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Rising Country Storyteller Belles Announces Songs & Stories Tour Behind Her Dolly Parton Collaboration

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Belles has announced her Songs & Stories Tour, a stripped-down listening room run launching May 1 in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and stretching across the US through late August. The tour is designed to bring fans inside the songwriting, with Belles sharing the real moments and people behind the music as she performs. Johnny Gates opens most dates, with Averie Bielski joining in Atlanta, and two Tennessee and Alabama dates feature Belles supporting country legend Gene Watson.

The tour arrives at a significant moment. On April 17, Belles releases “Son of Jolene,” a collaboration with Dolly Parton that imagines a chance encounter with Jolene’s son years after the events of the original song. Parton heard the track, immediately connected with its concept, and brought the collaboration to life. PEOPLE called it “the equivalent of a musical and generational bridge being built between the two artists.” The single impacts country radio May 11.

Belles has been building toward this moment since making waves in Nashville in 2018. Her self-titled EP showcased emotional depth and sharp storytelling, built on the viral momentum of breakout single “Crazy As Me.” She now holds over 1.5 million social media followers, more than 100 million cumulative views and streams, and a global record deal with East Music Row Records alongside a publishing agreement with Deluge Music and management through Red Light Management.

Her debut full-length album is due later this year, and the Songs & Stories Tour is designed to road-test that material in its most honest form. “I’ve just finished writing my debut album,” she says, “so I’ll be playing a lot of brand new music.” Listening room shows, new songs, and a Dolly Parton collaboration hitting radio in May. The timing is sharp.

The tour hits New York, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and more across a run that gives fans exactly the kind of access that touring at this scale affords.

Songs & Stories Tour Dates:

May 1 — Bell Buckle, TN — Bell Buckle Hall (with Johnny Gates)

May 9 — New York, NY — The Bitter End

June 11 — Omaha, NE — Reverb Lounge (with Johnny Gates)

June 13 — Kansas City, KS — Green Guitar Folk House

June 19 — Dunn, NC — Bird’s Nest Listening Room (with Johnny Gates)

June 20 — Atlanta, GA — Eddie’s Attic (special guest Averie Bielski)

June 27 — Sweetwater, TX — House Concert Series

July 17 — Sewanee, TN — The Sewanee Inn (supporting Gene Watson)

July 18 — Fort Payne, AL — The Pickin Post (supporting Gene Watson)

July 25 — Des Moines, IA — xBk Live (with Johnny Gates)

July 31 — Murfreesboro, TN — Hop Springs (with Johnny Gates)

August 1 — Chattanooga, TN — Songbirds Listening Room (with Johnny Gates)

August 6 — New Braunfels, TX — Gruene Hall

August 7 — Austin, TX — Cactus Cafe (with Johnny Gates)

August 13 — Phoenix, AZ — Last Exit Live (with Johnny Gates)

August 14 — Las Vegas, NV — Stoney’s Rockin’ Country

August 18 — Chicago, IL — Schubas Tavern (with Johnny Gates)

August 19 — Lake Orion, MI — 20 Front Street

August 22 — Lansing, MI — The Green Door (with Johnny Gates)

August 26 — Seattle, WA — Tractor Tavern (with Johnny Gates)

August 27 — Portland, OR — The Showdown (with Johnny Gates)

My777Bet No Deposit Bonus and Free Spins for UK Players

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By Mitch Rice

This review focuses on the current My777Bet promotional offers and bonus codes, specifically addressing the demand for a My777Bet no deposit bonus. We look at the actual value, the wagering rules, and the legal standing of the platform. If you are a resident of the UK looking to play online slots or live dealer games, understanding these financial mechanics is essential for a safe experience.

Welcome PackageUp to £2,800 + 450 Free Spins
No Deposit BonusAvailable via VIP Loyalty Rewards
Highroller Offer100% up to £5,000 + 100 FS
Promo CodesVIP, LUCKY, MON20, MON50, MON100, MON200
LicenceLegal international licence for UK residents
Payment MethodsVisa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Crypto
Minimum Deposit£20

The My777Bet No Deposit Bonus

Many players in Great Britain search for a way to test a platform without spending their own money. This is usually done through a no-deposit bonus. It is important to have clear expectations about how these offers work on this specific platform.

Current Availability in Great Britain

A no-deposit bonus and other rewards are heavily integrated into the My777Bet loyalty programme. Plus, the brand focuses on a very large welcome package triggered by a first deposit. Once you have an active account and begin playing, the casino frequently issues free spins and cash credits that do not require a new deposit to activate. These are credited directly to your profile based on your weekly activity.

What’s more, the real secret to winning lies in knowing how to use promo codes and email coupons. So, look in your inbox to get the best deals. Whether you are playing online slots or sitting at a live table, these codes help you play longer with less of your own money.

How to Get Money and Free Spins Without a Deposit

The most common way to receive play credits without a fresh transaction is through the VIP programme. As you move from the Bronze rank toward Diamond, the casino grants “Rank Bonuses.” Since these spins are awarded based on previous play rather than a new payment, they function as a no-deposit bonus. Users should check their “Promotions” tab daily to see if any specific UK-only vouchers have been added. Here are more details:

RankRank Bonus
Bronze50 FS
Silver100 FS
Gold£80 + 125 FS
Platinum£200 + 150 FS
Diamond£1,000 + 250 FS

Moving up these 5 ranks is essential if you want to lower your wagering requirements. At the Diamond level, the wagering requirement on bonuses drops from x40 to just x5. This level also provides a 10% weekly cashback on losses, which is credited every Monday.

How to Earn and Redeem Points to Get Free Money

The loyalty system is one of the strongest features of the site. It rewards consistent play in Great Britain by offering better terms and cash rewards. Here, points are earned through real money activity. With online slots, you get 1 point for every £30 wagered. With table games, users earn 1 point for every £50 wagered. Redeemable points can be exchanged for cash in the Bonus Store. These can be swapped for a cash bonus when you reach the threshold.

How My777bet Promo Codes Work for UK Players

A promo code is like a digital voucher. When you enter it into the casino cashier, it unlocks a specific reward. At My777bet, these codes are used for everything from massive high-roller matches to weekly free spin batches.

There are two main types of codes you will find:

  1. Public Codes: These are found on the “Promotions” page. Codes like LUCKY and VIP are available to everyone in the UK.
  2. Private Coupons: These are often sent directly to your account or email. These might include a no-deposit bonus for your birthday or a “come back” gift.

How to Correctly Enter Your Code

To make sure you don’t miss out, follow these steps:

  1. Log into your account and go to the “Deposit” section.
  2. Select your payment method (like Visa or Apple Pay).
  3. Look for the box labelled “Promo Code” or “Bonus Code”.
  4. Type the code exactly as shown (all caps).
  5. Complete your deposit, and the bonus should appear instantly in your balance.

Most promo codes at My777bet expire. For example, if you use an email coupon for free spins, you usually have 7 days to use the spins and 14 days to finish the wagering. If you wait too long, the bonus simply disappears from your account.

SMS & Email Codes and Coupons

One of the best ways to get a My777bet no deposit bonus is to keep a close eye on your email. To ensure you get these coupons, you must make sure the casino’s emails don’t go to your spam folder, so add the casino’s support email address to your “Safe Senders” list. These are often the closest thing to a true no deposit bonus.

If you use the mobile app, you can turn on push notifications. Sometimes, the casino will send flash codes that might only work for 2 or 3 hours. They offer high value, such as 100% matches or extra spins on online slots, but you have to act fast.

Popular My777bet Coupons

My777Bet provides several weekly incentives that help bridge the gap between deposits.

Monday Free Spins Frenzy

Every Monday, players can claim a bonus of free spins based on their deposit size. This is a tiered system that requires specific promocodes:

  • Deposit £20+ with code MON20 for 20 spins.
  • Deposit £50+ with code MON50 for 50 spins.
  • Deposit £100+ with code MON100 for 100 spins.
  • Deposit £200+ with code MON200 for 200 spins.

Lucky Reload Bonus

The code LUCKY is perhaps the most famous. On Wednesdays and Fridays, you can use the bonus code with a deposit of at least £20. It is popular because the rules are fair. This gives you a 50% match up to £500 and 50 free spins. While most welcome bonuses have a x40 wagering rule, the LUCKY code often has a x30 requirement. This makes it one of the “easiest” bonuses to turn into real cash.

Rules for Using My777bet Promo Codes

Even the best bonus has rules. If you break them, the casino may take away your winnings. In the UK, the rules are very strict to ensure fair play.

Wagering and Max Bet Limits

Most codes require you to bet the bonus amount 40 times (x40). If you receive a £10 no deposit reward with a x40 requirement, you must place £400 in bets.

While a code is active, you cannot bet more than £5 per spin. This is a very common mistake. If you bet £10 on a single spin, you might lose your entire bonus.

Not all online slots work with promo codes. Some games with very high payouts are blocked while you are using bonus money. Always check the “Bonus Terms” page for the most current list of excluded games.

Safety and KYC Rules

My777Bet is legal in Great Britain. The casino operates under an international licence that allows it to accept players from the UK. Every legal casino in the UK requires Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. Before you can withdraw your first win, you must upload a set of doments like an ID and proof of payment.

Tips to Get No-Deposit and Deposit Bonuses

Check the minimum deposit. Most codes require at least £20. If you deposit £10, the code won’t work. Also, you cannot “stack” codes. You must finish the wagering for one bonus before you enter a new code.

Email coupons are often tied to your specific username and cannot be shared with friends. Codes are case-sensitive. Always use ALL CAPS as shown in the table above. Ensure you are using the Great Britain-specific offers.

Claim Your Welcome Bonus at My777Bet

While the search for a no deposit offer is common, the most significant value for UK players lies in the tiered welcome package. This is designed to cover your first three payments.

  • First Deposit: A 100% match up to £1,000. You also receive 100 free spins.
  • Second Deposit: An 80% match up to £800. This comes with 150 free spins.
  • Third Deposit: A final 100% match up to £1,000. This includes 200 free spins.

The free spins in this package are often restricted to specific online slots like Bonanza Billion or Fruit Million. Winnings from these spins are capped at £150 per batch.

Get Answers to Your Questions (FAQ)

Can I get a no deposit bonus right after signing up?

A standard no deposit bonus is not given automatically upon registration. However, you can earn free spins and cash credits through the VIP programme as you play.

How do I use a promo code?

You must enter codes like VIP, LUCKY, or MON20 in the “Promo Code” field within the cashier while you are making a deposit.

What is the maximum bet with an active bonus?

While you have a bonus balance, the maximum bet you can place is £5 per spin or round. Exceeding this limit may result in the loss of your bonus and winnings.

Can I use the VIP code on my second deposit?

No, the VIP high-roller code is only for your very first deposit. For your second and third deposits, the standard bonuses are added automatically without a code.

What should I do if my code doesn’t work?

Do not place any bets! Contact Live Chat. They can often add the bonus manually for you. If you start playing before the bonus is added, they cannot help you.

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

Breaking Sugar Addiction: Easy and Sustainable Steps that Work for Real

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By Mitch Rice

People struggling with a sugar addiction feel that it is an uphill battle that dominates their energy levels and everyday lifestyle choices. The majority of people consume more sugar through hidden ingredients in sauces, spices, seasoning mixes, energy drinks, and processed snacks. To break this cycle, a mindset shift is needed. That aside, you should also be committed to nourishing your body with nutrients and whole foods. By gaining a clear understanding of how sugar affects your brain, you can start to gain complete control over your cravings and manage your overall health. 

  • Break the sugar addiction gradually

Do you want to find out how to break a sugar addiction‘? If so, you need to start by eliminating sweets that are high in quality nutrients. Increase your intake of healthy fats and lean protein to promote long-term satiety and metabolic stability. You can also count on fibrous vegetables to reduce the glucose absorption in your bloodstream at the time of digestion. Consistent, small changes can lead to a sustainable path towards freedom from sugar without leaving you feeling deprived. 

  • Choose whole foods over packaged and processed foods

Substituting processed, convenience snack foods for whole-food snacks is the best way to remove hidden sugars from your diet completely. Food manufacturers frequently add high-fructose corn syrup to their low-fat products to enhance flavor and prolong shelf life. It is therefore important to thoroughly read each ingredient list and spot deceptive ingredient names like maltodextrin, barley malt, or agave nectar. By consuming food in its unprocessed or unrefined state, you will receive all of the necessary vitamins and minerals along with no unnecessary chemical additives.

  • Sleep and hydration play a crucial part 

If you are dehydrated, you might feel hungry. This is why many people feel hungry and turn to high-sugar foods for “quick” energy. By staying hydrated with water throughout the day, your body’s metabolism will function at its best, helping eliminate toxins. When we do not get enough sleep each night, we produce more cortisol, which reduces the ability of hormones to signal when we are full or hungry. If you prioritize sleep, you will give your brain the tools to make smart decisions and healthy choices every single day.

  • Effective stress management without taking sweets 

Sugary comfort foods are often our go-to coping strategies when we experience emotional stress and physical tiredness. New lifestyle practices, such as deep breathing and brief walks, are beneficial here. This helps create a separation between the stress we are experiencing and our instinct to eat when stressed. When you feel an overwhelming urge to snack, wait 10 minutes and try something else to distract yourself from the craving. Eventually, your brain will no longer turn to sugar for emotional support or just out of habit.

Final thoughts: Consistency brings results 

Consistency is crucial rather than perfection when you are trying to change your lifestyle and eating habits that you’ve followed for a long time. In case you slip and reach for a sugary snack, first you need to accept that to yourself and resume your plan of curbing sugar addiction. Sustainable change will occur when you maintain an unwavering focus and practice the habits you develop daily. You will find that you are attaining enhanced mental clarity, better energy levels, and a profound reduction in your sweet addiction. 

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

Death Metal Heavyweights Fit For An Autopsy Drop Blistering New Single “The Wretch”

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Fit For An Autopsy have released “The Wretch,” a brand-new standalone single dropping exactly as the band kicks off their massive US tour alongside headliners Lamb Of God. The track is out now via Nuclear Blast, and it arrives with the full force of a band that has not slowed down since releasing their latest album ‘The Nothing That Is.’

“The Wretch” is Fit For An Autopsy doing what they do better than almost anyone. Galloping riffs, punishing percussion, earth-shattering breakdowns balanced against haunting melodic layers in the chorus. It is a track built for large rooms and loud speakers, the kind of song that was made to close out a set in front of a packed crowd.

Will Putney is direct about where the song comes from: “In a time where nothing seems to be getting any better at home or abroad, we find there can always be a moment of comfort in the thought of burning it all down. We hope this song is that temporary oasis for you as well.” That controlled fury is the engine behind the track, and it translates immediately.

The timing is deliberate. A new single on the first day of a tour with Lamb Of God is a statement of intent, and Fit For An Autopsy have made it clearly. For a band that has built one of the most devoted followings in modern death metal through relentless touring and uncompromising recorded work, “The Wretch” is exactly the kind of song that reminds audiences why they showed up in the first place.

Songwriter Gitika Partington Breaks a World Record by Releasing Thirteen Albums Simultaneously

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Gitika Partington has released thirteen albums at once, and in doing so has broken the world record for the most albums released in a single day, a record that stood at twelve as of 2025. The project is called ‘Twelvefold,’ it comprises 130 original songs written and recorded over five years, and it is out now in its entirety via Bandcamp.

The project began as nine albums, then became ten, then twelve. Thirteen showed up on its own. Composed incrementally over five years through a weekly songwriting practice, the albums form a chronological record of time passing, built around prompts from the iheartsongwritingclub.com community based in Brisbane, Australia. The songs come in the order they were written. There is no prescribed starting point. Partington invites listeners to wander through the music however feels natural.

The creative philosophy behind the project is as interesting as the music itself. This is not a commercial release cycle or an algorithm-chasing strategy. Partington describes it as an artistic gesture, proof that creativity does not require permission or external validation. Many of the songs are messages from herself to herself, reflections on the day they were written, moments of therapy, quirky observations, and uncomfortable truths. Pleasing no one but herself was the point, and the result is 130 songs that feel genuinely free.

Tom Robinson of BBC Radio 6 and Amazing Radio called Partington “a force of nature” during the pandemic period of the project, when she produced nine virtual choir videos with community filmmaker and choir member Bob Karper. That energy runs through the entire ‘Twelvefold’ undertaking.

As a final flourish, Partington is inviting 130 people to handwrite one lyric each on an A4 page with their own creative additions, doodles, origami, paintings, or whatever feels right, to be compiled into a printed book. Thirteen albums, one record broken, and the next project already taking shape.

The Record Company Expand Their ‘Give It Back To You’ Anniversary Tour

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The Record Company have added new summer dates to their Give It Back To You 10th Anniversary Tour, with tickets for the new additions going on sale Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m. CT. The band is performing the album in its entirety across all dates, celebrating the self-produced debut that launched their career a decade ago. A deluxe expanded edition of the album is out now on 2-LP gatefold vinyl, CD, and digital.

The reissue is a genuine artifact. Both the vinyl and CD preserve the original album alongside the band’s very first concert from 2013, recorded in the same room where the album was made, bassist Alex Stiff’s Los Angeles living room. The digital edition goes further, adding extra mixes, demos, live recordings, covers, and previously unreleased material. For a record that was made with a couple of microphones and nothing to lose, it holds up as well as anything from that era.

Give It Back To You earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 59th Grammy Awards, spent 42 weeks on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, and produced AAA radio number one hit “Off the Ground.” Follow-up single “Rita Mae Young” peaked at number 12 on the AAA chart and held the Top 40 for more than nine weeks. Chris Vos, Alex Stiff, and Marc Cazorla built those results from scratch, self-financing and self-producing every note.

The new summer dates extend the run through September, with highlights including a July 4 slot at Red Rocks Amphitheatre opening for Blues Traveler and Better Than Ezra, two dates supporting Larkin Poe, a co-headline date with Donavon Frankenreiter at Rockaway Summer Series in Queens, and a closing weekend at Telluride Blues and Brews Festival.

Vos puts the milestone plainly: “This means we’ve survived, we’re still here, still brothers, and we still have the opportunity to make more music.” Ten years on, the songs still hit.

Give It Back To You 10th Anniversary Tour Dates:

March 19 — Portland, OR — Aladdin Theater

March 20 — Seattle, WA — The Crocodile

March 21 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore Ballroom

March 22 — Bellingham, WA — Wild Buffalo House of Music

March 25 — Sacramento, CA — Harlow’s

March 26 — San Francisco, CA — Great American Music Hall

March 27 — Santa Cruz, CA — The Catalyst Club

April 3 — Los Angeles, CA — El Rey Theatre

June 17 — Paw Paw, MI — Warner Vineyards

June 18 — Hamilton, OH — RiversEdge

June 19 — Maryville, TN — The Shed

June 25 — Cleveland, OH — Cain Park (supporting Larkin Poe)

June 27 — Bayfield, WI — Big Top Chautauqua (supporting Larkin Poe)

July 4 — Morrison, CO — Red Rocks Amphitheatre (opening for Blues Traveler with Better Than Ezra)

August 14 — Queens, NY — Rockaway Summer Series (co-headline with Donavon Frankenreiter)

August 15 — Lewes, DE — Rocking the Docks

August 17 — Annapolis, MD — Rams Head

August 20 — Lowell, MA — Lowell Summer Music Series

August 21 — Lebanon, NH — Lebanon Opera House

September 18-20 — Telluride, CO — Telluride Blues and Brews Festival

The Savannah Bananas and ESPN Announce Their Biggest Banana Ball Deal Ever With 25 Games

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The Savannah Bananas and ESPN have announced their largest distribution deal to date, a 25-game exclusive package for 2026 with every game streaming on Disney+ and the ESPN App, and select games airing across ESPN networks and ABC. The agreement more than doubles last year’s 12-game offering and marks the first time Banana Ball has aired on ABC, with that debut set for Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, one of the largest Banana Ball events ever staged.

The deal builds on a partnership that began in 2022 with the ESPN+ original series Bananaland. Since then the Bananas’ national audience has grown every season, and the 2026 schedule reflects that momentum directly. Bananas owner Jesse Cole called it the biggest collaboration to date: “As we launch the Banana Ball Championship League with six teams and sold-out shows all over the country, we couldn’t imagine a better partnership to grow the game.”

Three dates stand out beyond the broadcast milestones. On March 26, the Bananas take over Angel Stadium in Anaheim to coincide with Savannah Bananas Day at Disneyland Resort, facing the Indianapolis Clowns. On May 29, Banana Ball heads to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, with the Party Animals facing the Loco Beach Coconuts. And on July 23, the Party Animals and Clowns square off at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford, just down the road from ESPN headquarters.

The full 25-game schedule runs from February 28 through August 29, hitting iconic venues including Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Coors Field, Busch Stadium, Target Field, and Gillette Stadium. All games are fully produced by the Savannah Bananas themselves.

Banana Ball at Wrigley Field. On ABC. In a sold-out stadium. This is not a niche story anymore.

2026 ESPN Banana Ball Schedule:

Feb. 28 — Tallahassee, FL — Doak Campbell Stadium — Tailgaters vs. Bananas — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

Mar. 14 — New Orleans, LA — Super Dome — Party Animals vs. Bananas — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

Mar. 28 — Anaheim, CA — Angel Stadium — Clowns vs. Bananas — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

Apr. 25 — Bronx, NY — Yankee Stadium — Party Animals vs. Bananas — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

May 2 — College Station, TX — Kyle Field — Bananas vs. Tailgaters — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

May 23 — Knoxville, TN — Neyland Stadium — Tailgaters vs. Bananas — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

May 29 — Orlando, FL — ESPN Wide World of Sports — Party Animals vs. Coconuts — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

Jun. 13 — Lincoln, NE — Memorial Field — Bananas vs. Firefighters — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

Jun. 19 — Cincinnati, OH — Great American Ballpark — Bananas vs. Clowns — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jun. 20 — Cincinnati, OH — Great American Ballpark — Bananas vs. Clowns — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

Jun. 21 — Cincinnati, OH — Great American Ballpark — Bananas vs. Clowns — ESPN, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jun. 27 — Eugene, OR — Autzen Stadium — Bananas vs. Party Animals — ESPN, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jun. 28 — Eugene, OR — Autzen Stadium — Bananas vs. Party Animals — ABC, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jul. 23 — Hartford, CT — Dunkin’ Park — Party Animals vs. Clowns — ESPN, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jul. 24 — Chicago, IL — Wrigley Field — Bananas vs. Firefighters — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jul. 25 — Chicago, IL — Wrigley Field — Bananas vs. Firefighters — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jul. 26 — Chicago, IL — Wrigley Field — Bananas vs. Firefighters — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Jul. 31 — Boise, ID — Albertson Stadium — Tailgaters vs. Party Animals — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Aug. 1 — Boise, ID — Albertson Stadium — Tailgaters vs. Party Animals — ESPN, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Aug. 7 — Minneapolis, MN — Target Field — Bananas vs. Coconuts — ESPN, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Aug. 8 — Minneapolis, MN — Target Field — Bananas vs. Coconuts — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Aug. 15 — Denver, CO — Coors Field — Clowns vs. Bananas — ESPN, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Aug. 21 — St. Louis, MO — Busch Stadium — Coconuts vs. Bananas — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Aug. 22 — St. Louis, MO — Busch Stadium — Coconuts vs. Bananas — ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN Unlimited

Aug. 29 — Foxboro, MA — Gillette Stadium — Bananas vs. Coconuts — ESPN Unlimited, Disney+

Lithuanian Sludge Metal Force Erdve Announce Third Album ‘Epigrama’ With Crushing New Single

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Erdve have announced their third album, ‘Epigrama,’ arriving May 29 via Season of Mist. The Lithuanian experimental sludge metal outfit have unveiled lead single “Nyra” alongside a music video filmed among the monumental sculptural works of the Park of Europe in JoneikiÅ¡kÄ—s, Lithuania. The track is out now, and it is exactly as heavy as the band’s reputation demands.

“Nyra” does not rush toward impact. It builds. Dense atmospheric guitars and restrained rhythmic movement accumulate into a suffocating meditation on grief, memory, and unresolved responsibility. The composition develops through structured tension rather than sudden aggression, presenting loss not as a fleeting reaction but as a force that traps the individual within cycles they cannot escape. For a band that has always prioritized intentional songwriting over surface aggression, “Nyra” is a precise and devastating opening statement.

Since emerging from Vilnius in 2016, Erdve have pushed their experimental vision album by album. Their debut ‘Vaitojimas’ established a hard and sludgy foundation. Their 2021 follow-up ‘Savigaila’ sharpened that into something more abrasive and dramatically intense. ‘Epigrama’ marks another deliberate shift, built around meticulous consistency between music, lyrics, and sound production, where every element contributes to a cohesive emotional architecture. The band self-produced, mixed, and mastered the record entirely.

Erdve are also known for performing in unconventional spaces, including a 2019 show at the church of St. John’s in Vilnius and another at the LukiÅ¡kÄ—s Ex-Prison. That instinct for context and atmosphere runs through everything they do, and ‘Epigrama’ is no different.

‘Epigrama’ is available to pre-order now on CD Digipak, digital download, and 12″ vinyl in both black and silver, black and white marbled variants. May 29.

Award-Winning Star Eryn-Jean Norvill Headlines the North American Premiere of Virginia Gay’s ‘Cyrano’

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Virginia Gay’s ‘Cyrano’ is making its North American Premiere in Toronto, running now through April 5 at the CAA Theatre. The production stars Eryn-Jean Norvill in the title role, one of Australia’s most decorated theatre performers, leading a cast that includes Madeline Charlemagne as Roxanne and George Ioannides as Yan. Tickets are available now at Mirvish.com.

Gay’s reimagining of the Edmond Rostand classic is a gender-flipped retelling that earned a Fringe First award at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, where it played to sold-out houses. The story follows Cyrano as a wordsmith and charmer working twice as hard as everyone around her, deeply ashamed of something about herself, while writing the perfect love scenes that another man delivers to the woman they both adore. The Times awarded it five stars and called it “a giddy, sensitive celebration of love.” The Stage matched that rating, calling it “enormously uplifting and infectiously sweet.” The Financial Times called it “dazzlingly clever, witty, knowing, satirical and heartfelt all at once.”

Norvill brings formidable credentials to the role. She is a multiple Sydney Theatre Award and Green Room Award winner, recognized for her landmark performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray for Sydney Theatre Company. Her West End castmates are equally strong, with Charlemagne bringing credits from Hadestown and Hex at the National Theatre, and Ioannides arriving with Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre and Annie at the Piccadilly on his resume.

The production is directed by Clare Watson and produced by Roast Productions, the London-based company behind recent projects including Vanya starring Andrew Scott and Macbeth starring Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma. The creative team brings serious theatrical firepower to what is already a proven, celebrated production.

Performances run Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with Wednesday matinees at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The run closes April 5.

‘Cyrano’ Performance Schedule:

Tuesday — Saturday: 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 1:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 2:00 p.m.

March 14 — April 5, 2026 — Toronto — CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge St.

Visionary Singer-Songwriter Imaad Wasif Releases Soul-Bearing New Album ‘Superconsciousness’

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Imaad Wasif has released his seventh album, ‘Superconsciousness,’ out today via his own Voidist Records imprint. The record arrives accompanied by a new video for “We Are Hunters,” premiering via FLOOD Magazine, and a release show set for Sunday, March 22, featuring special guests Lael Neale, Chalk Teeth, and Devendra Banhart on DJ duties.

The album carries real weight behind it. Wasif was displaced by the 2025 Altadena wildfire while already navigating significant personal upheaval, and ‘Superconsciousness’ was completed through all of it. “My soul is this album, there for the taking,” he says. “It embodies my hope, my pain, and shines a light on my many contradictions.” Produced by Lewis Pesacov and mixed by Derek Coburn, the record blends goth-folk, Indian ragas, minimalism, and post-punk into something that feels both meticulously composed and genuinely alive.

The collaborators Wasif assembled are well matched to the material. Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Garrett Ray of Vampire Weekend, Heather McIntosh of Neutral Milk Hotel, and Dylan Fujioka of Meatbodies all contribute, lending the album a depth that extends well beyond a solo record. FLOOD calls it “a multidimensional exploration of sounds,” while Bearded Gentlemen Music describes it as “an essential transmission for the disillusioned.” KCRW captured the current single perfectly: “‘We Are Hunters’ begins as a raga meditation and unravels into something far more feral, part Sonic Youth haze, part spiritual excavation.”

Earlier single “Believe” anchors the album’s emotional core, a fragile, piano-led elegy that opens into fuzzed-out intensity. American Pancake called it “a forever song,” noting its hymnal quality and classical beauty. Taken together, the ten tracks on ‘Superconsciousness’ form a record that Wasif describes as being about transmuting darkness, not ignoring it, but pushing through it toward something with positive force.

Wasif’s career spans collaborations with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lou Barlow, and Karen O, whose songs he co-wrote for Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are. ‘Superconsciousness’ is his most personal and fully realized work yet.

‘Superconsciousness’ Tracklisting:

  1. Believe
  2. The Rainbow
  3. We Are Hunters
  4. Dark Lord
  5. Echoing
  6. Looking Through My Skull
  7. Weightless
  8. Body and Soul
  9. Shielded
  10. Over New Land

Record Release Show:

Sunday, March 22, 2026 — with Lael Neale, Chalk Teeth, and Devendra Banhart (DJ)