New music: 'Walkin' After Midnight: The Music of Patsy Cline', Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals, Green Apple Quick Step, Wild Mountain Mystics

In this column I highlight a new tribute to Patsy Cline, as well as new audio titles featuring Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals, Green Apple Quick Step and Wild Mountain Mystics.

Artists: Mickey Guyton, Crystal Gayle, Grace Potter, Wynonna, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, more
Title: Walkin' After Midnight: The Music of Patsy Cline (Mercury Studios)

You might like if you enjoy: Mickey Guyton, Crystal Gayle, Grace Potter, Pam Willis, Ashley McBryde, Pat Benatar

Tell me more: Country music singer Patsy Cline was one of the 20th century's most influential artists despite her relatively brief recording career (she sadly died in a plane crash on March 5, 1963 at the age of 30). Now a star-studded tribute concert filmed at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2024 has been released as a Blu-ray+CD title available now. The parade of inspired covers of Cline hits on the first half of the title ranges from Mickey Guyton's bluesy take on the 1950s hit "Walking' After Midnight," Tami Neilson's affecting take on "Three Cigarettes in An Ashtray" and Crystal Gayle's emotive delivery of the ballad "Always" to Grace Potter's bewitching take on the jazzy "Strange" and Wynonna's soaring take on "Sweet Dreams." Late disc standouts include Ashley McBryde's heartfelt "Leaving' On Your Mind," Kristin Chenoweth's deeply felt "I Fall to Pieces," Mandy Barnett's tearful "Why Can't He Be You," and a blues-soaked take on "Imagine That" featuring Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. Artists from a number of musical genres are represented on the outstanding concert recording. Information: patsycline.com.

Artist: Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals
Title: Good Crook (Chris Vincent Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Delta blues, Bob Dylan, Michael Ubaldini

Tell me more: New Orleans-based bluesman Chris Vincent's freewheeling style shines across the 12-track Good Crook, an album which was recorded in a mere two sessions (one with New Orleans jazz drummer Johnny Vidacovich, the other stripped down with just Vincent and his beloved 1947 Gibson L7 guitar). Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals also features Vidacovich on drums and Dean Zucchero on bass guitar; all dozen cuts were all written by Vincent. There is a palpable honesty to the songwriting and performances captured on the disc, with Vincent addressing the darkest corners of his life. Gems range from the opening title track and literate "Come Clean" to the poetic spoken word-flavored "Bloody Mary Monday Morning," bewitching "Skinned Knees," gorgeous love song "What Johnny Said" and slide guitar-anchored "New Orleans, My Darling. Information: ChrisVincentNewOrleans.com.

Artist: Green Apple Quick Step
Title: Dizzy: The Medicine Label Anthology (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots

Tell me more: Dizzy: The Medicine Label Anthology  is an outstanding two-disc compilation produced by Cheryl Pawelski featuring studio and concert performances featuring Green Apple Quick Step. The collection features all of the post-grunge Seattle band's recordings tracked for The Medicine Label from 1993-1995, which includes the albums Wonderful Virus and Reloaded. The double CD contains 13 bonus tracks, four of which are previously unissued. Highlights on the title include the searing dream-swept "Broken," acoustic "Ludes and Cherrybombs," fiery "Bottle," thundering "Feel My Way," psychedelic foray "Hotel Wisconsin," reflective "T.V. Girl," and lovely "Underwater." The impressive packaging features new liner notes from Joe Marchese, including a new interview with lead vocalist Ty Willman. Additionally, both Wonderful Virus and Reloaded have just been reissued on color vinyl. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Wild Mountain Mystics
Title: Fire & Honey (Blackbird Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Neil Young, Fairport Convention, Nils Lofgren

Tell me more: Americana duo Wild Mountain Mystics have just released their long-awaited debut Fire & Honey. A warm and inviting collection of 10 songs greet listeners on the outstanding debut featuring the talented California-based musical duo —  Rick Deering (vocals/guitars/bass/drums) and Lisa Miller (vocals/mandolin/keyboards/banjo/electric sitar). The breezy opener "Fire & Honey" is melodic at its core and is adorned by a sumptuous arrangement featuring guitar, mandolin, keyboards, bass and drums. What follows is a parade of strong originals, ranging from the playful country-styled "If You Can Bluff," harmonies-anchored "Love Takes Over The Night," probing genre-blending "Hangin' On A Star," country rocker "Love Is The Law" and an absolutely captivating Americana-styled version of the Beatles classic "All You Need Is Love." Information: WildMountainMystics.com.

Robert Kinsler

The Guess Who Reunite, 1st Time in 20+ Years Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings Will Perform Together as The Guess Who

Very exciting that fans will once again be able to catch The Guess Who in concert. Read the official media release below...Robert Kinsler

The Guess Who set to reunite for January 31, 2026 performance at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, ON First Time in more than two decades Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings will perform as The Guess Who Tickets On Sale Now

August 8, 2025: Legendary rock band The Guess Who is making their long-awaited return to the stage with their first live performance in over two decades. Led by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, the iconic group will reunite for their first high-profile concert at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, ON on January 31, 2026 with more shows to be announced soon. Reigniting the unmistakable sound and spirit that made them a cornerstone of classic rock, this historic show marks a new chapter for fans and the band alike. Tickets are on sale now HERE.   As principal songwriters of The Guess Who’s early hits, Bachman and Cummings propelled the band to international success with songs such as “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “Undun,” “American Woman,” “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,” and “No Time”. Their 1970 album American Woman reached number one in Canada, and the title track became the first Billboard number one hit by a Canadian group.   After the group disbanded, Burton continued his winning streak with a gold record for his solo debut single “Stand Tall.” He followed his inaugural solo success with more than a dozen hit singles and albums including “I’m Scared,” “My Own Way to Rock,” “Break It to Them Gently,” and “You Saved My Soul”. Burton’s 1978 album Dream of a Child became the first quadruple platinum-selling album by a Canadian artist.   Randy went on to find success as a co-founder of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, a band that quickly carved out its own identity in the world of hard-driving rock. BTO became one of the defining rock acts of the 1970s with hits such as “Let It Ride,” “Roll on Down the Highway,” “Takin’ Care of Business,” “Lookin’ Out for #1,” “Hey You,” and the BTO anthem “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”.   Over the years, Bachman and Cummings have reunited for performances, rekindling the magic of The Guess Who with Randy’s powerful guitar work and Burton’s distinctive vocals and keyboard mastery. They are more than just former bandmates — they are ambassadors of Canadian rock, whose influence can be heard in countless acts that followed in their footsteps. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Guess Who are true pioneers who dared to dream beyond their borders—and in doing so, achieved global success.

Rhett Miller announces 10th solo album 'A lifetime of riding by night' out Oct. 10 - Debut Single ft. Turnpike Troubadours' Evan Felker out now

I had to share the exciting news that Rhett Miller's 10th solo album is set to arrive this fall...Robert Kinsler

Rhett Miller Announces 10th Solo Album  A lifetime of riding by night Produced by Old 97’s Bandmate Murry Hammond Out October 10 via ATO Records Debut single “Come As You Are” Featuring Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker Out Now Announces Solo Album Release Tour

August 5, 2025: Today, acclaimed singer/songwriter Rhett Miller announced A lifetime of riding by night, his tenth studio album that will be released on October 10 via ATO Records. Produced by his Old 97’s bandmate Murry Hammond, the 13-song collection was recorded just days before undergoing a high-risk surgery on his vocal cords. Threaded with his lived-in reflection on mortality and love in all forms, the album contains some of Miller’s most unguarded material yet—an achievement he attributes to revelations gleaned through his recent work in teaching songwriting at The New School in Manhattan, as well as the eclectic lineup of co-writers including Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker, Caitlin Rose, Nicole Atkins, and Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms. The album is now available for pre-order, including a limited edition vinyl run of 300 copies pressed on frosted Coke bottle, available only via Rhett Miller’s and ATO’s web store.  This morning, Miller released the album’s first single “Come As You Are” that features Evan Felker, who also co-wrote the song, on background vocals. Miller has also announced a national album release tour that will kick off this October and make stops in Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Dallas, St. Paul and many more. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website.

Watch the official video for “Come As You Are.”

About the song, Miller explains, “That song came together at a time when Evan and I were both wrestling with the difficulty of leaving our loved ones behind to go on tour. It’s a sweet song but there’s a sadness to it, which feels reflective of the true human condition. Evan's band Turnpike Troubadours recorded a version of the song a few years back as a single, but it's always been in my mind that I wanted to record my own version of the song. Despite it being a co-write, ‘Come As You Are’ feels like a really personal moment. That said, I get a tickle out of hearing Evan's harmony on there – he's such a talented guy and a great friend." Evan Felker adds, “Rhett has been a never-ending source of inspiration and wit and humility for my career and for the times when I didn’t have one. He writes with a passion for the world that is as reckless as it is correct and smart. Whatever deal he made with the devil, I want that one too. He’s the prime example of why you should meet your heroes.” Mainly recorded at Dave’s Room in Los Angeles, the album marks Miller’s first time enlisting Hammond as a producer since his solo debut album Mythologies (a 1989 LP created when he was 17-years-old). “Murry was a mentor to me when we made that first record all those decades ago, and this album felt like the right time to work with him in that capacity again,” Miller says. “I gave him carte blanche in a way I never have with any other producer—we went in and recorded 20 songs, and I flew home to New York without even knowing which songs he’d end up using or what the finished versions would sound like. I just let go and trusted Murry completely.” His first solo effort since 2022’s The Misfit (an extravagant collision of dream-pop and psychedelia), A lifetime of riding by night centers on a gorgeously sparse form of folk/indie-rock that reveals every nuance and idiosyncrasy of Miller’s vocal performance. “There’s a lot of terrifying stories about the type of surgery I received, and I wanted to record the album first because I knew the worst outcomes were on the table,” he says. “I was in a lot of physical pain as I was singing these songs; there are moments when you can hear me really struggling. But as much as I thought about going back and re-recording the vocals once I’d recovered, I knew those imperfections were part of the DNA of the record. To me there’s something very human about a singer trying to sing the best he can despite being compromised.” A lifetime of riding by night follows Old 97’s 2024 album American Primitive that celebrated their 30th anniversary.  The album was featured in Rolling Stone, SPIN, BrooklynVegan, Texas Monthly and AllMusic, who proclaimed, “Most bands don't sound as fresh, confident, and willing to take chances three decades into their career as the Old 97's do on American Primitive; they've quietly but firmly matured into one of America's best roots rock acts.” The band also made their return to network television to perform three songs on CBS Saturday Morning.   A lifetime of riding by night tracklist: 1) A Little Song (Prologue)  2) All For You 3) Ellie On The Wharf 4) Come As You Are 5) Be Mine 6) People Are Lifted 7) A Little Song (Interlude) 8) The Bells of St. Mike’s 9) All Over Again 10) Time Again 11) A Lifetime of Riding by Night 12) A Little Song 13) Brand New Heart Tour Dates: Aug. 24 – Amagansett, NY – The Stephen Talkhouse Aug. 27 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House Club Sep. 12 – Arlington, TX – Texas Live! Oct. 2–4 – Halifax, NS, Canada – The Carleton Oct. 9 – Worcester, MA – Off The Rails Oct. 10 – Bar Harbor, ME – Criterion Theatre Oct. 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Largo at the Coronet Oct. 16 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage Oct. 17 – Hermosa Beach, CA – Saint Rocke Oct. 18 – Fontana, CA – Stage Red Oct. 20 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord Oct. 21 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley Oct. 23 – Eugene, OR – WOW Hall Oct. 24 – Portland, OR – The Showdown Oct. 25 – Seattle, WA – Clock-Out Lounge Oct. 28 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge Nov. 6 – Houston, TX – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck Nov. 8 – Fischer, TX – Devil’s Backbone Tavern Nov. 9 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater Nov. 12 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark Nov. 13 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club Nov. 14 – Bloomington, IN – Buskirk-Chumley Theater Nov. 15 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater Nov. 16 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre Nov. 20 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club Nov. 22 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck Nov. 23 – Tulsa, OK – Mercury Lounge Dec. 2 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Dec. 3 – Madison, WI – Atwood Music Hall Dec. 4 – Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium Dec. 5 – Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel Dec. 11 – Washington, D.C. – Union Stage Dec. 12 – Wayne, PA – 118 North Dec. 14 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern

Keep up with Rhett Miller: Website – Instagram – Facebook – X  Keep up with Old 97’s: Website – Instagram – Facebook – X

Credit: Jason Quigley

About Rhett Miller:  Rhett Miller is a Texas-born, New York-based singer-songwriter, author, podcaster, actor and professor who has fronted the band Old 97’s for the last 32 years. Miller has released 12 albums with Old 97’s and will release his tenth solo album A lifetime of riding by night on October 10 via ATO Records. In addition to his songwriting, Miller is an accomplished writer who has authored short stories, essays and articles that have been featured in Rolling Stone, Bookforum, Sports Illustrated, McSweeney’s, The Atlantic and Salon. He has published two children's books: The Baby-Changing Station (released via Little, Brown) and No More Poems! Miller is also the host of Wheels Off, a podcast about the messy reality of living a creative life. The “must listen” (Rolling Stone) podcast has released well over two hundred episodes over the last 6 years and has featured prominent guests like Tig Notaro, Jeff Tweedy, Jennifer Egan, Billy Strings, Michael Chabon, Norah Jones and many more. As an actor Rhett has appeared in films, most recently Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, in which he performs a song he co-wrote with director James Gunn. His songs have been used in countless movies, television shows and commercials.

New music: Buck Owens And His Buckaroos, Splitsville, Maria Muldaur

In this column I review titles featuring Buck Owens And His Buckaroos, Splitsville and Maria Muldaur.

Artist: Buck Owens And His Buckaroos
Title: Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974 (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam

Tell me more: Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974  is an outstanding collection featuring live concert performances featuring Buck Owens And His Buckaroos. The parade of 75 top-tier performances presented across the three discs included on the collection will thrill fans of Owens; 25 of the selections are previously unissued in the U.S. while 20 have been previously unissued anywhere, and all 75 cuts are presented on audio CD for the first time ever. "Act Naturally," "Love's Gonna Live Here," "The Streets Of Laredo," "I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)," "Big Game Hunter," a countrified take on Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" "Ruby (Are You Mad)," "Big In Vegas" and "Dust On Mother's Bible" are among the beloved cuts featured across the essential collection. The packaging contains a 56-page book featuring historical photographs and an extensive essay from Grammy-nominated writer/producer Scott B. Bomar. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Artist: Splitsville
Title: Mobtown (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Cheap Trick, Big Stir, Weezer, Jellyfish

Tell me more: Back with their first album since 2003's Incorporated, power pop heroes Splitsville reaffirm their place as one of the genre's modern greats on the new 10-track studio album Mobtown. Identical twins/vocalists/multi-instrumentalists Brandt and Matt Huseman, bassist/keyboardist Paul Krysiak and guitarist Tony Waddy have crafted a bona fide masterwork that thrills across its fast-moving track listing. The parade of stellar cuts includes the blistering melodic opener "Cold Open," dreamy "A Glorious Lie" (whose lyrics focus on a tale of Baltimore's Belvedere Hotel and a 1926 visit from the Queen of Romania), stirring "Southern Hospitality," prog rock-mining "Gray," instantly-memorable "I Hate Going To Hutzler's," luxurious "Fallsway," and pointed "Beth Steel" (the latter is an affecting track chronicling a former employee of Maryland's now-shuttered Bethlehem Steel plant). Information: bigstirrecords.com.

Artist: Maria Muldaur
Title: One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey (Nola Blue Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Victoria Spivey, Maria Muldaur

Tell me more: Maria Muldaur's One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey is a full-length celebration that simultaneously celebrates classic blues queen Victoria Spivey (who passed away in 1976 at the age of 69) while also showcasing the talents of six-time Grammy nominee Muldaur. In the 1960s Spivey was an early mentor of Muldaur and this wonderful collection soars thanks to inspired takes on Spivey's sassy and spunky blues material. Highlights include the jazzy Spivey-penned "Dreaming Of You," playful piano-anchored romp "No, Papa, No!," New Orleans-flavored "Funny Feathers" and the tender ballad "Don't Love No Married Man." Another standout on the excellent album is a duet with Elvin Bishop, a playful take on "What Makes You Act Like That?" One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey casts a welcome spotlight on the late Spivey across a dozen stellar selections. Information: nolabluerecords.com.

Robert Kinsler

'Elton John - Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper' out on Vinyl, CD & Digitally today, July 25 via UMe

 Elton John - Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper out today, July 25

Out on Vinyl, CD & Digitally 
Available via UMe

Order HERE

[Photo Credit: Watal Asanuma / Shinko Music]

 

Elton John - Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper is available now via UMe. One of Elton’s most celebrated performances, the live album was initially released on a limited vinyl run for this year's Record Store Day. Now receiving a wider release, it will be available both digitally and on CD for the first time, alongside a vinyl repress. The CD and digital editions include a brand-new bonus track, "Goodbye," plus the original twelve-song tracklist, personally curated by Elton, and additional liner notes.

 

In May 1977, Elton John took the stage at London’s iconic Rainbow Theatre with percussion legend Ray Cooper for a six-show residency. These performances were the first of 233 Elton-and-Ray only shows that would follow, and featured the live debut of deep cuts; “Roy Rogers”, “Cage The Songbird”, “Idol”, and “I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)”.

 

May 1977 was the first time in five years that a full month had passed without an Elton LP or single appearing on the UK charts. It had also been eight months since his last performance, after averaging one show every four days throughout the previous seven years. Ticket holders expecting to see a typical Elton concert were in for a big surprise. The first half of the set would be Elton alone at the piano, the second half would see him accompanied by Ray Cooper, the two performers working together telepathically, harking back to the earliest days of Elton’s rise to superstardom. The stripped-back performances have since been regarded as some of the finest of his career.

 

The material selected represents a generous sampler of Elton's career to date, yet without the big hits that were part of his regular set, offering a glimpse of what he would have been playing had he been a cult artist, not the global superstar he had become.

 

Speaking on the album, Elton John says: “I’m delighted that Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper will be available for my fans to enjoy. It’s an album I’m incredibly proud of, and listening back to it, I’m astounded by how great it sounds. The freedom I felt playing with just the two of us is something I will always remember.”

 

The release comes in the wake of Elton’s chart-topping album with close friend and eleven-time GRAMMY-winning US superstar Brandi Carlile, Who Believes In Angels? A true collaboration between Elton, Brandi, Bernie Taupin, and multiple GRAMMY Award-winning producer and songwriter Andrew Watt, the ten-track LP was a global critical and commercial success and Elton’s tenth UK number one album.

 

Elton John - Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper Track List:

The Greatest Discovery

Border Song

Cage The Songbird

Where To Now St. Peter?

Ticking

Better Off Dead w/Ray Cooper

Sweet Painted Lady

Tonight w/Ray Cooper

Idol w/Ray Cooper

I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford) w/Ray Cooper

Roy Rogers

Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)

Goodbye*

 

*Bonus track available on digital and CD release only

 

About Elton John: 

Elton’s career achievements to date are unsurpassed in their breadth and longevity. Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time. In the UK and US charts alone he has 2 Diamond, 43 Platinum or Multi-Platinum, and 26 Gold albums as well as over 85 Top 40 hits. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are six GRAMMYs, including a GRAMMY Legend award, a Tony, two Oscars, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 13 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for “services to music and charitable services”. In January 2024, Elton John joined Hollywood’s elite group of EGOT winners after securing his first-ever EMMY Award for his historic Disney+ live, concert special Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.

 

He holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time, “Candle in the Wind 1997,” which sold over 33 million copies. Released in 2017 ‘Diamonds’ the Ultimate Greatest Hits album, became Elton’s 43rd UK Top 40 album and has spent over 300 consecutive weeks in the top 75 of the UK album charts, over 200 of these in the top 20. This release celebrated 50 years of his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. It topped the UK charts in January 2025, becoming his 9th UK number 1 album, achieving 4 times Platinum status in the process and is the longest charting album of Elton’s career 62-deep catalog.

 

August 2018 saw Elton named as the most successful male solo artist in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart history, having logged 71 entries, including nine No. 1s and 29 Top 10s. ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, an album of collaborations recorded during the COVID-19 Pandemic, was released in October 2021 and went straight to No. 1 in the UK album Charts, becoming Elton’s 8th UK No. 1 album in the process. Its lead single “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) with Dua Lipa” became a bona fide global hit, reaching No. 1 in over 20 charts worldwide, including the UK and Australia. Its success meant that Elton became the first ever solo artist to score a UK Top 10 hit single in six consecutive decades. In America, he holds the record for the longest span between Billboard top 40 hits among soloists at 51 years and currently has logged 57 entries. Elton also holds the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart record with 18 No. 1s and 76 total songs. Summer of 2022 saw another global smash single, as Elton and Britney Spears released ‘Hold Me Closer’, a Top 5 hit in the UK and a No. 1 hit in the Australian single charts.

 

Elton announced the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour at New York’s Gotham Hall in January 2018. The tour kicked off on 10th September 2018 in North America and subsequently saw Elton play 330 shows to over 6.25 million fans across the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia. The shows marked his retirement from touring after more than 50 years on the road. In 2019, it was named Billboard's Top Rock Tour and Pollstar’s Major Tour Of The Year. The U.S. leg of the tour concluded with 3 sell-out shows at Dodger Stadium. The concert was live-streamed on Disney+ + in every single territory the channel broadcasts in, a global first. Elton headlined Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in June 2023, the final UK show before the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour concluded. The Sunday night closer was widely heralded as one of the greatest performances in the festival's rich history, attracting one of the largest crowds ever witnessed at the festival. It also received the biggest ever televised audience for a Glastonbury set, reaching 7.6m overnight on BBC1. Elton has delivered more than 4,600 performances in more than 80 countries since launching his first tour in 1970.

 

2019 also saw the release of ‘Rocketman’ and global best-selling autobiography, ‘ME’. An epic fantasy musical motion picture of Elton’s life, 'Rocketman' has been a commercial and critical hit, taking close to $200m at the box office. It has won an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Critics’ Choice Award and garnered four BAFTA nominations. The soundtrack was also nominated for a GRAMMY Award. ‘Elton John: Never Too Late’ follows Elton as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in an emotionally charged, intimate, and uplifting full-circle journey. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish the documentary premiered in December 2024, on Disney+.

 

In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is a leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. So far the Foundation has raised more than $600 million for HIV/AIDS grants, funding more than 3,000 projects in over 90 countries. In June 2019, President Emmanuel Macron presented Elton with the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest award, for his lifetime contribution to the arts and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Elton was awarded the Companion of Honour in the 2021 New Year Honours list in the UK. The highest acknowledgement in the list, Elton became one of only 64 people to hold the Honour. September 2022 saw President Biden award him the National Humanities Medal in recognition of his storied career and advocacy work to end AIDS. 

Always a tireless champion of new artists, Elton has been a leading industry voice in lobbying the government for young artists’ visa-free touring rights in Europe post-Brexit.

 

In 2024, Fragile Beauty opened at the V&A Museum to widespread critical acclaim. Running until 2025, the exhibition showcases an unparalleled selection of the world’s leading photography from Elton and David Furnish’s collection.

 

# # #

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram Shares Fresh/Funky New Song; New Studio Album out Sept 26

Singer-songwriter/guitar virtuoso Christone "Kingfish" Ingram is back with new music. Hear his new song "Bad Like Me" and learn more about the artist via the media release below. You can read my review of his Sept. 10, 2021 concert at The Coach House HERE...Robert Kinsler

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram at The
Coach House on Sept. 10, 2021 / Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM SHARES NEW SONG, “BAD LIKE ME” - LISTEN   FRESH AND FUNKY SINGLE HERALDS GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING BLUES, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, SOUL, AND R&B MUSICIAN’S MOST INTROSPECTIVE AND AMBITIOUS PROJECT THUS FAR   HARD ROAD ARRIVES VIA KINGFISH’S OWN RED ZERO RECORDS ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26   WIDE RANGE OF FORMATS AVAILABLE INCLUDING PURPLE & GOLD SWIRL VINYL EXCLUSIVE TO THE OFFICIAL CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM WEBSTORE   100 UNITS WORLDWIDE TO INCLUDE SPECIAL GOLDEN TICKET INSERT GIVING WINNERS PAIR OF TICKETS TO KINGFISH SHOW OF THEIR CHOICE   "THE HARD ROAD WORLD TOUR" INCLUDES HEADLINE DATES, TOP-BILLED FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES AND MORE THROUGH 2025 AND BEYOND   PRE-ORDERS/PRE-SAVES AVAILABLE NOW

GRAMMY® Award-winning blues, rock ‘n’ roll, soul, and R&B musician Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has shared his new single, “Bad Like Me,” available everywhere now. The fresh and funky track heralds the arrival of Kingfish’s eagerly anticipated new album, Hard Road, due via his own Red Zero Records on Friday, September 26. Pre-orders/pre-saves are available now. Hard Road will be offered in a wide range of formats, including digital, standard Green & White Swirl vinyl, and limited-edition of 500 Purple & Gold Swirl vinyl, available exclusively via the official Christone “Kingfish” Ingram webstore; 100 of these will include a special Golden Ticket insert that will give winners a pair of tickets to a Kingfish show of their choice.   “‘Bad Like Me’ is definitely something different,” says Kingfish, “because everyone who knows me knows that I'm not a braggadocious person. But there ain’t nothing wrong with looking around and being like, ‘Hey man, I really dig this. It’s a good song…no, it’s a great song.”   LISTEN TO “BAD LIKE ME” PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE HARD ROAD   Kingfish’s fourth album and first new studio collection since 2021’s GRAMMY® Award-winning 662, Hard Road also includes the fiery first single, “Voodoo Charm,” available everywhere now.   LISTEN TO “VOODOO CHARM” A blistering blend of Kingfish’s trademark guitar pyrotechnics with funk-powered swagger, “Voodoo Charm” has fast proven a fan favorite as Kingfish introduces the world to Hard Road on an epic North American tour that includes headline dates, top-billed festival performances, and more with dates currently underway and then continuing through October. Widely regarded as one of contemporary blues’ most dynamic live performers, Ingram will then take “The Hard Road Tour” across the Atlantic for eagerly awaited shows in the EU and the UK through November. In 2026, Kingfish will make headline appearances on both the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #44: Eastern Caribbean (January 24-31, 2026) and Jam Cruise 22 (February 7-12, 2026). For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.christonekingfishingram.com/kingfish-tour.   A native son of Clarksdale, Mississippi — a city steeped in blues history — Christone “Kingfish” Ingram stands at the crossroads of legacy and innovation, channeling the spirit of the Delta while fearlessly reshaping its future. His mastery of the guitar, steeped in the tones of B.B. King, Albert King, and Buddy Guy, first turned heads when he was still a teenager. But what sets Ingram apart is how he’s expanded the form, blending in funk, soul, hip-hop, pop, and jazz to create a modern blues fusion that resonates across generations and genres. 2019’s debut album, Kingfish, topped Billboard’s “Blues Albums” for an incredible 91 weeks and earned him his first GRAMMY® Award nomination, plus three Blues Music Awards, including “Album of the Year.” Kingfish followed up with 2021’s 662, titled after his Mississippi area code, which won both the GRAMMY® Award and Blues Music Award for “Best Contemporary Blues Album.” In 2023, the incendiary Live In London received yet another GRAMMY® Award nomination as well as his second Blues Music Award for “Album of the Year” and third consecutive triumph in the “Best Contemporary Blues Album.”   Now, with Hard Road, Kingfish reflects on a journey that’s taken him from local prodigy to global torchbearer for a new era of blues. Executive Produced by Ingram and Ric Whitney for Red Zero Records with production by Patrick “Guitar Boy” Hayes, Nick Goldston, and longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge, the album marks Kingfish’s most introspective and ambitious project thus far – lyrically, emotionally, sonically, and thematically. Songs such as “Nothin’ But Your Love” and “Standing On Business” explore love, loss, identity, perseverance, and personal growth, but with a harder, emotionally rich edge to Ingram’s signature sound. As always, Kingfish’s renowned guitar work is both explosive and tender, a fusion of rock and R&B sensibilities with vulnerable, honest, resilient blues at its heart. A true statement of purpose from an artist who has already made history and is only getting started, Hard Road is infused with the wisdom of someone who’s lived through transformation, seen the world, and returned home changed.   “This record comes from real-life reflection,” says Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. “I’ve been balancing fame, heartbreak, love, and relationships while trying to stay grounded, touring, creating, and maturing. These songs are about owning my story. They’re about learning to see myself clearly and seeing others with more compassion. That’s changed the way I write, the way I play, and the way I live.”   # # #

Photo Credit: Jen Rosenstein

# # #  CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM THE HARD ROAD WORLD TOUR 2025-2026   JULY 24 - Scottsdale, AZ - Talking Stick Casino Resort Showroom 25 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden   AUGUST 14 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre 15 – Evansville, IN – Mojo’s BoneYard (SOLD OUT) 16 – Evansville, IN – Mojo’s BoneYard (SOLD OUT) 28 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom 30 – Bremerton, WA – Kitsap Blues Music Festival †   SEPTEMBER 4 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall 5 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle 6 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre 7 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel 9 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre 12 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater 13 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City Bham (SOLD OUT) 14 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 16 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads 17 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory 19 – Chicago, IL – Park West 20 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall 21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh International Jazz Fest † 24 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer 27 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza 28 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony   OCTOBER 1 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club 2 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground 3 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield 4 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall 8 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre 9 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall (Mainstage) 10 – Memphis, TN – Overton Park Shell 16 – Los Angeles, CA – The Ford 18 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore 19 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre 20 – Grass Valley, CA – Center for the Arts 24 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park 25-11/1 – San Diego, CA – Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #43: Sea of Cortez † (SOLD OUT)   NOVEMBER 7 – Berlin, Germany – Columbia Theater 9 – Munich, Germany – Technikum 10 – Zurich, Switzerland – Kaufleuten 11 – Leverkusen, Germany – Leverkusener Jazztage 13 – Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik 14 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg 16 – Paris, France – La Cigale 18 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town 19 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall 20 – Wolverhampton, UK – Wulfrun Hall 21 – Glasgow, UK – The Old Fruitmarket 23 – Leeds, UK – Stylus   DECEMBER 3 – Starksville, MS – Mississippi State University (Lyceum Series) 5 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom 6 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theater 7 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall   JANUARY 2026 24-31 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #44: Eastern Caribbean †   FEBRUARY 2026 7-12 – Port of Miami, FL – Jam Cruise 22 †   † FESTIVAL APPEARANCE   # # #   CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM HARD ROAD (Red Zero Records) Release Date: Friday, September 26, 2025

Tracklist: Truth Bad Like Me S.S.S. Nothin’ But Your Love Crosses Voodoo Charm Back To LA Clearly Standing On Business Hard To Love Memphis

CONNECT WITH CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE