THE SHINS FOUNDER AND FRONTMAN JAMES MERCER TO MAKE PICTURE BOOK DEBUT WITH RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOKS 

BOOK OF DREAMS will publish on March 2nd 2027, with an original lullaby by Mercer forthcoming

Pre-Order BOOK OF DREAMS Here

Random House Studio, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, will publish BOOK OF DREAMS, a debut picture book by Grammy-nominated musician James Mercer, founder and frontman of The Shins, and illustrated by acclaimed designer and illustrator Jacob Escobedo, SVP of Creative for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, it was announced today by Lee Wade, VP & Publisher, Random House Studio. Maria Correa, Editor, Random House Studio, acquired North American rights for the project from Janine Kamouh at WME Books, who represented both the author  and the illustrator. 

Inspired by conversations Mercer shared with his daughters, BOOK OF DREAMS is a lyrical exploration of the magical,  mysterious, and emotionally rich worlds children enter while they sleep. Told in rhyming verse and paired with Escobedo’s surreal and immersive artwork—painted using gouache and acrylic and printed with a fluorescent pink ink— the book journeys through dreams in all their emotional color, from the silly and surreal to the frightening and profound. The result is a visually mesmerizing celebration of dreams as powerfully imaginative stories. 

“Dreams were something my daughters and I talked about all the time,” says Mercer. “I wanted this book to capture the feeling of moving through those strange nighttime worlds where anything can happen and emotions feel larger than life. Working with Jacob brought the whole thing into a place that felt even more vivid and alive than I originally pictured.” 

The project reunites Mercer and Escobedo following years of collaboration on album artwork, music visuals, and creative  direction for The Shins and Broken Bells. The book also inspired a forthcoming lullaby composed and performed by Mercer, extending the story beyond the page into a soothing, dreamlike experience for families. 

Exploring the wonder, weirdness, and emotional complexity of dreams, BOOK OF DREAMS offers a singular take on a  universal childhood experience—one that encourages readers to better understand their feelings, fears, creativity, and  inner lives. Backmatter includes dream journal prompts that invite children to reflect on and engage with their own nighttime adventures. 

“The book doesn’t shy away from the darker side of dreams—it empowers children to see themselves as the authors of  those wildly creative stories. At its heart, this is a project about imagination and the emotional lives of children,” says Correa. “James Mercer and Jacob Escobedo have each created deeply transportive artistic worlds throughout their careers, and BOOK OF DREAMS brings those sensibilities together in a picture book that feels meaningful, intimate, and  entirely original.” 

Also available as an audiobook from Listening Library, narrated by James Mercer. 

The Shins are currently celebrating their 30th Anniversary and just released a limited edition 7” featuring music James Mercer wrote all those years ago exclusively through their webstore. They will also be touring the US with Weezer this Fall.  For more information about the tour and to shop for the 7” and other goodies please visit theshins.com

About the Author and Illustrator:
James Mercer is the two-time Grammy-nominated founder of The Shins and co-founder of Broken Bells, along with Danger Mouse. He formed The Shins in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1996. Their debut full-length album, Oh, Inverted World, caused a seismic shift in the indie rock scene upon its release in 2001. Both bands continue to redefine and push the boundaries of indie and alternative music. James lives in Portland, Oregon, with his family. BOOK OF DREAMS is his first children’s book. 

Jacob Escobedo is an Atlanta-based designer and illustrator who has been with Cartoon Network and Adult Swim since 1999—and, as SVP of Creative, has played a lead role in each brand’s ever-changing visual aesthetic. On the side, he pursues his own passion projects, and he is the man behind iconic album covers for groups including Broken Bells, DangerDoom, and The Shins. In recent years, he has directed animated music videos for Post Malone and Helado Negro. You might have even seen his illustrations in The New Yorker and The New York Times.  

Random House Children’s Books (rhcbooks.com) is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher.  Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture  books, novels, and nonfiction, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors  and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. 

BOOK OF DREAMS 
by James Mercer: illustrated by Jacob Escobedo 
Random House Studio | 40 pages | Ages 4–8 | On sale March 2, 2027 
Hardcover: 979-8-217-23170-6 | $19.99/$27.99 Can. 
Ebook: 979-8-217-23172-0| $5.99/$11.99 Can. 
Hardcover Library Binding: 979-8-217-23171-3 | $22.99/$30.99 Can. 
Audiobook: 979-8-217-42062-9 | $5.00/$6.95 Can. 
 

RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S CONTACTS: 
Joey Ho, Senior Publicist, Random House Children’s Books 
jho@penguinrandomhouse.com | 212-782-9056 

Sunhi Keller, Publicity Assistant, Random House Children’s Books skeller@penguinrandomhouse.com | 212-782-9027

Photo Credit: Aaron Leitz

BECK
RIDE LONESOME
NEW ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 18
“IN THE NIGHT” NEW SONG & VIDEO OUT NOW

North American Tour Begins September 16th

“Thank you, Beck! Let’s hope for a full album of this vibe soon.” — VICE on “Ride Lonesome”

In the wake of the ecstatic reception that welcomed Beck’s recently released single “Ride Lonesome” — which NPR deemed “as moving and beautifully produced as any of his most beloved work” — the release date of a new album has been confirmed: Ride Lonesome, Beck’s long-awaited first collection of all-new material since the GRAMMY-winning Hyperspace, will be released September 18 via Capitol Records, and is available for pre-order now at https://Beck.lnk.to/RideLonesome

Beck commented, “My new album Ride Lonesome is coming out this fall. The musicians from my original touring and recording band that I recorded Sea Change, Morning Phase and Mutations with — Smokey Hormel, Joey Waronker, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., and Jason Falkner— reconvened with me at my favorite studio (Room B at United Studios in Hollywood). We had Nigel Godrich, who worked on Sea Change and Mutations with us mixing all the songs. It had been a decade since we went in the studio and recorded Morning Phase. This time It felt like the playing and the chemistry had evolved and deepened— a sound that’s come together over the decades of working together. 

While we were revisiting a musical and physical place, it also felt like we were finding new sounds and emotional textures along the way.”

The announcement of Ride Lonesome is accompanied by “In The Night,” the second advance offering from the forthcoming album. A stunning yet subdued ode to nocturnal musings, “In The Night” is also available as a lush and inspired cinematic video directed by Mikai Karl, produced by Ryan Smale and starring Denis Lavant (Beau Travail, Mauvais Sang), which can be seen HERE

Like the song “Ride Lonesome,” “In The Night” conjures the beautiful and haunting sonic landscapes and textures of 2015 Album of the Year GRAMMY winner Morning Phase and its spiritual predecessor, 2002’s classic Sea Change—and features multiple musicians who played on those milestone releases. Produced by Beck and mixed by Nigel Godrich, both songs indicate a reorientation toward a different yet familiar direction for Beck in the year ahead.

The complete tracklist for Ride Lonesome is:

1. Ride Lonesome
2. Run Away
3. In The Night
4. Failed Words
5. Bleed
6. Disappearing Act
7. For Your Love
8. Slow Canyon 
9. It Ends Right Here
10. Falling Through My Hands
11. If You Don’t Know What Love Is
12. Beyond The Light

Ride Lonesome’s release will coincide with the September 16 kick-off of the Ride Lonesome tour at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The tour will make stops including the Santa Barbara Bowl, the Greek in L.A., Red Rocks, two nights each at The Masonic in SF, Massey Hall in Toronto and the Brooklyn Paramount, and more, before concluding October 31st at The Truth in Nashville.

For further information, go HERE

BECK
Ride Lonesome Tour

09/16/26 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre (SOLD OUT)
09/18/26 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle
09/19/26 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium (SOLD OUT)
09/22/26 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
09/23/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
09/25/26 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
09/26/26 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
10/01/26 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10/03/26 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
10/04/26 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
10/06/26 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
10/07/26 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre (SOLD OUT)
10/09/26 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater
10/10/26 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater
10/12/26 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
10/14/26 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
10/15/26 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
10/17/26 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
10/18/26 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
10/22/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
10/23/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount (SOLD OUT)
10/25/26 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
10/27/26 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
10/28/26 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (SOLD OUT)
10/30/26 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
10/31/26 – Nashville, TN – The Truth

Photo Credit: Mikai Karl

ST. VINCENT
LIVE IN LONDON!
VINYL ALBUM OUT NOW

North American Orchestral Tour Continues Through August 2

“… trades guitars and electronics for swells of orchestral sound, luxuriating in physicality and ensemble richness”
— THE NEW YORK TIMES

Having been available for purchase at select dates on St. Vincent’s current orchestral tour, the first ever vinyl pressing of St. Vincent’s Live in London! (Total Pleasure/Virgin Music Group) can now be purchased by the general public as of today, July 10, 2026.

Released digitally March 20, Live in London! is a living document of St. Vincent’s majestic BBC Proms performance last year at London’s Royal Albert Hall in which she was accompanied by the 60-piece Jules Buckley Orchestra. The album captures the historic occasion that found Annie Clark, Buckley and the orchestra reimagining 19 classics, staples and rarely played deep cuts spanning the St. Vincent catalog from 2007’s solo debut Marry Me up to 2024’s multiple-GRAMMY-winning All Born Screaming.

To order the vinyl edition of Live in London! please go HERE

For those looking to experience the St. Vincent songbook live in its orchestrally embellished splendor, her limited run of North American orchestral performances continues, concluding with an August 2 appearance at the Hollywood Bowl.

See below for a list of remaining dates—all featuring local orchestras with Jules Buckley conducting. To purchase tickets visit ​​https://stv.lnk.to/Tour

July 22 – Kresge Auditorium – Interlochen, MI (w/ orchestra)
July 24 – Detroit Opera House – Detroit, MI (w/ The Detroit Opera Orchestra)
July 25 – Ravinia – Chicago, IL (w/ The Chicago Symphony)
July 26 – Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park – Grand Rapids, MI
July 30 – Davies Symphony Hall – San Francisco, CA (w/ The San Francisco Symphony)
August 1 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA (w/ The San Diego Symphony Orchestra)
August 2 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA (w/ The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra)

SOCIAL DISTORTION

“TONIGHT” VIDEO LIVE NOW

BORN TO KILL OUT NOW

Social Distortion is proud to premiere the official video for “Tonight,” a smoking rock ballad from the veteran outfit’s “best album in years” (ROLLING STONE), Born To Kill.

Shot on location in Tulsa, OK, “Tonight” was directed by John Swab, whose credits include cult classic Candy Land as well as the upcoming Netflix feature Fast & Loose starring Will Smith. The video sees the “rollicking cowpunk” (BROOKLYN VEGAN) of the Born To Kill standout track scoring a love story starring Johnny Angel Rios-Ness, son of Social Distortion founder Mike Ness. The two generations deliver star turns, weaving Ness’ riveting performance with a narrative inspired by the song’s tribute to his wife of more than three decades, Christine.

Watch “Tonight” HERE 

Social Distortion released its long-awaited eighth album, Born To Kill, May 8th via Epitaph Records. The new record wastes no time letting the listener know where its heart is: its hard-charging title track — named as one of ROLLING STONE’s Best Songs of 2026 So Far — paying respects to Lou Reed (“Rock ’n’ Roll Animal gonna come your way!”) and Iggy and the Stooges (“The agenda is yeah to Search and Destroy”) and lionizing David Bowie (“It’s a Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”) on “Partners In Crime.” This is a man, a band, and a record that wear their influences proudly while creating timeless anthems and ballads that chart Social Distortion’s path forward while celebrating its storied past.

Co-produced by Ness and Dave Sardy, and featuring guest appearances from Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lucinda Williams, and collaborative cover art by Ness and Shepard Fairey, Born To Kill is the latest installment in a remarkable catalog that spans nearly three generations, including Mommy’s Little Monster (1983), Prison Bound (1988), the RIAA gold-certified Social Distortion (1990) and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992), White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996), Sex, Love and Rock ’n’ Roll (2004), and Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011).

Social Distortion’s North American Born To Kill tour is coming up fast, featuring support from The Descendents and The Chats. For tickets and further information, see below or go to https://www.socialdistortion.com/tours

SOCIAL DISTORTION
North American Tour 2026

July 16 — Ottawa, ON — Ottawa Bluesfest
July 17 — Montreal, QC — MTELUS
July 19 — Burlington, VT — Higher Ground Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
July 20 —  Portland, ME — State Theatre
July 22 — New Haven, CT — Toad’s Place
August 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
August 28 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater
August 29 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
August 31 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
September 1 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
September 3 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz (SOLD OUT)
September 4 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
September 5 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony Summer Stage  (SOLD OUT)
September 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
September 9 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
September 11 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
September 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount (SOLD OUT)
September 14 – Toronto, ONT – HISTORY (SOLD OUT)
September 15 – Toronto, ONT – HISTORY
September 17 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit (SOLD OUT)
September 19 — Chicago, IL — Riot Fest
September 20 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
September 22 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
September 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
September 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas  (SOLD OUT)
September 26 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort – Grand Theatre (SOLD OUT)
September 28 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic  (SOLD OUT)
September 29 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
October 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium (SOLD OUT)
October 2 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium (SOLD OUT)
October 3 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park

* Descendents and the Chats support August 25 through October 3

Metallica Scholars Initiative National Workforce Education Program Expands to Over 90 Schools

Year 8 Grant is Largest to Date, With More Than $3.3M Committed; Expands Internationally

All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, proudly announces the eighth year of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date: over $3.3M. Eighteen new US schools will join the MSI community in the fall, with 15 receiving $75,000 to enhance the student experience within career and technical education programs, and three receiving $50,000 for specific new equipment purchases. The Foundation is also launching its first international workforce endeavor with a $250,000 / £186,000 grant to establish the Metallica Scholars Initiative in the United Kingdom in partnership with Capital City College Group (CCC).

Metallica’s James Hetfield said, “This thing started as a dream. Now our program is changing lives. To expand our impact on a global scale and support even more students is so rewarding. We’re so proud of all the Metallica Scholars who have come through it and all the ones who will participate in it. It’s humbling to know we’ve been part of the journey of thousands of trade professionals doing good, hard work in the world.”   

AWMH continues to work closely with its long-time partner, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, MSI’s core focus is supporting conventional trades, including welders, plumbers, and electricians, while also adding fields that will generate the jobs of tomorrow. The workforce initiative continues to evolve, supporting diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages. Year 8 includes a wide range of fields, including nursing and healthcare, optical systems technology, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT, pipefitting, and agricultural pathways.  

Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, President and CEO, AACC, said, “The continued growth of the Metallica Scholars Initiative is a powerful testament to what’s possible when visionary philanthropy and community colleges come together around a shared mission. Through this partnership, 13,000 community college students have already been supported across the country, earning the skills needed for in-demand careers with family-sustaining wages. This latest, generous investment by Metallica’s foundation will reach more learners while strengthening the workforce pipelines that power local economies. We are proud to partner with All Within My Hands to scale this impact, ensuring even more students have access to life-changing opportunities in the skilled trades and beyond.”    

Given Metallica’s global fan base and the universal need for more tradespeople, the Foundation has long envisioned expanding its workforce education program beyond the United States. As a result of MSI’s measurable success in the US, AWMH forged a partnership with Capital City College Group to bring the initiative to the UK. CCC dates back to 1828 and has over 30,000 students across 12 distinct locations throughout London. The expansion will launch in the fall, focusing on serving aspiring tradespeople preparing to enter the workforce through vocational programs. 

Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, AWMH, said, “Metallica Scholars Year 8 will see our largest-scale growth yet, as we anticipate supporting close to 4,000 new students in the United States and more than 1,000 learners in the UK for a total of 5,000 across the program! This represents an approximate 40% increase in our student body, something we are incredibly excited about. Supporting people of all ages entering and ascending through trades is the right thing to do, not just domestically, but also abroad. Our Metallica Scholars have demonstrated resilience and a strong determination to succeed, which in turn motivates us to match their ambition.” 

The initiative’s eighth iteration also marks the renewal of AWMH’s partnerships with Carhartt, Wolverine, CNH Construction, and Upstaging, Inc., as well as the addition of the Foundation’s newest partner, ServiceTitan. These corporate partners complement the Foundation’s Executive and Advisory Board Members and the broader Metallica Family, all of whom have played a role in advancing AWMH’s mission and driving its success.

Newly Added Metallica Scholar Colleges:

• Barton Community College – Great Bend, KS
• Berkshire Community College – Pittsfield, MA
• Central Maine Community College – Auburn, ME
• Delaware County Community College – Media, PA
• Dutchess Community College – Poughkeepsie, NY
• Fletcher Technical Community College – Schriever, LA
• Lake Region State College – Devils Lake, ND
• Metropolitan Community College – Kansas City, MO
• Monroe Community College – Rochester, NY
• Moraine Valley Community College – Palos Hills, IL
• North Central State College – Mansfield, OH
• Northeast State Community College – Blountville, TN
• Northwest Mississippi Community College – Senatobia, MS
• Raritan Valley Community College – Branchburg, NJ
• Riverside City College – Riverside, CA
• South Texas College – McAllen, TX
• Trident Technical College – North Charleston, SC
• William Rainey Harper College – Palatine, IL

For a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.

About All Within My Hands
Established in 2017, All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a non-profit, philanthropic organization conceived by the members and management of Metallica and dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. Metallica covers all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go directly to the organizations supported by the Foundation. To date, All Within My Hands has provided grants of $19M to career and technical education programs through its Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.8M to combat food insecurity, and $6.2M to disaster relief and other critical local services worldwide. Visit AllWithinMyHands.org to learn more. And follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

About American Association of Community Colleges
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu

BECK

“RIDE LONESOME (Featuring Sierra Ferrell)”

AVAILABLE TO SEE AND HEAR NOW

North American Tour Begins September 16

Credit: Mikai Karl

Eight-time GRAMMY winner Beck has teamed up with “the May Queen of American roots music” (NPR) for a stunning take on his new “Ride Lonesome”: Sierra Ferrell joins Beck in reimagining the stunning acoustic gem PARADE called “sublime… an instant classic” as a duet pairing two of the most revered and beloved voices in modern music.

Listen to “Ride Lonesome (featuring Sierra Ferrell)” HERE and check out the visualizer HERE.

A master of collaboration, some of Beck’s most recent work has seen him join forces with the Mexican Institute of Sound & Meridian Brothers (“Ritmo Babilonia”), Arooj Aftab (“Lilac Wine”), Phoenix (“Odyssey”), Orville Peck (“Death Valley High”), Hinds (“Boom Boom Back”), the Black Keys (“I’m With The Band”), Chemical Brothers (“Skipping Like A Stone”), Rahill (“Fables”) and Gorillaz (“Valley of the Pagans,” “Possession Island”), among others. He has also toured extensively, playing multiple continents in various configurations ranging from the arena and amphitheater-filling Summer Odyssey tour with Phoenix to a series of performances accompanied by native orchestras at the likes of New York’s Carnegie Hall, and London’s Royal Albert Hall. The Albert Hall gigs received a rapturous reception with The I Paper praising “a supremely beautiful night” and The Times describing “sumptuous sweep and swelling bombast… fresh dimensions to his most reflective material”.

Beck’s Ride Lonesome tour is drawing closer, its sold out opener taking place September 16 at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The tour will make stops including the Santa Barbara Bowl, the Greek in L.A., Red Rocks, two nights each at The Masonic in SF, Massey Hall in Toronto and the Brooklyn Paramount, and more, before concluding October 31st at The Truth in Nashville.

Diana Silvers supports on all dates.

For further information, go to https://www.beck.com/

BECK
Ride Lonesome Tour

09/16/26 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre (SOLD OUT)
09/18/26 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle
09/19/26 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium (SOLD OUT)
09/22/26 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
09/23/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
09/25/26 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
09/26/26 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
10/01/26 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10/03/26 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
10/04/26 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
10/06/26 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
10/07/26 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre (SOLD OUT)
10/09/26 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium Theater
10/10/26 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium Theater
10/12/26 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
10/14/26 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
10/15/26 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
10/17/26 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
10/18/26 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
10/22/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
10/23/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount (SOLD OUT)
10/25/26 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
10/27/26 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
10/28/26 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (SOLD OUT)
10/30/26 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
10/31/26 – Nashville, TN – The Truth

METALLICA

RELOAD (REMASTERED)

LIMITED EDITION DELUXE BOX SET OUT NOW

FEATURING PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MATERIAL INCLUDING DEMOS, ROUGH MIXES, VIDEO, LIVE RECORDINGS & MORE

https://metallica.lnk.to/reloadreissue

Today marks the definitive re-release of Metallica’s quadruple platinum seventh studio album, ReLoad, via the band’s own Blackened Recordings.

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering with Greg Fidelman overseeing, ReLoad (Remastered) is now available in formats including a Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set, standard 180g 2LP, Wal-Mart exclusive color 140g 2LP, CD, 3CD Expanded Edition, cassette and digital (including a Spatial Audio mix using Atmos). For a full list of configurations, track listings, package details and more, go to  https://metallica.lnk.to/reloadreissue.

The ReLoad Remastered Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set is a passionately and thoroughly curated document of 1997-1998 era Metallica, bursting with exclusives including previously unreleased demos, rough mixes, live performances, on-air and television appearances, and much more. This one-time numbered pressing features the remastered ReLoad album on 180g double vinyl, “The Memory Remains” 7”, and Live at Ministry of Sound ’97, a 140g triple album recorded live. The set’s 15 CDs range from the remastered ReLoad album to never-before-released collections of riffs, demos and rough mixes, B-Sides and rarities, and a wealth of live material, while its 4 DVDs offer a plethora of behind the scenes, in-studio and live footage, on-air and television appearances, the band’s pop-up performance at the CoreStates Complex Parking Lot in Philadelphia, visits to Seoul, and more. Rounding out the box’s content are memorabilia including a pack of 13 Rorschach Test cards, an 11×17 Gimme Fuel poster, a sticker, a Pushead print, a 10-pack of guitar/bass picks, lyric sheets, three laminated tour passes and a deluxe 128-page book with never-before-seen photos and stories from whose who were there.

The release of ReLoad (Remastered) is also commemorated by the ongoing #GetTheReLoadOut fan cover competition. As with last year’s #GetTheLoadOut, thousands of Metallica fans across social media have been submitting interpretations of ReLoad tracks. This year, #GetTheReLoadOut has expanded to include a second category: In addition to the more traditional musical covers, performance and visual artists have been invited to participate. A different track off the album has been highlighted each week throughout the competition, which will culminate with two Grand Prize Winners each taking home a Metallica-autographed ReLoad Remastered Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set.

Originally released November 18, 1997, ReLoad was the third consecutive Metallica album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, ultimately spending nearly 80 weeks on the chart and attaining #1 status in six countries, and top 10 in nearly a dozen more. The 1995-1997 sessions at The Plant in Sausalito CA that yielded both ReLoad and Load found James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted exploring expanded creative terrain and pushing the boundaries of Metallica’s sonic identity. On ReLoad, this meant bold decisions ranging from the inclusion of hurdy-gurdy and violin on the somber “Low Man’s Lyric” to Marianne Faithfull’s haunting guest vocal on “The Memory Remains.” Like its 1996 predecessor, ReLoad has only grown in stature in the years since its release, with its incendiary opener “Fuel” and the timeless “The Memory Remains” remaining staples of the band’s setlists on the ongoing M72 World Tour.

GORILLAZ BRING HOUSE OF KONG TO NEW YORK CITY
AN ACCLAIMED EXHIBITION LIKE NO OTHER
LIMITED NYC RUN COINCIDING WITH GORILLAZ AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

September 1st through 28th, 2026
AGGER FISH BUILDING, BROOKLYN

WATCH THE EXHIBITION TRAILER HERE
Kong Card Holders Pre-sale Tickets Available on June 29th at 10am ET
General On-sale Tickets Available June 30th at 10am ET

www.gorillaz.com/houseofkong

“truly transportive”– TIME OUT

“mysterious, alluring, and eye-opening” – KCRW

“Terrific” – LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

Following last year’s acclaimed London run and this year’s rabidly received residency in Downtown Los Angeles, the iconic gates of Kong – the fabled home of Grammy-winning British band Gorillaz – will open once more when the celebrated immersive exhibition House of Kong lands at the Agger Fish Building in Brooklyn. This limited, one-time-only run begins September 1 and concludes the morning of September 28 — the day before Gorillaz return to headline Madison Square Garden.

Exhibition tickets are available via presale for Kong Card holders on June 29th at 10am ET via Gigantic. General on sale begins June 30th at 10am ET. For more information, visit https://houseofkong.gigantic.com/

House of Kong’s New York run begins a little more than two weeks ahead of the September 17 kick-off of Gorillaz’ 2026 North American tour. The band’s first extensive North American trek since 2022, the tour will bring the Gorillaz live experience hailed by ROLLING STONE as “an overwhelming pop spectacle, with Damon Albarn’s steady presence to keep the audience focused” to these shores for 22 sure-to-be-unforgettable arena dates (plus a headline appearance at the Shaky Knees festival).

Visitors to House of Kong will take a jaunt behind the curtain of Gorillaz’ extraordinary world. A journey through the band’s life of misadventures, musical innovation and groundbreaking virtual ways since these four outsiders – bassist Murdoc Niccals, singer 2D, drummer Russel Hobbs and guitarist Noodle – first came together to blow up a pre-digital world with the release of “Tomorrow Comes Today” in 2000. An exhibition like no other, House of Kong is an experience for the brave and bold. Watch the exhibition trailer HERE. In collaboration with Jamie Hewlett, Damon Albarn and Eleven Management, the concept behind House of Kong was developed by artist and creative director Stephen Gallagher and his studio, SWEAR. 

Gallagher said –  “House of Kong is not a retrospective, it’s an audio-visual artwork; an installation that takes a glance backwards in order to identify the path ahead.” He added – “It’s an honour to have been part of the Gorillaz family over the last 8 years. The outpouring of music and art that I have found myself immersed in, has changed my life. I hope that some of that comes across in this show. This is no ordinary exhibition because in the world of Gorillaz, nothing is ever quite as it seems…”

House of Kong will be open from 10 am until 10 pm daily, with the last entry being at 8:30 pm, from September 1 through September 27. The last entry on September 28 will be 5:30 pm.

House of Kong exhibition tickets are priced from $50 and are on sale now. For tickets, information and FAQs, visit: www.gorillaz.com/houseofkong

GORILLAZ
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES 2026

09/17/26 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center
09/18/26 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center
09/20/26 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Festival
09/23/26 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
09/26/26 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
09/27/26 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
09/29/26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
10/01/26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
10/03/26 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
10/04/26 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
10/06/26 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Arena
10/07/26 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
10/08/26 – Chicago, IL – United Center
10/15/26 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
10/16/26 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
10/18/26 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
10/20/26 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center
10/23/26 – Phoenix, AZ – Mortgage Matchup Center
10/24/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
10/25/26 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
10/28/26 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
10/30/26 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
10/31/26 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

About Gorillaz
Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle, Gorillaz were formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to seize the title of biggest virtual band in the world with the release of their eponymous debut album Gorillaz in 2001. Based at Kong Studios in West London, the band settled into a life of musical innovation with an extraordinary roster of collaborators, a list that includes musical legends, geniuses and future stars from Elton John to Little Simz, MF DOOM to Jean-Michel Jarre, Grace Jones to Bad Bunny, Kali Uchis to Sidiki Diabaté, plus so many more. Gorillaz is a truly global phenomenon, achieving success in entirely new and unique ways, touring the world and winning numerous awards including the coveted Jim Henson Creativity Honor, along the way. The band is recognised by The Guinness Book Of World Records as the planet’s Most Successful Virtual Act

The band has released nine studio albums: Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018), Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez (2020), Cracker Island (2023) and The Mountain (2026).

About SWEAR
SWEAR (Swear To God) is the studio of artist and creative director Stephen Gallagher. SWEAR creates physical and digital interventions across a broad range of creative disciplines, from deeply immersive and provocative artworks and installations to world-class live shows. In 2007, Gallagher co-founded radical, artist-led design studio, Block9. The studio is world-renowned for the creation of large-scale, multi-disciplinary, temporary artworks and performance spaces, which combine the visual arts with music, theatre and politics. 

Gallagher’s installations and live show designs often comprise interwoven layers of music, lighting, video, sound design, and sculpted, immersive environments. He frequently works with other musical and visual artists, composers, choreographers and filmmakers.Stephen Gallagher has been the Creative Director for Gorillaz live shows since 2018, collaborating with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett to bring the world of Gorillaz to life. For more information, visit swear.studio

MIKE D 

FIVE NEW U.S. SHOWS ANNOUNCED

DEBUT ALBUM THANK YOU OUT AUGUST 28th
PRE-ORDER HERE 

TICKETS, PRE-SALE INFO & MORE AVAILABLE HERE

Artwork by Thad HigaHaving just completed a first series of sold out dates across the UK and Europe, Mike D has announced five new US shows.

The new dates kick off August 30 at Boston’s Royale — just two days after the August 28 release of Mike D’s debut album, Thank You — and will include stops in Washington DC, Asheville NC, Atlanta GA and New York City.

Tickets will be available via pre-sale beginning tomorrow, Thursday June 25, at 10am local time. General on-sale will follow Friday June 26 at 10am local time. See below for a full list of dates, cities and venues, and stay tuned to https://miked5d.com/ for further updates.

Hailed by ROLLING STONE as “embodied with the punk energy that led to his band’s early breakthrough” and by GRIMY GOODS as “a wild good time,” the Mike D 5D touring band — featuring Mike, his sons Skyler and Davis Diamond, Eddie Ruscha, Will Graefe and Milo Ruscha — debuted earlier this year with a series of instantly sold out shows at intimate, non-traditional venues. More recently, the band completed a first overseas jaunt that saw Mike’s return to UK and Europe stages described as “uproarious fun” (THE GUARDIAN) and “gonzo brilliance….Loud, intense, an onslaught of sounds and ideas that still manages to be catchy as hell” (LONDON EVENING STANDARD).

Thank You’s August 28 release via Capitol Records is preceded by the “playful, beat-driven collage” (THE NEW YORK TIMES) of “Switch Up,” “the classic, bombastic, boisterously energetic” (OKAYPLAYER) “What We Got,” and the “buzzy, pensive, breakbeat-powered wall of acid rock” (RELIX) that is “True Colors.” The album is comprised of 13 servings of sonically inventive post-electronic grooves and hypnotic hooks that find Mike D’s unmistakable voice leading the listener through an aural playground that defies categorization.

Thank You is available to pre-order here: https://miked.lnk.to/ThankYou

MIKE D 5D
US 2026

August 30 — Boston MA – Royale
September 1 —  Washington, DC — 930 Club
September 3 — Asheville, NC — The Orange Peel
September 5 —  Atlanta GA – The Eastern
September 9 — Queens NY — Knockdown Center

MIKE D 5D
THANK YOU
DEBUT ALBUM OUT AUGUST 28th
PRE-ORDER HERE 

Watch the “True Colors” Visualizer HERE

“It’s heartening to hear a Beastie Boy just having fun on a record again” 
— THE NEW YORK TIMES
 

The August 28 release of Thank You, the debut album from Mike D 5D, will mark the first full length offering of new music from a Beastie Boys alum since 2011’s Hot Sauce Committee Part 2.

Preceded by the “playful, beat-driven collage” (THE NEW YORK TIMES) of “Switch Up” and “the classic, bombastic, boisterously energetic” (OKAYPLAYER) “What We Got,” Thank You is a dozen servings of sonically inventive post-electronic grooves and hypnotic hooks that find Mike D’s unmistakable voice leading the listener through an aural playground that defies categorization.

The album’s announcement coincides with the launch of the visualizer for the darkly melodic “True Colors,” which can be seen HERE

Thank You traces its origins back to a series of zero-pressure, experimental recording sessions at Mike’s home studio. The sessions began with Mike’s sons Skyler and Davis as the first of a cast of collaborators that would expand to include Carter Lang, Jared Solomon, Ging, Jason Lader, Eddie Ruscha, Tyran Donaldson and more joining in across a variety of locations. The album’s fluid, intuitive nature is reflected in its eclectic artwork by visual collaborators Can Can Press, Thad Higa and Charles Deroyan.

“It’s been so much fun making this music with people I love and I have grown to really appreciate in our collaboration,” Mike D commented. “And I just hope it’s fun for others and not overly serious, because let’s be real, I’m releasing this music into a very strange and dark and power-fixated world that really devalues art and feelings and compassion and empathy and equality.”

Mike D 5D’s Thank You will be released August 28 via Capitol Records. The album was mixed by Derek “MixedByAli” Ali, mastered by Nicolas de Porcel, and consists of the following songs

Switch Up
What We Got
True Colors
That’s Right
Secrets Pt. I
Secrets Pt. II
I Don’t Care
Make It Stop
Crypto
Here We Are
Back To Start
It’s Time
Thank You

Thank You is available to pre-order here: https://MikeD.lnk.to/THANKYOU

Hailed by ROLLING STONE as “embodied with the punk energy that led to his band’s early breakthrough” and by GRIMY GOODS as “a wild good time,” the Mike D 5D band — featuring Mike, Skyler and Davis joined by Eddie Ruscha, Will Graefe and Milo Ruscha — has been bringing Thank You to life for those fortunate enough to score tickets to a series of instantly sold out shows at intimate, non-traditional venues. Currently in the midst of a UK visit, Mike D 5D’s shows to date have included appearances at Los Angeles’ Plaza Nightclub & Dance Hall, Malibu’s Brothers Marshall Surf Shop, The Ojai Valley Women’s Club, Sid the Cat Auditorium in South Pasadena CA, and most recently at Xanadu Roller Arts in Brooklyn and 26 Leake Street in London. Upcoming shows are listed below, with more to be announced.

June 10 — Saalchen —  Berlin, Germany (SOLD OUT)
June 13 — Primavera Sound Festival — Porto, Portugal
June 14 —  Beyond The Pale Festival — Wicklow, Ireland
June 16 — La 2 de Apolo Nitsa — Barcelona, Spain
June 18 — Blender at Bolwerk — Kortrijk, Belgium (SOLD OUT)
June 19 — De Casino — Sint-Niklaas, Belgium (SOLD OUT)
June 20 — Beyond The Streets — Paris, France
September 26 — Portola Music Festival 2026 — San Francisco, USA

Photo Credit: Sam Finelli