Music Is 1976

Whether intentionally or not, London’s opera houses have leaned hard into the Halloween season with an unspoken theme of “go bleak or go home”. Over in Covent Garden, there’s a revival of Philip Venables’s 4.48 Psychosis (adapted from Sarah Kane’s final play, completed shortly before she took her life aged just 28). The English National Opera, meanwhile, has plumped for something even darker.

Watch Emily Skinner, Laiken Jules, and the cast of Goodspeed Musicals' 50th anniversary production of ANNIE rehearse 'Hard Knock Life' before performances begin in later this month.

Tulsa dedicated Jim Halsey Way to honor the legendary country music manager whose seven-decade career shaped the global reach of the genre. The OAK RIDGE BOYS joined the city for the tribute.

Boston DIY indie rock band Gollylagging released their debut record REAL LIFE via Disposable America. The band will perform record release shows in New York and Massachusetts.

Madonna's award-winning EVITA soundtrack will be released on vinyl for the first time as a 3LP deluxe set, marking the album's 30th anniversary. The release includes the Academy Award-winning "You Must Love Me" and features previously unavailable tracks.

A battle for the soul of the Labour Party, rival political factions battling for power amid arguments about Europe, all set against an deep economic crisis. No, not our current politics in 2026, but 1970's Britain where the Labour Party's Roy Jenkins, Denis Healey and Tony Crosland clash as they debate who out of their 'gang of three' should become deputy party leader in 1972 and 1976, prime minister in 1976 and then leader of the opposition in 1980.

Boston Modern Orchestra Project will present its season-opening concert featuring soprano Julia Bullock performing works by Samuel Barber and Matthew Aucoin, along with a world premiere by Anthony De Ritis.

John Wayne's first leading role stars in Raoul Walsh's 1930 Western THE BIG TRAIL, presented in its restored widescreen 70MM Fox Grandeur format at the Park Theatre in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.

A stellar cast celebrates 70 years of Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire's remarkable songwriting partnership at the American Songbook Association's gala, with dazzling performances, historic reunions, and an unforgettable emotional highlight.

Brenda Lee's remastered 1983 single arrives on streaming platforms for the first time, accompanied by her first-ever official music video now available in HD on YouTube.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will present the Tennessee premiere of Leonard Bernstein's complete SONGFEST, a rarely performed 12-song cycle featuring six vocalists and poetry by American poets, alongside works by Tchaikovsky and Julia Perry.

Singer and performer Claudia Bruce has released her debut album, I SIT IN MY ROOM, featuring songs written by Linda Mussmann across four decades of theatrical collaborations. The album spans material from 1984 to 2024.

Jean-Michel Jarre announced a 50th anniversary edition of his landmark album OXYGENE, featuring a new 2026 remaster from original tapes and the album presented in Dolby Atmos for the first time via BMG.

Resonance Records will release a newly discovered 1976 live recording of saxophonist Clifford Jordan performing with pianist Al Haig, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Kenny Clarke at Chicago's Jazz Showcase.

Frank Zappa's 1976 album ZOOT ALLURES will receive an expansive reissue featuring over five hours of additional audio, including a previously unreleased 1976 Paris concert, studio outtakes, and the first-ever release of NIGHT OF THE IRON SAUSAGE, Zappa's original two-album incarnation.

Elsinore will present Lee Blessing's A BODY OF WATER at the Athenaeum Center, featuring Elsinore founders Lori Rohr and Jamie Ewing alongside Ella Gatlin in a drama about memory and identity.

Theater for the New City marks five decades of its East Village Halloween tradition with performances, aerial dance, live music, cabaret, and a costume contest.

A new book by Brian Beck and Piotr Orlov features essays from 80 celebrated musicians, including Dolly Parton, Erykah Badu, Chris Stapleton, and Jamie xx, highlighting overlooked and beloved albums.

Rowan Atkinson will bring his new theatre show ROWAN LIVE to the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London for a strictly limited season of 30 performances, featuring his most famous comedy sketches and iconic characters.

Milan Records has released the CONTROL Resonant soundtrack, featuring Petri Alanko's score and the vocal track 'The One I Once Knew' with Amelia Jones.

Riverside Studios in Hammersmith announced its winter season lineup, featuring eight productions including TINDERELLA, LITTLE LORD FONDLEROY, and ACT OF GOD as part of the venue's 50th anniversary celebration.

Bergen Performing Arts Center will launch its centennial celebration with an evening featuring Tony-nominated performer Vanessa Williams, a multi-platinum recording artist and acclaimed actress.

Composer Huang Ruo will serve as Seattle Opera's first Composer-in-Residence, beginning with the Seattle premiere of M. BUTTERFLY and culminating in the world premiere of THE WEDDING BANQUET.

The Public Theater revealed its 2026-27 season lineup, expanding to 18 productions. The season includes world premieres from playwright Caryl Churchill and theater company Elevator Repair Service, plus new works by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen.

Hannah Cohen released a cover of Robert Lester Folsom's 'Music and Dreams' from the MUSIC AND DREAMS: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, a re-release of Folsom's 1976 debut record via Anthology.