Listen to The Current’s Morning Show every weekday at 9 a.m. to hear news from around the world of music.
Friday, September 25
U2 announce long-awaited new album Carnaval De Luz and share charismatic single ‘Silencio’ (NME)
U2 have announced their new album. It’s called Carnaval De Luz, and The Edge has called it, “…a messy, provocative, sacred collection of songs.” The album will arrive on the band’s 50th anniversary, and features a song called “Torn,” which is a duet between Bono and Dolly Parton. The song was her last recorded vocal performance. There is also a song called “The Mirror Maker (Rosalía),” that doesn’t actually feature the Spanish superstar, but was inspired by her. Carnaval De Luz will be released on November 13.
The Beach Boys Suddenly Cancel September Shows Without Explanation (Consequence)
The Beach Boys cancelled a run of shows over the summer and were set to return this fall, but now they have announced that concerts scheduled for September will not be happening so 85-year-old frontman Mike Love can “recharge.” The June shows were cancelled because Love was suffering from an unspecified illness. As of now, an October 9 concert in Illinois is still on. The group has played over 40 shows this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Pet Sounds.
Phoebe Bridgers shares new song ‘On Video’ from Robert Pattinson film ‘Primetime’ (NME)
Phoebe Bridgers made her acting debut in the new A24 film Primetime, and now she’s released a new song for the movie. It’s called “On Video” and draws on elements from the film’s score. You can hear it play during the closing credits. Primetime is a thriller starring Robert Pattinson inspired by the NBC television series To Catch a Predator. Pattinson plays the role of journalist Chris Hansen, and Bridgers plays one of the project’s decoys. The song comes just a month after Bridgers released her Lost Weekend album. Both the song and the film are out now.
Morphine Unveil Lost Album Cocoon (Pitchfork)
Morphine fans, get ready to get excited! The band has announced the release of a lost album named Cocoon. The record was started – and shelved – back in 1998, a year before the death of frontman Mark Sandman. Now, the remaining members of the band have gotten together to finish the project. Cocoon has eight tracks on it and comes twenty-six years after the group’s last release, their fifth album The Night, which was posthumously released in 2000. The songs got a new mix from the group’s production team, and updated saxophone parts were recorded for three of the songs by band member Dana Colley. Cocoon will be out December 4.
Thursday, September 24
Michael Kiwanuka gave an update on Instagram, where he revealed that he’s got a new album on the way, but also that he suffered a stroke earlier this year and is undergoing rehabilitation. The new record is called FUDGE, and Kiwanuka said he’s especially happy about it because of the recent health issues he’s been battling, which he said, “would heavily hinder and get in the way of me making music for the foreseeable future.” He went on to say that the stroke he suffered happened after a brain bleed caused by high blood pressure and called his brain injury “quite severe.” He’s not sure when he’ll be able to tour again as he is still working on his recovery, but after thanking his medical team and friends and family, he did say more news about the new record is on the way. No word yet on a release date for FUDGE.
‘There Is No Feud’: Dolly Parton’s Sister Freida Weighs In on Family Drama (Billboard)
It looks like there might be trouble when it comes to Dolly Parton’s estate. On Tuesday, She’s Alive, LLC, the corporation in charge of managing Parton’s business ventures, filed a restraining order against Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver, who you might remember as her longtime head of security and the person who made the video announcement confirming her death. She’s Alive is run by Parton’s former manager Danny Nozell. Billboard reported that a lawsuit the publication obtained alleges that Seaver had been using threats of violence to try to extort money from Parton’s estate, and is seeking a restraining order prohibiting him from interfering with its business operations and requiring him to stay at least 1,000 feet away from all personnel, although it does NOT seek to cut him out of any inheritance. According to NME, Seaver did give a statement to TMZ about the lawsuit, saying he “stands by” most of the comments he made, and alleges that they have been taken out of context. He confirmed to ABC News that he was fired after his aunt’s death, and said that “the restraining order is spurious and simply a publicity stunt.” Now, Dolly’s younger sister Freida has chimed in, saying there really isn’t any family feud happening. She said on Instagram, “I’ll say this and this only: there is no feud within our family. No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly’s estate. We all love Bryan just as we all love each other. I love you all!!” The situation is ongoing.
Angine de Poitrine Awarded 2026 Polaris Prize (Pitchfork)
Extra terrestrial polka dot duo Angine de Poitrine have won Canada’s Polaris Prize… two of them, actually! Angine de Poitrine won Canadian Album of the Year award for their record Vol. II AND won Canadian Song of the Year for “Fabienk,” which makes them the first act to ever win both. As they bask in their win, Angine de Poitrine will be heading this way. They’ve got two shows scheduled at First Avenue on December 1 and 2.
Peter Byrne, Singer and Co-Founder of Naked Eyes, Dead at 74 (Rolling Stone)
Peter Byrne, co-founder and vocalist for British New Wave band Naked Eyes, has died. A spokesperson for the band confirmed Byrne’s death, saying he passed “peacefully … after a brief illness.” Naked Eyes rose to fame in the 1980s with songs “Always Something There to Remind Me” and “Promises, Promises.” Peter Byrne was 74 years old.
Wednesday, September 23
Lionel Richie Undergoes Heart Procedure, Cancels 3 Upcoming Shows: ‘Everything Went Perfectly’ (Billboard)
Lionel Richie has undergone a heart procedure to correct a condition called atrial fibrillation, which is an erratic heartbeat that can be caused by inefficient blood flow and can cause dizziness and fatigue. The news comes after Richie struggled during his co-headlining tour with Earth Wind & Fire, and even postponed a number of shows. A representative for Richie told Billboard that Richie’s doctor said everything went perfectly, and that while Lionel is doing great, he will take some time off and be back on stage soon. His recent tour kicked off at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, where Richie had to sit down while performing his hit “Dancing on the Ceiling,” before exiting the stage. His next three shows are cancelled, but as of now, it looks like his six-date Las Vegas residency is still on. It starts on Oct. 14.
Dead Kennedys Guitarist East Bay Ray Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (Consequence)
Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The news comes via a statement from the band that also said, “Ray says he plans to continue performing and touring with Dead Kennedys for as long as his health allows, and expresses his appreciation to everyone for their continued support.”
Apple to Open Concert Venue Inside of London’s Battersea Power Station (Consequence)
Apple is getting into the venue game. It’s opening a new live music facility inside London’s Battersea Power Station. The hall will seat 600 people and also have recording and mixing studios, and multi-camera broadcast capabilities to capture live performances. The venue will also house Apple Music’s radio stations in London. Battersea Power Station might seem familiar to some… it was on the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1977 album Animals.
Chvrches Return With First Song in Three Years (Pitchfork)
Chvrches have released their first new song in three years. It’s called “Roses” and lead vocalist Lauren Mayberry said in a press release, “This is the longest break we had ever taken between albums and when we got together to write new music, we wanted to really push ourselves and not be retreading ground we’d walked before.” She said she thinks they really achieved that, and that the group is excited to be back. No word yet on if a full-length record is on the way, but we’ll keep our eye on it.
Tuesday, September 22
Sylvan Esso makes music available on Spotify again after year-long boycott (NME)
Sylvan Esso have once again made their music available on Spotify after boycotting the platform for a year. The group, along with a number of other artists, pulled their music off the site after reports came out last year that then Spotify CEO Daniel Ek led investments into a company that used AI and drones for military operations. Now, Amelia Meath said in a video posted to social media on Friday that, “It’s become more and more apparent that if we are going to continue to employ everyone that we employ, it is unsustainable for us not to be on that platform, so we are going to put it back up on there.” She also made sure to let fans know that she doesn’t like it and is frustrated by the situation. Sylvan Esso’s new album, Ow ∞ was released earlier this month. They’ve got two shows scheduled at First Avenue on October 23 and 24.
Ozzfest Confirms US Return in 2027 (Consequence)
It looks like Ozzfest will make it’s return! A graphic posted to the festival’s social media said, “Ozzfest will come to the UK and US,” with the caption, “More info coming soon. Where are you hoping Ozzfest 2027 will pop up?” No word yet on where it might land or who is on the lineup, but more details are expected to be released in the future.
Atmosphere Announce Winter Carnival Tour
Hometown heroes Atmosphere have announced dates for their Winter Carnival Tour, and it’s right around the corner. The run of shows will kick off on January 14 in Green Bay, Wisconsin before traveling to Omaha; Bozeman, Montana; Colorado, and more before wrapping up at First Avenue in Minneapolis on February 7th. Souls of Mischief, Mac Lethal & Blueprint are also on the bill. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10 am local time.
Monday, September 21
New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert dies aged 45 (NME)
Chad Gilbert, producer and guitarist for New Found Glory, has died. Gilbert shared a cancer diagnosis five years ago, and news of his death was announced via a statement on social media that said he passed away peacefully in his sleep while surrounded by friends and family. Gilbert helped found New Found Glory in the 90s and was the band’s lead guitarist and one of it’s principal songwriters. He also produced a number of records in the pop-punk and hardcore music world. Chad Gilbert was 45 years old.
CD revenue up by nearly 60 per cent in first half of 2026 (NME)
CD revenue is up by nearly 60% for the first half of 2026. According to The Recording Industry Association Of America’s mid-year report, revenue from cds increased by 58.6 per cent so far this year for a total of $171million. In comparison, vinyl sales grew by about 2.4 percent, but still brought in about $554 million for the first six months of the year. Revenue from physical media increased by 25.9 per cent overall, and it looks like that’s in addition to streaming, which rose about by 4.8 per cent in 2026, so far.
Metallica and Limp Bizkit are hitting the road together in 2027 (NME)
Metallica has announced tour dates for next year, and it looks like Limp Bizkit is also on the bill! The 2027 dates of the group’s long-running M72 tour (which kicked off in April 2023) will start in May in Vancouver, and while it won’t stop in the Twin Cities again this go ‘round, you can catch Metallica and Limp Bizkit in Madison on June 12.
Neil Young Releases Second Song, the 50th Album in His Illustrious Career (Consequence)
Neil Young has released his 50th album! It’s called Second Song, and it dropped last week- this also marks his second release with his band The Chrome Hearts. The record features seven songs that date back to the 1960s, five of which have never been released before. The record also features unreleased versions of songs “Casting Me Away From You” and “I’ll Love You Forever.” Second Song is out now.
Tune-Yards Line Up U.S. Tour (Pitchfork)
Tune-Yards have announced a run of shows across the U.S. While the duo won’t be coming to the Twin Cities, the tour will kick off in Chicago on November 5th.
