Loves Raymond / Ray Romano’s
Loves Raymond; Jen Hegarty,
HOT TIPS
JOSH GATES LIVE!
Adventurer, television personality, and author Josh Gates is the host and executive producer of the smash-hit Discovery Channel series,Expedition Unknown. The show follows Gates as he sets out on a global journey to explore archaeological discoveries, historic mysteries, and scientific breakthroughs. Josh immerses himself in each story, conducting his own investigations, showcasing the work of dedicated explorers while also highlighting vibrant cultures and fascinating destinations. Armed with a degree in archaeology, a quick wit, and a hunger for adventure. Gates travels to some of the most remote corners of the planet in immersive, hilarious, and thrilling journeys.
Josh Gates is appearing on Friday, June 19 2026 at 8:00PM at The Patchogue Theatre. Tickets are $56 - $86 including fees and can be purchased in person at 71 East Main Street in Patchogue, by phone at 631-207-1313, or online at: https://ci.ovationtix.com/34780/performance/11732042
2026 INTERNATIONAL FRINGE ENCORE SERIES
15 shows in all, running Off-Broadway January 3 – March 29. SoHo Playhouse is located at 15 Vandam St. in NYC.
Annually, The International Fringe Encore Series provides opportunities to emerging artists who show exceptional talent at each season’s Fringe Festivals both artistically and commercially. In recognition of their excellence, SoHo Playhouse offers these special shows an extended run Off-Broadway in New York City. This extended run gives these worthy shows a platform for future productions and success. Many of the previous productions featured in the series have gone on to extensive Off-Broadway runs and international success. For more info go to https://www.sohoplayhouse.com
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE
Following the success of Glow-N-Fire in 2025, which won the Pollstar Family Show of the Year award, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ is thrilled to continue the momentum into 2026 by introducing an all-new truck to the tour: Rhinomite — the dynamite Rhino themed truck. Charging horn-first into challenges, Rhinomite explodes on the scene with a mission to destroy the competition.
This exciting new experience will feature never before seen stunts performed by the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, as well as the all-new No-Handed Front Flip performed by the FMX riders! Get ready for more heat and action as Hot Wheels brings the ultimate monster truck show to fans at Nassau Coliseum one last time on January 17 and 18!
Tickets and event information are available at www.hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com.
Show times are as follows: Saturday, January 17, 12:30PM / Pre-Show Party 10AM-11:15AM / VIP 10:45AM Saturday, January 17, 7:30PM / Pre-Show Party 5PM-6:15PM / VIP 5:45PM Sunday, January 18, 2:30PM / Pre-Show Party 12PM-1:15PM / VIP 12:45PM
2026 VIRGINIA CANNABIS CONFERENCE
Registration is now open for the 2026 Virginia Cannabis Conference presented by Virginia NORML at Delta Hotels Richmond Downtown, January 23-26, the Commonwealth’s premier cannabis policy event.
By day, attendees will hear from national experts, state legislators, and local industry leaders. At night, mix and mingle with attendees at exclusive afterhours events. Network with speakers, business leaders, and advocates from across the nation. Together, we are building a viable and strategic roadmap to fair, just, and evidence-based cannabis policies in Virginia.
HOT TIPS
MOHEGAN ENDLESS NEW YEAR’S
To bid farewell to 2025 and welcome the magic of 2026, Mohegan Sun’s iconic Endless Midnight celebration is returning with five days of nonstop excitement! From Wednesday, December 31, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026, guests can indulge in nostalgic nightlife, electrifying entertainment, dazzling experiences, and more across the property. Highlights of Mohegan Sun’s Endless Midnight New Year’s Eve celebration include the DJ D-AVE fueled Party into the New Year event in the Uncas Ballroom, the annual New Year’s Eve Party on the Concourse, the extravagant Casino Royale party in novelle, and INVINCIBLE: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson.
New Year’s Eve Dinner Gala | From 6:00PM – 9:00PM in the Uncas Ballroom, guests can step into a shimmering underwater world where elegance meets enchantment. At the New Year’s Eve Dinner Gala, guests can begin their evening with a refined cocktail hour, followed by a thoughtfully crafted threecourse dinner. As the ballroom glows with oceanic hues and ethereal décor, live music from MOONFAZED sets the tone for a night that’s both celebratory and serene. This is the moment to dine, dance, and drift into the final hours of the year in unforgettable style. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com.
PAC TRACK
BACK TO THE GARDEN 1969 THE WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE
Back to the Garden 1969 recreates the classic sounds associated with Woodstock, a tribute to the artists who made Woodstock great: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jimi Hendrix, Sly &The Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, The Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat, Ten Years After, The Who, Mountain, Richie Havens, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Grateful Dead, Country Joe & The Fish…and more!
It’s a full multimedia theatrical event, complete with period costuming, lighting, video, and sound bites. The storytelling includes tales of the festival and of the legendary artists who performed, all within the backdrop of the tumultuous decade of the 60’s.
So grab your tie dye and love beads...and celebrate Woodstock!
Saturday March 7th, at The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, located at 71 East Main Street in Patchogue and can be reached at 631-207-1313 or by visiting PatchogueTheatre.org.
ALICE COOPER + CRISS ANGEL “WELCOME TO OUR NIGHTMARE”
For the first time ever, music icon Alice Cooper and magic GOAT Criss Angel — father and son — unite to create the Shock Rock Magic experience of a lifetime, WELCOME TO OUR NIGHTMARE, with all the smash hits in a theatrical visual feast that will destroy your MIND! Immerse your senses; run for your lives. History will be made again in The Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino with this exclusive limited engagement partnership. Alice and Angel bring the smash hits to life: “Poison,” “I’m 18,” “School’s Out,” “You and Me,” and more in an unprecedented ninety-minute revolutionary concert spectacle of magic, music, and mayhem.
Additionally, fans can take advantage of exclusive ticket add-ons, including a limited number of Ultimate VIP Nightmare Experiences with an up close and personal backstage meet & greet with Alice and Criss, and a Nightmare Collectible Package.
Welcome To Our Nightmare premieres in the Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased via this location, or by calling 855.234.7469.
JOE COCKER’S MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN
Celebrate Joe Cocker’s groundbreaking live album and tour, MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN! Serving as a dedication to Joe Cocker and Leon Russell, the show will be recreated with a 20-piece band in similar style of the original tour including, for your delight, Cosmic Kiddies, English Roadies, Children with the Answers, Cooking Italians, Presidents of Recording Companies, Acrobatics and Displays, The Odd Sane Dog, The Space Choir, Assorted Sound Freaks, and All Elements of the Truth.
This event will feature guests and full choir,including all songs from the entire tour beyond those on the original album release, with large interpretations of songs by rock and soul greats including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Leonard Cohen, Traffic, Leon Russell, and more. Songs from the original tour include: “With a Little Help from My Friends,’ “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” “Let It Be,” “Feelin’ Alright,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Cry Me a River,” “Darling Be Home Soon,” “Delta Lady”, “The Letter”, and many other favorites.
Friday, February 6 at 8:00PM For more info on upcoming shows, visit TheSuffolk.org or call the Box Office at 631-727-4343 The Suffolk is at 118 East Main Street Riverhead
ANTHONY RODIA AT WHBPAC
Buckle up, Long Island— Anthony Rodia is back, and he’s bringing the laughs at full throttle! This first-generation Italian-American comic from Westchester exploded onto the comedy scene with viral rants, rapid-fire impressions, and hilariously relatable takes on marriage, parenting, and road rage. In just a few short years, he’s racked up over 900,000 followers and 22 million YouTube views, thanks to his outrageously funny characters Uncle Vinny and Zia Lucia — the outspoken relatives you love but wouldn’t dare take out in public.
From his smash hit “Road Rage Wednesday” videos to sold-out shows on his nationwide Road Rage Tour, Rodia’s comedy is a no-holds-barred ride through real life, delivered with explosive energy and New York attitude. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his wild world of rants, pranks, and wine (yes, he has his own!), this is the comedy event you don’t want to miss.
December 31st, 8:00PM Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach, Box Office: 631.288.1500
PAC TRACK
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA AT LANDMARK
Celebrate the Holiday Season with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, featuring Holiday favorites and classics from the Big Band Songbook. The World Famous, Glenn Miller Orchestra, is the most popular and sought after big band in the world today for both concert and swing dance engagements.
With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. The present Glenn Miller Orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year all around the world. Nick Hilscher is the orchestra’s present music director.
They will perform December 14th at 7PM. Landmark on Main Street | 232 Main Street Port Washington | 516.767.6444 | www.landmarkonmainstreet.org
CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MUSICAL AT ENGEMAN
Performances run through Sunday, December 28th. This lively musical adaptation of the classic Dickens tale follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by four ghosts - his old business partner Marley, the ghost of Christmas past, present and future. See what happens when he gets a glimpse of his own future if he doesn’t change his life. Featuring music by Alan Menken (Disney’s Beauty & The Beast and The Little Mermaid) and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (Seussical and
Once on This Island), don’t miss this holiday classic on the Engeman stage. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is directed by DREW HUMPHREY (Engeman Theater: Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Oklahoma, Mary Poppins, A Chorus Line, Singin’ in The Rain, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, and Gypsy) and choreographed by ELISE KINNON (Broadway: Pirates! The Penzance Musical!; Film: “WONKA” (Warner Bros Studios, London); NYC: Marry Me, A Tribute to David Merrick; Select Regional: Main State Music Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Virginia Music Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Westchester Broadway Theatre). It will take place at The Engeman Theatre, 250 Main Street, Northport. Contact engemantheater.com | Box Office: 631-261-2900
SHIFTING SEASONS: A NEW PERSPECTIVE
Visit the upcoming Visual Voices exhibit at Resorts World NYC! Shifting Seasons: A New Perspective invites artists to explore the transitions in their life, their environment, or their creative process. Just like fall, it’s about letting go, embracing change, and finding beauty in what’s in-between.
THEATER: Broadway’s Holiday Cheer
Gian-Carlo Menotti’s beloved Christmas opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” directed by Kenny Leon, graces Lincoln Center’s stage from December 16 through January 4. The first opera commissioned for television, it premiered on Christmas Eve 1951 and has been a staple of television and community theater ever since. This heartwarming family favorite concerns Amahl, a lame shepherd, and his mother (Grammy and Olivier-winner Joyce DiDonato) who are visited by three kings on their way to Bethlehem to witness the birth of the baby Jesus. (Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater) lct.org/shows/amahl-and-the-night-visitors/
Two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks costars with Tony-winner Kelli O’Hara in the off-Broadway premiere of “This World of Tomorrow” which he co-wrote with James Glossman, based on Hank’s own short stories. Hanks plays a lonely, disenchanted scientist in the future who repeatedly time-travels back to one special day at the 1939 New York World’s Fair in search of love. Tony-winner Kenny Leon directs the cast which also features Ruben Satiago-Hudson, Jay O. Sanders and Kerry Bishe. Through December 21. (The Shed) theshed.org/program/481-this-world-of-tomorrow
Shifting Seasons: A New Perspective is curated by Alex Z. Alex specializes in creating immersive and inclusive art experiences that highlight emerging and underrepresented voices. His curatorial work is rooted in storytelling, innovation, and a deep commitment to supporting artists at every stage of their journey.
It is presented by JCAL at Resorts World NYC 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard Jamaica, NY 11420
Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning is located at 161-04 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432
by Jane Klain
Paul), the town is thrown into chaos. Arnie Burton, Robert Cuccioli, Alma Curvo, Kevin Del Aguila, Judy Kuhn and Murphy head the A-list cast under the direction of Gordon Greenberg. (Through December 21) (CSC) classicstage. org/the-bakers-wife/ Direct from London and Boston’s American Repertory Theatre, the brand-new rom-com musical, “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” is a love letter to the charms of New York. Sam Tutty and Chritiani Pitts star as strangers who meet at JFK when the young Londoner is picked up by the sister of his estranged father’s new bride for the wedding. Newcomers Jim Barne and Kit Buchan wrote the songs and book for the two-hander directed and choreographed by Tim Jackson. (Longacre Theatre) twostrangersmusical.com
The beloved failed Stephen Schwartz gem, “The Baker’s Wife” has found new life with the CSC’s highly acclaimed revival. The troubled 1976 musical toured out-of-town, but after numerous changes to the creative team and cast, closed before its Broadway’s debut despite Schwartz’s lovely, melodic score and Joseph Stein’s warm-hearted book. Here Scott Bakula stars as a middle-aged baker whose arrival in a small Provençal town in 1930s France with his much younger wife (played by Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose) brings both joy and good bread to the villagers. When his wife runs off with a younger man (Kevin William
The credit “created by Robert Icke after Sophocles” says it all: director Icke reinvents the epic tragedy “Oedipus” as one of the most thrilling, riveting theatrical events of the season. Truth-seeking Oedipus (a muscular, charismatic Mark Strong) is a contemporary politician awaiting the results of the British election with his sexy older wife Jocasta (Olivier-winner Lesley Manville, extraordinary) -- who’s the widow of the murdered previous ruler -and their family. Icke rachets up the tension as longhidden secrets unravel Oedipus’ world, fulfilling the prophesy of a blind seer who intrudes on the victory celebration. (Studio 54) oepidustheplay.com
Ninety-six-year-old actress June Squibb heads a stellar cast in the Broadway premiere of Jordan Harrison’s acclaimed Pulitzer Prize finalist “Marjorie Prime.” Set in 2062, the drama imagines a future in which Primes, AI-generated holographic companions, are customized to offer comfort to the elderly with memory loss. Marjorie’s family consists of her daughter (award-winner Cynthia Nixon), her son-in-law (Tony-winner Danny Burstein) and Walter (Christopher Lowell), a Prime representing her late husband at 30. Anne Kauffman directs. (Hayes Theatre) 2st.com/shows/marjorie-prime
Joyce DiDonato
Photo credit: Matthew Murphy
Photo credit: Julieta-Cervantes
Tom Hanks
Bongos, Congas, Djembes, Cajon, Guira, Tamborines and more.
SPORTS BEAT
The New York City Marathon is the second- largest annual sporting event in terms of tourism dollars in the Big Apple, ranking behind the US Open. It has not gotten the attention it deserves because a native American runner has not won the race since Alberto Salazar did in 1982.
American runners’ fortunes may be changing, however. As expected, the top three finishers in the race on both the men’s and women’s sides were from Kenya. What was completely unexpected was that three American men, and four American women, finished in the top ten.
From a business viewpoint, running is different from any other sport because the smaller shoe companies are on an equal footing (full pun intended) with behemoths such as Nike, New Balance, and Adidas. At the Marathon Expo held at Javits Center the days leading up the race, Hoka was doing brisk business selling its Rocket X3 running shoe, while Altra Footwear was having no trouble selling its latest model, the FWD VIA 2. Both shoes have wide toe boxes, soft but durable exteriors, and thick cushion heels to reduce the friction caused by impact.
Forget the cola wars. At the Marathon Expo, it was the kefir wars as Yakult was taking on the industry leader, Lifeway. Both were giving out samples of the probiotic beverage which is good for gut health.
Former Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon served as the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic in their “showdown” with Team Puerto Rico held at Citi Field last month. He was almost unrecognizable as he had lost a lot of weight. “I have been walking more than ever,” Colon said.
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ANNUAL
UGLY SWEATER PARTY AT MULCAHY
We’re kicking off the Annual Ugly Sweater Party: Doors at 4:00PM — because early parties are where it’s at this season. $1,000 Best Ugly Sweater Contest, Music by Rated Fresh + DJ Mike Savage, $5 Sun Cruisers & $5 Green Tea Shots, Sat, Dec 20, 5:00PM. Doors open 4:00PM
For party packages and VIP Open Bar Deals check out muls.com!
THE RIVERHEAD HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW IS BACK
Continuing the beloved winter tradition, the Holiday Light Show, brings a HUGE assortment of diverse light displays to Splish Splash Water Park! Your entire family will love taking in the seasonal sights and sounds from the comfort of your car. The Holiday Light Show opens at 5pm on select dates through December 31, 2025. Tickets can be purchased online at HolidayLightshow.com!
The Paley Museum. located in midtown Manhattan, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Last month, the Paley hosted a panel on coverage of the National Football League with Eli Manning and ESPN reporters Kimberly Martin, Dan Graziano, and Adam Schefter.
Eli’s nephew, Arch Manning, is the starting QB for the University of Texas Longhorns. He, and his father, (Eli’s oldest brother, Cooper Manning,) have been starring in a fun television commercial for Warby Parker eyeglasses. Eli told me Omaha Productions did not produce the ad. He laughed and shook his head “no” when I asked him if he was angry about Cooper and Arch going outside of the family business.
Manning was asked about the firing of Giants head coach Brian Daboll two days earlier. “Pro football is a great game and a brutal business,” he replied.
The NBC Sports Network was NBC’s attempt to be a competitor to ESPN. While NBC held the broadcast rights to the Olympics, it did not have the broadcast rights inventory for most major sports to be profitable. NBCSN went dark on all cable systems at the end of 2021. Comcast, the parent corporation of NBC Sports Network, decided to shift all its sports programming to the USA Network and the Golf Channel.
Last month NBC revived the NBC Sports Network. With Comcast spinning off many of its cable properties, it no longer owned the USA Network and the Golf Channel. Despite all the gloomy predictions about linear cable channels in
HOLIDAY LIGHTS & MOVIE SITES TOUR
This holiday season, On Location Tours is bringing back one of New York City’s most dazzling winter traditions: the Holiday Lights & Movie Sites Tour, a festive, movie-themed journey through Manhattan’s most iconic holiday locations.
This cozy, cinematic adventure takes guests through the glittering streets of Manhattan on a heated bus, visiting real filming locations from beloved holiday classics, including Elf, Home Alone 2, Serendipity, Miracle on 34th Street, Scrooged, and more.
Led by a professional actor-guide, the tour blends behind-the-scenes movie trivia with New York’s most stunning seasonal displays-including the holiday windows at Bloomingdale’s, Fifth Avenue’s legendary storefronts, and the worldfamous Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center.
Tour Highlights: Dazzling window displays—Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman & Macy’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree—featured in Home Alone 2, Wollman Rink - as seen in Serendipity.
Locations from Elf, including Buddy’s dad’s apartment building and the iconic scene where the snowball fight takes place, Lincoln Center Tree - as seen in Scrooged, The Plaza Hotel - featured in Home Alone 2 and Eloise at the Plaza, The iconic Macy’s from Miracle on 34th Street and more!
The tour begins at 63rd Street & Broadway, transporting guests through Central Park West, the Upper East Side, Midtown, and the festive blocks of Fifth Avenue. Runs: through January 3rd For more information visit www.onlocationtours.com
Eli Manning Photo credit: Lloyd Carroll
By Lloyd Carroll
the age of streaming services, Comcast, which now has NBA rights, the upcoming Winter Olympics, and is rumored to be getting a Major League Baseball package, wanted a cable home for overflow sports programming. HBO’s three-part “Alex vs. A-Rod”
three-part documentary is a candid look at one of the most famous athletes in recent history. You must give Alex Rodriguez credit for freely admitting past mistakes which were self-inflicted. Despite his foibles, Rodriguez is likable, as anyone who has met him will attest.
The Brooklyn Nets are destined to be one of the worst teams, if not the worst, in NBA history. That makes things difficult from a marketing perspective. The YES Network is forced to find ways to engage fans with shows about players who have questionable NBA talent as Noah Clowney who is the subject of a biographical documentary titled “From Spartanburg, SC to Brooklyn.” The Nets were smart to honor the legendary hip-hop star
Notorious B.I.G. with a bobblehead of his likeness on Veterans Day.
Mr. Met was the big celebrity at last month’s BagelFest held at Citi Field. He shook his head to affirm this event was more fun than watching the Mets for the last three-and-a-half months. There were bagel purveyors from across the globe ranging from Denmark to Seattle. Long Island was represented by Town Bagels which has three locations in Nassau County.
BagelFest had some non-bagel exhibitors. Brooklyn’s Joyva gave out samples of its classic JellRings and Halvah. The Brooklyn Seltzer Company was serving a sadly dying New York delicacy, egg creams. Seltzerfest will be taking place March 15, 2026, in Industry City.
Noah Clowney Photo credit: BSE Global
Alex Rodriguez Photo credit: HBO
Mr. Met Photo by Lloyd Carroll
CASINOS
PAUL ANKA SET FOR MOHEGAN SUN
Legendary entertainer Paul Anka brings his celebrated career to Mohegan Sun Arena for a special performance on Friday, April 17th at 7:30 pm. With a career span of more than seven decades, Anka continues to captivate audiences worldwide with timeless classics and unforgettable showmanship. Fans can enjoy live renditions of iconic hits including “Diana,” “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” and the signature anthem “My Way.”
Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster. com. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability.
At 81 years old, Paul Anka continues to write and record. His latest two albums, Making Memories and Sessions, were released in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The albums featured new and never before recorded songs as well as new takes on old classics — notably “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” with Olivia Newton John, one of her last recorded songs, and “My Way” featuring Michael Bublé and Andrea Bocelli.
GOO GOO DOLLS NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW
Ring in the New Year of 2026 with the Goo Goo Dolls, when they take the stage for a 10 pm show on Dec. 31 at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale at HardRockHotelAtlanticCity. com and Ticketmaster.com or 800745-3000. All shows are subject to change.
Goo Goo Dolls, a band that rose from the punk scene in Buffalo, New York, penned several of the most definitive hits of the ’90s. Forming in 1985, the Goo Goo Dolls experimented with hard rock before landing on a winning formula that incorporated elements of acoustic and alternative rock for 1995’s A Boy Named Goo. The album yielded the band’s first Billboard 200 chart placement at No. 27 and its unlikely third single “Name” climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Goo Goo Dolls solidified their stratospheric success with the equally catchy follow-up single “Slide,” which hit No. 8 on the Hot 100 and was certified platinum itself.
Founding members Johnny Rzeznik and Robby Takac have toured extensively, while maintaining a steady output of new projects, including 2019’s Miracle Pill and 2022’s self-produced Chaos in Bloom.
ROD STEWART RETURNS TO MOHEGAN SUN
Legendary performer Rod Stewart will bring his iconic voice, timeless hits, and unmatched stage presence back to Mohegan Sun Arena for a can’t-miss show on Friday, March 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster and are available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
Sir Rod Stewart CBE is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 250 million albums and singles sold worldwide. His signature voice, style, and songwriting have transcended all genres of popular music—from Rock, Soul and R&B to the standards and Big Band Swing— making him one of the few stars to enjoy chart-topping albums in every decade of his five+ decade career.
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BILL POPP AND THE TAPES: A WORK OF ART
Forty four years and counting, Bill Popp and The Tapes have been a fixture on the New York music scene since 1981, where the band played their first show at “Gerde’s Folk City,” the launching pad for acts as diverse as Bob Dylan to Sonic Youth. Popp has been recognized as one of the area’s most melodic songwriters.
This new album will mark the 13th release of Bill Popp’s music. The last release was in 2022 with their EP “Melt My Heart, and Then My Brains”. Since 2001, the band’s line up has stayed consistent with Gerry Barnas on Guitar, Roger Foster on drums, Mary Noecker on bass and Bill Popp on keyboards. On this record, Popp sings lead and the band contributes their backing vocals.
“A Work Of Art” consists of 6 tracks that fell through the cracks,” as Popp puts it. “And including them in the new release will give the songs a fresh life.” One song in particular, “Alone in the Moonlight,” is a live recording of the original Tapes performing at the legendary Max’s Kansas City in 1981.
The new album features 4 new tracks never released.The new ten song album, like their previous records, was released on 121st Street Records, Popp’s own label.
For more info: www.billpopp.com Email: billpopp@ verizon.net or call 718-359-4110
JACK AND ORIGINAL BANDS RELEASE CHARITY CD
On November 29th, there was a live music charity event to celebrate a collaboration album consisting of several Long Island original bands. It was held at Whiskey Rocks located at 419 Great East Neck Rd, West Babylon.
The Long Island music scene has a rich history that has cultivated many talented musicians. Some have gone on to achieve global success. To this day, live music on Long Island is thriving with live performances every day of the week. Local legends are still performing here and you never know when they may pop up in a local act.
In this spirit, a group of local original bands have created a compilation record of their music. The CD includes songs from 13 different bands and part of the proceeds from sales will be donated to Long Island Cares. Long Island Cares is Long Island’s first food bank and was founded in 1980 by singersongwriter and humanitarian Harry Chapin.
For more info, contact Grimm Jack Music Intl, PO Box 102, Holtsville, NY 11742
SCOTIA ROSE DEBUT EP
“GOOD TIMES” New York City-based pop/rock group Scotia Rose relish in the Good Times with their debut EP out now via Deko Music (ADA/Warner). Alongside the full project is the driving, pop-forward “Be Your Baby” with its matching visual.
After playing a few electric shows with drum legend and Pearl Jam collaborator Richard Stuverud, it became clear that Scotia Rose was ready to make a statement, culminating in the project. Sonically, it’s heavy pop through a rock n’ roll lens with big hooks and roaring guitar solos. Lyrically fresh and clever, it explores a range of themes from existential dread to finding love at the club.
Scotia Rose is made up of local NYC musicians who played in the cover band circuit multiple times a week around the city. The group has played a slew of shows across the city including Bowery Ballroom, Cutting Room three times, Brooklyn Bowl twice–once with George Porter Jr. (The Meters) and once with Red Not Chili Peppers, and Sony Hall twice–once with Sons of Cream and once with Rumors, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Led by Weiss, the band includes Jason Laney (keyboards/backup vocals), blues/rocker Marcelade Campos (guitar), Antoinette Ady (violin), Andrew Koss (bass) and Richard Stuverud (drums).
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WOMEN WHO ROCK
JENNA TORRES TAKES FLIGHT WITH “FIREBIRD”
Singer-songwriter Jenna Torres released Firebird, a sweeping new album that finds strength in vulnerability, freedom in forgiveness, and beauty in the ashes of hardship. Across ten tracks, Torres shares stories of heartbreak, healing, and hard-won joy, delivering the most personal and powerful collection of her career.
The focus track, “Firebird,” is a soaring anthem of resilience, with driving rhythms and vocals that lift like the mythical creature at the heart of the album. Built on themes of rebirth and self-reclamation, it reflects a journey Jenna knows well. From early heartbreaks to hard-earned wisdom, Firebird carries the sound of a woman who has lived, lost, and learned how to rise.
Firebird is available on all streaming platforms. For more, visit jennatorres.com.
EMMYLOU HARRIS TO RELEASE SPYBOY
Emmylou Harris released Spyboy via New West Records. The 19-track live album was produced by Buddy Miller and Emmylou Harris and features Miller on guitar and vocals, Brady Blade on drums, percussion, and vocals, and Daryl Johnson on bass, djembe, percussion, and vocals as well. Originally issued on compact disc by Eminent Records in 1998, the 2025 edition of Spyboy
features 5 previously unreleased recordings of the band performing Tom Petty & the Heartbreaker’s “Thing About You,” Bob Dylan’s “Every Grain of Sand,” Bill Monroe’s “Get Up John,” Lucinda Williams’ “Sweet Old World,” as well as the Harris and Kate & Anna McGarrigle co-write “All I Left Behind.”
It also features updated artwork as well as new and updated liner notes written by Harris and Miller. A limited pressing of Spyboy was made available in celebration of Record Store Day in May and quickly sold out.
Emmylou Harris’ Spyboy is available across digital platforms, compact disc, and clear color vinyl.
CELESTE RELEASES NEW ALBUM “WOMAN OF FACES”
CELESTE released her new album Woman Of Faces via Blue Note / Capitol Records. The second studio album from the BRIT Award winning, Golden Globe and Academy Awardnominated artist is a triumphant chronicle of heartbreak, resilience, and reclaimed control.
Woman Of Faces was produced by multi GRAMMY® award winner Jeff Bhasker and Beach Noise and features nine songs, including the previously released singles “This Is Who I Am,” “On With The Show,” “Woman Of Faces,” and “Time Will Tell.”It is the successor to Celeste’s debut album, Not Your Muse.
Photo by Matthew Barnes
Good Times Music Calendar
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
FOREIGNER AND SKYNYRD TOUR
Foreigner and Lynyrd Skynyrd announced 19 co-headline appearances across North America confirmed for Summer, 2026. Produced by Live Nation, the Double Trouble Double Vision Tour begins on July 23 in Atlanta at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre with a final performance planned on August 29 in Rogers, AR at the Walmart AMP.
For tickets visit foreigneronline.com or lynyrdskynyrd.com.
The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include premium tickets, access to an intimate behind the scenes backstage tour, photo op with members of the band, exclusive merch pack & more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com.
They’ll appear August 21st at Jones Beach Theater.
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD 30TH ANNY TOUR
Platinum-selling, six-time GRAMMY-nominated blues-rock icon Kenny Wayne Shepherd has added a new run of West Coast performances to his Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour, extending the celebration through late June 2026.
These additional dates follow the originally announced February - May run, which begins in Dallas and includes stops across the South, Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. Special guests Jimmie Vaughan and Eric Johnson will appear on select shows. For more information to purchase tickets, visit KennyWayneShepherd.net/Tour.
The tour marks the 30th anniversary of Ledbetter Heights, Shepherd’s breakout 1995 debut. Originally recorded when he was still a teenager, the album catapulted the Shreveport-born guitarist into the national spotlight, earning Platinum certification and helping to reintroduce blues to a new generation. For the first time ever, fans will hear all of the songs from the album performed live.
He’ll appear Sunday, March 8th at The Paramount Huntington.
JACK JOHNSON’S SURFILMUSIC TOUR
Multi-platinum recording artist Jack Johnson announced SURFILMUSIC Tour, a 43-date North American tour that will take Johnson and his band coast-to-coast next year. The tour marks Johnson’s long-awaited return to the road since 2022 and will celebrate a new era of music, film, and environmental connection rooted in his chart-topping catalogue, spanning over twenty years.
In support of the tour, Johnson has released a new single, “Hold On To The Light,” featuring Hermanos Gutiérrez, out on all streaming platforms. The song offers an early glimpse into the forthcoming SURFILMUSIC soundtrack, scored by Jack Johnson and Hermanos Gutiérrez for a new film featuring Johnson set to debut next year. For more info: www.jackjohnsonmusic.com
ZAK STARKEY ONE MAN SHOW
Legendary drummer, GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, and entrepreneur Zak Starkey will share stories, unseen photographs, homemade movies, and songs from his extraordinary life and musical career thus far with “Zak Starkey…Who?: An Evening of Drums and Conversation,” a very special oneman show set plus Q&A at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre on February 20, 2026. Tickets are on sale now.
“Zak Starkey…Who?: An Evening of Drums and Conversation” will see Starkey recounting his myriad adventures and misadventures with some of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest ever artists – from The Who, Harry Nilsson, Marc Bolan, Jeff Beck, Debbie Harry, and Joe Walsh to Mick Jones, Primal Scream, Johnny Marr, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Richard Ashcroft, Oasis, and of course Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band – accompanied by a visual backdrop of rare photographs and movies from his personal collection. In addition, Starkey will step behind the kit for performances of songs by Toots and the Maytals, his new supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, Johnny Marr, and The Who, the latter featuring original backing tracks contributed by Pete Townshend himself. More surprises will be announced soon.
Photo by Nadine Pena
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
TOMORROWLAND BELGIUM RETURNS IN 2026
Tomorrowland is coming back to Boom, Belgium for two unforgettable weekends: July 17–19 & July 24–26, 2026. While the theme and lineup remain a mystery for now, one thing is certain: the People of Tomorrow will unite again for an extraordinary celebration of music, magic and unity.
Key dates: Pre-Registration opened December 8, 2025, Global Journey Sale: January 17, 2026, Belgian Ticket Sale: January 24, 2026: Worldwide Ticket Sale: January 31, 2026.
New this year: Tomorrowland x Grand Prix F1: Belgian Thrill Packages, combining the magic of Tomorrowland with the adrenaline of Formula 1 at SpaFrancorchamps. Plus, expanded Youth Packages, the Tomorrowland Party Train from Paris, and the first-ever Tomorrowland Experience Hotel at Van der Valk Park Lane Antwerp.
Discover all info via belgium.tomorrowland.com
MILWAUKEE METAL FESTIVAL 2026
Milwaukee Metal Festival 2026 is already booking a stacked lineup for next year, which is soon to be revealed! In the meantime, the festival’s commitment to topping the lineups from the last three editions has culminated in a change of date, which will now take place June 5 - 7, 2026, with the preparty kicking off on June 4! The festival will take place once again at The Rave/Eagles Ballroom. Early Bird tickets that were already purchased will still be honored.
Festival co-organizerJamey Jasta comments, “One of our headliners was only available on June 5th and we could not pass up the opportunity to have them at Milwaukee Metal Fest! It just so happened that another headliner also became available on the same weekend. Win win! Its gonna be the best weekend ever!”
SHAQ’S BASS ALL-STARS FESTIVAL
For DJ DIESEL, this festival represents the continued evolution of his presence within bass music — a culture he champions for its energy, expression, and community. After the release of his debut electronic album GORILLA WARFARE, which received praise from Rolling Stone and Variety and sparked a viral moment on Bobbi Althoff’s Really Good Podcast, Shaq doubled down on elevating bass music at every level. Shaq’s Bass All Stars Festival stands as a celebration of that mission, providing a platform for both established leaders and the next wave of innovators shaping the sound.
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Panther Island Pavilion will once again be transformed into the ultimate destination for bass lovers. With two massive stages, including a newly upgraded 360º second stage, this year’s event promises an electrifying, high-impact experience that delivers nonstop energy from start to finish. Fans can expect heavy drops, big moments, and a festival atmosphere that resonates long after the final set.
4848 FESTIVAL ECLECTIC 2026 LINEUP
The third and final stop in the 2026 All Good Trifesta Season brings a wideranging mix of 4848 debuts, returning alumni, and genre-bending performances to Snowshoe Mountain Resort, July 16–18, 2026. Perched at 4,848 feet, the 4848 Festival once again delivers a kaleidoscopic lineup spanning bluegrass, soul, jazz-funk, jam, rock, and electrogroove — all set against the breathtaking backdrop of West Virginia’s high mountain ridges.
Sharing the top of the bill, Greensky Bluegrass returns for their seventh 4848 appearance in a row, continuing their legacy as the festival’s most cherished alumni. Their powerful, bluegrass-forward sound has become a defining thread of the Mountain experience — and 2026 promises to take it to the next-level.
This year also welcomes an exciting wave of 4848 debut performances, beginning with The Revivalists, whose soulful, anthemic rock is set to make a stirring first impression on Snowshoe. Joining them for their debut are the pioneering electro-jam visionaries STS9; and indie-jam rock heavyweights Moon Taxi.
COUNTRY
OAK RIDGE BOYS’
“IT’S ONLY NATURAL”
GRAMMY® Award winners and Country Music Hall of Fame inductees The Oak Ridge Boys are celebrating 50 years of music and friendship by reissuing their album ‘It’s Only Natural’ on Lightning Rod Records/Thirty Tigers. This special recording was initially sold exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, but it’s now available everywhere and features a heartfelt mix of the group’s biggest hits and new fan favorites.
Produced by Ron Chancey, Michael Sykes, and Duane Allen, ‘It’s Only Natural’ captures the enduring harmony and spirit of Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, and William Lee Golden, The Oak Ridge Boys, and celebrates their 50 years together.
“‘It’s Only Natural’ is a musical celebration of 50 years of singing together,” shares Duane Allen. “The biggest hit we have ever recorded, “Elvira,” just had to be on this collection. So, we asked Ron Chancey to produce a fresh/new track. Ron also brought two new songs for us to record. Michael Sykes and I coproduced the other songs on the project–all with the thought of celebrating 50 years of the four Oak Ridge Boys being together.”
To purchase/stream: 30tgrs.ffm.to/itsonlynatural
MOLLY X MARTY: GUITARS ON FIRE
Marty Stuart, the five-time GRAMMY® Award winner, Country Music Hall of Famer, Congress of Country Music Founder and AMA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, announced his 2026 tour, Molly x Marty: Guitars on Fire — The Cosmic Twang Co-Headline Tour, with The Molly Tuttle Trio. Marty Stuart joins Grammywinning bluegrass trailblazer Molly Tuttle for a sevendate, co-headline performance that bridges decades of roots music. Stuart’s rich legacy of honky-tonk, rockabilly, and cosmic country fusion with his band, The Fabulous Superlatives, intertwining with Tuttle and her Trio’s visionary songwriting, virtuosic guitar work, and boundary-pushing bluegrass, this show promises a soundtrack of tradition, evolution, and pure cosmic magic.
KAITLIN BUTTS RELEASES YEEHAW SESSIONS EP
Nashville-based singer, songwriter and performer Kaitlin Butts continues a banner year with the release of her new EP, Yeehaw Sessions, available via Republic Records. The project marks Butts’ first release since signing with the major label, and it captures the Oklahoma native at her most playful, soulful, and self-assured yet.
Following in the spirit of her beloved 2022 Sad Yeehaw Sessions EP, Yeehaw Sessions flips the script — this time channeling joy, rowdiness and the electric energy of her live show. After road-testing these crowd favorites, Butts recorded them with the energy and spirit fans have come to love. The EP features her takes on “Red Wine Supernova” (Chappell Roan), “Sin Wagon” (The Chicks), “Tulsa Time” (Don Williams) and her viral smash “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)” — alongside her memorable take on “The Middle.”
For the latest news and tour dates, visit kaitlinbutts.com and follow @kaitlinbutts on Instagram and Facebook and @kaitlinbuttsmusic on TikTok
20 • Good Times Magazine - December 11, 2025 - January 19, 2026
WANTED: BILLY GIBBONS IMPERSONATOR
Billy Gibbons impersonator wanted immediately for a ZZ Top Tribute act. Must have pro level attitude on all aspects of the business, pro level gear, and reliable transportation. NO Alcohol or substance abuse issues.
Must be willing to rehearse the act at least once per week, preferably early evening in central Suffolk County area, and wear the appropriate theatrical costume and appliances for the show. MUST be available for all shows, and you must be reachable. If interested, please include a recent photo of yourself, what bands you’ve performed with, Facebook page link, website and/or EPK and phone number. Submissions via email only at: info@ sharpdressedband.com NO phone calls or texts will be accepted. Private auditions are currently being held by appointment only! (1346-49)
HELP WANTED
ALL MUSIC INC. is looking for music teachers. We are looking for all instruments and levels. Please contact the store at (516) 433-6969 or email musicdungeon@aol.com (TFN)
BURGEROLOGY LOCATIONS are looking for help. We are looking for manager positions, servers, busboys, and bartenders. Please email Burgerology.rvc@gmail.com (TFN)
MUSICIANS AVAILABLE
GUITARIST, looking for Blues Rock Jams. 67 years old. (631) 462-5987 (1325)
CHICAGO BLUES, harmonica vocalist wants to play. (516) 398-8155 Western Suffolk/Eastern Nassau Preferred. (1343)
MUSICIANS WANTED
LOOKING FOR GEORGE FOR BEATLE TRIBUTE Call Jim (631) 334-3784 (1343)
DRUMMER WANTED for Classic Rock and Blues. Over 50, Studio Play Only. (631) 462-5987 (1346)
BASSIST WANTED Classic Rock and Blues. +50 Studio Play only (631) 462-5987 (1338-1341)
FEMALE RAPPER WANTED for upcoming CD to be released soon for established band, The Midnight Soul Rockers. Call for more info Larry (631) 532-7832 or Kenny Max (631) 578-7877. (1331)
MALE ROCK SINGER WANTED Rehearsal Studio in Wading River, NY (516) 769-5054 (1339-1340)
BASSIST WANTED Classic Rock and Blues, +50 Studio Play Only (631) 462-5987 (1339-1341)
BASSIST NEEDED to complete trio. Classic Rock and Blues. Studio only. 50+ (631) 462-5987 (1355-1358) FOR SALE
LIQUIDATING REHEARSAL STUDIO IN KINGS
Power amps, speakers, mixers, monitors, bass stack, Marshall 1/2-stack, drums, mics, everything must go! $3,000 or best offer takes ALL. (631) 544-0620 or email JimWerner1000@gmail.com for complete list. (1347)
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CLASSIC ROCK
GUNS N’ ROSES DEBUT TWO NEW SONGS
Powerhouse rock icons Guns N’ returned with two brand new singles. Marking their first new music release since 2023, “Nothin’” and “Atlas” find the long-running band still at the height of their powers, showcasing two different sides of their personality. “Atlas” is GNR in full surging rock mode, while “Nothin’” grows more introspective over floaty keys and an emotive guitar. Both songs are available via Interscope Records.
Guns N’ Roses have steadily been releasing new material in recent years in conjunction with their sold-out tours across the globe. Following 2023’s “The General” and “Perhaps,” “Atlas” and “Nothin’” join as vital additions to set lists otherwise featuring all the classic hits and deep cut fan favorites from GNR’s early catalogue. “Nothin’” and “Atlas” are available for pre-order on 7” vinyl, a Guns N’ Roses store exclusive cassette and a Japan exclusive SHM-CD.
Most recently, Guns N’ Roses announced they will hit the road in the spring and summer of 2026 on a world tour that will see the band visit Mexico and Brazil before headlining additional EU markets as well as stadiums across the US and Canada.
They’re appearing on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at MetLife Stadium Tickets are available at gunsnroses.com.
DEPECHE MODE: “GHOSTS AGAIN” (LIVE IN MEXICO CITY)
The December 5th release of the CD/ DVD and CD/Blu-ray bundles of the feature film DEPECHE MODE: M and the CD and vinyl pressings of the MEMENTO MORI: MEXICO CITY live album happened and Depeche Mode unveiled “Ghosts Again (Live in Mexico City),” a live recording and complete video of the Memento Mori hit single exclusive to MEMENTO MORI: MEXICO CITY.
The physical release of DEPECHE MODE: M via Columbia Records includes 2 DVDs or Blu-rays and 2 CDs chronicling the band’s three sold-out concerts at Mexico City’s legendary Foro Sol Stadium during the band’s 2023 Memento Mori World Tour. Disc 1 of the package is DEPECHE MODE: M – a cinematic journey into the heart of Mexican culture’s relationship with death, framed by riveting live performances. Disc 2 is MEMENTO MORI: MEXICO CITY a full-length concert film also directed by Fernando Frías at the Mexico City shows in 2023 where Depeche Mode played for more than 200,000 fans.
The live album MEMENTO MORI: MEXICO CITY is available in standalone digital, 2CD and 4LP vinyl formats. Both formats include exclusive live photos from the Foro Sol shows.
JON ANDERSON AND THE BAND GEEKS
Following their successful summer of 2025 tour in support of their debut album ‘TRUE’ and their live album ’Perpetual Change,’ JON ANDERSON AND THE BAND GEEKS announced the first leg of their 2026 “YES Epics, Classics, and More” tour. The 10 show tour commences on April 17th at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT and ends May 7th at the Royal Oak Theater in Detroit. As with previous tours, the set list will feature well known YES classics and deep cuts as well as songs from ‘TRUE.’
JON AND THE BAND GEEKS are currently in pre production for their 2nd studio album due to be released in the second half of 2026.They’re appearing April 21 @ The Patchogue Theatre.
METAL
SABATON—RELEASE “A TIGER AMONG DRAGONS”
#1 Global Power Metal Band and one of Sweden’s most successful bands
SABATON (@sabatonofficial) released the latest single and accompanying video,“A Tiger Among Dragons,” from their 11th studio album LEGENDS that came out October 17 via Better Noise Music (marking the band’s label debut). Throughout LEGENDS, SABATON— Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums)—delve into some of history’s greatest and most loved characters such as Jeanne D’arc(also known as Joan of Arc), Hannibal, Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler, Julius Caesar, The Knights Templar, and the legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi.
SLAYER’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF “HELL AWAITS”
Slaytanic Verses, the official Slayer online museum, unveils its latest collection: “Hell On Tour.” The new archive celebrates the 40th anniversary of “Hell Awaits” and revisits the 1985 world tour that carried the album across seven countries and sixty shows.
Built around the band’s original handwritten tour notebook, the “Hell On Tour” archive offers fans a rare, day-byday account of Slayer’s early rise. The blue-cover notebook, kept by the band’s tour manager, details the four relentless weeks from March 15 to April 19, 1985, when “Hell Awaits” began its march on the world.
The collection also features exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with Tom Araya and Kerry King, reflecting on the chaos, intensity and significance of the “Hell Awaits” era in their own words.
Documenting travel routes, show details, and daily logistics, this archive captures the groundwork of Slayer’s ascent, the moment the band began forging a global following through sheer force of sound and will.
Take a digital deep dive into Slayer’s 40+ years via “Slaytanic Verses,” the band’s online museum - https://www.slayer.net/
DEF LEPPARD DIAMOND STAR HEROES
Mercury Studios released on November 21 Def Leppard Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield. The show, recorded in 2023 in their hometown of Sheffield at Bramall Lane during “The World Tour” with Mötley Crüe, is available on Blu-ray+2CD, 4K UHD, 2CD and 2LP. Pressed on red, white and black splatter, the vinyl nods to the home kit colors of Sheffield United FC, who play their home matches at Bramall Lane. Additionally, the 4K UHD will be the band’s first 4K release and includes One Night Only Live At The Leadmill, previously released last year.
Marking the start of their co-headlining European tour with Mötley Crüe this concert on May 22, 2023 in Sheffield, England served as a homecoming show for Def Leppard, 47 years since the bands inception. Performing their second ever hometown stadium concert to a sold-out crowd of almost 40,000 fans, the Blu-ray+2CD & 2CD and 2LP versions include classics “Photograph” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” as well as UK live debuts “Take What You Want” and “This Guitar”, the latter dedicated to the band’s late great guitarist Steve Clark.
BITS & PIECES
MEGADETH SELF-TITLED ALBUM
Megadeth have revealed the full track listing for their self-titled final album that’s due out January 23, 2026. Pre-order the album, via Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group’s new BLKIIBLK label. The album includes “Tipping Point,” the previously released first single, and a very special bonus track: a reimagined version of “Ride The Lightning,” which Mustaine cowrote with Metallica’s James Hetfield, Cliff Burton, and Lars Ulrich and was the title track from the group’s 1984 album.
“As I come full circle on the career of a lifetime, the decision to include ‘Ride The Lightning,’ a song I co-wrote with James, Lars, and Cliff, was to pay my respects to where my career first started,” Mustaine says. Megadeth—Mustaine,Teemu Mäntysaari (Lead, Rhythm, and Acoustic Guitars), James LoMenzo (Bass Guitar) and Dirk Verbeuren (Drums)—released the album’s first single and video for “Tipping Point” in early October.
TREY ANASTASIO FREE BEACON LIVESTREAM
Trey Anastasio ran a free livestream webcast of his three-night run at New York City’s legendary Beacon Theatre, celebrating the fifth anniversary of his historic 2020 The Beacon Jams residency. Set for November 28–30, the sold-out shows, which benefited the Divided Sky Foundation, are available to stream via livephish. com/BeaconJamsandnugs.net/ BeaconJams. Fan donations are encouraged, with proceeds benefitting the Divided Sky Foundation. Founded by Anastasio in 2020, Divided Sky Foundation offers compassionate, affordable residential care to those struggling with addiction.
Fans who donate online will be able to send messages to Anastasio and Divided Sky Foundation, in the tradition of the original Beacon Jams. The Beacon Theatre run featured Anastasio in a range of formats each night, including performances with the Trey Anastasio Band and the return of the Rescue Squad Strings. All three shows were sold out, with ticket sales also benefiting DSF.
GWEN STEFANI RELEASES “HOT COCOA”
Award-winning pop icon Gwen Stefani released “Hot Cocoa,” a new original holiday song, available at all digital retailers. Gwen’s two new holiday songs – “Hot Cocoa” and the recently released “Shake The Snow Globe” are featured on a new version of Gwen’s chart-topping holiday album
You Make It Feel Like Christmas (Deluxe Edition - 2025) available exclusively on Amazon. Released earlier, “Shake The Snow Globe (from ‘Oh. What. Fun’) (Amazon Music Original),”is an original holiday track written, coproduced, and performed by Gwen for the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios holiday comedy ‘Oh. What. Fun’ which premiered globally on December 3 on Prime Video. Fans can stream both the song and Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can also check out its music video, directed by Mike Ho, exclusively on the Amazon Music app.
SQUEEZE’S NEW ALBUM “TRIXIES”
When it comes to storytelling, very few pop groups have done it as well as Squeeze. But even the group’s songwriting mainstays Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook would be hard pushed to devise a plot twist like the one that has resulted in Trixies, their first album in eight years but the first they ever wrote.
Before the sky-high classics such as “Up The Junction,” “Tempted,” “Cool For Cats,” “Another Nail In My Heart” and “Labelled With Love,” before the 2008 Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music, the Mojo Icon award, the quintessential Cradle To The Grave, the world tours and festival highlight sets, and before 2017’s celebrated The Knowledge, there was Trixies.
Written by the teenage Difford (19) and Tilbrook (16) at the very start of their songwriting partnership, when concept albums and rock operas were de rigueur and with the snappy underworld vernacular of New York fabulist Damon Runyon filling Difford’s thoughts, the songs are a collection of stories set in a fictional night club, Trixies.
HILARY DUFF FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCES IN A DECADE
Celebrating the release of her new single “Mature,” multiplatinum global superstar Hilary Duff will return to the stage for the first time in over a decade with a very special run of intimate live shows in January 2026.
The “Small Rooms, Big Nerves” dates kick off January 19 at London’s historic O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, followed by stops at HISTORY in Toronto, (January 24), The Brooklyn Paramount (January 27), and Los Angeles’ iconic Wiltern.
Marking a bold and self-assured return to pop,“Mature” marks her first new music in a decade. Co-written by Duff, her husband, and GRAMMY®-winning songwriter/ producer, Long Island’s own, Matthew Koma (Britney Spears, Pink), and hitmaker Madison Love (Halsey, Ava Max), the sardonic, shimmering track arrives as a piece of auto fiction inspired by romantic misadventures in her formative years. Set against bright pop production and layered with Duff’s signature wit and vulnerability, “Mature” is accompanied by an evocative music video directed by Lauren Dunn (Olivia Rodrigo, Dove Cameron, Saweetie.)
FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS NEW COMPILATION ALBUM
With Fine Young Cannibals, Roland Gift released a string of ’80s classics — “She Drives Me Crazy,” “Good Thing,” “Johnny Come Home,” and more — that made the band chart-topping stars on both sides of the Atlantic. Their success brought over five million album sales, two BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello, and three Grammy nominations.
Destined to be a future holiday favorite,“Everybody Knows It’s Christmas” brings together echoes of all-time seasonal classics into a song that’s both fresh and instantly classic. Mixing a glam-rock stomp with a ‘60s-tinged wall-of-sound and Roland’s one-of-a-kind soul-pop vocal gift, its bell-ringing, driving rhythms and uplifting nostalgia makes for an irresistibly joyful Christmas anthem that’s perfect for holiday playlists.
Alongside “Everybody Knows It’s Christmas” is Fine Young Cannibals’ careerspanning compilation ‘FYC40’, also released on December 5th and available to pre-order HERE. ‘FYC40’ presents a full kaleidoscope of soul and R&Binfluenced music filtered through the very British sensibility of one extraordinary band. Beyond their famous originals, it includes two of their other biggest moments in the shape of the evocation of tragic, late-period Elvis in “Suspicious Minds” and their own spin on Buzzcocks’ punk classic “Ever Fallen in Love.”
Photo by Linda Nylind
Photo by Lauren Dunn
