Organizers of the Gulf Coast Jam have confirmed that the rescheduled music festival will be taking place next month with a lineup led by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brad Paisley and Luke Bryan.
The rescheduled festival will be taking place on on June 4th, 5th and 6th at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, FL, making it the first large-scale music festival to play in the U.S. since pandemic lockdown that began in March of 2020.
The first day, Friday, June 4, 2021, will feature performances from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cody Jinks, Joe Nichols, Lindsay Ell, Jon Langston, CJ Solar and Frank Ray
The next night will include Brad Paisley, Cole Swindell, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rodney Atkins, Tenille Townes, Shy Carter and Alex Hall. The final night will feature Luke Bryan, Brothers Osborne, Riley Green, Walker Hayes, Shelly Fairchild, and Tenille Arts who replaces Ryan Hurd, who had a scheduling conflict.
Cradle Of Filth welcomed a brand new member to the band during their livestream event on Wednesday night (May 12th) when they were joined by new keyboardist Anabelle Iratni.
Iratni replaced longtime keyboardist Lindsay Schoolcraft who announced that she was leaving the group back in February of last year after being with them for seven years.
Fans of the band will be familiar with Anabelle as she played with frontman Dani Filth in Devilment, and also played with Veile. The band tweeted on Thursday, "Please all welcome @AnabelleXIII to Cradle Of Filth!"
Maximo Park have released a new EP, Live From The Coast, that showcases songs from their new album "Nature Always Wins", which almost topped the UK charts upon release back in March.
The EP was recorded live on the cliffs above Tynemouth Bay and includes performances of "Child Of The Flatlands", "Baby, Sleep"', "I Don't Know What I'm Doing", "All Of Me", and "Why Must A Building Burn?"
Singer Paul Smiths had this to say, "We launched the single Baby, Sleep with a filmed live-stream, on a cliff overlooking Tynemouth Bay, but we thought we'd record a few more songs to mark the occasion.
"This was the first time we'd recorded them as a band because the actual album was recorded separately, with each member in isolation." Stream the EP here.
Atreyu have recruited some of their famous friends for the music video for their brand new single "Catastrophe". The song is the follow-up to "Save Us", which was the first music from the band after they parted ways with singer Alex Varkatzas.
The new music video includes cameo appearances from members of Silverstein, Trivium, Nothing More, Bad Wolves, Ice Nine Kills, as well as Hyro The Hero
They said of the track, "'Catastrophe' is, in essence, an apocalyptic love song. We took a more imaginative approach to the feelings about that we as individuals and the rest of the planet were going through.
"The world felt like it was falling apart around us. Nothing was certain, and stress and darkness were coming in from every angle. But living through it all with someone who you truly love somehow made it all okay." Watch the video here.
The String Cheese Incident have announced that they will be returning to the concert stages with a series of 5 concerts that will be taking place at two venues in Colorado this summer.
They will be kicking things off with two nights at the Dillon Amphitheater on July 13th and 14th and then will launch three nights at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 16th, 17th and 18th.
The band had this to say, "We understand the demand for our Red Rocks shows may exceed the available tickets and want all fans to have a fair shot at joining us.
"This year, there will be a 'Fair AXS' ticket request period. Fans can begin to request Red Rocks tickets starting now for individual nights, as well as 3-Day passes.
"Information regarding AXS Fair, ticket prices, viewing sections, accessible viewing and more can be found on the 3-Day and individual show pages for July 16, 17, and 18.
"In the event that Red Rocks capacity is increased and sectioning is no longer required, all tickets for Red Rocks only will be general admission (besides rows 1-4 and row 70)." Find more details about the tickets here.
Hanson have released a music video for their new single "Annalie". The track is the first in a series of seven monthly singles the band will be releasing this year for their "Against The World" album project.
Zac Hanson had this to say about the track, "Annalie welcomes people into this music with an uplifting spirit while highlighting much deeper meaning in the lyrics and story, which is a call out for grace amidst the journey of life. We felt like it was a great song to begin this epic journey."
Taylor Hanson said of the album project, "The common thread in these diverse songs is the perspective that many of them echo. They all reflect on seeking a way through challenges in different ways. That theme and the camaraderie we've felt as a band and with our audience helped inspire the title Against The World."
Isaac Hanson added, "Against The World is all about striving to be the best you can be, forging a path you believe in. No one else knows what you are capable of but you, and you define your place in the world." Watch the video here.
The news Grateful Dead fans have been waiting for is here. Dead & Company have announced that they will be returning to the road this summer for a U.S. tour.
The all-star band featuring Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, John Mayer, and Bob Weir, with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti, will be launching the trek on August 16th in Raleigh, NC at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park.
The tour will cross the U.S. with multiple nights in select markets before wrapping things up in Los Angeles with a three night stand at the Hollywood Bowl that concludes on Halloween night.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 21 at Noon local time. See the dates here.
Born of Osiris have released a music video for their new single "Angel or Alien". The song is the title track to the band's forthcoming album, which is set to hit stores on July 2nd.
Guitarist Lee McKinney had this to say, "After what has been an extremely trying year for the world, we couldn't be more excited to bring you our new album, Angel or Alien. We feel like we brought the best elements from each album in our discography and combined them into what you will hear on Angel or Alien.
"So, no matter what album you favor in our discography, this one should shine. We tried to refine and improve on each aspect that makes us Born of Osiris, and I think it's apparent on this record.
"The Angel or Alien music video was actually extremely challenging for the band and crew. We wanted to walk out into the desert where there were no footprints and find the right spot for the performance shots.
"I'm sure you can imagine everyone loading guitars, drums, cabs, cameras, power, etc. across the desert with each step you take sinking 6 inches into the sand.
"It all lead up to a moment I'll never forget - everything set up on top of a dune in the desert, performing with my best friends and a great crew of amazing people filming, and looking over the desert in between takes as the sun set.
"I'll never forget the moments we shared that day. I think I can speak for the band AND camera crew when I say that we truly hope you love the final product, it was both a challenge and a pleasure to create."
Joe Buras added, "There is a longing for connection. It's not always easy and we crave it whether we know it or sometimes not. We get lost in thought at times but we always have to end up facing the world, exposed to the earth.
"You can shine like an Angel or hide like an Alien. Either way your heart and time are going towards the future and the end." Watch the video here.
Crowded House have released a music video for their brand-new single "Playing With Fire". The track comes from their forthcoming album, "Dreamers Are Waiting," which will be hitting stores on June 4th.
Neil Finn had this to say about the track, "This song was formed out of a Crowded House jam, live in the studio but then evolved its character through many twists and turns during quarantine in 2020.
"'Playing With Fire' carries within it the contradiction I often feel on joyous occasions, the presence of hope together with an impending sense of doom." Watch the video here.
David Starr has released a music video for his brand new cover of The Cars classic hit "Drive". The song is part of the americana star's ongoing Touchstones album project.
Starr launched the project during quarantine with the goal of releasing one new song each month for a year and then gathering the singles together for a full album release.
He said of his take on The Cars classic hit ballad, "I have wanted to cover this song for years - the dreamy synths and simple but emotional lyrics have always been a standout from the decade.
"I had my own personal experience with 'Drive' since I first heard it in Aspen, CO. At the time I was running with a crowd that maybe partied a little too hard; I knew my fair share of folks that needed to be driven home on a given night, and some nights, myself included. I am really proud of the way this one came out and the new acoustic direction it took." Watch the video here.
Glass Animals have released a music video for their latest single "Space Ghost Coast To Coast." The song comes from the band's 2020 album "Dreamland".
Frontman Dave Bayley had this to say about the Max Siedentopf directed video, "'Space Ghost' is about someone I knew growing up in Texas...we drifted apart when I moved away at 13, but I found out a few years later he did something truly awful.
"The lyrics of the track are just wondering what makes someone change so much from being an innocent kid to someone who can even consider doing what he did. It talks about how in the 2000's, violent video games and lyrics were blamed by the media for that type of misbehaviour in teenagers...but really I think there were much bigger societal problems at play.
"The video is a twist on those video games. Every video we have made in the last year has been made in peak lockdown...we had to get creative. In this case, Max came up with the idea that he could film me dancing in the park while sitting in his apartment.
"He was giving me direction the whole time via phone in my earbuds. It starts there and gets more and more surreal ha." Watch the video here.
Switchfoot have released a music video for their brand new single called, "i need you (to be wrong)". The song is their first new track since their 2019 album "Native Tongue".
Frontman Jon Foreman had this to say about the track, "I began writing this song more than a decade ago, during a season of personal friction. Insecurity. Doubt. Fear. Inspired by the tale of Mr. Hyde, asking: Who can I trust? Who am I?
"Years later, the song remained as unfinished as the questions themselves, but it began speaking to us in ways that it never had before. And so we began the process of finishing it.
"And while we began to unpack the song, the song was unpacking us. Maybe our enemy is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge." Watch the video here.
Modern English have announced rescheduled dates for their After The Snow Tour, with additional dates and have released a lockdown version of their signature hit "I Melt With You" for charity.
The band was forced to postpone their 2020 tour celebrating their classic 1982 album "After The Snow" with a full performance of the record, along with other songs from their career.
They are now ready to launch the tour on August 31st in Minneapolis, MN at the Turf Club and wrap things up with three nights at The Big E in West Springfield, MA on September 17-19.
New stops have been added to the tour in Milwaukee, WI for Summerfest on September 3, New York, NY on September 8, Asbury Park, NJ on September 10, Pittsburgh, PA on September 14 and more.
Frontman Robbie Grey had this to say, "We can't wait to explode back on stage. It's been a tough year for everyone and we want to bring some energy and excitement to everybody. We look forward to seeing you and all being together in the same room."
The band has also released a download of their Lockdown version of "I Melt With You", which they recorded remotely during the pandemic and the track will benefit The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) to help music venues and promoters impacted by the pandemic. Fans can buy the track here and see the tour dates here.
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant will be returning to the road this summer. He has announced that he is launching a short UK tour with his new band Saving Grace.
Plant announced the dates via his Facebook page on Thursday morning (May 13th). The band had originally planned to play dates in the US and UK last year but they were postponed due to the pandemic.
The new run of dates will be kicking off on June 22nd in Tenbury Wells at The Regal and will wrap up on July 31st in Cawthorne at the Underneath the Stars Festival. See the dates here.
Chase Rice will be performing his new single "Drinkin' Beer. Talkin' God. Amen.," from Tin Roof on Broadway in Nashville on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this coming Monday, May 17th.
He had this to say, "I remember saying 'sitting here, drinking beer and talking to God' to a friend at the end of 2019, not even knowing it would turn into a song idea, because at that time I realized that I needed to slow down, refocus and be able to appreciate the calm as much as the chaos.
"When we look back on this last year, one thing I'm most grateful for is the time at home, sitting around the fire with loved ones and reconnecting with what really matters in life.
"I can't wait to bring the song that came out of that mindset to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' from one of my favorite places in Nashville." Watch the "Drinkin' Beer. Talkin' God. Amen. Featuring Florida Georgia Line" video here.
Whitehall have released a music video for their song "Two Eight Ten," which was directed by Preston Dunnavant, who produced the band's latest album "Swordfish Catcher".
Paddy McKiernan had this to say about the track, "'Two Eight Ten' started as a little melody I would sing in my head for about 3 months and then one afternoon it just wrote itself,.
"All my dissatisfaction, tired-feelings, isolation, and a dash of anger turned into this cathartic album closer. We knew it'd be the last song on the record as soon as we finished- to us it's always felt like the end of a long, stressful day." Watch the video here.
Iron Maiden was one of the many bands that went out on tour supporting KISS early in their career and Gene Simmons has slammed the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for not inducting Iron Maiden.
The legendary metal band has sold over 100 million albums and continues to enjoy major success, but the Rock Hall has continued their long tradition of passing over hard rock and metal bands, but inducting artists/bands from genres outside of rock.
A band or artist is eligible for the Rock Hall 25 years after their first release. Iron Maiden's debut album came out in 1980 and they were nominated for the first time this year, but ultimately did not receive enough votes from the controversary institution's voters.
KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons retweeted an article about Iron Maiden being snubbed and added, "RR Hall of Fame is a sham not to include MAIDEN. Disgusting!"
Paul Stanley, who cofounded KISS with Gene, tweeted about the expected snub last month. He said, "Regardless of whether it matters to them, Maiden not being in the @rockhall of Fame is INSANITY.
"Regardless of who is writing in or not, the Committee must induct them. They have helped spawn an entire genre of music. What else do you need to do?? @IronMaiden".
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has stated in the past that he would reject induction. He was asked during a Q&A event in 2018 if he thinks the band should be inducted and he responded, "Absolutely. I actually think the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is an utter and complete load of bollocks, to be honest with you. It's run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Americans who wouldn't know rock and roll if it hit them in the face. They need to stop taking Prozac and start drinking f-ing beer."
Bruce then spoke to The Jerusalem Post after those comments made headlines. He said, "I was so annoyed with that coverage because they took my statement out of context to make it seem like I was upset that we weren't in the hall of fame.
"I'm really happy we're not there and I would never want to be there. If we're ever inducted I will refuse - they won't bloody be having my corpse in there."
He added, "Rock'n'roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland. It's a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it's dead. It's worse than horrible, it's vulgar."
Acclaimed indie artist Rhett Repko recently released his new single and video called "Late Nights" and to celebrate we asked him to tell us about that track. Here is the story:
For "Late Nights" I started writing it at home on piano with the melody for the chorus. I didn't know if it would even turn into a song because I felt the melody was a little too flow-y and not simple enough for a chorus. But after playing it for a few days I felt it was so catchy and pretty that I wanted to pursue it more and turn it into a whole song.
Something I love about the production and arrangement of the song is it feels extremely dynamic the way the verses grow into the pre-choruses and into the choruses and keeps getting bigger. It really feels like the whole song is breathing as it progresses. It's the little things like the counter-melody electric guitar part halfway through the second pre-chorus that drives the song into the next chorus. Also when coming up with the way the kick drum propels the pre-chorus section I would close my eyes and imagine it in a live venue with the kick pounding into your chest as it gets you ready for the chorus. Something I love about the chorus is it somehow feels like a huge rock song, yet also something extremely easy to listen to at the same time. I also love the guitar solo and how it's on an acoustic guitar which I feel is unique and a nice change compared to my typical electric guitar or synth solo.
The song isn't just about being happy, it's deeper than that. It's about finding happiness and being relieved that you're able to feel love again when you didn't know if it could ever happen again for you. That's why my favorite lyric from the song is "feels good to love again, know that you're my best friend". Another thing about the song is it's about just being in the moment with that person you enjoy spending time with. It's not about the superficial desires or trying to pretend to be something you're not for that person. Because you both accept each other for who you are.
For the recording of it, I wanted to keep the production very natural sounding because that's how the lyrics feel to me. Since I wasn't worried about writing with the perfect single format I wasn't worried about using fancy or trendy sounds in the production for this song. That's why the most upfront sounds in the mix are the acoustic guitar, the bass, the drums, and the vocals.
Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen and watch for yourself right here!
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Music Festivals Return With Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brad Paisley and Luke Bryan
Cradle Of Filth Welcome New Member
Maximo Park Go Live From The Coast With New EP
Atreyu Recruit All-Star List Of Friends For 'Catastrophe' Video
The String Cheese Incident To Rock 5 Night Stand In CO
Hanson Launch Against The World With Annalie Video
Dead & Company Announce U.S. Summer Tour
Born of Osiris Release 'Angel or Alien' Video and Announce Album