Hey friends. 👋
Tomorrow is my birthday, and birthdays have a funny way of bringing up a lot. They make you think about the changes you’ve been through, who you want around you, and most importantly, the risks you’ve taken to get you where you are.
On my birthday four years ago, I moved to Miami to start a new life. Three years ago, I tested my fears and conquered an aerial obstacle course. Two years ago, I moved to Nashville without knowing a single person. One year ago, I took a different kind of risk and threw a house party (themed and all), secretly terrified no one would come and hoping I’d actually built enough of a community for people to show up.
This year, many of those people who thankfully did show up are some of my absolute best friends. Friends I’ve already celebrated big moments with—their engagements, weddings, newborns, etc.
I never could have predicted what moving would mean for me or how it would change my life. I didn’t even have some grand reason for doing it. I just felt this little tug that I needed a change, and thankfully, I listened. It was a big risk I’m really glad I took.
Taking big risks or doing something that scares me is what helps me grow, and for some reason, it’s always around my birthday that I reflect on that and decide what might help me do it again.
So maybe that’s my birthday tradition: doing one thing that makes me a little uncomfortable and feels a little risky.
What’s my risk this year? I’ve yet to decide (suggestions, anyone??).
But speaking of suggestions, what’s something you’ve been wanting to do that scares you just enough that it might be worth doing? It might just inspire me… Let me know!
And for the record, I think I’ll cool it on moving to another city for the time being…
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC NEWS & TOURS 🎤
Taylor Swift turned the VMAs into a history-making victory lap, becoming the show’s most-awarded artist ever with 33 career wins and premiering her new “Patient Zero” video starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. The song is one of four new tracks on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, because apparently one blockbuster era simply wasn’t enough.
Madonna returned to the VMAs stage for her first performance there in 23 years, and naturally, she brought reinforcements. Sabrina Carpenter joined her for “Bring Your Love,” Charli XCX popped out for “Danceteria Afterhours,” and Madonna ended the night with seven awards, including Artist of the Year and Best Album.
Olivia Rodrigo officially kicked off her Unraveled world tour in Hartford, unveiling a two-hour, six-act production built around the seasons. The opening night mixed songs from her third album with SOUR throwbacks, a birthday tribute to her mom and an elaborate rain-soaked transformation during “The Cure.”
Sabrina Carpenter is trading pop-star choreography for old-Hollywood footwork: she’s set to play Ginger Rogers opposite Tom Holland’s Fred Astaire in an upcoming Paul King-directed biopic. Margaret Qualley will portray Astaire’s sister and original dance partner Adele, making this one very well-dressed Hollywood history lesson.
U2 announced Carnaval De Luz, their first album of new material in nine years, arriving November 13. Its closing song, “Torn,” features Dolly Parton’s final recorded vocal performance, a collaboration Bono said has become difficult for him to listen to since her death.
Stevie Wonder opened the vault for four previously unreleased tracks recorded during the making of his landmark Songs in the Key of Life. Nearly 50 years later, one of pop’s most celebrated albums apparently still had bonus material hiding in the wings.
KATSEYE made their Saturday Night Live debut at the season 52 premiere, performing “Animal” and “Hootie Frutti.” It’s another major mainstream milestone for the global girl group — and a pretty efficient way to introduce yourself to anyone who somehow missed the memo.
Kylie Minogue went gloriously big for Australia’s AFL Grand Final, staging a hometown spectacular with more than 100 dancers. The finale sent “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” airborne, because subtlety was never going to win the grand final anyway.
Sugababes announced their first album as the original trio in 26 years. After decades of lineup changes and pop-group lore, Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy will release a self-titled record next year, an extremely satisfying full-circle moment for Y2K pop devotees.
Phoebe Bridgers returned with a new song for A24’s Primetime, the upcoming Lance Oppenheim film in which she also stars opposite Robert Pattinson. Indie-music melancholy plus A24 plus Pattinson is such a perfectly calibrated cultural Venn diagram that the internet practically assembled it itself.
Recent Tour Announcements:
Slipknot - Slipknot are going huge in 2027, with their official site showing a stadium run stretching from Wembley Stadium in July through North America and into South America in September.
John Mayer - John Mayer will return to Las Vegas for six Live At Sphere shows April 8–18, 2027, with the residency featuring Mayer in three configurations: solo, full band and Trio.
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball - Jingle Ball is back for the holidays, with the annual concert tour returning for another 2026 edition built around rotating pop lineups across the country.
Brandi Carlile - Brandi Carlile has a busy stretch ahead, with her tour calendar running through U.S. theater dates this fall before heading to Europe in spring 2027.
Roger Waters - Roger Waters has created LEGACY – A Pink Floyd Show, a new production launching in February 2027 and touring more than 100 cities across North America and Europe. His son Harry Waters will lead a 10-piece band through music from Pink Floyd’s 1971–79 era, including The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall.
Daughtry - Daughtry’s calendar mixes full-band dates with an upcoming run of unplugged shows, giving fans a different setting for the band’s powerhouse catalog this fall.
Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton - Fantasia will headline the Love of Soul Tour in 2027 with special guests Anthony Hamilton and October London, bringing three major R&B voices together for an arena run beginning in February.
Riley Green - Riley Green’s calendar is already packed into 2027, with a new spring and summer run alongside Muscadine Bloodline, Jake Worthington and Hannah McFarland on multiple dates.
Rob Thomas - Rob Thomas is scaling things down for a special January run of intimate 2027 concerts benefiting the Sidewalk Angels Foundation, with sets drawing from both his solo career and Matchbox Twenty material.
NEEDTOBREATHE - NEEDTOBREATHE are heading back out in early 2027 for a substantial run featuring Conner Smith, Drew & Ellie Holcomb and The National Parks on select dates.
A Perfect Circle - Perfect Circle have announced an extensive Spring 2027 North American tour with The Cult joining as special guests. The run accompanies a fresh burst of activity from the band, including new single “To Whom It May Concern.”
Gregory Porter - Gregory Porter’s rich baritone will be back on U.S. stages in early 2027, with dates from January through April before a summer return to the UK.
Lizzy McAlpine - Lizzy McAlpine is entering her next chapter with Angel now out and a fresh tour on the horizon, continuing the singer-songwriter’s rise from intimate viral favorite to major live draw.
Father John Misty - Father John Misty has announced a rare solo West Coast tour for later in 2026, marking his first tour without a full band in more than a decade, with Damien Jurado joining as support.
Dropkick Murphys - Dropkick Murphys have announced the For The People...In the Pit Tour, their 2026 St. Patrick’s Day run across the U.S., with The Aggrolites and Haywire joining as support.
Trippie Redd - Trippie Redd is taking the NDA Tour on the road, putting the melodic rapper and singer back in front of audiences for his latest live chapter.
Omer Adam - Omer Adam will return to the U.S. for two arena shows this fall, playing Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome on October 29 and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on November 1. The dates mark his return to U.S. stages following his sold-out Madison Square Garden show.
La Roux - La Roux is back in motion around new album Old Flames, with a run of Australia and New Zealand arena dates alongside Hilary Duff.
The Interrupters - The Interrupters have announced an expansive 2027 North American tour running from March into May, with a rotating support lineup that includes Doom Regulator, The Aquabats, RAT BOY, The Mainliners, The Chin Chins and The Bandulus.
Lukas Graham - Lukas Graham’s 2027 calendar includes a fresh U.S. run beginning in March, with theater and club dates stretching into April after a run of major Danish shows early in the year.
THIS WEEK IN RANDOM, BUT AWESOME, EVENTS ✨
Have you ever gone to a Caterpillar Race?
On Sunday, October 4, Vermilion, Ohio is hosting the 54th annual Woollybear Festival, an entire day dedicated to the fuzzy little caterpillars that folklore says can predict how brutal winter is going to be.
And they are not messing around. There’s the Wonderful Wacky Woollybear Parade, animal look-alike costume contests, a Woollybear King and Queen, and, most importantly, the Woollybear 500 Caterpillar Race.
Honestly, I love any town that picks one extremely specific thing and decides, yes, this deserves an entire festival.
Anyway, good luck to all the athletes. 🐛
MEMBER’S ONLY 🔥
A little behind-the-scenes DoStuff moment for you: earlier this month, our own Abhijeet Rane (Abhi) sat down with an artist whose story is every bit as interesting as the music.
Gavilán Rayna Russom—the producer, artist, former LCD Soundsystem synth player, and creative force behind Black Meteoric Star—opened up about the new album WET, the ideas behind the project, and the experiences that have shaped their work over the years.
It’s one of those conversations that goes beyond the usual album talk and gives you a much better sense of the person behind the music.
That’s it for this week.
Go do the risky thing you’ve been thinking about. I’ll report back on mine.
Jess ✨
