapit, QC || Festival Country Lotbinière (Festival)
August 22 || Dieppe, NB || YQM Country Fest (Festival)
August 30 || Doswell, VA || Atlantic Union Bank After Hours at SERVPRO Pavilion (with Drake White)
August 31 || Roanoke, VA || Dr Pepper Park (with Drake White)
September 5 || Fargo, ND || UP District Festival Field (with Hannah McFarland)*
September 6 || West Des Moines, IA || Val Air Ballroom (with Hannah McFarland)*
September 18 || Missoula, MT || The Wilma (with McCoy Moore)*
September 20 || Billings, MT || The Pub Station Ballroom (with McCoy Moore)*
September 25 || Paso Robles, CA || Vina Robles Amp (with Hannah McFarland)*
September 26 || Anaheim, CA || House of Blues (with Hannah McFarland)*
September 27 || Modesto, CA || The Fruityard (with Drake White & Hannah McFarland)*
October 2 || Hampton Beach, NH || Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (with McCoy Moore)*
October 3 || Ocean City, MD || Country Calling (Festival)
October 4 || New Haven, CT || Toads (with McCoy Moore)*
October 11 || Hiawassee, GA || Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds (with McCoy Moore)*
October 12 || Birmingham, AL || Iron Hills (Festival)
October 16 || Oklahoma City, OK || The Jones Assembly (with Charlie Worsham)
November 13 || Minneapolis, MN || The Fillmore (with Charlie Worsham)*
November 14 || Sioux City, SD || Anthem at Hard Rock*
November 15 || Chesterfield, MO || The Factory (with Charlie Worsham)
November 21 || United Central, FL || St. Pete Country Fest (Fesitval)
November 22 || Daytona Beach, FL || Peabody Auditorium (with McCoy Moore)*

Ravyn Lenae Expands World Tour Following Coachella Buzz and Acclaimed Album ‘Bird’s Eye’

Eric Alper
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Ravyn Lenae Expands World Tour Following Coachella Buzz and Acclaimed Album ‘Bird’s Eye’

Acclaimed Chicago singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae is following last month’s captivating, critically acclaimed Coachella debut with a string of eagerly anticipated US headline live shows. Dates begin October 6 at Los Angeles, CA’s landmark The Wiltern before making stops in Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Brooklyn, NY, culminating with two-nights at Washington, DC’s historic 9:30 Club on October 14-15, before heading to Europe in November with stops in Manchester, London, Paris and Cologne.

Lenae will kick off the summer with a series of Australian headline shows and international festival performances, including appearances at such upcoming gatherings as East Sussex, UK’s Love Supreme Jazz Festival (June 6), Roskilde, Denmark’s famed Roskilde Festival (July 5), and before returning home to Chicago, IL to make her Lollapalooza debut (August 1). This fall will then see Lenae joining Sabrina Carpenter as direct support for a number of select dates on her sold-out “Short N’ Sweet Tour,” including a pair of shows at Toronto, ON’s Scotiabank Arena (November 10-11) and a six-night residency at Los Angeles, CA’s Crypto.com Arena (November 16-17, 19-20, 22-23).

As noted, Lenae made her Coachella debut last month to wide-ranging applause from such publications as Essence, VOGUE, Harper’s BAZAAR, Rolling Stone, and more, earning praise for her spirited Mojave Tent performance.

Executive Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Dahi (Kendrick Lamar, Steve Lacy, SZA), Bird’s Eye, is available everywhere now via Atlantic Records HERE. The album – which features collaborations with Childish Gambino & Ty Dolla $ign – has been met by ecstatic critical approval from the likes of Billboard, NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Guardian, and Pitchfork, the latter of which declared the collection to be “a genre-blending album that experiments within and beyond R&B-always guided by her expansive, cotton-candy soft soprano.”

Lenae celebrated the arrival of Bird’s Eye with a number of live appearances, including sold-out tours across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, a one-off performance alongside former tourmate Omar Apollo at Morrison, CO’s storied Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and most recently, a sold-out, two-night, four-show residency at New York City’s legendary Blue Note Jazz Club hailed by Billboard as “stunning… an outstanding show that somehow improved on an already-terrific sophomore LP…The R&B songbird solidifies her breakthrough moment with a dexterous display of musicality and wisdom.”

In addition, Lenae made her late-night TV debut with memorable performances of both “Genius” and “Love Me Not” on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, followed by a three-song medley alongside KAYTRANADA and Channel Tres on CBS’ The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

RAVYN LENAE – WORLD TOUR 2025:
MAY
27 – Brisbane, Australia – The Tivoli
28 – Northcote, Australia – Northcote Theatre
30 – Perth, Australia – The Rechabite
JULY
5 – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival *
6 – East Sussex, United Kingdom – Love Supreme Jazz Festival *
31 – Chicago, IL – Park West (Lollapalooza Aftershow)
AUGUST
1 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza *
OCTOBER
6 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
10 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
11 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
13 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
14 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
15 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
NOVEMBER
2 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall Manchester
3 – London, UK – Roundhouse
5 – Paris, FR – La Cigale
6 – Cologne, DE – Kulturkirche Koln
10 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena + (SOLD OUT)
11 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena + (SOLD OUT)
16 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena + (SOLD OUT)
17 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena + (SOLD OUT)
19 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena + (SOLD OUT)
20 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena + (SOLD OUT)
22 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena + (SOLD OUT)
23 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena + (SOLD OUT)
* Festival Appearance
+ w/ Sabrina Carpenter “Short N’ Sweet Tour”

Art d’Ecco Shares “Tree Of Life” Video as North American Tour Kicks Off

Eric Alper
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Art d’Ecco Shares “Tree Of Life” Video as North American Tour Kicks Off

In conjunction with the start of his North American tour tonight in Seattle, Art d’Ecco has shared a video for “Tree Of Life,” featured on his acclaimed new album Serene Demon – out now via Paper Bag Records.

The tour arrives in New York, June 4 at The Sultan Room and Los Angeles, June 8 at Zebulon. In addition, today Art d’Ecco has announced a Fall tour of the UK for October.

“Tree Of Life” is driven by a tight Bee Gees inspired disco groove. Lyrically, Art notes, “the words speak for themselves – partnership starts with planting a seed – sometimes we grow together, sometimes we grow apart.”

Serene Demon is Art d’Ecco’s most ambitious album to date, but fans won’t struggle to recognize his handiwork. Like the many groundbreaking artists who have inspired Art d’Ecco over the years, he intends to keep nudging his listeners forward, prompting them to explore – and accept – unfamiliar ideas. “Once you’ve trained the ear of the audience, it establishes a new precedent,” he concludes. Tastes change and evolve, and outliers mature into icons. “That moves pop music forward in the most beautiful, organic way, and I’m constantly trying to exist within that paradigm. How do I challenge myself and throw the rule book out, but still make this the catchiest, quirkiest piece of music possible? I like existing between those two worlds.”

Art rented an apartment in New York for two months, walking the streets listening to Henry Mancini, Ennio Morricone, John Barry and François de Roubaix, as he dreamed up cinematic visions of the people passing by. Pushing his limits and taking risks during the writing process for Serene Demon, some more successful than others, but always leading him to a place he had not yet traveled before.

Great pop music accommodates big ideas and simple truths with equal finesse, but don’t expect a record – even one as ambitious as Serene Demon – to solve all life’s mysteries. “If you’re constantly searching for answers or hope to bestow any relevance to the existence that you’re living, then take a pause and realize that life is happening right now,” concludes Art. “You don’t need to constantly defer happiness. Just exist in the moment.”

Tour Dates:
05/27 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
05/28 – Portland, OR @ Lollipop Shoppe
05/29 – Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown
06/04 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Sultan Room
06/06 – Toronto, ON @ Do West Fest
06/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon
06/12 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
06/13 – Victoria, BC @ Upstairs
10/04 – Birmingham, UK @ Dead Wax Digbeth
10/05 – Leeds, UK @ The Lending Room
10/07 – London, UK @ Paper Dress Vintage
10/08 – London, UK @ Strongroom
10/09 – Brighton, UK @ Hope & Ruin
10/10 – Manchester, UK @ The Lodge

Foxwarren Unveil Final Single “Deadhead” Ahead of New Album ‘2’

Eric Alper
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Foxwarren Unveil Final Single “Deadhead” Ahead of New Album ‘2’

Canadian quintet Foxwarren – Andy Shauf, Avery and Darryl Kissick, Dallas Bryson, and Colin Nealis release the new single/video “Deadhead”, the final preview from their new album, 2, out this Friday via ANTI-. Following “Yvonne”, praised by AV Club as “an understated kind of gorgeous”, “Deadhead” sees Foxwarren on a quest for levity. The song seamlessly moves from an MF Doom-like pitch-shifted sample to a line-dance guitar lick to honeyed country-rock harmonies of the titular band, all in three minutes. There are darting flutes, mangled electronics, and meticulous snippets of rhythm, all expertly placed to illustrate the song’s emotional tumult. “I won’t stop dancing”, as Shauf sings, is exactly the feeling the song evokes.

The song’s eccentric video was directed by Joe Cappa, who explains: “I bought a bunch of wigs and medieval costumes and sort of came up with the premise of the video as I was dressing the puppets. When I put the blonde wig and moustache on the main character, it really spoke to me. Those legs on the flute playing baby are my 10-month-old son’s.”

“Deadhead” exemplifies the unique approach Foxwarren took in creating 2. After touring their lauded 2018 self-titled debut, the band dropped the familiar band-in-a-room routine. Instead, in their own home studios across four provinces, all five members would upload song ideas, melodic phrases, or rhythmic bits to a shared folder. In Toronto, Shauf would then plug these into a sampler and construct songs from the fragments supplied by his bandmates, leaning into classic hip-hop techniques and musique concrète alike as unlikely lodestars. Foxwarren would convene at weekly online meetings, offering long-distance suggestions about which way a song might shift. The result is mesmerising and uncanny, an album that traces two sides of a relationship through 37 minutes of collage art that aspires to “sound best blasting out your car window”, as put by Shauf.

Dierks Bentley Launches Broken Branches Fund to Support Mental Health in Country Music

Eric Alper
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Dierks Bentley Launches Broken Branches Fund to Support Mental Health in Country Music

Award-winning songwriter and entertainer Dierks Bentley announces the establishment of the Broken Branches Fund with a multi-year financial commitment to provide mental health resources to the creative and touring communities. The Broken Branches Fund will be administered in partnership with Music Health Alliance (MHA) and will provide mental health grants for qualified candidates and their families to cover outpatient counseling, as well as a plan for follow-up care. More information and to apply for access to all resources that MHA’s groundbreaking Music Industry Mental Health Fund provides is available here. Additionally, fans will have an opportunity to donate to the fund themselves throughout the summer at tour stops and other activations and online.

“Making this album and prepping for the tour, I’ve never been more aware of the sacrifice that the people in this town make every day to keep country music playing. Whether you’re sitting in a room all day trying to write the perfect hook or leaving home on a bus for weeks at a time, it can be isolating and exhausting. This just felt like the right opportunity to make a bigger commitment on my part to supporting those folks and their families in a more direct and intentional way,” said Bentley.

“Dierks was one of the first artists to believe in and support Music Health Alliance, and from day one, he’s led with both heart and action,” said Tatum Allsep, Founder & CEO of Music Health Alliance. “Creating the Broken Branches Fund at MHA to support music’s mental health shows his deep commitment to the people who power our industry both on stage and off, and to their well-being for many years to come.”

Bentley will kick off his 30-city BROKEN BRANCHES TOUR on Thursday (5/29), joined by Zach Top and The Band Loula, ahead of his forthcoming 11th studio album, BROKEN BRANCHES, out June 13 (MCA). As he leans into this new chapter, Bentley embraces the knots and imperfections that have shaped his journey, proudly honoring the outliers of both country life and country music. The upcoming album’s lead single “She Hates Me,” which features his “trademark humor” (Billboard) while blending elements of Whitley and Weezer, scored Bentley his career highest charting debut with its playful edge to Bentley’s signature country sound. He counts eight Number One albums, 22 Number One songs, and over 9.5 billion global streams to his credit-plus 15 Grammy nominations and membership in the historic Grand Ole Opry. Continuing the path built from the ground up, as an entrepreneur, he has four locations of the gastropub and live music venue “Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row,” has a Flag & Anthem lifestyle collection “Desert Son” and recently released ROW 94 – a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey crafted with only “three ingredients and the truth” at Kentucky’s Green River Distilling Co.

Jahari Stampley Announces Sophomore Album ‘What A Time’ Out September 14

Eric Alper
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Jahari Stampley Announces Sophomore Album ‘What A Time’ Out September 14

Once in a generation comes a pianist who embodies the legends who have come before him while simultaneously breaking through to new thruways for the evolution of music, and life itself. The gracious virtuosity of 25-year-old piano phenom Jahari Stampley encapsulates a voice akin to revolutionary composers who have defined and expanded genres into musical movements reflecting the times. Stampley’s sophomore studio album, What A Time (Release Date: September 14, 2025) spotlights a fierce affection for fusing genres of jazz, gospel, classical, hip-hop, and R&B into a dynamic vibe that carries an old-soul charm told through vibrant lead lines, deeply emotive arrangements, and special guests who radiate with eclectic auras. At the heart of What A Time is Jahari’s collaboration with his mother/bassist/saxophonist D’Erania Stampley. The love shines through every composition whether tackling narratives of feeling stifled, lost freedoms, saying goodbye, and embracing the moment.

Stampley has released the single “To Be Alive” featured on What A Time, the first of many single releases leading up to the September 14th release date of the full album. Stampley notes, “‘To Be Alive’ is a reflection of everything that has happened in the world and a reminder to be grateful to be alive. The idea is to be encouraged and uplifted, to keep going and spreading joy.” The pianist’s meditative sound is at the forefront on “To Be Alive,” showcasing his limitless versatility as he performs all the instruments on the track. Dive into “To Be Alive” at this LINK and feel spiritually refreshed.

Stampley comments about What A Time, “I’m incredibly excited to finally share this album with the world. It’s been a journey of creativity, growth, and collaboration, and I feel honored to have worked with some truly phenomenal artists on this project. From the soulful brilliance of Keyon Harrold and India Carney, to the deep grooves of Derrick Hodge, the rhythmic genius of Luke Titus, Mike Mitchell, Miguel Russell and JongKuk Kim, to the lyrical power of Elton Aura — each artist brought something special that helped elevate the music in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I also had the immense privilege of creating alongside my mother, D’Erania Stampley, whose influence on my life and music runs deep. Voices like Motswedi Modiba, Michael Blume, Nicola Caminiti, Stefan Haerle and many more contributed to making this album a true reflection of community, exploration, and soul. I’m proud of what we’ve created together, and I can’t wait for you to hear it.”

The Jahari Stampley Family Trio is performing at venerable venues across the globe in support of What A Time. To view his latest tour dates, please visit: jaharistampley.com/tour.

About Jahari Stampley
In 2023, Jahari Stampley took first place in the Piano category in the Herbie Hancock Institute International Competition. 2023 was a breakout year for the Chicago-born pianist who was also honored the “2023 Chicagoan Of The Year In Jazz” by the Chicago Tribune and also the 2023 Honoree of Chicago Symphony Orchestra. At the young age of 25, he was already a member of Stanley Clark’s live band and he’s been recognized by some incredible musicians for his virtuosity, including Yebba Smith, Jill Scott, Robert Glasper, Cory Henry, Jacob Collier, Derrick Hodge, among others. He’s performed at Radio City Hall and Carnegie Hall, and was also featured as the pianist playing the part of Bill Withers’ keyboardist in the feature film, Spinning Gold. His debut album, Still Listening, rose to #1 on Apple iTunes.

Jahari Stampley – What A Time – Track Listing:
1. What A Time (Featuring JongKuk Kim, Stefan Haerle, Nicola Caminiti)
2. Freedom In The Journey (Featuring Keyon Harrold, Elton Aura, Luke Titus, Stephane Clement)
3. Dream Again (Featuring India Carney)
4. To Be Alive (Featuring Jahari Stampley)
5. Dear Time (Featuring Michael Blume, Derrick Hodge, Mike Mitchell, Morgan Guerin)
6. Right Here (Featuring MOE, Michael Blume)
7. Journey To Madrid (Featuring D’Erania Stampley, Miguel Russell, Jongkuk Kim, MOE)
8. Rising Tide (Featuring D’Erania Stampley, Miguel Russell, Stefan Haerle)
9. Prelude En’Trance (Featuring D’Erania Stampley, Miguel Russell)

Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius Bloom Together on New Duo Album ‘Paper Flowers’

Eric Alper
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Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius Bloom Together on New Duo Album ‘Paper Flowers’

Grammy-winner Tim O’Brien is back with a new album he collaborated on with Jan Fabricius, Paper Flowers, out June 6 on Howdy Skies Records. Paper Flowers will be O’Brien’s first true collaboration and duo album with Fabricius, with folk great Tom Paxton co-writing 12 of the album’s 15 original songs. It was recorded at Cowboy Arms in Nashville with Tim on guitar and vocal and Jan on mandolin and vocal, along with longtime collaborators Mike Bub (bass), Mike Rojas (accordion), Justin Moses (resophonic guitar), and Larry Atamanuik (drums).

“Jan and I started weekly co-writing sessions with Tom in the spring of 2023 and 12 of songs on our album come from those Wednesday afternoon Zooms. It’s our first real collaborative project, and a narrative of Jan’s and my life together runs through the record, from courtship to growing old together, with a road trip, the Armadillo, and a granddaughter’s wedding in between.”

While Tim O’Brien might operate a bit under music business radar, but he’s been an essential part of the fabric of the folk, bluegrass, Americana, and songwriter scenes for the past 50 years. Since his emergence as singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter with the iconic 1980’s bluegrass group Hot Rize, the West Virginia native has continued down a diverse and constantly evolving musical pathway. In the process he’s written songs for people like Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks, released rootsy classics like Red on Blonde and The Crossing and earned a few Grammy awards. He was recently tapped to join Steve Martin and Alison Brown for a new single, “5 Days Out, Two Days Back.”

TOUR DATES:

5/29 Pilgrim Church – Bozeman MT

5/30 Long Staff House – Missoula MT

6/11 The Station Inn – Nashville TN

6/20 Telluride Bluegrass Festival – Telluride CO

6/21 Telluride Bluegrass Festival – Telluride CO

8/14 Tin Pan – Richmond VA

8/15 The Barns at Rose Hill – Berryville VA

8/16 Philadelphia Folk Festival – Harleysville PA

8/17 Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD

8/23 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS

8/24 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championship – Lawrence KS

8/28 Atwood Music Hall – Madison WI

8/29 The Parkway Theatre – Minneapolis MN

8/30 Jackpine Jamboree – Birnamwood WI

8/31 Jackpine Jamboree – Birnamwood WI

9/17 The Station Inn – Nashville TN (Official AmericanaFest showcase)

9/20 Frostburg MD – FSU Appalchian Festival

9/26 Washington’s Foco – Fort Collins CO

9/27 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall – Denver CO

9/28 Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall – Denver CO

10/3 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass – San Francisco CA

10/4 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass – San Francisco CA

10/5 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass – San Francisco CA

10/11 CaveFest at The Caverns – Pelham TN

11/12 The Station Inn – Nashville, TN

11/15 New Folk Old Folk Festival – Fischer TX

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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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