Hey friends. 👋
I’ve been flying a lot recently. Most of the time, things go smoothly—at least on the way there. But somehow, every time I’m flying home, something unexpected happens. An overnight delay. Running out of fuel and getting detoured. Lost luggage. At this point, I’ve learned to expect a plot twist.
Still, I always end up where I’m supposed to be. Eventually.
I was thinking about this while co-working with my friend Ryan, who’s a pilot. He flies all over the country and, in just the past few weeks, has been everywhere from Aruba to Guantanamo Bay to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I love hearing about his travels, and while he was logging his flights, I turned to him and jokingly said, “Life is kind of like flying, isn’t it?”
He paused and said, “Yeah, actually. The journey looks different, but the destination remains the same.”
We both laughed, but the more I thought about it, the more true it felt. There are so many different ways to get where you’re going, and hurdles tend to appear when you least expect them. Sometimes you get delayed. Sometimes you’re rerouted. Sometimes your luggage decides to take its own vacation.
But there are also people and forces at work helping guide you back toward your path. And honestly, that feels like a pretty good metaphor for life.
So, speaking of travel, what’s one destination (or place in life) you’re heading toward that you’re excited about?
And wherever it is, let’s hope the ride there is a smooth one.
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC NEWS & TOURS 🎤
Ariana Grande is suing two unidentified people accused of stealing and leaking unreleased songs, photos, and videos—including 45 tracks in 2023 alone. Her team says the case is meant to expose the alleged hackers and discourage future digital piracy across the industry.
Prince’s Purple Rain is officially heading to Broadway, because apparently, the Majestic Theatre needed more purple velvet and guitar solos. Following an early Minneapolis run, previews begin March 12, 2027, ahead of an April 12 opening.
Miley Cyrus has officially signed with Atlantic Records, closing out her run with Columbia and beginning another shape-shifting chapter in her career. The label switch gives Miley a new musical home alongside artists including Bruno Mars, Charli XCX, and Cardi B.
Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil are turning the conductor’s final concert as the orchestra’s Music and Artistic Director into A Concert for Venezuela, an August 23 benefit at the Hollywood Bowl. Dudamel will lead the orchestra alongside a guest lineup still to be announced, with proceeds supporting earthquake recovery efforts in Venezuelan communities.
Carly Simon revealed that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, opening up about the condition’s effects on her energy and mobility. The 83-year-old singer-songwriter said music has helped sustain her through the experience, with her new album, Comes in Waves, arriving August 14.
Charli XCX waited roughly three days after releasing Music, Fashion, Film before dropping three accompanying B-sides exclusively on iTunes. Each song arrived with its own black-and-white video, proving that even Charli’s bonus material has a stricter visual identity than most full album campaigns.
Hayley Williams turned her Newport Folk Festival headlining set into a full-scale friendship summit. Jenny Lewis, Jack Antonoff, Lucy Dacus, Karly Hartzman, and more joined the Paramore singer before the night ended with a massive “Lean on Me” sing-along.
Victoria Monét announced her new album, Frequency of Love, arriving October 2. She also shared the Kaytranada-produced “Reach Out” with a choreography-heavy video, keeping the Jaguar universe sleek, sensual, and very much in motion.
The Strokes gave “Dine N’Dash” its live debut during the second of two shows at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater. The performance arrived just before the release of Reality Awaits, their first album in six years, alongside a set packed with indie-disco essentials.
The Beach Boys postponed nearly 30 summer concerts so Mike Love can “recharge” before the band returns to the road in September. At 85, Love is apparently taking the most literal possible approach to keeping the good vibrations going.
Recent Tour Announcements:
System of a Down & Faith No More — Two alternative-metal heavyweights are joining forces for four massive stadium shows across Australia and New Zealand in early 2027. The run will mark Faith No More’s first performances in more than a decade and System of a Down’s first Australian appearances since 2012.
Orville Peck — Orville Peck is saddling up for the 19-date Man Turned Mule Tour, a North American theater run supporting his forthcoming album, Mule. The masked country crooner will bring his dramatic, genre-bending sound to the road from late October through November.
Audrey Hobert — With a busy summer of headline shows and festivals already underway, Audrey Hobert is extending the momentum into the fall with six additional performances. The new dates support her full-length debut, Who’s the Clown, and include multiple-night engagements in Brooklyn and Chicago.
Tyla — Grammy-winning South African star Tyla is stepping into a major new chapter with her first headlining tour across North America, Europe, the UK and Africa. Supporting her new album, A*Pop, the global run follows a string of sold-out international shows and reinforces her rapidly expanding worldwide reach.
Chance the Rapper — Chance the Rapper is pairing celebration with discovery on his Coloring Book 10th Anniversary Tour, adding rising New Orleans rapper La Reezy as support for nearly the entire 41-date run. The tour revisits one of Chance’s defining releases while giving a fast-rising new voice a major national platform.
Fcukers — After opening for Rüfüs Du Sol and Harry Styles and appearing at major festivals, New York duo Fcukers are heading out on their own North American headline run. Baby Wave, SEES00000 and Total Wife will join select dates as the breakout electronic act continues a banner year.
Love Actually in Concert — The beloved holiday romantic comedy is coming to more than 30 U.S. venues with its complete soundtrack performed live by an orchestra while the film plays on the big screen. The production turns a seasonal movie-night favorite into a full-scale concert experience running from mid-November through late December.
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble — Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble are taking the soul of their hometown on the road with music from Groove in the Face of Adversity, a new album steeped in jazz, blues and funk. The performances will also feature a live interpretation of the Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah in recognition of its 50th anniversary.
Tinashe — Tinashe will introduce her next era with three special fall shows offering the first live performances of material from her upcoming eighth album, Popstar. Following the viral success of Quantum Baby and the sold-out momentum of her Match My Freak World Tour, the limited run promises high-energy production and choreography.
Doja Cat and Latto — Doja Cat is bringing her Tour Ma Vie world tour back to North America for a 31-date arena run, with Latto joining as special guest. The pairing arrives after Doja’s successful international leg and the release of Latto’s fourth album, Big Mama, which features their collaboration “Okayyy.”
Goose — Goose will close out 2026 with the 13th edition of Goosemas, taking over Atlantic City’s historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for two nights in December. The annual holiday tradition follows a major year for the jam band, including two sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden.
Mike D 5D — Mike D 5D—the new group featuring Beastie Boys’ Mike D, his sons Skyler and Davis Diamond, and a larger band—is expanding its debut tour from a handful of appearances to 20 shows. The fall itinerary will carry the project through North America, the UK and Europe, giving audiences a much broader introduction to the family-centered ensemble.
Silvana Estrada — Latin Grammy-winning Mexican songwriter Silvana Estrada is building on a landmark year with a North American schedule combining headline performances and support dates with Mon Laferte. The run follows acclaim for Vendrán Suaves Lluvias and also includes appearances alongside Rubén Blades and Enjambre.
THIS WEEK IN RANDOM, BUT AWESOME, EVENTS ✨
Elvis Week — Memphis, Tennessee
A few years ago, while driving through Tennessee, I had the chance to stop at Graceland and get a glimpse into Elvis Presley’s life. I toured the mansion and museum, saw the costumes, cars, gold records, and rooms that somehow still feel frozen in time. Even if you’re not an Elvis superfan, it’s hard not to be impressed by the sheer scale of his life and legacy.
The experience didn’t end when we left Graceland, either. The hotel played one of his movies in its theater every night and served peanut butter and banana sandwiches as a late-night snack in his honor (yes, I did stay up just to make sure I had one).
So Elvis Week feels like the full-volume version of that trip. From August 8–16, Graceland will host concerts, tribute-artist competitions, panels, fan meetups, and plenty of opportunities to wear a rhinestone jumpsuit without anyone questioning your choices. It’s a weeklong celebration of the King—and a very good excuse to visit one of the most fascinating music landmarks in the country.
Personal pictures from Graceland.
MEMBER’S ONLY 🔥
Little-known DoStuff fact: you can make your own profile.
Think of it as your personal command center for going out. Follow your favorite venues, save the shows you’re eyeing, and build a calendar so good your friends may assume you’ve hired a social assistant.
It’s the easiest way to keep tabs on what’s happening in your city, remember what you wanted tickets to, and avoid finding out about the perfect event three days after it happened.
That’s it for this week.
Wherever you’re headed, I hope the plot twist is a good one.
Jess ✨
