In a candid conversation with Sammy Hagar, legendary guitarist Joe Walsh opened up about his struggles with addiction and the importance of asking for help. Despite decades in an industry full of temptations, Walsh credits his sobriety to the simple act of picking up the phone. “The hardest thing to do—the phone can weigh 30 pounds. Pick up the phone and ask for help because there’s life after addiction and it’s good.”
Whiskey Jam Heads North: Nashville’s Legendary Live Music Series Debuts in Toronto
For the first time ever, in partnership with Universal Music Canada, Nashville’s iconic live music event series brings its traditional Whiskey Jam format to Canada. Whiskey Jam Toronto presented by Bud Light debuts on February 26 at Horseshoe Tavern, hosted by Whiskey Jam’s founder Ward Guenther, featuring a stacked line-up of seven country music artists on track for a breakout year including: Brandon Wisham, Christian Hayes, Dalton Davis, James Barker Band, Kalsey Kulyk, Kashus Culpepper, and Ryan Hurd. Just like the original Whiskey Jam events held at Whiskey Row on Broadway Street in Nashville, tickets to Whiskey Jam Toronto are free and will be available in person at the venue on a first come, first served basis.
“Whiskey Jam has welcomed Canadian guests, both on stage and in the crowd, for years,” says Guenther. “Canadians have always been some of the most passionate and enthusiastic fans, so we figured it was time to take the show north. We’ve toured Canada with Luke Combs and Old Dominion, but we’ve never brought Whiskey Jam to a bar setting like we do in Nashville. Hosting it at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern, alongside Universal Music Canada and some of our favorite artists, feels like the perfect way to kick things off. This has all the makings of something special—and a whole lot of fun.”
Originating in 2011 as a small gathering for songwriters and musicians to showcase their talent in an intimate setting, Whiskey Jam has now become a staple of Nashville’s music scene, hosting both emerging artists and major names. The event takes place at Whiskey Row on Broadway and is free to attend, making it a favourite spot for industry insiders, songwriters, and music fans alike. Big names like Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, and Morgan Wallen have all played the event early in their careers.
Whiskey Jam is a live music series based in Nashville, TN with a simple mission: connecting great new music with great audiences and having a great time doing it. Since 2011, they have put on over 1000 shows, hosting thousands of amazing artists – names like Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Cody Johnson, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney and many, many more. Located in a lively downtown bar, the uninhibited energy and up-close nature of the show create an unparalleled environment to enjoy original music in Music City.
Over the previous 14 years, Whiskey Jam alumni have been responsible for writing or recording over 459 number one songs. They have received 129 ACM awards, 92 CMA awards & 39 Grammys. Nine members of the Whiskey Jam Fam have gone on to be inducted in the Grand Ole Opry.
The Forgotten Jazz-Funk Masterpiece That Brought ‘Dune’ to Music Before Hollywood Did
Long before David Lynch, before Denis Villeneuve, before the blockbuster adaptations and billion-dollar franchises, Frank Herbert’s Dune found a home in jazz-funk. In 1977, keyboardist and bandleader David Matthews released Dune on CTI Records, a fusion-driven suite inspired by the novel’s vast desert landscapes, political intrigue, and spiritual mysticism. Side A is a 20-minute odyssey, featuring Arrakis, Sandworms, Song of the Bene Gesserit, and Muad’dib, weaving deep grooves and cosmic textures. Side B takes a left turn, merging sci-fi cinema with jazz, including covers of Star Wars, Silent Running, and Space Oddity, later sampled by MF DOOM. It’s part jazz poetry, part sci-fi homage, and entirely ahead of its time.
How Artists Can Promote Themselves by Making a Spotify Playlist – And Why It Works
Want to promote your music without spending a fortune on ads? Want to connect with fans beyond just dropping a song and hoping for the best? One of the most underrated ways for artists to build their brand, expand their reach, and keep listeners engaged is by creating a killer Spotify playlist.
It’s free. It’s powerful. And it works.
Here’s how and why you should start curating your own playlist today.
1. Curation = Branding = Fan Connection
A well-crafted playlist isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s a statement. It’s a glimpse into your influences, your vibe, your creative DNA. Think about it: if a fan loves your music, chances are they’d love to hear what inspires you.
Put together a playlist featuring your own songs and tracks from artists who share your sound, influences, or energy. If you’re a folk artist, mix your single in with tracks from The Lumineers, Fleet Foxes, and Brandi Carlile. A rock band? Drop your latest banger alongside Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Wolf Alice.
Now, instead of just saying, “Listen to my song,” you’re saying, “Here’s an entire mood, and I’m a part of it.”
2. Add Your Own Songs—And Do It Strategically
One of the biggest mistakes artists make is forgetting to add their own music or adding too much of it at once. Your song should feel like a natural part of the playlist, not something forced in.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Place your song early in the playlist, but not the first track. The second or third slot feels more organic.
- Include more than one song from your catalog, spaced throughout the playlist. If listeners enjoy your first track, they’re more likely to stay for another.
- If you have multiple versions of a song (acoustic, remix, live), mix them in naturally.
This approach increases the chances of repeat plays while blending your music with tracks listeners already love.
3. Feature Friends & Emerging Artists for Cross-Promotion
Want to network in the industry without awkward DMs? Playlist-building is a win-win way to do it. If you know other independent or rising artists, add their songs to your playlist and tag them when you share it on social media. Chances are, they’ll return the favor.
This simple act creates organic exposure—their fans discover you, your fans discover them, and everyone wins.
4. Update It Regularly & Make It an Event
A playlist shouldn’t be static. Treat it like an evolving, living thing.
- Update it every Friday with fresh tracks
- Announce the updates on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
- Ask fans for suggestions and engage with their comments
This keeps people checking back, listening to your music again and again, and keeps your name in their heads.
5. Give It a Killer Name & Cover Art
Think about how many playlists are on Spotify. Why should someone click yours? A great name helps it stand out.
Instead of “My Favorite Songs,” try:
- Sunday Morning Coffeehouse Vibes
- Indie Rock Gems You Need to Hear
- The Ultimate Road Trip Playlist
- Sad Bangers for Rainy Days
The more searchable and relatable, the better. And don’t forget custom cover art—whether it’s a stylized version of your album art, a cool aesthetic, or even your face, it makes people click.
6. Embed It Everywhere
Once you’ve got your playlist, get it out there.
- Share the link everywhere—your Instagram bio, Twitter, Facebook, and website
- Embed it on your Bandcamp or official site
- Drop it in your email newsletter
- Pin it to your Spotify artist page
The easier you make it for fans to press play, the more listens you’ll rack up.
7. The Big Picture: You Become a Tastemaker
Think about some of your favorite artists. If they made a playlist of the music they love, you’d listen, right? Fans are the same way.
When you curate a vibe, you’re not just promoting yourself—you’re building an identity that keeps people coming back. And that’s the real secret to growing an audience in today’s streaming world.
So, what are you waiting for?
Go make that playlist. Share it. Promote it. Grow your fanbase.
And when you do, tag me—I want to hear what you’ve got.
The Halluci Nation Named Spotify’s Indigenous Playlist Ambassador for February
Ottawa-based electronic duo The Halluci Nation has been announced as Spotify’s newest ambassadors of the Indigenous playlist for the month of February.
Blending the eclectic sounds of hip hop, reggae, moombahton and dubstep dance music, Tim “2oolman” Hill and Ehren “Bear Witness” Thomas have carved out a unique niche that combines elements of traditional Indigenous music with modern electronic. With hits like “Electric Pow Wow Drum,” “R.E.D.” and “Stadium Pow Wow,” the duo have become the first independent Indigenous Artists from Turtle Island to reach 100+ million streams on Spotify.
Photo Gallery: Foster The People with Good Neighbours at Toronto’s History
All photos by Mini’s Memories, you can contact her through Instagram or Facebook.
5 Surprising Facts About Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born In The U.S.A’
Released on June 4, 1984, Bruce Springsteen’s seventh studio album Born in the U.S.A. was a cultural moment, a political statement, and a global rock anthem all in one. From the pounding drums of the title track to the nostalgic storytelling of Glory Days, this album transformed Springsteen from a rock icon into an international superstar.
The Birth of an American Rock Classic
In the wake of Nebraska (1982), a stripped-down folk album that showcased Springsteen’s raw storytelling, Born in the U.S.A. was conceived as its electrified counterpart. Originally, Springsteen had a vast catalog of material—anywhere between 70 and 90 songs—crafted over two years of writing and recording. Some of these songs originated from the same demo sessions as Nebraska, but the production style couldn’t have been more different. Instead of the hushed, ghostly acoustics of Nebraska, Born in the U.S.A. roared with pounding drums, searing guitars, and fist-pumping choruses.
A Title Track That Was Misunderstood
Few songs in rock history have been as widely misinterpreted as Born in the U.S.A. With its booming drum intro and arena-filling chorus, many—including politicians like Ronald Reagan—mistook it for a patriotic anthem. In reality, Springsteen penned it as a protest song about the mistreatment of Vietnam War veterans, using its bombastic sound as a Trojan horse for a sobering message. Its misunderstood nature only fueled its power, turning it into one of Springsteen’s signature songs.
Seven Singles That Dominated the Charts
In an era dominated by MTV and the rise of music videos, Springsteen embraced the medium with full force. Seven singles from Born in the U.S.A.—Dancing in the Dark, Cover Me, Born in the U.S.A., I’m on Fire, Glory Days, I’m Goin’ Down, and My Hometown—cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, a feat that placed the album alongside Thriller and Rhythm Nation 1814 in the pantheon of multi-hit records. The Dancing in the Dark video, directed by Brian De Palma, introduced audiences to a young Courteney Cox, further cementing the album’s place in pop culture.
An Album That Sold Millions and Defined a Decade
With over 30 million copies sold worldwide, Born in the U.S.A. became Springsteen’s best-selling album and one of the top-selling records of all time. It topped the charts in multiple countries and spent an astonishing 84 consecutive weeks in the Billboard Top 10. More than just a commercial triumph, the album’s impact stretched far beyond the music industry—it helped shape the sound of ‘80s rock, inspiring countless artists who sought to replicate its grandeur and storytelling depth.
A Cover That Became an Icon
Designed by Annie Leibovitz, the album’s cover—featuring Springsteen’s back against an American flag—became just as iconic as the music itself. Some believed it was a defiant gesture, a critique of America’s failures, while others saw it as a symbol of unwavering patriotism. Regardless of interpretation, it remains one of the most recognizable album covers of all time.
Springsteen’s relationship with Born in the U.S.A. has been complex. While it catapulted him to worldwide fame, he has expressed reservations about the level of stardom it brought him. Nonetheless, the album’s legacy remains intact. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012, capturing the heart of America at a time of transition, offering both hope and a critical lens on its promises. Nearly 40 years after its release, it still pulses with the energy of a stadium anthem and the depth of a poet’s reflection. Whether you blast Born in the U.S.A. at full volume or sit back and dissect its lyrics, one thing is clear: this album isn’t just part of rock history—it is rock history.
5 Surprising Facts About Bob Marley and The Wailers’ “Catch a Fire”
Few albums have ignited a genre’s worldwide recognition quite like Catch a Fire by The Wailers. Released in April 1973, this record marked a pivotal moment—not just for reggae, but for the future of Bob Marley as a global icon. Before Catch a Fire, reggae was still largely confined to Jamaica and the Caribbean, but with this album, The Wailers introduced the world to their socially conscious, groove-driven sound. The story of Catch a Fire is one of resilience, reinvention, and revolution—a landmark album that continues to burn bright.
The Birth of Catch a Fire: A Chance Meeting and a Bold Investment
With the band stranded in London due to a contract dispute, road manager Brent Clarke turned to producer Chris Blackwell of Island Records for help. Blackwell, seeing the potential in The Wailers, fronted them £4,000—not to record an album, but to get home to Jamaica. Once back, Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer laid down tracks at Dynamic Sound, Harry J’s, and Randy’s studios in Kingston. It was a stroke of luck that turned into one of the most influential deals in reggae history.
The Wailers’ Sound Takes Shape with Overdubs in London
After recording in Jamaica, Marley flew to London to hand the master tapes over to Blackwell, who had a vision of making the music more accessible to rock audiences. Blackwell brought in Muscle Shoals session guitarist Wayne Perkins, whose bluesy solos on Concrete Jungle and Stir It Up added a new dimension to the album. These overdubs, along with the studio remixing, helped reggae cross over into rock markets, a move that proved critical in Catch a Fire‘s success.
A Blend of Political Rebellion and Love Songs
While many of the album’s lyrics tackle themes of poverty, injustice, and resistance, Catch a Fire also balances its fiery political messages with songs of romance and longing. Slave Driver calls out the modern oppression of Black people, linking it to the horrors of slavery, while Stir It Up is a tender, sensual love song. This ability to weave personal and political narratives into music is one of the reasons Marley’s songwriting remains timeless.
A Zippo Lighter That Made Album Art History
The original Catch a Fire vinyl pressing featured one of the most iconic album covers of all time—a hinged sleeve designed to resemble a Zippo lighter, which opened at the side to reveal the record. Only 20,000 copies were made before production costs forced a switch to an alternative cover. This new artwork, designed by John Bonis, featured Esther Anderson’s famous photo of Marley smoking, further cementing his rebellious image. The original Zippo cover has since become a coveted collector’s item.
The Tour That Brought Reggae to the World
Following the release of Catch a Fire, The Wailers embarked on the Catch a Fire Tour, covering England and the U.S. The tour generated international buzz, earning them new fans and setting the stage for Marley’s future superstardom. Despite only reaching #171 on the Billboard 200, the album’s impact far exceeded its chart position, helping reggae break into the mainstream for the first time.
Catch a Fire is second only to Legend among Marley’s most celebrated works. It remains a cornerstone of reggae, influencing countless artists across genres. The album’s troubled recording history and eventual triumph over industry obstacles reflect the very themes it espouses—perseverance, rebellion, and the fight for recognition.
Gary Clark Jr. Expands 2025 North American Tour in Support of JPEG RAW
Four-time Grammy Award winning artist Gary Clark Jr. announces additional 2025 North American tour dates in support of his critically acclaimed 2024 album JPEG RAW.
Kicking off at Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 17, the tour will continue with shows in Asbury Park, Asheville, and more before concluding on September 4 in St. Louis, MO at The Pageant.
Artist presale will begin tomorrow, February 19 at 10am local time, with public on-sale to follow on Friday, February 21 at 10am local time. Sign up now at https://www.garyclarkjr.com for a first chance at tickets.
JPEG RAW signals a brave new world for Clark’s ever-expanding creative palette. The new music is dense and adventurous with a more cohesive synthesis of his eclectic musical universe. His samples, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Boy Williamson, decorate flourishes of African, World Music, and even Jazz while merging with rock, R&B, hip-hop and blues; familiar areas he has ventured before, this time with more unity forging a fresh new style. Clark’s lyrics are pointed, deeply personal, outspoken and socially conscious with occasional forays into rap and spoken word from Clark himself. The sonics are immersive, verging on modern groove-oriented psychedelia with hip-hop driven beats in verses giving way to anthemic choruses, rich with power-chording and wide fuzz riffage.
JPEG RAW is Clark’s first album since 2019’s critically lauded This Land, which became his third consecutive top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and garnered three Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance (“This Land”) and Best Contemporary Blues Album (This Land). Clark’s first Grammy win was awarded in 2014 for Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Please Come Home”).
Since its release, the singer-songwriter has toured extensively and stretched his wings as an actor, playing American blues legend Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which received eight Academy Award nominations. Clark also served as the official Music Director for Jon Stewart’s acceptance of the 23rd Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. In addition to programming the event, he delivered a powerful tribute on stage, which aired on PBS nationwide.
Now, as Clark hits the road once more in support of JPEG RAW, this new era continues for the acclaimed performer-one with ever-expanding horizons, and music that needs to be heard live and in person.
Gary Clark Jr. Tour Dates:
Feb 19 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino*
Feb 20 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas*
Feb 22 – Tempe, AZ – Innings Festival
Feb 24 – El Paso, TX – Abraham Chavez Theatre*
Feb 28 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre*
Mar 01 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall*
Mar 04 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern^
Mar 06 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium^
Mar 07 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium*
Mar 09 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre^
Mar 10 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium^
Mar 11 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center^
Mar 13 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center^
Mar 14 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live Orlando^
Mar 15 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood^
Apr 14 – Melbourne, AUS – Palais Theatre
Apr 15 – Adelaide, AUS-Hindley St Music Hall
Apr 17 – Sydney, AUS-Enmore Theatre
Apr 22 – Honolulu, HI – The Republik+
Apr 23 – Honolulu, HI – The Republik+
Apr 25 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Theater
May 10 – Mill Valley, CA – Mill Valley Music Festival
May 18 – San Diego, CA – Wonderfront Music Festival
Jun 17 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre
Jun 19-21 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
Jun 20 – Interlochen, MI – Interlochen Center for the Arts – Kresge Auditorium
Jun 24 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater
Jun 26 – Shelburne, VT – Shelburne Museum – The Green
Jun 28 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Jazz Festival
Jun 30 – Deerfield, MA – Tree House Brewing Company
Jul 01 – Deerfield, MA – Tree House Brewing Company
Jul 03 – Bensalem, PA – Parx Casino – Xcite Center
Jul 05 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony Summer Stage
Jul 06 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
Jul 07 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Yards Amphitheater
Sep 04 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
*With support from Grace Bowers
^With support from Danielle Ponder
+With support from Clay Campania
Erasure’s Andy Bell Announces New Solo Album Ten Crowns and Releases “Don’t Cha Know” Video
Andy Bell has detailed a new solo album, Ten Crowns, which will be released on 2 May 2025 on vinyl (white, oxblood, and picture disc available), CD (standard and 2CD versions), gold cassette, and digitally via Crown Recordings. Today, Bell shares a new single, ‘Don’t Cha Know’.
The new album will coincide with a UK tour—full details below—beginning on 1 May in York, continuing to Cambridge on 19 May, with a London show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 16 May, followed by a run of European dates.
‘Don’t Cha Know’ was one of the first tracks to be written for the album, and, according to Andy, it marks “the beginning of the expedition” that would become Ten Crowns. Hinting at the emotional journey Andy has been on – “It’s so very hard to say hello / When your whole world comes crashing down,” – the moving track is accompanied by a stunning video by Stephano Barberis.
The new album is the result of Andy embracing a milestone in his life: Ten Crowns – 10 tracks of dazzling, joyous pop, produced and polished in Nashville, inspired by the dancefloor and gospel – was completed in the year he turned 60 and marks a majestic moment in his career.
No stranger to collaboration – his four decades of writing and recording with Vince Clarke as Erasure are still going strong – Bell threw himself into writing with close friend Dave Audé, the Grammy award-winning producer, remixer and DJ. Their work together is euphoric, and to top the celebrations, they invited Andy’s ultimate pop heroine, Debbie Harry, to join Andy on vocals for ‘Hearts A Liar’.
The new single follows the cosmic flash of ‘Breaking Thru The Interstellar’, where Andy dances us “towards another paradise… ready for a new dimension / On our galactic journey”. Inspired by his love of reading BBC science magazines and the possible existence of wormholes that allow travel through space, he explains, “It’s on first because I wanted to let people know we’re going to go for a ride now!”
Andy and Dave had previously collaborated on two US dance chart number ones together: 2014’s ‘Aftermath (Here We Go)’ and 2016’s ‘True Original’, and after those dance tracks, the pair “just kind of carried on writing as an exercise”, Andy explains, “and after that, Dave moved his family to Nashville because LA was so expensive, and so our writing took this kind of gospel-tinged Nashville twist.”
He describes how in Nashville there’s a church on every corner (“it reminded me of singing in choirs and cathedral school as a child, where the spirit of the church is imbued in the music”). Not that Ten Crowns is a sombre, spiritual set. It’s propulsive, electronic, passionate, driven by the need to encounter new emotions and experiences as life races on. “I mean, I’ve got everything I could possibly wish for, you know, I really have, but that’s not to say I’m always fulfilled,” Andy adds. “This album’s about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, embracing life – and about taking that feeling on even when you’re fighting demons in the world, like homophobia, and fighting demons in yourself. It’s about being celebratory and uplifting.”
Ten Crowns marks a magisterial moment in Andy Bell’s forty-year career. His joy about what that holds, and where it can go, clearly excites him. “It’s my third (sort of) solo record [following 2005’s Electric Blue and 2010’s Non-Stop] and in Erasure, our third album was our most successful out of all that we’ve done, so I’m taking that spirit with me!”
Travelling into new dimensions and possibilities with gospel in the heart and dancing in the soul clearly suits him. Ten Crowns is Andy Bell imperial, gleaming, ready for his coronation.
Ten Crowns tracklisting
Breaking Thru The Interstellar
Lies So Deep feat. Sarah Potenza
Heart’s A Liar feat. Debbie Harry
For Today
Dance For Mercy
Don’t Cha Know
Dawn Of Heavens Gate
Godspell
Put Your Empathy On Ice
Thank You
ANDY BELL LIVE TOUR
1 May – York (UK), Barbican
2 May – Birmingham (UK), Symphony Hall
3 May – Manchester (UK), Bridgewater Hall
6 May – Glasgow (UK), Royal Concert Hall
7 May – Aberdeen (UK), Music Hall
8 May – Gateshead (UK), Glasshouse
11 May – Bournemouth (UK), Pavilion
12 May – Guildford (UK), G-Live
13 May – Bath (UK), Forum
16 May – London (UK), Shepherd’s Bush Empire
18 May – Liverpool (UK), Philharmonic
19 May – Cambridge (UK), Corn Exchange
12 June – Frankfurt (DE), Batschkapp
13 June – Hamburg (DE), Markthalle
15 June – Berlin (DE), Columbia Theater
16 June – Koln (DE), Gloria
18 June – Leipzig (DE), Anker
19 June – Bremen (DE), Modernes
21 June – Holstebro (DK), Summer Sounds Festival
UK tickets are on sale now
German tour fan pre-sale from Weds 19 Feb, details here