“I want you to close your eyes and think of your happy place.”
It’s the kind of sentence you hear in a therapist’s office, right before a procedure, or from the meditation app you downloaded at 1 a.m. because apparently tonight is the night you’re finally going to fix your sleep schedule.
Usually, someone tells you to go there when life feels like a lot. When you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or just a little unlike yourself. But there’s something to it. Imagining yourself somewhere peaceful can almost trick your body into remembering what calm feels like.
I figured out mine about two years ago. I was living with my sister in Miami at the time, and on late weekday mornings I’d go down to her community pool when almost no one else was there. Life felt especially chaotic then, but I’d get in the water, float on my back in what felt like an Olympic-sized pool, and for a little while, everything got quiet.
I remember thinking, “Wait… is this the happy place everyone’s talking about?”
For some people, maybe it’s their childhood bedroom. The restaurant their family went to after every soccer game. Sharing a favorite dessert with someone they love. Mine just happens to involve water and me floating around like I have absolutely nowhere else to be.
Since realizing that, I’ve noticed that whenever I feel off, I gravitate toward water. So this past weekend, I finally had my first real lake day since moving to Tennessee. I went with a group of probably 30 people, but at one point I floated off by myself for a little bit. No conversation. No phone. No rushing to whatever was next. Just floating.
I forget to do that sometimes—to be somewhere without immediately thinking about the next thing. And it felt like hitting a tiny reset button.
So maybe this is your reminder to figure out what your happy place actually is. And the next time life starts moving a little too fast, go there. Even if, for the moment, you can only get there by closing your eyes.
A few peaceful minutes of floating later, and apparently I felt invincible enough to try tubing for the first time. Nothing says “inner peace” like getting launched across a lake on an inflatable tube. As a roller coaster person, I can confirm: this was a bucket-list item I didn’t know I had.
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC NEWS & TOURS 🎤
Taylor Swift just sent the Swifties into overdrive with the announcement of her brand-new single, “Patient Zero,” arriving September 25. After a week of suspicious zeros, website tweaks and classic Taylor Easter-egg behavior, we finally have an answer (or, knowing her, approximately one answer and 47 new questions).
The Weeknd surprised fans in Japan by debuting an unreleased song called “Tokyo” alongside Yoko Takahashi. The track samples “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” the instantly recognizable theme from Neon Genesis Evangelion, making Abel’s return to Japan after seven years appropriately cinematic.
Miley Cyrus officially released her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, on September 18 — and she’s doing it simply as Miley this time around. The 10-track record includes collaborations with Model/Actriz and Andrew Wyatt, with two celebratory Hollywood Bowl shows coming in October.
Rosalía and Karol G are heading into Latin Grammys season with seven nominations apiece, tying Jorge Drexler and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso among the ceremony’s most-nominated artists. Producer-songwriter Edgar Barrera leads everyone with 10 nods, while Daddy Yankee will be honored as Person of the Year when the awards hit Las Vegas on November 12.
Madonna and Charli XCX have finally made their dance-floor alliance official with “Danceteria Afterhours,” a new version of Madonna’s Confessions II track arriving September 24. The pair teased it together on Instagram, because apparently one dance-pop provocateur per song simply wasn’t enough.
CHVRCHES are officially back, releasing “Roses,” their first new song in three years. The darker, rock-leaning track kicks off what Lauren Mayberry says is the band’s most “coherent vision” yet — and yes, hearing those synths together again feels very correct.
Sheryl Crow got a very Nashville-sized tribute when BMI honored her with its 2026 Troubadour Award. Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Melissa Etheridge, Lauren Daigle and Jason Isbell all performed songs from Crow’s catalog — basically the kind of tribute concert where everyone backstage is also somehow a headliner.
Oasis aren’t letting the reunion victory lap end anytime soon: Noel Gallagher says the band knew as early as its second Wembley show last summer that it wanted to keep going. The newly announced Oasis Live ’27 run will take the brothers back across the U.K., Europe and U.S., proving that getting the Gallaghers back together may somehow have been easier than getting them to stop.
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival is switching seasons when it returns to Franklin, Tennessee, after sitting out 2026. The longtime September festival will move to April 10–11, 2027, bringing music back to The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in the spring for the first time in the festival’s history.
Recent Tour Announcements:
Metallica - Metallica’s M72 World Tour rolls into 2027 with 12 more North American shows, all billed as one-night-only stops. Limp Bizkit and Avatar will join the band throughout the newly announced run.
Dave Chappelle - Dave Chappelle is adding another major live run to his calendar, continuing his presence as one of stand-up’s biggest arena draws. The new announcement gives fans another round of chances to catch his famously unpredictable, of-the-moment comedy onstage.
Kenny Chesney - Kenny Chesney is headed back to stadiums in 2027 for the all-stadium Original Vibe Room Tour, joined by Eric Church, Sheryl Crow and Greylan James. The run kicks off April 24 and marks Chesney’s return to the massive stadium setting that has become such a signature part of his live career.
Hilary Duff - Hilary Duff is expanding The Lucky Me Tour as demand continues around her long-awaited return to full-scale touring. The run accompanies her new album luck ... or something, marking a major new chapter for Duff nearly two decades after her last global headline tour.
Hans Zimmer - Hans Zimmer Live – The Next Level is coming back to North America in 2027 after a huge European run. Zimmer’s arena production pairs his unmistakable film music with electronic soundscapes, elaborate lighting, and a large-scale stage show.
Gnarls Barkley - Gnarls Barkley are heading back to the stage, giving fans another chance to see CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse’s singular collaboration live. CeeLo Green’s official tour page now includes Gnarls Barkley alongside his solo touring activity.
Death Cab for Cutie - Death Cab for Cutie are adding more live activity during a fresh creative chapter, with new album I Built You A Tower now out. It’s a chance for fans to hear the band’s newest material alongside the deeply loved catalog that has made them an indie-rock mainstay.
Karan Aujla - Karan Aujla is taking his latest era back on the road as P-Pop Culture continues to anchor his current chapter. The Punjabi star’s crossover reach keeps expanding, making another round of live dates a natural next step.
HA*ASH - HA*ASH are keeping the road busy well into 2027, with their official site now carrying a dedicated 2026–2027 tour schedule. The sister duo continue to turn their emotional, singalong-ready Latin pop into a long-running live draw.
Alan Walker - Alan Walker is carrying his global touring momentum into 2027, with a new North American stretch beginning in January. The electronic star’s official calendar includes stops across Texas, Missouri, Tennessee and the Carolinas as his massive worldwide fan community keeps following the Walker universe live.
JoJo - JoJo is heading back on the road for another live chapter, adding fresh touring activity to a career that has connected with fans across multiple generations. Her official artist site is the home base for this new era and future updates.
Jo Koy - Jo Koy’s road schedule keeps growing, with shows stretching deep into 2027 across North America and Europe. With numerous dates already sold out or running low on tickets, his stand-up remains a formidable live draw.
The Warning - The Warning are taking their rock show around the world in 2027, with an extensive schedule spanning Europe and North America. The Monterrey trio’s increasingly international routing reflects just how far their live audience has expanded.
Atmosphere - Atmosphere continue their reputation as road warriors, keeping live shows at the center of the veteran Minneapolis duo’s connection with fans. Their official site remains built around a steady mix of touring, new music and the independent spirit that has sustained them for decades.
Syd - Syd is bringing her sleek, understated world back to the live stage as she moves through a fresh musical chapter. Her official site now puts touring alongside new releases including “Any Time” and “Callin.”
The Psychedelic Furs - The Psychedelic Furs have another substantial 2027 run ahead, teaming with Living Colour for a stretch of U.S. dates. It’s a sharp pairing of veteran bands whose catalogs have remained durable well beyond their original eras.
Josiah Queen - Josiah Queen continues to turn his fast-growing audience into a busy live career, with his official site maintaining a dedicated calendar for his upcoming shows. The singer-songwriter’s rise has quickly made touring a central part of his momentum.
Dylan Scott - Dylan Scott keeps his country road schedule moving through the fall, with dates currently stretching into November. The busy calendar continues a touring-heavy year for the Louisiana singer.
Bad Suns - Bad Suns are celebrating a milestone in 2027 with Disappear Here: A Ten Year Celebration, a run dedicated to the album that became a defining piece of their catalog. The tour begins in January and carries through a substantial slate of North American dates into February.
THIS WEEK IN RANDOM, BUT AWESOME, EVENTS ✨
HORECA Jordan Bed Making Competition
After I featured a parallel parking competition in my last newsletter, a handful of you replied with another very specific sport that I apparently needed to know about: competitive bed making.
The HORECA Jordan Bed Making Competition is happening October 11–13, 2026 at the Jordan International Exhibition Center in Amman, as part of the annual HORECA Jordan hospitality expo. Alongside culinary, barista, and service competitions, hospitality pros will be putting their speed, precision, and ability to make a hotel bed look offensively perfect to the test.
I’ve now been looking at these bed-making videos to learn how to make a perfectly fitted, neat bed (make my parents proud, you know?).
Think you’ve got championship-level hospital corners, but Jordan feels like a bit of a commute? The San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association Bed Making Competition happens annually in September and features teams racing head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament. This year’s competition was September 10, so consider this your extremely early training notice for next year. Start practicing. We expect one of you to bring home the title.
WIN SOMETHING! 🎁
Some prizes give you a free night out. The better ones hand future you a story: the hotel weekend you absolutely did not budget for, the festival rabbit hole, or the dinner reservation justified by the magical phrase “we have a gift card.” This week’s top picks will give you a very respectable calendar upgrade. Check these out:
Do303 (Denver)
Magic City Hippies Live at the Stanley comes with tickets to both shows, a two-night stay at the Stanley Hotel and a merch pack. Funky psych-pop at the hotel that inspired The Shining is an objectively better weekend than reorganizing your kitchen cabinets.
DoLA (Los Angeles)
The prize for Insomniac Presents Dreamstate SoCal 2026 is a pair of VIP tickets to the two-day trance festival at the Queen Mary Waterfront. Consider it permission to disappear into lasers, basslines and exceptionally ambitious festival outfits for a weekend.
DoPDX (Portland)
Visit Vancouver Washington Dine the Couve is giving away a $50 gift card to the participating restaurant of the winner’s choice. October is already dedicated to eating your way through more than 30 Vancouver spots, so this is basically your appetizer subsidy.
DoSD (San Diego)
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival upgrades two people to VIP, with 10 tastings, shaded seating, a limited-edition tote and the blessedly civilized perk of a dedicated entrance. Browse 170+ artists, sip something good and briefly become the person who understands the value of “VIP ingress.”
Do250 (Victoria)
BreakOut West Festival 2026 is giving away a pair of festival tickets for three days of music spread across 10+ Victoria venues and more than 50 artists. Ideal if your favorite concert pastime is announcing, six months later, that you saw them “before everybody knew them.”
And as always, every local DoStuff page has more giveaways waiting if your particular flavor of free stuff isn’t represented here.
That’s it for this week.
Okay, now your turn. Where’s your happy place? Hit reply and let me know!
Jess ✨
