Hey friends. 👋
This is what dreams are made of.
And by that, I mean going to concerts.
By now (and after 39 other newsletters) you all know how much of a music fan I am. I remember taking a Music Business class in college where the professor asked why each of us was there. Most people were taking it because it was required for our Entertainment Business program, and since about 97% of the class was more interested in film and TV, most answers were some version of, “It seemed cool.”
Then it was my turn.
I remember going into a bit of a trance. I started talking about how much I love music, how it can change your mood in an instant, and how it can feel like its own form of therapy. When I finally finished what had apparently become a full speech, I looked up and realized everyone was staring at me.
That was the moment I realized not everyone feels that way about music.Everyone has their thing. The subject they could talk about for hours. The interest that gives them energy and makes them light up without even realizing it.
Since moving to Nashville, I’ve gone to more concerts than I did in the previous five years combined (shoutout to finally living somewhere artists actually tour)! There’s something about being in a room full of people who care about the same thing you do that gives me so much energy.
This past weekend, I saw Hilary Duff and even got to meet her (healing a very specific part of my childhood self). I went to the show alone, but I never really felt alone. I met Anna, who I immediately bonded with. I met two sisters I had the best conversations with. And I met Tamara, who invited me to join her so I had someone to sing and dance with all night.
That’s one of my favorite things about shared passions. They create community almost instantly. They give you something to connect over, even with people you’ve never met before.
So whether your thing is music, movies, running, baking, bird-watching, or something incredibly niche that requires a five-minute explanation, I want to know: What are you passionate about?
Reply to this email and tell me. I seriously want to know. 👀
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC NEWS & TOURS 🎤
Ariana Grande went full Hollywood horror for the seven-minute “Petal” video, playing an aspiring actress whose audition takes a spectacularly bloody turn. Apparently, the new pop-star résumé now requires vocals, acting and surviving a deeply cursed casting call.
Olivia Rodrigo continued collecting ’90s rock legends like friendship bracelets, joining the Smashing Pumpkins at Lollapalooza for “Thirty-Three.” The set also welcomed Melissa Auf der Maur and Yungblud, making it a very efficient multigenerational performance.
Kylie Minogue had an impressively busy 24 hours, appearing with Nick Cave in Brighton before popping up during Madonna’s WorldPride set in Amsterdam. She and Madonna also debuted “Love Sensation (Afterhours Mix),” proving Kylie can move between gothic balladry and dance-floor euphoria without even changing weekends.
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean made UK chart history as “Rein Me In” logged its 19th week at No. 1, breaking a record that had stood since 1953. They celebrated by performing the song together at Lollapalooza for the first time in the U.S.—a suitably large victory lap for a certified juggernaut.
New Radicals returned with their first original song in 28 years, “One Night Only (Break Loose Break Free!),” written for the rom-com One Night Only. Bucket hats may come and go, but “You Get What You Give” nostalgia remains an apparently renewable resource.
The Beatles are giving Rubber Soul the Super Deluxe treatment, complete with new mixes, home demos, unreleased sessions and a previously unheard John Lennon song outline. The October box set also includes an 88-page book, because Beatlemania has never been known for traveling light.
Phoebe Bridgers officially announced Lost Weekend, her first solo album in six years, due August 14 alongside the single “Lost Boys.” After surprise club shows, a last-minute Madison Square Garden date and a phone-free arena tour announcement, “quiet comeback” has firmly left the chat.
Remi Wolf released “Twiggy,” her first new single in two years, after debuting it during Hayley Williams’ Newport Folk Festival set. Wolf described its inspiration as involving emotional unavailability, addiction and people without butts—finally, a press quote with range.
Elvis Costello is refusing to wait for a tidy milestone, announcing a 49th-anniversary edition of My Aim Is True because the idea of celebrating its 50th apparently made his “teeth itch.” The enormous set arrives October 2 with 52 unreleased recordings, remastered tracks, handwritten lyrics and enough archival material to make punctuality look wildly overrated.
Recent Tour Announcements:
Eagles — The Eagles are extending their record-setting Sphere residency with four additional performances in January 2027. The new dates will bring the rock legends’ total at the immersive Las Vegas venue to 72 shows, making theirs the Sphere’s longest-running residency.
John Mulaney — John Mulaney is taking over Manhattan with nine performances at nine increasingly large New York venues, culminating at Madison Square Garden. Part of his Mister Whatever world tour, the ambitious run moves from intimate comedy and music rooms to some of the city’s most iconic stages.
Natanael Cano — Natanael Cano is returning to Mexican stages for three major stadium performances, with more dates expected to follow. The shows support Natanael Cano Vol. 1, a forthcoming album marking his return to the corridos tumbados sound he helped push into the mainstream.
Thomas Rhett — Thomas Rhett is taking his Soundtrack to Life Tour to UK arenas in spring 2027, with Kameron Marlowe joining as support. The three-show run marks a long-awaited return to Rhett’s enthusiastic audience across the Atlantic.
Jimmy Eat World and The Format — Two landmark Arizona rock records will share the spotlight when Jimmy Eat World and The Format co-headline the Hollywood Bowl. Jimmy Eat World will celebrate 25 years of Bleed American, while The Format marks the 20th anniversary of Dog Problems.
ScHoolboy Q — ScHoolboy Q is celebrating a defining chapter in his career with the 10 Years of Blank Face LP Tour. The brief run revisits the Grammy-nominated 2016 album that sharpened his vivid storytelling and adventurous approach to West Coast hip-hop.
Jodeci — Jodeci are celebrating the 35th anniversary of their landmark debut, Forever My Lady, with a 36-city U.S. tour. The trek arrives alongside an expanded reissue of the triple-platinum album and gives longtime fans a full-scale celebration of the group’s R&B legacy.
Godsmack — Godsmack are keeping The Rise of Rock World Tour moving into the fall with 10 newly added U.S. dates. Dorothy will support the extension as the veteran hard-rock band moves between arenas, amphitheaters and theaters.
Aziz Ansari — Aziz Ansari is extending his Hypothetical Tour with a 10-city U.S. leg this October. The new stretch gives audiences another chance to catch the award-winning comedian, actor, writer and director’s latest stand-up show.
Philip Glass — Philip Glass is marking his 90th birthday and the 50th anniversary of Einstein on the Beach with performances and special productions around the world. The celebrations span opera, orchestral music, theater and concert presentations of one of minimalism’s most influential works.
Icona Pop — Icona Pop are bringing their exuberant synth-pop back to U.S. stages for a compact fall run supporting Ritual. The upcoming record finds the Swedish duo returning to the dance floor as a space for friendship, resilience and release.
Kylie Cantrall — Kylie Cantrall is stepping out on her first headlining trek with the 15-city Valley Girl Problems Tour. The North American run follows the release of her new Valley Girl Problems EP and brings her rising pop momentum to theaters across the continent.
Shyne with Barrington Levy and Lil’ Cease — Shyne’s 26-city 2622 LGND Tour will reunite him with reggae and dancehall icon Barrington Levy, whose voice powered some of the rapper’s best-known collaborations. Lil’ Cease, DJ Rampage and Stig Da Artist round out a run built as a celebration of Shyne’s legacy.
Ashley Monroe and Charlie Worsham — Longtime friends and collaborators Ashley Monroe and Charlie Worsham are teaming up for three intimate November performances. The pair are promising a loose, collaborative evening that could move from classic country covers to their own new and familiar material.
Mar Solís — Mexican pop singer-songwriter Mar Solís will embark on her first U.S. headlining tour with the five-show TU TU TU TOUR. The intimate run is designed to spotlight her expressive performance style and deepen her connection with a growing stateside audience.
Alex Amen — Rising folk singer-songwriter Alex Amen is launching the West Coast leg of his first headlining tour. The five-date run supports his debut album, Sun of Amen, a spare and reflective collection exploring nature, personal growth and changing relationships.
THIS WEEK IN RANDOM, BUT AWESOME, EVENTS ✨
Twins Days Festival — Twinsburg, Ohio
From August 7–9, thousands of twins and multiples will take over the very appropriately named Twinsburg for the world’s largest annual gathering of twins.
This year’s theme is “Totally Two-bular!”, a full rewind to the ’80s with matching neon tracksuits, shoulder pads, big hair, arcade heroes, pop icons, and enough coordinated outfits to make your camera roll feel like it’s glitching.
But the festival is more than one extremely committed matching-costume opportunity. It started in 1976 as a small bicentennial celebration, and the following year just 38 sets of twins showed up. Since then, more than 91,000 sets of twins and multiples have attended, including visitors from around the world, researchers studying twins, and even a delegation of nine twin pairs from the former Soviet Union.
The themes alone deserve their own retrospective. Past years have included “Shiver Me Twinbers” for pirates, “The Roaring TWINties,” “Two-Player Mode,” “Twinsfinity and Beyond!” and, during the virtual 2020 festival, the honestly perfect “Apart We’re 2gether.”
The event also gives back through scholarships, a research grant, and fundraising opportunities for local school and community groups. A 2018 economic-impact study found that the festival brought more than $5.4 million into the local economy, proving that coordinated outfits can, in fact, be a serious economic force.
Non-twins are welcome too, although showing up without a matching sidekick may suddenly feel like poor planning.
MEMBER’S ONLY 🔥
One of the perks of being tapped into the DoStuff network is getting a little local intel from cities all over the map. This week, our editors are helping you beat the post-festival blues, find the best patios, eat your way through Restaurant Week, refresh your playlists, and make the most of what’s left of summer.
Do312 — Chicago: Feeling the post-Lolla emotional hangover? Start planning your next wristband-worthy weekend with this roundup of upcoming festivals after Lollapalooza.
DoTheBay — San Francisco: Outside Lands doesn’t have to end when the park closes. Keep the night going with the festival’s lineup of official Outside Lands Night Shows.
Do617 — Boston: Boston summer is short, precious, and not to be wasted indoors. Consider this guide to doing summer in Boston your seasonal cheat sheet.
Do214 — Dallas: Photo booths to capture your summer memories? Extremely in. Here’s where to find the best photo booths in Dallas before your camera roll becomes nothing but blurry group selfies.
Do303 — Denver: Keep enjoying patio season without roasting directly beneath the sun like a rotisserie chicken. These Denver patios have the drinks, views, and shade situation handled.
Do713 — Houston: Houston Restaurant Weeks are here, which means it’s time to eat extremely well and call it community support. Browse the participating restaurants and menus before making your reservations.
Do317 — Indianapolis: Need somewhere new to eat, drink, shop, or casually tell your friends you discovered first? Catch up on the latest businesses and restaurants opening in Indy.
Do816 — Kansas City: A margarita is good. A soft-serve margarita is the kind of innovation we can actually get behind. Here’s where to find soft-serve margs in Kansas City.
DoLA — Los Angeles: Your rotation has been sounding a little too familiar lately. Shake it up with the songs Team DoSoCal is listening to right now.
Do502 — Louisville: Louder Than Life is not the kind of festival you simply wander into unprepared. Use this festival guide to sort out the lineup, logistics, and everything else before things get loud.
Do615 — Nashville: Need a break from replaying the same three songs until they lose all meaning? Refresh your queue with the Do615 staff’s summer listening picks.
DoNYC — New York City: Restaurant Week comes with a lot of options and only so much stomach space. Start with these must-try NYC Restaurant Week spots.
Do215 — Philadelphia: Know someone who lives online, loves Philly, and wants hands-on experience in events and culture? Do215 is looking for interns to join the team.
Do210 — San Antonio: Culinaria Restaurant Weeks are back, giving you a very good reason to order another course. Explore the August 2026 menus and participating restaurants.
DoSD — San Diego: Fresh produce, local vendors, flowers you absolutely did not plan to buy—farmers market season has range. Find your new weekend ritual with this San Diego farmers market guide.
Do206 — Seattle: Summer in Seattle deserves more than vague plans to “do something outside.” Start checking things off with this Seattle summer bucket list.
Do604 — Vancouver: There is still time to squeeze more out of the season. This ultimate guide to summer in Vancouver has the events, outings, and excuses to leave the house.
That’s it for this week.
Here’s to finding the people who get just as excited about your thing as you do.
Jess ✨
