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Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson Share “Going To Raleigh” From Forthcoming Album ‘What Did the Blackbird Say To The Crow’

Eric Alper
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Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson Share “Going To Raleigh” From Forthcoming Album ‘What Did the Blackbird Say To The Crow’

Today, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson have shared “Going to Raleigh” from their upcoming album of North Carolina fiddle and banjo music What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow (April 18 / Nonesuch Records). Originally released in 1939 by western North Carolina string band The Carolina Playboys, this version (learned by Robinson from Evelyn Shaw) was recorded at the historic former plantation Mill Prong House & Preservation in Red Springs, NC.

Giddens says, “Mill Prong is located on a complicated patch of land – once owned by an indigenous farmer subsequently kicked off the land, bought by Gaels (an oppressed population overseas) who then bought African Americans to work it – a microcosm of American history. ‘Going to Raleigh’ was recorded by a nearby stream that has seen it all.”

Produced by Giddens and Joseph “joebass” DeJarnette, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow finds Giddens and Robinson reuniting to play eighteen of their favorite North Carolina tunes: a mix of instrumentals and tunes with words. Many were learned from their late mentor, the legendary North Carolina Piedmont musician Joe Thompson, one of the last musicians of his era and his community to carry on the southern Black string band tradition; one song is from another musical hero, the late Etta Baker, from whom they also learned by listening to recordings of her playing. Giddens and Robinson recorded outdoors at Thompson’s and Baker’s North Carolina homes. They were accompanied by the sounds of nature, including a roaring chorus of cicadas, creating a unique soundscape. Watch the previously released videos for “Hook and Line” and “Marching Jaybird.”

In further tribute to Giddens’ North Carolina roots, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow will arrive just a week before Biscuits & Banjos, the inaugural edition of her first festival. Taking place April 25–27 in downtown Durham and curated by Giddens, Biscuits & Banjos highlights the deep roots and enduring legacy of Black music, art, and culture while fostering community and storytelling. The sold-out festival will feature a much-anticipated Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion, their first performance together in more than a decade.

The full festival schedule will be unveiled on April 4 and include a robust offering of free, community programming and a Biscuit Trail activating local restaurants with biscuit-inspired cuisine, alongside musical performances and panel conversations with chefs, authors, artists and scholars alike.

The panels include:

Black Voices in Country Music: A Conversation with Rhiannon Giddens, Rissi Palmer, and Alice Randall
Let the Church Say Amen!: Ritual, Storytelling, and the Oral Tradition with Dasan Ahanu and Dr. Lalenja Harrington
Intentional Community: Celebrating Black Voices in Festivals and Live Events with Holly G, Brandi Waller-Pace, Rissi Palmer, and Dr. Dena Ross Jennings
The Art of the Biscuit A Conversation with Michael Twitty, Toni Tipton-Martin, and Ricky Moore, presented by Biscuitville

The full line up can be viewed now on biscuitsandbanjos.com/lineup

Biscuits & Banjos is a non-profit, community responsive festival. Funding for Biscuits & Banjos is made possible in part by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the National Endowment for the Arts, North Carolina Humanities, the Danielle Rose Paikin Foundation, the Harper House Music Foundation, the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Warner Music Group & Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund (a sponsored project of Moore Impact), Duke Arts, Duke Community Affairs, 21c Museum Hotel, Biscuitville, the City of Durham, Durham County, Discover Durham, North Carolina Arts Council, Durham Arts Council, American Tobacco Campus, Blue Ridge Music Center, Sugarlands Distilling Company, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Proximity Brewing Company, Old Hillside Bourbon, Deering Banjos, Elderly Instruments, The Durham Hotel, The Hello in There Foundation, American Tobacco Campus, and other generous individual donors, sponsors, civic, and community partners.

Earlier this month, Giddens announced a number of new dates on her Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue tour–featuring Robinson and four other string musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell. On June 18 they will headline the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, joined by special guests Our Native Daughters– in their first performance since 2022–as well as Steve Martin, Ed Helms, and more. Additional shows in July have been added to the itinerary as well; see below for the full list.

Pre-order the album here: https://giddensrobinson.lnk.to/BlackbirdCrow

What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow Track List:

Rain Crow
Brown’s Dream
Hook and Line
Pumpkin Pie
Duck’s Eyeball
Ryestraw
Little Brown Jug
Going to Raleigh
Country Waltz
Molly Put the Kettle On
Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
John Henry
Love Somebody
Ebenezer
Old Joe Clark
Old Molly Hare
Marching Jaybird
Walkin’ in the Parlor

Tour Dates:

April 25-27 – Durham, NC – Biscuits & Banjos

April 30 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel

May 2 – Miami, FL – Miami Beach Bandshell

May 3 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern

May 4 – Birmingham, AL – Jemison Concert Hall @ Alys Robinson Stephens Center

May 7 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

May 8 – Cincinnati, OH – Memorial Hall

May 9 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall

May 11 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

May 13 – Grand Rapids, MI – St. Cecilia Music Center

May 15 – Toronto, ON – Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music

May 16 – Toronto, ON – Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music

May 17 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre, Southam Hall

June 15 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre

June 16 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Theater

June 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl (with Our Native Daughters, Steve Martin, Ed Helms, Leyla McCalla, Amythyst Kiah and Allison Brown)

June 19 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park

June 21 – Berkeley, CA – Zellerbach

June 23 – Seattle, WA – The Moore Theater

June 26 – Montréal, QC – Théâtre Maisonneuve @ Montreal Jazz Festival

July 11 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre

July 12 – Flagstaff, AZ – Pepsi Amphitheater

July 14 – Santa Fe, NM – Lensic Performing Arts Center

July 18 – Sonoma, CA – Green Music Center

July 19 – Navarro, CA – Redwood Ramble

July 21 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery

July 25 – Boise, ID – Egyptian Theater

July 28 – Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Park

July 29 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre

July 31 – Vail, CO – Vilar Performing Arts Center

Brittany Davis’ ‘Black Thunder’ Arrives June 13 With Improvised Spirit and Unforgettable Power

Eric Alper
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Brittany Davis’ ‘Black Thunder’ Arrives June 13 With Improvised Spirit and Unforgettable Power

Black Thunder is the new album by Seattle-based artist Brittany Davis, arriving June 13 on Loosegroove Records, a label run by Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard. The album’s first single, “Amid The Blackout Of The Night” is out today (listen/share here). Featuring Davis on keys and vocals, Evan Flory-Barnes on bass, and D’Vonne Lewis on drums, the Josh Evans-produced offering recalls artists like Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk in its immersive, incantatory spirit.
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The trio — who barely knew each other previously — improvised Black Thunder in a surge of interactive creativity across two days in the studio. The pressure-cooker environment did away with overthinking and brought each musician’s A-game. Steeped in Black and Afrocentric cultural influences, this is Davis’ most poignant and cathartic work to date.
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“Brittany, Evan, and D’Vonne have, in some way, been preparing for this recording all their lives. Honing their instrumental craft and ability, of course — but more importantly, preparing their ears, emotions, and egos to be fully present and create absolutely in the moment,” Evans says. “To listen deeply and respond empathetically. To speak with uncomfortable honesty. To listen, and be vulnerable.”
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Davis — who has been blind since birth — arrives at Black Thunder via considerable headwinds. In 2023, she released her debut album, Image Issues, also via Loosegroove Records. Image Issues met critical hosannas, including recognition and appearance on NPR Tiny Desk Home, KEXP, World Cafe and SPIN. As NPR’s All Songs Considered put it, “Brittany’s music is a potent expression of hope…giving the listener courage to face the challenges the world throws at them.” And American Songwriter hailed her “voice that would fill the deepest cavern. The blind singer/songwriter is a marvel, imbued with talent and presence.” In 2023, Davis was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, which noted, “She uses her music to connect with people and fight for a more inclusive world.”
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​Black Thunder marks a shift away from Image Issues’ urban soul-funk built upon drum machines and programmed keys; instead opting for a fully live, organic performance, one that showcases her stylistic maturation, pure expression and the breadth of her versatility.

“She is channeling something or someone else,” the producer adds. “Voices, spirits, the divine — something bigger than the room itself. Something more than just the three musicians playing — something older, something deeper.”
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“So many things I’ve never seen / but I’ve touched it all, it seems,” Davis sings on the album’s first single, “Amid the Blackout of the Night.” “She’s never seen the stars; she’s never seen the sun nor moon; she’s never seen the night. But how can she somehow still perfectly capture that feeling of looking up into the night sky?” Evans says. “Is there more to seeing than just sight?”
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​Black Thunder is the work of a sui generis artist charting a course all her own. By bulldozing easy narratives and accessing the realm of pure feeling, Davis’ latest missive is a creative thunderclap that will be impossible to unhear.

BLACK THUNDER​ ​Track Listing
1. Ancestors
2. All You Get
3. Ancestors II
4. Amid the Blackout of the Night
5. Ancestors III
6. Black Thunder
7. Ancestors IV
8. Change Me
9. Ancestors V
10. Girl (Don’t You Know)
11. Girl (Now We’re the Same)
12. Ancestors VI
13. Mirrors
14. Ancestors VII
15. Sarah’s Song
16. Sun and Moon
17. Ancestors VIII
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​Black Thunder is out June 13 on Loosegroove Records. | Available now for pre-save and pre-order on digital and vinyl formats HERE.

Slaughter ‘Revolution’ Reissued on Vinyl With Restored Artwork by Ioannis

Eric Alper
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Slaughter ‘Revolution’ Reissued on Vinyl With Restored Artwork by Ioannis

Slaughter was formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1988. The group was founded by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum, who previously played together in the band Vinnie Vincent Invasion. The addition of guitarist Tim Kelly and drummer Blas Elias allowed Slaughter to quickly gain attention for their lively performances, catchy hooks, and melodic guitar solos. Slaughter’s debut album Stick It to Ya had three singles released that hit the Billboard Hot 100: the hit “Fly to the Angels” (US#19), and the moderate hits “Up All Night” (US#27) and “Spend My Life” (US#39).

Slaughter has continued to release new albums and tour constantly, and now Deko Entertainment is re-issuing for the first time on vinyl their 1997 release Revolution, a retro/psychedelic vibe permeates this album, as clearly evident on such highlights as “American Pie” and the long and winding epic “Heaven it Cries.” The artwork has been restored with the assistance of original art director Ioannis (Deep Purple, Styx, Fates Warning, etc…) and it has been re-mastered on 180g vinyl in two color variations, standard Black and deluxe Blue.

There is a limited amount (100 copies) of a CD/LP Bundle with at 10×10 print signed by original cover artist Ioannis which includes the Blue vinyl and 6-Panel CD Digipak. Revolution will drop on May 30th with bundles expected to ship mid-May.

Pre-order Revolution on CD and LP while supplies last here.

Tracklist:
American Pie
Heaven It Cries
Tongue N’ Groove
Can We Find A Way
Stuck On You
Hard To Say Good-Bye
Revolution
Guck
Heat Of The Moment
Rocky Mountain Way
You’re My Everything
I’m Gone
Ad-Majorem-Dei-Gloriam

20 Songs Inspired by Books and Literature

Eric Alper
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20 Songs Inspired by Books and Literature

You think your English teacher didn’t rock? Think again. For decades, artists across genres have cracked open books, dog-eared some pages, and turned literature into lyric sheets. From Shakespeare to Sylvia Plath, these 20 songs prove the pen and the guitar are mightier than the sword.

1. Kate Bush – “Wuthering Heights”
Yes, that voice. Kate Bush’s debut single was straight-up Brontëcore, telling the story of Cathy and Heathcliff with gothic drama only she could deliver. A ghostly howl of romance inspired by Emily Brontë’s novel? Iconic.

2. Nas – “N.Y. State of Mind”
Nas channels the raw intensity of Native Son and the realism of James Baldwin throughout Illmatic. With its vivid imagery and existential weight, it’s street poetry that reads like a modern classic.

3. The Beatles – “I Am the Walrus”
Inspired in part by Lewis Carroll’s The Walrus and the Carpenter, John Lennon wrote this song to be delightfully confusing, like a trippy poem you’d study in English Lit. Plus, he threw in a live radio reading of King Lear. No big deal.

4. Hozier – “Take Me to Church”
While not quoting a specific book, Hozier’s fire-and-brimstone lyrics read like a queer reinterpretation of biblical texts and Oscar Wilde’s philosophy. Gothic literature meets Irish soul, and the result is pure poetry.

5. David Bowie – “1984”
Big Brother’s watching. Inspired by Orwell’s 1984, this track off Diamond Dogs brought dystopia to the dance floor. Bowie was obsessed with the novel and even planned a musical based on it. Imagine Ziggy Stardust: The Surveillance Years.

6. Tracy Chapman – “Behind the Wall”
Chapman’s stark, spoken-word song feels like it could’ve lived in a Toni Morrison novel. Without music, just voice, she tells the story of domestic violence and systemic failure with chilling, literary economy.

7. Panic! At The Disco – “Time to Dance”
This hyper-theatrical track is inspired by Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters. With lyrics lifted straight from the novel, it’s high-drama glam rock for the postmodern reader. Who says you can’t mosh with a library card?

8. Kendrick Lamar – “Mortal Man”
Referencing The Autobiography of Malcolm X and echoing themes from James Baldwin, Lamar questions leadership, loyalty, and legacy. Literature isn’t just on his bookshelf—it’s in his DNA.

9. Metallica – “For Whom the Bell Tolls”
Metal and Hemingway? Yes, please. This blistering anthem takes its name and anti-war themes from the classic novel. A reminder that literary despair can shred just as hard as any riff.

10. Lana Del Rey – “Off to the Races”
Lana taps into Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita with her signature mix of danger and glamour. It’s problematic, provocative, and pure pop noir—like if you turned a dusty paperback into a perfume ad.

11. The Smiths – “Cemetry Gates”
Morrissey reads Wilde and Yeats so you don’t have to—but you’ll want to. A song about plagiarism, death, and poetry? Sounds morbidly joyful, which is peak Smiths energy.

12. Janelle Monáe – “Many Moons”
Drawing from Octavia Butler and Afrofuturism, Monáe’s music (and whole Metropolis concept) is basically a syllabus in motion. Science fiction, social justice, and androids in love? Class dismissed.

13. Stevie Wonder – “Pastime Paradise”
This isn’t directly about a novel, but the spiritual themes echo The Souls of Black Folk and The Bible. Stevie blends gospel, social critique, and poetry into a piece that lives on far beyond the page.

14. Taylor Swift – “Love Story”
It’s Shakespeare-lite but catchy as hell. Swift modernizes Romeo and Juliet with a happier ending—and introduced a generation to the Bard through glittery pop-country. English teachers everywhere nodded in approval.

15. Frank Ocean – “Novacane”
Ocean sings about detachment and numbness with echoes of Brave New World. There’s no love story here—just a slow fade into synthetic pleasure and isolation. Literature as lifestyle.

16. Rush – “Tom Sawyer”
Loosely inspired by the character from Mark Twain’s novel, this song turns Tom into a modern rebel. “What you say about his company / Is what you say about society”—now that’s thesis statement energy.

17. Solange – “Weary”
While not quoting a book, the tone and themes feel lifted from Audre Lorde and bell hooks. Emotional labor, self-preservation, and Black womanhood are all rendered with quiet, literary power.

18. The Velvet Underground – “Venus in Furs”
Inspired by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s novella of the same name, this track dives into themes of dominance, submission, and surreal eroticism. Lou Reed turned taboo literature into rock legend.

19. Bad Bunny – “Si Veo a Tu Mamá”
Opening with a nod to The Little Prince in the form of a melody sample, the song deals with longing and emotional immaturity, echoing the book’s themes of nostalgia and loneliness—with a reggaetón twist.

20. Leonard Cohen – “Suzanne”
Cohen was a published poet before he was a songwriter, and Suzanne is pure literature set to music. Every line feels pulled from a novel you meant to read but now feel like you’ve lived.

Whether they’re drawing from dystopias, feminist theory, romantic tragedy or gothic horror, these artists remind us that books are the stuff of choruses, riffs, and revolutions, and the classroom. And if music is the soundtrack to your life, these songs prove that literature is the script.

5 Surprising Facts About The Grateful Dead’s ‘American Beauty’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About The Grateful Dead’s ‘American Beauty’

Released in November 1970, American Beauty marked a turning point for the Grateful Dead — from acid-drenched psychedelia to heartfelt Americana. And like the best road trips, the stories behind it are full of unexpected detours. Here are 5 of them.

1. It Was Born From Betrayal and Became a Healing Force
American Beauty wasn’t just recorded in a studio — it was summoned through heartbreak, exhaustion, and betrayal. After discovering that their manager Lenny Hart (father of drummer Mickey Hart) had embezzled funds and skipped town, the Grateful Dead were broke, bruised, and looking for solid ground. Instead of leaning into the chaos, they turned inward, crafting gentle harmonies and Americana-infused sounds that felt like balm for a bruised generation. The magnetism of Wally Heider’s studio, surrounded by fellow psychedelic seekers like Santana and Jefferson Airplane, offered sanctuary. For bassist Phil Lesh, who was grieving the death of his father, it was more than music — it was medicine.

2. “Box of Rain” Was a Love Letter to a Dying Father
Phil Lesh had never sung lead on a studio track before “Box of Rain.” But with his father gravely ill, he wanted a song to carry his emotions — and Robert Hunter delivered. Hunter used Lesh’s scat-sung melody as the roadmap and wrote what he later described as one of the fastest lyrics he’d ever composed. “By ‘box of rain,’ I meant the world we live on,” he explained. Lesh practiced the song driving to and from his father’s nursing home. That deep intention gave the song a spiritual weight, making it not just an opening track but an anthem of presence, impermanence, and cosmic compassion.

3. They Weren’t Just Influenced by the Counterculture — They Were the Counterculture
It’s hard to overstate how much American Beauty reflects the late-60s ethos of musical cross-pollination. Jerry Garcia’s experiments with pedal steel on Déjà Vu led to jam sessions with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Neil Young, all of whom were regulars in the same Northern California scene. Bill Kreutzmann credited Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with inspiring the Dead’s newfound focus on harmonies, but Crosby graciously clarified: “They already had their own style — they were just great tale-tellers.” What American Beauty proved was that the psychedelic mind could find peace in a country cadence, and radical truth-telling could wear a flannel shirt instead of a tie-dye.

4. “Friend of the Devil” Was Born in a Baseball Conversation
Mandolinist David Grisman, fresh from the dissolution of Earth Opera, ran into Garcia at a baseball game in Fairfax, California — because, of course, this was 1970 and that kind of magic still happened. Garcia casually invited him to drop by the studio, and just like that, Grisman was laying down mandolin tracks on “Ripple” and “Friend of the Devil.” That offhand invitation led to one of the most iconic acoustic collaborations in Dead history. The track’s folk-roots spirit and elegant picking would go on to influence everyone from bluegrass pickers to jam bands, proving that the Dead’s musical curiosity knew no genre boundaries.

5. “Truckin’” Took Their Worst Night and Turned It Into a National Treasure
The Dead’s arrest in New Orleans during their 1970 tour could’ve been a low point. Instead, they made it immortal. With lines like “Busted, down on Bourbon Street,” “Truckin’” captured the spirit of a band that rolled with life’s punches — hard. Co-written by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, and Robert Hunter, the song was a snapshot of the road, the drugs, the paranoia, and the poetry of being young and on tour in America. In 1997, the Library of Congress declared the song a national treasure. Because when you sum up an entire era in one line — “What a long, strange trip it’s been” — you earn your place in history.

More than 50 years later, American Beauty still sounds like a warm fire on a cold night. It’s proof that even the trippiest band can find beauty in simplicity. And that sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is write a beautiful song.

5 Surprising Facts About Tom Petty’s ‘Wildflowers’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Tom Petty’s ‘Wildflowers’

Released in 1994, Wildflowers wasn’t just another album — it was Tom Petty at his most raw, reflective, and free. It captured heartbreak, healing, and hope in one beautifully understated package. And behind its acoustic guitars and Rick Rubin’s warm production lie stories you probably haven’t heard.

1. It Was Supposed to Be a Double Album (And One of the Best Songs Was Given to Rod Stewart?!)
Tom Petty originally recorded 25 songs for Wildflowers, fully intending it to be a sprawling double album. But Warner Bros. exec Lenny Waronker thought it was “too long” (we strongly disagree). So 10 tracks were left off—including “Leave Virginia Alone,” which was so good, Petty gave it to Rod Stewart, who turned it into a hit the following year. Others were chopped up, reworked, or saved for the She’s the One soundtrack. It took until 2020 for the full version to finally get released as Wildflowers & All the Rest. Worth the wait? Absolutely.

2. The Heartbreakers Were There—Even If They Weren’t on the Cover
Though Wildflowers is technically a Tom Petty solo album, it was basically a Heartbreakers project in disguise. Everyone played on it except drummer Stan Lynch, who was fired right before the album dropped. Petty brought in Steve Ferrone after a long audition process—and Ferrone later became the Heartbreakers’ full-time drummer. So yes, it’s “solo” on paper, but it still has that full Heartbreakers soul and swagger.

3. “Wildflowers” Took 3½ Minutes to Write. Seriously.
Petty described writing the title track as one of the most effortless moments of his life. He said he took a deep breath, hit record, and the entire song just flowed out in a single take. No edits. No rewrites. Just pure stream-of-consciousness magic. He actually thought something must be wrong with it because it came too easy. Sometimes the best songs don’t come from effort—they just arrive fully formed, like gifts from the universe.

4. “You Don’t Know How It Feels” Was Too Honest for TV—So They Played It Backwards
The single “You Don’t Know How It Feels” became a massive hit—but also sparked a mini scandal. The line “Let’s roll another joint” freaked out radio and TV execs, so they created versions where “joint” was played backwards, replaced with other words like “hit,” or just blanked out completely. Still, the song hit #1 on the Billboard Rock charts and won a GRAMMY for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Censorship couldn’t stop the vibe.

5. “Girl on LSD” Was Too Wild for Wildflowers
There was one B-side even too wild for Petty’s most vulnerable album. “Girl on LSD,” originally intended for Wildflowers, was booted off by Warner Bros. for being “too controversial.” In it, Petty sings about girls on every substance from coffee to crystal meth—and in the chorus, confesses that no drug compares to love. It’s bizarre. It’s hilarious. It’s heartfelt in a weird way. And it shows just how unafraid Petty was to push boundaries, even in his most introspective moments.

The album is a diary, a road trip, and a quiet rebellion. It may have come from a place of personal unraveling, but it ended up becoming one of Petty’s greatest triumphs. Whether you heard it back in ’94 or are just discovering it through Wildflowers & All the Rest or the stunning 2021 doc Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free, one thing’s for sure: This record was always meant to find you—whenever you were ready.

Kenny Chesney Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Eric Alper
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Kenny Chesney Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Kenny Chesney, who’s known for spreading positive energy through a singular kind of country hybrid, has taken the music to a whole lot of places. But the soft-spoken songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee had never considered taking his music, his high impact performances and voracious No Shoes Nation into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“That’s just something you don’t dare to imagine,” said Chesney, waiting to step into the Rotunda of the Country Music Hall as this year’s Modern Era Artist of their Class of 2025. “I would never have even thought about being here, because it’s almost too much. Just walking past so many of these bronzes, realizing how many are friends or whose music I’ve listened to my whole life, this is an honor that extends beyond anything my heart would dare think.”

The first country artist to play Sphere Vegas, the man the Los Angeles Times deemed “the people’s superstar” was clearly gobsmacked when Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill read a bio that retraced Chesney’s journey from a kid playing in East Tennessee State’s Bluegrass Band through a Greatest Hits and two distinctive waves of changes the way country music was made. Stressing that Chesney was still creatively striving and growing, Gill beamed introducing the artist he’d known since his first Capricorn Records album in 1993.

“The beauty of this music is that,” Chesney says, “even though it tells some pretty strong truth, country music runs on dreams.

“For me, this is beyond a dream. I keep thinking I’m gonna wake up on my couch back at ETSU. But standing here, this is more than real, it’s surreal. I couldn’t be more thankful or humble.”

Laughing with fellow inductees Tony Brown and June Carter Cash’s children John Carter Cash and Carlene Carter during the class picture, Chesney was clearly thrilled by the honor. With longtime advocate, legendary executive and Country Music Hall of Fame member Joe Galante, who’d signed him, on hand to share the moment, it was a moment of taking in the breadth of his three decade career.

“You might not think about something like this,” Chesney said. “But I have to tell you: when you hear the news, there is no feeling like it – except that moment when you realize they’re not kidding. When [CMA CEO] Sarah Trahern, Joe and Clint (Higham), my manager, came to tell me, once I realized they weren’t having some fun with me, they told me I couldn’t tell a soul.

“I didn’t tell my mom, my dad or even Dale Morris, my other manager. So today, finally, makes it feel real, and man, I am grateful to be in this company.”

Maren Morris Announces New Album D R E A M S I C L E Arriving May 9, 2025

Eric Alper
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Maren Morris Announces New Album D R E A M S I C L E Arriving May 9, 2025

GRAMMY Award-winning artist Maren Morris has announced that her fourth studio album, D R E A M S I C L E, will arrive May 9, 2025. The first taste of the album, “carry me through”, will be unveiled this Thursday, March 27.

D R E A M S I C L E continues an already incredible year for Maren, which includes her first-ever Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations for her song “Kiss The Sky” from The Wild Robot. The album marks a whole new chapter for Maren and follows the release of her August 2024 EP, Intermission.

Maren Morris has broken boundaries, smashed records, and affirmed herself as a dynamic vocalist, prolific songwriter, and showstopping performer on her own terms. Among numerous accolades, she has garnered a GRAMMY Award, five ACM Awards, five CMA Awards, and three Billboard Music Awards. She has earned dozens of multiplatinum and gold certifications worldwide and tallied billions of streams. Her catalog encompasses a trio of acclaimed albums, namely HERO [2016], GIRL [2019], and Humble Quest [2022]. Speaking to her versatility, she’s the rare force of nature equally suited to collaborating with Zedd on the 6x-platinum “The Middle” or duetting with everyone from Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks, and Sheryl Crow to Teddy Swims, Hozier, and Jessie Murph on tracks. Beyond standout late-night television performances, she notably served as guest host for ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! Not to mention, she has sold out tours on multiple continents, gracing hallowed stages in the process. Along the way, she also co-founded The Highwomen with Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires. In September 2023, Maren shared The Bridge, an EP featuring “The Tree” and “Get the Hell Out of Here,” and followed with a cover of Billy Idol’s classic track “Dancing With Myself” in February 2024. She entered a bold new era with the release of her Intermission EP in August, which features “cut!” [feat. Julia Michaels] and the MUNA-produced and playful single “push me over”. Maren, who described Intermission as her “heart journey and gamut of emotions packaged into 5 songs”, is always unapologetically herself – and that remains a core element of her art as she moves forward towards the release of her upcoming album, D R E A M S I C L E.

TRACK LIST
1. lemonade
2. people still show up
3. cry in the car
4. cut!
5. bed no breakfast
6. dreamsicle
7. i hope i never fall in love
8. too good
9. push me over
10. because, of course
11. grand bouquet
12. this is how a woman leaves
13. carry me through
14. holy smoke

 

Elton John and Brandi Carlile Announce World Premiere of ‘Who Believes In Angels?’ Stories From The Edge Of Creation

Eric Alper
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Elton John and Brandi Carlile Announce World Premiere of ‘Who Believes In Angels?’ Stories From The Edge Of Creation

Global music icon Elton John and eleven-time GRAMMY winning superstar Brandi Carlile announce the world premiere of “Who Believes In Angels? Stories From The Edge Of Creation.” This short, intimate film gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the ‘making of’ each song off their forthcoming collaborative album, Who Believes In Angels?

The premiere is set for Friday, April 4th at 92NY and will be followed by a conversation moderated by TCM host Dave Karger with Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Elton’s longtime lyricist and collaborator, Bernie Taupin and GRAMMY-winning producer and songwriter, Andrew Watt. Fans can watch all episodes and the recording of the live Q&A from 92NY exclusively on YouTube beginning April 5th.

“Who Believes In Angels? Stories From The Edge Of Creation” is a candid, 30-minute film series that encapsulates the creative brilliance and unbridled talent of all the musicians who worked on the record. Static cameras positioned around the studio captured thousands of hours of raw footage and ultimately documented the album’s entire creation. Offering fans an unprecedented, searingly honest insight into the emotionally turbulent creative process – breakdowns, breakthroughs, tears, torn up lyric sheets and all. “Stories From The Edge Of Creation” marks the first time that Elton has allowed cameras to film his writing and recording sessions while creating an album.

Who Believes In Angels?, also set for worldwide release on April 4, was announced to huge excitement across the world with the eponymous single ‘Who Believes In Angels?’ garnering widespread acclaim. The album also features the 2025 Oscar nominated song ‘Never Too Late’, created especially for the Disney+ documentary of the same name and unveiled last year to widespread critical acclaim. Who Believes In Angels? was devised by close friends and regular collaborators Elton John, and Brandi Carlile with producer and songwriter Andrew Watt. They set out to create a genuinely collaborative studio album between Elton and Brandi. The album would mix Elton-led songs and Brandi-led songs, with long term collaborator Bernie Taupin and Brandi both contributing lyrics, and producer and co-writer Andrew Watt acting as the producer, mediator and creative conduit. Entering Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound Studios in October 2023 with a completely blank slate, they pushed each other out of their comfort zones to write and record an album completely from scratch in just 20 days. They are backed by a world class band of musicians comprising of Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Pino Palladino (Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan and David Gilmour) and Josh Klinghoffer (Pearl Jam, Beck).

Travis Scott Extends Record-Breaking CIRCUS MAXIMUS WORLD TOUR With New International Stadium Dates

Eric Alper
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Travis Scott Extends Record-Breaking CIRCUS MAXIMUS WORLD TOUR With New International Stadium Dates

Travis Scott today announced the extension of his record-breaking CIRCUS MAXIMUS WORLD TOUR with a series of international stadium shows taking place this fall.

Produced by Live Nation, the limited global run will span five countries, kicking off on Saturday, October 11 in Johannesburg, South Africa at FMB Stadium, before continuing with stops in Delhi, India, Seoul, Korea, Sanya, Hainan, China, and Tokyo, Japan.

Scott’s CIRCUS MAXIMUS WORLD TOUR originally kicked off October 2023 and included 76 sold-out stops across North America, Europe, UK, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand throughout 2023 and 2024. The tour concluded as the highest grossing rap tour in history with $209.3 million and 1.7 million tickets sold.

CIRCUS MAXIMUS 2025 TOUR DATES:
Sat Oct 11 – Johannesburg, South Africa – FMB Stadium
Sat Oct 18 – Delhi, India – Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Sat Oct 25 – Seoul, Korea – Goyang Stadium
Sat Nov 01 – Sanya, Hainan, China – Sanya Stadium *
Sat Nov 08 – Tokyo, Japan – Belluna Dome
*Non-Live Nation Date

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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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