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Dean DeLeo and Pete Shoulder Announce New Album One More Satellite Out July 18

Eric Alper
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Dean DeLeo and Pete Shoulder Announce New Album One More Satellite Out July 18

Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots and Trip The Witch, along with vocalist Pete Shoulder, will release their latest collaboration, One More Satellite July 18, 2025 via Symphonic. Pre-order album HERE.

One More Satellite presents a diverse collection of songs. “I was simply sitting on some songs I wanted to record,” says DeLeo. “What started out as an instrumental album, quickly changed soon after Pete and I chatted. He was going to sing on a song or two, then wound up singing on eight of the ten on the record.”

The collaboration with UK-based vocalist and lyricist Pete Shoulder and DeLeo went quite well and voila, through a transatlantic workflow…One More Satellite was born. “I was excited to hear the new music Dean wanted to collaborate on,” says Shoulder. “We’ve worked together in the past and it’s always been an absolute pleasure making music with him. The stuff he comes up with is so interesting, with so many beautiful, unexpected, twists and turns. It’s very inspiring to write to and pushes me into realms that I would never usually think of exploring. I’m very proud of the album we’ve made.”

DeLeo’s son Rocco drums on “Drowning Out The Sun,” “Willow Mae” and “Spit It Out.” Stone Temple Pilots drummer Eric Kretz plays on “Serenade” and Brian Tichy drums the rest. Daughter June DeLeo lends a lovely “aaah”…vocal on “Your Call,” and long-time collaborator, Ryan Williams co-produced and mixed the album.

One More Satellite will be available digitally and on CD and vinyl. More merch items including posters and t-shirts can be found HERE.

One More Satellite track listing:

  1. Paper Over The Cracks
  2. Vultures
  3. Long Way Down
  4. Drowning Out The Sun
  5. Serenade
  6. Can Of Worms
  7. Willow Mae
  8. Spit It Out
  9. Pull Back The Veiil
  10. Your Call

 

Agatha Christie’s Endless Night Is Coming To Britbox And The BBC

Eric Alper
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Agatha Christie’s Endless Night Is Coming To Britbox And The BBC

Just when you thought you’d heard every Agatha Christie story worth telling, Endless Night sneaks in with a curse, a house in the countryside, and a chilling reminder that love and obsession often share a bed. The BBC and BritBox have officially announced a brand-new three-part series based on Christie’s 1967 late-career masterpiece, and if that wasn’t enough, Sarah Phelps is back to do what she does best—unleashing Christie’s darker, sharper, bloodier edges.

For fans of British mystery, this is great news. For fans of Christie, it’s basically Christmas. Phelps, who previously adapted And Then There Were None, The Witness For The Prosecution, The ABC Murders, and more for the BBC, returns to adapt Endless Night, a ghost story, a love story, and a psychological thriller all wrapped into one. It’s being produced by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited, in co-commission with BritBox International.

Set in 1967, the story follows Michael Rogers, a working-class dreamer who stumbles into the glamorous world of a mysterious designer and becomes obsessed with a luxurious home in the countryside. That home, of course, comes with a legend—and a curse. After marrying the sweet and wealthy Ellie and moving in, the couple begins to wonder if the dark forces lurking in the walls are more than just old stories. As shadows lengthen, so do suspicions. Is it supernatural? Or is something—or someone—playing a much more sinister game?

“It’s a chilling story of love, sex, deceit and death,” says Phelps, “of how far we’ll go to get our heart’s desire and what we’ll do when night falls and the wolves start circling.” So yes, this isn’t your grandmother’s Christie… unless, of course, your grandmother was Dame Agatha herself.

And for Christie’s great-grandson James Prichard, the project is deeply personal. “Endless Night is one of my great grandmother’s best stories,” he said. “It is also one of my father’s personal favourites. It’s an extraordinary feat of writing.” Phelps, he adds, is the perfect writer to bring it back to life.

The series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on BritBox in the U.S. and Canada, where audiences have proven their love for Christie again and again. With Towards Zero clocking over six million viewers in the UK and topping BritBox’s charts in the U.S., expectations for Endless Night are, well, sky-high—and fittingly eerie.

Casting has yet to be announced, and filming begins later this year, but the creative team is already stacked. Executive producers include James Prichard (Agatha Christie Limited), Damien Timmer and Rebecca Durbin (Mammoth Screen), Danielle Scott-Haughton (BBC), and Robert Schildhouse (BritBox). Translation: this one’s in very good hands.

With Christie still topping the charts as the best-selling novelist of all time, and Phelps continuing to reimagine her work for a new generation, Endless Night is primed to become your next favorite binge. Just don’t be surprised if you start double-checking your locks—or your heart.

Endless Night will stream on BBC iPlayer and BritBox in 2025. And if you’re not already re-reading the book with the lights on… you will be.

Linkin Park Receives SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award Ahead of ‘From Zero (Deluxe Edition)’

Eric Alper
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SoundExchange announced today that Linkin Park has been honored with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award. The honor recognizes the innovative rock band as one of the most streamed creators in the organization’s 20-plus year history of administering digital performance royalties.

Linkin Park consists of vocalist Mike Shinoda, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Phoenix, and DJ Joe Hahn, alongside new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong (of critically acclaimed band Dead Sara) and drummer Colin Brittain (songwriter/producer for G Flip, Illenium, One OK Rock). In 2024, the band returned to the top of the charts with their album From Zero, their first new release in seven years. The critically acclaimed album features #1 single “The Emptiness Machine” and propelled the band to be the only rock band in 2024 to exceed 2 billion streams. Linkin Park is currently on tour in support of the album, with dates planned throughout North America, Europe, and South America. From Zero (Deluxe Edition) will be released on May 16.

“It would be hard to consider rock music in the context of SoundExchange’s history without including Linkin Park,” said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “They’re a monster group that has had tremendous impact on popular music, blending hard rock and hip-hop, scoring lasting hits, and soundtracking the lives of millions of fans the world over. We are proud to present Linkin Park with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award.”

“We sincerely appreciate and celebrate everything that SoundExchange does for us and all recording artists. It is a true honor to be recognized as one of the most streamed artists of the last two decades,” said Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda. “The recognition is even more important to us now as our next chapter unfolds, honoring the past, present, and future of everything that is Linkin Park.”

Linkin Park emerged as an innovative musical force and are one of the best-selling artists of the last 20 years. Their RIAA Diamond-certified full-length debut, Hybrid Theory, stands out as the “best selling debut of the 21st century,” while landmark sophomore album Meteora bowed at #1 on The Billboard Top 200 before going 8X-Platinum in the U.S. The band’s worldwide sales across the entire catalog eclipses 100 million, and among numerous accolades and honors, they have garnered two GRAMMY Awards, five American Music Awards, four MTV VMA Awards, 10 MTV Europe Music Awards, and three World Music Awards. Selling out stadiums worldwide, they’ve headlined the largest festivals globally and remain the first and only Western rock band to play a five-stadium tour in China. 2017’s One More Light marked their fifth #1 debut on The Billboard 200. In 2020, the band celebrated their groundbreaking debut album, Hybrid Theory, by releasing a comprehensive 20th anniversary edition super deluxe box set which features their RIAA Diamond-certified single “In The End.” In 2023, the band released Meteora 20th Anniversary Edition, which topped the charts and featured the newly uncovered song “Lost.” The emotionally charged single was originally recorded during sessions for their second studio album Meteora (2003), and soon after its 2023 release, “Lost” hit #1 at both Alternative and Rock radio. 2024 marked the release of their first greatest hits package Papercuts, featuring vault track “Friendly Fire” that similarly topped both the Alternative and Rock charts. In September, the band made a triumphant return to the top of the charts with “The Emptiness Machine,” which exploded as the #1 rock song in the country and the biggest rock song of 2024. It made a rapid climb to #1 on both the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart and Alternative Airplay Chart. In total, the band have scored a staggering 13 #1 entries on the latter chart (the second-most in history) with three in the last 18 months. Linkin Park released their eighth studio album From Zero on November 15 on Warner Records, once again topping charts around the world and eclipsing a billion streams. The band have always prioritized charity and goodwill in an effort to make the world a better place, helping to raise millions over the years for victims of natural disasters. Today, Linkin Park imprint on music and culture continues to expand and magnify.

SoundExchange is the premier music tech organization on a mission to power the future of music. It was independently formed in 2003 to build a fairer, simpler, and more efficient music industry through technology, data, and advocacy. The only organization designated by the U.S. government to administer the Section 114 sound recording license, SoundExchange collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of 700,000 music creators and growing. Through proprietary music tech solutions that turn data into accurate revenue, SoundExchange has paid more than $12 billion in distributions to date.

Tayler Holder Joins Post Malone’s Travelin’ Tailgate Ahead of New Single “This Ain’t You Leaving”

Eric Alper
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Tayler Holder Joins Post Malone’s Travelin’ Tailgate Ahead of New Single “This Ain’t You Leaving”

Tayler Holder is hitting the road with Post Malone’s Travelin’ Tailgate-a free, high-energy, game-day-inspired parking lot party held ahead of select stadium shows on Post’s North American tour, which features Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell. Tayler will perform at six of the ten stops, starting Friday, May 9 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with additional appearances in Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, and Miami. Fans can expect live music, exclusive merch, photo ops, carnival games, and even tattoos from Posty’s personal artists.

Holder enthuses, “Growing up in the DFW area and seeing Post make it out and become so successful really motivated me to work harder. It’s a real full-circle moment being on this tour and an added bonus that one of my biggest music career champions, Jelly Roll, is on this run as well. It’s gonna be one the people won’t forget.”

Holder’s buzz is hitting a fever pitch-and with his upcoming performances on Post Malone’s Travelin’ Tailgate, it’s only intensifying ahead of his highly anticipated new single, “This Ain’t You Leaving” out May 30th. With over 1,000 pre-saves, 12,000 shares, and a staggering 8 million views across socials, the new track caps off a banner year for Holder, who recently joined Chase Matthew as a special guest on the UK leg of his 2025 European Tour. Coming off his 18-city “Hits the Roof!” tour-part of Tin Roof’s “Nashville Hits the Roof” series-Holder packed out venues in cities like Detroit, Indianapolis, and Louisville, performing through sub-freezing temperatures. His bond with fans remains front and center: after seeing a TikTok of a girl singing his music, he partnered with Gibson to surprise her with a guitar and brought her on stage in St. Louis to duet his hit, “Sittin’ On Empty.”

One of country music’s fastest-rising stars, Holder has built an impressive fanbase and earned major accolades, including Male Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year (2023) from Up N Country. As the most-followed country artist on TikTok, he has seamlessly transitioned from influencer to recording artist. With over 500K monthly listeners on Spotify, Holder has racked up millions of streams on hits like “Dyin’ Flame” (9M+ streams), “Nothin’ But Neon” (5.8M streams), “Someone You Knew” (3.5M streams), and his heartfelt duet “Climb My Way to Heaven” with Cory Asbury (1.6M streams), solidifying his place in the country music scene.

Hailing from Alvarado, TX, a small town near Dallas, Holder’s flair for entertainment was evident from a young age. By three, he was racing motocross, a passion he still enjoys as a hobby. After completing high school via homeschooling, Holder moved to California to follow his dreams of being an entertainer and started to create content for Instagram and Musical.ly, quickly growing his popularity on the platforms with his viral lip sync videos and daily lifestyle content.

After joining TikTok, Tayler quickly grew to millions of followers on the platform, continuing to create viral content. With over 30 million followers across social media, Holder has seamlessly transitioned from influencer to a prominent voice in country music, captivating fans with his talent and authenticity. “I am very thankful that I have been welcomed by the Nashville Community and industry alike. I am humbled every day for the continued support, and I want to keep on bringing the best I have for the people that have championed me.”

Tayler Holder is immersed in songwriting and A&R sessions, honing his craft while hitting stages across the U.S. and U.K.-most recently as a featured performer on Post Malone’s Travelin’ Tailgate tour. As he gears up to release his highly anticipated new single, “This Ain’t You Leaving,” he’s poised to share his next chapter with fans and further cement his rising status in the country music scene.

Thompson Square Return With New Single “You Were There” Ahead of CMA Fest and ‘Root’s Tour’

Eric Alper
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Thompson Square Return With New Single “You Were There” Ahead of CMA Fest and ‘Root’s Tour’

Award-winning country music duo Thompson Square returns with their new single, “You Were There,” releasing Friday, May 16, 2025 on T2 Records via Symphonic. Keifer Thompson delivers the powerful lead before wife Shawna joins him to reveal their unmistakable harmonies. The lyrics of this beautiful song, written by Josh Osborne, JT Harding and Ryan Tyndell, reveal to the listener that when it comes to real love the details don’t matter. It’s not about the memories, it’s about who you make them with.

“‘You Were There’ was a must-record for us,” said Shawna. “From the first listen, it drew us both in and we knew it had to be a single. It’s the same feeling we had when we recorded ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’ and ‘If I Didn’t Have You.’ For the first 10 listens of the demo, I cried. And when music moves you that way you need to pay attention.”

“We have recently reclaimed our independence as artists, and it is so refreshing to be able to get back to doing what we do best,” added Keifer. “We want to make music that means something to us not just based on what’s ‘in’ at the time. I believe music is more important than that. An artist should be true to who they are, always. We believe that ‘You Were There’ represents the best of Thompson Square and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Thompson Square will be touring the country on their “Root’s Tour” beginning May 1 in Washington, DC and are scheduled to perform at CMA Fest in Nashville on Sunday, June 6, 2025 at the Chevy Vibes Stage at 1pm. Shawna will be performing a solo concert highlighting music from her critically-acclaimed Lean On Neon album at East Side Bowl in Nashville on June 10.

Gasoline Lollipops Drop “Holy Rebel” Ahead of New Album ‘Kill the Architect’

Eric Alper
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Gasoline Lollipops Drop “Holy Rebel” Ahead of New Album ‘Kill the Architect’

Colorado-based alt-country rock band Gasoline Lollipops release their new single “Holy Rebel” from upcoming LP Kill The Architect, out June 13 via ALP Recordings. Produced by longtime Los Lobos member Steve Berlin, the album tackles our struggle for balance and connection in the midst of political turmoil.

“Holy Rebel” showcases the band’s heavier side with frontman Clay Rose’s gravely baritone confronting the evil that lives within us over a dark and menacing sonic landscape. Rock and Roll Globe lauded the “grittier tune,” likening the group to “Lucero, Sixteen Horsepower and even Violator-era Depeche Mode.”

About the new track, Rose shares: “‘Holy Rebel’ is a slowly writhing fever dream. A man locked in the coils of his constricting mind. A god, a devil, an ego, and a spirit. The constant pressure of morality and instinct squeezes them into a singularity at the bottom of a black hole. The Big Bang is imminent, and the conclusion of Holy Rebel makes it felt.”

From the new album, the band has already released the reflective first single “Humanity” and its frenetic official music video. Taking shape as Rose composed music for Sam & Delilah, a psychedelic country ballet based upon the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah, the record tackles the duality of human nature – good and evil / light and dark – and how balance is only achieved when we accept both sides of the coin into ourselves. This is also reflected in the LP’s sound, with many of the songs firmly rooted in the band’s folk and country influences (like “Humanity”) and the other half owing more to the noisy punk rock Rose grew up listening to (with “Holy Rebel” being a prime example of this).

Kill the Architect was recorded with Berlin at Dockside Studio in Lafayette, Louisiana from a series of live-in-the-studio performances. In addition to Berlin, the album features appearances from a number of Rose’s friends and musical collaborators including GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, Fruition’s Mimi Naja, Phoebe Hunt and Rose’s mother Donna Farar, a longtime Nashville songwriter. Formed in the early 2000s as a cow-punk duo, the Gasoline Lollipops’ hometown following in Colorado eventually began to expand and so did their lineup which currently includes Don Ambory, Scott Coulter, Brad Morse and Kevin Matthews.

DDG and BIA Team Up in “fine shyt” Video From ‘blame the chat’

Eric Alper
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DDG and BIA Team Up in “fine shyt” Video From ‘blame the chat’

DDG has unleashed the brand-new music video for “fine shyt” featuring BIA. The high-octane video, which was directed by Nick Mays (DaBaby, Key Glock), follows the release of DDG’s new heavily anticipated studio album, blame the chat, this past Friday (May 2).

DDG and BIA curate an electric vibe in the house party-themed new video for “fine shyt,” which is apropos as there’s much to celebrate. Beside his Epic labelmate multi-platinum global star BIA, who is coming off a banner career year herself, DDG brings the energy of the song to life, playing seamlessly off his tag-team partner as they trade bars and camera angles with captivating ease. From the lights to the drip, DDG looks every bit like the superstar he has become.

DDG delivered blame the chat last week, which saw him hit the peak of his powers in the worlds he dominates. Immediately upon release, buzz was at a fever pitch, with XXL proclaiming that “DDG has been putting in the work this year,” while The FADER exclaimed that the album is “poised to take the Michigan artist over the edge.” The music video for “what i prefer,” which premiered with the album, has been trending on YouTube every day since release within the top 3. On Friday, DDG celebrated the album at Neuehouse Hollywood not just with his peers and industry insiders, but also with die hard fans who were key to the album’s creation, livestreaming the evening on Twitch to bring his global fanbase in on the festivities. In speaking with VIBE that evening, he pointed out that he hoped his fans know “they make the most impact in the music…I feel like we’re changing the music industry. I feel like every artist is going to start realizing that the fans need to pick what they want to listen to.”

While DDG has always held a strong relationship with his fans via the powers of the internet and social media, he recently took things to a whole new level, planting his flag firmly at the forefront of a vanguard of artists. Already dubbed “one of the most powerful streamers in Hip-Hop” by Complex, DDG took things into the stratosphere a month ago when he launched his 7 day streamathon event, dubbed the “hit-a-thon,” which occurred on his Twitch channel (here). During the livestream, where he was live 24 hours per day while he worked on the new body of work, he brought fans in on the process of creating an album via the power of Twitch chat, workshopping his art with him. It saw producers and guest artists come by to write and record, as well as collaborate with DDG in real-time. Fans gave feedback on lyrics, beat choices, and more, and saw a full 360 view of a week in the life of an artist completing an album- even doing media interviews and content while live. On the final night of the stream, DDG was the #1 live channel in the world on Twitch and reached a milestone subscription number. To celebrate, he cut his locs off live, a literal transformation as he steps into the boldest era of his career.

Among the collaborators who came by to work on the cohesive, yet eclectic body of work were Ty Dolla $ign and Rich the Kid, who are featured on the album’s new single “Speed.” Additionally, appearances by BIA (“fine shyt”), DaBaby (recent single “motion”), and Wiz Khalifa (“lemonade”), sent the internet into a frenzy. The album also includes the fan-favorite viral track “pink dreads” ft. PlaqueBoyMax which jump started the journey to the release of blame the chat.

“pink dreads” initially took over at the very start of 2025, after DDG created the song with PlaqueBoyMax while live on Twitch. Immediately, clips of the recording went viral across socials as the song garnered tens of millions of streams and charted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The early and immediate success of the song prompted Rolling Stone to note that the Michigan-bred artist is part of the “next generation obliterating all of the norms old heads once held dear.”

Over the last several years, DDG has vaulted to the upper echelon of the culture. With over a billion and a half streams across his catalogue, the artist has achieved RIAA certifications for several hits – including “I’m Geekin” (gold), “Arguments” (gold), “Hood Melody” (gold) and break-out smash “Moonwalking In Calabasas” (double platinum). His status has been cemented by covering the coveted XXL Freshman Class issue and being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for music.

With blame the chat, DDG once again is set to take his career to new heights.

Giants of Africa Festival 2025 Returns to Kigali With Kizz Daniel, Timaya, Uncle Waffles and More

Eric Alper
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Giants of Africa Festival 2025 Returns to Kigali With Kizz Daniel, Timaya, Uncle Waffles and More

Giants of Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering African youth through basketball, alongside its founder Masai Ujiri, Vice-Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors, has announced Giants of Africa Festival 2025. Returning to the vibrant city of Kigali, Rwanda from July 26-August 2, the event will bring together 320 young athletes from 20 African nations, and more than 20,000 spectators for a week of community, culture, basketball, education, and entertainment. The festival will unite communities, spark potential, and drive transformative change across the continent.

“Like these kids, I grew up on the continent,” says Ujiri. “As Africans, we know the landscape of what the kids go through. We know they dream just like we did and it really inspires me because, those kids have so much more talent and intelligence, they have ways to communicate now that we didn’t. This festival is about showing them there is a path. We want them to never stop dreaming.”

Giants of Africa Festival 2025 will begin with an exhilarating Opening Show, as the athletes unite in an inspiring parade to kick off the weeklong celebration. South African international DJ sensation Uncle Waffles, MTV Video Music Award-winning choreographer Sherrie Silver, and Rwandan singer and songwriter, Kevin Kade will bring electrifying performances as Ujiri and special guests welcome all to the festivities. The awe-inspiring event will mark the beginning of life-changing journeys for Africa’s leaders of tomorrow.

Taking place across Kigali Sports City’s BK Arena, Amahoro National Stadium, Petit Stade, and Paralympic Gymnasium, the festival will showcase the full potential of Africa’s sports and entertainment ecosystem, highlighting its social and economic value for the next generation and the continent at large. Giants of Africa Festival 2025 will also serve as the grand opening of Zaria Court. Founded by Ujiri, the new mixed-use sports, entertainment, and cultural district includes an 80-room hotel, sports bar, basketball court, event space, retail outlets, gym, five-a-side football pitch, and outdoor public areas.

The festival will conclude with a spectacular Closing Concert featuring performances from Nigerian Afrobeats artist Kizz Daniel and award-winning Nigerian singer/songwriter Timaya. Celebrity guests in attendance throughout the week will include Chris Tucker, Candace Parker, Robin Roberts, Chiney Ogwumike, Didier Drogba, Michael Blackson, Boris Kodjoe and more. Additional performers for both the Opening Show and Closing Concert will be announced in the coming weeks.

Since 2003, Giants of Africa has empowered youth through basketball, hosting camps and building courts across 20 African countries. The foundation not only teaches game fundamentals but connects young people with inspirational mentors who show how determination, leadership, and integrity can transform dreams into reality. Also central to their mission is basketball’s unique power to transcend barriers and unite diverse communities. The Giants of Africa Festival is a culmination of this vision, featuring a weeklong youth basketball camp and tournament that brings together young men and women from 20 nations. Youth campers will represent Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Gabon, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, D.R. Congo, Somalia, Ethiopia, Morocco, Botswana, and South Africa. Giants of Africa and NBA/WNBA coaches and personnel will lead training sessions, with assistance from local coaches from the participating countries. A round-robin tournament will determine which countries and players will compete in the festival’s championship and all-star games.

This year, Giants of Africa will also present its inaugural Threads of Africa Fashion Show, celebrating culture, fashion, and design from across Africa. The show will spotlight the work of three talented fashion designers, each from a different region of the continent. Cameroon’s Hortense Mbea (Afropian), Niger’s Alia Bare (Alia), and Rwanda and South Africa’s Nyambo (Masa Mara) will each present their new collections, and come together for a moderated discussion.

Additionally, festival highlights include the International Youth Day Forum, presented in partnership with the Imbuto Foundation, Ministry of Youth and Arts and ALX, bringing together over 2,000 Rwandan youth and festival campers to hear from esteemed leaders. The Women’s Community Outreach Program will take place in Rwanda and across all 20 represented countries, offering leadership and education sessions in local communities to empower women and girls with knowledge, resources, and inspiration.

Giants of Africa Festival 2025 follows the inaugural Giants of Africa Festival which took place in Kigali in 2023 in celebration of the non-profit’s 20th anniversary. The event united over 250 youth basketball players from 16 African nations, drew in over 14,000 spectators, and saw an estimated $1.5M invested into Kigali’s local economy. The festival culminated in a closing concert featuring performances from Afrobeats icon Davido, Queen of Afrobeats Tiwa Savage, Rwanda’s own Bruce Melodie, and South African superstar Tyla. It was a beacon of unity, inspiration, and transformation that ignited the continent. Building upon their bold ambitions, Masai Ujiri and Giants of Africa are poised to make an even more powerful statement in 2025.

Tickets for Giants of Africa Festival 2025’s Opening Show and Closing Concert will go on sale beginning Thursday, May 8 at 3:00PM Central Africa Time.

Parkway Drive Release “Sacred” as a Thunderous Anthem of Power and Positivity

Eric Alper
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Parkway Drive Release “Sacred” as a Thunderous Anthem of Power and Positivity

Parkway Drive unveil their powerful new track “Sacred” – a monumental blend of strength and vision that showcases the band’s ultimate drive and power.

The anthemic new single marks the metal titans’ first release since their critically acclaimed 2022 album Darker Still, and arrives alongside a visually stunning music video, directed by Third Eye Visuals.

Vocalist Winston McCall shares, “The mission statement for ‘Sacred’ is pretty damn simple. An anthemic wrecking ball of positive energy. Our lives and the way we exist in the world has been pushed further and further through the lenses and frames of negativity and hopelessness.

“Obsession with everything we lack, everything we hate, everyone we blame, everything that keeps us down. We sell the unique parts of us most precious just to buy back manufactured pieces of self in order that we may feel whole again. ‘Sacred’ is our identity. ‘Sacred’ is our time. Never lose sight and never lose hope.”

SODOM Unleash Ferocious Tribute With “Witchhunter” From Upcoming Album ‘The Arsonist’

Eric Alper
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SODOM Unleash Ferocious Tribute With “Witchhunter” From Upcoming Album ‘The Arsonist’

SODOM released the video for their new single “Witchhunter.” The song is the second single from the upcoming studio album The Arsonist. “Witchhunter” is SODOM’s homage to their late drummer Chris Witchunter and the video was created by Ex-SODOM guitar player Andy Brings.

We all know that good music is always also a question of sound. To this end, the human factor is crucial – along with the right equipment, of course – after all it’s about authenticity and individual personality. With that in mind, German thrash metal band SODOM have come to a logical conclusion: To enable the most natural production possible, the drum parts on their latest album The Arsonist were recorded using a 24-track analog tape machine.

No studio tricks, no digital overdubs, or, to quote frontman Tom Angelripper: “No plastic! The difference in sound compared to today’s standard drum productions is amazing and has had a positive effect on all the instruments. Naturally, time and effort as well as costs were also higher, but we’re happy to fork out for a superior result.”

However, it’s not only the complex production process that testifies to the band’s exceptional creative spirit, but also their diverse songwriting, which saw all four SODOM musicians – the aforementioned Tom Angelripper (vocals, bass), Frank Blackfire (guitar), York Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums) – involved in the development of the material on The Arsonist.

Tom Angelripper continues: “Frank contributed those typical SODOM riffs and hooks again, whereas York favors more epic songwriting. As a perfect complement to both of them, Toni, who is also an excellent guitarist, contributed a number of songs and helped to make the album even more versatile.

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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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