Category: news

  • LASSO Montreal 2026 Adds Koe Wetzel, Turnpike Troubadours to Growing Bill

    LASSO Montreal has unveiled its full 2026 lineup, adding Koe Wetzel, Turnpike Troubadours, Carly Pearce, Max McNown, and Cameron Whitcomb to a bill that already includes Thomas Rhett, Mumford & Sons, Jon Pardi, and Old Dominion. The festival’s fifth edition runs August 15 and 16 at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène, with a pre-festival show, LASSO in the City, set for August 14 at a downtown venue still to be confirmed.

    This year’s edition marks the first time LASSO has operated on a full Saturday-Sunday weekend format, a shift from its previous scheduling. The Parc Jean-Drapeau site, positioned on the St. Lawrence with a direct sightline to the Montréal skyline, has been the festival’s home since its launch in 2022. In four editions, the event has grown from a boutique country showcase into one of the larger summer festivals on the island, drawing audiences from across Québec and beyond with past headliners including Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, and Dierks Bentley.

    Wetzel arrives as one of the more compelling additions to the 2026 bill. The Texas native scored his first No. 1 with High Road, a collaboration with Jessie Murph, and has a new album expected later this year. His live sets pull as much from Southern rock as from country, which tends to play well in festival settings where genre lines blur after the second act. LASSO 2026 will be his Montréal debut. The Turnpike Troubadours bring a different kind of weight to the weekend. The Oklahoma Red Dirt outfit, long considered a major influence on the more authentic end of the contemporary country spectrum, will play their first-ever show in Québec. For fans who have followed their career through years of grassroots momentum, the appearance will carry some significance.

    Carly Pearce, whose I Hope You’re Happy Now with Lee Brice became one of the defining country crossover moments of recent years, joins the lineup with new music reportedly on the way. Chance Peña rounds out the international additions; his folk-inflected I Am Not Who I Was gained significant traction on TikTok and translated into real touring demand, including strong interest from Montréal audiences following his North American tour announcement.

    The Canadian contingent is one of the stronger aspects of this year’s bill. Cameron Whitcomb returns for a second consecutive year, having built enough momentum domestically to warrant the repeat booking. James Barker Band are reliable festival headspace, the kind of act that fills an afternoon slot and leaves the crowd ready for whoever closes the night. Québec artists Classe Moyenne and Zach Chico both appear, continuing the festival’s practice of carving out space for homegrown talent. Max McNown, who has sold out every Montréal show to date, continues his upward trajectory with another appearance at the fest.

    The Band Perry, known globally for If I Die Young, Kalsey Kulyk, Laci Kaye Booth, Jonah Kagen, Blake Whiten, Waylon Wyatt, Elizabeth Nichols, and Just Jayne fill out the rest of the weekend. Additional Québécois artists are still to be announced, with the festival signalling more local additions are coming before the full schedule drops.

    Two-day general admission tickets are currently on sale at lassomontreal.com starting at $250 CAD. Single-day passes go on sale Friday, February 20 at 10 a.m., starting at $150 CAD. Premium options, including Party Deck, Birkenstock Gold, and Birkenstock Sky Saloon packages, are available at higher price points for both single-day and two-day formats. Klarna financing is available for those who want to split the cost across four interest-free payments.

    Get your tickets here: lassomontreal.com

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    The post LASSO Montreal 2026 Adds Koe Wetzel, Turnpike Troubadours to Growing Bill appeared first on Montreal Rocks.

  • W.E.B. Unveils “Into Hell Fire We Burn” Video/Single; Darkness Alive To See Release This Friday, February 20th, On Metal Blade Records

    Photo by Chris Kissadjekian Watch/stream W.E.B.’s “Into Hell Fire We Burn” HERE. This Friday, Greek symphonic extreme metallers W.E.B. will unveil Darkness Alive, their first ever live album on Metal Blade Records! Captured at Gagarin205 […]

    The post W.E.B. Unveils “Into Hell Fire We Burn” Video/Single; Darkness Alive To See Release This Friday, February 20th, On Metal Blade Records appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.

  • KING 810 Announce Local Supports

    Michigan crushers KING 810 will head down under for their first ever Australian headline tour in March, joined by guests THE GLOOM IN THE CORNER and DREGG. KING 810 have unveiled their local support acts for each show. Kicking off in Adelaide is extreme metal band KIN. bringing speed and heaviness, while MELTING will bring […]
  • Billy Preston’s Music Was ‘Pure Joy.’ But His Life Ended in Tragedy.

    The Beatles’ beloved collaborator died at 59 in 2006. A new documentary, “That’s the Way God Planned It,” explores what he long kept hidden.
  • NATALIE CUOMO To Bring Comedy Show To Australia In July

    NATALIE CUOMO has become a breakout name on comedy circuits throughout the United States, bringing a fresh perspective and air of humour to stages around the world. The touring stand up comedian has cultivated a global fanbase that has fallen for her unapologetically authentic brand of comedy and in July, Australian audiences will be able […]
  • W.E.B. Unveils “Into Hell Fire We Burn (Live)” Video / Single

    – February 18th, 2026 –

    “Darkness Alive” To See Release This Friday, February 20th, On Metal Blade Records

    Photo by Chris Kissadjekian

    Watch / stream W.E.B.’s “Into Hell Fire We Burn” HERE

    This Friday, Greek symphonic extreme metallers W.E.B. will unveil Darkness Alive, their first ever live album on Metal Blade Records! Captured at Gagarin205 in the band’s hometown of Athens on September 22nd, 2024, Darkness Alive truly captures the band at their most commanding.

    We shared the stage that night with Dark Funeral, and since we were making changes within the band that had us excited, we made the decision to mark this day with a special release, hence our first official live album,” says singer/guitarist Sakis Prekas.

    On today’s single, Prekas comments, “‘Into Hell Fire We Burn’ is a thunderous marriage of black and heavy metal with a chorus that literally orders you to sing along. We are all sinners, we will all go to Hell, let us scream our sins to our redemption. ‘Villains and sinners, in Hell fire we burn.’

    Watch W.E.B.‘s live performance video of “Into Hell Fire We BurnHERE.

    Darkness Alive will be released digitally on February 20th. Find pre-orders at: metalblade.com/web

    Watch the full performance on Friday, February 20th via Metal Blade’s YouTube page HERE.

    Darkness Alive Track Listing:
    01. Crimson Dawn (Live)
    02. Pentalpha (Live)
    03. Dark Web (Live)
    04. Into Hell Fire We Burn (Live)
    05. Murder Of Crows (Live)
    06. Necrology (Live)
    07. Morphine for Saints (Live)
    08. Dragona (Live)
    09. Eligos (Live)

    Photo by Georgina Staikou

    W.E.B.‘s music has earned high praise for its “drama, extremity and bloodthirst in equal parts… energetic and unhinged.” The formidable symphonic extreme metal lineup is best experienced at one of their many crushing live gigs.

    A band born of the necessity to scream, blast, and create emotions and get on stage to exchange them with an audience, W.E.B. expresses darkness and death through adrenaline and poetry. Darkness Alive follows five previous studio albums. Colosseum, released in 2021, was their first for Metal Blade. Seized at a moment of transition, the upcoming live album documents the band featuring Prekas. Hel Pyre (bass, vocals), and newly joined drummer Vasilis Nanos. Following the recording, the band expanded its sound and solidified its current lineup with the addition of lead guitarist Alex Despotidis and second bassist Babis Kapageridis.

    W.E.B. is currently composing material for their next full-length album that will see them hitting the road once again. “It is by far the best material we;ve ever had on a record. I intend to keep the promise to myself regarding W.E.B. that all new material must be better material, otherwise there is no reason to release it,” Prekas concludes. “Stay Dark.

    W.E.B.:
    Sakis Prekas – vocals, guitar
    Hel Pyre – vocals, bass, keys
    Alex Despotidis – guitar
    Babis Kapageridis – bass
    Vasilis Nanos – drums

    https://webmetalband.com
    https://www.facebook.com/webdarkness
    https://www.instagram.com/webdarkmetal
    https://www.youtube.com/@WEBbandOfficial
    https://x.com/webdarkmetal

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  • EXODUS Drop Crushing Title Track “Goliath,” New Album Due March 20

    exodus-2026

    Exodus unleash the massive title track from Goliath, out March 20, 2026 via Napalm Records, featuring violinist Katie Jacoby.

    The post EXODUS Drop Crushing Title Track "Goliath," New Album Due March 20 appeared first on Metal Injection.

  • AN NCS PREMIERE: MARLUGUBRE — “SHE NIGH HIS DEATH”

    (written by Islander) By definition, “concept albums” are based upon narratives or themes that connect the songs. Most often, the concepts are represented lyrically. Often, the lyrics are written independently of the music, even after much of the music has already been written. Although listening to the riffs and melodies might inspire the lyricist’s development […]

    The post AN NCS PREMIERE: MARLUGUBRE — “SHE NIGH HIS DEATH” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

  • Exodus go heavy on the horror with new title track “Goliath”

    Thrash legends Exodus have just dropped the title track from their highly anticipated 12th studio album, Goliath, which is set to land on 20th March 2026 via Napalm Records. If you were expecting the usual 100mph neck-snapping pace, “Goliath” might catch you off guard. It’s a winding, malevolent beast that dials back the tempo in … Continue reading Exodus go heavy on the horror with new title track “Goliath”