Southampton indie band Myriad return with their most powerful release to date – “Better Off Without You”.
Blending soaring guitars with heartfelt lyricism, this track captures the liberating chaos of moving on.
After a recent sold-out Southampton show, and their biggest headline yet at The Joiners, as well as festival appearances at Isle of Wight Festival 2025, Myriad are stepping into a new era of high energy indie anthems with a sound that’s bigger, braver, and impossible to ignore.
The Pink Triangle Press (PTP) Pink Awards, a national celebration dedicated entirely to recognizing 2SLGBTQIA+ excellence and impact, is turning the spotlight on the Changemakers shaping queer communities across the country. This year’s previously announced Champions, Bilal Baig, Devery Jacobs, Carole Pope, Douglas Elliott, and Harper Steele will be recognized for their outstanding contributions, and will take part in honouring organizations making a significant impact within 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. From advocacy and health initiatives to arts and culture, these Changemakers are building a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. The PTP Pink Awards will take place at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Nov. 6, 2025.
The 2025 Changemakers are:
Each Changemaker will receive a donation of a minimum of $5,000 plus proceeds from the evening’s ticket sales and Silent Auction which include Taylor Swift Autographed-Acoustic Guitar, a Boudoir Photo Session by Jie Su Studios, a Tuscany retreat, signed Raptors merch, Glam session from P1M, among several others.
The evening of celebration will feature musical performances by one of Canada’s premier male choral ensembles Forte Gay Men’s Chorus, singer-songwriter and CTV’s The Launch winner T. Thomason, and the legendary pop/country/fierce femme band Shania Twink, with a special appearance by Carole Pope. Beverly Glenn-Copeland who receives the 2025 Legacy Award will also perform.
Previously announced guests also include co-hosts Hollywood Jade, Emily Hampshire, Shannon Burns, style expert and health advocate Myles Sexton, award-winning filmmaker Patricia Rozema, and Sam Smith who will present the 2025 Legacy Award to Beverly Glenn-Copeland.
Tickets to the Pink Awards can be purchased here. Tickets to the official Pink Awards After Party at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre produced in association with Precious Cargo by Common Froot and sponsored by Durex can be purchased here. Proceeds from the evening support the charities being recognized.
The 2025 Pink Awards gala is proudly presented with the support of DECIEM: The Abnormal Beauty Company, BMO and The Fairmont Royal York whose commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and community impact reflects the spirit of the event.
Xbox and ROG have officially joined forces to launch the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X – portable gaming powerhouses designed to bring console-quality gameplay anywhere you go. Their debut launch trailer, “Dancing in the Dark,” captures the emotional heart of gaming connection: a father on a business trip in Tokyo finding time to play with his daughter in California, bridging miles through their favorite games.
The ROG Xbox Ally delivers an all-in-one handheld experience powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, pairing smooth performance with optimized battery life. With 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, it offers console-grade power in a device that fits in your hands.
For those craving even more muscle, the ROG Xbox Ally X takes it further. Equipped with the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, it boosts frame rates, clarity, and responsiveness while unlocking new intelligent performance features. Doubling the storage capacity, it comes with 24GB of high-speed RAM and a full 1TB SSD for serious gamers on the go.
From late-night hotel sessions to family game nights across time zones, the ROG Xbox Ally lineup is built for play without limits — your games, wherever you want.
Universal Studios Hollywood teams with Slash to create a terrifying slate of original Halloween Horror Nights experiences, exclusive to the Hollywood destination. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is open now.
These unique experiences will include an original soundtrack composition for the fan-favorite haunted house, “Scarecrow: Music by Slash,” marking the seventh consecutive year in which the prolific artist has created a score for a Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights haunted house.
“Scarecrow: Music by Slash” puts retribution at the forefront, in which Mother Nature seeks vengeance on the homesteaders for their sins of the past that will be carried out by farmland scarecrows, mute witnesses who have become the guardians of destruction for anyone who crosses their path.
Slash’s original score for the experience, which he composes similarly to a motion picture by engaging with each scene, will deliver an unnerving sense of fear as guests navigate the ominous corridors of the haunted house.
Halloween Horror Nights will also celebrate the vinyl-only album release of Slash: Music of Universal Studios Hollywood – Halloween Horror Nights, Volume 2. The scary soundtrack will complement last year’s sold-out vinyl-only album with a slate of original music that Slash has created over the past six years for a variety of Universal Studios Hollywood haunted houses. The album, which includes a tribute by John Murdy, Creative Director and Executive Producer of Halloween Horror Nights, will be available for purchase at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Slash’s presence throughout the event will also introduce fans to a dedicated themed Slash Bar, located at Jurassic Cove, above Jurassic World—The Ride, where they can imbibe on a fleet of cocktails inspired by a collection of Slash’s music, including “The Danse of the Dead,” “Beautiful Dangerous” and the non-alcoholic option, “Slash’s Snakepit.” A menu featuring some of Slash’s favorite foods will include such treats as Chicken Satay Tacos, Thai Beef Tacos and Thai Curry Tacos, plus a Slash Hat cake, reminiscent of his signature top hat, for every sweet tooth guest. As guests dare to visit the Slash Bar, they will be met by a ghoulish stilt walking Slash scare-actor, fully adorned with his signature black curly locks and top hat. Inspired by a character created by Slash, this scare-actor will taunt and torment guests in his path. Guests must be 21+ and have a valid photo ID to purchase alcoholic beverages.
“As a longtime fan of Halloween Horror Nights, it has been incredibly rewarding to not only have experienced the event as a guest, but to have partnered with Universal Studios Hollywood for so many years to create an array of original music that intensifies the storylines of these haunted houses,” Slash says. “This year’s collaboration with Halloween Horror Nights and the chance to become one of the event’s marquee experiences is truly humbling and I can’t wait for the guests to join me when they step into the terror.”
“Slash has been an important creative partner for years creating memorable music that has completely elevated our Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses,” adds John Murdy, Creative Director and Executive Producer of Halloween Horror Nights. “Creating a series of Slash-inspired interactive experiences was a natural progression for the event, and it’s an honor to headline Universal’s horror legacy with Slash.”
A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options for Universal Studios Hollywood are now available, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, the Early Access Ticket, which provides entry to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), in advance of the scheduled 7 pm event opening time, the R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood will run select nights from September 4th through November 2nd.
Fans can also check out new merchandise, including a t-shirt and bandana with all-new artwork celebrating the rock legend.
A1. The Hunted Becomes The Hunter 4:21 (Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives 2021)
A2. Monsters, Maniacs, and Madmen (Universal Monsters Medley 2021) 5:08 (Universal Monsters 2018)
A3. The Blood is Life 3:38 (Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives 2021)
A4. The Collection Room / Dracula’s Lair 2:45 (Universal Monsters 2018)
A5. The Ossuary 1:47 (Universal Monsters: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man 2019)
B6. Cycles of the Moon 3:02 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)
B7. Immortal Curses 4:26 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)
B8. Alucard 2:21 (Universal Monsters: Legends Collide 2022)
B9. Bloodline Drawn 5:02 (Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines 2024)
B10. Unholy Alliance 3:15 (Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines 2024)
Punk energy and pure chaos meet again as N.E. Vains return with their new single “6 For 36.” The track arrives hot on the heels of their announcement that their full-length Running Down Pylons will be released through Big Neck Records — a label known for championing loud, fast, and gloriously unpolished rock. Listen here.
Formed in the strange stillness of lockdown, N.E. Vains began when American garage-punk veterans Jeffrey Thunders and TJ Cabot connected through the Budget Rock Facebook page. What started as a side project quickly turned into something raw, urgent, and strangely cohesive. The name nods to their roots — “N.E.” standing for New England (and North Eastern for Cabot, the lone Canadian). Together with Shandy Lawn on lead guitar, Bill Bates on bass, and Elvis Belushi on drums, the band wrote and recorded five spontaneous tracks in a Connecticut studio before sending them north to Cabot for vocals and melodies.
After their 2023 split 7″ with Chinese Junk, the band suffered the loss of bassist Bill Bates — a beloved figure in the Connecticut underground. His final recordings remain immortalized on that release, which the group dedicated in his honor. For Running Down Pylons, longtime New Haven musician and engineer Scott Fitch stepped in on bass, bringing fresh drive to a sound that barrels between tongue-in-cheek country punk and full-blast chaos.
From the twangy slide guitar swagger of “The Grounds” to the explosive rants of “Pinched Nerve,” Running Down Pylons doesn’t slow down or clean up — it just hits harder. N.E. Vains have no plans to stop anytime soon, but for now, this record is your perfect excuse to turn it up, cause a scene, and make some noise for the road crew.
Flatland Cavalry is back and ready to hit the open road again. The acclaimed country-roots six-piece returns with their stirring new single “Gone,” a reflective journey through a decade of touring, growth, and grit. The release marks their first since signing with the newly relaunched Lost Highway Records, arriving alongside a lyric video that captures the wide-open spirit of the Texas band’s storytelling.
Following 2024’s Flatland Forever, a career-spanning collection of fan favorites, “Gone” signals a new chapter for Cleto Cordero, Jason Albers, Jonathan Saenz, Reid Dillon, Wesley Hall, and Adam Gallegos. Produced by Dwight Baker, the song shines with Flatland’s signature “easy on the ears, heavy on the heart” sound—layered fiddle lines, warm guitars, and Cordero’s weathered, poetic voice. It’s the sound of a band looking back on the miles behind them while gearing up for their headline show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Cordero calls the song “closest to my heart,” written in the small space between tour exhaustion and studio revival. “Since our last show of the tour is at Red Rocks, it felt right to tip our hats to where we’ve been and what’s next,” he shares. “I feel like a piece of you gets woven into the mix, and when I listen to that recording, I feel the soul of a man that’s been away for the last 10 years.” Co-written with Ryan Beaver and Aaron Eshuis, “Gone” blends soul-baring reflection with quick-witted imagery, bridging the dust and wonder of life on the move.
Just weeks after contributing “Midland After Midnight” to Landman – Songs From and Inspired by the Paramount+ Original Series, Flatland Cavalry continues to expand their reach while staying true to their roots. As Rolling Stone once put it, they remain “one of the most dynamic presences in country music”—a band whose stories, no matter how far they travel, always find their way home.
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF), presented by RBC, lit up Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre on October 17 with a powerful celebration of Canada’s musical legacy. The 2025 Legends event honoured musical icons Andy Kim, Jane Siberry, Ian Thomas, Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore of Triumph, and Gino Vannelli, songwriters whose work has defined generations and helped shape Canada’s cultural identity on the world stage.
The night’s key moments centred on the inductions, as peers and close collaborators took the stage to honour the 2025 inductees. Revered Canadian singer songwriter k.d. lang inducted Jane Siberry, highlighting her singular artistry and lasting influence on generations of songwriters. “The most important thing is creating connection—for the listener and for you,” said Siberry. “Your intuition is your most trustworthy guide, and when you follow it, the flaws fall away. That’s where the magic happens.”
Murray McLauchlan inducted his longtime friend Ian Thomas, recognizing his craftsmanship and enduring body of work. Tom Cochrane inducted Triumph, reflecting on the band’s trailblazing career and impact on Canadian rock: “Triumph’s songs were the fuel that powered the spectacle. Behind the smoke bombs and lights, it was always about the songwriting—those anthems that lifted people up and became part of their lives.”
“In the end, it’s always the songs that tell the story,” added Triumph’s Rik Emmett. “The magic power of those songs is that they still speak to people about hopes, dreams, and fighting the good fight.”
Frank Davies, Chair and Founder of the CSHF, inducted Gino Vannelli. Reflecting on his fifty-five-year journey, Vannelli shared, “Songwriting isn’t about chasing fame; it’s about persistence, humility, and the daily ritual of creation. Study the greats, keep writing, and let your own voice emerge in time. That’s when you truly arrive as a songwriter.”
Ed Robertson delivered a humorous and heartfelt tribute to Andy Kim, underscoring Kim’s fearless reinvention and lasting contribution to pop music. “All I ever wanted to do was write songs, make records, and live a life bigger than my reality,” said Kim. “A guitar and a song—that’s all I ever needed. I’m humbled and honoured to be part of Canada’s musical story.”
The evening also featured a series of moving video tributes from musical luminaries honouring the inductees. Kiefer Sutherland, Alex Lifeson, Dee Snider, and Sebastian Bach reflected on Triumph’s lasting influence and artistry, while Michael Bublé and Burton Cummings shared their admiration for Gino Vannelli’s vocal mastery and songwriting legacy. Bryan Adams and Nile Rodgers paid heartfelt homage to Andy Kim’s pop brilliance, and Peter Gabriel offered a touching message in celebration of Jane Siberry’s creative vision and singular voice.
Performances throughout the night paired some of Canada’s most exciting contemporary and legendary artists with the inductees’ timeless classic songs. Montreal’s Clerel and RÊVE opened with Vannelli’s “Living Inside Myself,” while Alfie Zappacosta delivered a soulful rendition of “People Gotta Move”. Winnipeg folk singer Noah Derksen and rising star Sam Drysdale performed Ian Thomas’ hit “Painted Ladies”, followed by Thomas himself joining Rik Emmett and acclaimed musical director Lou Pomanti for “Right Before Your Eyes”. Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew delivered “Rock Me Gently” alongside Ed Robertson for Andy Kim, while Kirk Diamond and Kairo McLean delighted audiences with a reggae rendition of “Sugar, Sugar”. Housewife (Brighid Fry) performed a flawless version of Jane Siberry’s melodically ambitious “Mimi on the Beach,” followed by a stirring performance of “Calling All Angels” from singer songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk. The evening closed with JJ Wilde and Charlie Edward performing a high-voltage rendition of “Magic Power” and Rik Emmett reuniting with Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X for a powerhouse finale of “Lay It on the Line”.
“Songwriters shape the cultural soundtrack of our lives, yet too often their stories remain behind the scenes,” said Nick Fedor, Executive Director of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Honouring our songwriting greats in events like Legends isn’t just about looking back—it’s about giving their contributions the spotlight it has always deserved and inspiring the next generation to carry that legacy forward.”
The Toronto celebration also spotlighted the next generation of songwriters with the presentation of the 2025 Breakthrough Songwriter Award, supported by the SOCAN Foundation and Amazon Music. This year’s non-francophone recipient, Nemahsis, was honoured for her powerful songwriting and meteoric rise on the Canadian and international music scene.
The French language edition of Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 2025 Legends Induction Series will be held on November 17 at Montréal’s Espace St-Denis. The Montreal event will spotlight francophone and Indigenous voices, honouring François Cousineau, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Michel Pagliaro, and Florent Vollant. Tickets for the Montréal event are available through Espace St-Denis HERE.
With special thanks to our sponsors and partners: RBC, SOCAN, Hargraft Insurance, CMRRA, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Anthem Music Group, the Songwriters Association of Canada, the Lewitt Family Foundation, the Slaight Family Foundation, and e=mc² Productions for their invaluable support in helping us celebrate and champion Canadian songwriters through these meaningful programs and events.
For more information about the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, visit www.cshf.ca.
Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, and activist Alicia Keys announces the official launch of a new nonprofit organization inspired by her Tony Award-winning musical Hell’s Kitchen, Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation. Following successful pilot programming, the foundation recently appointed its inaugural Executive Director, Asad Ali Jafri, and is expanding its reach with a fellowship program in partnership with the Hell’s Kitchen North American tour and new education and community initiatives in New York and cities across the country.
“With Kaleidoscope Dreams, we’re creating something that makes people feel seen, heard, and inspired to believe in their own stories. We want people to know: you belong here, your dreams matter, and your voice has power,” Keys shares.
“Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation is rooted in the belief that creativity is a powerful force for connection, healing, and transformation. We’re proud to build programs that expand access to the arts and support communities that have long been left out of these opportunities. We’re creating spaces where dreams can take root and thrive,” adds Executive Director Asad Ali Jafri.
Born from the energy and impact of Keys’ hit Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen, Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation was founded in 2024 to open doors, spark dreams, and create space for joy — both on and off the stage. The Foundation collaborates with local communities to build and share multi-disciplinary arts programming designed to spark creative potential. By leveraging the transformative power of the arts, Kaleidoscope Dreams partners with community-based organizations to foster belonging, educational enrichment, and professional pathways for historically underrepresented communities.
Kaleidoscope Dreams Foundation’s core work is focused on four pillars of engagement, including cultural access that offers free and curated access to Broadway shows, museums, and other cultural events; educational enrichment that provides in-school arts education and classroom resources; professional pathways with fellowships, mentorship, internships, and creative training; and community engagement that includes fostering belonging, joy, and connection through neighborhood programs.
Since its founding in 2024, the foundation has successfully piloted programs and initiatives to achieve its mission that it will continue to build upon under Jafri’s leadership, including Hell’s Kitchen 2024 Fellowship with ten fellows trained in directing, choreography, music, design, and other production fields with the Hell’s Kitchen creative team; Cultural Access Program with 3,077 students received free tickets to see Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway; and Educational Enrichment Pilot where 183 students participated in immersive arts education programs.
To support this important work and remain responsive, bold, and future-focused, Kaleidoscope Dreams is an Innovation Fund with resources to pilot new ideas, test promising strategies, and address emerging needs within its current programs or in entirely new areas of opportunity.
Still riding high from their monumental Manchester Academy 3 headline earlier this year, The Maddocks are embarking on their biggest creative feat yet; the release of their striking new double A-Side single, “Sheela / Liminal”, on 17th October 2025.
The Maddocks, comprised of George Edwards (vocals & lead guitar), Siobhán Lally (bass), Ed Gibbins (drums), and Alex Tollerfield (rhythm guitar), have captivated audiences with their high octane live performances and unique sound. In just three years of playing together, the band already have two EPs under their belts, generating acclaim from the likes of Tim Burgess and John Kennedy, and have wowed crowds across the country at festivals and multiple sold-out headline shows. Marking a bold evolution in their sound, ‘Sheela / Liminal’ sees the quartet delve deeper into a genre-blending mix of indie-pop tones and post-punk edge, matched with evocative lyricism and rich visual storytelling.
Drawing lyrical inspiration from the Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country, ‘Sheela’ loosely explores the complex, controversial figure of Ma Anand Sheela and the surreal saga of the Rajneeshpuram cult. Through dreamy guitar riffs and melodic vocals, The Maddocks craft a portrait of manipulation, devotion, and power. ‘Liminal’ flips this as the protagonist starts to question everything around them, fuelled by urgent rhythms and an anthemic chorus. Together, the tracks act as a sonic diptych: a portrait of obsession on one side, and existential drift on the other.
Both songs were written, recorded, and produced by The Maddocks, and mastered by Nick Burchall. The release will be available on all major streaming platforms, with a limited run of 7″ vinyl available exclusively at live shows and select independent retailers in Stockport and Manchester.
To accompany the release, The Maddocks will also unveil a short film-style music video. Created and produced by the band in collaboration with a close-knit creative team, and directed by longtime friend Joel Wood, the film is aesthetically rich and narratively bold, offering a visual interpretation of the themes explored in the music, further cementing The Maddocks’ reputation for storytelling beyond the song. The band say:
“We always wanted this release to be really immersive, given the strong themes across the two tracks. The music video perfectly sums up how we imagined these songs to look, but we were eager to still leave the deeper meanings up to interpretation, with even the protagonist of the story being unsure what is and isn’t real within the world they find themselves in.”
The Maddocks will headline SOUP in Manchester on 29th November to celebrate the release of ‘Sheela / Liminal’.
With a voice that feels both tender and timeless, Lakelin Lemmings steps into the spotlight with her new single “Keep the Faith” – a soaring reminder to hold on when life feels uncertain. The West Tennessee native, praised by Country Evolution as “one of country music’s most promising new voices,” delivers a song that radiates warmth, courage, and conviction, wrapped in the kind of melody that lingers long after it ends.
Written by three-time GRAMMY winner Lori McKenna alongside hitmakers Phil Barton and Jaron Boyer, and produced by Ash Bowers, “Keep the Faith” builds from gentle acoustic strums to an anthemic burst of optimism. For Lakelin, the track’s message resonated immediately. “It spoke to my own Christian faith and my belief that when days are hard, you’ve just got to keep on praying, keep on believing and keep on going,” she says.
At only 19, Lakelin’s journey already reads like a modern Nashville fairy tale. She began performing at six, recording in the city by 12, and signed her first publishing deal at 17 before joining Stone Country Records this year. Along the way, she’s earned more than 120,000 TikTok followers and attention from Holler, who recently named her one of “10 Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know.”
Following the autobiographical singles “American Dreamin’” and “Parking Lot,” “Keep the Faith” marks another defining moment for the young artist – one grounded in resilience and belief. In a world spinning faster than ever, Lakelin’s message feels refreshingly simple: no matter what’s happening around us, faith still lights the way forward.
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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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