Charles Wesley Godwin's poignant new song 'Hey There Son' featuring Wyatt Flores out now

Check out the affecting advance track and accompanying video for the new song "Hey There Son" courtesy of Charles Wesley Godwin and guest Wyatt Flores...Robert Kinsler

Charles Wesley Godwin / Photo courtesy of the artist

Charles Wesley Godwin’s Poignant New Song “Hey There Son” Featuring Wyatt Flores Out Now

From left, Wyatt Flores and Charles Wesley Godwin

Watch the poignant music video HERE

Godwin's forthcoming new studio album Christian Name set for release on July 24, 2026 via Big Loud Records

A father declaring his love. A son saying goodbye. Charles Wesley Godwin takes listeners through a gamut of emotions on “Hey There Son,” out today (Friday, June 12, 2026). Featuring Wyatt Flores and co-written with Lori McKenna, the song is a cornerstone of Godwin’s upcoming album Christian Name, out July 24 via Big Loud Records.

“I started writing ‘Hey There Son’ in 2019, around the time my first son was born,” explains Godwin. “I’m a huge fan of Lori McKenna, and always felt like she’d be the perfect person to help me finish it. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to bring it to her in 2024, and we knocked it out in an afternoon. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room by the time we finished.”

“When Al and I started recording it, I knew I wanted that perspective shift in the final verse, and Wyatt was the obvious choice,” says Godwin. “He’s incredible, and his performance took the song to the next level. I’m really proud of this one.”

Christian Name is an intensely personal collection of songs, but it’s more than just another body of work; it’s how Godwin learned to live again. Through moments of mourning. Through tales of redemption. And ultimately, through a tried-and-true reaffirmation of his faith.

“These songs really meant a lot to me,” Godwin explains. “There’s parts of me and parts of the things that I’ve gone through in the last couple years that are in each and every song on this album.”

While Christian Name is without question a highly personal affair for Godwin – he took direct inspiration for both the album title and album cover from his late grandfather, Charles Godwin, a Methodist preacher –  he’s quick to note how critical a role his creative community of friends and musical collaborators played in the album’s conception.

Not only does Christian Name include a pair of thrilling feature collaborations – the earworm “Better That Way” with Luke Combs and the remarkable “Hey There Son” featuring Flores – but it’s also the result of Godwin partnering with some of music’s most treasured songwriters: Stephen Wilson Jr. (“Brand New”),  Liz Rose (“I Caught The Sunrise”), Lori McKenna (“Hey There Son”), Aaron Ratiere (“God’s Been Good To Me”), Travis Meadows (“Try Again,” “Every Once In Awhile”), Scooter Carusoe (“Better That Way,” "Hallelujah High,” “Place I Know”), and Tom Douglas (“Street Advice”). The album was produced by Allegheny High guitarist and Godwin’s longtime producer Al Torrence.

“I had a lot of help with this album — I sought out people and they brought a lot of the hope and the light and the lighter moments of the album,” Godwin offers. “That was a lot of their influence. The album needed that.”

Godwin will tour extensively in support of Christian Name. “The Christian Name Tour” kicks off July 14th in Sioux Falls, SD and runs through mid-November, with a return to Red Rocks on October 15th. In addition to his own headline shows, Godwin will be doing a co-headline run with Dylan Gossett this Summer, and he’ll open for Kacey Musgraves on her “Middle of Nowhere” tour this Fall.

For more information, including Godwin's upcoming tour dates, visit his official website HERE.

Rush's rapturous return; band delivers 22+ song set at first two shows in Los Angeles

Rush is back!. The legendary outfit kicked off its highly-anticipated tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles earlier this week. You can also revisit the band's previous tour via my review of the band's memorable concert in Irvine, CA on July 30, 2015...Robert Kinsler

Rush performing at the Kia Forum / Photo credit: Richard Sibbald

Rush's Rapturous Return; Rock and Roll Hall of Famers deliver 22+ song set both nights hitting every era

'Fifty Something' Tour kicked off in Los Angeles' Kia Forum

Tickets on sale now! Learn more HERE

On Sunday, June 7, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® inductees and RUSH co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson kicked off the highly anticipated ‘Fifty Something’ Tour with the first of 4 sold-out shows at Los Angeles' Kia Forum, marking the band's first tour performance in 11 years. 

From left, Alex Lifeson, Anika Nilles and Geddy Lee
Photo credit: Steve Rose

The show launched a landmark run celebrating more than five decades of RUSH music and legacy, bringing the band full circle as Kia Forum was also the site of RUSH's final R40 Tour performance on August 1, 2015 with longtime band member Neil Peart who passed away in 2020.

Joined by acclaimed drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold, RUSH opened the show with a signature opening film that pays tribute to and celebrates the band’s more than fifty year career and then broke into 11 minute “Xanadu” with both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson revealed behind the fog with their signature double neck guitars.

RUSH performed 2 career-spanning sets, with Night 1 featuring fan favorites including “Limelight,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Tom Sawyer” and "YYZ," alongside beloved deep cuts from across the band's legendary catalog such as “By-Tor and the Snowdog.”



On Night 2, RUSH changed it up with over 9 different songs including “Free Will,” “The Trees” and “Closer to the Heart” while kicking off the second set with the entire first side of legendary album 2112 to a spellbound crowd.

Aimee Mann, left, and Geddy Lee / Photo credit: Steve Rose

Both evenings featured a special guest appearance from Aimee Mann, who joined the band for an emotional performance of "Time Stand Still," the second of two tributes to Neil Peart in the show.

RUSH closed both nights with "Working Man" from their self-titled debut album, bringing the opening nights of the Fifty Something Tour to a memorable end and heightened anticipation of what’s in store for nights 3 and 4 of their sold out run.

The Fifty Something Tour continues this week with additional sold-out performances at Kia Forum on June 11 and June 13 before heading to Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Toronto, and more. The special "evening with" performances feature two sets each night, with RUSH building every setlist from a catalogue of 40 songs for this tour spanning the band's celebrated five-decade career across. 

Rush returns to the stage tonight (June 11) with another performance at Kia Forum. The band also has two scheduled performances here in my neck of the woods when they perform at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ on Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, 2026. 

For additional tour dates and more information, visit www.rush.com/tour/fifty-something.

Deep Purple release new single “Diablo” featuring special guest Keith Urban on guitar; Track is from group’s Forthcoming Album ‘Splat!’ out July 3

Check out the latest advance track from Deep Purple's forthcoming album "Splat!" - the track features guitar great Keith Urban too! The new Deep Purple album arrives on July 3, 2026...Robert Kinsler

The official artwork for the new Deep Purple
album "Splat!"

DEEP PURPLE RELEASE NEW SINGLE

“DIABLO”

FROM GROUP’S FORTHCOMING

NEW ALBUM

‘SPLAT!’ OUT ON JULY 3

 

TRACK FEATURES SPECIAL GUEST

KEITH URBAN ON GUITAR

 

Watch the new official music video for "Diablo" HERE