After teasing fans earlier this week, Lizzo released her new single, “About Damn Time,” and the music video to match on Thursday.
The new track is an upbeat feel-good anthem, something the artist has a penchant for producing, and the video matches the song’s energy as she galivants through the halls of a building in a blue sparkling ensemble and sings of being “way too fine to be this stressed” before ultimately realizing that everything is “gon’ be alright.”
“Turn up the music, turn down the lights /I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be alright /Okay (Okay), alright /It’s about damn time,” the Grammy-winner sings in the chorus.
In addition to dropping the new song, Lizzo announced on social media that her forthcoming fourth album, Special, is due out July 15. She shared the album’s black and white artwork along with announcement, which is a headshot of the “Truth Hurts” singer from the shoulders up as she looks off into the distance.
Special is available to pre-save/pre-order now, while “About Damn Time” is available to stream now.
Edgar Winter‘s new album, Brother Johnny: An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Winter, hit stores Friday. As its title suggests, the 17-track collection features Edgar teaming up with a variety of well-known musicians to pay homage to the music of his late brother, blues-rock guitar legend Johnny Winter.
Among the many stars who contributed to the project are Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons, Michael McDonald, ex-Allman Brothers Band members Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, Toto‘s Steve Lukather, and late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
“I thought this was gonna be a hard album to make, but this turned out to be just a joyous, inspiring, uplifting experience for me,” Edgar tells ABC Audio. “It was just so amazingly beautiful to do this with a lot of my longtime friends, and then a lot of people that I had never met.”
Edgar says one standout track is a version of Johnny’s soulful 1974 ballad “Stranger,” which features Starr, Walsh and McDonald.
Edgar explains that he initially envisioned Walsh playing guitar on a version of Chuck Berry‘s “Johnny B. Goode” that’s included on Brother Johnny, but notes that after Joe heard “Stranger,” he “flipped out,” and insisted on contributing guitar to that track.
After Walsh signed on, Edgar says he felt comfortable enough to ask Ringo, Joe’s brother-in-law, to play drums on “Stranger.” Winter admits that he “was blown away” when Starr agreed.
Edgar tells ABC Audio that it was his wife, Monique, who suggested getting McDonald to sing “Stranger,” which he immediately realized was a great idea.
“I just knew that it would be something special,” he notes. “And I really do feel like it’s a magical vocal, and one of the highlights on the album.”
Here’s Brother Johnny‘s full track list:
“Mean Town Blues” — featuring Joe Bonamassa
“Alive and Well” — featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd
“Lone Star Blues” — featuring Keb’ Mo’
“I’m Yours and I’m Hers” — featuring Billy Gibbons & Derek Trucks
“Johnny B. Goode” — featuring Joe Walsh & David Grissom
“Stranger” — featuring Michael McDonald, Joe Walsh & Ringo Starr
“Highway 61 Revisited” — featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd & John McFee
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Hoochie Koo” — featuring Steve Lukather
“When You Got a Good Friend” — featuring Doyle Bramhall II
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” — featuring Phil X
“Guess I’ll Go Away” — featuring Taylor Hawkins & Doug Rappoport
“Drown in My Own Tears”
“Self Destructive Blues” — featuring Joe Bonamassa
“Memory Pain” — featuring Warren Haynes
“Stormy Monday Blues” — featuring Robben Ford
“Got My Mojo Workin'” — featuring Bobby Rush
“End of the Line” — featuring David Campbell Strings
If you’re an up-and-coming artist making your Coachella debut this year, heed this advice from Gang of Youth‘s Tom Hobden: choose your footwear wisely.
The multi-instrumentalist played his first Coachella in 2009 as a member of the now-defunct indie band Noah and the Whale. Speaking with ABC Audio, Hobden shares that he remembers that performance “very well, for one particular reason.”
“It was one of those meltingly hot days,” he recalls.
Such is often the case in the desert of Indio, California, this time of year — especially during the daytime hours — but that didn’t stop Hobden from buying a fancy new pair of shoes for the occasion.
“I think we were on early in the afternoon,” Hobden shares. “And my shoes, I was wearing these really nice new shoes I’d bought, they must’ve had a slightly rubber sole, ’cause I found myself two or three songs in realizing that I couldn’t move my feet.”
“Part of my shoes had melted on the hot stage, and I was just stuck,” he laughs. “I had to do a sort of weird shimmy to release myself.”
Just as a piece of Hobden’s shoes may be permanently a part of Coachella’s Outdoor Theatre stage, that performance will always stick with him.
“I’ve got real fond memories of that,” Hobden says. “You always remember your first time you play a big festival like that. It’s special for those reasons.”
Coachella 2022 takes place April 15-17 and April 22-24. While Hobden and Gang of Youths aren’t playing this year, they’ll launch a U.S. tour April 21 in Madison, Wisconsin, in support of their new album, angel in realtime.
The Coachella lineup does include Billie Eilish, Arcade Fire, Måneskin, Phoebe Bridgers, Turnstile, The Regrettes, and Bishop Briggs, among others.
Sure, you already know he’s a talented singer and songwriter, but did you know that Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey’s also got an eye for the visual arts?
He shared his hidden talent on Twitter this week, posting a painting he made of an orange-hued sunset. Of course, the inspiration behind the work is the sunset he sings about in the band’s number-one single from 2018, “Make it Sweet.”
“Sunsets like a tangerine,” he wrote on Twitter, beside a video of him signing the piece of artwork, then zooming out to give the mirror a thumbs up.
The creative energy just might be flowing in other ways, too: Old Dominion recently detailed that their new single, “No Hard Feelings,” is the last one they’ll release off their Time, Tequila & Therapy album cycle. That might mean it’s full steam ahead on the group’s next chapter, and new songs in the works.
Matthew’s not the only country star who’s handy with a paintbrush. Brothers Osborne’s John Osborne has been sharing some of his artwork on social media, too. It’s a hobby that he was able to devote more time to during the COVID-19 pandemic, when shutdowns kept the duo off the road.
After treating fans to a festival experience on the high seas, Melissa Etheridge is returning to dry land for her next event.
Melissa, who hosted The Melissa Etheridge Cruise in 2019 and 2021, will now welcome fans to Etheridge Island, a six-night, all-inclusive vacation festival being held over Labor Day Weekend at the Dreams and Secrets resorts at Playa Mujeres, Mexico.
Fans who attend the event, taking place August 30 through September 5, will enjoy three live sets from Melissa, as well as performances from Wynonna, Ani DiFranco, Antigone Rising and other female acts. Lifestyle and wellness experts will also be on hand during the event.
In addition to the music, the package includes accommodations, meals, beverages, transportation to and from the Cancun airport and typical resort activities like snorkeling. Etheridge Island is also kid-friendly, so if you bring your children, you’ll get access to activities for them as well.
Florence + the Machine has unveiled the track list for the band’s upcoming album, Dance Fever.
The record, which frontwoman Florence Welch previously described as a “fairytale in 14 songs,” includes the previously released cuts “King,” “Heaven Is Here” and “My Love,” plus 11 more new tunes.
Florence has also shared a photo of what looks like the back cover of Dance Fever, and the album appears to be divided into three sections, with the first four songs making up part one, followed by five songs each in parts two and three.
Dance Fever, the follow-up to 2018’s High as Hope, arrives May 13. Florence will launch a U.S. tour in support of the record in September.
Here’s the Dance Fever track list:
“King”
“Free”
“Choreomania”
“Back in Town”
“Girls Against God”
“Dream Girl Evil”
“Prayer Factory”
“Cassandra”
“Heaven Is Here”
“Daffodil”
“My Love”
“Restraint”
“The Bomb”
“Morning Elvis”
Daniel Knighton/Getty Images; Bobby Bank/Getty Images
Peter Frampton, George Thorogood and doo-wop/rock ‘n’ roll legend Dion DiMucci are among the artists who will be taking part in acclaimed blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa‘s third annual Stream-A-Thon charity event scheduled for Saturday, May 1, at 3 p.m. ET.
The event benefits the Fueling Musicians program launched by Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation to help support supports musicians in need. Bonamassa will host the presentation, which will feature over two hours of music performed by more than 25 artists.
In addition to Frampton, Thorogood, Dion and Bonamassa, the lineup includes Litte Feat/Doobie Brothers keyboardist Bill Payne, Eric Gales, Tommy Emmanuel and Mike Dawes.
To date, To date, the Fueling Musicians program has raised more than $500,000 for touring musicians who have faced financial difficulties and whose livelihood has been impacted by the the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industry.
To find out more information about the Fueling Musicians program and to donate to the cause, visit KeepingtheBluesAlive.org.
“I am so thankful for the incredible support from our industry partners and for the fans who have donated to this program,” Bonamassa says. “Through the generosity of our contributors, we can continue to impact musicians who still need our help.”
Kesha was dealt another blow in her ongoing suit against Dr. Luke, reports Rolling Stone. A New York State appellate court ruled she cannot use evidence she deemed “critical” to her case. Kesha found notes from attorney Greg Clarick from 2006 of her detailing the moments before Dr. Luke allegedly sexually assaulted her in 2005, saying he gave her a pill to “feel better” and she blacked out. Dr. Luke’s team alleged Kesha first made the “sober pills” claim in 2013. The appellate court said Kesha discovered the notes too late, calling it a “belated disclosure.” Kesha was sued in 2014 for defamation and she countersued. The case is ongoing.
BTS is “the nicest group of people” Grammys host Trevor Noah ever met — and he means it. During a taping of TheDaily Show, he chatted with the audience about meeting BTS, and told them, “They’re just nice in every interaction that they have with people and what they do.” He also praised their dance moves, adding, “They’re so good and efficient at what they do,” joking they make NSYNC look like a bunch of sloppy dancers.
Olivia Rodrigo pumped the brakes at her Denver show after a concert-goer suffered a medical emergency. A fan caught the moment when the audience used their cellphone flashlights to alert the Grammy winner, who cut the music. “Sorry, could we stop for a second? Is everyone okay over there? Do you need help? Can you get them some help over there?” Olivia called out, then waited until everyone was “good” before starting “traitor” from the top.
Andy Grammer has a new song coming out called “Save My Life,” which features the band R3HAB. He shared a snippet of the upcoming, upbeat song to his Instagram. It arrives May 6.
By the time Carly Pearce was in first grade, she was already in training to be a country singer — and she owes a lot of that drive and ambition to LeAnn Rimes.
Ahead of tonight’s premiere of CMT Crossroads: LeAnn Rimes & Friends, Carly says that her admiration for LeAnn runs deep.
“When I say I imitated her in my childhood years, it’s the truth. I won talent shows at school singing versions of her songs. My mom had to push to try and find a vocal coach at six, seven, eight years old because LeAnn was a 14-year-old doing it,” she recounts to CMT.
Now, Carly’s one of a stellar lineup of country’s new female acts tributing LeAnn on the special, alongside Mickey Guyton, Ashley McBryde and Brandy Clark.
“When this came up, my little childhood self was so excited,” Carly adds.
The special will review LeAnn’s storied career in country music, dating all the way back to her 1996 breakout hit, “Blue,” which came out when she was just 13. Onstage, she’ll revisit those early hits as well as previewing material from her new album, god’s work, which features Mickey.
LeAnn began her career so young that the artists celebrating her tonight grew up with her music, even though they’re not much younger than her themselves.
“To hear her story of how she put the yodel on ‘Blue’ when she was 13 years old, she’s a mastermind,” Ashley marvels. “She’s a prodigy. She’s been doing what I wanted to do my whole life already for 25 years.”
The CMT Crossroads episode premieres tonight at 8 p.m. CT on CMT.
Andy Grammer has a new song coming out called “Save My Life,” which he performs with the band R3HAB. He shared a snippet of the upcoming, upbeat song to his Instagram. It arrives May 6. Those who pre-save the song will be registered for a chance to win tickets to Andy’s The Art of Joy Tour Pt. 2. He will give out 10 pairs in all.
Maren Morris crashed John Mayer‘s concert in Nashville, where they performed the song “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” A fan caught the magical moment on camera. Maren gushed once the song was over, “My high school self just died” and the two shared a sweet hug on stage.
After teasing the title track off her forthcoming album Maybe You’re the Problem, Ava Maxteased something is coming on April 28. The “Motto” singer first shared a clip of the song on Monday, revealing it’s a piano ballad about a relationship gone wrong. You can pre-save “Maybe You’re The Problem” now.
Olivia Rodrigo pumped the brakes at her Denver show after a concert-goer suffered a medical emergency. A fan caught the moment when the audience used their cellphone flashlights to alert the Grammy winner, who cut the music. “Sorry, could we stop for a second? Is everyone okay over there? Do you need help? Can you get them some help over there?” she called out, and waited until everyone was “good” before starting “traitor” from the top.
