Drops, tours & sonic culture
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Kendrick Lamar's Surprise Drop at 3AM Crashes Streaming Servers
A 12-track ambient album with zero features. Critics are calling it his most personal work.
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The $400 Omakase That's Redefining What Sushi Means in 2025
Chef Mori's 17-course counter in the Flatiron is booked six months out. We got in.
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Zone 2 Training Is the Longevity Protocol Peter Attia Actually Uses
80% of your training at 130-140bpm. It sounds boring. The biomarkers tell a different story.
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Pappy Van Winkle 23-Year Just Hit the Secondary Market at $8,000
The most sought-after bourbon in America quietly appeared on three auction platforms this week.
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Runtz x Gelato #41 Crosses Are Commanding $80/Eighth in LA
Small-batch craft genetics with terpene profiles that rival Sonoma County wine.
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Korean BBQ Marinades That Actually Penetrate Thick Cuts
The pear vs. kiwi debate, settled — plus the overnight fridge trick no one talks about.
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Tokyo's Hidden Whisky Bars: A Connoisseur's Map
Golden Gai's 300 sq ft temples of aged single malts — ranked and mapped.
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Volcano Classic vs. Mighty+: The Definitive Vaporizer Comparison
After 200 hours of testing, we know which one actually delivers on flavor retention.
See Best Prices →The Vinyl Revival Is Real: Independent Press Sales Up 34% YoY
Collectors are outbidding each other for first pressings. Here's what's worth your money.
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Cold Plunge vs. Contrast Therapy: Which Actually Reduces Inflammation?
The literature is more nuanced than the influencers admit. A meta-analysis breakdown.
Shop Cold Plunges →The 25,000+ Highest-Rated Drinks, According to Untappd
March can mean many things: 🌷The first sign of spring ⚾The first crack of the bat as baseball season begins ⛹️♀️The first tingle of hearts breaking with broken NCAA March Madness brackets. But in our neck of the woods, the third month of the year means one thing only: the return of the third annual Untappd Community Awards! This year,… The post The 25,000+ Highest-Rated Drinks, According to Untappd appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →Best THC Drinks for the Perfect Nightcap
As the craft beverage world continues to evolve, THC-infused drinks have emerged as a sophisticated and alcohol-free way to cap off the night. Whether you’re winding down after a long day or elevating a social evening sans booze, these thoughtfully crafted cannabis beverages offer a range of effects, flavors, and uses. Below are some of the best THC drinks for… The post Best THC Drinks for the Perfect Nightcap appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →Hop Culture’s 5 Best Beers in the Shop in February
Hop Culture’s 5 Best Beers in the Shop Right Now (February) Graphic courtesy of Derek Campos, Senior Graphic Designer, Next Glass Welcome to a brand-new Hop Culture series designed to answer one simple question: What beers should I be drinking right now? Each month, we’re digging into the Hop Culture Shop to spotlight five standout beers (and boxes) that our… The post Hop Culture’s 5 Best Beers in the Shop in February appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →The Road Less Traveled, Revisited: Two Roads’ Bold Bet on Brewing Belgium’s Legendary PALM
Two roads diverged in the craft beer woods, and Two Roads Brewing has never hesitated to take the one with fewer footprints—and better beer at the end of it. From day one, the Connecticut brewery has built its identity around zigging when others zag, honoring tradition while quietly rewriting the rules. Sometimes that means dry-hopping a pilsner before anyone has… The post The Road Less Traveled, Revisited: Two Roads’ Bold Bet on Brewing Belgium’s Legendary PALM appeared first on Hop Cultu
Read Article →Top 11 THC Drinks We Tried in 2025
THC drinks had a breakout year in 2025. What was once a novelty shelf at the corner dispensary has graduated into a full-blown beverage category, with items available at some of the largest retailers nationwide, including Total Wine, Target, Winn-Dixie, and Circle K. The category has borrowed heavily from craft beer, functional drinks, and even spirits. Many consumers are choosing… The post Top 11 THC Drinks We Tried in 2025 appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →Hop Culture’s 5 Best Beers in the Shop in January
Welcome to a brand-new Hop Culture series designed to answer one simple question: What beers should I be drinking right now? Each month, we’re digging into the Hop Culture Shop to spotlight five standout beers (and boxes) that our team—and the wider beer community—can’t stop talking about. These aren’t just hype-driven picks or dusty shelf sitters. They’re fresh, highly rated,… The post Hop Culture’s 5 Best Beers in the Shop in January appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →Hop Culture’s Top 20 Favorite Articles of 2025
With 2025 all wrapped up like a holiday present under the tree, let’s look back at the articles we enjoyed writing the most during the last twelve months. Hop Culture’s favorite articles this year featured driving hundreds of miles in Iceland’s tundra to find one of the best pilsners we had all year, getting our hands sticky with spent grain,… The post Hop Culture’s Top 20 Favorite Articles of 2025 appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →Top Places We Traveled for Beer in 2025
Discovering new places, beer cities, and meccas for craft is one of the best parts of our job. Undoubtedly, we went on some crazy beer adventures this year. From the home of smoked beer to one of the most remote countries in the Atlantic, these are the top places we traveled for beer this year. Where We Traveled for Beer… The post Top Places We Traveled for Beer in 2025 appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →The 14 Best Beers We Drank in 2025
Here’s the thing about drinking beer for a living: The deeper we dive into this wild, wonderful world of lagers, lambics, saisons, and everything in between, the harder it gets to pick favorites. In 2025 alone, Hop Culture Senior Content Editor Grace Lee-Weitz clocked 669 unique beers from 323 breweries in 117 styles across 15 countries, three continents, and a… The post The 14 Best Beers We Drank in 2025 appeared first on Hop Culture.
Read Article →The Best Breweries of 2025
Another year, another impossible task: narrowing down the breweries that blew our minds, melted our palates, and made us seriously consider installing a second liver. You’d think after crisscrossing the globe for festivals, sneaking into taprooms between flights, and obsessively scrolling your check-ins on Untappd, this list would get easier. Nope. Every November, we stare at a chaotic pile of… The post The Best Breweries of 2025 appeared first on Hop Culture.
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Podcast EP 282 – Happy New Year Show 2026
We are joined by The President, Andy Carter and special guest, friend of the show Sam Tierney from The Propagator. Items of discussion include: Quick update from Danny on milestone beer events at The Full Pint Look back on 2025 year in beer. Looking at the “Craft Beer Killers” Seltzer, RTD, THC and if it […] The post Podcast EP 282 – Happy New Year Show 2026 appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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Kyle Harrop’s (Horus) Top 10 Beers of 2025
From Danny Fullpint, Editor-in-chief: This is a longstanding year-end tradition here at The Full Pint. Our friend Kyle might be carrying the torch right now for keeping beer exciting, exploratory and in the case of this year’s edition, collaborative. 2025…the Dodgers won the World Series for the second year in a row and I got […] The post Kyle Harrop’s (Horus) Top 10 Beers of 2025 appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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Podcast EP 281 – Interview with Nick Firestone of Firestone Walker Brewing
A note from Danny – Sorry for the delay on this show, we had a technical glitch with the recording and lost the video footage. Thanks for sticking with us. This week, we sit down with Nick Firestone, CEO of Firestone Walker Brewing. We discuss many items including: Being appointed the CEO role at Firestone […] The post Podcast EP 281 – Interview with Nick Firestone of Firestone Walker Brewing appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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Steve Austin’s Broken Skull 10th Anniversary IPA Release Details
From the editor: Many celebrity beer collabs don’t make it past their first run. As the celebrity or musician loses interest in the project, so do the fans. In the case of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull IPA, the power of this beer has stood the test of time, much like the West Coast IPA style. […] The post Steve Austin’s Broken Skull 10th Anniversary IPA Release Details appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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New Glarus Brewing Provides Update on Expansion Project
(New Glarus, WI) – One year ago, New Glarus Brewing broke ground on its 55 million dollar brewhall, distillery, and hospitality expansion. They are set to welcome guests early summer of 2027. New Glarus Brewing teamed with Keller Construction; another employee owned Wisconsin based company on this project. Keller has kept the project on time […] The post New Glarus Brewing Provides Update on Expansion Project appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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Podcast EP 280 – Wort Wrangler and Andy Spooktacular GABF Fallout Show
We are joined by not only Andy but The Wort Wrangler this week to chop it up about beer. Items for discussion include: GABF Fallout Events around Denver Round the clock drinking like a pro Changes to festival and awards format BA gatekeeping media passes Johnny Tsunami Forrest and Main hits Philly Creature Comforts Los […] The post Podcast EP 280 – Wort Wrangler and Andy Spooktacular GABF Fallout Show appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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The 2025 Vintage of Samuel Adams Utopias Is The Biggest Yet!
Samuel Adams, one of the pioneers of craft beer, today unveiled Samuel Adams Utopias 2025, the 14th release of the highly anticipated, barrel-aged extreme beer. Defying convention with a 30% ABV, Utopias 2025 is one of the strongest beers ever brewed, and as a result, is illegal in 15 states. This limited-edition beer is bottled in […] The post The 2025 Vintage of Samuel Adams Utopias Is The Biggest Yet! appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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Fulton Brewing Collabs with Cry Baby Craig’s Hot Sauce
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Two Minnesota originals are turning up the heat this fall. Fulton Brewing and Cry Baby Craig’s Hot Sauce have teamed up to create a limited-edition chelada that’s equal parts crisp, spicy, and unapologetically Minnesotan. Meet the Chill City Chelada – a bold mashup of Fulton’s easy-drinking, award-winning Chill City Golden Lager and Cry Baby […] The post Fulton Brewing Collabs with Cry Baby Craig’s Hot Sauce appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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Pelican Brewing Announces Rockaway Beach Grand Opening
Rockaway Beach, OR (October 14, 2025) — Pelican Brewing Company, the award- winning Oregon Coast brewery known for its coastal hospitality and innovative craft beers, is thrilled to announce the official opening of its newest location in beautiful Rockaway Beach, Oregon. Doors open to the public on Friday, October 17, marking the start of daily […] The post Pelican Brewing Announces Rockaway Beach Grand Opening appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft Beer News.
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Dale’s Pale Ale Wins Gold at 2025 Great American Beer Festival
(LONGMONT, CO) OCTOBER 14, 2025 — Oskar Blues Brewery earned a gold medal for Dale’s Pale Ale at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition, hosted and presented by the Brewers Association®. Dale’s Pale Ale was recognized in the English Ale beer-style category with aromas of strong, dank piney hops. It is beloved for its bitter, caramel malty flavor with […] The post Dale’s Pale Ale Wins Gold at 2025 Great American Beer Festival appeared first on The Full Pint - Craft
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A Local Pizzaiolo’s Tour of the Best Restaurants in NYC
Chef Anthony Mangieri from Una Pizza Napoletana, whose pizza was crowned the best in the U.S. in 2025, takes Eater on a tour of his favorite restaurants in NYC for tastes of creamy cheesecake, a juicy burger, and more. Mangieri starts his day with a cycle around town to clear his head, before getting a slice of cheesecake at Veniero’s Pasticceria e Caffé, a dessert that he’s been enjoying for more than 30 years. The Sicilian-style cake is made with alternating layers of sponge cake soaked
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The New American Steakhouse
By and large, most diners at Cote, the sleek and club-like New York City steakhouse, order the Butcher’s Feast. For $82 per person, diners get four cuts of beef, grilled tableside. But there is no creamed spinach here, nor loaded baked potatoes: Instead, there is banchan, like kimchi and pickled daikon; scallion salad, with gochugaru vinaigrette; lettuce leaves, with a side of ssamjang; gyeran-jjim, renamed on the menu as “savory egg souffle”; and bubbling clay pots of both kimchi stew and doenj
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Trump's order is a milestone for proponents of using psychedelics as medicine
President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research and approval of psychedelics for treating mental health conditions, like depression, PTSD and addiction.
Read Article →Video Briefing: The Psychedelics Executive Order
Video Briefing: The Psychedelics Executive Order
Read Article →President Trump Signs Executive Order to Accelerate Psychedelic Research and Access
President Trump Signs Executive Order to Accelerate Psychedelic Research and Access
Read Article →Pα+ Psychedelic Bulletin #223: Ibogaine Advocates Court Trump, via Rogan; Compass Launches Provider Training Grants; Therapeutic Alliance Debate Reignites
Ibogaine has been in the news a great deal lately, with a New York Times journalist’s ibogaine trip appearing in a feature story last month and on Sunday’s episode of The Daily podcast. On April 1st, ibogaine evangelists-in-chief Rick Perry and Bryan Hubbard appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. The episode, which comes in at just over two hours long, focuses on the work of Americans for… Source
Read Article →Psychedelic Funding Update: Q1 2026
Psychedelic Funding Update: Q1 2026 We have updated our Psychedelic Company Financing Tracker to reflect activity in Q1 2026. Psychedelic financing activity in the first quarter of 2026 was down slightly from Q4 2025, with $348M raised across 11 events. The bulk of those aggregate inflows accrued to Compass Pathways, which raised $150M on the back of its second positive Phase 3 readout in… Source
Read Article →Worth the Wait: Cambridge Adds Its Voice to UK Psychedelic Science
Worth the Wait: Cambridge Adds Its Voice to UK Psychedelic Science
Read Article →Q1 2026 Psychedelic Patent Update
Written by Psychedelic Alpha’s Noah Smith with support from Editor-at-Large and patent attorney Graham Pechenik of Calyx Law. The Psychedelic Patent Update provides headline figures and data regarding published psychedelic patent applications and grants, as well as a brief analysis. Since November 2023, we’ve been tracking prosecution status updates for every U.S. patent application in our… Source
Read Article →The Psychedelic Practitioner Issue 4: Integration
The Psychedelic Practitioner Issue 4: Integration
Read Article →March 2026 Psychedelic Bill Round-up
With 11 new bills introduced across 7 jurisdictions and significant movement on dozens of existing measures, March added to a record-setting year for U.S. psychedelic policy reform. Combined with the activity we covered in January and February, the 2026 legislative period now encompasses more than 100 bills across 35 states. Perhaps the most significant recent development came not from a new… Source
Read Article →Serotonin, Synapses, and Setting: Gitte Moos Knudsen on the Neurobiology of Psychedelic Action
Serotonin, Synapses, and Setting: Gitte Moos Knudsen on the Neurobiology of Psychedelic Action
Read Article →Does Weed Raise Blood Pressure? What the Research Says
Yes — weed can raise your blood pressure, but the effect is short-lived and more nuanced than a simple yes or no. THC triggers an immediate spike in heart rate and blood pressure within minutes... The post Does Weed Raise Blood Pressure? What the Research Says appeared first on Greencamp.
Read Article →How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System? + THC Clearance Calculator
How long THC stays in your system depends on how often you use cannabis, the type of drug test, and your body composition. Use the calculator below for a personalized estimate, then read the detection... The post How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System? + THC Clearance Calculator appeared first on Greencamp.
Read Article →Best CBD Flower Brands for Smoking
The CBD flower market has exploded in recent years, giving consumers more options than ever before. But with so many brands claiming to offer premium hemp flower, how do you separate genuinely quality products from... The post Best CBD Flower Brands for Smoking appeared first on Greencamp.
Read Article →From Ritual to Routine: How People Use Mushrooms and Cannabis for Mindful Living
For a long time, both cannabis and mushrooms were associated with special occasions—ceremonies, weekends, or moments set apart from everyday life. But that narrative is changing. More people are now integrating these plant-based tools into... The post From Ritual to Routine: How People Use Mushrooms and Cannabis for Mindful Living appeared first on Greencamp.
Read Article →7 Lesser-Known Benefits of CBD
When you hear the word CBD, what comes to your mind? Well, for most people, the first thought that comes to mind is reducing pain and anxiety. However, many other, more significant benefits of CBD... The post 7 Lesser-Known Benefits of CBD appeared first on Greencamp.
Read Article →SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THC VAPING PRODUCTS
The safety of THC vaping products is a critical concern for consumers and regulators alike, given the unique challenges associated with inhaled substances. Ensuring product integrity from manufacturing to consumption involves adherence to specific standards... The post SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THC VAPING PRODUCTS appeared first on Greencamp.
Read Article →Why Runtz Seeds Took Over the American Cannabis Scene
In the past few years, few strains have made as big a splash as Runtz. From coast to coast, this fruity, candy-flavored hybrid has become a favorite among growers and consumers alike. What started as... The post Why Runtz Seeds Took Over the American Cannabis Scene appeared first on Greencamp.
Read Article →How Tyler Ballgame's shot in the dark led to 'For the First Time, Again'
The Rhode Island native has quickly built a reputation for his stellar live shows.(Image credit: George Murphy)
Read Article →The dissenting musical life of John Luther Adams
The Pulitzer-winning composer, whose unconventional music reflects the rugged landscapes he lives in, talks about his relationship to nature and his new piece Horizon.(Image credit: Cynthia Adams)
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Mei Semones' genre-bending, bilingual music is unlike anything you've ever heard
Mei Semones' unique sound weaves lyrics in English and Japanese through catchy pop, jazz and rock-influenced instrumentation.
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Artists respond to the Live Nation monopoly verdict
Artists and organizers NPR spoke with say they don't expect to see any immediate changes in the live music industry following the Live Nation decision — but they see this is a first step in the right direction.(Image credit: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Kirk Fletcher ‘Texas Blues Legends’ Guitar Course Launches on Gibson App
Gibson has released a new course on the Gibson App titled Texas Blues Legends with Kirk Fletcher. The course is designed for guitar players of varying experience levels and focuses on Texas blues techniques. It is divided into three sections—Rhythm, Lead, and Full Song—and includes more than 20 video lessons that cover foundational patterns, lead playing, and complete song performance. “Every time I pick up a guitar, I play with a whole lot of soul,” Fletcher says. “Texas blues is about feel,
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Father Ron and Friends Set French Quarter Fest, Abita Brew Pub Dates for Spring 2026
New Orleans-based Father Ron and Friends are making the most of the spring season with performances of music from their Global Music Award-winning Forever The Seasons, appearing at festivals, brewpubs, lawn concerts, and neighborhood porch sets. Led by Episcopal priest and longtime WWOZ folk DJ Father Ron Clingenpeel, the group has built a following rooted in community-centered performance and traditional folk values. Originally from Nebraska, Clingenpeel has spent years in New Orleans, inclu
Read Article →Jon Batiste and Josh Harmon Rework Zelda’s ‘Song of Storms’
Multi-Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy winner Jon Batiste brings a jazz improviser’s touch to the beloved “Song of Storms” from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in a new performance with musician and content creator Josh Harmon. First heard in the game’s 1998 release, the familiar melody is reimagined here as a fluid, jazz-inflected conversation, with Batiste’s spontaneous piano phrasing meeting Harmon’s restrained percussion in a performance that feels both playful and deeply musical. “Josh is a
Read Article →Todd Mosby Blends Jazz, Folk, and Blues on ‘American Heartland’
St. Louis-based composer Todd Mosby takes a wide-angle approach on American Heartland, a 12-track album that moves between contemporary jazz, New Age, folk, blues, solo acoustic guitar, and jazz-rock with a distinctly cinematic sense of motion. The result feels less like a genre exercise than a musical map of Missouri’s emotional and physical landscape. Across the collection, lush orchestration, featured female vocal passages, horn-driven momentum, and stately strings give the music a vivid s
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Kronos Quartet’s ‘Glorious Mahalia’ Honors Mahalia Jackson’s Voice and Activism
Midway through Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech at the 1963 March on Washington, a voice called out from behind him: “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” That voice belonged to Mahalia Jackson, King’s close friend and one of the most revered gospel singers of the 20th century. Glorious Mahalia, a new tribute from Kronos Quartet, uses that defining moment as a lens into Jackson’s artistry, convictions, and the profound relationships that ran alongside her work, including her ties to King,
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Allen Toussaint’s ‘Songbook’ Live Album: Five Decades of New Orleans Music Reissued
Allen Toussaint (1938–2015) was a New Orleans treasure whose songs and productions defined the city’s sound for decades. His first live album, Songbook (2013), bottled that energy, recorded during two intimate 2009 New York shows where Toussaint wove stories between career-spanning performances of “Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette),” “Holy Cow,” and “Get Out of My Life, Woman.” Now, the GRAMMY®-nominated album returns via Craft Recordings with 20 previously unreleased tracks, including a cover
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Trey Anastasio Announces Live and Acoustic Album, Capturing 2025 Tour Performances
Trey Anastasio has announced the upcoming release of Trey Anastasio – Live and Acoustic, a new collection of stripped-down performances captured last year on his sold-out 2025 Spring Acoustic Tour. Produced by Vance Powell and featuring longtime collaborator Jeff Tanski on keyboards, Trey Anastasio – Live and Acoustic arrives via Rubber Jungle Records this Friday, April 3. Pre-orders/pre-saves are available now. Trey Anastasio – Live and Acoustic captures Anastasio in his most intimate and r
Read Article →Oteil Burbridge & Lamar Williams Jr. Announce Collaborative Album, Release Lead Single
Bassist Oteil Burbridge and vocalist Lamar Williams Jr. have announced The Offering, a full-length studio album set for release May 1 via Floki Studios. Recorded at the rising destination studio on Iceland’s Northern Coast and produced by drummer, engineer, and Alan Evans, the collaborative project debuts with its first single, “The Way We Rise.” The song opens The Offering with a reflection on endurance. Burbridge describes it as a meditation on “how we get through hard times” and “tenacity
Read Article →Previously Unreleased Gregg Allman Band Concert Recording Live in Philadelphia ’86 Arrives April 10
The musical legacy of Gregg Allman continues with Great As Ever: Live In Philadelphia ’86, a previously unreleased concert recording from the Gregg Allman Band, arriving April 10 via his posthumous label, Sawrite Records. Pre-orders and pre-saves are available now. Recorded in Philadelphia at the height of Allman’s solo years, the album captures a band locked into its stride, with a newly released take on “Don’t Want You No More” foregrounding his fluid work on the Hammond B-3. Recor
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Exclusive Premiere: A Special Take on ‘Special Rider’ from Reed Turchi at Rosa’s Lounge
Reed Turchi’s Time is a Flat Circle is built on the idea that time loops back on itself: the outward push (the centripetal) is imagined, while the real force (the centrifugal) pulls us back again. Recorded live at Rosa’s Lounge in Chicago, the album arrives April 10, with a limited run of 100 deluxe 12″ vinyl copies to follow. The album traces that arc back to his own history, from childhood memories tied to Chicago’s Rosa’s Lounge to performing on that same stage decades later. Turc
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THROUGH THE LENS: Treefort Music & Tucson Folk Fests Rally Roots Music Fans Out West
This week’s column covers two roots music fests in the western United States: Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho (March 25-29, 2026); and Tucson Folk Festival in Tucson, Arizona (April 10-12, 2026). While Treefort is much larger in scope — over 500 performances to Tucson’s 150 — both fests are held in the downtown portions of their respective towns and presented a wide array of artists, many, if not most, have never been featured in this column before. Vete
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BONUS TRACKS: No Depression Reporting Fellowships, Brandi Carlile Scholarship, RIP Don Schlitz, and More Roots Music News
After a week off, Bonus Tracks returns with a double dose of roots music news! Last month, No Depression announced the launch of a new fellowship program, thanks to a generous donation from nonprofit publisher, the FreshGrass Foundation. The Criticism Fellowships, given to writers, authors, and previous No Depression contributors, Erin Osmon and Annie Zaleski, are already in the works and are set to debut in May. And now the Reporting Fellowships — modeled af
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Benjamin Tod Balances 'Vengeance and Grace' On Road to Self-Fulfillment
It’s five miles from the Boyles Yard to downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Along that southbound route, the sky opens up like a greeting, the fathomless blue interrupted only by the crisscrossing of telephone wires. Bleached gravel litters the journey, and all around, locomotives hiss and howl on the sunbaked rails. Having train-hopped in and out of this railway complex more than any other in the country, singer-songwriter Benjamin Tod knows the trek well. “That’s my favorit
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ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Blues For Dexter Linwood,’ Todd Albright Performs Straightforward Standards
Even more than they re played, the blues are felt. The music is born from within and manifests outward in the pull of melancholic strings, bone-chilling harmonics, and belly-aching words. Since the genre’s inception in the late 19th century, a handful of greats have mastered and molded this soul-deep sound. Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell – they often put to song tales of tumultuous relationships, socioeconomic hardships, and widespread racial injustice. 
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THE READING ROOM: Joe McEwen’s ‘Tastykakes, Soul Songs and Shining Stars: Affections and Reflections, 1973-2025’
Music journalist, DJ, and record executive Joe McEwen grew up in Philadelphia in the 1960s without the sound of music. Although his mother sometimes listened to Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, and Tony Bennett on the car radio, McEwen often tuned out as the music floated through the speakers. In 1966, though, McEwen experienced a musical epiphany while listening to Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Streets”: “the urgency of the voice, the descriptive words she s
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CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Three Worthy ‘World Music’ Campaigns
If there is any genre of music with even less concrete definition than Americana, it s ‘world music.’ At its core, world music is really just roots music that doesn t come from America, England, or Ireland. I ve seen everything from traditional folk music to country to new age and even heavy metal labeled as world music. In this month s column, I ve got three globe-spanning campaigns for music that could fall under the world music label.Luna Keller- Death and All Her EnemiesLuna Ke
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THROUGH THE LENS: Cayamo 2026 Captivated Roots Music Fans While Cruising In The Caribbean
The 18th Cayamo cruise set sail out of Miami on March 13, 2026 and, with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, returned to home port on March 20, 2026. Promoted by founder Sixthman as “A Journey Through Song,” the floating festival yet again delivered unforgettable sets and rare collaborative performances that could only occur on a self-contained ship. Be it stars such as Jason Isbell, Patty Griffin, and Tommy Emmanuel, newcomers like Judy Blank, Palmyra, and K
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ALBUM REVIEW: Mikaela Davis Plays With Genre On ‘Graceland Way’
Mikaela Davis has never been a stranger to transformation. She’s tried on hazy pop, whimsical folk, jam band grooves, and now, donning a bejeweled Western suit, finds herself fusing all these sounds and more on Graceland Way, her latest album. But don’t be fooled by the ‘fit, since Graceland Way is not a country—or even a cosmic country—album. It is cosmic but styled more after Stevie Nicks’ Laurel Canyon-ified mysticism-pop than any twangier varietal. A
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ALBUM REVIEW: Retro Folk Rock Purrs From Fantastic Cat
Fantastic Cat is a sort-of New York City super-group composed of four would be singer-songwriter stars: Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunn, Don DiLego and Mike Montali (of Hollis Brown). They regularly wear cat masks in photos and readily acknowledge their commercial limitations; the joke is in part that their retro-70s folk rock is not the stuff of superstardom these days and that (partially as a result) none of them is exactly a chart-topper along the lines of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young or
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ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Total Dive’ Brown Horse Balance Originality and Derivation
Brown Horse’s first two albums, 2024’s Reservoir and 2025’s All the Right Weaknesses, established the band’s presence in the world of country rock. With their latest set, Total Dive, they further hone and occasionally perfect their MO. The mixes are more lushly arranged. Patrick Turner’s vocals are consistently nuanced. Enchanting melodies emerge throughout the sequence. Total Dive exudes remarkable presence and allure, as Brown Horse find a charged balance bet
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No Depression’s Best of March 2026 Playlist
Things are starting to pick up in 2026, as March is packed with 40 new roots music albums on our radar! We kicked off the month with Spotlight artist Cat Clyde, who offered a heartbreaking, solo-acoustic version of her new song Night Eyes, as well as a detailed essay with insight into her vital routines as a touring artist. March also saw new music from up-and-coming roots-rock artist Leah Blevins, desert blues stalwarts Tinariwen, cowboy poet Andy Hedges, and the return of folksy duo Big Harp
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THROUGH THE LENS: Three Phenomenal Roots Music Gatherings in Texas — SXSW, Luck Reunion, and Todd Snider Rules!
Mid-March 2026 was a humdinger of three Texas gatherings crucial to roots music, South by Southwest (SXSW), Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion, and a tribute to Todd Snider, “Todd Snider Rules!” Luck Reunion ( held on Nelson s ranch in Spicewood, Texas) is a one-day event (March 19, 2026). This year, organizers tacked on a second day devoted to the Snider tribute (March 20, 2026).SXSW, on the other hand, is expansive multimedia affair that took over Austin, Texas (March 12-18
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Big Feelings, Small Rooms: Sophie May on Making Her Soul-Stirring Debut Album, ‘Stars and Teeth’
London’s Sophie May reflects on emotional honesty, creative growth, and the making of her enchantingly intimate debut album ‘Stars and Teeth.’
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“It’s an Ugly Old Trick to View ‘Different’ as Dangerous”: Luke Beling Humanizes the Immigrant Experience on “Just Like Your Mama,” an Urgent Protest Song
Singer/songwriter Luke Beling confronts fear, bias, and belonging on “Just Like Your Mama,” a hauntingly beautiful and deeply human folk ballad about today's aggressive immigration policy and inhumane ICE enforcement, asking listeners to see themselves in the lives too often pushed aside.
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Today’s Song: Anthony Arya’s Warm & Wistful “Sugar on Your Shades” Is an All Acoustic Folk Dream
Anthony Arya’s songwriting shines with classic fingerstyle guitar and tasteful expression in “Sugar on Your Shades,” capturing the fleeting sweetness of connection through wistful, vivid storytelling that lingers long after the moment fades.
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