Lifestyle audio brand Skullcandy continues to expand its team of notables in the surf, snowboard, and skateboarding landscape with the addition of a new brand ambassador, the legendary skateboarder and cultural icon, Tony Hawk. Hawk joins a stacked team of skateboarders, including Andrew Reynolds, Nora Vasconcellos and Louie Lopez. His authentic connection to music, skate culture, and community makes him a perfect fit for Skullcandy’s fearless and forward-thinking brand ethos.
Tony Hawk’s accomplishments on and off his skateboard have helped to make him one of the most recognizable figures in skateboarding and pop culture. He has pioneered the creation of more than 80 tricks in vert skateboarding, including the legendary 900. His Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game series, first launched in 1999, has exposed countless people to skateboarding, creating a new path for fans to participate in Skate. His charitable foundation, The Skatepark Project (formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation), has awarded over $13 million in grants to over 660 skatepark projects throughout the United States. From revolutionizing vert skating to shaping generations through his video games, nonprofit work, and popular podcast “Hawk vs Wolf,” Tony continues to push boundaries and inspire progression on and off the board.
“Welcoming Tony to the Skullcandy family is the latest example of how we’re strengthening our authentic connection to skateboarding and adjacent cultures,” said Justin Regan, VP of Brand at Skullcandy. “Tony represents everything Skullcandy stands for—fearless expression, lasting impact, and love for the lifestyle. He’s not just a pro skater—he’s a movement. And that movement has always had a soundtrack.”
Hawk’s passion for music has been a lifelong thread in his story—whether it’s the punk tracks that fueled early contest runs or the playlists he curates today. A longtime fan and customer of Skullcandy, Tony has been purchasing headphones and earbuds for himself and his family for over two decades.
“I’ve always appreciated Skullcandy’s commitment to the skate community, music, and doing things their own way,” said Hawk. “I’ve used their products for years and am excited to officially partner with a brand that aligns with my culture and values.”
Stay tuned for exclusive content, product drops, and campaign collaborations with Tony Hawk as Skullcandy continues to redefine what it means to be a lifestyle audio brand rooted in board sports and creative self-expression. Among other activations, Hawk will be featured prominently in an upcoming campaign set to launch on April 15th, 2025.
Martin Guitar is celebrating 30 years of collaboration with Eric Clapton with the release of two special anniversary guitars—the 000-42EC 30th Anniversary and the 000-EC 30th Anniversary.
Eric’s legendary 1992 MTV Unplugged performance sparked a resurgence in acoustic music and inspired the creation of Martin’s first Eric Clapton signature model, the 000-42EC, in 1995. Over the past three decades, his partnership with Martin has produced some of the most sought-after signature guitars in the company’s history.
000-42EC 30th Anniversary
Inspired by the 1939 000-42 he played during Unplugged, the 000-42EC 30th Anniversary is limited to just 300 instruments. It features a solid Adirondack spruce top with antique toner and solid Guatemalan rosewood back and sides for rich, vintage-inspired tone. Golden Era-inspired Adirondack spruce X-bracing enhances resonance and projection, while the Authentic 1939 neck shape with a 1 11/16″ nut width provides a comfortable, pre-war feel.
Details like Golden Era 42-style snowflake inlays, Waverly open-gear tuners, and a vintage gloss finish complete the look. Each guitar includes a paper label hand-signed by Eric, a printed certificate of authenticity, and a premium embroidered Harptone case with a matching shroud exclusive to this model.
000-EC 30th Anniversary
For players seeking a more understated nod to Eric’s sound, the 000-EC 30th Anniversary is available only through March 2026. It features a solid spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for a balanced, resonant tone. The same Authentic 1939 neck shape and 1 11/16″ nut width provide a comfortable feel, while the herringbone-trimmed top, antique white binding, and Golden Era 42-style snowflake inlays deliver a refined look.
Each 000-EC 30th Anniversary guitar includes a paper label with Eric’s pre-printed signature and a certificate of authenticity. It also comes in a premium embroidered case.
A Legacy of Excellence
Eric’s relationship with Martin began in 1995 with the introduction of the original 000-42EC, which sold out almost immediately. The 000-28EC, introduced in 1996, remains one of Martin’s best-selling models. Over the years, he and Martin have collaborated on a range of limited editions, most recently a trio of Dreadnoughts released in 2023 to benefit the Crossroads Centre, the addiction recovery center he founded in 1998.
In addition to his signature guitars, Eric also personally endorses Clapton’s Choice Signature Strings—his go-to acoustic strings for both stage and studio. Designed to resist corrosion and deliver the legendary sound he demands, they’re available in light and medium gauges.
“If I could choose what to come back as, it would be a Martin OM-45,” Eric has said, underscoring his deep connection to Martin guitars and their enduring sound.
Learn more about these guitars and other new Martin guitars, strings, accessories, lifestyle products, and parts at martinguitar.com
Electrolit, the scientifically formulated hydration beverage trusted by athletes and wellness enthusiasts alike, is bringing run club culture to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2025. Debuting the Electrolit Campground 5K, the fourth-ranked sports drink in the U.S. is now offering festival-goers a chance to keep active before the headliners take the stage.
Starting at 8:00 AM PST on both Saturdays of Coachella weekends, participants will join the founder of the Electrolit-backed Venice Run Club for a fun, community-driven 5K through the Coachella campgrounds. The event brings hydration and wellness to the festival circuit, celebrating the growing connection between run club culture and the festival lifestyle. It’s a 5K for everyone – no stress, no time clock – just a group of like-minded individuals coming together to get moving, stay hydrated, and set the tone for a weekend full of fun.
“The Coachella crowd is unlike any other,” said Justin Shields, Founder of Venice Run Club. “It’s a blend of people who are here for the music, the art, and the culture. And now, they’re embracing wellness in a big way. With the Electrolit Festival 5K, we’re adding an element that’s been missing – fitness and hydration, in a space that’s already about living in the moment. Venice Run Club is excited to work with Electrolit as they push the boundaries of wellness at festivals, and we’re glad to be part of that shift.”
Electrolit will keep participants fueled with its electrolyte-packed beverages, ensuring festival-goers are ready to dive straight into the festival action—whether they’re dancing in the crowd, soaking in the sights, or enjoying Electrolit’s hydration at its art-forward installation on Coachella’s festival grounds.
HOT 97, New York’s #1 station for Hip Hop, is again turning up the heat with Summer Jam 2025, the ultimate one-night-only celebration of the culture. Produced by The Black Promoters Collective and part of the Prudential North to Shore Festival, the biggest names in Hip Hop will take the stage on Friday, June 20, 2025, live from Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
As the largest Hip Hop concert in the U.S., Summer Jam is more than just a show — it’s a movement. This year’s stacked lineup is led by chart-topping stars A Boogie, Gunna, GloRilla, Muni Long, Asake, Ayra Starr, Ja Rule and Friends A Tribute to Irv Gotti with must-see performances from Kash Doll, Bobby Konders & Jabba ft. Masicka, Jim Jones & Friends, Cash Cobain, 41 (Kyle Rich, Jenn Carter, Tata), and more.
Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster.com. The artist lineup is subject to change.
“Summer Jam is the pinnacle of Hip Hop culture, and we’re honored to bring this electrifying experience to fans once again. This year’s lineup is a testament to the genre’s evolution, featuring both chart-topping superstars and rising talent who are shaping the future of Hip Hop,” says Shelby Joyner, Founder of SJ Presents and President of The Black Promoters Collective.
As HOT 97 continues to shape the sound of Hip Hop, Summer Jam 2025 honors its roots while pushing the culture forward. Get ready for surprises, special guests, and unforgettable moments.
Dolby Laboratories, Inc., a leader in immersive entertainment experiences, and AMC Entertainment, the largest theatrical exhibitor in the United States and in the world, today announced a significant expansion of their partnership, following a decade of success and guest popularity of the Dolby Cinema at AMC experience. Beginning this year, AMC and Dolby will add an additional 40 Dolby Cinema at AMC locations in the United States through the end of 2027.
This represents a nearly 25% increase of Dolby Cinema at AMC auditoriums in the United States, bringing the total number to over 200.
Dolby Cinema is the flagship offering of Dolby’s theatrical solutions for exhibitors and moviegoers alike. It provides a fully Dolby-designed environment that gives audiences a captivating way to experience a film in Dolby Vision ultra-vivid picture quality combined with Dolby Atmos immersive sound. As part of the partnership, AMC and Dolby extend their commitment to the existing Dolby Cinema network.
For AMC, the expanded partnership marks another significant step in its ongoing commitment to invest in innovative technology and deliver the very best in premium experiences for its moviegoers. In addition to the new locations, AMC has also selected Dolby Vision as its HDR offering of choice, which combined with Dolby Atmos, makes Dolby Cinema an extraordinary and compelling premium theatrical experience.
“Premium moviegoing is defining the modern box office,” said Kevin Yeaman, President and CEO, Dolby Laboratories. “In expanding our longstanding partnership with AMC, we look forward to providing even more audiences with access to the most immersive film experiences that you can only get at Dolby Cinema.”
“For a decade, AMC and Dolby have provided moviegoers with incredible premium experiences – making the biggest blockbusters even bigger, brighter, louder, and more immersive,” said Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC Entertainment. “The expansion of this partnership is a powerful demonstration of AMC’s ongoing commitment to deliver this premium experience – sought out by filmmakers, studio partners, and our guests – to even more of our theaters and AMC moviegoers around the United States.”
The partnership comes at a time when premium moviegoing represents a significant and growing share of the total box office, with Dolby further cementing its position as a valued brand among moviegoers. 2024 marked Dolby Cinema’s strongest year in history at the box office, surpassing the company’s record-setting 2023 box office gross.
Fueling this attendance is Dolby’s strong content pipeline, with over 725 theatrical features released or confirmed to be released in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to date. This includes new and upcoming releases at the box office like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Karate Kid: Legends, F1, Jurassic World Rebirth, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and more. And of the top 50 titles of the past five years, 49 were shown in Dolby Cinema.
Tequila Don Julio, the world’s #1 tequila brand, today announced a new creative partnership with world-renowned DJ, producer and culture powerhouse Peggy Gou. As part of this global collaboration, the brand is launching Don Julio 194구, a limited-edition bottle available at select retailers worldwide while supplies last. Don Julio 194구 is the first-ever global collaboration from Tequila Don Julio 1942, celebrating and sharing the renowned Mexico product around the world. Designed in collaboration with Peggy, the bottle stands as the ultimate statement piece, perfectly embodying her signature aesthetic (a blend of high-end fashion and bleeding-edge street style) while pushing the boundaries of artistry and craftsmanship. It’s the perfect complement to the ultra-smooth, luxurious taste of Tequila Don Julio 1942, with its exquisite notes of caramel and oak and its lingering sweet warmth.
The epitome of a collector’s item and a celebration of luxury, Peggy’s striking take on the iconic Don Julio 1942 bottle masterfully fuses heritage with modern touches like its lush mint-green and deep purple colorways. The contrasting holographic “194구” label melds Peggy’s signature branding with Don Julio’s recognizable iconography. With its sleek reflective finish, the elevated chrome cap adds a refined touch that’s befitting of a creative partnership between two titanic tastemakers.
In a nod to Peggy’s eclectic sense of street style, there is a hand-drawn illustration inset on the carton of each box, incorporating an alluring “shimmer” effect on her jewelry and nails to add a welcome touch of glamour and mystery. The inside of the box is emblazoned with a personal message from Peggy, sharing her passion for this one-of-a-kind collaboration.
“When it comes to design, balance is so important,” said Peggy Gou. “Sometimes less is more. Sometimes more is more. I wanted to create a bottle that stops you in your tracks the moment you see it. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Tequila Don Julio 1942, because this collaboration offers supporters a taste of a superior tequila and a taste of my own personal aesthetic, all in one stunning package that I was fortunate enough to design.”
“Peggy’s genuine love for Don Julio 1942 made this collaboration natural and organic,” says Jamie Hakim, Global Director of Culture for Tequila Don Julio. “Both Peggy and Don Julio 1942 are arbiters of celebration – from intimate nightclubs in Seoul to massive stages in Mexico City with a hundred thousand people, we both hold the distinct privilege of making those moments unforgettable for our fans. Peggy’s impeccable sense of style and design, paired with our timeless bottle and award-winning tequila, has resulted in a partnership that embodies refinement and cultural influence. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have collaborated with her on this iconic partnership, and we hope fans enjoy this exclusive bottle.”
This latest offering from Tequila Don Julio debuts with digital spots directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nabil Elderkin. Known for merging art, music and culture, Nabil brings a future-forward vision to life in a striking film that captures the essence of Don Julio 194구. Every frame reflects the sleek, modern aesthetic of the collaboration while honoring the brand’s legacy of luxury and craftsmanship. Filmed in high-contrast settings, the campaign blurs the line between reality and a dreamlike nightlife fantasy. Accompanying still imagery by renowned Korean photographer Hong Jang Hyun and longtime partner of Peggy Gou, further elevates the campaign’s refined visual identity. The campaign will be featured in digital, social and OOH globally – from New York to London to Seoul.
After weeks of teasing the campaign through cryptic clues, including sightings of the “194구” logo in several high-traffic areas around the world and Peggy conspicuously wearing the “194구” logo at recent shows, the official global launch activations will kick off in New York City on April 2nd – a deliberate nod to 19(4/2), the year Don Julio Gonzalez founded the brand. The event will feature a souvenir shop façade with “194구” merch, leading guests into a hidden space where a vibrant party will bring the collaboration to life, immersing attendees in the inspiration behind the bottle redesign. Following, Peggy and Don Julio will pop up in leading cities including London, Milan, Seoul and Hong Kong to keep the global celebration going.
The limited-edition Don Julio 194구 bottle designed in collaboration with Peggy Gou will be available globally in a standard 750ml or 700cl bottle dependent on market, at select retailers until supplies last – including the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Dubai, Mexico and more.
ODESZA have today announced the release of ‘Music To Refine To: A Remix Companion to Severance’. The three-time Grammy-nominated duo have teamed up with the hit Apple TV+ show Severance across a new 7-track EP, adding their unique signature to the unmistakable sounds of Theodore Shapiro’s Emmy Award-winning compositions. The first track, “Entering Lumon”, is available for streaming now. Listen HERE.
‘Music To Refine To: A Remix Companion to Severance’ will be available digitally on April 4th via Foreign Family Collective, with a vinyl release set to follow on June 20th. You can now pre-save digitally and pre-order the vinyl HERE.
“When Apple reached out to us to remix the Severance score in January we were so ecstatic to play with the themes and atmosphere of the show,” expressed ODESZA. “We are huge fans of the series and it was an absolute honor working with the original score by Theodore Shapiro. We hope both you and your innie will enjoy the journey.”
The music was first introduced as an 8-hour visual/audio YouTube experience titled “Music To Refine To” – serving as a playful nod to the idea of a soundtrack for your ‘innie’ at work. The seamless 23-minute mix loops continuously over the full duration, immersing listeners in the various motifs, tones, and atmospheres of the show. Since its launch two weeks ago, the video has been viewed more than 2 million times, while ODESZA’s social posts about the collaboration have reached more than 3.5 million views in the same period.
The multi-award-winning show, which concluded its second season last Friday, March 21 and has already been renewed for a third season, sees Mark Scout (Adam Scott) lead a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. With a prestigious cast that also includes Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, Tramell Tillman, Michael Chernus and John Turturro, the show has been called “an engrossing thriller” by the New York Times and “an impressively idiosyncratic thing, wholly itself and confident in its mission to make your mind implode” by The Guardian.
ODESZA most recently concluded their record-breaking The Last Goodbye Finale tour with eleven sold-out dates, including three consecutive nights at Madison Square Garden, capping off a live-show run that saw the duo perform in front of over 1.5 million people in just 2 years. Their music has been streamed almost 6 billion times across streaming platforms to date, and over the past few years they also released a 10 year anniversary edition of their seminal 2014 album ‘In Return’, released their awe-inspiring immersive concert film “ODESZA: The Last Goodbye Cinematic Experience” in theaters around the country, captured the magic of their groundbreaking tour with ‘The Last Goodbye Tour Live’ album, and headlined a gamut of major festivals including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Austin City Limits, Electric Forest, Gov Ball, among others.
Celebrated guitarist and songwriter Tyler Grant proudly announces the release of his seventh album, aptly titled Flatpicker, available today. Renowned for his extraordinary skill as one of bluegrass music’s finest guitar players, Grant showcases both his acclaimed guitar artistry and poignant lyrical storytelling throughout the album.
“His natural habitat is as one of our finest bluegrass guitar players…” says Craig Havighurst of WMOT, encapsulating Grant’s respected standing within the bluegrass community.
The album’s singles include the energetic bluegrass burner “Coming Home to Stay,” a spirited contemplation of whether life’s grass is genuinely greener elsewhere, and the compelling narrative-driven “Goat Canyon Trestle,” chronicling the largest wooden trestle ever constructed, still standing defiantly in the Mojave Desert of Eastern San Diego County.
Roots Music Rambler praises Grant, stating, “No one digs into a story as well as Grant does…” Highlighting the depth of storytelling, Grant shared with The Bluegrass Situation his inspiration for “Goat Canyon Trestle”: “It’s also about the ‘Impossible Railroad’ conceived by sugar and shipping magnate John D. Spreckels in 1906 and completed in 1919. History songs are tricky, and I am very proud of this one. The moral of the story is: If you take on the desert, it will always win.”
Grant, whose impressive career includes touring stints with Abigail Washburn, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, and the Drew Emmitt Band—which evolved into the Emmitt-Nershi Band featuring Bill Nershi of The String Cheese Incident—was drawn to Colorado’s musical community and has made the Rocky Mountains his home since 2009. Fans can celebrate with Tyler at his local album release show on April 18 at eTown Hall in Boulder, CO.
Flatpicker vividly paints musical landscapes and narratives, with tracks like “Canyon Flatpicking,” “Where The Ocotillo Grows,” and “Sea Of Cortez” conjuring imagery of wild and natural beauty. Songs such as “Coming Home to Stay,” “The Beholder,” “Turn The Page,” “Waning Moon,” and “Orange Street” resonate deeply with themes of homecoming and human connection, while “The Tuk-Tuk,” “Depot Guitar,” and “Goat Canyon Trestle” adventure into narratives set amidst cultural and historical backdrops.
Music N Gear describes Grant’s new work as “Packed with nimble mandolin runs, banjo rolls, and Grant’s unmistakable guitar work, the track is a love letter to bluegrass tradition, carrying the energy of a train barreling toward the horizon.”
Jeremy Garrett, fiddle player & vocalist of The Infamous Stringdusters has announced the release of Storm Mountain, the seventh solo album of his career and first album release off of the band’s imprint Americana Vibes. With the release set for June 27th, Garrett gives listeners their first taste of the new album today with the release of the lead single “Fly Away to Your Love.” Listen to the new track HERE.
Storm Mountain follows Garrett’s well-received 2022 release River Wild and is an ode to his current life living “off the grid” in a cabin on 12 acres with his wife and eight-year-old daughter in a remote section of Theodore Roosevelt National Forest outside of Drake, Colorado. The collection of songs was inspired by the mountains he lives in and the idea that holds—whether it be living in joyous nature or the more pointed feeling one can have being surrounded by such intensity. Living in the mountains can be free and easy, yet an unforgiving place for those that aren’t prepared for the elements (and even if you are, it’s never completely easy). It was a metaphor he couldn’t resist when making the record.
“Fly Away to Your Love” sets the scene for Garrett’s new 10-song collection with its pulsating tempo and energetic picking. The song was co-written by one of Garrett’s longest writing partners, songwriter & journalist Jon Weisberger, adding to their expansive repertoire of over 100 songs. Expressed through four short verses in old time language, the track speaks to the idea of preserving a relationship when troubles may come and overcoming with grace.
“This is one of those driving bluegrass songs that speaks about love in an intangible way, using old time language to describe a stormy scene and drama,” says Garrett delving into the lyrical content, “Love birds being lost and hopeless in the storm of life and tragic circumstances.”
While bluegrass is often associated with light-hearted festival sets and late night picking sessions, Garrett aims to dig deeper with more serious, introspective subject matters and musical stylings that veer back into his more traditional lineage in gospel, country, and roots, “This is not a light-hearted record,” he explains, “Bluegrass is a lonesome music. I wanted this album to be more sophisticated than songs about trains and biscuits, to bring out the deeper content.”
Storm Mountain deals with such serious topics as a fall from grace (“Son of Perdition”), the bitterness of fate (“The Cold Hard Truth”), lost love (“Fly Away”), the meaning of life (“Anchor in the Deep”) and hopes for his daughter (“You’re Gonna Fly”). In addition, there are playful stabs at modern phenomena from social conventions (“Don’t Ask’) to UFOs (“Rosewell”). “I love weird stuff like that,” he laughed. “I study quantum physics, too.”
Other highlights include surprising, idiosyncratic covers of songs by Mr. Mister’s Richard Page (“The Border”) and U.K. classic rock band Free (“Fire and Water”).
“I wanted to draw on something a little different than what I do with the ‘Dusters. These are songs that don’t quite fit in with the crowds we usually play for. When I go back to the band, I’m way better and more fulfilled for having done these solo records.”
Garrettt’s collaborators on the record include banjo player Ryan Cavanagh (“a picker’s picker”), guitarist Chris Luquette, singer Lindsay Lou (“The Border,” “You’re Gonna Fly,” “Son of Perdition”), songwriting partner Josh Shilling, fiddle players Luke Bulla and Casey Driessen (“Rosewell”), bassist Travis Anderson, tenor vocalist Ray Cardwell (“Slow Train”) and Stringdusters colleague Andy Hall on Resophonic guitar/dobro (“You’re Gonna Fly”). He recorded the album in a one-room studio outside of Fort Collins, CO, at the foothills of the mountains, before he added his parts at his own Storm Mountain home studio.
With groups like Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident and current phenom Billy Strings updating bluegrass for a new generation of listeners as “jamgrass,” the genre has exploded. Jeremy Garrett, known to the Infamous Stringdusters’ loyal fan base as either G-Grass or Freedom Cobra for his dynamic stage presence, has been at the forefront of the revival.
“Bluegrass is a durable music,” he said.” It’s been around for a long time. It’s down home and hardy and you can play it anywhere. You don’t even need electricity. The Dusters are a traditional bluegrass band that brought in the elements of extended soloing into the mix.”
At 48 years old, Garrett is relatively young for a bluegrass veteran and looks forward to performing his music live for audiences. “When I write songs now, it’s from the standpoint of someone who’s been through some life experiences over the past 20 years. My goal is for this record to be uplifting at the same time as it’s more reflective in terms of healing.
“You need to have the music serve the song first and foremost, but I still throw down the fiddle because that’s what people expect.”
With the Dusters about to celebrate their 20th anniversary next year with a new album, Garrett looks forward to finding time for the occasional solo performance along with his “day job.” His ultimate inspiration are guys like Larry Sparks (“Slow Train” on the new album is a tribute to him), Del McCoury and the late Ralph Stanley, who have performed into their 70s, 80s and 90s.
“I want to play this music forever,” said Jeremy. With Storm Mountain, he continues on that path.
Continuing the promotion of their acclaimed release Mustard n’Onions on Mack Avenue Records, Ghost-Note has extended their 2025 tour with new dates in the Northeast and Canada in late June and early July. Led by Snarky Puppy’s multi-GRAMMY-winning duo of drummer-keyboardist Robert “Sput” Searight and percussionist Nate Werth, the band embarks on their tour starting today with a star-studded funk ensemble whose credits include work with Prince, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Marcus Miller, Toto, and more. Tickets to all shows can be found HERE.
The 15 tracks on Mustard n’Onions — the band’s third LP, first new album in six years and debut for Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group — further Ghost-Note’s mission to provide rhythm-hungry crowds with, per Sput, “a mind-blowing healing sensation.” From the Soul Brother No. 1 tribute “JB’s Out! (Do It Babay),” through the masterfully funky “Bad Knees,” a co-write by the group’s former bass player, MonoNeon, the psychedelic-soul-tinged “Grandma’s Curtains,” and “Nard’s Right,” one of R&B/jazz hero Bernard Wright’s final recorded appearances, Mustard n’Onions delivers Ghost-Note’s supremely danceable goods. The 10-piece band’s performances are bracing in their virtuosity, affecting in their soulfulness and inspired in their sonic choices.
But the album also presents a story of an ensemble maturing and solidifying and finding an identity. On the band’s freewheeling 2018 release, Swagism, the lineup was still developing and, as Sput explains, “We didn’t have a sound; we didn’t know what we were gonna sound like.” The music on Mustard n’Onions, he says, reflects the firmed-up character of a unit whose “camaraderie and chemistry” have accrued over countless gigs. What’s more, nearly every band member has at least one writing credit on Mustard n’Onions. Sput remains Ghost-Note’s primary writer and de facto musical director, but he’s now shaping his music for and with his bandmates.
With its more focused approach to funk and vocal performances like those on “JB’s Out!,” featuring current lead singer Mackenzie, and “Grandma’s Curtains,” showcasing Sput and Dominique Xavier Taplin, Mustard n’Onions can also be heard as a “sign of what’s to come” for Ghost-Note: more vocal-led tunes, a greater emphasis on songwriting. This is, after all, a band that simply cannot stop evolving, that seems to grow and learn with every year, every tour, every gig.
Still, you can be sure that whatever the next phase brings will remain, as Sput puts it, “positively, unapologetically funky.”
The tour begins tonight at The Venice West in Venice, CA and continues through New Mexico and Arizona before a string of dates throughout Colorado including a headlining show at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom as part of the inaugural Denver Jazz Fest. The group makes their way up to the Pacific Northwest before engagements at Chickie Wah Wah and Music Box Village for shows during the second weekend of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today’s announcement includes shows at Stephen’s Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY; Vogel Theater in Red Bank, NJ; Off the Rails in Worcester, MA; Jimmy’s Jazz in Portsmouth, NH, and more. Rising Australian singer, producer, and keyboardist Allysha Joy will support on select dates.
The band’s schedule also boasts a handful of festival plays including Mill Valley Music Festival, Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, and a newly added play at The Rex Hotel during Toronto Jazz Festival. Ghost-Note is also slated to play the esteemed North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam Netherlands and San Jose Summer Fest in San Jose, California.
Full Tour Dates:
3/25/2025 Venice West – Los Angeles, CA
3/26/2025 MIM Theater – Phoenix, AZ
3/28/2025 Meow Wolf -Santa Fe, NM
3/29/2025 Public House – Crested Butte, CO
4/1/2025 Animas City Theatre – Durango, CO
4/2/2025 10 Mile Music Hall – Frisco, CO
4/3/2025 Aggie Theater – Fort Collins, CO
4/4/2025 The Fox – Boulder, CO
4/5/2025 Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom – Denver, CO
4/6/2025 Schmiggity’s – Steamboat Springs, CO
4/8/2025 Commonwealth – Salt Lake City, UT
4/9/2025 Shrine – Boise, ID
4/10/2025 The Get Down – Portland, OR
4/11/2025 Nectars – Seattle, WA
4/12/2025 Wild Buffalo – Bellingham, WA
6/21/2025 Stephens Talkhouse – Amagansett, NY
6/22/2025 Vogel Theater – Red Bank, NJ *
6/24/2025 Off The Rails – Worcester, MA *
6/25/2025 Levitate Backyard – Marshfield, MA *
6/26/2025 Jimmy’s Jazz – Portsmouth, NH *
6/27/2025 Ottawa Jazz Festival – Ottawa, ON
6/28/2025 Toronto Jazz Festival – The Rex Hotel – Toronto, ON
6/29/2025 Montreal Jazz Festival – Montreal, QC
7/1/2025 – Stage One – Fairfield, CT *
7/2/2025 Stone Church – Brattleboro, VT *
7/3/2025 Heuser Park King of Prussia, PA
7/5/2025 Colony – Woodstock, NY *
7/6/2025 Longs Park Summer Series – Lancaster, PA
* with support from Allysha Joy
