The time has come! Following a $41 million renovation and restoration by Bay Area’s Another Planet Entertainment (APE), the historic Castro Theatre will reopen in February 2026, with the first major act slated to be international sensation Sam Smith for his “To Be Free: San Francisco” eight-night residency set for February 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20 & 21.

Blue Élan Records proudly releases Father’s Daughter, the debut album from Essence & Gold Country. A deeply personal and autobiographical work, the record chronicles Essence’s journey through love, loss, and resilience—woven with the Appalachian Americana and country influences she has long cherished.

This past weekend the Boston-based indie retro pop/soul seven-piece band Couch made their national television debut on CBS Saturday Morning’s coveted Saturday Sessions. The appearance follows the release of their latest hooky earworm “On The Wire.” The group’s vibrant debut album Big Talk is due out October 24 and is available to pre-save now ahead of an extensive international tour.

Sweetwater Music Hall, the storied Mill Valley nonprofit venue that has been a home to the counterculture and beyond since 1972, keeps the fall calendar packed with music for Deadheads, hippies, and fans of every genre. Jam fans will zero in on Pink Talking Fish, the beloved fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish, performing November 1 and 2.

Ashkenaz, the legendary Berkeley nonprofit music and dance community hub since 1973, is rolling out a stacked lineup this fall with a special emphasis on Jerry Garcia Band Month. Deadheads will want to circle dates with Stu Allen & Reflections, who honor Garcia and the Grateful Dead across multiple nights: October 1, October 10, October 15, and October 29.

Symphonic Rock pioneers Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty will present The History of Renaissance on November 21 and 22 at the Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville, IL/St. Louis), November 28 at the Newton Theatre (Newton, NJ), and November 29 at the Lansdowne Theatre (Lansdowne, PA).

In partnership with Mission Ballroom, Better Together Denver (BTD), a volunteer-run 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement among Denverites, will bring music and mission together on Thursday, October 2, 2025, with a benefit concert headlined by world-renowned DJ and producer Deorro.

Neal Francis returns to Denver with his Return To Zero Tour. The Chicago-based singer, songwriter, and pianist has built a reputation for visionary, analog-driven music that fuses timeless rock & roll with ’70s-era dance grooves. His new album Return To Zero is his most ambitious work yet, pairing heavy guitar riffs with lush, pulsating rhythms in a moodier, funk-meets-rock landscape.

Limerick-born, New Jersey–based roots artist Helen O’Shea is set to release her new single “Chaos” on October 10 — the third single from her highly anticipated album Songs In The Key of O, which pays homage to Sinéad O’Connor and Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries), and is due for release on March 6, 2026.

Two relentless storms once drowned the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, transforming quiet valleys into raging torrents. Within hours, rivers leapt their banks and tore through homes and neighborhoods. This was not the flood of 2024 — but the devastating flood of 1916, a tragedy etched deep into Asheville’s history.