Rising country artist, Cole Phillips, releases his latest EP, Steel Toes and Texacos. To accompany today’s release, the official video for “Magnolias in May” is also now live, bringing the song’s heartfelt storytelling to life through a cinematic visual.
The five-track project finds the 20-year-old Oklahoma native continuing to hone his voice as one of country music’s most promising young storytellers. With his signature blend of gritty authenticity, red dirt edge, and emotional depth, Cole leans further into the sound that’s earned him millions of streams and a rapidly growing fanbase.
Each track was co-written by Cole and produced by Trevor Thornton, offering a raw and vivid snapshot of life, heartbreak, and resilience in small-town America.
“This EP has a little bit of everything for everyone, including an old timey train beat in “West Tx.” and a more commercial feel in “Junk Drawer”. I’m excited for folks to hear Steel Toes and Texacos because I think all the different styles of music sum me up as a person. I honestly named the EP Steel Toes and Texacos because I absolutely loved the opening line of the song “Magnolias in May” and it just felt right.”
The EP includes fan-favorite “West Tx”, released last month with an official video that quickly gained traction, as well as standout tracks like the introspective “Junk Drawer” and rowdy, defiant “Back Full of Feathers.”
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Abbey Cone releases her debut album Greener, a chronological retelling of a breakup that begins with the unmatched highs of all-out infatuation, then quickly pivots to the anxiety, melancholy and grief of loss before finally settling into the quiet clarity of closure.
Earlier this week, Holler praised the title track for “channeling the classic country stoics of yesteryear and the cathartic, heart-on-your-sleeve country tinged pop of artists like Morgan Wade and Kelsea Ballerini set against a sonic backdrop that blends the moony, soul soothing folktronica of cottage-core era Taylor Swift with the simple straight-from-the-heart storytelling of Music City’s finest songwriters.”
“This album runs the full spectrum of human emotion,” Abbey says. “It’s about grieving someone and falling in love with someone else at the same time. It’s about discovering that the grass really is greener on the other side.”
Her first full-length project since 2022’s EP Hate Me and her debut LP as an independent artist, Greener opens with the anthemic “If You Were A Song,” which currently sits at over 17 million streams on Spotify, before moving into the post-breakup spiral of “video games,” which Wide Open Country praised as “short, bittersweet, and simply good.” The album also includes the celestial ode to lighting up when you’re feeling down “this little lighter of mine (joy version)” featuring Joy Oladokun, the deceptively titled delusional girl summer anthem “I Hate Springsteen”, which features guitar from John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne, and the ethereal “I Kissed My Friend Last Night,” which All Country News called “a raw, emotional exploration of the messiness that follows the end of a relationship.”
Since moving to Nashville at age 16, Abbey has played the Grand Ole Opry (after being invited by 22-time GRAMMY winner Vince Gill himself), Stagecoach, CMA Fest and C2C Festival, toured with Kimberly Perry, Mickey Guyton and Morgan Wade, started her own writers round series called The Pony Show and joined Brittney Spencer at her Tiny Desk performance. And earlier this year, she collaborated with Mat Kearney for a duet version of “Good Thing Going On.”
Tonight, she will return to the Opry to celebrate the release of her album, and later this month, she will hit the road with Fancy Hagood for his spring tour, which includes stops in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta and more.
Greener Tracklist:
1. If You Were A Song (Abbey Cone, Nate Cyphert, Nathan Spicer)
2. video games (Abbey Cone, Cece Coakley, Matt Martin)
3. Worst Case Scenario (Worktape) (Claire Douglas, Madison Kozak, Abbey Cone)
4. I Hate Springsteen (Abbey Cone, Madison Kozak, Joe Ginsburg)
5. Little Bit of You (Abbey Cone, Tom Jordan, Andrew Stoelzing)
6. this little lighter of mine (joy version) (Abbey Cone, Hank Compton, Josh Lovell)
7. Cry That It Happened (Abbey Cone, Ava Suppelsa, Madison Kozak)
8. I Kissed My Friend Last Night (Abbey Cone, Cece Coakley, Matt Martin)
9. Greener (Abbey Cone, Andy Seltzer, Charli Adams, Carys Selvey)
Tour Dates (Supporting Fancy Hagood):
April 17 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge
April 18 – Dallas, TX – Cambridge Room
April 23 – Nashville, TN – EXIT/IN
April 27 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
April 28 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right
April 29 – Philadelphia, PA – The Lounge at World Cafe Live
April 30 – Boston, MA – Middle East Cafe
May 2 – Chicago, IL – Carol’s Pub
May 3 – St. Louis, MO – Duck Room
May 4 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
May 7 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic
Cowgirl and songstress Jenna Paulette releases “How To Make A Cowboy Cry,” her first offering since the September 6, 2024 release of her sophomore album, Horseback.
Written by Paulette, Parker Welling and Casey Brown, and produced by Will Bundy, “How To Make A Cowboy Cry” is reflective of Paulette’s current chapter of life after becoming a wife and mother, and underscores that despite their physical toughness, the quickest way to make cowboys cry lies within life’s most meaningful moments.
“I wrote ‘How To Make A Cowboy Cry’ right after Ross and I eloped,” explains Paulette. “Truthfully, it was before we thought about having kids, and in a conversation where we were dreaming about it, he named our little girl with two family names-and from that moment on I prayed for one. We have lived these moments in this song…from our wedding day, to two pink lines, to a moment in the truck headed in Colorado to work calves listening to Chris Ledoux.”
Traversing her home region of Texas and Oklahoma, Paulette’s Horseback Acoustic Tour kicked off with a sold out show last night in Castroville, Texas. As her April 17 show in Bluff Dale, Texas sold out a week early, Paulette adds three new dates in Clinton, Wisconsin on June 18; Chicago, Illinois on June 19; and Jacksonville, IL on June 20.
At each Horseback Acoustic Tour stop, fans will have a chance to sign up and win a gift card valid for the purchase of one CowboyGirl shirt, courtesy of Ely Cattleman. Fans will sign up at the merch table and must be present to win.
Horseback Acoustic Tour Dates:
Apr 11 // Belton, TX // Schoepf’s BBQ
Apr 12 // Edmond, OK // The Old Icehouse
Apr 16 // Conroe, TX // Table At Madeley
Apr 17 // Bluff Dale, TX // Double D BBQ *SOLD OUT
Apr 18 // Paris, TX // The Rail Yard
June 18 // Clinton, WI // Boxcar’s
June 19 // Chicago, IL // Carol’s
June 20 // Jacksonville, IL // Twisted Tree Music Hall
Ryan Charles (a.k.a. Jiggy Buckaroo) shares his new single “Duffy’s Bluff” via River House Artists. Masterfully fusing hip-hop with his signature Western flair, the hard-hitting song arrives with a feel-good music video featuring Charles on a joyride.
“Duffy’s Bluff” follows the 2000s rap-inspired “Ten Sleep” which was released in February. Over the last few years, the rising rap sensation has been steadily releasing new music, including the breakup bop “Heartbreak Rodeo,” the twanging “What In Tarnation” and the Kase Closed-featuring “Cold Beer Diet,” which garnered praise from Lyrical Lemonade, The Source and more.
With 64+ million global career streams to date, Charles is quickly building a name for himself by meshing the cowboy lifestyle with his razor-sharp rap flow. Hailing from Buffalo, WY, he has been on tour opening for country acts like fellow Wyoming artist Ian Munsick, Breland, and hip-hop sensation Atlus. He got his start on the inaugural season of American Song Contest, becoming a fan favorite with his original country-rap viral song “New Boot Goofin’.” The song, paired with his charismatic style, caught the attention of rap legend and show host Snoop Dogg.
A natural-born entertainer who’s known for his signature fashion sense, light-hearted twang, and high-energy live shows, Charles continues to work on new music in Nashville, TN. Now, he is positioning himself as one to watch as he leads the charge for Western rap and hip-hop without adhering to genre lines.
Next week, Charles will hit the road for a string of West Coast shows including stops in Seattle and San Diego – see below for a full list of dates.
Ryan Charles Tour Dates:
April 19 – Bend, OR – The Cross-Eyed Cricket Watering Hole
April 20 – Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge
May 8 – San Diego, CA – Moonshine Beach
June 27 – Lakehead-Lakeshore, CA – Lakeshore Inn & RV
Cypress Hill has unveiled “I Ain’t Goin Out Like That (Live at the Royal Albert Hall),” the second track to be released in advance of the eagerly anticipated Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall, a full length live album and concert video immortalizing the hip hop icons’ now legendary collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra-to be released June 6 via Mercury Studios.
Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall will be released on multiple physical and digital formats, with physical formats including DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, limited edition 2CD, 180g Half-Speed Mastered black vinyl, 180g Half-Speed Mastered Gold colored vinyl (limited edition D2C exclusive available for all territories), and limited edition cassette. Fans watching the film on Blu-ray can experience the concert in Dolby Atmos audio, offering a sonic experience that puts the viewer right in the Royal Albert Hall.
Fans will have the opportunity to get a sneak peek at Black Sunday At The Royal Albert Hall on May 3 at Veeps through a ticketed stream. Fans can preorder tickets at https://veeps.events/cypress-hill-announce and will be able to bundle their ticket purchase with the various physical releases.
Having just completed an exclusive theatrical run via Mercury Studios in partnership with Iconic Events Releasing, Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall brings the unprecedented collision of the trio’s 1993 masterpiece with one of the world’s most renowned orchestral ensembles to the eyes and ears of music lovers everywhere. A historic spectacle previously witnessed only by the thousands of Cypress devotees who packed Royal Albert Hall on July 10, 2024, the live album and feature-length video release of Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall will allow the world at large to witness the intoxicating dark magic conjured when Cypress Hill and the 70-strong LSO bring this multi-platinum opus to life together-an unforgettable audiovisual experience.
The tracklist for Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra: Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall is as follows (all formats):
I Wanna Get High
I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That
Insane in the Brain
When the Sh*t Goes Down
Lick a Shot
Cock the Hammer
Interlude
3 Lil’ Putos
Legalize It
Hits From the Bong
What Go Around Come Around, Kid
A to the K
Hand on the Glock
Break ’em off Some
Dr. Greenthumb
Illusions
Money
Cuban Necktie
How I Could Just Kill a Man
(Rock) Superstar
Band Introductions
Finn Wolfhard shares a new track and accompanying music video for the latest offering in his solo music endeavor, “Trailers after dark.” The single is another captivating taste from his debut solo record Happy Birthday, out June 6th via AWAL.
“Trailers after dark” leads with melancholy acoustic guitar strumming before Wolfhard’s textured vocals kick in as he pleads, “Oh my darling, don’t stop loving me.” The single’s sonic landscape is reminiscent of that of the early indie hits of the aughts, while incorporating clean, modern production to create the perfect nostalgia-tinged ballad for a rainy day. The music video, directed by Marcus Mazzulla, is an enthralling, cool-toned and darkly comforting visual accompaniment to the track.
Happy Birthday marks Wolfhard’s first solo release after several releases with his bands Calpurnia and The Aubreys. A dizzying rush of nine songs, the album grew out of Wolfhard’s personal challenge to pen 50 songs by the end of 2022. He admits, “I ended up writing a lot of terrible stuff, but a few of those songs I was really proud of went to the Aubreys. I started realizing a general theme in a lot of the other songs involving my identity, anxieties, nostalgia, childhood and loneliness. All of that was a part of a bigger puzzle. I knew I wanted to make a record, but I didn’t know with which songs.”
For Wolfhard, the album is another accomplished step forward in his evolution as a musician and songwriter. “If I were to walk away and listen to it in 10 years, I think it would feel like the beginning of a specific style and voice,” he says. “It can be interesting being a younger person in any kind of industry, because even though I’ve been acting for a long time, I’m still only 22, and things start to take shape at different times in your life. I hope that when I look back on this record, I’ll be proud of the melodies and the songwriting. I want to be accepting of myself at that time. It was okay that I felt like that and made a record about it and then moved on to new experiences.”
Across the album’s nine tracks, Wolfhard tackles themes of anxiety, losing yourself in a relationship and subsequently finding yourself again, the carefreeness of childhood, and more, through a maturing, refined-yet-growing worldview. The album is a whirling, relatable journey of emerging from adolescence and another striking project from Wolfhard’s creative prowess.
Liam St. John, the blues/rock heavy hitter out of Nashville, today released his newest single, “Greyhound Bus Blues,” featuring GRAMMY Award winning bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle. An acoustic video of the song with both Liam and Molly also premiered today on Bluegrass Situation. While the song initially strikes as a high energy, toe-tapping hit, the frank lyrics explore St. John’s journey from Oregon to Nashville, and the demons he may or may not have been running from.
“‘Greyhound Bus Blues’ is a song about coming to terms with the baggage I have and the habits I’ve formed from my life experiences,” said St. John. “I spent my time on this song and I actually re-wrote it a year after it was initially written. It’s a special one to me so I wanted it to feel just right. Johnny Black did an excellent job of capturing the soul of this song sonically. The only thing that could make it better was a feature from a badass bluegrass singin’, flat picking legend from the great state of California. Well we found just that, and her name is Molly Tuttle. She’s world class and salt of the earth, and she gave ‘Greyhound Bus Blues’ so much more life and breadth. I’m so proud of this song and so pleased with our collaboration.”
The new track evokes the free-spirited (yet sometimes troubled) “ramblin’ man” from an era gone by and the addition of Tuttle’s vocals and guitar prowess is the perfect compliment to St. John’s gritty, emotional sound and authentic storytelling.
“I’m a new fan of Liam St John and when I heard ‘Greyhound Bus Blues’ I knew right away that I wanted to sing and play on it,” said Tuttle. “It has everything I love about great songwriting: grit, adventure, and storytelling that is authentic to who Liam is. I’m excited for this track to be out in the world and I hope to get to sing it with Liam at one of his shows sometime!”
“Greyhound Bus Blues” is the second single after the 2024 release of St.John’s debut EP, “Believer,” which “Holler” called “an evocative, rock-tinged anthem that oozes gravitas and atmospheric, weighty verses.” The “Believer” EP dug into St. John’s emotional past, exploring struggles with faith, substance abuse, difficult relationships and more.
St. John’s previous single, “Devil in Disguise,” was the first track to be released from an upcoming collection, and was deeply rooted in authentic, intimate storytelling through an expansive sound with instrumentation nodding to Western blues–harmonica, slide guitar, and haunting harmonies.
Currently on tour through April with ZZ Ward on her “Dirty Sun Tour,” followed by headliner dates in select cities, St. John also recently announced a coveted performance slot at the legendary CMA Fest in June. A full list of upcoming tour dates are below. For more information about shows and tickets, visit liamstjohn.com
LIAM ST. JOHN SPRING 2025 TOUR
* headliner
** with ZZ Ward
^^ festival
APRIL
1 – St. Louis, MO – City Winery St. Louis**
2 – Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theatre**
4 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre**
5 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom**
6 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater**
8 – New Orleans, LA – Chickie Wah Wah**
9 – Memphis, TN – Hernando’s Hideaway**
11 – Atlanta, GA – City Winery Atlanta**
12 – Nashville, TN – City Winery Nashville**
24 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room*
25 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819*
26 – Huntington, WV – The Loud*
JUNE
5 – Nashville, TN – CMA Fest 2025^^
6 – Mckinney, TX – KHYI’s 29th Annual Texas Music Revolution^^
AUGUST
30 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Once in a Blue Moon Festival^^
Doves have opened the secret vault of the studio sessions that bore the fruits of their recent UK Official Album Chart Top 5 album, Constellations For The Lonely, to reveal the driving atmospherics of the Lean Into The Wind, the previously unreleased lead track from their upcoming, limited edition Record Store Day 2025 vinyl release.
Accompanied by a second song, Cally, the strictly-limited AA-side 10″ red vinyl puts two Jimi Goodwin-fronted songs to the fore, with the lead track’s advance, digital release seeing the band confront dark forces that easily tempt the lonely and lost.
Completing a celebratory and SOLD-OUT UK Tour last month, reuniting with fans in some corners of the country for the first time in over 15 years, the release of even more new music from Doves keeps up momentum during the band’s busiest period since returning from hiatus seven years ago.
Heading into festival season with landmark, outdoor appearances on the horizon, including a headline show at Halifax’s Piece Hall on Sat 23 August 2025, the band’s expanded songbook is set to find added poignancy and power beneath starlit summer skies.
Russ Ballard is pleased to share his new single and accompanying video “You Can Do Magic,” taken from his upcoming double album ‘Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired,’ out on April 25th, 2025 via Frontiers Music Srl.
This release is a real treat for all rock fans: the first CD contains new songs, which show once again that the inspiration never left RUSS, while the second CD includes brand new recordings of famous hits either penned or performed by him during the years.
About the new single, RUSS BALLARD says: “America’s management asked me to write a song for them. Their best song for me was always ‘Horse With No Name’ – it had that hypnotic theme. I thought if they could get another hypnotic one – that would be a big hit… So, I wrote ‘You Can Do Magic’ and it was a hit for them!”
He also expresses his excitement for the album: “It’s a buzz releasing a new album. What started as my ‘Lockdown-tapes’ during the pandemic became an album! During lockdown, my studio was a life saver for me, and I found new ways of writing and recording. The result gives the listeners a good insight into this time – have a listen!”
Creed, in partnership with Sixthman, the leader in festivals and music cruises for more than two decades, has announced the fourth voyage of their hugely successful rock celebration at sea, Summer of ’99 & Beyond Cruise 2026, sailing April 17-21, 2026 from Miami, FL to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas for the first time ever on the luxurious Norwegian Joy.
The latest installment for 2026 comes after the previous three adventures sold out during the pre-sale. First AvailableBooking for Summer of ’99 & Beyond Cruise Alumni begins April 23 and continues to April 24 at 11:59 pm (ET). First Round Presale Signups for New Sailors starts April 25 and conclude April 30 at 11:59 pm (ET). Public On Sales follow on May 2 at 2:00 pm (ET), exclusively at www.summerof99cruise.com. Bookings are available for just $100 down per person when they make reservations before August 17 or while cabins last.
Summer of ’99 & Beyond Cruise 2026 will again see CREED – comprised of Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall, and Scott Phillips – performing two very special Pool Deck headline sets along with non-stop music from an star-powered lineup including 3 Doors Down, Collective Soul, Filter, Living Colour, Black Stone Cherry, Oleander, 12 Stones, Tim Montana, Smile Empty Soul, and more to be announced, all hosted by Eddie Trunk and The Power Hour (w/ Matt Pinfield, Caity Babs, & Josh Bernstein). The immersive musical journey will also feature a thrilling variety of exclusive artist experiences, activities, and so much more to make Summer of ’99 & Beyond Cruise 2026 a once-in-a-lifetime adventure never to be forgotten.
Summer of ’99 & Beyond cruisers will enjoy all the incredible amenities available aboard the opulent Norwegian Joy, including fully stocked bars at (almost) every corner, tasty dining options, the Pool Deck (with multiple hot tubs), the Joy Club Casino, Mandara Spa, Body Waves Fitness Center, Sports Court, and much more.
Beyond the onboard experience, guests will have the chance to enjoy a shore excursion to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, an idyllic private island paradise exclusively for Last Resort Cruisers known for its white sand beaches and clear blue waters. Guests who purchase a beverage package will be able to use it for all inclusive drinks on Great Stirrup Cay. Please note: Shore excursions will not be available until 4-6 weeks prior to sailing. Cruisers will be able to book an excursion upon receipt of their official booking number.
CREED SUMMER OF ’99 & BEYOND CRUISE 2026
Sailing April 17-21, 2026
From Miami, FL to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
Aboard Norwegian Joy
LINEUP:
Creed (Performing Two Pool Deck Headline Sets)
3 Doors Down
Collective Soul
Filter
Living Colour
Black Stone Cherry
Oleander
12 Stones
Tim Montana
Smile Empty Soul
+ More To Be Announced
Hosted By Eddie Trunk and The Power Hour
(w/ Matt Pinfield, Caity Babs, & Josh Bernstein)
