After nearly two decades away from the album format that first defined them, The Format have reemerged not as a nostalgia act, but as a fully revitalized creative force. With the release of Boycott Heaven on January 23, 2026 via The Vanity Label, the duo of Nate Ruess and Sam Means have delivered a record that feels both rooted in their past and sharply attuned to the present. We can sincerely say it’s our album of the year and nothing else that gets shared this year will even come close.

Whitney have always had a gift for turning the everyday into something luminous, but Small Talk feels like the album where they’ve distilled everything they’ve been chasing since their debut into one cohesive statement. Set for release November 7th on AWAL, the Chicago band’s fourth record is not just their most affecting to date, it’s arguably their best, full stop. If their past albums flirted with brilliance, this one weds it, an effortless blend of their signature soft-focus soul, shimmering folk-rock warmth, and tenderly crafted pop that glows from the first note to the last.

Gogol Bordello has never been a band content with just raising the roof—they raise the entire damn village. This summer, frontman Eugene Hütz is leading the gypsy-punk collective into a blazing season of chaos, community, and continuity. Touring with a crew of handpicked artists from his label Casa Gogol Records, Hütz is not only reasserting the band’s legacy as live legends, but also highlighting the next wave of genre-busting artists redefining what New York sounds like in 2025.

Before their performance at Shabang Festival, I sat down and talked with the members of Almost Monday, an indie pop band from San Diego, CA. The three members, Dawson Daugherty (vocals), Cole Clisby (guitar), and Luke Fabry (bass), recently finished their first full international headline tour this past March. At the beginning of the year, they released the deluxe version of their debut album, DIVE, with their hit “can’t slow down” hitting #1 on Alternative Radio.

The countdown to one of America’s most beloved music festivals just accelerated. Outside Lands has officially revealed its daily lineups for the 2026 edition, setting the stage for three massive days of music, culture, and culinary celebration inside San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Park from August 7 through August 9.

The California desert is preparing for a rare electronic music gathering this fall. Promoter Goldenvoice has officially announced Head Trip, a one-time-only event landing at the iconic Empire Polo Club on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2026. Festivalgoers can register now for access to passes at HEADTRIPINDIO.COM, with passes officially going on sale Friday, March 13 at 11AM PT.

San Francisco’s beloved summer ritual is officially warming up. Outside Lands is back with major early-year announcements that signal a thoughtful evolution for one of North America’s most celebrated music festivals. Now entering its 18th year, the festival returns to the iconic Golden Gate Park from August 7–9, and the road to 2026 kicks off with a lineup reveal scheduled for Tuesday, March 3.

New York’s signature summer ritual is back in full force. After celebrating its 15th anniversary with widespread critical acclaim in 2025, Governors Ball Music Festival returns with a 2026 lineup that reads like a cultural crossroads, where global superstardom, underground credibility, and hometown pride all collide. From June 5 to 7, Flushing Meadows Corona Park once again becomes the beating heart of the city’s music scene, perfectly timed with New York Music Month and pulsing with the sound of what’s next.