​Acclaimed indie-folk artist Shane Alexander returns with his eighth full-length studio album, Forever Songs, a masterful collection that seamlessly blends California-tinged indie folk with timeless, lyric-driven acoustic rock. The album was meticulously crafted at Buddhaland Studios in Westlake Village, CA, under the watchful eye of Alexander himself, who produced the project with help from engineer Ted Russell Kamp. Grammy-winning mixer Brian Yaskulka and renowned mastering engineer Richard Dodd brought the final polish to this deeply personal work.

Forever Songs showcases a stellar lineup of musicians, including; Shane Alexander: Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, percussion, glockenspiel / Vic Ruiz: Bass /Fernando Sanchez: Drums and percussion / Carl Byron: Piano, organ, keyboards, mellotron / Jesse Siebenberg: Pedal steel, lap steel, Weissenborn, additional organ, keys, and percussion / Justine Bennett, Jamie Drake, and Paulo Coelho: Backing vocals / Chris Pierce: Harmonica and backing vocals on “You Make Your Own Luck”/ Tommy Schneller: Saxophone on “Higher than High”
The songs on Forever Songs reflect the revelations Alexander experienced during the pandemic, capturing themes of connection, hope, gratitude, and personal growth. “Like so many of my contemporaries, this record emerged from a time of deep introspection,” Alexander shared. “The songs are inspired by the moments of dread and uncertainty but also by the beauty and resilience that came out of it.”

Some of the highlights include “You Make Your Own Luck”- a bold anthem of self-reliance featuring a standout harmonica performance by Chris Pierce. “Autumn Blue”- a melancholic ode to isolation and fear, enhanced by Alexander’s emotive guitar work. “Higher than High”- a psychedelic journey celebrating rekindled passion, with saxophone flourishes by Tommy Schneller and dynamic interplay between Alexander’s lead guitar and Carl Byron’s piano, and, “Whole Lotta Stars”- written with Clayton Joseph Scott, this song is a thoughtful perspective of a musician’s life on the road, with danceable rhythms and uplifting harmonies.

​Alexander, a sought-after producer and songwriter, took an unconventional approach to the album’s production. “I had to put this project on pause while producing other artists’ work, but stepping away allowed me to return with fresh ears and a renewed sense of purpose,” he explained. The result is a record imbued with both spontaneity and polish, showcasing the synergy between Alexander and his collaborators.

Since his debut in 2005, Shane Alexander has performed on legendary stages like Red Rocks, The Ryman Auditorium, and The Greek Theatre, earning accolades for his intimate tenor, signature guitar style, and captivating storytelling. His songs have appeared in numerous TV shows, films, and commercials, garnering over 30 million streams. “Forever Songs” builds on this legacy, offering fans a fresh yet familiar sound.

Known for his introspective lyrics and evocative melodies, Shane Alexander has built a career as a fiercely independent artist, producer, and storyteller. His ability to silence a room with his performances has earned him a loyal fanbase and critical acclaim. When he’s not creating his own music, Alexander can be found co-writing and producing at Buddhaland Studios, bringing out the best in artists from around the globe.
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Alexander plans to support Forever Songs with tours in the US and abroad, where he’ll continue to captivate audiences with his heartfelt performances. “There’s something almost spiritual about live shows,” he says. “I always aim to leave listeners feeling better than when they arrived.”
Forever Songs will release on April 4th, 2025.

​Legendary U.K. band Stereophonics has released their latest single, “Seems Like You Don’t Know Me,” offering fans another preview of their eagerly awaited album, Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait, scheduled to drop on April 25 via EMI. [Listen to “Seems Like You Don’t Know Me” HERE].

Frontman Kelly Jones shared insight into the song’s evolution:
“It always had a great melody, but in the studio, I took it through three or four different versions, from very complex, busy drumming references to the final version with a sparse drum machine and Juno synth, which I love. The atmosphere and the lyrics fit so well together. Relationships are complex. Communication is so often broken.”

Delving into themes of relationship struggles and the difficulty of truly understanding one another, “Seems Like You Don’t Know Me” follows the album’s lead single, “There’s Always Gonna Be Something.” The initial track garnered critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, NME, Clash, and others, racking up over 1.8 million global streams and climbing to #3 on the Rock Airplay chart, while also breaking into the European Airplay Top 200.

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Na eerder al de namen van Within Temptation en Goldband bekend te hebben gemaakt, heeft de organisatie van Rock Zottegem nu opnieuw een reeks artiesten toegevoegd aan de line-up voor de 31ste editie van het festival. Dit jaar zal het evenement opnieuw plaatsvinden aan de Bevegemse Vijvers in juli.

Vrijdag 11 juli:
Merol toegevoegd aan line-upOp de openingsavond zullen onder andere de populaire Nederlandse popgroep Goldband, de Belgische elektropopgroep Arsenal, de Brusselse hiphopsensatie Jazz Brak en de band Sloper (met Mario Goossens van Triggerfinger en Cesar Zuiderwijk van The Golden Earring) optreden. Nieuw toegevoegd aan de line-up is de Nederlandse zangeres en actrice Merol, bekend van hits als Lekker met de meiden en Hou je bek en bef me. Zij zal voor de nodige girlpower zorgen op de Crazy Main en wordt verwacht een van de hoogtepunten van het festivalweekend te worden.

Zaterdag 12 juli:
Rival Sons en J. Bernardt debuteren op Rock ZottegemDe zaterdagavond brengt grote namen zoals de Nederlandse metalband Within Temptation, de alternatieve rockband Manic Street Preachers uit Wales en Kaat Van Stralen, winnares van de Nieuwe Lichting van Studio Brussel. Daarnaast zullen ook Rival Sons en J. Bernardt hun opwachting maken. De Amerikaanse bluesrockband Rival Sons, eerder al het voorprogramma van Deep Purple, Kiss en Black Sabbath, staat bekend om hun krachtige liveperformance en indrukwekkende gitaarriffs. J. Bernardt, het zijproject van Balthazar, zal het publiek verleiden met een dansbare mix van r&b, soul, hiphop en elektronica.

Zondag 13 juli:
Suzan & Freek en Regi Live ft. Linda & FriendsZoals gebruikelijk breidt Rock Zottegem het festivalprogramma uit met een familiedag. Dit jaar staan Suzan & Freek en Regi Live ft. Linda & Friends op de affiche. Het geliefde muzikale duo Suzan & Freek zal hun grootste hits als Kwijt, Honderd Keer en Goud ten gehore brengen, naast nieuw werk. Ook Regi maakt zijn debuut op Rock Zottegem en zal samen met Milk Inc-zangeres Linda Mertens voor een onvergetelijke show zorgen.
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Tickets zijn sinds woensdag te koop en meer informatie is te vinden op de officiële website: www.rock-zottegem.be.

Provogue to Release the Late Great Gary Moore’s
‘Live - From Baloise Session’

To be Released 23 May on CD/Blu-Ray, 2LP Gatefold Coloured Vinyl and Digitally.

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​Provogue are thrilled to announce the release of ‘Gary More Live - From Baloise Session’ on 23 May. The album will be released on CD/Blu-Ray, 2LP blue and also marble yellow flame (web exclusive) as well as being available digitally. Check out the live video for “Since I Met You Baby” as a first taster.

​​We didn’t know it then, but when Moore took the stage for the Baloise Session on November 13, 2008, he was less than three years away from his untimely passing at the age of 58. Yet this very special performance – captured for the Live From Baloise Session reminds us that the guitarist played with untouchable skill and molten soul, right to the end.
 
It’s hard to imagine a finer showcase for Moore’s cask-seasoned talent than Baloise Session. Far from the mud and melee of a traditional festival, the event held in Basel, Switzerland – formerly known as AVO Session – is an intimate encounter with A-list artists, where discerning music-lovers sit at lamp-lit tables modelled on the vintage after-hours clubs of New York, soaking up the set with no distractions.
 
From Ray Charles and James Brown to Elton John and Eric Clapton, an invitation to the Baloise Session is the stamp of an all-time musical great – and there’s no doubt that Moore belongs in that number.
Gary Moore at full throttle was simply the greatest spectacle in rock ‘n’ roll. From his formative years out on the boards of late-’60s Dublin with Skid Row, through his ’70s gunslinger shifts for Thin Lizzy – onto an ever-evolving solo career that rewrote the book for blues, rock, metal and more – the Irishman attacked every show like it was both his first and last, shrugging off his hallowed reputation and earning his place amongst the greats all over again.       

One setlist could never contain it all. Live From Baloise Session, however, is a fist-tight, fat-trimmed distillation of everything that made Moore the blues master, hitting all the marks you’d hope to see from a late-period live set by this deathless artist.

​With no fuss or fanfare, the bandleader – flanked by Pete Rees on bass, Vic Martin on keys and fabled Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey – walks from the wings, plugs his Les Paul into twin Marshall stacks and fires up Oh, Pretty Woman (the fiery Albert King cover that was a highlight of Still Got The Blues). As a statement of intent, it’s stinging, and as Moore soothes and strangles his first solo of the night, you’re reminded of Joe Bonamassa’s sage observation: “Gary’s approach to soloing was like placing a brick on a car’s gas pedal — the brick would go down, and he would never stop!”         
 
Strapping on a Gibson ES335, Moore then tears into his own Since I Met You Baby (a spring-heeled groove from 1992’s After Hours, whose studio version featured a guesting B.B. King). 
 
This vintage Baloise Session performance serves as a reminder of all the Irishman did in his lifetime to leave his beloved genre in the best health. The likes of Gary Moore will not come again, but while this deathless music plays, he still walks amongst us, his power undimmed. 

Track Listing

1. Oh, Pretty Woman
2. Since I Met You Baby
3. Thirty Days (To Come Back Home)
4. I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
5. Don;t Believe A Word
6. Still Got The Blues
7.Walking B y Myself
8. The Blues Is Alright

Gary Moore Online
Website | X | YouTube | Facebook | Spotify

Ever since the late 70s, Fischer-Z has been conquering the world with its unique blend of rock, new wave and (post)punk.
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Al zo’n 50 jaar geeft Fischer-Z, de band rond John Watts, het allerbeste van zichzelf met tijdloze parels waaronder ‘So Long’, ‘Marliese’ en ‘The Worker’, maar met albums als ‘Triptych’ en de jongstleden single ‘Two Sides of PUNKT!’ blijft de groep nieuw werk aanleveren. Dat ‘Fischer-Z’ een term uit de statistiek is die betrouwbaarheidsintervallen in correlaties beschrijft, weten weinigen. Maar wie denkt nu ook aan statistiek wanneer Mister Watts zijn kenmerkende stemgeluid door de speakers schalt en je met een frisse pint in de hand kan meebrullen? So long!

Na een feestjaar Grand Cru in 2024 geeft Clouseau deze zomer twee exclusieve festivalshows: op zondag 10 augustus sluit de band de 50ste editie van de Lokerse Feesten af en op vrijdag 22 augustus spelen de gebroeders Wauters de Leuvense Oude Markt plat als headliner van het legendarische festival Marktrock, dat voor één keer terugkeert.

​Tickets zijn beschikbaar vanaf zaterdag 22 maart om 10 uur via greenhousetalent.com.
 
"Na de succesvolle Clouseau40 Sportpaleisoptredens waren we niet van plan om in 2025 nog live te spelen. Een rustperiode leek ons op zijn plaats, ook al weten we uit ervaring dat een festivalloze zomer ongepaste jaloezie oproept bij het zien van de line-ups en onze afwezigheid. We doen het onszelf aan. Maar… plots klopt de organisator van de Lokerse Feesten aan met het verzoek om als headliner hun 50e jubileumeditie op te luisteren. En krijgen we de kans om opnieuw op Marktrock in Leuven te staan, waar het festival eenmalig terug tot leven wordt gebracht. Marktrock Leuven is zowat de kick-off van onze carrière! Eerlijk gezegd, het werd een no-brainer: wij kijken er zó hard naar uit om exclusief deze twee optredens te doen volgende zomer! Lokeren en Leuven, we komen eraan!!!” - Koen & Kris Wauters
 
Lokerse Feesten viert 50 jaar en strikt Clouseau als headliner
De Lokerse Feesten zijn een begrip in Vlaanderen en ver daarbuiten. Het tiendaagse festival vindt jaarlijks plaats in de maand augustus op de Grote Kaai in Lokeren. Dit jaar wordt extra speciaal met een tikkeltje confetti meer, want het festival blaast 50 kaarsjes uit. En wie beter dan Clouseau om mee te vieren. Met maar liefst 14 optredens op hun naam heeft de Lokerse Feesten Clouseau in de armen gesloten en zijn ze dus de gedroomde afsluiter voor hun feesteditie op zondag 10 augustus.

​Marktrock is terug met een knal én Clouseau
Koen en Kris hebben een bijzondere band met de stad Leuven en het festival sinds het prille begin van hun muzikale carriere, mede dankzij wijlen Jos 'Jokke’ Kerkhofs die hen op het podium van Marktrock zette. In 1987 nam Clouseau een demo-cassette op met meerdere nummers. Met deze cassette onder de arm deelde Kris Wauters, die toen werkte bij een platenfirma, de opnames uit aan iedereen die hij tegenkwam, waaronder ook Marktrock-programmator Jokke Kerkhofs. Hij luisterde naar de band toen hij zijn Volvo Amazon repareerde en was meteen verkocht. Hij bood Clouseau een optreden aan op Marktrock, wat het startschot betekende van een ongeziene carrière. Hierna ging het snel voor Clouseau en volgde de doorbraak met "Anne” alsook een tweede optreden tijdens Marktrock. Jokke Kerkhofs stierf onverwachts in 2004 en ook het festival stopte uiteindelijk met bestaan. Nu 2 decennia later besloten zijn dochters Kat en Lyn Kerkhofs het legendarische festival voor één keer te laten terugkeren als eerbetoon aan hun vader. En daar kón Clouseau niet ontbreken dus geven ze op vrijdag 22 augustus de aftrap van de eenmalige terugkeer van het iconische Marktrock!

​Over Clouseau
Clouseau is al vier decennia lang onverminderd populair in België en Nederland. De groep rond het iconische duo Koen en Kris Wauters brak door met hun hit "Anne" in 1989, die de Belgische hitlijsten aanvoerde en het begin markeerde van hun langdurige succes. Hun oeuvre omvat meerdere ijkpunten in de Nederlandstalige popmuziek die zelfs de Nederlandse taal hebben beïnvloed en een onuitwisbare stempel drukten op de Vlaamse popcultuur, met hits als: 'Daar Gaat Ze’, 'Vanbinnen’, 'Domino’, 'Anne’, 'Nobelprijs’ en vele andere. Naast hun ijzersterke live-reputatie, talrijke singles met een hitnotering, tig awards en platina-albums staat Clouseau ook bekend om hun spectaculaire concerten in het Sportpaleis.


Clouseau vierde vorig jaar op indrukwekkende wijze hun 40-jarig jubileum, met een reeks memorabele evenementen. Het hoogtepunt was ongetwijfeld hun terugkeer naar het iconische Sportpaleis, waar ze maar liefst 14 keer voor een uitverkochte arena speelden. De pers was unaniem lovend en onderstreepte hun status als een van de grootste Nederlandstalige bands aller tijden: "Meesterlijk en muzikaal magistraal.”, "Zij en niemand anders zijn de vaders van het arenaconcert in Vlaanderen.”, "Als één ding duidelijk is: Clouseau heeft na veertig jaar nog geen spatje van hun charme verloren.”


Honderdduizenden mensen kochten ooit een ticket om de broers Wauters én hun meesterlijke begeleidingsband aan het werk te zien. Iedereen die ooit een Clouseau-concert heeft meegemaakt, weet dat hen een stevig feestje te wachten staat, met veel dansen, hits en passie. Kortom, onvergetelijk!

Whenever Bernard Allison clicks on his Mesa Boogie rig, it’s strictly chills and thrills for the listener. He easily transforms the rawest of emotion into notes that speak to everyone. On Chills And Thrills, the magical 12th disc of his career, Bernard has perfected his sound. Instead of just using his guitar, Bernard has become mature the artist who uses the full palate of musical colors in his band to paint his stories. Just like his famous guitar totin’ father Luther Allison. “In order for anything to expand, you have to take a risk,” says Bernard. “Blues is about experimenting and getting your feelings across to someone else. And if you want to keep it going, people are going to have to give it all a chance because we’re losing all our creators. Because I’ve been taking risks on every album I’ve recorded, this record is just a logical progression from everything else I’ve done. Instead of playing rippin’ 12 bar blues guitar over and over, there are bluesy songs, soul, funk, R&B songs and a couple of rock things which shows the overall musicianship of Bernard Allison.”

If there ever was an album for all occasions, this is it. It’s got the chill songs to curl up with on a rainy day, or the thrill music you’ll blast when you’re driving late at night.
By adding the rhythm guitar of Bernard’s guitar soulmate Eric Gales, every song explodes into a guitar player's head trip. There may be no finer string slashing then when Bernard and Eric trade outrageous headcuttin’ jabs on the Hendrix influenced “When I’m Gone.” And, like the master artist he is, just when you are ready for all the wah wah tension to be released, Bernard quietly paints “Missing Tyrone,” a picturesque tribute. The title cut opens the record with Bernard’s trademark funk meets blues sound. That signature sound permeates other tunes like “Compromising For Your Needs”,“Heart of St. Paul,” and “Groove With Me,” Bernard’s treatise on the modernesque blues he’ll continue to play around the world. But Bernard’s got so much more. On “So Devine” Bruce McCabe’s piano and Jose James’ alto sax steals the show. On “Just Me And My Guitar,” Bernard shows off the frantic slide techniques he learned in the 1980’s from Johnny Winter. For slow  blues, Bernard and pianist Rusty Hall turn in a first rate guitar and piano performance on “That’s Why I’m Crying.”

But any fan of Bernard Allison knows that every show or record comes with one of his father’s songs. “I always make a point to record one of my father’s songs. Though my pop’s gone, for me, he’s not gone anywhere. He’s looking down at me every minute. He knew where my heart was and what I wanted to do.” Here, Bernard reprises Luther’s 1980’s tune “Serious,” played with Bernard’s errie, Luther-like vocal attack. For those who can't get enough, Bernard strips “Serious” down to just piano and guitar in his after hours styled closer. This is the deep-seated commitment of an artist taking his art and commitment to the next level with heart and soul and Ruf Records is happy to re-release this remarkable album, which has originally been released in 2007.
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​On 21 March 2025, Robbert Duijf's (winner European Blues Challenge 2024) 3rd studio album ‘Silver Spoon’ will be released. After the ‘Best Dutch Blues Album’ award winning album ‘Change Myself’ in 2023, Robbert will now release a record full of Blues, Folk and Americana.
 
One can find on the album plenty of acoustic Blues songs, as we are used to, but the musical influences are drawn a little wider this time than on the two studio albums before. The record contains 12 songs and is diverse with great new stories, taking you on a journey!
 
This time, Robbert hit the studio with his live band: he sings, plays guitar and harmonica, backed by Rubin Duijf, his eldest son, on double bass and Robin Zalm on drums. Besides the band, some friends and guest musicians came to help with the recordings, including none other than the two gentlemen of former EBC winning band ‘The Ragtime Rumours’: Sjaak Korsten on backing vocals and Thimo Gijezen on piano. Massimo Bombrini from the band Komodo played percussion and Angelo Bombrini banjo.
 
Producer Angelo Bombrini of Husky Studios, made sure to make a completely acoustic album. Old school one track recordings with a minimum of overdubs; exactly what Robbert stands for.
 
The NAKED label will release ‘Silver Spoon’ on CD, transparent vinyl and, of course, the album will be available on streaming services worldwide.
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​Hokahey! Records / Continental Record Services proudly announce the upcoming release of two brand-new albums from renowned Finnish bluesman and bandleader Micke Bjorklof, marking his 60th birthday. Under the theme “Both Sides Of The Bluesman,” these albums highlight the distinctive sounds of Bjorklof’s two separate line-ups and will be available on May 16th, 2025.

Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip – Outtakes
Outtakes is a remarkable retrospective album featuring nine previously unreleased tracks from Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip. This special collection offers fans a glimpse into the band's creative evolution, with songs recorded over the years but, for various reasons, left off previous albums. Despite not making the final cuts, these tracks reflect the group’s unwavering dedication to blues-rock excellence.

“We usually had a few extra songs when we went into the studio to record the album in case some of the songs didn’t ‘take off’ as expected. Sometimes the direction of production can also change as the process progresses, which affects the album as a whole. However, a lot of effort has been put into these songs and they have been carefully prepared for the album and produced to completion. It is at least justified to give them another chance to reach listeners, and we felt they deserved a platform of their own. Although the songs are from different eras, I think they formed a very good and balanced whole,” says Micke Bjorklof.
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Spanning from the early 2000s to the present, Outtakes provides a fascinating journey through the band’s musical evolution, capturing its shifting styles, moods, and influences. More than just a collection of rare tracks, it serves as a sonic time capsule, documenting the band’s growth and artistic exploration over its 30-year journey in the blues-rock scene.
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Like many moments of musical brilliance, the project was born from spontaneity and inspiration. Santana recalls, “I’m always driven by passion, emotion, and inner instinct. When I first heard these tracks floating around the house, I thought, ‘Why don’t we put these all in one place?’”

Listeners are in for a treat with the official release of a live instrumental rendition of Michael Jackson’s haunting ballad, “Stranger in Moscow.”
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Recorded in 2007 with producer and drummer Narada Michael Walden’s band, this performance showcases Santana’s unparalleled mastery his guitar work effortlessly shifts from soulful and poetic to explosive and dazzling, always brimming with breathtaking creativity.
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Tracks:
01. Let The Guitar Play – Radio Version (Featuring Darryl “DMC” McDaniels)
02. Stranger In Moscow ((Previously Unreleased)
03. Whatever Happens (Ft. Michael Jackson)
04. Please Don’t Take Your Love (Ft. Smokey Robinson)
05. Get On – Sentient Version (Ft. Miles Davis & Paolo Rustichelli)
06. Vers Le Soleil (Ft. Paolo Rustichelli)
07. Coherence (Ft. Cindy Blackman Santana)
08. Blues For Salvador​

Website: 
santana.com