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BAD Day Music + Arts Festival: A Full Day of Music, Art, and Culture in Wilmington, NC

Eric Alper
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BAD Day Music + Arts Festival: A Full Day of Music, Art, and Culture in Wilmington, NC

What happens when you take a historic arts district, pack it with world-class music, immersive art, and an energy that refuses to quit? You get BAD Day Music + Arts Festival, a brand-new festival taking over Wilmington’s Brooklyn Arts District on July 12, 2025—and it’s shaping up to be something special.

This inaugural event is pulling no punches, featuring two outdoor stages with a genre-spanning lineup of bluegrass, funk, reggae, house, and more. Headliners include the legendary Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, with many more to be announced. When the sun sets, the action shifts to The Eagle’s Dare, where a third stage will host a headline set from Lettuce and an indoor house music afterparty curated by FEMME HOUSE.

But BAD Day isn’t just about the music. This festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s creative spirit, transforming the streets into a dynamic cultural experience, including:

🎨 Live mural painting from top-tier artists
🎭 Pop-ups, galleries, and vendor markets featuring local and regional talent
🎬 A tribute to Wilmington’s legendary film scene
🍽️ Food and drink from the city’s best local eateries
🧘 Wellness experiences like yoga and breathwork sessions

Ticket Options

Whether you’re a day-tripper or an all-night festival warrior, there’s a ticket for you:

  • Best Day Ever Ticket – Full access to everything, including the two outdoor stages, the 4th Street Festival Village, the evening celebration at The Eagle’s Dare, and the legendary house music afterparty (capacity restrictions apply).
  • Sunshine Ticket – Perfect for those who love the daytime festival vibe, but skip the night party at The Eagle’s Dare.
  • Best Day Ever – VIP – All the Best Day Ever perks, plus expedited entry, VIP viewing areas, dedicated bars, and exclusive discounts at over 12 Brooklyn Arts District locations.
  • Sunshine Ticket – VIP – VIP treatment for the daytime festivalgoer, including expedited entry, VIP viewing areas, and premium perks throughout the festival grounds.

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit FEMME HOUSE, a non-profit dedicated to creating more equitable opportunities for women and gender-expansive individuals in music production and behind-the-scenes roles.

Get Ready for BAD Day

Set in Wilmington, NC’s Brooklyn Arts District, BAD Day Music + Arts Festival is bringing together music lovers, artists, and cultural pioneers for a one-of-a-kind experience that will redefine what a downtown festival can be.

Mark your calendar for July 12, 2025, grab your tickets, and get ready for a day (and night) of unforgettable music and art in one of North Carolina’s most vibrant creative hubs.

For tickets and more information, visit here.

‘Tiger Rose’ Blooms Again: Rhino Celebrates Robert Hunter’s Solo Legacy with 50th Anniversary Reissue

Eric Alper
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‘Tiger Rose’ Blooms Again: Rhino Celebrates Robert Hunter’s Solo Legacy with 50th Anniversary Reissue

Rhino continues the career-spanning archival series honoring Robert Hunter‘s work as a solo artist with a deluxe reissue of his 1975 studio album, Tiger Rose. While Hunter is widely revered as the primary lyricist for the Grateful Dead, this series explores the depth of his solo work, offering a renewed appreciation for his exceptional artistry.

Tiger Rose (50th Anniversary Editions) will be available on March 28 from Rhino as a 2-CD (Deluxe Edition), as well as a 1-LP and digitally. Pre-order HERE.

Originally released in March 1975, the Jerry Garcia-produced Tiger Rose features contributions from Garcia, Mickey Hart and Donna Jean Godchaux. The Tiger Rose (50th Anniversary Editions) have been remastered from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY Award-Winning Engineer David Glasser using Plangent Processes tape restoration and speed correction.

The 2-CD Deluxe Edition introduces a freshly remastered version of the original album alongside nine previously unreleased alternate versions of album tracks.

In the Deluxe Edition liner notes, Jesse Jarnow (author, DJ, and cohost of the “Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast”) deftly captures the essence of the album: “Complex and inviting, the world of Tiger Rose overflows with Hunter’s lyrical signatures, painting new corners of the already wide landscape he’d begun to map with the Dead. There are stacks of simple and beguiling images (“Dance A Hole”), cosmic advice (“One Thing To Try”), dispatches from mystical landscapes (“Rose Of Sharon”), and folkloric characters (“Wild Bill”).”

Robert Hunter’s Tiger Rose Rarities will also be available as a 1LP exclusively at select independent music retailers as a part of RECORD STORE DAY 2025 on April 12. Find your nearest participating retailer HERE.

Tiger Rose (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Tracklisting

2CD

Disc One: Original Album (2025 Remaster)

“Tiger Rose”
“One Thing To Try”
“Rose Of Sharon”
“Wild Bill”
“Dance A Hole”
“Cruel White Water”
“Over The Hills”
“Last Flash Of Rock ‘N Roll”
“Yellow Moon”
“Ariel”

Disc Two: Alternate Versions (2025 Remaster)

“Tiger Rose” – Alternate Version *
“Last Flash Of Rock ‘N Roll” – Alternate Version *
“Over The Hills” – Alternate Version *
“Ariel” – Alternate Version *
“Wild Bill” – Alternate Version *
“Cruel White Water” – Alternate Version *
“Rose Of Sharon” – Alternate Version *
“Yellow Moon” – Alternate Version *
“Dance A Hole” – Alternate Version *

* previously unreleased

Tiger Rose (50th Anniversary Remaster)

1LP & Digital

Original Album (2025 Remaster)

Side One

“Tiger Rose”
“One Thing To Try”
“Rose Of Sharon”
“Wild Bill”
“Dance A Hole”

Side Two

“Cruel White Water”
“Over The Hills”
“Last Flash Of Rock ‘N Roll”
“Yellow Moon”
“Ariel”

The Nova Music Festival Exhibition Is Coming to Toronto in April

Eric Alper
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The Nova Music Festival Exhibition Is Coming to Toronto in April

The Nova Music Festival Exhibition, a groundbreaking and profound tribute to the unifying power of music, the lives lost, and the survivors of the brutal October 7, 2023 attack, is coming to Toronto in April 2025 for six weeks, April 23 through June 8.

Marking its first time in Canada, the installation is a must-see experience, essential to remembering and understanding the events of the largest massacre in music history and empathizing with what happened and who it happened to.

On Friday, October 6, 2023, thousands of music and arts fans gathered for a celebration of life, peace, and music in Re’im Israel for the Nova Music Festival. At 6:29AM on Saturday October 7, the peaceful festival was savagely cut short when thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, killing 1,200 people, including 370 from the Nova Music Festival, four of whom were Canadian, and abducting more than 250, including 44 innocent civilians attending the festival.

“The story of the Nova Music Festival is one of strength, survival, love and community,” said Jesse Brown, Lead Canadian Representative, Nova Exhibition. “This exhibit is to honour and remember the victims while also hearing the heart-wrenching stories of survivors who remind the world that we will dance again.”

The exhibit is interactive, experiential, immersive, and educational. Visitors will embark on a full sensory journey through the timeline of the Nova Music Festival, reliving the harrowing events of that fateful day. Moving through the re-created festival grounds with real artifacts and evidence on display and to interact with, attendees will witness first-hand footage from the attack and hear powerful, emotional testimonies from festival survivors and bereaved family members who will be onsite daily at the exhibit. Surrounded by the actual artifacts from the festival—charred vehicles, bullet-ridden bathroom stalls, abandoned merchandise stands, and scattered personal belongings left behind in the aftermath—visitors will experience the raw, lingering impact of the attack.

The exhibition honours more than the tragic events of October 7, 2023, it celebrates the resilient spirit of the Tribe of Nova community in the immediate aftermath of that day, transforming profound loss into purposeful action.

“The Nova community is centered around light, and now more than ever we need to continue to spread that message,” said Ofir Amir, Founder and Producer of The Nova Music Festival. “It is important, as part of our core values, that we take care of our community, help lead in the rehabilitation of the Nova survivors, and make our voices heard to the whole world.”

Toronto is the third-largest city in North America and home to the world’s third-largest Jewish community outside of Israel. With hate, intolerance, and antisemitism on the rise in Canada, Nova’s impact in Toronto will go far beyond the exhibit, sparking awareness, education and inspiring all human beings to stand together to ensure such an atrocity never happens again.

“This is not a political statement. It is a reflection of what happened at a festival dedicated to love and peace. It could have happened to you, your son or daughter or friend. Come meet the survivors, meet the bereaved families, and hear about the moment music stood still,” said Evan Zelikovitz, Canadian Representative, Nova Exhibition.

“The Lawfare Project Canada is proud to bring the Nova Music Festival Exhibition to Toronto. While the Exhibition honours the victims and survivors of the terrorist attack at the Nova Music Festival, it also fosters allyship as it educates and highlights the importance of defending human rights and reaffirming our democratic values,” stated Brooke Goldstein, Director of The Lawfare Project Canada.

The Nova Music Festival Exhibition was created, curated, and directed by Reut Feingold. Since its opening in Tel Aviv in 2024 and runs in New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Miami, the exhibit has attracted over 300,000 visitors, including thousands of students, educators, political, faith-based and community leaders and members like the mayors of New York, Los Angeles and Miami, and the Archbishop of New York. Members of the music, sports and entertainment industry also attended the exhibit including Diplo, SIA, Usher, Jessica Alba, Will Ferrell, Kristen Bell, David Schwimmer and Cindy Crawford, to name only a few.

Net proceeds from the exhibition will go to supporting the Nova community including initiatives and support programs for victims and families of the October 7 massacre.

The exhibit will be held in Toronto at a venue to be announced at a later date, utilizing 60,000+ square feet of space, making it one of the largest exhibitions in Canadian history.

For tickets and information visit: novaexhibition.com

Tony Bennett Delivers a Timeless Performance on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show In 1960

Eric Alper
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Tony Bennett Delivers a Timeless Performance on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show In 1960

Long before he became a beloved elder statesman of American music, Tony Bennett was already cementing his place as one of the most captivating voices of his era. In this rare footage from The Steve Allen Plymouth Show in 1960, Bennett takes the stage with his signature warmth, control, and effortless charisma.

Video: Tanya Tucker Brings Texas History to Life in ‘The Texas Experience’

Eric Alper
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Video: Tanya Tucker Brings Texas History to Life in ‘The Texas Experience’

Tanya Tucker + Texas history? Yes, please! The Texas Experience packs centuries of Lone Star stories into one-minute bursts, narrated by legends. In this episode, Tanya Tucker takes us back to the fearless women settlers who helped tame the Texas frontier—because strong women and country music go hand in hand!

5 Surprising Facts About James Taylor’s ‘Sweet Baby James’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About James Taylor’s ‘Sweet Baby James’

James Taylor’s 1970 album Sweet Baby James was a defining moment in the singer-songwriter movement. It gave us “Fire and Rain,” a song so emotionally raw it still gives listeners chills, and “Country Road,” a song that turned a simple drive into an anthem of longing. But behind the familiar melodies and Taylor’s warm, soothing voice, there are some fascinating details that even die-hard fans might not know. Here are five lesser-known facts about Sweet Baby James that highlight the genius and grit behind this landmark record.

1. James Taylor Was Nearly Homeless While Recording It
When Sweet Baby James was being recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, Taylor was in no position to rent a studio apartment, let alone a mansion in the Hollywood Hills. He was staying wherever he could—crashing at producer Peter Asher’s house, sleeping on guitarist Danny Kortchmar’s couch, or bunking with anyone kind enough to take him in. It’s hard to believe that one of the most comforting albums of all time was created by someone who, at the time, didn’t even have a place to call home. But maybe that’s exactly why Sweet Baby James hits so deeply—it’s the sound of a young artist pouring his soul into the only security he had: his music.

2. “Suite for 20 G” Was an Act of Financial Desperation
Record labels can be generous—if you deliver the goods. Taylor had a deal in place that would pay him $20,000 once he completed the album, a sum that would be life-changing for an artist still scraping by. But there was one problem: he was short one song. His solution? Stitch together three unfinished songs into one “suite”—and just like that, “Suite for 20 G” was born. While it may not be Sweet Baby James’ most famous track, it’s a fascinating example of how creativity and necessity sometimes collide in unexpected ways.

3. “Steamroller Blues” Was Meant as a Joke—But Became a Hit Anyway
Taylor was no bluesman, and he knew it. But after spending years watching earnest but ultimately inauthentic white blues bands straining to sound like Mississippi Delta legends, he decided to poke fun at the trend. “Steamroller Blues” was written as a parody, complete with over-the-top bravado and exaggerated lyrics. Yet irony can be a funny thing—it turned out to be a crowd favorite, and even Elvis Presley recorded a version in 1973. Taylor’s mockery of the genre ended up being one of his most enduring live staples.

4. “Sunny Skies” Isn’t as Cheerful as It Sounds
With its lilting melody and breezy acoustic guitar, “Sunny Skies” sounds like a lighthearted, optimistic tune. But listen closer, and you’ll hear an undercurrent of melancholy running through it. Written during Taylor’s time at the Austen Riggs psychiatric treatment center, the lyrics reveal a lonely figure—one who sleeps in the morning, weeps in the evening, and wonders if he should simply let the world pass him by. Like much of Sweet Baby James, it’s a song that holds joy and sadness in equal measure, a hallmark of Taylor’s songwriting genius.

5. “Fire and Rain” Was Written in Three Distinct Parts
One of James Taylor’s most iconic songs, “Fire and Rain,” is often mistaken for being about just one thing. In reality, it’s a three-part reflection on different tragedies in Taylor’s life. The first verse is about the death of his childhood friend Suzanne Schnerr, who died by suicide while he was in London recording his first album. The second verse details his struggles with heroin addiction and depression. The third verse is about his experience with sudden fame and the pressures that came with it. Taylor managed to weave all these themes together seamlessly, creating a song that remains as powerful today as it was in 1970.

Sweet Baby James is a time capsule of James Taylor’s struggles, triumphs, and undeniable talent. From sleeping on couches to creating one of the most beloved records of all time, Taylor’s journey is the ultimate example of music’s power to transcend hardship.

Watch The Trailer For ‘Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII’ Restored in 4K

Eric Alper
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Watch The Trailer For ‘Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII’ Restored in 4K

The trailer has been revealed for Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, the newly restored version of the groundbreaking 1972 film directed by Adrian Maben, returns to cinemas worldwide from 24 April 2025.

Digitally re-mastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage, with enhanced audio newly mixed by Steven Wilson, the upcoming theatrical release presents the definitive version of this pioneering film. Screening in cinemas and IMAX worldwide from 24 April.

The 2025 release of Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII is accompanied by the live album, set for release by Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music, on CD, Digital Audio, and for the very first time in Dolby Atmos and on vinyl, from 2 May.

Pink Floyd At Pompeii pre-dates the release of The Dark Side Of The Moon. The film documents what Pink Floyd did before they became giants of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic – where their music remains celebrated to this day. Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, this unique and immersive film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert without an audience. Filmed in October 1971, the performance marked the very first live concert to take place at Pompeii, and features the vital ‘Echoes,’ ‘A Saucerful of Secrets,’ and ‘One of These Days.’ The breathtaking visuals of the amphitheatre, captured both day and night, amplify the magic of the performance. Additionally, the film includes rare behind-the-scenes footage of the band beginning work on The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios.

Nick Mason said “Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii is a rare and unique document of the band performing live in the period prior to The Dark Side Of The Moon.”

The film has been meticulously hand restored, frame-by-frame, from the original 35mm cut negative – discovered in five dubiously labelled cans within Pink Floyd’s own archives. This momentous breakthrough unearthed the very film that rolled through the cameras during those sweltering days amidst the ruins of Pompeii over 50 years ago.

Led by Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd, the team’s mission was to preserve the integrity and beauty of the original picture. The film was scanned in 4K using advanced techniques to ensure the finest, sharpest detail. Colors were enhanced, and every frame was meticulously reviewed and repaired, maintaining a natural and vivid appearance with minimal grain adjustments.

“Since 1994, I have searched for the elusive film rushes of Pink Floyd At Pompeii, so the recent discovery of the 1972 original 35mm cut negative was a very special moment. The newly restored version presents the first full 90-minute cut, combining the 60-minute source edit of the performance with the additional Abbey Road Studios documentary segments filmed shortly after,” said Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd.

The film also features stunning sound quality with a new theatrical and home entertainment mix by Steven Wilson in 5.1 and Dolby Atmos that enhances the film’s depth and clarity, preserving the authenticity and spirit of the original 1972 release. Wilson’s aim was to remain faithful to how the band would have sounded on those scorching hot days in 1971.

Wilson added, “Ever since my dad brainwashed me as a kid by playing The Dark Side of the Moon on repeat, Pink Floyd has been my favourite band. They are my “Beatles”, deeply ingrained in my musical DNA. I first saw Pompeii from a grainy print at a local cinema. It made an incredible impression on me with its untethered and exploratory rock music made by four musicians that seemed to epitomise the notion of intellectual cool. It was an honour to remix the soundtrack to accompany Lana Topham’s incredible restoration of the film, which looks like it could’ve been filmed yesterday.”

The accompanying album release Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII will see the performance presented as a full-length live record for the very first time. The 2025 remix by Steven Wilson is newly available on CD/LP/Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Audio/Dolby Atmos from 2 May.

Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII is presented by RM Productions and directed by Adrian Maben. It is executive produced by Reiner Moritz and Michelle Arnaud. Sony Music Vision is the distributor.

Tickets are on sale now at www.pinkfloyd.film. Visit the event website for more information and ticketing details for IMAX and standard format cinemas.

Album Track listing

Side A
1. Pompeii Intro
2. Echoes – Part 1
3. Careful With That Axe, Eugene

Side B
1. A Saucerful of Secrets
2. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun

Side C
1. One of These Days
2. Mademoiselle Nobs
2. Echoes – Part 2

Side D
1. Careful With that Axe, Eugene – Alternate take
2. A Saucerful of Secrets – Unedited

The Jesus Lizard Release ‘I’m Tired of Being Your Mother’ Preview of Flux EP Ahead of Record Store Day

Eric Alper
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The Jesus Lizard Release ‘I’m Tired of Being Your Mother’ Preview of Flux EP Ahead of Record Store Day

The Jesus Lizard have released “I’m Tired of Being Your Mother,” the final post-Rack digital single and the last preview of the band’s three-song Record Store Day exclusive EP, Flux.

“When a friend of mine was about eight years old, living outside of New Orleans, his mother once said to him, in a slow, dull drawl, ‘Im tired uh bein’ yo mutha’,” David Yow shares. “That really struck me. The lyrics are actual quotes of awful things mothers have said to their children. Heartbreaking!!”

Available on black vinyl with an etched B-side, Flux also features “Cost of Living” and “Westside.” The band recently wrapped up sold-out tours across the Eastern U.S. and the U.K., with additional U.S. and European dates kicking off in May.

The Guardian called their performances a “growling, spit-flecked fusion of pummeling songs and acerbic wit,” while Mojo described the band “as titanium-tough and gimlet-sharp as ever.” WXPN simply summed it up as “absolutely feral.”

The Jesus Lizard tour dates:
May 2 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
May 3 Los Angeles, CA The Fonda Theatre
May 5 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore SOLD OUT
May 6 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
May 8 Portland, OR Revolution Hall SOLD OUT
May 9 Portland, OR Revolution Hall
May 10 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre SOLD OUT
May 11 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre
May 17 Paris, FR Elysée Montmartre
May 18 Brussels, BE Les Nuits Botaniques
May 20 Amsterdam, NL Melkweg
May 22 Copenhagen, DK Den Grå Hal
May 23 Oslo, NO John Dee
May 24 Stockholm, SE Debaser
May 27 Berlin, DE SO36
May 28 Köln, DE Gebäude 9
May 30 Lausanne, CH Les Docks
May 31 Bologna, IT Link
June 1 Rome, IT Monk
June 2 Milan, IT Magnolia
June 4 Lyon, FR L’Epicerie Moderne
June 6 Barcelona, ES Primavera Festival
June 8 Barcelona, ES Paral.lel 62
June 12 Porto, PT Primavera Festival
Tickets for all shows are on-sale now, with ticketing links available via Ipecac.com/tours.

Minus The Bear Reunites for Menos el Oso Anniversary Show at Best Friends Forever Festival

Eric Alper
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Minus The Bear Reunites for Menos el Oso Anniversary Show at Best Friends Forever Festival

Seattle, WA experimental rock outfit Minus The Bear will reunite this fall to perform their 2005 album Menos el Oso in its entirety as co-headliners of the Best Friends Forever festival, scheduled to take place on October 10-12 in Las Vegas, NV. This will be the group’s first performance since 2018.

Additionally, the band has revealed that they’ve signed on with a new full-service management agency, Do Better For Artists, with Jordyn Reese. Speaking on the partnership, Reese states: “Minus The Bear has been a cult favorite and pioneering force in independent rock for over two decades, and it’s an absolute honor to be part of this next chapter with them. Their ability to push creative boundaries while staying true to their artistry is exactly what Do Better For Artists stands for. This reunion isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about reintroducing MTB’s legacy to both longtime fans and a new generation. I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

Minus the Bear guitarist Dave Knudson adds: “Vision, enthusiasm and drive are the most important qualities you can find in a manager and Jordyn has been gifted all three in spades. While working together on my first solo LP I found her love of music and strategy intoxicating. Having a long history with MTB, she seemed like the perfect choice to bring ideas and energy to our reunion.”

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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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