Home Blog Page 7

Joyann Parker Releases Soulful New 12-Track Album ‘Life Lines’ Today

Eric Alper
-
0
Joyann Parker Releases Soulful New 12-Track Album ‘Life Lines’ Today

Joyann Parker releases ‘Life Lines’ today, her third full-length album and her most vibrant, emotionally direct work to date. The 12-track collection blends soul, blues, and modern roots music with a warm, analog-forward sound inspired by the golden glow of 1970s Americana, channeling Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Linda Ronstadt, Van Morrison, and Albert King into something that feels entirely her own. “I wanted ‘Life Lines’ to capture the warm grit and golden glow of ’70s Americana,” Parker says. “It’s a reminder that getting older is a gift. Every line has a story, and I’m learning to wear mine with gratitude.” Listen here.

The album was recorded with her longtime touring ensemble, the Joyann Parker Band, and co-produced by Kevin Bowe and Parker, with Mark Lamoine serving as executive producer. Focus track “You Can Say That Again” showcases Parker’s guitar virtuosity on a funky ’70s-inspired blues number, with special guests Rich Manik on saxophones and Dave Foley on trumpet rounding out the horn section. Lead single “Got Love” arrived as an uplifting anthem inspired by a close friend’s recovery journey, while “End of the Line” draws on Southern rock guitar tones and Parker’s soulful command to deliver one of the album’s most resonant moments.

American Songwriter praised the record for its authenticity, noting that Parker calls to mind a generation of musicians who preferred honesty over checking boxes. ‘Life Lines’ follows ‘Out of the Dark’ (2021) and ‘Roots’ (2023), which debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart, and further cements the Minneapolis-based Wisconsin native as one of the most compelling independent voices in today’s roots landscape.

‘Life Lines’ Tracklisting:

  1. End of the Line
  2. The Devil You Know
  3. Seasons
  4. Laundromat Girl
  5. Okay to Stay
  6. Let You Go to Love You
  7. Just About Enough
  8. You Can Say That Again
  9. (When You Get to) Milwaukee
  10. Starting Line
  11. Think of Me
  12. Got Love

Indigenous-Fronted Denver Punk Outfit Dead Pioneers Announce New Album ‘Wagon Burner’ and Drop Ferocious New Single “No Kings”

Eric Alper
-
0
Indigenous-Fronted Denver Punk Outfit Dead Pioneers Announce New Album ‘Wagon Burner’ and Drop Ferocious New Single “No Kings”

Dead Pioneers announce their third album ‘Wagon Burner’, due June 26 via Hassle Records, and drop new single “No Kings” today. The Denver Indigenous-fronted punk outfit follow initial single “Nazi Teeth” with another direct, uncompromising broadside against right-wing politics, authoritarianism, and the erosion of civil rights. “We are against dictators, authoritarian regimes, Nazis, fascism or any other power structure that seeks to take away the rights, freedoms or lives of human beings trying to live their life,” says frontman Gregg Deal. “To that, we keep it simple: NO KINGS.”

‘Wagon Burner’ is described by Deal as their most collaborative record yet, heavier and harder but also more accessible, with vicious hooks scattered throughout the punk-rock melee. Guest appearances from Cheap Perfume on “Nazi Teeth,” The Interrupters on the shout-along anthem “Never Alone,” and Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson on the slow-burning “The Worst Among Us” make for one of the most stacked lineups the band has assembled. The album was co-produced with Chris Beeble and recorded at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The band’s trajectory since their 2023 self-titled debut has been remarkable. A first vinyl pressing sold out in minutes, a second followed immediately, and soon came tours with Pennywise, Propagandhi, and Pearl Jam, alongside a friendship with Jello Biafra. Their 2025 follow-up ‘PO$T AMERICAN’ sharpened and widened the attack. ‘Wagon Burner’ carries that momentum forward with real force.

Dead Pioneers also confirm their first UK festival appearance, playing 2000 Trees in July, alongside a run of Irish, UK, and European dates. Pre-orders for ‘Wagon Burner’ are live now.

‘Wagon Burner’ Tracklisting:

  1. Dead Presidents
  2. Nazi Teeth (feat. Stephanie Byrne / Cheap Perfume)
  3. A Message From Mr. Bell
  4. No Kings
  5. Animals That Roam The Earth
  6. Never Alone (feat. The Interrupters)
  7. The Worst Among Us (feat. Jason Williamson / Sleaford Mods)
  8. Seeing Red
  9. Circle Jerk The Wagons
  10. Zealots
  11. Nobody
  12. LFG

UK & EU Tour Dates:

July 8 – Galway, IE – Róisín Dubh

July 9 – Dublin, IE – The Workman’s Club

July 11 – UK – 2000 Trees Festival

July 16 – DE – Back To The Future Festival

July 17 – DE – Adieu Tristesse Festival

July 18 – DE – Seepogo Festival

City And Colour Strips It Back For Intimate Five-Show Solo Run Across Western Canada

Eric Alper
-
0
City And Colour Strips It Back For Intimate Five-Show Solo Run Across Western Canada

Dallas Green is returning to where it all started. Twenty years into recording and performing under the City and Colour moniker, the acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter has announced a five-show intimate solo run across Western Canada this May, ditching the full band to revisit the stripped-back, vulnerable spirit of his earliest performances. “I wanted to go back to the way it used to be when I first began sharing this different side of my musical heart,” Green says. Julianna Riolino opens all dates.

The run hits Edmonton’s Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on May 2, Calgary’s Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on May 4, two nights at Victoria’s Royal Theatre on May 8 and 9, and closes at the Orpheum in Vancouver on May 11. Taking place in ornate historic theatres rather than arenas, the shows are specifically designed to break down the barrier between artist and audience. Green has promised unpredictable setlists spanning his full catalog, cover songs, personal storytelling, direct fan interaction, and by his own admission, a few bad jokes along the way.

The tour arrives alongside a special release for long-time followers. Green recently shared ‘Sometimes Lullaby’, a full-length collection of reimagined renditions drawn entirely from his debut album ‘Sometimes’, recorded with longtime collaborator Erik Hughes to mark the record’s 20th anniversary. It is a touching tribute to a record that has now been in listeners’ lives long enough to be passed down to their own children.

Green has also partnered with the PLUS1 initiative for this tour, with $1 from every ticket going directly to Indspire, an Indigenous national charity investing in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. The Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver dates use Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange, keeping tickets non-transferable and resaleable only at face value. General on-sale begins Wednesday, March 25 at 10am local time.

‘An Evening With City And Colour’ Tour Dates:

May 2 – Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

May 4 – Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

May 8 – Victoria, BC – Royal Theatre

May 9 – Victoria, BC – Royal Theatre

May 11 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum

JUNO-Winning Canadian Indie Favourite Bahamas Brings The ‘Industrial Sport & Sound’ Tour To North America

Eric Alper
-
0
JUNO-Winning Canadian Indie Favourite Bahamas Brings The ‘Industrial Sport & Sound’ Tour To North America

Bahamas, the moniker of five-time JUNO winner Afie Jurvanen, announces the ‘Industrial Sport & Sound Tour’, a full North American fall run in support of his seventh studio album ‘My Second Last Album.’

‘My Second Last Album’ earned a JUNO nomination for Best Adult Alternative Album of the Year, Jurvanen’s tenth career nomination, and has drawn wide praise for its emotional directness and restraint. Exclaim! called it “quintessential Bahamas,” describing it as feeling like a career overview in album form. The lead single “The Bridge,” a relaxed, conversational collaboration with M.C. Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger, has become a staple on AAA radio. The record was recorded in a backyard shed, rooted in the rhythms of family life, domestic routine, and creative freedom following the Nashville-recorded country detour of 2023’s ‘Bootcut.’

With five JUNO wins, a GRAMMY nomination, and over a billion streams worldwide, Jurvanen has built one of the most quietly enduring careers in Canadian music. His live shows are known for their warmth, humour, and genuine audience connection, moving fluidly through folk, country, soul, and indie pop without ever feeling scattered.

The tour runs from mid-September through late November, covering major Canadian markets before moving through the Pacific Northwest, California, the Southwest, and the Midwest.

Industrial Sport & Sound Tour Dates:

Sept 18 – Victoria, BC – Royal Theatre

Sept 19 – Vancouver, BC – Malkin Bowl

Sept 21 – Calgary, AB – Jack Singer Concert Hall

Sept 22 – Edmonton, AB – Winspear Centre

Sept 24 – Saskatoon, SK – TCU Place

Sept 25 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre

Sept 26 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe

Sept 27 – Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium

Sept 29 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall

Sept 30 – Detroit, MI – El Club

Oct 2 – Meaford, ON – Meaford Hall Arts & Cultural Centre

Oct 6 – Kingston, ON – The Spire

Oct 8 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall

Nov 3 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile

Nov 4 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall

Nov 6 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall

Nov 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Pacific Electric

Nov 8 – San Diego, CA – Belly Up Tavern

Nov 10 – Tucson, AZ – La Rosa

Nov 11 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf House of Eternal Return

Nov 13 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater

Nov 14 – Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s

Nov 15 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room

Nov 17 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads

Nov 18 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater

Nov 20 – Houston, TX – Heights Theater

Nov 21 – Austin, TX – Emo’s East

The Head and The Heart Celebrate 15 Years With Full Debut Album Tour

Eric Alper
-
0
The Head and The Heart Celebrate 15 Years With Full Debut Album Tour

The Head and The Heart are marking 15 years with an extensive North American anniversary tour, and they are doing it right. The Seattle indie-folk favorites announced a second round of dates for the run, which pays tribute to their RIAA Platinum-certified 2011 self-titled debut by performing it in its entirety in select cities.

The debut album that launched all of this remains a touchstone of the early 2010s indie-folk revival. “Down in the Valley,” “Rivers and Roads,” and “Lost in My Mind” made The Head and The Heart a festival and radio staple almost immediately, and the songs have only deepened in the years since. Vocalist Charity Rose Thielen called the upcoming theatre shows unlike anything the band has ever done before, and the intimacy of performing the full record front to back in rooms like the Orpheum backs that up completely.

The anniversary tour arrives in the wake of a genuinely strong creative stretch. Last year’s ‘Aperture’ on Verve Forecast marked the band’s first self-produced record since their debut, yielding “Arrow,” which spent 30 weeks on the charts before hitting number one at Alternative radio. The ‘Ghosts in the Machinery’ EP followed, initially as a limited-edition Record Store Day Black Friday release and now available digitally. The band also recently performed a sold-out night with The Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall.

Beyond Vancouver, the tour includes Brooklyn Paramount, the Boch Center in Boston, and two nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, with the first featuring a collaboration with The Colorado Symphony. With support from Michael Marcagi, Wilderado, Houndmouth, and others across the various legs, this is a well-built run from top to bottom.

2026 North American Tour Dates:

March 28 – Atlanta, GA – Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival

April 29 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville

May 1 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center

May 2 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium

May 3 – Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater

May 4 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater

May 7 – Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater

May 8 – Concord, NH – Capitol Center for the Arts

May 9 – North Adams, MA – MASS MoCA

May 10 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount

May 12 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater

May 13 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre

May 14 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre

May 31 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Town Party

June 19 – Missoula, MT – Zootown Festival

June 26 – Freehold, NJ – North To Shore Festival

July 8 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum

July 10 – Carnation, WA – Remlinger Farms

July 11 – Carnation, WA – Remlinger Farms

July 12 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

July 15 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

July 16 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre

July 18 – Kansas City, MO – Kansas City Live

July 19 – West Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom

July 21 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

July 22 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory

July 23 – Lexington, KY – Town Branch Park Amphitheater

July 25 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theater

July 26 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap

July 28 – Nantucket, MA – The Muse

July 29 – Nantucket, MA – The Muse

July 31 – Lafayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards

August 1 – Burlington, VT – Burlington Waterfront Park

August 2 – Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point

August 14 – Costa Mesa, CA – OC Fair & Event Center

August 15 – Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions

September 19 – East Aurora, NY – Borderland Music and Arts Festival

September 27 – Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling Festival

GRAMMY-Nominated Guitar Powerhouse Marcus King Brings the Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour Across North America

Eric Alper
-
0
GRAMMY-Nominated Guitar Powerhouse Marcus King Brings the Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour Across North America

Marcus King brings the Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour to Vancouver’s historic Orpheum Theatre on Monday, July 13, with special guest Penelope Road opening the show. The 39-city North American run is built around King’s critically acclaimed 2025 album ‘Darling Blue’, named one of Nashville’s best albums of the year by The Tennessean, and praised by Forbes for brilliantly straddling old-school rock rowdiness and time-tested country twang. Tickets go on general sale Friday, March 13 at 10am local time via marcuskingofficial.com.

‘Darling Blue’ is a deeply personal record rooted in King’s love for the Blue Ridge Mountains and the emotional arc surrounding meeting his wife, Briley. It showcases everything that makes him one of the most compelling voices in modern Americana, his blues-drenched guitar work, raspy soulful vocals, and a songwriting instinct that moves freely between southern rock, traditional country, and blues without ever sounding calculated.

King is one of the hardest working road artists in the genre right now. The Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour follows a successful first leg last fall, a seven-city Waltz Across Texas run this May, a Blue Note Jazz Club residency in New York, an Australian headline run, and major festival slots at Stagecoach and Bourbon & Beyond. Last year he provided direct support for Eric Church, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Dwight Yoakam.

The Orpheum is one of the most beautiful and acoustically immaculate venues in the Pacific Northwest, and the contrast between its ornate theatrical setting and King’s raw, roadhouse-ready sound makes for exactly the kind of night that sticks with you.

Darling Blue Pt. 2 Tour Dates:

May 16 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

May 27 – Nashville, TN – Municipal Auditorium

May 29 – Panama City Beach, FL – Gulf Coast Jam

May 30 – Apopka, FL – Apopka Amphitheater

May 31 – Boca Raton, FL – Mizner Park Amphitheater

June 3 – Washington, D.C. – The Anthem

June 4 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met

June 5 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome by Rutter Mills

June 11 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Casino

June 12 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

June 13 – Schenectady, NY – Frog Alley Brewing Co.

June 14 – Buffalo, NY – Terminal B at Outer Harbor

June 16 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall

June 19 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed

June 20 – Nelsonville, OH – Nelsonville Art & Music Festival

June 21 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory

June 23 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre

June 24 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre

June 26 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest

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

June 28 – Carterville, IL – Walkers Bluff Casino

July 7 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater

July 8 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Pavilion

July 10 – Alta, WY – Targhee Fest

July 11 – Garden City, ID – Revolution Concert House and Event Center

July 12 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park

July 13 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre

July 15 – Forest Grove, OR – McMenamins Grand Lodge

July 17 – Whitefish, MT – Under The Big Sky

July 20 – Denver, CO – The Mission

July 23 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater

September 11 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater

September 12 – New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage

September 13 – Ithaca, NY – State Theatre

September 15 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Center

September 18 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

September 25 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Revisits the Album That Started It All With 30th Anniversary Re-Recording of ‘Ledbetter Heights’

Eric Alper
-
0
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Revisits the Album That Started It All With 30th Anniversary Re-Recording of ‘Ledbetter Heights’

Kenny Wayne Shepherd is heading back to the beginning. ‘Ledbetter Heights (The 30th Anniversary Sessions)’ arrives May 8, a fully re-recorded version of the debut album that launched his career when he was still a teenager splitting time between high school in Louisiana and recording sessions in Memphis. Lead single “Deja Voodoo” is out now on all streaming platforms and sets the tone with the same blistering energy that defined the original, now sharpened by three decades of road and studio experience. Listen here.

The original ‘Ledbetter Heights’ arrived in 1995 at a moment when grunge dominated the cultural conversation. Shepherd, signed by legendary executive Irving Azoff at 16, cut through with fiery fretwork, pop-rock hooks, and an unapologetic reverence for the blues. The album went Gold within months, earned Platinum certification by early 1996, and spent 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Blues Chart. Guitar World ranked him the number three blues artist in the world at the time, behind only B.B. King and Eric Clapton.

The re-recording brings back key collaborators. Legendary drummer Chris “Whipper” Layton, founding member of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, who played on the original sessions, returns alongside co-producer Jerry Harrison, whose history with Shepherd spans multiple records. Shepherd also returned to his original 1995 rig for the sessions, grounding the recordings in the same sonic palette that first introduced him to audiences. “This is the album that put me on the map,” Shepherd says. “Unfiltered and straight from the heart.”

The release runs alongside the ongoing Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour, where Shepherd and his band are performing the full album live for the first time, followed by a second set spanning his entire career. Select dates feature special guests Jimmie Vaughan and Eric Johnson. The tour runs through the spring and into the fall, covering theaters and performing arts centers across the country.

Ledbetter Heights (The 30th Anniversary Sessions) Tracklisting:

Born with a Broken Heart

Deja Voodoo

Aberdeen

Shame, Shame, Shame

One Foot on the Path

Everybody Gets the Blues

While We Cry (Live)

I’m Leaving You (Commit a Crime)

(Let Me Up) I’ve Had Enough

Riverside

What’s Goin’ Down

Ledbetter Heights

2026 Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour Dates:

April 10 – Miramar Beach, FL – Joe Bonamassa’s Beach Vacation

April 11 – St. Petersburg, FL – Tampa Bay Blues Festival

April 12 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live

April 14 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center @ Au-Rene Theater (with Eric Johnson)

April 15 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre (with Eric Johnson)

April 16 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

April 18 – Charles Town, WV – Hollywood Casino

April 19 – Greensburg, PA – Palace Theatre

April 22 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center

April 23 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre

April 24 – Gary, IN – Hard Rock

April 25 – Northfield, OH – MGM

April 26 – Detroit, MI – Hollywood Greektown Casino / Music Hall

April 29 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live @ 20 Monroe

April 30 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre

May 1 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate PAC

May 2 – Rockford, IL – Hard Rock

May 3 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Theatre

May 5 – Champaign, IL – Virginia Theater

May 7 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre

May 8 – Carterville, IL – Walker’s Bluff Casino

May 9 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory

June 13 – Bossier City, LA – Paradise Theater @ Margaritaville Resort Casino

June 14 – Lubbock, TX – Buddy Holly Theatre

June 17 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium

June 18 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre

June 19 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre

June 20 – Cerritos, CA – Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

June 21 – Oxnard, CA – Oxnard Performing Arts Center

June 23 – Escondido, CA – California Center for the Arts

June 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Capitol Theatre

September 10 – Las Vegas, NV – Big Blues Bender

September 11 – Carmel, CA – Sunset Center

September 12 – Napa, CA – Blue Note Summer Sessions

September 13 – Grass Valley, CA – Center for the Arts

September 15 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre

September 16 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre

September 17 – Spokane, WA – First Interstate Center for the Arts

September 18 – Billings, MT – Alberta Bair Theater

James Tolkan, Who Told Generations of Slackers Exactly What He Thought of Them, Dead at 94

Eric Alper
-
0
James Tolkan, Who Told Generations of Slackers Exactly What He Thought of Them, Dead at 94

James Tolkan, the character actor whose steely authority and withering contempt for slackers made him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces, died peacefully on March 26 in Saranac Lake, New York. He was 94, survived by his wife of 54 years, Parmelee, and three nieces in Des Moines.

His story started as far from Hollywood as you could get. Born in Calumet, Michigan in 1931, Tolkan cycled through Chicago after his parents divorced, landed in Tucson, graduated high school in 1949, served briefly in the Navy during the Korean War before a heart condition ended his service, and eventually got on a bus to New York City with $75 in his pocket. He found a cold water flat where the rent matched his VA check, went to work on the docks, and enrolled with both Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg to learn how to act. Twenty-five years of New York theater followed, from off-off-Broadway all the way to the original ensemble cast of David Mamet’s ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ on the Great White Way.

Film work followed while he was still New York-based, including Sidney Lumet’s ‘Prince of the City’ in 1981, before a move to California and Canada in 1983 for ‘WarGames’ shifted his trajectory permanently. What followed was one of the most memorable runs of supporting work in 1980s cinema. As Mr. Strickland in Robert Zemeckis’s ‘Back to the Future’ (1985), he delivered the word “slackers” with such magnificent contempt that fans spent the rest of his life asking him to do it again. As Commander Stinger in ‘Top Gun’ (1986), he dressed down Tom Cruise with equal authority. He had a dual role as Napoleon in Woody Allen’s ‘Love and Death,’ played Big Boy Caprice’s crooked accountant in Warren Beatty’s ‘Dick Tracy,’ and brought the same coiled intensity to everything he touched.

Jim adored animals. Donations in his memory are welcome at your local animal shelter, rescue organization, or Humane Society chapter.

Young The Giant Announce The “Victory Garden Tour” With Cold War Kids Playing Their Debut In Full

Eric Alper
-
0
Young The Giant Announce The “Victory Garden Tour” With Cold War Kids Playing Their Debut In Full

Multi-platinum indie rockers Young the Giant have officially unveiled details for their highly anticipated 2026 Victory Garden Tour. This extensive North American trek, promoted by Live Nation, is set to celebrate the band’s sixth studio album, Victory Garden, which arrives on May 1 via Fearless Records. Recorded as a cohesive unit at the legendary Henson Studios in Hollywood, the new project marks a creative homecoming for the band, rooted in themes of radical empathy and sincerity. The announcement follows the massive success of their new single, “Different Kind Of Love,” which has quickly dominated alternative and triple-A radio charts since its release earlier this month.

The Victory Garden Tour is more than just a promotional run for the new record; it is a multi-generational celebration of indie rock. Joining the tour as direct support are Cold War Kids, who will be marking the 20th anniversary of their prolific debut album, Robbers & Cowards. The tour’s lineup also features a rotating cast of special guests, with almost monday appearing on the first half of the trek and KennyHoopla joining for the latter half. This curated roster ensures that every night of the tour is a deep dive into the evolution of alternative music over the past two decades.

For music lovers in British Columbia, the “fertility” of this tour hits a high point this summer. Young the Giant will perform at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver on Friday, July 24, 2026. This Vancouver date is a key fixture of the tour’s West Coast leg and will feature both Cold War Kids and KennyHoopla. Playing the Thunderbird Sports Centre provides an intimate yet high-energy atmosphere that perfectly suits the band’s reputation for dynamic live performances—a reputation recently bolstered by their historic record-breaking queue at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

In keeping with the Victory Garden theme, Young the Giant is continuing their long-standing commitment to sustainability. The band is partnering with the environmental organization REVERB to minimize the tour’s ecological footprint. This initiative includes efforts to support food insecurity initiatives and fund community-based carbon reduction projects, allowing fans to feel good about the environmental impact of their concert-going experience. It is a reflection of the “radical empathy” that frontman Sameer Gadhia says defines this new era of the band.

The setlist for the Victory Garden Tour is expected to be a career-spanning journey. Fans can look forward to the anthemic energy of new tracks like “Evergreen” and “Ships Passing,” alongside the timeless hits like “My Body” and “Cough Syrup” that first propelled the band to international stardom in 2010. Following the 2022 release of American Bollywood, this new tour represents a return to a more collaborative and immediate sound, captured through writing retreats in Idyllwild and Joshua Tree before moving to the studio with producer Brendan O’Brien.

Tickets for the Vancouver ritual at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre will be available starting with the Chorus Artist Presale on Wednesday, February 18, at 10:00 am local time. Additional presales, including a Live Nation presale on Thursday, will run throughout the week before the general public on-sale begins on Friday, February 20, at 10:00 am local time via YoungTheGiant.com. Given the band’s loyal following and the added draw of the Cold War Kids’ anniversary celebration, tickets for the July performance are expected to move very quickly.

Victory Garden Tour 2026 Dates

  • Sun-May 24 – Las Vegas, NV | Palms Casino Resort ^
  • Wed-May-27 – Cleveland, OH | Jacobs Pavilion *^
  • Fri-May-29 – Richmond, VA | Allianz Amphitheater *^
  • Sat-May-30 – Raleigh, NC | Red Hat Amphitheater *^
  • Sun-May-31 – Charlotte, NC | Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre *^
  • Sat-Jun-06 – Atlanta, GA | Chastain Park *^
  • Thu-Jun-11 – Asbury Park, NJ | Stone Pony Summer Stage *^
  • Fri-Jun-12 – Vienna VA | Wolf Trap *^
  • Sat-Jun-13 – Bridgeport, CT | Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater *^
  • Sun-Jun-14 – Philadelphia, PA | Skyline Stage at Highmark Mann *^
  • Tue-Jun-16 – Buffalo, NY | Outer Harbor Live *^
  • Thu-Jun-18 – New York, NY | Pier 17 *^
  • Fri-Jun-19 – New York, NY | Pier 17 *^
  • Sat-Jun-20 – Boston, MA | Leader Bank Pavilion *^
  • Mon-Jun-22 – Toronto, ON | Coca-Cola Coliseum *^
  • Tue-Jun-23 – Pittsburgh, PA | Stage AE *^
  • Thu-Jun-25 – Detroit, MI | Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre *^
  • Fri-Jun-26 – Columbus, OH | Kemba Live! *^
  • Sat-Jun-27 – Nashville, TN | Ascend Amphitheater *^
  • Thu-Jul-09 – Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall *+
  • Fri-Jul-10 – Austin, TX | Moody Amphitheater *+
  • Sat-Jul-11 – Irving, TX | Toyota Music Factory *+
  • Tue-Jul-14 – Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Financial Theatre *+
  • Wed-Jul-15 – San Diego, CA | Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre *+
  • Fri-Jul-17 – Los Angeles, CA | Kia Forum *+
  • Sat-Jul-18 – Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara Bowl *+
  • Sun-Jul-19 – San Francisco, CA | The Greek Theatre *+
  • Thu-Jul-23 – Jacksonville, OR | Britt Pavilion *+
  • Fri-Jul-24 – Vancouver, BC | Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre *+
  • Sat-Jul-25 – Seattle, WA | Marymoor Live *+
  • Sun-Jul-26 – Troutdale, OR | Edgefield Amphitheater *
  • Wed-Jul-29 – Missoula, MT | KettleHouse Amphitheater *+
  • Thu-Jul-30 – Salt Lake City, UT | The Lot at The Complex *+
  • Fri-Jul-31 – Dillon, CO | Dillon Amphitheater *+
  • Sun-Aug-02 – Kansas City, MO | Starlight Theatre *+
  • Mon-Aug-03 – La Vista, NE | The Astro Amphitheater *+
  • Thu-Aug-06 – Minneapolis, MN | Surly Brewing Company *+
  • Fri-Aug-07 – Chicago, IL | Huntington Bank Pavilion *+
  • Sat-Aug-08 – St. Louis, MO | Saint Louis Music Park *+
  • Sun-Aug-09 – Indianapolis, IN | Everwise Amphitheater *+

*Cold War Kids; ^almost monday; +KennyHoopla

George Clinton And Parliament-Funkadelic Bring A Brand New Mothership To The Essence Festival Of Culture On July 5

Eric Alper
-
0
George Clinton And Parliament-Funkadelic Bring A Brand New Mothership To The Essence Festival Of Culture On July 5

Fifty years after the Mothership first touched down in New Orleans, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic are bringing it back. Clinton will headline the Essence Festival of Culture on July 5, closing out the festival with the debut of a brand new, technologically advanced Mothership, currently under construction at the Rock Lititz production campus in Nashville. The original spacecraft, designed by lighting visionary Jules Fisher for the 1976 P-Funk Earth Tour, now lives in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. What lands in New Orleans this July will be its worthy successor.

At 84, Clinton remains a commanding, charismatic stage presence, and the scale of this production matches the weight of the moment. Chew Entertainment, led by longtime collaborator Vivian Scott Chew, is producing the performance. Chew was instrumental in the iconic 1996 Mothership landing in Central Park and has been the driving force behind uniting this historic occasion with Essence. David Rodriguez, Executive Producer at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, joins as a key collaborator on the production. “To celebrate George in New Orleans, where the Mothership first touched down, is a beautiful full-circle moment,” Chew said. “It’s about community, legacy and making space for the next generation to carry the funk forward.”

The cultural stakes here are enormous. Clinton’s influence runs from the West Coast G-funk of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube through Outkast, Kendrick Lamar, and Janelle Monáe. A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree, Clinton has shaped the DNA of Black music across generations. The Essence Festival of Culture performance will mark the new Mothership’s world debut, with a global tour to follow.

July 5 in New Orleans. The Mothership lands again. Get there.

1...678...3,516Page 7 of 3,516

Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper

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

Popular posts

Popular category

© Copyright - That Eric Alper