Who Are the 'Big 4' Of Southern Rock?
Southern Rock’s defining “Big Four” are the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Marshall Tucker Band, and R.E.M., each shaping the genre’s sound and legacy. The Allmans pioneered dual‑guitar improvisations in the early 1970s, while Lynyrd Skynyrd delivered iconic anthems like “Free Bird” and survived a tragic 1977 plane crash. The Marshall Tucker Band added country‑flute textures and jazz influences, and R.E.M. introduced Southern Gothic lyricism that broadened the genre’s artistic reach. Together they anchor a catalog of 25 essential Southern Rock albums that continue to influence new artists.
Chase & Status to Feature as Characters in New James Bond Game, 007: First Light
IO Interactive announced that British drum‑and‑bass duo Chase & Status will appear as themselves in the upcoming James Bond video game 007: First Light. The game, slated for a May 27, 2026 launch on Xbox, PlayStation and PC, continues the franchise’s tradition of...
Long-Time Rainbow Disco Club Resident Sisi Has Died Aged 46
International DJ Tetsuyoshi Kisisita, known as Sisi, died on April 22, 2026 at age 46 after a cerebral haemorrhage. A resident of Japan’s Rainbow Disco Club (RDC) since the early 2010s, he built a reputation as a record‑digging tastemaker and...
Ninajirachi Was Never a Club Kid – Her Rise to EDM Stardom Made Her One
Australian producer Nina Wilson, known as Ninajirachi, has transitioned from a decade‑long home‑studio career to international EDM stardom. Her 2025 album *I Love My Computer* received critical acclaim and amassed millions of streams, leading to headline tours across Europe, the...
The Blackout Announce ‘Hope’ 15th Anniversary Performance
British rock outfit The Blackout announced a one‑night, 360° immersive concert on August 21 at CultVR in Cardiff. The event marks the 15th anniversary of their 2011 album “Hope,” featuring live renditions of tracks such as “Higher & Higher” and...
Older, Sadder, Better: American Football Leans In On ‘LP4’
American Football’s fourth studio album, *LP4*, arrives as the band’s third release since reuniting in 2014. Co‑produced by Sonny DiPerri, the record pushes the group’s signature emo‑rock sound into darker, more experimental territory, featuring eight‑minute slow‑burns and heavier textures. Lyrically, frontman...
“Sounds of the Universe Crying”: This Pop Icon’s Label Wanted a Pop Solo Album. He Gave Them a Prog Record...
In 1977 Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates recorded his first solo album, Sacred Songs, with King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp as producer and collaborator. RCA feared the avant‑garde material would jeopardize Hall’s pop trajectory and ordered the project shelved. After...
Behind “Turn The Lights Off” By Justė
The 2025 revival of “Turn The Lights Off” turned a 15‑year‑old catalog hit into a modern success. By leveraging a TikTok meme and a high‑intensity artist‑development program for Lithuanian DJ Justė, the campaign generated 1 billion radio plays and 37 million Spotify...
Nia Archives to Support Jorja Smith and Tems at All Points East 2026
All Points East (APE) has added rising UK artist Nia Archives to the support bill for the Jorja Smith and Tems co‑headlining day on 21 August 2026. Archives will use the slot to showcase material from her forthcoming second album, slated for...
Tales of Festival 2026 Will Have Live Performances by Hanako Oku and DEEN
Bandai Namco announced that Tales of Festival 2026 will take place at Yokohama Buntai on July 4‑5, featuring live performances by singers Hanako Oku and the pop group DEEN. Oku will appear on July 4, performing the opening and ending themes of Tales...
Placebo Share ‘Re:Created Version’ of Classic ‘Lady Of The Flowers’
Placebo has unveiled a reworked version of “Lady Of The Flowers,” the latest teaser from RE:CREATED, a full‑album reimagining of their 1996 debut. The new track features heavier production, higher‑pitched vocals and additional instrumentation drawn from the original master tapes....
Remembering When an Alan Parsons Project Instrumental Became an NBA Arena Anthem in 1984
Alan Parsons’ 1982 instrumental “Sirius”, originally an intro to “Eye In The Sky”, was adopted by Chicago Bulls PA announcer Tommy Davis in 1984 to cue the home team’s lineup. The timing coincided with Michael Jordan’s rookie season, turning the...
50 Years Ago: Alan Parsons' Bold Start on 'Tales of Mystery'
Alan Parsons, fresh from engineering hits like Abbey Road and The Dark Side of the Moon, teamed up with fellow studio veteran Eric Woolfson to launch the Alan Parsons Project. Their debut, the Poe‑inspired concept album *Tales of Mystery and Imagination*, was...
Ama Flips The Perspective On New Single ‘So…’
London‑based singer‑songwriter Ama, formerly known as Ama Lou, has released her new single “So…” through ISO Supremacy and PULSE Records. The track follows her 2023 debut album “I Came Home Late” and the 2022 comeback single “My Girl,” continuing the narrative...
AZ Releases New Single “Uniqueness” Ahead of ‘Doe Or Die III’
Brooklyn rapper AZ has dropped the single “Uniqueness,” the lead track from his upcoming album *Doe Or Die III*. The album, slated for May 8, 2026, will close the trilogy that began with his 1995 debut. Produced by Mike N Keys, the track...
Nick Grant and BJ The Chicago Kid Link Up for “Back Up”
Acclaimed lyricist Nick Grant has released the single “Back Up,” featuring six‑time Grammy nominee BJ The Chicago Kid. The track is the lead‑off from Grant’s forthcoming ten‑track album *Smile*, slated for a May 15, 2026 release. *Smile* assembles heavyweight collaborators such as...
Halsey Releases Deluxe Edition Of ‘The Great Impersonator’
Halsey has issued a deluxe edition of her 2024 album *The Great Impersonator*, adding seven previously unreleased tracks. The new songs range from grungy guitar work on “Lucid” to 00s‑style pop on “Alice of The Upper Class” and acoustic numbers...
North West Debuts New EP ‘N0rth4evr’
Kim Kardashian’s daughter North West has dropped her debut EP “N0rth4evr,” accompanied by a high‑concept video for the title track directed by Ty Akimoto and Mack Ishida. The eight‑track collection blends hyper‑pop, trap, and Japanese‑inspired melodies, featuring songs like “H0w...
Add to Playlist: The Snarling Irish Folk of Madra Salach and the Week’s Best New Tracks
Irish folk‑rock outfit Madra Salach released its debut EP *It’s a Hell of an Age*, delivering a feral blend of traditional reels, techno‑driven builds and a Liam Gallagher‑style vocal punch. The band’s reinterpretations of classics like “Spancil Hill” sit alongside original...
3 British Bands From the 1960s That Shaped Oasis
Oasis’s 2025 stadium tour sparked a resurgence that culminated in the band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A new article traces that momentum back to three 1960s British acts that shaped the Gallagher brothers’ sound. The Beatles supplied...
Festival News: Music Bank to Debut in Barcelona
Music Bank, the flagship K‑pop showcase produced by KBS and Korean Power, will make its European debut in Barcelona’s Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on 12 September 2026. The event, headlined by ATEEZ and ENHYPEN, will accommodate 56,000 fans, making it...
Miss Bashful’s New Album ‘Glamour Snobby’ Is A Riot
Berlin‑based rave‑pop provocateur Miss Bashful has released her new album “Glamour Snobby.” The nine‑track, 21‑minute record blends fashion flamboyance with Berlin’s high‑energy club sound. Guest artists such as Princess Superstar, GDA, Luca Eck, and CHRIST DILLINGER appear on the project....
Mathilda Homer Shares Touching New Ode ‘Cathedral Walls’
Mathilda Homer has returned with the piano‑driven single “Cathedral Walls,” an ode to her fiancé and longtime collaborator Isaac Waddington. The track draws on Waddington’s childhood experience singing in cathedrals and captures the early rush of attraction between the pair....
Kneecap: Fenian Review | Alexis Petridis's Album of the Week
Irish rave‑rap trio Kneecap released their new album Fenian, a more ruminative record that swaps the urban grit of 2024’s Fine Art for bucolic, off‑grid reflections. The release follows a turbulent two‑year period that saw the band accused of displaying...
Against The Current Announce UK/EU Headline Tour
American pop‑rock band Against The Current announced a 23‑date UK/EU headline tour, Till Death & Back, slated for October‑November 2026. The itinerary covers seven countries and follows the release of their new single “Heavenly,” marking the group’s 15th‑year anniversary. Tickets...
Your April Playlist Is Here
The Tuesday Quarterly (tQ) subscriber perk this month is a curated playlist spanning roughly five hours and featuring about 50 artists ranging from Squarepusher to Madonna. A guest playlist curated by filmmaker Mark Jenkin adds an interview on his sonic influences....
MusicNSW Unveils Inaugural Ambassadors
MusicNSW, the NSW trade body for contemporary music, announced its inaugural Ambassador Program featuring six independent artists—Alex The Astronaut, Jamaica Moana, Jannah Beth, Jem Siow, Zeppelin Hamilton, and Zoe Catterall. The program coincides with a brand refresh and a new website that centralises grants, job...
Watch: Jim Moray – The Nightingale (Live At The Arch)
Jim Moray has launched his new album Gallants and is promoting it with a live‑streamed performance of the traditional ballad "The Nightingale" on May 3. The concert, filmed at the historic 140‑year‑old Arch studio in Southport, will be free on YouTube,...
Why a CBS News Veteran's New YouTube Show Could Be a Model for the Future
Veteran CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason is launching “Alchemy,” a biweekly YouTube series that dives into the creative process of musicians, authors, artists and filmmakers. The show, produced from his Manhattan apartment, gives Mason full ownership of the content while...
MILI’s Cosmic New Song ‘Elephant’ Brings in Joe Satriani, Vinnie Colaiuta, James Genus and Jeff Babko
Indian singer‑songwriter MILI has released the single “Elephant,” enlisting guitar legend Joe Satriani, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist James Genus and keyboardist Jeff Babko. The track fuses Kerala‑inspired imagery with Satriani’s melodic rock guitar, marking his first collaboration with an Indian vocalist. Produced with...
TheBoyShadow Share Curious New Track ‘Bliss Being’
Former Loathe guitarist Connor Sweeney’s new project TheBoyShadow has dropped its second song, “Bliss Being.” The track diverges sharply from the band’s debut “Give Me A Seam & I’ll Show You The Meaning,” favoring intricate electronics, bright melodies, and ethereal atmospheres....
KATSEYE Sets One-Off Performance In Australia
KATSEYE will deliver a one‑off 30‑minute pop‑up performance at Melbourne’s Festival Hall on May 8, following a fan Q&A in Sydney on May 6. The show is part of Visit Victoria’s tourism push and is co‑presented by American Express, Live Nation, HYBE...
Hekt’s ‘Forever’ Offers “Songs To Make Out And Break Up To”
Swedish producer Hekt drops his new album “Forever” on the Numbers label, enlisting collaborators such as Smerz’s Henriette Motzfeldt and Catharina Stoltenberg, composer Fine Glindvad, and vocalist Valeria Litvakov. The record fuses hyper‑glossy electronic textures with alt‑pop songcraft, delivering a...
Music of the Month: The Best Albums and Tracks of April 2026
April 2026’s music roundup spotlights a wave of genre‑defying releases, from Eisenstein’s memory‑laden self‑titled album to Loula Yorke’s modular‑synth EP “Salix.” The list also includes Black Midi’s Picton debuting an acoustic folk‑baroque record, Hyper Gal’s noise‑rave LP “Our Hyper,” and a...
Durand Bernarr Unveils New Album ‘BERNARR.’
Durand Bernarr, Cleveland‑based R&B singer‑songwriter, has dropped his fourth studio album, ‘BERNARR.’, via DSING Records. The record serves as a personal tribute to his late father, a veteran sound engineer, and showcases a roster of high‑profile collaborators including Big Sean, Khalid,...
Hear Peter Gabriel’s New Single, “Won’t Stand Down”
Peter Gabriel has dropped the Bright‑Side Mix of "Won’t Stand Down," the latest single from his forthcoming album *o\i*. He frames the track as an anthem for activism, urging listeners to embrace moral authority rather than military or economic power....
Maisy Owen – Dark On A Sunny Day
Maisy Owen’s debut album Dark On A Sunny Day arrives on Tompkins Square with a stripped‑back acoustic aesthetic that belies her newcomer status. Produced by veteran Robin Eaton, the record showcases mature songwriting and a voice praised by legendary producer...
Sofiane Pamart Emerged From France’s Rap Scene. Now, He’s Setting the Piano World on Fire.
French pianist Sofiane Pamart, a former rap collaborator, has turned his classical performances into theatrical spectacles, famously igniting a piano with a flamethrower in 2022 and playing a floating piano during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Since launching his...
"Other than a Forty-Eight-Piece String Orchestra, Everything Else Was the Band or Synths." The Story of the Global Hit Inspired...
Jeff Wayne’s 1978‑era song “Forever Autumn,” originally a 30‑second Lego commercial jingle, evolved into a centerpiece of his double‑album The War of the Worlds and became a global hit after a Japanese B‑side flip pushed it to No. 3. The track...
REVIEW: Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Bring Your Love’
Madonna and rising pop star Sabrina Carpenter teamed up for a surprise Coachella performance, debuting the new single “Bring Your Love.” The track, produced by Stuart Price, blends New York house beats with bold lyrical themes about female sexuality. It...
Baby Dave – Billy
Isaac Holman, frontman of punk duo Soft Play, has issued his third solo record under the Baby Dave moniker, titled *Billy*. The album, conceived during the pandemic and Soft Play’s four‑year hiatus, serves as a therapeutic outlet for Holman’s recent personal challenges. It...
Olivia Rodrigo Says Her New Album Was Inspired by Steve and Miranda on ‘Sex and the City’
Olivia Rodrigo revealed on The Tonight Show that her upcoming third album, *You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love*, draws heavy inspiration from the fictional romance of Miranda Hobbs and Steve Brady on *Sex and the City*....
White Fence – Orange
White Fence, the project of Tim Presley, releases his first album in seven years, "Orange," on Drag City. The record fuses 1960s garage rock, British Invasion melodies, and modern lo‑fi textures, recorded on analog tape and co‑produced by Ty Segall....
Hear Two More New Lady Gaga Songs From ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Soundtrack
Lady Gaga has added two original songs, “Shape of a Woman” and “Glamorous Life,” to the soundtrack of the upcoming film *The Devil Wears Prada 2*. The tracks were produced by the same team behind her 2025 album *Mayhem*—Andrew Watt, Cirkut, and Gesaffelstein—and...
"I Can't Physically Breathe if I Can’t Play Music." With a Musical Education From His Grandfather, Former Busker Ty Freeman...
Ty Freeman, a former Liverpool busker from the Wirral, has stepped onto a larger stage by recording his EP *One Way Love* with Ian Skelly and Paul Duffy of The Coral. Raised in foster care after his parents’ mental‑health struggles, Freeman credits his grandfather’s...
Tucker Wetmore Wins ACM New Male Artist of the Year
Tucker Wetmore was surprised onstage in London when a video from Thomas Rhett announced he had won the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Artist of the Year award. The trophy was presented by his mother, Sia, creating an emotional...
Bonner Kramer • Thurston Moore – They Came Like Swallows
Former Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore and Shimmy Disc founder Bonner Kramer have issued their first full‑length collaboration, "They Came Like Swallows," a seven‑part requiem dedicated to the children of Gaza. The record fuses Moore’s dissonant, improvisational guitar work with...
HamburgMusik 2025-26 Review: Mezzo-Soprano Magdalena Kožená’s Song Recital
Magdalena Kožená teamed with theorbo virtuoso Azul Lima for an intimate recital at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, pairing Baroque arias with 20th‑century avant‑garde works. Her resonant mezzo‑soprano turned Purcell, Dowland and Strozzi pieces into dramatic mini‑operas, while her command of Berio’s vocal...
Marble City Opera Announces 2026 Season
Marble City Opera unveiled its 2026 season, opening with Tom Cipullo’s new opera “Josephine” starring soprano Manna K. Jones on May 30 at the Historic Grove Theater. The lineup continues with a free “Opera in the Park” concert at Lakeshore Park on...
Olumide Drops Motivational New Single Element
Brooklyn‑based rapper Olumide has dropped his new single “Element,” released through PGN Records and United Masters. Produced by longtime collaborator Dizzee Beats, the high‑energy track is positioned as a “boss mode” anthem for listeners seeking motivation. The release follows his...