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John Butler Drops New Single “Trippin On You,” Announces U.S. Summer Tour with Dispatch, G. Love & More

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John Butler’s grasp of melody, soul and anthemic pop choruses have kept him on airwaves, top venues and festival stages around the globe for more than 20 years, and the American-Australian singer-songwriter and producer’s new single “Trippin On You,” out today, catapults us back to classic Butler goodness with fervor. “Trippin On You” hurtles towards us with echoes of his hits “Zebra” and “Better Man,” full of sunshine grooves and heart-on-sleeve reflections, not to mention a blazing refrain that is as hopeful as it is infectious.

Butler is an open book of self-reflection and integrity, always quick to share his learnings through storytelling and lace them with some deep-seated funk and string picking to sweeten the sermon. ​​”This song is about relationships, work and internal narratives,” he explains. “I’m struck that ALL good things in my life need work to maintain their goodness. Mental health, marriage, business relationships, a garden, a clean room, trust and reliability etc. They all need us to turn up. They all deserve our best selves.”

Video director Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore has brought the song to life visually, showing the struggle of a couple’s relationship. The quintessentially Australian setting is mixed with a touch of Pueblo’s New Mexico – a nod to Butler’s American and Australian upbringing – and was filmed over a weekend in Tylden Victoria.

Recorded solely by Butler and his co-producer James Ireland in Fremantle, “Trippin On You” is a full-bodied mantra, overflowing with radio-friendly vibes and a windows-down life force. The single will be featured on a forthcoming studio album, the third season of a new creative endeavor entitled Four Seasons: a four-album cycle that Butler began releasing in 2024. The Four Seasons represent a period of uncertainty that ultimately took Butler back to his instrumental work to start to rebuild.

As prolific as he is righteous, Butler is a multi-faceted artist, activist and icon of roots-inspired alternative rock, who is widely celebrated for his epic guitar instrumentals and pedal board wizardry.

With a newly assembled band featuring original John Butler Trio drummer Michael Barker, alongside Michael Boase (percussion) and Ian Peres (bass/keys), Butler is set to bring “Trippin On You” and beyond on an extensive tour across the U.S. this summer, playing alongside Dispatch, G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter and Illiterate Light. See below for the full itinerary, and purchase tickets here.

TOUR DATES:

May 31, 2025 The Basement East – Nashville, TN

un 1, 2025 The Basement East – Nashville, TN

Jun 3, 2025 The St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL +

Jun 5, 2025 Coca-Cola Roxy – Atlanta, GA +

Jun 6, 2025 Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre – Charlotte, NC +

Jun 7, 2025 Red Hat Amphitheater – Raleigh, NC +

Jun 8, 2025 Live Oak Bank Pavilion – Wilmington, NC +

Jun 10, 2025 Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront – Richmond, VA +

Jun 12, 2025 The Dome – Virginia Beach, VA +

Jun 13, 2025 Firefly Distillery – North Charleston, SC +

Jun 14, 2025 Asheville Yards Amphitheater – Asheville, NC +

Jun 17, 2025 The Andrew J Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH +

Jun 18, 2025 Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park – Indianapolis, IN +

Jun 19-21, 2025 Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI

Jun 21, 2025 Ravinia Festival – Highland Park, IL +

Jun 22, 2025 Surly Brewing Festival Field – Minneapolis, MN *

Jun 24, 2025 Saint Louis Music Park – Maryland Heights, MO +

Jun 26, 2025 Meadow Brook Amphitheatre – Detroit, MI +

Jun 27, 2025 Evans Amphitheater – Cain Park – Cleveland Heights, OH +

Jun 28, 2025 The Met – Philadelphia, PA +

Jun 29, 2025 Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater – Bridgeport, CT +

Jul 1, 2025 The Rooftop at Pier 17 – New York, NY +

Jul 3, 2025 Thompson’s Point – Portland, ME +

Jul 4, 2025 Stone Pony Summer Stage – Asbury Park, NJ +

Jul 5, 2025 Wolf Trap – Vienna, VA +

Jul 24, 2025 Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Amphitheater – San Diego, CA +

Jul 25, 2025 The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, NV +

Jul 26, 2025 The Pacific Amphitheatre – Costa Mesa, CA +

Jul 27, 2025 The Masonic – San Francisco, CA +

Jul 28, 2025 Revolution Hall – Portland, OR

Jul 31, 2025 Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR +

Aug 1, 2025 Marymoor Live – Redmond, WA +

Aug 2, 2025 The Festival at Sandpoint – Sandpoint, ID +

Aug 3, 2025 KettleHouse Amphitheater – Bonner, MT +

Aug 5, 2025 Venue TBA – Salt Lake City, UT +

Aug 7, 2025 Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO *

Aug 8, 2025 Dillon Amphitheater – Dillon, CO *

* Dispatch, Donavon Frankenreiter and Illiterate Light

+ Dispatch, G. Love & Special Sauce and Donavon Frankenreiter

Caamp Announces New Album ‘Copper Changes Color’ And Massive 2025 U.S. Tour

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Today, Ohio-based alternative-folk band, Caamp, announces Copper Changes Color, its highly anticipated fifth studio album, set to release on Friday, June 6th, 2025 via Mom+Pop Music. The 11-track album, which marks their first full-length release in three years, was written, performed, and produced by the band, with recording and co-production by GRAMMY-winning collaborators Beatriz Artola (Fleet Foxes, Adele, Sharon van Etten) and Tucker Martine (Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, R.E.M.).

Caamp has long been celebrated for its intricate, heartfelt sound, and Copper Changes Color sees the band deepening its musical exploration with a more refined and expansive approach. Recorded over two years in various studios across the U.S. — including Sonic Ranch (Tornillo, TX), Sear Sound (New York, NY), and Flora Recording (Portland, OR) — the album captures the band’s distinctive style while exploring the transformative personal experiences of the past few years.

Frontman and primary songwriter Taylor Meier drew inspiration from the weathering and distinct patina of copper as a powerful metaphor for the changes we experience in life. As Meier shares, “Take your rings off and wash your hands. Wrap something tightly in newspaper; give it away. Water is running, and Copper Changes Color.” The result is an album brimming with rich, evocative storytelling and a sound that balances warmth and depth with an openness to new creative territory.

The band is offering a taste of the new album with their first single, “Drive,” out tonight at midnight everywhere. Described by Meier as “kind of a spirit song for the record and new era. It’s like the carabiner clipped to your jeans in high school; it sticks with you.” “Drive” is a smooth, sweeping track featuring Meier’s raw, emotive vocals. It’s a delicate introduction to the album, showcasing the band’s growth while remaining rooted in the intimate, introspective qualities their fans have come to love.

Caamp’s latest single, the charming “Let Things Go” (off the four-track Somewhere EP released in February) currently sits Top 10 on Mediabase’s AAA chart and on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart.

Caamp is gearing up for an extensive United States tour to support Copper Changes Color. Kicking off on May 29th in Austin, TX, the tour will hit 25 cities across the country, including multiple nights at iconic venues like New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, Chicago’s Salt Shed, and Boston’s MGM Music Hall. With many shows already sold out, demand for tickets is high. More information and remaining tickets are available here: https://www.caamptheband.com/

Having first emerged in 2016 with the release of their first, self-titled album, the band – made up of Meier alongside multi-instrumentalist co-founder, Evan Westfall and Matt Vinson (bass), Joseph Kavalec (keys) and Nicholas Falk (drums) – quickly established their status amongst a new elite of bands pushing at the possibilities of alt-folk and finding a global audience.

Following up with three additional albums, Boys (2018), By & By (2019) and Lavender Days (2022), critical and audience acclaim for the band’s progressive songcraft has cemented their reputation as one of the leading voices in the modern folk-rock scene and come hand-in-hand with their popularity as a live phenomenon. Furthermore, the band has amassed more than 2.5 billion streams worldwide to date.

Caamp’s 2022 album Lavender Days was featured on NPR’s “The Best Roots Music of 2022” list and earned praise from Relix, The Bluegrass Situation, SPIN, and more — with SPIN calling the band “the Midwest’s latest folk-rock sensation.” They have appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBS Saturday Morning and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and charted multiple #1’s at AAA and Americana radio.

Copper Changes Color Tracklist:
Millions
One True Way ft. Madi Diaz
Brush
Porchswing
Fairview Feeling
Shade
Waiting Up (For You)
Mistakes
Ohio’s Ugly
Living & Dying & In Between
Drive

Caamp 2025 Tour Dates:
May 29 | Moody Amphitheater | Austin, TX*
May 30 | 713 Music Hall | Houston, TX*
June 1 | The Bomb Factory | Dallas, TX*
June 3 | Stifel Theatre | St. Louis, MO SOLD OUT*
June 5 | The Salt Shed | Chicago, IL – SOLD OUT*
June 6 | The Salt Shed | Chicago, IL – SOLD OUT*
June 8 | Surly Brewing Festival Field | Minneapolis, MN – SOLD OUT*
June 12 | Jacobs Pavilion | Cleveland, OH – SOLD OUT+
June 14 | MGM Music Hall at Fenway | Boston, MA – SOLD OUT+
June 15 | MGM Music Hall at Fenway | Boston, MA – SOLD OUT+
June 18 | Westville Music Bowl | New Haven, CT+
June 20 | The Anthem | Washington, DC – SOLD OUT+
June 21 | The Anthem | Washington, DC+
July 16 | The Greek Theatre | Los Angeles, CA+
July 18 | Santa Barbara Bowl | Santa Barbara, CA+
July 19 | The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley | Berkeley, CA+
July 22 | Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre | Nampa, ID+
July 24 | Granary Live | Salt Lake City, UT+
July 26 | Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre | Greenwood Village, CO – SOLD OUT+
July 29 | Big Sky Brewing Amphitheatre | Missoula, MT~
Aug. 1 | Dune Peninsula | Tacoma, WA~
Aug. 2 | Hayden Homes Amphitheater | Bend, OR~
Aug. 26 | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | St. Augustine, FL#
Aug. 28 | Asheville Yards | Asheville, NC#
Aug. 30 | Red Hat Amphitheater | Raleigh, NC – SOLD OUT#
Aug. 31 | Live Oak Bank Pavilion | Wilmington, NC#
Sept. 4 | Ascend Amphitheater | Nashville, TN – SOLD OUT^
Sept. 5 | Fox Theatre | Atlanta, GA^
Sept. 7 | Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre | Charlotte, NC – SOLD OUT^
Sept. 10 | Skyline Stage at the Mann | Philadelphia, PA^
Sept. 12 | Radio City Music Hall | New York, NY – SOLD OUT%
Sept. 13 | Radio City Music Hall | New York, NY – SOLD OUT
* denotes Blind Pilot as direct support
+ denotes Whitney as direct support
~ denotes Futurebirds as direct support
# denotes Fruition as direct support
^ denotes Atta Boy as direct support
% denotes Madi Diaz as direct support

Trixie Mattel and VINCINT Team Up for Fiery “Supermodel” Cover Ahead of Coachella DJ Set

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Today, drag legend, music icon and live performance extraordinaire Trixie Mattel has announced a fiery cover of RuPaul’s iconic smash hit “Supermodel (You Better Work)”, a collaboration with pop music innovator VINCINT which will drop April 11 via PEG Records. Pre-save it here.

Of the collaboration, Trixie says “On top of this song being one of the best to get the gays losing their minds on the dancefloor, I feel a special personal connection to both it and RuPaul for obvious reasons. And to bring it to life with VINCINT? Bitch, it’s so on. All my respect to the icon VINCINT and the legend RuPaul.”

The collab will drop on DSPs shortly before Trixie & VINCINT bring it to life at Coachella’s first weekend as part of Trixie’s forthcoming DJ set at The Do Lab on April 12.

“Supermodel is such an iconic song to be covering. RuPaul is such an honor. I’m so excited about it,” said VINCINT. “I ran into Trixie backstage at the OUT 100. I had just gotten off stage and she was running to DJ and ran the idea by me. I thought it was the most incredible thing and I thought why not, and from the first bounce we got from the studio, I was in love with it. I’m still in love with it! I’m so excited to be performing it with her at Coachella. I’m so excited for the world to hear it.”

The DJ set falls in the middle of Trixie’s global 2025 Solid Pink Disco tour. Wear pink, pop on your best blonde wig, and get ready to party! Trixie shared “This year’s iteration of my worldwide dancerie Solid Pink Disco will be more solid, more pink, and more disco. At a time where the world needs to party in the face of the patriarchy, we WILL be putting on cheap wigs and spinning around to Diana Ross, okay darling?”

The Solid Pink Disco show has become a massive success for the drag superstar, having touched down across the globe, and further cementing Trixie’s living legacy as one of the most exciting, eclectic artists currently in the pop culture zeitgeist. Whether it’s from her crowning run on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3, her massively successful product launches via Trixie Cosmetics, her acclaimed Billboard-charting original music, award-winning podcasting, web content creation, or New York Times Best-Selling books, Trixie has proven herself to be a multi-faceted talent with limitless ability.

Bon Iver Announces Early Album Listening Events, Taking Place in Outdoor Spaces Around The Globe

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Bon Iver‘s new album, SABLE, fABLE, arrives this Friday, April 11th, but with the announcement of a global series of location-specific listening events, fans will be able to hear the entire record early. Taking place from 4PM-7PM local time this Wednesday, April 9th, fABLE sPACEs builds upon the community-driven listening experiences of 22, A Million‘s mural-based boombox gatherings, and i,i‘s record store and photobooth events. Now, six years since the last Bon Iver album, fABLE sPACEs brings SABLE, fABLE to dozens of scenic, outdoor settings chosen by the band and fans. Utilizing location-based technology and crowd-sourcing, listeners will arrive at one of the geographically-defined destinations, and unlock a full preview of SABLE, fABLE via their smartphones. With the album playing on repeat for those three hours, fABLE sPACEs aims to foster shared moments within a personal listening experience, mirroring SABLE, fABLE‘s shift from isolation to connection.

Find the full list of fABLE sPACEs locations here.

Additionally, following the release of SABLE, fABLE, Bon Iver will celebrate the album at Live Inside This State Fair. Announced today, with the RSVP going live at 10am PDT on Tuesday, April 8th, the event will take place this Saturday, April 12th, at Los Angeles multipurpose sports facility and community center, Terasaki Budokan. Live Inside This State Fair features entertainment festivities curated by Justin Vernon and friends, who will also compete in the three-game basketball tournament of SABLES vs. fABLES. Running from 3PM-7PM, Live Inside This State Fair is free on a first-come, first-entry basis, with RSVP HERE. Events include:

  • Basketball: three-game tournament between two teams, SABLES vs. fABLES.
  • Hrrrbek Photo Studio: Hrrrbek is the “Fashion” brand started by Justin Vernon and Trever Hagen over 10 years ago. Racks and racks of pieces will be on display and for sale, plus a photoshoot on-site by Graham Tolbert for attendees that want to try on the new season.
  • Fun Raffle Helping People: Raffle for various album-related prizes, with prizes benefitting Bon Iver’s gender equity and anti-domestic violence campaign, 2 A Billion.
  • Art: Pieces from Graham Tolbert & Eric Timothy Carlson on display and for sale.
  • Pop-A-Shot: A fun SABLE, fABLE-themed hoops game.
  • Records: Pop-up shop from Going Underground Records, selling SABLE, fABLE. Copies of the limited edition companion zine with purchase while supplies last.
  • Food & Drink: Including Fishwife, Canyon Coffee.

Bon Iver will have more collaborations and special partnerships to launch in tandem with the album this week, further expanding the salmon-colored world of SABLE, fABLE. Stay tuned.

Terasaki Budokan is a multipurpose sports facility and community center in Little Tokyo. The culmination of a 30 year dream and development process by Little Tokyo Service Center, Budokan provides much needed community space and programming for youth, families and seniors in downtown Los Angeles. Budokan aims to connect visitors to Japanese American culture and contribute to a vibrant, sustainable Little Tokyo.

2 A Billion is a campaign created by Bon Iver to raise support, awareness, and person-to-person connections in an effort to end gender inequality, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.

John Crist Announces Over 25 Cities In Fall Leg Of ‘Jokes For Humans Tour’

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John Crist has been a mainstay on Pollstar’s Top 10 Global Touring Comedians chart, and following a nearly sold-out Spring run, he’s bringing the laughs to audiences in 25+ additional cities across the country with his ‘Jokes For Humans’ Fall Tour, which kicks off in Grand Rapids, MI on Friday, September 19th.

Artist pre-sale begins tomorrow, Wednesday, April 2nd at 10 AM local time, with all other pre-sales kicking off Thursday, April 3rd at 10 AM local time. General on-sale begins Friday, April 4th at 10 AM local time, and tickets can be purchased here: johncristcomedy.com.

Earlier this year, Crist released ‘John Crist: Emotional Support,’ which has been viewed more than 2.3 million times on YouTube, and more than 20 million views across social clips, since February.

Crist has more than 7.5 million combined followers due to his tastefully unhinged, yet clean, comedic takes on pop culture, offering his spoofs on family group texts, strict upbringings, sports culture and more. He recently made appearances on Good Morning America, SHERRI Show, ESPN’s College GameDay and more.

John Crist ‘Jokes For Humans Tour’ Dates:
Fri., Apr. 11 | Orpheum Theater | Omaha, NE
Sat., Apr. 12 | Orpheum Theatre | Wichita, KS
Sun., Apr. 13 | Tulsa Theater | Tulsa, OK
Thurs., Apr. 17 | Safe Credit Union PAC | Sacramento, CA
Fri., Apr. 18 | Saroyan Theatre | Fresno, CA
Fri., Apr. 19 | Balboa Theatre | San Diego, CA
Fri., Apr. 25 | Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall | Fort Myers, FL
Sat., Apr. 26 | Tampa Theatre | Tampa, FL*
Sun., Apr. 27 | Saenger Theatre | Pensacola, FL*
Thurs., May 1 | Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall | Sarasota, FL
Fri., May 2 | Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC
Sat., May 3 | Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC
Sun., May 4 | Dominion Energy Center | Richmond, VA
Fri., May 9 | The Criterion | Oklahoma City, OK
Sat., May 10 | The Strand Theatre | Shreveport, LA
Sun., May 11 | Saenger Theatre | Hattiesburg, MS*
Fri., Sept. 19 | DeVos Hall | Grand Rapids, MI
Sat., Sept. 20 | Embassy Theatre | Ft. Wayne, IN
Sun., Sept. 21 | Carson Center | Paducah, KY
Fri., Sept. 26 | North Charleston Performing Arts Center | Charleston, SC
Sat., Sept. 27 | Macon City Auditorium | Macon, GA
Sun., Sept. 28 | Anderson Music Hall | Hiawassee, GA
Thurs., Oct. 2 | Old National Events Plaza | Evansville, IN
Fri., Oct. 3 | Victoria Theatre | Dayton, OH
Sat., Oct. 4 | Peoria Civic Center Theatre | Peoria, IL
Sun., Oct. 5 | KY Center for the Arts | Louisville, KY
Fri., Oct. 10 | Knoxville Civic Auditorium | Knoxville, TN
Sat., Oct. 11 | Peace Center | Greenville, SC
Thurs., Oct. 16 | Strand Theatre | York, PA
Fri., Oct. 17 | Fisher Theatre | Detroit, MI
Sat., Oct. 18 | Connor Palace | Cleveland, OH
Fri., Oct. 24 | Alabama Theatre | Birmingham, AL
Sat., Oct. 25 | Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium | Chattanooga, TN
Fri., Nov. 7 | Morrison Center for the Performing Arts | Boise, ID
Sat., Nov. 8 | First Interstate Center for the Arts | Spokane, WA
Thurs., Nov. 20 | Abilene Convention Center Auditorium | Abilene, TX
Fri., Nov. 21 | Tobin Center for the Performing Arts | San Antonio, TX
Sat., Nov. 22 | UT Tyler Cowan Center | Tyler, TX
Sun., Nov. 23 | ACL Live at the Moddy Theatre | Austin, TX
Fri., Dec. 5 | Celebrity Theatre | Phoenix, AZ
Sat., Dec. 6 | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts | Santa Rosa, CA
Sun., Dec. 7 | Redding Civic Center | Redding, CA
Thurs., Dec. 11 | Morris Performing Arts Center | South Bend, IN
Fri., Dec. 12 | Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall | Munhall, PA
Sat., Dec. 13 | Summit Arena | Johnstown, PA *
Sun., Dec. 14 | UB Center for the Arts | Buffalo, NY
+ denotes two shows that day
* denotes show on-sale April 11th

Post Malone Gets Toasted in Stop-Motion Masterpiece by Rudy Willingham

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Seattle-based artist Rudy Willingham has turned breakfast into a banger with his stop-motion short Toast Malone, featuring 133 slices of toast syncing to Post Malone’s hit “Circles.” The creative tribute is both hilarious and oddly hypnotic, as Post gets rendered crumb by crumb.

Benedict Cumberbatch Reading Rik Mayall’s Letter to Bob Geldof Was Funnier Than Most Comedy Scripts

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The day after filming the iconic 1984 Band Aid video, Rik Mayall of The Young Ones wrote a hilariously furious letter to Bob Geldof—and now Benedict Cumberbatch brings it to animated life. With biting snark and perfect comic timing, Mayall vented his comedic frustration after being left on the sidelines. It’s as punk as the charity single was pop.

The Closure of Music Venues Across North America Is Changing the Cultural Landscape

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Music venues are more than just places to hear songs performed. They are cultural touchstones, gathering spaces, and launchpads for the next generation of artists. Across North America, their numbers are dwindling as economic pressure and social change make it harder for them to survive. Each closure marks the loss of a space that helped define a city’s identity, and the reasons behind this trend speak to much larger shifts in urban life.

1. Rents Keep Rising While Ticket Prices Stay Stagnant
Commercial landlords continue to raise lease rates across major cities, placing intense pressure on independent venues. Many operate on slim profit margins and rely on a delicate balance between bar revenue and nightly ticket sales. Rent hikes quickly outpace the venue’s ability to earn more from their audiences. Ticket prices rarely keep pace with inflation, and customers already weigh every dollar spent. As lease agreements expire, venue owners face hard choices without sustainable options.

2. Audiences Attend Fewer Shows Than Before the Pandemic
Patterns of behavior have shifted significantly over the past few years. Even the most passionate fans go out less frequently. Some prefer small gatherings at home, while others hesitate to navigate busy nightlife districts. The routine of regularly seeing live music has been interrupted. Venues that once counted on steady weekly traffic now face uneven turnout, making it difficult to book diverse lineups and cover operational costs.

3. Alcohol Sales No Longer Carry the Business
Historically, the bar subsidized the band. Venue operators could afford to host emerging acts or riskier bookings because drink sales helped cover costs. Today, consumers spend less at the bar, and liquor licenses are more expensive. With increased focus on wellness, younger audiences often skip alcohol entirely. Combined with tighter margins and higher taxes, the economic model that supported live shows through bar sales has started to unravel.

4. Development Prioritizes Condos Over Culture
City planning rarely protects grassroots cultural spaces. When developers pitch new projects, music venues are rarely part of the blueprint. Condos and retail chains generate higher tax revenues and attract large-scale investment. Without zoning protection or heritage status, historic venues are vulnerable to demolition or eviction. What replaces them rarely serves the same purpose. The absence of these rooms leaves a cultural vacuum that reshapes entire neighborhoods.

5. The Stages Competes With Screens Everywhere
City planning rarely protects grasThe entertainment landscape has shifted in ways that make live music one of many options rather than the central one. At home, people can choose between streaming concerts on YouTube, watching prestige TV on Netflix, or diving into immersive multiplayer video games. These experiences offer comfort, convenience, and control — no lineups, no transit, no late nights. For some, a subscription or new controller feels like a better investment than a single evening out. Venues are now in competition not just with each other, but with entire industries built on staying in. The thrill of live music remains unmatched, but it now has to fight harder for attention and time.

6. The next generation of musicians is building their stage online
Emerging artists are crafting careers from their bedrooms, going viral on TikTok, and growing massive followings without ever stepping on a physical stage. The hustle now lives on phones, not in the back of a van chasing shows across provinces and states. Labels, fans, and even brands discover talent through algorithms instead of opening acts. With digital fame often more immediate—and lucrative—than the grind of touring, many new musicians are skipping the live circuit altogether. The culture of gigging as a rite of passage is shifting, and it’s reshaping the ecosystem for local venues. The stage still matters, but the screen is pulling rank.

Every shuttered venue erases a chapter of musical history and narrows the future of live performance. Preserving these spaces requires more than nostalgia — it demands policy changes, community investment, and a recognition that culture must be nurtured, not just consumed. The cities that value music as a public good will be the ones that keep the lights on and the amps plugged in.

Helix Celebrates 50 Years With Best Of Album

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Crown X Recordings, Canada’s premier re-issue label, proudly announces the release of Helix 50 – The Best Of, a career-spanning collection celebrating five decades of one of Canada’s most legendary hard rock bands. The compilation features an all-star re-recording of Helix’s multi-platinum hit “Rock You,” alongside international chart-toppers from their major label debut, No Rest For The Wicked (1983), through to Vagabond Bones (2009). An all-new track complete the circle. Using cutting-edge audio technology, every track has been expertly remastered for both CD and vinyl at Iguana Recording Studios in Toronto, ON for a new sonic experience.

Helix’s newest studio track “Stand Up” is released on all streaming platforms Friday, May 18. Followed by a Friday, May 2 streaming and video release of the all-star recording of “Rock You”, featuring founding vocalist Brian Vollmer and longtime bassist Daryl Gray, along with special guests Phil X (Bon Jovi), Brent Fitz (Slash), and Todd Kerns (Slash). The track will be available for streaming in both stereo and Dolby Atmos.

Helix 50 – The Best Of is a definitive collection including the classic remastered hits “Heavy Metal Love,” “Deep Cuts The Knife,” “Wild In The Streets, “Running Wild In The 21st Century,” “Good To The Last Drop (Radio Version)” and “Animal Inside.” Additionally, unplugged versions of “(Make Me Do) Anything You Want,” “The Kids Are All Shakin,’” and  “Dream On” have been remixed for a fresh, updated sound. Released in both CD and LP format, the CD version includes the bonus tracks “That Day Is Gonna Come,” “Sleeping’ In The Dog House Again,” featuring Kim Mitchell, and “Look Me Straight In The Heart,” a duet with Lee Aaron.

Fans will be able to order a Deluxe Signed Bundle exclusively through the band’s webstore at rockpapermerch.com/collections/helix starting Wednesday, May 21. This edition is limited to 300 units and comes in a special gatefold format that holds both the CD and 180g marble color vinyl. This hand signed bundle also includes a record slip mat, a Helix 50 guitar pick and a Helix 50 can koozie.

Standard single CD and LP versions will be available in retail stores this July.

The band will release Helix 50 – The Best Of  with a special unplugged show on Wednesday, May 21, as part of the McBowl Concert Series, an annual charity event in Mississauga, ON. Brian Vollmer and Daryl Gray will be joined by former Helix guitarist Sean Kelly, who will also host a retrospective discussion on the band’s history. Before the performance, Vollmer will launch Helix 50 – The Best Of via a live-stream event, sharing stories from the band’s iconic career.

For McBowl Concert Series tickets: www.classicbowl.com/concerts/mcbowl

Helix was formed in 1974 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. In 1976, the twin-guitar attack of Brent “The Doctor” Doerner and Paul Hackman joined the band, helping shape the group’s signature sound. After releasing two independent albums, Helix signed with Capitol Records, launching their major-label career with No Rest for the Wicked (1983), featuring the breakout hit “Heavy Metal Love.” The band gained further international success with Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge (1984), driven by their iconic anthem “Rock You,” which received major MTV airplay, along with a controversial X-rated version of the video.

Throughout the 1980s, Helix continued to release acclaimed albums and tour worldwide, sharing stages with KISS, Alice Cooper, Motorhead and Ian Gillan. Despite the tragic loss of guitarist Paul Hackman in 1992, Brian Vollmer carried the Helix torch forward, working with various top-tier musicians, including members of Brighton Rock, Killer Dwarfs, Harem Scarem, and Crash Kelly.

Helix’s legacy was further cemented in 2003 when they were humorously featured in an episode of the Trailer Park Boys television show sparking renewed interest in their music. In 2005, Vollmer release the book Gimme An R!, documenting his life on the road and in the studio. In 2010, Vollmer released Smash Hits…Unplugged, an acoustic reimagining of Helix classics, some of which are now featured on this latest compilation.

Today, Helix continues to tour and record, with Helix 50 – The Best Of serving as a monument to their enduring legacy.

HELIX 50 – THE BEST OF :

Rock You (2025)
Heavy Metal Love (2025 Remastered)
Deep Cuts The Knife (2025 Remastered)
Wild In The Streets (2025 Remastered)
Running Wild In The 21st Century (2025 Remastered)
(Make Me Do) Anything You Want (2025 Unplugged)
The Kids Are All Shakin’ (2025 Unplugged)
Animal Inside (2025 Remastered)
Good To The Last Drop (Radio Version)
Stand Up (2025 Remastered)
Dream On (2025 Unplugged)

ADDITIONAL CD BONUS TRACKS
That Day Is Gonna Come
Sleepin’ in the Dog House Again
Look Me Straight In The Heart

LCD Soundsystem Adds 13 New Dates to 2025 Tour with TV On The Radio and Pulp

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LCD Soundsystem has added 13 shows to the band’s 2025 North American run. The new LCD headline dates will begin with an August 7-8 two-night stand at Seattle’s Remlinger Farms, with stops including Bend, OR August 9-10, Salt Lake City August 12, Red Rocks in Morrison, CO August 13, Milwaukee August 15-16, Columbus August 17, St, Louis August 19, and Detroit August 21 before concluding August 22-23 in Toronto.

TV On The Radio will support in Seattle, Bend, and at Red Rocks.

Tickets for the new shows will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 18 at 10am local time. Register now at www.lcdsoundsystem.com for first access to tickets before the artist presale goes live Wednesday, April 16 at 10am local time.

LCD Soundsystem is James Murphy, Pat Mahoney, Nancy Whang, Al Doyle, Tyler Pope, Korey Richey, Nick Millhiser and Abby Echeverri.

LCD Soundsystem North American Tour 2025

April 22 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 23 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 24 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
April 26 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
April 27 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
April 30 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
May 1 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
May 3 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
May 4 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
August 7 – Seattle, WA – Remlinger Farms *
August 8 – Seattle, WA – Remlinger Farms *
August 9 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
August 10 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
August 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Sandy Amphitheater
August 13 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
August 15 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave / Eagles Club
August 16 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave / Eagles Club
August 17 – Columbus, OH – Kemba Live! Outdoor
August 19 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
August 21 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre
August 22 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
August 23 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
September 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl **
September 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl **

* TV On The Radio supports
** co-headline with Pulp