Though it appears touring is no longer on the table for Alex Lifeson, the Rush six-stringer has had plenty of creative enjoyment with Envy of None — including shredding his way through some inimitable solos on the project's second album. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Lifeson shares that the follow-up to band's self-titled 2022 debut features "one song that I actually play, like, an Alex Lifeson solo on." "I've been getting away from that for so long," Lifeson said of his lead playing. "And I did it, and we played it for a few people in the band and a couple of other people that are ..read more

Well this is definitely a little too familiar for our liking: a new spinoff of The Office is coming to Peacock, and it's set in a struggling newspaper. The horrifying official blurb [via Variety] describes the show like this: "The documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch is in search of a new subject when they discover a dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters." What an absolutely horrifying synopsis for a journalist to read! Is this how paper industry employees felt when they watched the original British v ..read more

While it may not technically even be summer yet, we're already looking forward to September. POP Montreal organizers have unveiled the names of the first performers for the 23rd edition of the festival, set to take place from September 25 to 29. The newly reunited Sunset Rubdown, newly returned Marnie Stern, and the ever-idiosyncratic Cassandra Jenkins are leading the pack, alongside foundational Montreal pop bands Stars and the Dears, who will perform a 20th anniversary double-feature of Set Yourself on Fire and No Cities Left.  Also among the acts hitting the stage at this year's iter ..read more

Edmonton electronic music event BOMFEST has announced its 2024 lineup, including headliner Armin Van Buuren. The show takes place on June 22 at Fan Park in Edmonton's ICE District. Rounding out the lineup are Imanbek, Jauz, Luttrell, Laura Van Dam, Seelo and David Stone. According to a press release, "This year's festival promises to be the biggest yet, featuring some of the world's top electronic acts. The event will showcase a wide range of electronic music genres, from trance to dubstep to house." BOMFEST tickets start at $99.95 plus charges. They're on sale now ..read more

Steve Albini — the frontman of Shellac and Big Black who was also a notable producer of albums by Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey and more — has died. Staff at Albini's recording studio, Electric Audio, confirmed to Pitchfork that he passed away of a heart attack. He was 61. Next week, Shellac will share To All Trains, marking their first album in a decade. This is a developing story ..read more

Your 2024 JUNO Awards host Nelly Furtado has been cookin'. Over the last year or so, she's been in the studio with the likes of Charlotte Day Wilson, Lido Pimienta, Dom Dolla, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, as well as chatting up a storm with Shawn Desman. As it turns out, Furtado's collaborative plans are only getting started: she's teasing the release of a new single featuring Swedish pop star Tove Lo and English producer SG Lewis. Now available to presave, "Love Bites" will officially be released on May 22. That landing page also indicates "and more music upcoming from Nelly Furtado," s ..read more

One of the nation's largest festivals dedicated to new music, Canadian Music Week (CMW) returns to Toronto for its 42nd year in 2024. From June 1 to 8, over 250 acts will perform in more than 25 venues across the city — and festival organizers have now revealed the full programming details. CMW headliners this year include Walk Off the Earth, TESTPILOT and JAUZ, Kingfish, Easy Mo Bee, Peter Raffoul, Dallas Smith, Katie Tupper, Devon Cole and ROSIE, KILLY, Charlotte Day Wilson, Tekno, Softcult, Allie X, and INZO. Among the other showcasing artists are Finger Eleven, Boeckner, Ouri, Yaya Bey ..read more

MUTEK Festival organizers have announced the complete crew of artists gearing up to take over Montreal for the fest's 25th anniversary edition, which will be held from August 20 to 25 at multiple venues throughout the city.  Performers joining the previously announced slate of acts led by Colin Stetson, Marie Davidson and Fred Everything include Korea Town Acid, CUERPOS, Mike Shannon, Piezo, Liftkit and Arc & Texture. A huge wave of Quebec-based artists have joined the fray as well, including softcoresoft, Persuasion, Nick Schofield, Bénédicte, Sinjin Hawke with Zora Jones, CLOUD BO ..read more

Jamboree — the Winnipeg trio made up of Sky Parenteau, Nick Lavich and Alex Braun — have announced their third album Summerland, arriving June 28. Alongside the announcement, the band have also shared lead single "Systems." Inspired partly by the Winnipeg apartment complex of the same name  — two towers connected by a tropical greenhouse atrium that "suspends summer indefinitely" — Summerland was written over a series of years and recorded over a period of months with producer Lino D'Ottavio in his basement studio. The album is described as "a collection of suburban visions of backyard ..read more

Back in September, Los Angeles rock duo Deap Vally announced their breakup and a farewell tour, which has since been expanded to include shows across Europe and the UK. Now, the combo of Julie Edwards and Lindsey Troy have announced the release of a surprise final EP of new music, led by the single "It's My World." Following their now-final album, 2021's Marriage, ep(ilogue) arrives May 24 via Deap Vally Records. Of the rip-roaring lead single, Troy said, "'It's My World' is about living your best life, being authentically YOU without giving a damn what anybody else thinks." Deap Vally are c ..read more