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Guy Manoukian Announces 2025 World Tour With Performances Across North America and Europe

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Renowned Lebanese-Armenian musician, pianist, and composer, Guy Manoukian, whose career spans over 30 years has announced he will bring his talents to stages across the globe with his 2025 World Tour.  Produced by Live Nation, the tour will traverse major cities across North America and

Europe, with performances in Mexico City, Los Angeles, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Brooklyn, and Paris.

This groundbreaking event marks the global tour debut of Middle Eastern artist, Guy Manoukian, presented by Live Nation. Manoukian’s exceptional talent for blending global melodies with contemporary arrangements has earned him a reputation as one of the world’s most innovative musicians. Having performed on some of the world’s most renowned stages such as the Sydney Opera House, London Palladium, Dubai Opera, and Olympia in Paris, this tour extends his groundbreaking artistry to new heights.

Tickets will be available starting with presales (details below) beginning Tuesday, January 28th. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, January 31st at 10 AM local time at Ticketmaster.com. For more information on international dates visit GuyManoukian.com.

Citi is the official card of the U.S. dates of the Guy Manoukian 2025 World Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, January 28th at 10 AM local time until Thursday, January 30th at 10 PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, exclusive Meet & Greet and individual photo op with Guy Manoukian, autographed tour poster & more. VIP package contents vary based on offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

TOUR STOPS INCLUDE:
Mexico City, MX – May 16, 2025
Inglewood, CA – May 18, 2025
Brooklyn, NY – May 21, 2025
Detroit, MI – May 23, 2025
Toronto, ON – May 25, 2025
Montreal, QC – May 26
Paris, France – June 1, 2025

The Sword Announces New Shows Following Levitation 2024 Reunion

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The Sword is back. Following their highly-anticipated set at Levitation 2024, the legendary band has announced two additional dates, with more shows on the horizon: April 10 at the Granada Theater (Dallas) and April 11 at Paper Tiger (San Antonio).

Cronise, in conversation with Revolver shared his thoughts on the band’s reunion, the 15th anniversary of Warp Riders, and more: We know each other, we’re comfortable. It’s just kind of like putting on a comfortable pair of sneakers. Levitation was a great show… it went really well.”

Kyle Shutt adds, “I can’t tell you what it means to see everyone’s positive reception. It feels so good to see people out there almost more enthusiastic about the band than ever – it’s something we’ll never take for granted.”

Warp Riders is the Austin-based band’s third full-length album, which arrived in the summer of 2010. The 10-song collection, described as a psychedelic space opera, features the galloping, fuzzed out “Tres Brujas” and the southern rock-infused “Lawless Lands.” Warp Riders was met with widespread praise upon its release. Premier Guitar praised the album’s “distinctly Texas-flavored sense of groove and swing,” while SPIN called it “badass” and “innovative.” Consequence went even further, declaring it a “classic.”

The Sword is JD Cronise (vocals, guitar), Bryan Richie (bass, keyboards), Kyle Shutt (guitar, vocals), and Santiago Vela (drums). Following their 2003 inception, The Sword quickly became one of the most revered names in heavy music. With a blend of crushing riffs, intricate storytelling, and a sound that bridges classic metal and modern rock, The Sword has released six albums: Age of Winters (2006), Gods of the Earth (2008), Warp Riders (2010), Apocryphon (2012), High Country (2015) and Used Future (2018).

Andy Summers and Robert Fripp Announce The Complete Recordings 1981–1984 Box Set and I Advance Masked 2024 Mix Vinyl

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Andy Summers and Robert Fripp “The Complete Recordings 1981 – 1984” 3CD/1Blu-ray & “I Advance Masked” 2024 Mix 200gm vinyl available March 28th, 2025.

4-disc set of all the Summers/Fripp material on 3CD/1Blu-ray. CDs include the original albums ‘I Advance Masked’, ‘Bewitched’ and a 3rd album ‘Mother Hold the Candle Steady’ compiled from previously unreleased / unheard material newly mixed and assembled by David Singleton plus an alternative take of “Maquillage” and an early slower version of “Parade”

Blu-ray includes: Both original albums and the new 3rd album – newly mixed by David Singleton in 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround & 24/96 hi-res stereo. Both original albums – the original stereo mixes, newly mastered in 24/96 hi-res stereo

A ‘fly on the wall’ audio documentary – ‘Can We Record Tony?’ – taken from Robert Fripp’s own archive cassettes of the 2 guitarists’ original improvisations and conversations, also in 24/96 hi-res

Presented in a 10-panel book-sized digi-sleeve with 16-page booklet including photos & sleeve-notes from new interviews with Andy Summers and Robert Fripp by King Crimson biographer Sid Smith.

Plus a fascinating ‘Tale of the Tapes’ page by David Singleton on how / where the previously unreleased material was recently discovered / sourced.

“The most exquisite moments in music are when you connect with the other players, when you fly, when you touch the spirit and the audience is there with you.” – Andy Summers, One Train Later

Having crossed paths briefly in the ’60s in Bournemouth where Fripp took over Andy’s guitar chair in the band at Bournemouth’s Majestic Hotel, it wasn’t until 1981 – when Summers wrote to Fripp – that the two guitarists would work together.

With King Crimson fresh from recording the now classic album ‘Discipline’ after a considerable break, Fripp was immediate in his response to Summers’s suggestion of working together. And though The Police were busy with the recording and touring of ‘Ghost in the Machine’, the two guitarists somehow managed to find time to experiment, develop and record the first of their two albums.

Whilst “I Advance Masked” showcased the skill and differing guitar techniques of the two players with heavy influence of Fripp’s multi-rhythmic playing evident, their second 1984 album ‘Bewitched’ was a more melodic affair with the inclusion of additional personnel including bassist Chris Childs and Sara Lee, and as Fripp put it, “the album is a lot more Andrew than it is me”.

Almost 40 years later – during plans to reissue the original albums and searching for the original tapes – Summers came across four new tapes in a Los Angeles vault. Not only was most of the original material on those tapes, but a treasure trove of previously unreleased material, early versions, alternative versions of tracks were unearthed.

From that, eleven unreleased tracks were arranged/edited and newly mixed and, along with an alternative take of “Maquillage” and an early slower version of “Parade”, a third mini album titled ‘Mother Hold the Candle Steady’ was created. More previously unreleased tracks such as Balinese and Brainstorm and delights such as an early mix of New Marimba were also discovered by David Singleton in the process of collating and mixing this collection.

In addition, this package includes an audio documentary titled ‘Can We Record Tony?’ which is from a series of cassettes Fripp kept, containing their original exploratory improvisations.

CD 1 – I Advance Masked 
I Advance Masked
Under Bridges Of Silence
China – Yellow Leader
In The Cloud Forest
New Marimba
Girl On A Swing
Hardy Country
The Truth Of Skies
Painting And Dance
Still Point
Lakeland / Aquarelle
Seven On Seven
Stultified

Additional Material:
Brainstorm
New Marimba (Early Mix)
Balinese
Seven On Seven (Reprise)

CD 2 – Bewitched 
Parade
What Kind Of Man Reads Playboy
Begin The Day
Train
Bewitched
Tribe
Maquillage
Guide
Forgotten Steps
Image And Likeness

Additional Material:
Tribe (Original Version)
Maquillage  (Alt Original Mix)

CD 3 – Mother Hold The Candle Steady (Previously Unreleased)
Impudent Prelude
Brainstorm
Tremors
Turkish Kitchen
Skyline
Foi Um Optimo Dia
San Antonio Blues
Mother Hold The Candle Steady
Entropy Pulse
Ninja Acid Dance
Step N’ Fetchit
Maquillage Ii
Parade Ii
Can We Record Tony? (Edit)

Blu-Ray  (All Content In 24/96 Hi-Res)
I Advance Masked – as CD including: new mixes stereo, new mixes surround (also in DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround), original mixes.
Bewitched – as CD including: new mixes stereo, new mixes surround (also in DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround), original mixes.
Mother Hold The Candle Steady – stereo, surround (also in DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround)
Can We Record Tony? (Complete)

With a very different sounding 1980s King Crimson lineup on tour and The Police’s status as one of the biggest acts in the world, it’s unsurprising that an album of guitar duets from Summers/Fripp – despite being as far apart from the concept of ‘guitar hero’ playing as possible to imagine, proved intriguing enough to spend several weeks in the US Billboard 200 charts.

On the multitrack tapes for both “I Advance Masked” and “Bewitched”, there were many unfinished tracks. With ‘Skyline’ and ‘Entropy Pulse’, Fripp (on ‘Skyline’) and Summers (on ‘Entropy Pulse’) had played numerous part-complete solos. According to Singleton, this left him “with the wonderful task, now very simple in a digital world, of making a coherent backing and then combining and switching between the various solos to create the “duets” that you now hear”.

Side A:
I Advance Masked
Under Bridges Of Silence
China – Yellow Leader
In The Cloud Forest
New Marimba
Girl On A Swing

Side B:
Hardy Country
The Truth Of Skies
Painting And Dance
Still Point
Lakeland / Aquarelle
Seven On Seven
Stultified
Entropy Pulse (Previously Unreleased)
Skyline (Previously Unreleased)

*Skyline will be available as a digital single on all DSPs from 31st January 2025
^Entropy Pulse will be available as a digital single on all DSPs from 28th February 2025

Human Impact Announces First U.S. Tour Since 2021 in Support of ‘Gone Dark’

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Human Impact, the band featuring members of Unsane (Chris Spencer), Cop Shoot Cop (Jim Coleman), Made Out of Babies (Eric Cooper) and Daughters (Jon Syverson) who Rolling Stone described as “as heavy as a sledgehammer,” have announced their first U.S. tour since 2021, with the foursome heading out this Spring in support of their Ipecac Recordings’ album, Gone Dark.

“In a world gone dark, we’ll be sonically representing our dissent on a quick West Coast tour,” Jim Coleman shares. “This stuff is definitely made to be seen live! Looking forward to playing with CNTS & Cassette Prophet! See you there!”

Gone Dark builds on the foundation of their 2020 debut, capturing the band at its most realized and aggressive. “We were all looking to go with something more raw and aggressive than the previous release,” Spencer explains. “There was a real desire to capture more of what the live performances have been like. With Gone Dark we have arrived at a place where we fully understand who we are as a band.”

Human Impact tour dates:
May 17 Austin, TX Mohawk (Inside Room)
May 20 Tempe, AZ Yucca Tap Room
May 21 Costa Mesa, CA The Wayfarer
May 22 Los Angeles, CA Gold Diggers
May 23 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
May 24 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
May 25 Seattle, WA Madame Lou’s (at The Crocodile)

Human Impact European tour dates:
April 17 Paris, FR Petit Bain
April 18 Tilburg, NL Roadburn
April 19 London, UK The Black Heart
April 20 Brussels, BE mag4
April 22 Copenhagen, DK Beta
April 23 Berlin, DE Neue Zukunft
April 24 Warsaw, PL Voodoo
April 25 Brno, CZ Kabinet muz
April 27 Ebensee, AT Kino
April 29 Bern, CH Dachstock
April 30 Bologna, IT Freakout
May 1 Torino, IT El Paso
May 2 Schwenningen, DE MPS Studio
May 3 Besancon, FR La Rodia

Angel Announces 50th Anniversary Tour and Reissue of Their 1975 Debut Album

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DEKO entertainment is excited to bring you the 50th anniversary reissue of the debut Angel album to coincide with the bands 2025 tour that kicks off in March.

Employing a dazzling mix of glam rock, hard rock, and progressive rock, Angel’s outrageous, white-satin-heavy image and equally over-the-top stage shows, making them one of the more colorful arena rock bands of the mid ’70s and early ’80s. Discovered by KISS bass player, Gene Simmons, the group issued their eponymous debut album in 1975, which hewed closer to prog rock than the glam pop that would be on future endeavors like On Earth as It Is in Heaven (1977) and Sinful (1979).

The group released a total of five studio albums and one live album before going their separate ways in 1981. The band officially re-formed in 2019 with original members, Punky Meadows and Frank DiMino, and released their comeback studio effort, Risen, later that October and followed up with Once Upon A Time in 2023.

The group’s self-titled 1975 debut was recorded for Casablanca Records with a line-up comprising Frank DiMino (vocals), Punky Meadows (guitar), Gregg Giuffria (keyboards), Mickie Jones (bass), and Barry Brandt (drums). A heavy slab of heavy pomp rock with lengthy songs featuring the longtime stage favorite “Tower”.

Now to celebrate the 50th Anniversary this classic has been remastered and is being released on both a 6-panel CD digipak and on 180G vinyl in two amazing Limited- Edition Colors with liner notes by journalist Dave Reynolds. There are only 300 of the White-Blue Splatter and 700 of the Black-Blue Swirl available with a limited number of bundles signed by the 4 surviving original members, Frank DiMino, Punky Meadows, Gregg Giuffria, and Barry Brandt.

The current line-up of Angel starts its 50th Anniversary Tour in March and it will continue throughout the year. Watch out for more dates as they are announced.

March 13th – Angel City Music Hall, Manchester, NH
March 14th – The Vault Music Hall, New Bedford, MA
March 15th – The Strand Theater, Hudson Falls, NY
March 19th – The Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA
March 22nd – The Wildey Theater, Edwarsdsville, IL
April 19th – The Token Lounge, West Midland, MI
April 22nd – The Winchester, Lakewood, OH
April 26th – The Arcada Theater, St. Charles, IL
June 7th – The Whisky, Hollywood, CA
June 8th – Fulton 55, Fresno, CA
June 9th – Vamp’d, Las Vegas, NV

“LA Revival” Benefit Concert to Feature Dwight Yoakam, Turnpike Troubadours, Cam, and More in Support of MusiCares LA Fire Relief

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Thirty Tigers and Triple Tigers are proud to present “LA Revival,” a special benefit concert set to take place on Wednesday, February 19, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. The event will feature an all-star lineup, including Dwight Yoakam, Turnpike Troubadours, Cam, Corey Kent, Carter Faith, Shane Profitt, and Brit Taylor, all coming together for a night of unforgettable music and community support.

All proceeds from “LA Revival” will go directly to the MusiCares® LA Fire Relief Effort, providing essential support to those affected by last month’s devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Through its critical emergency relief programs, MusiCares continues to assist individuals and families impacted by natural disasters, offering financial aid and resources to help them rebuild.

Tickets for the benefit concert will go on sale tomorrow, February 5, at 5:00 PM CT. Full details, including ticket purchasing information, can be found HERE.

MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs, MusiCares® serves as a vital safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares® safeguards the well-being of all music professionals through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information, please visit: www.musicares.org.

Bonnie Raitt Announces 2025 Tour With Special Guests Jimmie Vaughan, Roy Rogers, and Jon Cleary

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Bonnie Raitt is heading back out for her fourth year on tour just months after being recognized for her lifetime of artistic achievements as part of the Kennedy Center’s 47th Class of Honorees in Washington, DC last December. Raitt and her world-class band will headline theaters and amphitheaters around the country performing songs from her enduring catalog. Her tour has taken her across the U.S. and Canada with stops overseas in Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland and Europe since the release of her critically acclaimed, three-time GRAMMY Award-winning studio album, Just Like That… in 2022.

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 7 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.comBonnieRaitt.com and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets will go on Fan Presale tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5 at 10 a.m. local time.

Raitt said, “I’m looking forward to having my longtime pal and one of my favorite artists, blues legend Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band be our special guests for the late Summer tour. We’ve shared many gigs and duets over the years but never as a ‘double trouble’ co-bill. Bound to be some good blues rockin’ going on – can’t wait to hit the road together!” Vaughan agrees, “Thrilled to play some shows with my talented friend Bonnie Raitt and her band! It’s been a long time coming! Myself and The Tilt-A-Whirl Band are excited to be part of this great tour.”

Raitt earned her 31st GRAMMY nomination in December, Best American Roots Performance, for her contribution to the track “Nothing In Rambling,” a wonderful cover of Memphis Minnie’s song featuring Fabulous Thunderbirds founding member Kim Wilson, along with Bonnie, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal and Mick Fleetwood. The track appears on the Fabulous Thunderbirds’ latest album, Struck Down, also nominated for the GRAMMY Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.

Bonnie Raitt is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose unique style blends blues, R&B, rock, and pop. After 20 years as a cult favorite, she broke through to the top in the early 90s with her GRAMMY-award-winning albums, Nick of Time and Luck of the Draw, which featured hits, “Something To Talk About” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me” among others. The 13-time GRAMMY winner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and Rolling Stone named the slide guitar ace one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.”

The past few years have been very busy for Raitt. In 2022, Raitt embarked on a 75-date headlining U.S. tour; released her critically acclaimed 21st album Just Like That…, (the third release on her independent label, Redwing Records) which was #1 on six Billboard charts the week of release and was perched at #1 on the Americana Radio Album Chart for 10 consecutive weeks. The album’s first single, “Made Up Mind” remained in the top three spots on the Americana Radio Singles Chart for 17 weeks. Raitt also received the Icon Award at Billboard Women In Music Awards, the was recognized by the Recording Academy with a Lifetime Achievement Award and she saw her breakthrough album, Nick of Time added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

The momentum rolled into 2023 with Raitt earning three GRAMMY™ Awards at the 65th Annual ceremony; Song Of The Year and Best American Roots Song for the title track of her most recent album Just Like That…, and Best Americana Performance for “Made Up Mind.” She then embarked on a busy year of touring not just in the U.S. but with stops in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK. In 2024, Raitt returned to the U.S. and performed over 60 shows spanning coast to coast, and as the year came to a close, Raitt received another incredible accolade being recognized for her lifetime of artistic achievement as part of the Kennedy Center’s 47th Class of Honorees in Washington, DC.

Raitt is as known for her lifelong commitment to social activism as she is for her music, and has long been involved with the environmental movement, performing concerts around oil, nuclear power, mining, water, and forest protection since the mid-70’s. She was a founding member of MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy), which produced the historic concerts, album and film No Nukes (1979,) as well as a founding member of The Rhythm and Blues Foundation, which works for royalty reform and recognition of generations of pioneer R&B artists. She continues to work on safe energy issues in addition to environmental protection, social justice, Native American and human rights, as well as artist’s rights and music education.

When it comes to the blues today, there are a handful of guiding lights to make sure the music stays true to its history. For Jimmie Vaughan, he’s dedicated his life to making sure the blues not only stays alive, but remains full of life and an inspiration to all who listen. It’s a spirit he holds close to him, and for almost 60 years, Vaughan isn’t about to stop now.

As a bandleader, singer and guitarist, the four-time Grammy Award winner, Jimmie Vaughan is a master of how everything is captured for posterity. “Playing what you feel has always been my main goal,” Vaughan says. Considering the Texas guitarist and singer has had the kind of career that makes him a living legacy, those are no idle words. His first group when he was 13 years old played Dallas’ Hob Nob Lounge six nights a week, learning the kind of lessons that can’t be taught, they have to be lived.

Getting the chance to open for Jimi Hendrix when he was 16 years old along with being heavily influenced by B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Freddie King and so many more, convinced the young Vaughan it was time to find a way to play the music he felt the strongest about: the blues.

That took him to hitchhiking to Austin in the early 70’s and carving out a new crew of blues players who shared his musical excitement. He formed The Fabulous Thunderbirds and their debut album Girls Go Wild on Takoma Records was released in 1979. After worldwide success with The Fabulous Thunderbirds during the 80’s, it came time to leave the band and build his own path in exploring different approaches to the blues. He and his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan collaborated and released Family Style to great acclaim and recognition in the music industry.

He then released his first solo album on Epic Records in the early 90’s and what Vaughan discovered was that he could take it anywhere; there were no boundaries. “I wanted to find out what I could really do,” he says, “and when I started singing it gave me a whole new side to explore. When I was young I didn’t really pay much attention to categories of music. I just heard what I liked and decided to explore that and that’s really what I‘m still doing.”

Jimmie is continuing his love affair with and staying spiritually connected to the American music he loves.

“BONNIE RAITT LIVE 2025” TOUR DATES

20-August Port Chester, NY The Capitol Theatre
22-August Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
23-August Canandaigua, NY CMAC
26-August Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
28-August Bangor, ME Maine Savings Amphitheatre
30-August Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
31-August Lenox, MA Tanglewood (Fan Presale begins 3/4, public on sale 3/6)
03-Sept Saratoga Springs, NY Broadview Stage at SPAC
05-Sept Chautauqua, NY Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
06-Sept Huber Heights, OH Rose Music Center at The Heights
09-Sept Chicago, IL The Chicago Theatre
12-Sept Cincinnati, OH The Andrew J Brady Music Center
13-Sept Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
16-Sept Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
17-Sept Green Bay, WI Weidner Center for the Performing Arts
19-Sept Bayfield, WI Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua (public on sale 2/11)
20-Sept Waite Park, MN The Ledge Amphitheater
23-Sept Omaha, NE The Astro Amphitheater
25-Sept Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre

THE FOLLOWING BONNIE RAITT ‘LIVE 2025’ SHOWS ARE ON SALE NOW:

05-March Temecula, CA Pechanga Resort Casino [Special Guest Roy Rogers (solo)]
07-March Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre [Special Guest Roy Rogers (solo)]
08-March Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium [Special Guest Roy Rogers (solo)]
11-March Amarillo, TX Amarillo Civic Center [Special Guest Roy Rogers (solo)]
13-March Tulsa, OK River Spirit Casino Resort [Special Guest Roy Rogers (solo)]
15-March Norman, OK Riverwind Casino Showplace Theatre [Special Guest Roy Rogers (solo)]
16-March Kansas City, MO The Midland Theatre [(Special Guest Jon Cleary (solo)]
18-March Springfield, MO Juanita K. Hammons Hall [(Special Guest Jon Cleary (solo)]
19-March Wichita, KS Century II Concert Hall [(Special Guest Jon Cleary (solo)]
22-March Lubbock, TX The Buddy Holly Hall – Helen DeVitt Jones Theater [(special Guest Johnny Nicholas (solo)]
23-March Dallas, TX AT&T Performing Arts Center – Winspear Opera House [(Special Guest Jon Cleary (solo)]

Special Guest TBA
18-April Lancaster, PA American Music Theatre
19-April Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
22-April Richmond, VA Altria Theater
23-April Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
25-April Wilkesboro, NC MerleFest
26-April Savannah, GA Johnny Mercer Theatre
29-April Fort Lauderdale, FL Au-Rene Theater At The Broward Center
30-April Melbourne, FL Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts
02-May Miramar Beach, FL Sun Sand and Soul
06-May Shreveport, LA Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
07-May Little Rock, AR Robinson Center
09-May Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre – Memphis
10-May Louisville, KY Iroquois Amphitheater

Special Guest TBA
01-June Belfast, UK Ulster Hall
03-June Dublin, IE Vicar Street
04-June Dublin, IE Vicar Street
07-June Manchester, UK O2 Apollo
08-June Nottingham, UK Royal Concert Hall
10-June Edinburgh, UK Usher Hall
11-June Glasgow, UK Royal Concert Hall
14-June Wolverhampton, UK Civic Hall
16-June London, UK Royal Albert Hall
17-June Brighton, UK Brighton Dome

Pure Imagination Festival 2025 Announces Lineup Featuring Cheap Trick, Matisyahu, Arrested Development, and More

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Pure Imagination, Arizona’s most unique music festival, returns for its fourth year on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the breathtaking Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ. Known for blending world-class music with the region’s stunning landscapes, the festival continues its tradition of delivering an eclectic and dynamic lineup featuring legendary and emerging artists.

The 2025 edition is led by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick, renowned for their iconic live album At Budokan, which went triple platinum, and a career spanning over 20 million albums sold. Also joining the bill is GRAMMY-nominated artist Matisyahu, whose album Youth reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, alongside multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award Winning group Arrested Development – one of hip-hop’s most socially-conscious and celebrated groups, and The English Beat, a defining force in 80s music known for fusing ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk.

Additional performances include Gone Gone Beyond, Kelsey Waldon, Ponderosa Grove, Bird and Byron, Kids In America, Pijama Piyama, Dutch Holly, and the Take The Stage contest winner rounds out an impressive lineup of diverse talent.

Tickets are on sale now at www.pureimaginationfestival.com.

A FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER

Since its debut in 2022, the female-founded and curated Pure Imagination has become a standout experience, seamlessly merging music, nature, and culture with an eco-conscious ethos. Nestled in the stunning Granite Dells—the traditional lands of The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, The Yavapai-Apache Nation, and The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe—the festival fosters a minimal-impact, high-energy experience where attendees can immerse themselves in live music, interactive art, and nature-driven adventures.

Festival-goers can explore scenic hiking trails, on-site kayaking, and the vibrant Prescott Night Market, featuring artisan vendors, immersive art activations, and mesmerizing performances by aerial artists, fire dancers, and more.

The driving force behind Pure Imagination is Candace Devine, frontwoman of Ponderosa Grove and CEO of Further West, the company behind the festival. Inspired by a passion for arts, culture, and community, Devine created the festival to help position Prescott as a thriving creative hub in the Southwest. The city is surrounded by 1.25 million acres of the Prescott National Forest, offering a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with premier mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing.

“Pure Imagination is about more than just music—it’s about creating an unforgettable experience where people can connect, be inspired, and celebrate the power of art in one of the most beautiful places in the world.” shares Candace Devine, Founder

Last year’s lineup featured memorable performances from The Flaming Lips, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ozomatli, Sylvan Esso, Tanya Tucker and The Pharcyde among others. In 2023, the festival boasted performances from Ziggy Marley, Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos, Capital Cities, Allison Russell, Nappy Roots, Dirtwire and others, while the inaugural event saw Dawes, Talib Kweli, Fantastic Negrito, Nikki Lane, Rising Appalachia, Phantom Planet, Katie Pruitt and more take to the stage.

The line up for Pure Imagination 2025 is:

Cheap Trick

Matisyahu

Arrested Development

The English Beat

Gone Gone Beyond

Kelsey Waldon

Ponderosa Grove

Bird and Byron

Kids In America

Pijama Piyama

Dutch Holly

Take The Stage contest winner

Crunchyroll Casts Grammy-Nominated Artist J Balvin in Solo Leveling Season 2

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Crunchyroll, the ultimate destination for anime, announced today that global music superstar and GRAMMY-nominated artist J Balvin will voice an important role in English and Spanish in the current season of Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise From the Shadow-. The entrepreneurial Colombian artist will now add voice acting to his stellar and expansive portfolio as he voices a key character in the acclaimed series, making his debut in anime later this season. The series began airing on January 4, 2025 and is now available to stream only on Crunchyroll.

“I’m beyond thrilled to join the cast of Solo Leveling! This series has such a passionate fanbase and getting the chance to be part of the anime world, after being a fan for such a long time, is an absolute honor,” said J Balvin. “I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been working on!”

Adapted from the best-selling Korean web novel written by Chugong, Solo Leveling follows Sung Jinwoo, the world’s weakest hunter. After being brutally slaughtered by monsters in a high-ranking dungeon, Jinwoo came back with the System, a program only he could see, that’s leveling him up in every way. Now, he’s inspired to discover the secrets behind his powers and the dungeon that spawned them.

Solo Leveling is animated by acclaimed A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online), with motion graphics by Production I.G (Attack on Titan; Haikyu!!). The series is directed by Shunsuke Nakashige (Sword Art Online). The series is co-produced by Aniplex and Crunchyroll.

Watch Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise From the Shadow- on Crunchyroll.com.

WKRP in Cincinnati Clip Resurfaces Featuring Dr. Johnny Fever and Pink Floyd’s “Dogs”

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A classic WKRP in Cincinnati moment perfectly captures the humor of rock radio. In the clip, Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) appears half-asleep as station owner Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump) hears dogs howling from the turntable. It turns out to be Pink Floyd’s Dogs from Animals, leading to a hilarious exchange: “Is that Pink Floyd? Do I hear dogs barking on that thing?” Fever dryly responds, “I do.” It’s a perfect blend of rock history and sitcom comedy.