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A&E Documentary Reframes Country Icon Johnny Cash Through a Jamaican Home Invasion

Eric Alper
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A&E Documentary Reframes Country Icon Johnny Cash Through a Jamaican Home Invasion

A little-known chapter of Johnny Cash’s life is about to get its first full telling. A new A&E documentary, ‘Johnny Cash: The Man Comes Around,’ profiles the Man in Black through his profound connection to the island of Jamaica. It comes from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Dana Adam Shapiro, best known for ‘Murderball,’ and is slated to air later this year.

The film works as three things at once: an intimate family portrait, a true crime thriller, and a revelatory deconstruction of one of America’s most complex icons. At its center sits the 1981 Christmas Day home invasion, when masked gunmen held the Cash family hostage at their home in Cinnamon Hill.

That story gets told for the first time by Cash himself, drawn from never-before-heard audio recordings, alongside rare photos and home video. Interviews come from his son John Carter Cash, who was present during the robbery, plus family members Rosanne Cash and Carlene Carter, and musicians and collaborators including Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, and Will Oldham.

The documentary reframes that harrowing night as a defining moment that deepened Cash’s humanist worldview. It traces a lifelong exploration of crime and punishment, salvation and sin, building toward a portrait of an artist who always spoke truth to power and grace for all.

‘Johnny Cash: The Man Comes Around’ is written and directed by Dana Adam Shapiro and produced for A&E by Sandbox Studios, a joint venture with Sony Music Vision, and WW7 Entertainment, in association with APX Content Ventures and Alldayeveryday, with Rolling Stone Films serving as executive producer. John Carter Cash also serves as a producer. A+E Global Media holds worldwide distribution rights.

Joji Adds a Second Los Angeles Night to His Globe-Spanning “Solaris Tour”

Eric Alper
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Joji Adds a Second Los Angeles Night to His Globe-Spanning “Solaris Tour”

Demand has been strong enough to warrant a second night. Critically acclaimed singer and producer Joji has added a second Los Angeles date to his international “Solaris Tour,” with the new show landing at Intuit Dome on July 12, alongside the previously announced July 11 date.

The tour takes Joji to major arenas around the world, including Prudential Center, Barclays Center, Intuit Dome, The O2, and more, all promoted by Live Nation. The “Solaris Tour” introduces an all-new production built around an immersive experience that expands Joji’s world in ways fans haven’t seen before.

The setlist spans his catalogue and then some. It packs his biggest hits, from “Glimpse of Us” to “Slow Dancing in the Dark,” and marks the first-ever live performances of songs from his new album ‘Piss In The Wind,’ bringing this next chapter to the stage for the first time.

Support shifts by region. Nate Sib and Corbin open the North American leg, while Tommy Richman supports the European, Australian, and New Zealand stops.

‘Piss In The Wind,’ out now via Palace Creek, bridges Joji’s sonic past and present, balancing melancholic, brooding writing with gritty yet atmospheric production. The extensive 21-song tracklist and vivid creative direction build a fully realized record that lets Joji himself stay out of frame, amplified by collaborations with Giveon, 4batz, Yeat, and Don Toliver.

The numbers backed it up immediately. The album debuted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 200, No. 1 on Indie Store Album Sales, and No. 1 on both Current Alternative Albums and Current Pop Albums in the US. It also hit new heights globally, with Top Ten debuts worldwide and his highest local chart debuts in France, Belgium, Italy, and more.

Philadelphia Rocker Wax Mekanix Strips It All Back on Raw New Single “Naked”

Eric Alper
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Philadelphia Rocker Wax Mekanix Strips It All Back on Raw New Single “Naked”

The armor comes off completely on the latest from Wax Mekanix. The Philadelphia artist has released “Naked,” a quiet, fearless meditation on exposure that finds him at his most honest and human. The sound is simple but powerful, guided by feeling rather than production.

The track was written during the same creative season as “Look At You Now,” from 2023’s ‘Psychotomimetic,’ and the two are closely linked. Where “Look At You Now” reflects on acceptance and growth, “Naked” steps forward into confrontation. One accepts what you see in the mirror, the other breaks it.

“‘Naked’ and ‘Look At You Now’ were written during the same time of questioning and renewal,” Wax explains. “‘Look At You Now’ accepts what you see in the mirror; ‘Naked’ breaks the mirror. It is about stripping away personal illusion and in our culture. Every song I have written, from Mobocracy to Naked, is part of that same conversation.”

Both songs trace a path from illusion to truth, but they sit at different points along it. “Look At You Now” carries a warm, steady rhythm and a sense of closure, while “Naked” is built on space and breath, offering honesty instead of comfort. In one, truth feels earned and fragile. In the other, it feels dangerous and alive.

The track also expands the range Wax has shown across cuts like “Saltwater Sisters,” “420,” and “Silver-Tongued Devil,” moving from bold and explosive to raw and reflective. It’s an artist comfortable exploring contrast: the roar and the whisper, the outside world and the inner voice. For fans of John Lennon, David Bowie, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel, and Chris Cornell, “Naked” strips everything down to what’s real.

“Naked” was written by Wax Mekanix and produced and mixed by Wax Mekanix and Maxim “Lectriq” Laskavy, with engineering by Lectriq and Rob Devious. The track features Wax on lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, and percussion, with backing vocals from Lectriq, acoustic guitar from Wendell “PoPs” Sewell, and electric guitar from Rob Devious, recorded at Lectriq Studios in Philadelphia and The Shed in Fairless Hills, PA.

Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels, and Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy Top the 2026 Mountain Music Festival

Eric Alper
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Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels, and Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy Top the 2026 Mountain Music Festival

The Great Smoky Mountains are gearing up for three days of classic rock and roll. The Mountain Music Festival returns August 21 to 23 to the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Tennessee, with headliners Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels, and Stephen Pearcy & Warren DeMartini leading a deep bill of rock and metal mainstays.

The lineup reads like a who’s who of arena and hair-metal history. Performances come from 38 Special, Night Ranger, Sebastian Bach, Warrant, Jackyl, Lynch Mob, Lita Ford, and more. The all-ages event spreads over 25 artists across three stages, mixing fan favourites and emerging acts, with more still to be announced.

There’s plenty happening beyond the music too. Fans get interactive events and activities, including photo opportunities with select bands and access to the Rock N’ Roll Marketplace, Rock N’ Roll Art Gallery, and Outdoor Patio Experience.

New for 2026 are Guitar Clinics hosted by three rock legends: Joel Hoekstra, Reb Beach, and George Lynch. These intimate sessions promise rare insight, hands-on guidance, and stories straight from the pros, available through the three-day GA pass plus Guitar Clinics package.

Returning as official hosts are Eddie Trunk and comedians Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson, former hosts of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show, alongside Bay Area pioneer radio DJ Nikki Blakk. Set against the backdrop of one of eastern Tennessee’s most inviting mountain towns, with dining, shops, and lodging all within walking distance of the convention center, it’s shaping up to be a full-on rock pilgrimage. Three-day and two-day general admission passes are on sale now.

Justin Moore, Gavin Adcock, and The Red Clay Strays Lead 2026 Born & Raised Music Festival

Eric Alper
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Justin Moore, Gavin Adcock, and The Red Clay Strays Lead 2026 Born & Raised Music Festival

Oklahoma’s red dirt country gathering is back for another fall run. The Born & Raised Music Festival returns September 17 to 19 at the Rockin’ Red Dirt Ranch in Pryor, Oklahoma, a scenic 45-minute drive from Tulsa, with headliners Justin Moore, Gavin Adcock, and The Red Clay Strays leading the three-day bill.

For The Red Clay Strays, the booking is something of a homecoming. “Born & Raised was one of the first larger festivals to give us a slot back in 2023,” the band states. “It sure feels good to be getting back.”

The supporting lineup runs deep with red dirt and country favourites. Additional performers include Tracy Lawrence, Muscadine Bloodline, Randall King, Paul Cauthen, Josh Abbott Band, Mae Estes, and many others.

Things actually kick off the night before the main event. The Honky Tonk Kick-Off lands Wednesday, September 16, featuring Josh Weathers, Gannon Fremin & CCREV, and Jamie Lin Wilson, setting the tone for the weekend ahead. Tickets and VIP passes are on sale now.

Rhiannon Giddens Gathers Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Hurray for the Riff Raff for “American Tunes”

Eric Alper
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Rhiannon Giddens Gathers Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Hurray for the Riff Raff for “American Tunes”

A summer of American song is taking shape under open skies. Pulitzer and Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens has announced “American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” a five-night concert series that brings her together with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Hurray for the Riff Raff for a joyful celebration of songs that connect generations. The shows run between June 26 and August 2 at outdoor performing arts centers and amphitheatres.

Giddens conceived the series as an extension of her 2025 Juneteenth concert at the Hollywood Bowl, a gathering of banjo players called American Tunes that featured Steve Martin, Ed Helms, and Our Native Daughters, her supergroup with Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla. The summer run explores female and Black perspectives on folk music while reflecting on America turning 250 years old.

Each artist performs their own set, with one-time-only collaborations in store across the dates. Mavis Staples joins every show except the June 26 opener. It’s the kind of bill that doesn’t come around often, four distinct voices in conversation on the same stage.

Giddens has stayed in perpetual creative motion throughout 2026. Her headlining run with her band has already taken in Carnegie Hall, an evening in her hometown of Durham, NC at DPAC, and a March program with the Silkroad Ensemble, where she serves as Artistic Director, titled Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual. She’s also confirmed for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Biscuits & Banjos Presents: Rhiannon Giddens’ Beloved Community marked the first anniversary of the Biscuits & Banjos festival in Durham, featuring Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rissi Palmer, and Toshi Reagon.

There’s a screen project on the horizon too. Giddens was recently announced as the lead in the forthcoming feature film ‘An Ode To Mary Joe,’ starring alongside Ed Helms with a cast that includes Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, Regina Taylor, and John Sayles, directed by Justin Liberman. Tickets for the summer series are on sale now.

American Tunes: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing:

June 26 – Seattle, WA @ Venue TBA, with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

June 27 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

July 30 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

Aug 1 – Asheville, NC @ Hellbender by The Orange Peel, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

Aug 2 – Pelham, TN @ The Caverns Outdoor Amphitheater, with Mavis Staples, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Hurray for the Riff Raff

Southern Rock Legends 38 Special Roll Out the Gritty “So Much So Right” Video

Eric Alper
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Southern Rock Legends 38 Special Roll Out the Gritty “So Much So Right” Video

Five decades in, 38 Special still know how to capture that first spark. The Southern rock legends have shared the video for their rollicking new single “So Much So Right,” a track from ‘Milestone,’ their first album in 20 years. The clip gives fans a front-row seat to the band’s recent shows as they enter their sixth decade together.

The song zeroes in on the rush of new romance. “38 Special songs have always been about the genuine emotions experienced by everyone,” says frontman Don Barnes. “They all have an element of truth in them that I think appeals on a universal level and proves why they have lasted through the years. ‘So Much So Right’ is unique. Every person remembers that heat of passion when they first met someone new and shared intimacy so strong that it could hardly be contained. Our take was simply to convey that overwhelming feeling of wanting and obsessing, longing for the opportunity to be together again.”

The video matches that energy with a raw, hand-made feel. “The video itself was made in an interesting fashion,” Barnes shares. “Nick Spanos was shooting behind-the-scenes scraps of video as well as concert footage. He took some risks in editing, kept it gritty like the song conveys, and with the final tinted, grainy look, he succeeded in portraying what real rock ‘n’ roll should feel like.”

“So Much So Right” follows the jangling “All I Haven’t Said” and “Slightly Controversial” featuring Train, both of which have surpassed one million streams. Marking the band’s 50th anniversary, ‘Milestone’ features guests and co-writes with Train’s Pat Monahan and Randy Bachman, plus longtime collaborator Jim Peterik (Survivor, Sammy Hagar, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cheap Trick). The record debuted in the Top 10 on both the Rock and Independent Album charts and broke into the Top 30 of Billboard’s Current and Overall Album Sales charts.

The legacy speaks for itself: more than 50 years together, 20 million albums sold, and over 15 albums of guitar-driven Southern rock stacked with hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You,” “If I’d Been The One,” “Back Where You Belong,” and “Second Chance.” Formed in 1974, the Florida natives toured tirelessly from the start, sharpening the explosive live show that’s been their calling card for half a century, while fine-tuning a sound built on muscle, melody, and arena-rock hooks made for FM radio. The band has live dates scheduled through early October, hitting casinos, theaters, and festivals across the country.

Outlaw Country Maverick Shooter Jennings Reissues ‘Countach (For Giorgio)’ for Its 10th Anniversary

Eric Alper
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Outlaw Country Maverick Shooter Jennings Reissues ‘Countach (For Giorgio)’ for Its 10th Anniversary

Ten years on, one of country’s strangest and most rewarding left turns gets a fresh pressing. Shooter Jennings is marking the 10th anniversary of his genre-defying seventh studio album ‘Countach (For Giorgio)’ with a limited-edition neon purple vinyl reissue, the first time the record has appeared in a variant colour. The pressing is capped at 500 copies and shipping now while supplies last.

The album is a tribute to Grammy and Academy Award-winning producer and composer Giorgio Moroder, the Italian-born “Father of Disco” behind iconic soundtracks for Midnight Express, Top Gun, The NeverEnding Story, and Flashdance. Jennings fuses fiddle, outlaw country grit, DX7 synthesizers, and LinnDrum programming into something entirely his own.

Nearly a decade after its original February 26, 2016 release on Jennings’ own Black Country Rock label, the record’s genre-blurring DNA of outlaw country, synth-disco, and cinematic pop feels more culturally resonant than ever. It opens with an archival vocal from Waylon Jennings himself, threading the outlaw lineage directly into Moroder’s electronic cosmos, then unfolds as a sound-collage journey through 80s and 90s culture with guest turns from Brandi Carlile, Marilyn Manson, the late country-rock pioneer Steve Young, and computer-game visionary Richard Garriott de Cayeux.

The making of it rekindled something in Jennings. “I just started digging and researching and all of a sudden it hit me how much music Giorgio had made that had been an influence on me, even without knowing that it was him who was responsible for it,” he says. “Hearing all that stuff and adapting it to live instruments was, in a way, showing people how ahead of his time he was. Dissecting his pieces, doing each part by part, and really understanding it from the inside, it made me fall in love with making music again, in a way.”

The gamble paid off commercially too. ‘Countach (For Giorgio)’ peaked at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top Dance Albums, a remarkable crossover for an artist then known primarily as the son of outlaw country legend Waylon Jennings. The placement affirmed both the album’s genuine electronic roots and Shooter’s ability to reach well beyond his core country following. A decade later, it stands as a love letter to the 80s written in the language of outlaw country.

‘Countach (For Giorgio)’ Tracklisting:

  1. Loading… featuring Waylon Jennings
  2. Countach
  3. From Here to Eternity
  4. I’m Left You’re Right She’s Gone
  5. Born to Die featuring Steve Young
  6. Chase featuring Richard Garriott de Cayeux
  7. Love Kills
  8. The Neverending Story featuring Brandi Carlile
  9. Cat People (Putting Out Fire) featuring Marilyn Manson

Travis Tritt Maps Out a Packed 2026 Across Theaters, Casinos, and Fairs

Eric Alper
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Travis Tritt Maps Out a Packed 2026 Across Theaters, Casinos, and Fairs

Travis Tritt isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The multi-platinum country entertainer has laid out a packed 2026 touring schedule, extending his relentless run with another year of crowd-pleasing live shows across the United States. The trek brings Tritt and his band to theaters, casinos, fairs, festivals, and major venues, with more dates still expected.

The setlist leans on the songs that built his name. Concertgoers will hear career-defining cuts including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),” “I’m Gonna Be Somebody,” and “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” all delivered with the raw country authenticity, Southern rock energy, and heartfelt storytelling that’s kept his audiences loyal for decades.

The calendar comes loaded with notable company. Tritt appears on select dates alongside some of today’s biggest live acts, including direct support slots with Jason Aldean, The Red Clay Strays, Zach Top, and Koe Wetzel. Other highlights include festival appearances across the country and shows featuring special guests Tyler Reese Tritt, Tristan Tritt, and The Frontmen.

It’s the kind of coast-to-coast haul that confirms Tritt as one of country’s hardest-working live draws, and there’s plenty more road ahead.

Travis Tritt 2026 Tour Dates:

Jun 11 – Decatur, AL @ Rock the South @ The Fields at Decatur

Jun 26 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall

Jun 27 – Valdosta, GA @ Wild Adventures Theme Park

Jul 10 – Youngstown, OH @ YLIVE @ Stambaugh Stadium

Jul 11 – Fort Loramie, OH @ Country Concert at Hickory

Jul 16 – Eau Claire, WI @ Country Jam USA

Jul 17 – West Fargo, ND @ Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights

Jul 18 – Walker, MN @ Northern Lights Casino

Jul 22 – Helena, MT @ Last Chance Stampede & Fair

Jul 24 – Toppenish, WA @ Legends Casino Hotel Event Center

Jul 25 – Post Falls, ID @ MØDE Stadium @ Stateline Speedway

Jul 26 – Ridgefield, WA @ ilani

Aug 7 – Manhattan, KS @ Rock The Plains

Aug 8 – Fort Dodge, IA @ Fort Dodge Country Jam

Aug 14 – Rockford, IL @ Hard Rock Live Rockford

Aug 15 – Centralia, IL @ Castle Ridge

Aug 21 – Corbin, KY @ The Corbin Arena

Aug 22 – Paoli, IN @ Castle Knoll Amphitheater

Aug 23 – Erie, PA @ Reibech Investments Amphitheater

Aug 26 – Harbor Springs, MI @ Emmet Charlevoix County Fair

Aug 28 – Farmington, PA @ Timber Rock Amphitheater

Aug 29 – Woodstock, VA @ Shenandoah County Fair

Sep 17 – Jim Thorpe, PA @ Penn’s Peak

Sep 18 – Marietta, OH @ Peoples Bank Theatre

Sep 19 – Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center

Sep 25 – North Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Performing Arts Center

Sep 26 – Macon, GA @ Macon City Auditorium

Oct 3 – Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater

Oct 9 – Biloxi, MS @ IP Casino Resort Spa

Oct 10 – Lake Charles, LA @ Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino – Grand Event Center

Oct 11 – Ennis, TX @ Stars of Texas Music Festival

Oct 15 – Durant, OK @ Choctaw Grand Theater

Nov 13 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena

Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, and Mumford & Sons Lead 2026 Oceans Calling

Eric Alper
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Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, and Mumford & Sons Lead 2026 Oceans Calling

The Ocean City Boardwalk is set for another stacked weekend. Organizers of the Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City, Maryland, have unveiled the lineup for 2026, with the fourth annual three-day event running September 25 to 27. Built in partnership with O.A.R., the festival packs over 40 performances across three stages.

The headliners span three decades of radio favourites. Dave Matthews Band and Hootie & The Blowfish lead Friday, Twenty One Pilots and Gwen Stefani take Saturday, and Mumford & Sons and Matchbox Twenty close things out on Sunday.

The depth of the bill is where it gets interesting. Additional performers include Ludacris, O.A.R., Yellowcard, Shaggy, Liz Phair, Everlast, Gavin DeGraw, Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, All Time Low, 311, Dashboard Confessional, Caamp, My Morning Jacket, The Head and the Heart, Hanson, Ok Go, and more.

The food side carries real star power too. Oceans Calling welcomes back renowned Chef Robert Irvine alongside culinary stars including Antonia Lofaso, who’ll present lively cooking demos hosted by Jason Biggs. Festival goers also get access to the Ocean City Boardwalk and its resident businesses, plus the iconic Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, both inside the festival grounds and included with admission.

With a lineup this deep and a setting this distinctive, the 2026 edition looks like one of the boardwalk’s biggest yet. Tickets are on sale now.

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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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