Hey friends. 👋
Keeping this week’s intro nice and short, partly because I’m out of office visiting Canada for the first time, and partly because I’m writing this at 6:30 a.m., half asleep, and I genuinely cannot stop yawning. To be fair, I tend to wait until something happens during my week that gives me inspiration for these intros, and so far my biggest revelation is this: I really like to maximize my time in every new place I visit. To a fault? Perhaps…(ok, definitely).
I’m the person who will stay up way too late researching the best cafés, restaurants, neighborhoods, and random little spots we absolutely have to go to. Does this occasionally cause unnecessary mental strain? Yes. But I also know I’ll leave feeling like the trip was worth it, which apparently makes the hours of obsessive research acceptable to me.
Another realization of mine? I finally know what my beige flag is. It’s definitely saying, ‘I think I can move here,” to literally every new city I visit. On this trip, I even bought myself a little bilingual book to brush up on my French, just in case. Anyone else having the travel bug HARD lately? Let me know.
Anyway, I’ll leave you with one very important discovery from Canada: the frozen coffee soft serve at Café Olimpico. I tried it, I’m thoroughly impressed, and I’m honestly grateful there isn’t one back home because you would absolutely catch me in line for this on a weekly basis.
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC NEWS & TOURS 🎤
The biggest one is Miley Cyrus, who announced a new album, Bass Persuades, for September 18 and is now being billed professionally simply as “Miley.” She also announced two Hollywood Bowl shows for October, making this a proper new-era launch rather than just a single announcement. This is absolutely worth adding.
Olivia Rodrigo turned the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields into a full-on generational pop summit, bringing out Alanis Morissette for “Ironic” and Stevie Nicks for “Landslide” alongside a lineup featuring Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski and more. The festival also raised $10 million for women-focused nonprofits, with Melinda French Gates matching the total.
Beyoncé revealed the full details of her 20th-anniversary B’Day deluxe edition, arriving September 4 as a 27-track, four-LP “Bayou Blue” vinyl set. Along with the original classics, it packs in B-sides, Spanish-language recordings, a 60-page booklet and collectible art prints.
Charli XCX made her Reading Festival headline debut, kicking off her first full UK set of the Music, Fashion, Film era with “Rock Music.” The performance arrived just ahead of her September North American arena run, giving the new era its biggest festival-stage flex yet.
RAYE also hit a career milestone at Reading, headlining the festival for the first time after making her debut there just two years ago. Backed by horns, strings and a full band, she turned a catalog spanning pop, soul, jazz and dance into one very convincing victory lap.
Young Thug dropped Slime Language 3, a sprawling new installment in the Young Stoner Life compilation series. Split into two sides and loaded with guests including Future, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Yeat, Quavo and Veeze, the 41-track project is less an album than a small rap convention.
Fontaines D.C. announced a massive 2027 hometown-adjacent moment: an 80,000-capacity headline show at Ireland’s legendary Slane Castle on June 26. Hayley Williams, Damien Dempsey and Madra Salach will join them, following a weekend that already saw the band headline Reading & Leeds and Electric Picnic.
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong joined Blink-182’s Travis Barker, Rancid’s Tim Armstrong and CJ Ramone to form the one-night supergroup The Cretin Family for the official Ramones 50th-anniversary tribute in Los Angeles. Billy Idol, The Linda Lindas and Fred Armisen were among the surprise additions.
Bruce Springsteen popped up at Bleachers’ Shadow of the City festival in Asbury Park for a very New Jersey duet session with Jack Antonoff. The two performed “Chinatown” and “Jersey Girl,” proving that if you throw a hometown festival within Boss range, you should probably keep an extra microphone handy.
Billie Eilish added “wedding officiant” to the résumé over the weekend, presiding over brother Finneas’ marriage to longtime partner Claudia Sulewski in Montecito. The intimate ceremony’s guest list included Justin and Hailey Bieber, Rachel Sennott, Emma Chamberlain and Rebecca Black.
David Byrne is heading back to the big screen with Who Is the Sky?, a new concert film directed by The Brutalist filmmaker Brady Corbet. Shot over multiple nights in Byrne’s hometown of Baltimore — in glorious 70mm, no less — it continues his unusually excellent track record of treating concert movies like actual cinema.
Recent Tour Announcements:
Miley Cyrus - Miley Cyrus is making a rare return to the stage with a two-night stand at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on October 16 and 18, timed around the release of her new album Bass Persuades. The shows mark her first performances at the iconic venue and a notable live comeback after years without a traditional headlining tour.
Bruno Mars - Bruno Mars is expanding The Romantic Tour into 2027, adding a major international leg across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. His official schedule now stretches through May 2027, with stadium dates throughout the region.
TobyMac - TobyMac is bringing back his annual Hits Deep Tour for 2027, setting up another major arena run for one of contemporary Christian music’s longest-running live traditions. The new edition pairs his high-energy catalog with another all-star lineup built for the genre’s arena audience.
Chris Tomlin - Chris Tomlin has announced the return of his Christmas tour with Christmas With Chris Tomlin: Good News of Great Joy Tour, a December run built around his holiday and worship repertoire. The official itinerary begins December 1 and carries the seasonal show through several U.S. theaters before Christmas.
Insomnium & Amorphis - Finnish metal heavyweights Insomnium and Amorphis are joining forces for a North American co-headlining tour this November and December, bringing their melodic, atmospheric sides together for an extensive 25-date run. Both bands will spotlight material from their latest albums, with Hinayana joining as support.
Rush - Rush have added four more cities to their blockbuster Fifty Something Tour, bringing Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to Houston, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh this fall. The ever-expanding run celebrates more than 50 years of Rush music and the legacy of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.
Chief Keef - Chief Keef is heading out on his first headlining run since 2024 with Chief Keef Live ’26. The fall trek kicks off in his hometown of Chicago before taking his influential catalog across the U.S. through October.
Angèle - Angèle has announced the next major chapter of her live career with the 2027 Instinct Tour, a new international run tied to her forthcoming album INSTINCT. The Belgian pop star will return to the road next spring for what’s shaping up to be her biggest global tour yet.
Moby - Moby has added a pair of California headline shows to his 2026 live schedule, with November performances in San Francisco and at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The dates extend a year that has already seen the electronic music pioneer back on festival and concert stages around the world.
Polyphia - Polyphia have announced a new world tour as they enter the era of their upcoming album Be Not Afraid. The genre-bending instrumental rock group is pairing the new record with another ambitious stretch of international touring.
Sara Evans - Sara Evans is bringing her Holiday Road Tour back for 2026, continuing a seasonal tradition built around her country catalog and holiday music. The limited winter run gives fans another chance to spend the Christmas season with one of country music’s most recognizable voices.
KEM - KEM is returning to the road this November for a new run of U.S. dates. It’s a welcome live return for the Grammy-nominated R&B singer, whose smooth, romantic catalog has made him an enduring favorite with adult R&B audiences.
Skilla Baby - Skilla Baby has announced The Price of Fame Tour, a new U.S. headlining run built around his debut studio album The Price of Fame. The Detroit rapper will take the new material on the road this fall as his profile continues to rise well beyond his hometown scene.
Altın Gün - Altın Gün are heading out on a September North American theater run, bringing their distinctive blend of Anatolian rock, Turkish folk and psychedelia back across the continent. The shows arrive in the wake of Garip, the band’s latest exploration of the Turkish musical traditions that have always fueled their sound.
Tiny Habits - Tiny Habits have unveiled The Keepers Tour, a late-2026 North American run supporting their sophomore album Keepers. The harmony-driven trio will spend November and December on the road as they turn their increasingly devoted following into a substantial headline tour.
THIS WEEK IN RANDOM, BUT AWESOME, EVENTS ✨
If staring at beautiful architecture isn’t dramatic enough for you, Montréal has a solution.
Inside Notre-Dame Basilica, AURA turns the already jaw-dropping space into a full immersive light and sound experience. I saw this last night and I’m still in awe.
You start by wandering through illuminated installations highlighting the Basilica’s art and architecture, then take a seat while projections, lasers, orchestral music, and the actual Casavant organ completely take over the walls, ceiling, and altar.
The whole experience lasts around 40–45 minutes, and honestly, this feels less like sightseeing and more like accidentally walking into the most elaborate music video of your life.
Adding this to my newly created “Things to do in Montreal if I ever come back (or move here?)”.
WIN SOMETHING! 🎁
Okay, this is a very good reason to head to Colorado.
We’re sending one winner + a guest to Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, September 18–20, for a full VIP weekend. The prize includes two 3-day VIP passes, three nights of hotel accommodations, and $600 toward travel.
The lineup brings Jon Batiste, Marcus King Band, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Samantha Fish, and more to one of the prettiest festival settings in the country. There’s also craft beer, mountain views, and free gondola rides in the mix.
Basically: great music, great scenery, and most of the expensive parts already covered.
That’s it for this week.
Have you been traveling somewhere this summer? Close or far? Let me know some fun travel stories!
Jess ✨
