featuring @elizabethnichols @lowsundaymusic @annabellechairlegs @liv.east @scarvesmusic @amani__t1 @darcyhrding
Rising Country standout Elizabeth Nichols is taking center stage this fall with the announcement of her first-ever headlining tour, The “I Don’t Kiss and Tell, I Kiss and Tour” Tour, kicking off September 29 and running throughout October. Tickets for the tour go on sale at 10am local time on Friday, June 19. Fan presale begins Wednesday, June 17 at 10am local time.
The cheekily titled I Don’t Kiss and Tell, I Kiss and Tour Tour perfectly encapsulates the ethos that has made Nichols one of Country music’s most compelling new voices. Nichols has built a devoted fanbase by turning life’s highs, lows, heartbreaks and hard truths into songs that pull no punches. Her latest single, “Paul Revere,” finds Nichols likening herself to the famed town crier as she sounds the alarm on less-than-honorable men, warning her fellow women with wit, humor and unapologetic honesty. It’s a fitting continuation of a career that began with writing her first song, “Ain’t Country,” about a boy cosplaying as a country gentleman. Doubling down on her candid spirit, Nichols laughed, “I make nothing up,” when asked where she finds inspiration for her songs during her appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
“It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that my first performance ever was in 2025 and now I’m getting ready to head out on my first headlining tour,” says Nichols. “My absolute favorite part of playing shows is talking to people so I cannot wait to come meet you all! All I ask is that if one of my exes lives in your city, you’re extra loud…I will love you forever.”
The tour marks a major milestone for Nichols, whose rapid rise only began in 2025 after stepping away from law school. Her breakthrough year was highlighted by Nichols’ first-ever headlining show in London this past March. Demand for the show was so overwhelming that the original venue sold out within minutes, prompting an immediate upgrade to a larger room—which also sold out within minutes. Since pursuing music full time, she has released her first EP, Tough Loveand graced several bucket list stages across the globe including the Kentucky Derby, The Bluebird Cafe, CMA Fest, Stagecoach, the Grand Ole Opry and more. Nichols has more shows on the way including major festivals like Lollapalooza. With more new music on the way, 2026 is sure to continue to flourish for the burgeoning young talent.
TOUR DATES
September 29 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues San Diego (Voodoo Room)
October 1 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
October 2 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar (Music Hall)
October 4 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
October 6 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry
October 7 – Chicago, IL – Carol’s Pub
October 9 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
October 10 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
October 13 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage (Vinyl)
October 16 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
October 17 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips
October 21 – New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge
October 23 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
October 24 – Philadelphia, PA – MilkBoy
October 25 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East (Sonia)
Rambunctious, yet addicting, C.O.F.F.I.N. provides another high energy punk rock track that will leave you wanting more. “Sleep In It” features earth-shattering guitar hooks and intense vocal snarls from Ben Portnoy, which contrast excellently with the track’s Beach Boys-adjacent background vocals. A melange of chaos and occasional beauty, the track is the first taste of their fourth studio album, Out In Oslo.
On the trail of the ‘Low Sunday Ghost Machine – Black EP’, newly released via Projekt Records, Pittsburgh darkwave-shoegaze pioneers Lowsunday present ‘You’re So Wired‘, with the video produced by Jer Herring. Capturing the roller-coaster experience of being drawn to a highly energetic, erratic individual, who blurs the line between imagination and everyday life, this song channels a vibrant, alternative rock spirit that ultimately celebrates breaking free into a state of liberated peace.
Formed in 1994, Lowsunday (initially Low Sunday Ghost Machine) emerged as a “retro-futurist” pioneer, blending darkwave and shoegaze long before the genres saw their modern revival. The ‘Black EP’ is their second release of all-new material released since 1999, previewed by the darkly fascinating lead track ‘This Is Not Heaven’ and focus track ‘Shattered’.
Their legacy was cemented with their 1996 debut album ‘Low Sunday Ghost Machine’ and the 1999 masterpiece ‘Elesgiem’, both with extended re-releases out via Projekt Records in the past 18 months (for the 30th and 25th anniversaries, respectively). With a cult reputation for mercurial sounds and blistering guitar work, their music set the stage for subsequent generations of alternative artists. Following a nearly 25-year hiatus, the band resurfaced as the duo of original member Shane Sahene (vocals, guitar, synth, bass, drums) and Bobby Spell (bass, guitar, drums).
Following the release of her Ty Segall-produced new album, Waking Up – a raw and radiant collection of psych-drenched garage rock, warped folk melodies, and fuzzed-out confessionals – Annabelle Chairlegs today announces an extensive UK and European headline tour this September and October.
Already earning a devoted cult following for her magnetic live shows and uncanny ability to blur sweetness with menace, Annabelle Chairlegs, the moniker of Austin-based singer-songwriter Lindsey Mackin, has built a world entirely her own: equal parts sun-bleached California dream, haunted dive bar romance, and acid-soaked garage pop. The new album captures that tension perfectly, balancing hypnotic hooks and gritty guitars with diaristic songwriting that feels intimate and instantly addictive.
The tour will see Annabelle Chairlegs bring her full-band show across the UK and mainland Europe, including appearances at Brighton Psych Fest, Manchester Psych Fest, Misty Fields Festival and Freakout Festival, alongside headline dates in Paris, London, Bristol and more. Annabelle Chairlegs will also support Ty Segall in Amsterdam and Brussels. See full tour below; tickets are available here.
New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has announced the winner of his widely publicized NYC 2-K Jingle Contest. More than 200 New Yorkers submitted entries to help promote the city’s new 2-K program, offering free childcare for 2-year-olds starting this fall. Rapper Cardi B and famed Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, both celebrated New York City natives, selected five finalists, who were then put to a public vote. After nearly 13,000 people cast ballots, the winner was identified on June 12 as Allegra Levy, a jazz singer and songwriter based in Manhattan.
“Congratulations to Allegra for creating a jingle that’s going to be stuck in New Yorkers’ heads for a long time – and for helping us spread the word about one of the most important investments we can make in working families,” Mayor Mamdani said.
Allegra’s catchy winning tune touting “Childcare for all, 2-K this fall!” will be featured in City outreach and advertising campaigns promoting the program, for which enrollment remains open through June 26 at MySchools.NYC. Listen to Allegra’s jingle HERE.
two of electronic music’s fiercest forces, Armin van Buuren and Adam Beyer, officially unveil their long-awaited second collaborative track, “No Mercy.” Arriving on Friday, June 27, following a monumental Coachella that saw the duo play three sets together across both weekends, where the track was debuted, “No Mercy” is the latest sonic addition to their shared artistic vision. More than just two legendary artists reuniting on a collaborative track, “No Mercy” arrives as a high-powered follow up to their 2025 collaboration, “Techno Trance”, which came in at #1 Beatport’s Trance Main Floor chart, landed across 78 different charts, and saw support from other industry giants like Carl Cox, ALOK, Hardwell and Oliver Heldens. With a ruthless, otherworldly energy, “No Mercy” captures the sound of Techno-Trance, carving out the definitive soundtrack to the sonic and visual realm the two have been unveiling since September 2025.
Blonde Medicine is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Arj Barker’s comedy album The Mind Field. The album will be available for pre-order on June 15 and will be available everywhere comedy is streamed or sold starting on July 17.
Barker started his comedy career in the 90s as a dare but quickly dropped out of college to focus on the craft. Through the years he developed his distinct performance style, characterized by heavy sarcasm, absurd logic, and a stage persona that blends unwavering confidence with hilarious ignorance. After 35 years of late-night stand-up sets, acting and writing for the stage and on TV, and headlining shows of all sizes, he remains a beloved, globe-trotting powerhouse in the contemporary comedy landscape.
On The Mind Field, Arj Barker encourages the audience to reflect on questions insufficiently explored by science: What is consciousness? Is it stored in the brain or is there a bigger reality somewhere beyond our minds? “Having lost my best friend quite suddenly a few years ago, these questions took on more urgency, and this stand up that formed around that.” says Arj.
On the album he also explores equally important topics like meditation, masturbation, and travelling over an hour to eat mediocre pizza. Barker wraps up the album with a song about drinking too much coffee in Australia, which he brings to life with a harmonica, inspiring the audience to sing along.
The Mind Field will be available for pre-order through Blonde Medicine starting June 15, and will be available everywhere comedy albums are streamed or downloaded starting July 17. Four variants of limited edition vinyl releases will also be available for fans.
Arj Barker online:
Rising R&B songstress Liv East slides into focus with her flirtatious new cut “Fever
Dream” – the second single in anticipation of her debut album ‘FUNKSOULSEX,’ set
to release on September 18th.
Earning serious attention in 2023 with her acclaimed EP ‘LVE1’ – collecting 6.5M+
streams and counting – the east London riser continues her incendiary run of form
with a new sensuous single flexing her stylish, signature soundwaves of R&B, funk,
and soul, encapsulating the dream-like sensation of a love so intoxicating it leaves
you questioning reality.
Produced by Brighton duo AMIcity, “Fever Dream” seamlessly blends classic ’80s
textures – from the iconic Juno synth to the crisp DX7 drum machine – with the
enticing whisper of Liv East’s tender vocals, creating a hazy, hypnotic atmosphere
drifting in and out of the auditory foreground as though fading in and out of
consciousness. The record lulls with quiet temptation – a significant indicator of the
sonically seductive offerings to follow.
From its dissonant opening moments, Scarves‘ new album, Strays Forever, feels inhabited.
Produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie, Ratboys, Petey USA), its population is made up of lovers, future parents, exhausted workers, strung-out siblings, and hopeless romantics all trying to stay soft when things seem to only be getting worse.
Throughout its glitchy, suburban indie-rock neighborhood, Scarves effortlessly fuse in influences from bands like The Weakerthans and Hop Along to become a sort of human heart suspended in gelatin (still beating). Strays Forever dropsSeptember 18 via Tender Loving Empire.
Emerging Gloucester singer-songwriter and rapper AMANI returns with his latest single, ‘FADED (1 too many)’, a laid-back, smooth hip-hop track that brings together melodic vocals, sharp lyricism and rolling beat.
‘FADED (1 too many)’ is out now on your streaming service of choice, via APOLLO Distribution.
Matt Suave is a classically trained musician turned global house DJ, known for thundering basslines, soulful vocals, and euphoric, disco‑infused energy. Rooted in the Chicago underground, his rise from gritty club floors to international stages has seen him share billings with Zedd, Purple Disco Machine, LP Giobbi, Kaskade, Derrick Carter, and more — following an early breakout moment closing Paris Hilton’s debut party in Los Angeles.
In recent years, Suave has lit up dance floors from Tokyo to Toronto, making his EDC Las Vegas debut in 2024 and performing on the WorldPride Main Stage in Washington, DC in 2025. Founder of PlayHaus, Denver’s premier queer dance collective, Suave curates sold‑out events that celebrate inclusivity and joy. With club‑ready remixes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Chappell Roan fueling sets at NYC Pride, LA Pride, Aspen Gay Ski Week, and Sydney Mardi Gras, Matt Suave delivers unforgettable moments wherever he plays.
London-based folk artist Darcy Harding returns with her latest single, ‘Solemn’, a delicate yet swooning indie-folk offering that places her firmly among the genre’s most promising emerging voices. Blending timeless folk influences with a contemporary touch, Harding crafts a sound that feels both familiar and distinctly her own, paying subtle homage to the great songwriters who came before her while forging her own unique artistic identity.
‘Solemn’ is available now on your streaming service of choice via APOLLO Distribution.
Tying-in neatly with her new album release ‘Letter To The Last Generation’, the producer of “Fortunately Gone”, Brent Arnold worked with Simone on the stunning recent single “Blueprint”, which preceded the record. “Fortunately Gone” is streaming on all services now.
Featuring a standout vocal from Jenna Pascale (one half of rising NYC duo Katzpascale), “HIT ME” is an elegant, nostalgic and effortlessly soulful record that reimagines the melody and lyrical framework of a beloved 90s classic through Alex’s distinctive lens. Warm, cinematic and rich in atmosphere, it feels equally at home alongside contemporary soul, jazz-adjacent pop and leftfield R&B.
Sweet Gloom are back with their sophomore album, No Love Lost, out August 21 via Sneak Dog Records. To mark the occasion, the Los Angeles punk band today share lead single and music video “Box Dye.”
“Box Dye” is a lovesick punk song about dreaming of someone you know you shouldn’t want – only to wake up still unable to shake the feeling. Built around a crush with “big blue eyes / That always seem a little green sometimes,” the track captures the blurry line between fantasy and bad idea.
the genre-defying instrumental rock innovators Polyphia announce their 2026 World Tour produced by Live Nation across North America and Europe. RJ Pasin will support all tour dates worldwide. North American shows will also feature Ladrones with select dates including Intervals and Plini, while Perturbator will join all UK and European dates.
The band will be returning to stages in major cities across the US, Canada, the UK, and more, including Los Angeles, New York City, Nashville, Toronto, Montreal, Madrid, Milan, Paris, London, and many more.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with VIP and Artist Presales beginning Tuesday, June 16 at 11am ET / 4pm BST. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning Friday, June 19 at 10am local time. For complete details, visit Polyphia.com
Last week, the band released their first single in over four years, “CAN YOU FEEL IT.” Pushing boundaries in ways the band has never before. Today, they released a new music video for the track, showcasing an electrifying performance by the band amidst a crowd of fans. Directed by EVERS, this video captures the band’s captivating live energy and its infectious sound.
East London bassist and producer Jah Wobble and Liverpool-based ethno-psychedelic duo Tian Qiyi present their new single ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, the first offering from the forthcoming album ‘Mystic Liverpool: The Beatles’ Psychedelic Psongbook’, out August 14th via Cherry Red Records and Wobble’s label 30 Hertz. A deeply personal reimagining of The Beatles’ psychedelic period, these songs are framed within a soundscape of Chinese, Mongolian and dub traditions.
‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ – the closing track on The Beatles’ 1966 album ‘Revolver’ – may have been penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney (with title lifted from a phrase coined by Ringo Starr), but Jah Wobble (aka John Wardle) and his sons John T Wardle and Charlie Wardle (aka Tian Qiyi) have made this song uniquely their own.
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