First Down 2022

Rising British alternative indie-pop artist Rachel Chinouriri has released her long-awaited debut album What A Devastating Turn Of Events. What A Devastating Turn Of Events is a culmination of the experiences, challenges and joys of Chinouriri’s life so far, explored through the prism of musical stylings honed through years of experimentation and creation. Listen to the album now!

Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin delivers his final single, “Sacrifice Tomorrow”. The pop-infused track marks the final single release ahead his highly-anticipated third studio album “12 Notes” releasing next Friday, May 10th via Elektra Entertainment. Benjamin also recently announced his 2024 “12 Notes” US tour kicking off in September 2024, where he will headline in 31-cities across North America. Listen to the single now!

Award-winning singer songwriter Holly Humberstone has released reimagined versions of her favorite songs from critically acclaimed debut album Paint My Bedroom Black. Inviting friends and peers on her journey, Humberstone premieres new versions of “Cocoon” featuring singer/songwriter Medium Build and “Antichrist” featuring folk-pop group Tiny Habits. The new tracks follow the release of her recent collaboration with MUNA on “Into You Room.” Listen to the songs now!

Singer-songwriter Odie Leigh has announced the release of her debut album, Carrier Pigeon, arriving on Friday, July 12. Carrier Pigeon is further preceded by recent releases, “Either Way” and “No Doubt,” the latter of which has an official music video streaming now on YouTube. Watch the music video for her new single now!

Center Theatre Group has revealed its 2024 CTG Leadership Circle Cohort, featuring five staff members to participate in this annual career development program. Learn more about the staff members!

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced that the honorees for the 2024 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre, as well as Special Tony Awards.

The Barn Theatre have announced that their 25th anniversary production of Marie Jones' Olivier award-winning tragicomedy Stones in His Pockets will return to Cirencester this summer, in a co-production with Octagon Theatre Bolton and Wiltshire Creative.

Brontë Fall has just dropped her latest single. “Making It Up” is a renewal of vows of sorts; to living the artist’s life and everything that goes along with it. “When it’s all said and done, I wouldn’t trade this creative life for anything,” says songwriter Teri Bracken—better known by her stage name Brontë Fall. “I wrote this song midway through 2021 after the music industry had been halted so dramatically from the pandemic,” remembers Fall. Listen to the single here!

The tour will include festival appearances at Colorado City Music Fest (Hilldale, UT) and Brat Fest (Madison, WI). The Phoenix, AZ-based modern rock trio are also excited to announce they’ll be returning as a headlining act at Roger Clyne & The Peacemaker’s annual Circus Mexicus festival set in Puerto Penasco, MX from June 6-9 as it celebrates its 25th year anniversary. See full dates listed below. Tickets are on sale now.

‘The Cleanest of Houses Are Empty’ is the follow up to the band’s 2021 debut ‘See You In Chemistry’, which found the band tracing personal growth through anxiety, depression, indecision, and, ultimately, self-actualization. The first single and music video for “You Old Dog” is out now. Listen to the song here!

Ben Rector and Cody Fry will be gracing the stage alongside the Minnesota Orchestra at Minnesota Orchestra Hall on June 15th and 16th, 2024. 

ATO Records’ Chicago-based quintet Brigitte Calls Me Baby have released the official video for their single “Eddie My Love.” The video is directed by Alec Basse and Max Moore. “‘Eddie My Love” paved the way for all the songs that would come after it,” says the band’s vocalist and songwriter Wes Leavins, who first penned the track as a ballad. “It felt so vulnerable from the jump, and made me realize that there’s no point in being anything but vulnerable in what we do.” Watch the video here!

The recently announced compilation from the 501(c)3 non-profit organization NOISE FOR NOW’s recently launched label is out June 21st. Set to benefit independent abortion providers throughout the nation via Keep Our Clinics, the album features 11 exclusive tracks from Webster, The War On Drugs, Courtney Barnett, David Byrne and Devo, MC50 ft. Arrow De Wilde, Big Freedia, SOFIA ISELLA, Julia Jacklin, Becca Mancari, Claud and AJ Haynes (of Seratones).

Shot over the course of GHOST’s two sold-out shows at Los Angeles’ hallowed Kia Forum, RITE HERE RITE NOW fully immerses viewers in the technicolor melodrama of the vaunted live ritual that has helped to propel Sweden’s foremost theatrical rock export to GRAMMY-winning, chart-topping, arena-headlining status the world over.

On Saturday, May 11th, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Elizabeth Schulze will cap off its season with a fitting Season Finale featuring works by Chinese Pipa virtuoso Gao Hong, piano legend Rachmaninoff, and story-teller extraordinaire Rimsky-Korsakov, plus the talents of guest pianist Terrence Wilson, and ASO's concertmaster Ludek Wojtkowski. 

Meet the new additions to the BSO for the 2024-25 season: Principal flute Lorna McGhee, associate principal bassoon Josh Baker, and percussionist Toby Grace. Their tenure starts in September 2024.

The Octagon Theatre has revealed a sensational programme set to entertain audiences this autumn and into 2025. Learn more about the full lineup here!

The 2024 Tribeca Festival has unveiled its lineup of talks with iconic artists, critically acclaimed directors, and multi-hyphenate entertainers, as well as reunions and retrospectives of venerable and lauded films and TV series. See the full lineup here!

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, will offer a limited number of subscriptions to its latest lineup of Broadway productions – the 2024-2025 season of its popular and acclaimed Toyota Broadway Las Vegas Series.

The full line-up includes Jadakiss, E-40, Rakim, Talib Kweli, Digable Planets, Busta Rhymes, Method Man and Redman, Scarface, Twista, Goodie Mob featuring Khujo, T-Mo, and Big Gipp, Mia X, 8Ball & MJG, Sa-Roc, and house band The Soul Rebels.

On the track, The Chainsmokers set the tempo with a breezy beat accented by earthy keys and slick cymbals, and Fridayy’s vocals melt into the icy bounce as he sings, “There’s nothing that’s stopping us, Is this like we’re young in love, Don’t care if we crash, Having the time of your life.” The song arrives nearly a decade after The Chainsmokers released their song “Roses” ft. ROZES and is a self-dubbed Part 2 of the song that started it all for the duo. Watch the video here!

Works & Process announces Bart Friedman has stepped down as Chair of Works & Process, a role he has held since 2008, becoming Chair Emeritus, with Stephen Kroll Reidy succeeding him as Chair.

Reports from both New Zealand and the United States show that not only is participation in the arts not waning, there is a large population that holds an interest in engaging with the arts. The question emerges of how best to reach these audiences with the right information and prices that can turn them from being curious to regular attendees.

Multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated Icelandic rockers KALEO have announced their North American “Payback Tour,” which will see the group headlining amphitheaters across the continent through the fall. KALEO recently celebrated their 10th anniversary by delivering a stunning live performance before 250 of their biggest fans at the Archeological Park of the Colosseum, Rome, and in the shadow of the world-famous amphitheater. See the dates here!

Now the UK's leading political comedian, Matt Forde will return to Edinburgh Festival Fringe ahead of the UK and US elections. His brand-new show The End of An Era Tour will run from 1st - 25th August at 8pm at Pleasance Beyond.