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Five For Fighting Announces 2024 String Quartet Tour With Special Guests Lace & Lee

Eric Alper
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Five For Fighting Announces 2024 String Quartet Tour With Special Guests Lace & Lee

Five For Fighting (aka John Ondrasik) will kick off a series of special string quartet shows beginning April 25 in Lawrence, KS. Ondrasik will be bringing top musicians including Tony-Award winning concertmaster and co-orchestrator of Moulin Rouge! The Musical Katie Kresek (Violin), Melissa Tong (Violin), who toured with Post Malone in 2023, and Broadway’s Chris Cardona (Viola) and Peter Sachon (Cello).

The unique nature of the shows allows Ondrasik to go behind the music and tell stories while the format allows for a deeper dive into the catalog, while there is always a surprise or two in store. Lace & Lee, who opened some dates on last year’s string quartet tour will be this years’ opening act. The folk rock duo of Caroline Lace and Olivia Lee, features ethereal vocals heavily influenced by the mystical wisdom of ’60s and ’70s storytelling with a twist of humor and bard-like prose.

“If it’s spring the Five for Fighting and the fantastic FFF String Quartet is hitting the road! I’m excited to debut new songs, recent arrangements, stories and surprises while sharing the stage with our opener, the fantastic Lace & Lee, my favorite new duo,” says Ondrasik. “As always, this will be a family show that recognizes our troops and first responders, I can’t wait to roll across America with these world class musicians who have become my second family. See you soon!”

Before the tour kicks off, Five For Fighting has been featured in Season VI of The Song hosted by Krista Marie alongside other artists including The Fray, Akon, Hinder, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Neon Trees, and more. The episode will be available to watch soon on The Song’s YouTube channel. Hard Rock International, BMG & Gray Media have joined forces to offer global distribution of the show playing it at over 300 of the company’s Hard Rock properties in over 80 countries including the U.S. Fans will see full performances in Hard Rock Cafés, in casino areas and in hotel rooms.

Ondrasik, along with Let Music Fill My World, a privately funded nonprofit launched by Tullman Community Ventures, announced the return of the Music Matters Challenge, a nationwide competition aimed at rekindling the transformative power of music education in schools across the country. Running through the end of May, the Challenge offers a chance for participants to compete for prizes while making a lasting impact through the power of music.

To date, Five For Fighting, has released six studio albums, including the platinum certified America Town and The Battle for Everything; and the top 10 charting Two Lights, along with an EP and live albums. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned tens of millions of streams and place him as a top 10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist for the 2000s. The reflective “100 Years” has joined “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” as part of the American Songbook and continues to stand the test of time at weddings, birthdays, graduations, memorials, and many a home video. Five For Fighting’s music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning The Blind Side, Hawaii Five-O, The Sopranos and the CBS drama, Code Black.

FIVE FOR FIGHTING STRING QUARTET TOUR DATES:
Fri 4/25 in Lawrence, KS at Liberty Hall
Sat 4/26 in Omaha, NE at The Admiral
Sun 4/27 in Wichita, KS at The Cotillion Ballroom
Tue 4/29 in St. Louis, MO at City Winery St. Louis
Wed 4/30 in McMinnville, TN at Park Theater
Fri 5/2 in Cincinnati, OH at The Ludlow Garage
Sat 5/3 in Pontiac, MI at The Flagstar Strand Theatre
Sun 5/4 in Akron, OH at Goodyear Theater
Wed 5/7 in Nashville, TN at City Winery Nashville
Fri 5/9 in Charlotte, NC at Neighborhood Theatre
Tue 5/13 in Atlanta, GA at City Winery Atlanta
Wed 5/14 in Newberry, SC at Newberry Opera House
Sat 5/17 in Pittsburgh, PA at City Winery Pittsburgh
Mon 5/19 in Annapolis, MD at Rams Head On Stage
Tue 5/20 in Alexandria, VA at The Birchmere

Dylan Marlowe and Conner Smith Announce Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour Kicking Off in April

Eric Alper
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0
Dylan Marlowe and Conner Smith Announce Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour Kicking Off in April

After teasing fans about an upcoming announcement, fellow rising stars Dylan Marlowe and Conner Smith today announce their upcoming co-headlining tour, the “Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour.”

The tour will kick off on April 2 in Columbia, SC at The Senate. Additionally, the tour will include openers Hannah McFarland and and Cole Goodwin. See the dates below:

“Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour”: 
4/2 – The Senate – Columbia, SC
4/3 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL
4/4 – Dallas Bull – Tampa, FL
4/10 – The Signal – Chattanooga, TN
4/11 – The Windjammer – Isle of Palms, SC
4/12 – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre – Wilmington, NC

My Morning Jacket Announces New Album ‘is’ and 2025 Tour

Eric Alper
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0
My Morning Jacket Announces New Album ‘is’ and 2025 Tour

My Morning Jacket is marking the arrival of their eagerly awaited new album, is, with a wide-ranging headline run. MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR gets underway April 1 at Chattanooga, TN’s Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium and then travels into early May. Highlights include a very special three-night homecoming run at Louisville, KY’s historic The Louisville Palace on April 25-27. Additional dates will be announced soon.

A ticket request period for MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR is now underway exclusively to members of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Family “Family Pass” program and will continue through Monday, February 10 at 10:00 am (ET). Standard and VIP ticket requests will then be processed for “Family Pass” holders on Monday, February 10 between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm (ET). Presales will then be available to all remaining members of One Big Family beginning on Tuesday, February 11 at 10:00 am (local). To sign up for One Big Family or to learn more about “Family Pass,” please visit onebigfamily.mymorningjacket.com. Local presales start Wednesday, February 12 at 10:00 am (local). Spotify presales follow on Thursday, February 13 at 10:00 am (local). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 14 at 10:00 am (local). For complete details, please see www.mymorningjacket.com/tour.

My Morning Jacket’s 10th studio album and first full-length new collection in more than three years, is arrives via ATO Records on Friday, March 21. Pre-orders – including limited edition vinyl, CD, and digital download – are available now. Produced by 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam), the album is heralded by the ravishing lead single, “Time Waited,” available everywhere now. An official music video, directed by famed photographer/filmmaker Danny Clinch and featuring new performance footage interspersed with archival photos from throughout the band’s history, is streaming now on YouTube. The band performed “Time Waited” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this week.

For more than 25 years, My Morning Jacket have achieved an incredibly rare feat in the world of rock ‘n’ roll – upholding a long-established cultural legacy while sustaining all the curiosity and creative hunger of their very earliest days. In a monumental step for the Louisville, KY-bred five-piece – vocalist/guitarist Jim James, bassist Tom Blankenship, guitarist Carl Broemel, drummer Patrick Hallahan, keyboardist Bo Koster – is once again expands the limits of their sound and elevates their artistry to unprecedented heights. The result is perhaps the most masterfully realized work yet from a band fully committed to their belief in music as a conduit for revelation of all kinds.

Largely recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, is finds My Morning Jacket deviating from their typically self-produced approach by teaming up with multiple GRAMMY® Award-winner Brendan O’Brien, one of the most esteemed producers in rock music, known for his extensive work with Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam. For James – who has produced or co-produced all of the band’s studio albums since their 1999 debut The Tennessee Fire – the decision to work with O’Brien stemmed from a newfound willingness to open up their process and involve an outside creative force in shaping My Morning Jacket’s restlessly inventive yet nuanced form of psych-rock.

“Up until now I’ve never been able to let go and allow someone else to steer the ship,” James says. “It almost felt like an out-of-body experience to step back and give control over to someone who’s far more accomplished and made so many more records than us, but in the end, I was able to enjoy the process maybe more than I ever have before.”

Prior to joining O’Brien in the studio, My Morning Jacket got together for two highly exploratory writing and recording sessions, amassing over a hundred demos before settling upon the 10 eclectic tracks that eventually comprise the finished album. New songs such as the sprawling, album-opening epic, “Out In The Open” and the delightfully warped “Squid Ink” reveal a band whose voracious creative appetite is wholly matched by a deft command of their visionary musicality. When it came time to name the collection, My Morning Jacket chose a title that speaks to the infinitely unpredictable nature of music-making.

“I like how the word “is” indicates a sense of presence in the now – there’s no logic or rationale behind this record; it just is,” says James. “All these songs came into existence out of an attempt to connect with something beyond the human experiment, which for me is the whole purpose of music – that connection with something larger than us, yet something we are all equally a part of.”

is – which arrives as My Morning Jacket celebrates the 20th anniversary of their 2005’s landmark Z, a lavishly acclaimed collection named by Rolling Stone among “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” – represents another milestone in the band’s ever-evolving body of work, as well as an opportunity to breathe new energy into their historically stunning and hard-driving live performances. James points to the “undeniable force of loving” as the most essential factor in the band’s longevity and unending enchantment with the process of musical creation.

“One of the cool things about being around this long is that we’re not afraid to scrap something if we don’t absolutely love it,” he says. “It feels really great to have a collection of songs we all love this much, and to know that we worked as hard as we possibly could on them. Hopefully, those songs will be helpful to people and give them some kind of peace as they try to deal with the insanity of the world – because that’s what music does for me, and doing the same for others is always my greatest dream come true.”

Widely regarded among the greatest live acts in music today, My Morning Jacket will further celebrate is with an array of top-billed festival performances, including New Orleans, LA’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (May 4). The band is also currently set for the next edition of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday, a three-night music vacation set for April 3-5 at Miramar Beach, FL’s Seascape Resort. In addition to three unique headline shows from My Morning Jacket, the event will see performances from an all-star lineup that includes Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Devon Gilfillian, Dinosaur Jr., Karina Rykman, S.G. Goodman, and Futurebirds, plus Late Night Campfire Sets by Tyler Ramsey, Maggie Halfman, and Bendigo Fletcher, as well as Late Night Silent Jam Performances by Karina Rykman, Eggy, and Illiterate Light. Tickets are on sale now exclusively at topeka.live/onebigholiday25.

My Morning Jacket is excited to continue its long-time partnership with environmental nonprofit REVERB, to build upon previous successes and expand the tour sustainability program, engage fans in the Action Village at each show, and support REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project to accelerate climate solutions within the music industry.

My Morning Jacket is marking the arrival of their eagerly awaited new album, is, with a wide-ranging headline run. MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR gets underway April 1 at Chattanooga, TN’s Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium and then travels into early May. Highlights include a very special three-night homecoming run at Louisville, KY’s historic The Louisville Palace on April 25-27. Additional dates will be announced soon.

A ticket request period for MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR is now underway exclusively to members of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Family “Family Pass” program and will continue through Monday, February 10 at 10:00 am (ET). Standard and VIP ticket requests will then be processed for “Family Pass” holders on Monday, February 10 between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm (ET). Presales will then be available to all remaining members of One Big Family beginning on Tuesday, February 11 at 10:00 am (local). To sign up for One Big Family or to learn more about “Family Pass,” please visit onebigfamily.mymorningjacket.com. Local presales start Wednesday, February 12 at 10:00 am (local). Spotify presales follow on Thursday, February 13 at 10:00 am (local). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 14 at 10:00 am (local). For complete details, please see www.mymorningjacket.com/tour.

My Morning Jacket’s 10th studio album and first full-length new collection in more than three years, is arrives via ATO Records on Friday, March 21. Pre-orders – including limited edition vinyl, CD, and digital download – are available now. Produced by 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam), the album is heralded by the ravishing lead single, “Time Waited,” available everywhere now. An official music video, directed by famed photographer/filmmaker Danny Clinch and featuring new performance footage interspersed with archival photos from throughout the band’s history, is streaming now on YouTube. The band performed “Time Waited” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this week.

For more than 25 years, My Morning Jacket have achieved an incredibly rare feat in the world of rock ‘n’ roll – upholding a long-established cultural legacy while sustaining all the curiosity and creative hunger of their very earliest days. In a monumental step for the Louisville, KY-bred five-piece – vocalist/guitarist Jim James, bassist Tom Blankenship, guitarist Carl Broemel, drummer Patrick Hallahan, keyboardist Bo Koster – is once again expands the limits of their sound and elevates their artistry to unprecedented heights. The result is perhaps the most masterfully realized work yet from a band fully committed to their belief in music as a conduit for revelation of all kinds.

Largely recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, is finds My Morning Jacket deviating from their typically self-produced approach by teaming up with multiple GRAMMY® Award-winner Brendan O’Brien, one of the most esteemed producers in rock music, known for his extensive work with Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam. For James – who has produced or co-produced all of the band’s studio albums since their 1999 debut The Tennessee Fire – the decision to work with O’Brien stemmed from a newfound willingness to open up their process and involve an outside creative force in shaping My Morning Jacket’s restlessly inventive yet nuanced form of psych-rock.

“Up until now I’ve never been able to let go and allow someone else to steer the ship,” James says. “It almost felt like an out-of-body experience to step back and give control over to someone who’s far more accomplished and made so many more records than us, but in the end, I was able to enjoy the process maybe more than I ever have before.”

Prior to joining O’Brien in the studio, My Morning Jacket got together for two highly exploratory writing and recording sessions, amassing over a hundred demos before settling upon the 10 eclectic tracks that eventually comprise the finished album. New songs such as the sprawling, album-opening epic, “Out In The Open” and the delightfully warped “Squid Ink” reveal a band whose voracious creative appetite is wholly matched by a deft command of their visionary musicality. When it came time to name the collection, My Morning Jacket chose a title that speaks to the infinitely unpredictable nature of music-making.

“I like how the word “is” indicates a sense of presence in the now – there’s no logic or rationale behind this record; it just is,” says James. “All these songs came into existence out of an attempt to connect with something beyond the human experiment, which for me is the whole purpose of music – that connection with something larger than us, yet something we are all equally a part of.”

is – which arrives as My Morning Jacket celebrates the 20th anniversary of their 2005’s landmark Z, a lavishly acclaimed collection named by Rolling Stone among “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” – represents another milestone in the band’s ever-evolving body of work, as well as an opportunity to breathe new energy into their historically stunning and hard-driving live performances. James points to the “undeniable force of loving” as the most essential factor in the band’s longevity and unending enchantment with the process of musical creation.

“One of the cool things about being around this long is that we’re not afraid to scrap something if we don’t absolutely love it,” he says. “It feels really great to have a collection of songs we all love this much, and to know that we worked as hard as we possibly could on them. Hopefully, those songs will be helpful to people and give them some kind of peace as they try to deal with the insanity of the world – because that’s what music does for me, and doing the same for others is always my greatest dream come true.”

Widely regarded among the greatest live acts in music today, My Morning Jacket will further celebrate is with an array of top-billed festival performances, including New Orleans, LA’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (May 4). The band is also currently set for the next edition of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday, a three-night music vacation set for April 3-5 at Miramar Beach, FL’s Seascape Resort. In addition to three unique headline shows from My Morning Jacket, the event will see performances from an all-star lineup that includes Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Devon Gilfillian, Dinosaur Jr., Karina Rykman, S.G. Goodman, and Futurebirds, plus Late Night Campfire Sets by Tyler Ramsey, Maggie Halfman, and Bendigo Fletcher, as well as Late Night Silent Jam Performances by Karina Rykman, Eggy, and Illiterate Light. Tickets are on sale now exclusively at topeka.live/onebigholiday25.

My Morning Jacket is excited to continue its long-time partnership with environmental nonprofit REVERB, to build upon previous successes and expand the tour sustainability program, engage fans in the Action Village at each show, and support REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project to accelerate climate solutions within the music industry.

MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR 2025
APRIL
1 – Chattanooga, TN – Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium w/Bendigo Fletcher
3-5 – Miramar Beach, FL – My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday *
8 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre **
10 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park **
12 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory **
13 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall **
15 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP **
17 – Athens, OH – Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium **
18 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater **
20 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory **
21 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater **
25 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace w/Lacey Guthrie
26 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace w/Future Killer
27 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace w/The Jesse Lee’s
MAY
2 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory at The District w/Bendigo Fletcher
4 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival *
* Festival Appearance
** w/Grace Cummings

The Town and The City Festival Returns to Lowell with Lady Lamb, Ezra Furman, Loudon Wainwright III, and More

Eric Alper
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0
The Town and The City Festival Returns to Lowell with Lady Lamb, Ezra Furman, Loudon Wainwright III, and More

Lowell, MA’s multi-day celebration of music and art, The Town and The City Festival (TACF),  has released the full schedule of artists performing on stages across Downtown Lowell Thursday April 24th through Saturday April 26th.  Single day passes priced at just $40 and individual show tickets go on sale this Friday February 7th  at 10am EST at TheTownandtheCityFestival,com.

The sixth annual edition of The Town and the City Festival  takes place in event spaces, bars, cafes, and galleries throughout downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. The festival celebrates the spirit of Jack Kerouac in direct and indirect ways.  It is named after Kerouac’s earliest novel which was primarily set in this historic mill city.  The Town and The City Festival is inspired by the creativity and exploration for which the author was so famously known and presents a diverse mix of musical genres and artistic disciplines to inspire discovery and to celebrate a love of life.

Nine acts have been added to the line-up including Hannah Connolly as well as New England- based artists, The Evolutionists, Elsa Kennedy, Barefoot Young, Joanne the Band, Bobbo Byrnes, The Infinite Wet Secret, Kingshot, Main Era, and Wildfeuer.

“We’ve got a very diverse line-up of musical acts this year,” said Festival founder Chris Porter.  “It’s always been a point of emphasis that the Festival showcase New England based talent alongside national acts, and we’re proud that more than half of this year’s artists are home-grown.”

Taking the stage at Taffeta on Thursday for the kick-off concert featuring three Indie Rock acts are Lady Lamb, Ezra Furman, and Class President

Things get into full swing on Friday with eight shows spread across downtown Lowell.  The Sheila Divine, Heretix, and The Dear Abbeys take over Zorba Music Hall; The Infinite Wet Secret, Lake Saint Daniel, and Jennifer Tefft & The Strange play The Worthen Cafe; and Warp & Weft rocks with Rocking Horse Music Club.  At Christ Church United, festival-attendees can listen to singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault, along with Americana band Twisted Pine, and up and coming music artist Maya DeVitry.  Koto will host Lovina Falls and Night Visions.

Friday night’s shows also feature Dom the Composer, Main Era, and Kid Renaissance at Smokehouse Tavern; Stay at Home Dads, Oddie, Dead Vapor, and The Peacocks at The Old Court; and last but not least Thirsty First features Kingshot, The PA’s, and The Freqs.

Venue hopping will be in full swing on Saturday with 14 different shows on the docket, Things get an early rockin’ start at Thirsty First at 2:30pm with The Deluxe Fiasco, Girl with a Hawk, and The Chelsea Curve; Stewart Hall at Christ Church United will host an intimate show with Elsa Kennedy, Bobbo Byrnes, and Joanne the Band; and  The Worthen Café will be the place to find indie rockers Paint by Numbers, Ron’s Car, and Roaches.

Two free all ages shows are also on Saturday’s schedule, with singer-songwriters John David, Hazel Adeline, and Julia James performing at Brew’d Awakening’s Outdoor Stage starting at 3pm (indoors pending weather);  and at 6pm The Music of Words at lala Books features various local spoken word and poetry artists.

Christ Church United’s stage welcomes the legendary Loudon Wainwright III along with Hannah Connolly; Knock Over City, Mold, and The Big Sun are at Koto; national touring band Couch plays at Zorba Music Hall with Lekha and Friends opening.  Warp & Weft will be groovin’ to Jake Swamp & The Pine as well as New York based duo Deni Bonet & Chris Flynn; and back at The Thirsty First indie rockers Hilken Mancini & Melissa Gibbs, Winkler, and Senseless Optimism will be performing.

The Evolutionists take over The Lass Stop with more acts to be announced; and Comedy at Cobblestones presents a line-up of New England’s finest comedians, including Frank Santorelli, Kristin O’Brien, Greg Boggis, Steve Albert and Katie Coughlin.

Knock Over City, Mold, and The Big Sun will be at Koto; The Old Court will rock with Wildfeuer, Escape Durgin, Gross Girls, The Ghouls, and Caesura; and Good Karma, Barefoot Young, and blindspot will be on Smokehouse Tavern’s stage.

“It’s always exciting for me to bring the festival back to my hometown,” said Festival founder Chris Porter.  “Lowell is such a great place for this kind of event; it’s a very walkable town so venue hopping is very easy to do. Kerouac said, ‘The only truth is music,’ and the festival gives music lovers a lot of truth to enjoy.”

The Town & The City Festival takes place at more than a dozen venues throughout downtown Lowell, including Taffeta (at Western Ave. Studios), Zorba Music Hall, Warp & Weft, Christ Church United, Stewart Hall at Christ Church United, The Old Court, The Thirsty First , The Worthen Cafe,  Smokehouse Tavern, lala Books, Brew’d Awakening, Cobblestones, Koto, and a brand new venue called  The Lass Stop.

The Town and the City Festival is produced by Porter Productions with support from the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and the Lowell Cultural Council.

The Town and the City Festival will take place Thursday, April 24th, Friday, April 25th and Saturday, April 26th at venues across Downtown Lowell.   Multi-day passes are currently on sale for $70, Single Day passes for Friday April 25 and Saturday April 26th will be on sale for $40; individual show tickets prices vary. Tickets and  information can be found at TheTownandtheCityFestival.com

Bourbon & Beyond Announces 2025 Lineup with Jack White, Phish, The Lumineers, Alabama Shakes, and More

Eric Alper
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0
Bourbon & Beyond Announces 2025 Lineup with Jack White, Phish, The Lumineers, Alabama Shakes, and More

Award-winning festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents have announced an all-star lineup of music artists for Bourbon & Beyond–The World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival–held September 11, 12, 13 & 14, 2025 at Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

After a record-breaking year in 2024, DWP is thrilled to announce the stacked music lineup featuring dozens of legends and breakout stars led by The Lumineers, Benson Boone, and Alabama Shakes (reunion) on Thursday, Phish, Khruangbin and Joe Bonamassa on Friday, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, Jack White and Vance Joy on Saturday, and Noah Kahan, Goo Goo Dolls  and Megan Moroney on Sunday.

Bourbon & Beyond has received widespread acclaim from national media. The 2024 event was named a must-see festival by national media outlets including: Forbes, Garden & Gun, People, Rolling Stone, SPIN, Thrillist, USA Today, US Magazine and more. In addition, Bourbon & Beyond was named 2024 Festival of the Year by leading live entertainment organization IEBA after welcoming a record-setting 210,000 fans over 4 days marking the largest music festival in Kentucky history. It has also been nominated as Pollstar “Festival of the Year” for the past two years.

Now in its 7th year, Bourbon & Beyond will feature more than 120 artists performing on five stages during the 4-day event, also including Cage The Elephant, TV On The Radio, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lake Street Dive,  Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Foreigner (in one of the final announced dates of the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ Farewell Tour), Third Eye Blind, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, and many more.

In addition to four full days of music at Bourbon & Beyond across five stages, the unique immersive festival experience will include daily workshops and demonstrations showcasing America’s best chefs and Louisville’s vibrant bourbon and culinary culture on the festival’s workshop stage for The Bourbon Experience and The Culinary Atelier. Hosted by bourbon expert Chris Blandford, Chef Amanda Freitag, Chef Ed Lee and Chef Chris Santos, the festival’s bourbon tastings and culinary workshops pair world-renowned master distillers and some of the country’s top chefs, with some workshops featuring celebrity guest appearances.

The current music lineup for Bourbon & Beyond is as follows: Phish, Noah Kahan, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, The Lumineers, Jack White, Benson Boone, Alabama Shakes (reunion), Cage The Elephant, Khruangbin, Megan Moroney, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Rilo Kiley, Goo Goo Dolls, Vance Joy, Third Eye Blind, Lake Street Dive, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Myles Smith, Foreigner, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Joe Bonamassa, Pixies, Dylan Gossett, TV On The Radio, The Teskey Brothers, Flatland Cavalry, Waxahatchee, Dashboard Confessional, Blues Traveler, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Collective Soul, Trampled By Turtles, Muscadine Bloodline, Guster, 49 Winchester, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Colbie Caillat, Iron & Wine, Morgan Wade, Lawrence, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Julien Baker & TORRES, Dawes, Gavin DeGraw, Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors, The Hold Steady, Switchfoot, Robert Cray Band, John Waite, Michael Marcagi, Austin Snell, Matt Maltese, Ashe, St. Lucia, The Waterboys, Blind Melon, Old 97’s, 10,000 Maniacs w/ Mary Ramsey, Josiah & The Bonnevilles, Bonny Light Horseman, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Marc Cohn, The Baseball Project, The Paper Kites,  Redferrin, Kolby Cooper, Jade Bird, The Ocean Blue, The 502s, Nolan Taylor, Marshall Crenshaw,  Madison Ryann Ward, Waylon Wyatt, Bayker Blankenship, iDKHOW, The Heavy Heavy, Darren Kiely, NRBQ, Marcy Playground, Hazlett, Certainly So, Jonah Kagen, Yächtley Crëw, Chance Emerson, The Band Feel, Reid Haughton, Kelsey Waldon, Miles Miller, Meg McRee, Brit Taylor, Cale Tyson, Leftover Salmon, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rhonda Vincent, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Fruition, Wonder Women Of Country, Danny Paisley & Southern Grass, Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter, Tophouse, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Wyatt Ellis, Caleb Caudle & The Sweet Critters, Jett Holden, Chatham Rabbits, Thunder & Rain, Emily Scott Robinson, Gooseberry, sullvn, Axel & Lolo and more.

Some of the reunions and highlights at Bourbon & Beyond include:

●      Phish: Exclusive 2025 festival appearance

●      Jack White: 12-time Grammy-winner, lead singer of The White Stripes, and renowned as one of the greatest guitarists of all-time

●      Benson Boone: 2024 Grammy nominee for Best New Artist

●      Reunion shows for Alabama Shakes (after 10 years), Rilo Kiley, The Waterboys

●      Khruangbin: The trio known for blending classic soul, dub, rock and psychedelia was a 2024 Grammy nominee for Best New Artist

●      Megan Moroney:  2024 Academy Of Country Music’s “New Female Artist Of The Year” is selling out her headlining shows and has been called a new country music icon

●      Foreigner: one of the final shows of the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ Farewell Tour

●      Myles Smith: Exclusive North American festival performance. His single “Stargazing” has been #1 for 9 weeks

●      The Baseball Project: Supergroup comprised of Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Scott McCaughey (The Fresh Young Fellows), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate) and Linda Pitmon (Psycher)

●      Bourbon & Beyond also features Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Ringo Starr, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Peter Buck and Mike Mills

“Bourbon & Beyond is the best lineup of the year—bringing together the biggest names in rock, Americana, and alt, alongside country icons and breakout artists. It’s a festival that doesn’t just celebrate one sound, but the best of all of them, paired with world-class bourbon, incredible food, and that unmistakable Kentucky vibe. From the start, our vision was to create an experience that blends music, culinary, culture, and community in a way that only Bourbon & Beyond can,” said Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents. “The crowds are huge, the energy is unmatched, and every year, we take it up a notch. If you love music, a breathtaking atmosphere, and the best bourbon on the planet: this is the festival to experience.”

“Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life have quickly become the most anticipated and high-profile music festivals in Louisville each year,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “Bourbon & Beyond in particular showcases our city’s rich bourbon culture, and most importantly highlights Louisville’s incredible hospitality. Congratulations to Danny Wimmer Presents on another amazing lineup. We can’t wait for the fans to be back in September.”

“With top-shelf headliners and an expansive lineup, Bourbon & Beyond is taking center stage as the ultimate celebration of Kentucky’s hospitality and culture,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues. “We’re proud to partner with Danny Wimmer Presents to welcome fans from around the globe to the Kentucky Exposition Center, and to showcase the best our state has to offer.”

Bourbon & Beyond also features an array of onsite experiences. Highlights include The Bourbon Experience, which is carefully curated and will feature panel discussions, hands-on workshops, Blind Bourbon LIVE: where renowned bourbon critic Fred Minnick will taste through the festival’s bourbons to award best in show, and product demos that will fill your cup and keep you coming back for more. The Culinary Atelier will feature culinary experiences including celebrity and Kentucky chef demos along with great eats from local restaurants (plus a few surprises along the way).

In addition, the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar is home to The Bluegrass Situation Stage, featuring the best bluegrass bands and line dancing, plus live tapings of the award-winning The Fred Minnick Show. Fans will also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with celebrities, bourbon experts and  distillers to discover the heritage, explore the traditions, and raise a glass to the fine Art of Bourbon.

Bourbon & Beyond and DWP’s Louisville companion festival Louder Than Life, which takes place the following weekend, generated over $33 million in local economic impact in 2024 and drew more than 300,000 attendees booking over 60,000 hotel room nights and creating a visitor boom at local restaurants and other businesses, including bourbon distilleries along the Urban Bourbon Trail. Bourbon & Beyond is also highly acclaimed by the media, with recent accolades including:

“Since 2017, Bourbon & Beyond has drilled down on Kentucky’s number one export and the presence of its famed Bourbon Trail to give fans a unique opportunity to sample rare whiskeys and Kentucky bourbons. Featuring some of America’s best chefs, the Louisville festival’s celebration of the culinary arts, spirits, live music and more makes it one of America’s most unique festival offerings.” –Forbes

“With over 100 acts spread across five stages plus culinary and spirits demonstrations and celebrity appearances, the real magic of Bourbon & Beyond lies in dipping a toe into multiple offerings throughout each festival day.” –The Courier Journal

4-Day General Admission, Mint VIP and Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP passes, as well as Single Day GA and Single Day Mint VIP passes are on sale now at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/passes/.

    Mint VIP perks include:

○      VIP viewing area in front of both main stages

○      Shaded lounge with comfortable seating and live audio and video streams of the main stages

○      Outdoor seating with views of the main stages

○      Dedicated festival merch booth

○      Air-conditioned flushable restrooms

○      Premium food offerings**

○      Dedicated bars with full beverage options**

○      Locker rental with charging capabilities**

** For additional purchase

Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP perks include:

○      Stunning views, lavish amenities, and an unforgettable atmosphere, all while indulging in the perfect harmony of music and luxury

○      Access to all General Admission and Mint VIP areas, express festival VIP entry lanes, commemorative laminate, and exclusive Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP Perks

Attendees can make the most of their Bourbon & Beyond experience by adding camping to their festival adventure. Options include RV, Car + Tent and the extremely limited Elevated Glamping experience which provides a 5-night stay in a luxury style “Bell Tent” located in a prime spot in the campgrounds closest to the festival entrance. Visit https://bourbonandbeyond.com for all details on all camping and festival pass options.

In addition, fans who want to celebrate the biggest eight days of music in the United States with back-to-back weekends in Louisville at Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life can purchase an Exacta Pass for less than $69 per festival day (Exacta Pass starts at $550 plus fees). Find all pass details at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/passes/. Service fees on all pass purchases include a charity fee for the DWP Foundation, which gives back to local and national charities throughout the year.

Onsite parking for Bourbon & Beyond at Kentucky Exposition Center will be available for purchase this Spring.

Fans in the Louisville area can celebrate the Bourbon & Beyond lineup with a Happy Hour this Friday, February 7 from 5PM – 7PM at Hauck’s Corner in Louisville. The event will feature custom cocktails, photo opps and service fee free passes.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Keyboardist Benmont Tench Announces “The Melancholy Season” Album

Eric Alper
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Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Keyboardist Benmont Tench Announces “The Melancholy Season” Album

Legendary keyboard player and founding member of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Benmont Tench is set for the release of his second solo album The Melancholy Season March 7 on Dark Horse Records. Tench’s first solo effort in over a decade (following 2014’s You Should Be So Lucky), The Melancholy Season is produced by Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Margo Price, Billy Strings) and includes performances by Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), singer/songwriter Jenny O. and Sebastian Steinberg (Fiona Apple, Iron and Wine, Soul Coughing).

In anticipation of the forthcoming release, the album’s title track “The Melancholy Season” is debuting now alongside a video directed by Chloe Badner (Caroline Polachek). Tench notes, “The meaning of the song is subject to every listener’s interpretation, but I will say that the ‘Orion’ in the song is the constellation Orion, whose arrival in the night sky above my old house always signaled the coming of colder weather, and the emotional change that came with it.”

Tench will preview songs from the new album alongside selections from throughout his career during his upcoming residency at New York’s famed Café Carlyle from February 18-22, tickets are available HERE. Tench will also tour across the west coast this spring, with stops including two nights at Largo in Los Angeles as well as The Independent in San Francisco, the Triple Door in Seattle, Portland’s Old Church and more; see below for a complete list of dates, tickets for all tour dates are available at benmonttench.com.

In addition to the forthcoming tour dates, Tench also appeared as a member of the house band—led by musical director Don Was—at the MusiCares 2025 Persons of the Year Gala. This year’s event honors the Grateful Dead and features an array of special guest performers including Zac Brown, Stewart Copeland, Mick Fleetwood, Sammy Hagar, Bruce Hornsby, Norah Jones, Wynonna Judd, Dave Matthews, John Mayer and many more. See HERE for additional information on the event.

With a career spanning five decades, Tench is celebrated as one of contemporary music’s finest keyboardists, renowned for his exceptional work on the organ and piano. Tench has not only shaped the sound of the Heartbreakers but has also contributed to an impressive array of recordings with a diverse roster of artists, including Stevie Nicks, Willie Nelson, Alanis Morissette, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, the Chicks, the Replacements, John Prine, Waylon Jennings, John Fogerty, Elvis Costello, the Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash.

BENMONT TENCH – THE MELANCHOLY SEASON
1. The Melancholy Season
2. Pledge
3. Rattle
4. Not Enough
5. If She Knew
6. I Will Not Follow You Down
7. Under The Starlight
8. Back
9. Like Crystal
10. Wobbles
11. You, Again
12. The Drivin’ Man
13. Dallas

BENMONT TENCH TOUR DATES
February 18—New York, NY—Café Carlyle
February 19—New York, NY—Café Carlyle
February 20—New York, NY—Café Carlyle
February 21—New York, NY—Café Carlyle
February 22—New York, NY—Café Carlyle
March 12—Los Angeles, CA—Largo
March 19—Los Angeles, CA—Largo
April 2—Ojai, CA—Ojai Playhouse
April 4—Santa Cruz, CA—Kuumbwa
April 5—San Francisco, CA—The Independent
April 8—Seattle, WA—Triple Door
April 9—Portland, OR—Old Church
April 11—Grass Valley, CA—Center for the Arts
April 12—Sonoma, CA—Sebastiani Theatre

Jimmie Johnson and Marty Smith Team Up for New SiriusXM Podcast

Eric Alper
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Jimmie Johnson and Marty Smith Team Up for New SiriusXM Podcast

SiriusXM announced today that seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion driver Jimmie Johnson and veteran journalist and best-selling author Marty Smith are teaming up for a new SiriusXM podcast, “Never Settle.”

The podcast debuts on February 12, during Daytona 500 Week. Johnson, who will be competing part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series this season in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, will attempt to qualify for a spot in the Daytona 500 field that week.

Listeners can hear “Never Settle” every week on all major podcast platforms. New episodes of the podcast will debut every Wednesday and the show will also air Wednesdays (2 pm ET) on the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio channel (ch. 90).

Each week, Johnson and Smith will discuss the headline stories in NASCAR, and will share stories and perspectives gleaned from Jimmie’s many successful years competing on the track. Marty and Jimmie will take the discussion beyond the world of motorsports, too, discussing lifestyle matters, music, and sharing experiences and lessons learned staying true to the motto “never settle” as they navigated through success and challenges in their lives and careers.

“It’s crazy that this podcast has finally come to life,” said Johnson. “Marty and I have known each other for 20 plus years and he is one of the all-time best storytellers out there. He’s also hilarious and the two of us have had a lot of fun together throughout the years. We’re excited to work with SiriusXM and we can’t wait to share some entertaining stories with listeners and have some great guests in their 2.0 version of life on the show with us. It’s going to be wild.”

“Jimmie and I have had so many great conversations through the years about life on the track and off it, and we’re thrilled to team up with SiriusXM to create a podcast that will invite listeners into those conversations with us,” said Smith.  “From racing to fatherhood to business and more, we’re excited to get into it all, and hopefully we’ll enlighten and inspire some people along the way.”

Jimmie Johnson is not only one of the greatest racecar drivers of the modern era, he is also one of the most accomplished professional athletes in sports. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Johnson remains the only racecar driver in history to be named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (2009). Johnson was a 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee. Throughout Johnson’s storied career, he and the No. 48 team of Hendrick Motorsports recorded 83 wins in 686 starts. He shares the record of seven championship titles with NASCAR Hall of Fame legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Sr. After Johnson’s final full-time season in NASCAR, he spent two seasons in the INDYCAR Series competing for 16-time INDYCAR champions, Chip Ganassi Racing.

Johnson and wife Chandra are co-founders of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation (JJF), which focuses on K-12 public education. The JJF has contributed more than $13 million to organizations and schools in need across the U.S., since its inception in 2006.

Marty Smith has been a reporter and host for ESPN since 2006. He has been a mainstay on the network’s NASCAR and college sports coverage and also hosted the interview show “Marty Smith’s America.”  Prior to ESPN, Smith covered motorsports and college sports as a journalist at the Roanoke Times, The Washington Post and The News & Advance. He has authored two books – the New York Times bestseller “Never Settle: Sports, Family, and the American Soul” (2019) and “Sideline CEO: Leadership Principles from Championship Coaches” (2023)

 

Wu-Tang Clan Reunites for ‘Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman’

Eric Alper
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Wu-Tang Clan Reunites for ‘Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman’

36 Chambers today announced the upcoming release of the highly anticipated album, “Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman” from the “Wu-Tang the Saga Continues…” collection. Produced by the multi-talented Mathematics, and with performances from all nine Wu-Tang Clan members and other top artists including Kool G. Rap, Nicole Bus, Benny the Butcher and many more, the album offers fans a journey through bold, cinematic soundscapes paired with the unmistakably gritty vibe and expert lyricism for which Wu-Tang is known. This release marks the group’s first LP since the original album in the “Wu-Tang The Saga Continues” collection in 2017 and the first to feature all nine members since 2014.

To commemorate the new album, 36 Chambers and Ruffnation Entertainment have teamed up with Macroverse for a limited edition Record Store Day release of “Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman” as an exclusive, audiophile-grade 2LP vinyl album. This limited edition is the first album to feature Macroverse’s innovative Mixprint technology, resulting in 5,000 unique, “1-of-1” album jackets that merge artistry, storytelling, and collectability.

“Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman” will be available exclusively at participating Record Store Day retailers on April 12th, 2025, with only 5,000 copies produced. This rare first-of-its-kind collectible piece of art is expected to be a must-have for Wu-Tang fans, lovers of Hip-hop, vinyl enthusiasts, and art collectors alike. The full LP will also be available for digital purchase in April.

“Wu-Tang has always been about pushing boundaries—musically, artistically, and culturally. With ‘Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman,’ I’m giving fans not just an album, but a piece of history—something truly one of a kind,” said Mathematics. “This is more than music; it’s innovation, storytelling, and legacy all in one. I am excited for everyone to hear the music and see the artwork around this album.”

“Mathematics adds another chamber to the saga collection, following his last solid outing….proud of him, ” said Method Man “This one looks to be another banger for the history books!!”

“Mathematics is a top tier producer who makes music with his soul attached,” said Raekwon. “Be sure of a great body of work!!”

“I think Black Sampson is some of Mathematics’s best work,” said Masta Killa. “It displays his growth and development as a producer with the selection of music that he has arranged for our entertainment. Black Sampson is a must for hip hop listeners.”

The release of this album is a landmark event in the collectibles space. The Mixprint variant cover art developed by the Macroverse Media team is the very first time in the Vinyl Record industry an album has been released with no two covers alike,” said Chris Schwartz, CEO of Ruffnation Entertainment. “Ruffnation and Studio 4 Vinyl are proud to work with Wu-Tang’s DJ Mathematics, The 36 Chambers organization, DNA Music Group, Macroverse, the Record Store Day organization and Virgin Music Group, who were all crucial in giving this project the time and energy to make its release a memorable event.”

“As a kid of the 90s, it’s hard to put into words what an honor it is to have any kind of involvement in a Wu-Tang release,” said Bennett Phillips, President of Macroverse Mixprint. “We’re proud of the innovative techniques involved in every Mixprint creation, and to pair that with one of the most innovative groups in Hip Hop is a collaboration that couldn’t get much better.”

“Black Samson, The Bastard Swordsman” from the “Wu-Tang the Saga Continues…” Collection Tracklist:
1. “Sucker Free City” (Intro) feat. Kurupt and Ralph McDaniels
2. “Mandingo” feat. Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man and Cappadonna
3. “Roar Of The Lion” (the lion’s pit) feat. U-God, Kool G. Rap and Rza
4. “Claudine” feat. Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Nicole Bus
5. “Shaolin Vs. Lama” (bonus) feat. Raekwon and Inspectah Deck
6. “Executioners From Shaolin” feat. Inspectah Deck, The Gza and Cappadonna
7. “Cleopatra Jones” feat. Raekwon and Masta Killa
8. “Warriors Two, Cooley High” feat. Benny The Butcher and Method Man
9. “Let’s Do It Again” feat. R.J. Payne, 38 Spesh, Willie The Kid and The Rza
10. ⁠Dolemite feat. Cappadonna, U-God & Masta Killa
11. “Trouble Man” (Outro) feat. Kameron Corvet

Roger Daltrey Tells the Story of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes”

Eric Alper
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Roger Daltrey Tells the Story of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes”

The Who frontman, Roger Daltrey, talks about the band’s hit song, “Behind Blue Eyes”. He tells Dan Rather why it’s his favorite of all The Who songs.

10 Reasons Why Bob Marley Still Matters Today

Eric Alper
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10 Reasons Why Bob Marley Still Matters Today

Bob Marley was a movement. His voice carried across continents, his words became anthems for revolution, love, and unity, and his legacy is woven into the fabric of global culture. Decades after his passing, Marley’s music and message remain as relevant as ever. Here are 10 reason why he still – more than ever – matters.

1. He Brought Reggae to the World

Reggae was a Jamaican sound largely confined to the island, but Marley turned it into a global phenomenon. By blending reggae with rock, soul, and blues, he made it accessible to audiences everywhere. Albums like Catch a Fire and Exodus broke new ground, creating a cultural bridge between Jamaica and the world. His music became a rallying cry for the marginalized, bringing reggae’s rhythm and message to stadiums and radios across continents.

2. His Music is a Soundtrack for Social Change

Marley didn’t just sing about love and good times—his music was a weapon against oppression. Get Up, Stand Up called for resistance, War demanded equality, and Redemption Song turned historical injustice into a timeless ballad of freedom. His lyrics weren’t just catchy; they were statements of protest and empowerment. Decades later, activists still turn to Marley’s music for inspiration, proving that his message transcends generations.

3. He Made the Personal Political

Love songs were never just love songs for Marley. No Woman, No Cry isn’t just about a relationship—it’s a tribute to perseverance and survival in the face of hardship. Three Little Birds reassures not just a single listener but entire communities struggling with poverty and uncertainty. By weaving personal experiences with universal struggles, he made every song a call to action, a reminder that hope and resilience go hand in hand.

4. He Was a Voice for the African Diaspora

Marley’s music was deeply rooted in Pan-Africanism, a movement that called for unity among people of African descent worldwide. Songs like Africa Unite and Zimbabwe championed independence and liberation, amplifying the struggles of African nations breaking free from colonial rule. He wasn’t just a supporter from afar—he performed at Zimbabwe’s independence celebration in 1980, cementing his role as a global freedom fighter.

5. He Turned Spirituality into Global Consciousness

Rastafarianism wasn’t widely known outside Jamaica until Marley brought it into the mainstream. His faith shaped his music, from the biblical imagery in Exodus to the spiritual devotion in One Love. Through his songs, Marley spread messages of peace, unity, and self-awareness, introducing millions to a philosophy that encouraged living in harmony with nature, resisting materialism, and embracing cultural identity.

6. He Defied Political and Physical Attacks

Marley’s influence wasn’t just musical—it was political. In 1976, during a period of intense political violence in Jamaica, gunmen stormed his home in an assassination attempt. Despite being wounded, he performed at the Smile Jamaica concert two days later. When asked why, he said, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?” That fearless dedication turned him into a symbol of resilience and courage.

7. He Created One of the Best-Selling Albums of All Time

Legend, released in 1984, is the best-selling reggae album in history, with over 25 million copies sold worldwide. Decades later, it continues to break records, spending more than 1,100 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and nearly 900 weeks on the Billboard 200. Its success isn’t just about nostalgia—new generations keep discovering Marley’s music, proving that his impact isn’t fading but growing stronger over time.

8. His Influence on Modern Music is Unmatched

Marley’s sound continues to shape artists across genres, from hip-hop and rock to pop and R&B. His influence runs through the music of Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, and Kendrick Lamar, while bands like U2 and The Police credit him for inspiring their approach to rhythm and activism. Even today, his children and grandchildren carry on his legacy, ensuring that the Marley sound never fades from the airwaves.

9. He Championed Cannabis Legalization Before It Was Mainstream

Marley didn’t just use cannabis—he saw it as a sacred herb, a spiritual tool for meditation and enlightenment. Long before conversations about legalization became mainstream, Marley was an outspoken advocate, arguing that the criminalization of cannabis was a tool of oppression. Today, as laws change around the world, Marley’s views are seen not as radical but as prophetic, proving that he was ahead of his time in more ways than one.

10. His Message of Unity and Peace is Needed More Than Ever

In a world that often feels divided, Marley’s call for unity remains timeless. One Love isn’t just a song—it’s a philosophy. At a time when political, racial, and economic tensions run high, his message is a reminder that change starts with love, understanding, and action. His music continues to bring people together, from festival crowds to family gatherings, proving that his vision for a better world still resonates today.

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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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