Category: News

Zach Bryan and Kings Of Leon performed together earlier this year. Now, the two entities, who both have roots in Oklahoma, have done more than that, as they’ve teamed up on a new song, “Bowery,” that was released today (August 8).

When Bryan announced the song a few days ago, he wrote on social media, “Honor of my life.” Kings Of Leon added in their own post, “Did a song with our friend. Had fun doing it. Couldn’t be more proud.”

This comes a few weeks after Bryan revealed that a new project called With Heaven On Top is set for release next January. Bryan has kept details about the release close to the vest, so it’s not clear if “Bowery” will be included on the project.

This past January, Bryan also teased an album called Motorbreath, sharing some spoken-word audio from Matthew McConaughey in which the actor says, “This is not a film about a band. This is a film about a boy from Oklahoma, a boy who joined the Navy with a love of writing. That writing connected with people — a lot of people. This film is about a group of best friends taking a two-week motorcycle ride across America while recording one final major-label album. Oh, and the title of the film, you ask? Motorbreath.”

Listen to “Bowery” above.

Lucy Dacus released her latest album, Forever Is A Feeling, back in March. But, since then, there has been something about it she wasn’t completely satisfied with, and now, she has made a change.

Yesterday (August 7), Dacus, fresh off performing at Maine’s inaugural Back Cove Music & Arts Festival, revealed she was changing the album art. The new image features the original painting, but now framed and photographed in a picture frame storage area. She explained:

“Thank you to [Jon Henry] for helping me see my original idea for the cover of Forever Is A Feeling. There wasn’t time to make this image at first, but it never left my mind. From here on, I’m changing the album art to this because… I want to and I can! lol thank you as ever to [Will St. John] for the painting, and thank you to [Lowy 1907] for the beautiful frame and letting us take photos in the shop.”

The post also noted she would be sharing new music today, and two fresh songs, “More Than Friends” and “Bus Back To Richmond,” are out now.

Listen to the songs above and find Dacus’ upcoming tour dates below.

Lucy Dacus’ 2025 Tour Dates: Forever Is A Feeling

08/08 — Portland, OR @ Edgefield %
08/09 — Boise, ID @ Morrison Center %
08/10 — Carnation, WA @ Remlinger Farms %
08/12 — Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre %
08/13 — Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre %
08/16 — Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre %
09/09 — San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
09/11 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
09/12 — Abiquiu, NM @ Blossoms & Bones Ghost Ranch Festival
09/13 — Oklahoma City, OK @ The Criterion
09/15 — St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
09/16 — Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
09/17 — Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace Theater
09/19 — Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
09/20 — Durham, NC @ DPAC
09/21 — Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival
09/23 — Asheville, NC @ Asheville Yards
09/24 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
09/26 — Forest Hills, NY @ All Things Go Music Festival
09/27 — Columbia, Maryland @ All Things Go Music Festival
11/14 — Mexico City, MX @ Corona Capital

# with Katie Gavin and jasmine.4.t
* with Jay Som
% with Julia Jacklin
^ with Julien Baker & Torres

Forever Is A Feeling is out now via Geffen Records. Find more information here.

We open this week in a very unexpected place: “Home,” the 2010 hit by Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, which had a viral moment this week that went on for days. What is it about this song that people hate so much, and what are some of the actual worst songs of all time?

The guys also talk about the recent Billy Joel documentary, which Ian recently watched, and pick the modern-day equivalent to the Piano Man. After a brief check-in on the Fantasy Album Draft, Steven and Ian run down a list of classic albums turning 20 in the next month or so, including landmark releases from My Morning Jacket, the New Pornographers, Wolf Parade, and more. They also do a “yay or nay” segment on Death Cab For Cutie.

In Recommendation Corner, Ian recommends Anamanaguchi and Steven stumps for Tyler Childers.

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 251 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

On his last album, Chromakopia, Tyler, The Creator delved into some heavy subjects. From the paranoia inherent to stardom to the complex relationship he has with his hair, Tyler unpacked a lot on his last album — which is why he says he pivoted so hard with his new one, Don’t Tap The Glass.

As he told Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, he “just wanted to be silly again,” which is what led to the looser sound of the new album. “Chromakopia was so… I’m not saying it’s the most mature, deep sh*t,” he admitted. “But whether it’s me talking about my relationship with my hair and how that’s affected me, or me almost being a father last year, or the relationship that I have with my father now, just so many things that I decided to dive deep into. After the weight of that got off, I just wanted to be silly again.”

“I just want to be fun and say outrageous shit and say sh*t that… inside jokes that me and my friends laugh at, and just talk big fly sh*t,” he explained. “That was the goal. That was the main 100% goal.”

He also broke down how the various dance music scenes from around the country and throughout history influenced the album’s sound. “I never called it a dance album,” he declared. “It’s just some sh*t that I would love people to dance to because it’s music that I will want to dance my body to. And that’s all type of dance music on there.”

“Bro, if you grew up in the South and you know New Orleans Bounce, ‘Don’t Tap That Glass’ is New Orleans Bounce,” he noted. “‘Don’t You Worry, Baby’, that’s Atlanta bass, that’s Miami bass. But some of these folks, they didn’t grow up within that culture. So, ‘I’ll Take Care of You, that’s a UK jungle record. And some people might be like, ‘You can’t dance to that,’ but that’s dance music.”

You can watch Tyler’s full interview with Zane Lowe above.

The Uproxx Music Travel Hot List series is sponsored by Priceline, where music fans can find deals on flights, hotels, and more.

Japanese-American singer, songwriter, and producer SHIMA knows the value of carving out your own path. After turning down the chance to be a Jpop idol – she trained for years in Tokyo with a five-piece girl group called FAKY – SHIMA headed stateside, studying music production and making beats on her dad’s old MacBook. SHIMA was determined to trade her overly manufactured pop past for something more authentic, eclectic, and meaningful. Her journey took her to Miami, LA, and plenty more underground hotspots where genres merged and SHIMA found her singular sound, one that blends mesmerizing basslines with electronic funk and a bit of Japanese folklore. Her latest track, “Maitake,” turns a Japanese children’s story about dancing mushrooms into a playful fantasy soundscape complete with flute melodies and rhythmic percussion. And she plans to spin it everywhere, continuing a tour run that’s taken her to festivals like Coachella, Electric Forest, and more.

Uproxx linked up with SHIMA on the road to get her unique recs. From the cliffs of Sardinia, Italy, to late-night Ramen refuels, and which countries inspire her sound, the promising artist gave us her read on the undeniable connection between music and travel.

What’s the one venue every music lover has to experience once in their life, and why?

I’ve never actually been there, but Tomorrowland has been a huge bucket list item of mine forever. It just feels like one of those things everyone needs to experience at least once.

Which city has the best nightlife?

Tokyo, for sure. I’m biased because that’s where all my friends live, but it’s such an international hub of underground scenes for all types of music, from dancehall to amapiano to techno to jazz. People really appreciate culture. You also don’t need money to have fun.

What’s in your carry-on bag?

I always have my laptop and headphones with me because I’m constantly tweaking my sets until the last minute.

If you weren’t DJing, what city would you travel to just to experience the music scene?

Probably Brazil. Cultures with a big emphasis on dancing tend to have the best dance music. I feel like I would find endless sources of inspiration.

You land in a new city, what’s the first thing you do?

Try some local food.

Have you ever played in a truly wild, outdoor setting? Where was it?

It wasn’t an actual set in front of a crowd; it was just to film, but the craziest place I played was on the edge of a cliff in Sardinia, Italy. Getting all the equipment up there and setting everything up was a mission.

Which city has the best late-night food after a set?

Again, Tokyo. Nothing beats post-set Ramen.

What’s your dream festival to headline, or place to perform?

I would love to headline Electric Forest one day. I have a special attachment to EF because it was the first festival I ever went to. They’ve also just cultivated such a great crowd and culture.

If you could only spin one set in one city for the rest of your life, where would it be and why?

It would probably be some type of chill sunset rooftop set somewhere warm, because I will never get tired of that vibe no matter how old I get.

Where’s somewhere you’d still like to travel and why?

I’ve still never been to Africa, so that’s been on my bucket list for a while. I’d probably go to either West Africa or South Africa, because a lot of music I like comes from those regions.

The Uproxx Music Travel Hot List series is sponsored by Priceline, where music fans can find deals on flights, hotels, and more.

The Uproxx Music Travel Hot List series is sponsored by Priceline, where you can go to book your next music travel adventure.

Dance floors, dinosaur digs, and a detour through the Pacific – Canadian pop star Kiesza’s journey to dance music icon has led her to plenty of unexpected places. She’s studied ballet, sailed to Hawaii on a tall ship, dabbled in amateur paleontology, and served in the Navy. Despite all that, music has always been the artist’s true passion – and it’s taken her to some unbelievable places. Currently, she’s prepping to go on tour, hitting up stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City to share her latest electropop experiment, Dancing and Crying, Vol. 2, with fans. Her club-kid crowd has been clamoring for more after Kiesza, who skyrocketed to the top of the charts with 2014’s “Hideaway,” dropped a dark, seductive collab with alt-legend Peaches, aptly titled “So Erotic.” And, after taking some time off to heal from a traumatic car accident, Kiesza is ready to give it to them, planning a cross-country run of shows that will hopefully motivate people to get up and move.

Speaking of, before she hits the road for her Dancing and Crying tour, Uproxx tapped Kiesza for her best travel recs and memories. From rolling in the mud at Glastonbury to why Spain is on her music-scene bucket list, here’s what she told us about sound and the adventures it inspires.

Have you ever played in a truly wild, outdoor setting? Where was it?

Coachella 2015 was an amazing outdoor set. I wore a Superman outfit made out of New York Yankees baseball hats and had Joey Bada$$ do a surprise performance!

What’s the one venue every music lover has to experience once in their life, and why?

Red Rocks Amphitheater. The view from the stage is better than [from] the audience.

Which city has the best nightlife?

New York, for sure.

What’s in your carry-on bag?

Usually, some epic pair of shoes I was too afraid to check, an emergency performance outfit, a casual change of clothes in case of flight delays, my computer, a makeup bag, some healthy snacks, and headphones.

If you could only spin one set in one city for the rest of your life, where would it be and why?

I would spin an ambient music set in some remote mountaintop village for a bunch of wild animals. Humans? Probably not.

You land in a new city, what’s the first thing you do?

Find a great restaurant! I’m a foodie.

Which city has the best late-night food after a set?

Toronto has great food. New York food trucks are pretty epic. I’ve never been, but I imagine Tokyo has some good late-night sushi.

What’s your dream festival to headline, or place to perform?

I would love to headline Glastonbury. I love all the mud at that festival. One of my favourite festival memories is being covered in mud at Glastonbury.

If you weren’t performing, what city would you travel to just to experience the music scene?

I would love to experience the music all over Spain. I love flamenco guitar.

Where’s somewhere you’d still like to travel and why?

Japan is still on my bucket list. I’m so eager to visit. Also, New Zealand. And there’s a wombat rescue farm in Australia that I really want to go to someday.

It’s said that “time heals all,” and while that hasn’t always been strictly true, in the case of the surviving members of Migos, it seems to have borne out. During a recent interview, Offset revealed that he and former bandmate Quavo are on much better terms than before, saying they talk “every other week.”

“It be the internet trying to do some old sh*t, but with us, it ain’t about that,” Offset told the 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony crew. “We gotta holla at each other in the day, at the end of the day, man. That’s family at the end of the day, man. You’re gonna bump heads with your family sometime. In the day, a n**** ain’t finna play with him, or a n**** ain’t finna play with me.”

While that doesn’t exactly sound like they’re on the cusp of recording a new album together or anything, it’s certainly a far cry from the barbs they exchanged with each other in the months leading up to the death of their trio’s third member Takeoff in October 2022, or the time immediately following his loss.

The two most recently reunited to celebrate their fallen partner in rhyme on what would have been his 31st birthday, with Offset explaining, “Gotta celebrate him. Any bullsh*t get put aside about bruh. Because he was the glue. He was the one who keep our head straight when we were trying to — you know how that sh*t be? The three of us n****s think one way. He always was the n**** that was the medium.”

You can watch Offset’s full interview with 7PM in Brooklyn above.

We’re getting closer to the release of Laufey’s new album, A Matter Of Time, later this month. She seems to be ramping up in anticipation, dropping “Lover Girl” last week and returning today (August 7) with the tender “Snow White.”

Laufey says of the song, “‘Snow White’ is about the never ending chase for perfection that comes with being a woman. It’s about looking in the mirror and seeing all the ways in which you can improve yourself.”

It arrives alongside a lovely video shot in her native Iceland and directed by Junia Lin, Laufey’s twin sister and creative director.

She previously said of her upcoming album, “Every new album for me is a blank book of stories to write. […] I’m constantly thinking about classical and jazz, how to properly preserve them and pay homage. For this album, I just wanted to let my heart wander.”

Watch the “Snow White” video above and find Laufey’s upcoming tour dates below.

Laufey’s 2025 Tour Dates: A Matter Of Time Tour

07/30 — Norfolk, VA @ Virginia Arts Festival at Chartway Arena *
07/31 — Norfolk, VA @ Virginia Arts Festival at Chartway Arena *
08/02 — Chautauqua, NY @ Chautauqua Institution †
08/03 — Chautauqua, NY @ Chautauqua Institution †
08/07 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center ‡
08/09 — Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center §
09/15 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center **
09/16 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena **
09/18 — Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena **
09/20 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center **
09/21 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center **
09/23 — Phoenix, AZ @ Desert Diamond Arena **
09/24 — San Diego, CA @ Pechanga Arena **
09/26 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena **
09/30 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center **
10/02 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena **
10/04 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena **
10/06 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center **
10/08 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre **
10/10 — Chicago, IL @ United Center **
10/11 — Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center **
10/13 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena **
10/15 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden **
10/19 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena **
10/21 — Laval, QC @ Place Bell **
10/23 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena **
10/24 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center **
10/27 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden **

* with The Virginia Symphony Orchestra
† with The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra
‡ with The Cleveland Orchestra
§ with The Philadelphia Orchestra
** with support from Suki Waterhouse

A Matter Of Time is out 8/22 via Vingolf Recordings/AWAL. Find more information here.

There’s always a party going on in Los Angeles, but they’re not usually as hype as HARD Summer. The dance and electronic festival has annually taken over LA for nearly two decades at this point, and the legacy continued this past weekend with the 2025 edition at Hollywood Park, on the SoFi Stadium grounds.

The framing of the fest definitely skews electronic, and it executes on that front with flying colors. But, organizers routinely recruit stellar acts from outside of that realm, too. The 2025 lineup proved that, as highlighting this year’s poster were Feid, Dom Dolla, Juvenile, Kaytranada, Gesaffelstein, Busta Rhymes, Four Tet, The Blessed Madonna, Barry Can’t Swim, and Fcukers. So, basically, HARD Summer made Hollywood Park the place to be last weekend.

If you couldn’t make it, or were lucky enough to go but are already feeling nostalgic, check out some select photos from HARD Summer 2025 below.

Outside Lands weekend is set to take shape at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco from Aug 8 – 10. Some combination of top-billed sets from Doja Cat, Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals, and Tyler, The Creator belongs firmly on your weekend itinerary if you’re planning on being at the park. And while the San Francisco fest can feel top-heavy (hat tip to Doechii, Hozier, John Summit and Gracie Abrams), there’s a bevy of other acts that you positively should not be missing — artists who define scenes in LA, NY, the UK, the Bay Area, of course, and then some. Check out our picks from across the spectrum for the most compelling performances to catch across Outside Lands’ diverse eight stages.

Fcukers

Friday, 6:10 p.m., Panhandle

Fcukers are the toast of NYC these days. The electronic duo exudes an edgy cool that’s forged in the spirit of the 2010s post-DFA Brooklyn scene. “Bon Bon” is having yet another standout summer, and they just put out a new track produced by Kenny Beats. Aside from their Friday night set on the intimate Panhandle stage, their Thursday night pre-fest official night show at Rickshaw Stop is sure to go off. Ditto for a 7:30 pm Friday night set as part of Fake and Gay’s curated Dolores’ stage slate.

Mannequin Pussy

Friday, 3 p.m., Land’s End

The Philly punk band is fronted by force of nature Missy Dabice, and put out one of last year’s best records in the John Congleton-produced I Got Heaven. The band is on a tear and about to play a slew of opening slots for Turnstile. The main stage billing at Outside Lands is a grand showcase of Dabice’s mix of accessible punk and bone-rattling screamo bliss.

Jorja Smith

Sunday, 5:50 p.m., Twin Peaks

Jorja Smith never misses. The UK singer’s sultry R&B comes packed with clubby UK beats with drum, bass, and garage sensibilities. She’s dropped two sweat-dripping bangers this year in “The Way I Love You” and “With You,” both begging you to dance your ass off to them. Get there.

LaRussell

Saturday, 2:45 p.m., Land’s End

Outside Lands does a solid job of giving a stage to the Bay Area rapper of the moment each year. But they don’t always get slotted on the main stage. It’s a testament to the Vallejo lyricist’s growing fan base and marquee resume that includes performing at the NBA All-Star Game and co-signs from E-40, P-Lo, and Larry June.

Jamie XX

Sunday, 8:20 p.m., Sutro

Look, there might not be a better DJ in the business right now. Jamie just crushed back-to-back nights at Brooklyn’s gloriously seedy and monstrous Under The K Bridge venue this past weekend, expertly telling deeper stories through records about the tracks off of his spectacular latest album, In Waves; an instant classic — like his just released single, “Dream Night.” Everything he does on stage has a purpose that’s relative to the city he’s performing in, and his closing set on Sunday night promises to be a paean to San Francisco alongside his unparalleled productions.

Vampire Weekend’s Opening Set

Saturday, 12:45 p.m., Twin Peaks

Here’s your reason to get into the festival early on Saturday. Yes, Vampire Weekend is near the top of the lineup and closing out the Twin Peaks stage on Saturday night. But they’re bringing their “day/night” set concert concept to the festival and are playing an opening set on Saturday.

Big Freedia with the SF Gay Men’s Chorus

Sunday, 1:15 p.m., Land’s End

The bounce queen, Big Freedia, has been a fixture at Outside Lands over the years. The NOLA icon will not only be starring throughout Oasis’ curated Saturday at the queer celebration that is Dolores’ stage, she’s also playing an ultimate Big Freedia set with the legendary SF Gay Men’s Chorus at the onset of a Sunday funday.

Jessica Pratt

Friday, 4:40 p.m., Sutro Stage

This is a homecoming performance of sorts for the former resident of the nearby Haight-Ashbury. Jessica Pratt was synonymous with the SF music scene for nearly a decade, and hearing her play songs off of the lauded Hear In The Pitch will be a full circle endeavor for Pratt. This time slot at the misty, sunken Sutro Stage is exactly where her serenely hushed folk, fueled by sublime nylon-stringed guitar, belongs.

DJ Koze and Floating Points

Friday, 4:40 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., SOMA Stage

The SOMA dance music stage is continuously getting perfected, and Friday afternoon’s stretch from DJ Koze to Floating Points is easily the most compelling block of the weekend. Koze and Points are at the top of their game, are both insane mixers and remixers, and if you only venture off into SOMA once, it should be for the moment when one giant of electronic production’s set morphs into another’s.

Destroy Boys

Friday, 1:35 p.m., Land’s End

The surging Sacramento alt-punk band is everything we want to see in music today. Youthful energy with serious bite from singer Alexia Roditis and company is a refreshing break from the similar fodder that’s destined for alt radio. That’s because Destroy Boys will straight-up punch you in the heart with emotionally-charged songwriting. They’ve played with Deftones and Alkaline Trio, and here’s hoping that they’re the torchbearers for the future of alt-punk.

Ludacris

Saturday, 5:25 p.m., Land’s End

The legacy artists are lacking on this year’s lineup, but Luda will look to hold things down for the OGs on his own. These Saturday afternoon nostalgia-paloozas at Land’s End stage (Nelly, Billy Idol, Third Eye Blind in years past) are always the perfect way to tip into the second half of the weekend. What better way to do it than sharing some lols with friends over “Stand Up” and “Act A Fool”?

Duboce Triangle

New for this year, the Duboce Triangle stage gives festival artists an opportunity to play an additional set, often in a more stripped-down fashion, in a unique, tree-sheltered setting in McLaren Pass. We’ve got Nourished By Time’s 4:45 pm avant-R&B set on Sunday and Kate Bollinger’s gorgeous psych-folk at 3:35 pm on Saturday earmarked as the ones to see.

Casa Bacardi

Look, Casa Bacardi definitely looks like it’s part of Scarface’s real estate portfolio, but it’s a fun hang. The two-level, ornately tiled structure features primarily Latinx artists, and we highly recommend a stopover at some point over the weekend to just let the mojitos flow while letting loose to reggaeton and electrocumbia joints.