Bob Weir, guitarist, vocalist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, has died aged 78. His family confirmed that Weir passed peacefully on January 10, 2026, following complications from underlying lung issues. He had been diagnosed with cancer in mid-2025 and had successfully completed treatment.

Gibson Films has unveiled a major new music documentary project for 2026 with the worldwide premiere of Volume One of Iommi: The Godfather Of Heavy Metal. The limited docuseries begins streaming globally today via Gibson TV, opening an expansive exploration of the life, work and cultural impact of Tony Iommi, the guitarist whose sound reshaped rock music and established the foundations of heavy metal.

Six decades after The Doors first emerged from Los Angeles to redefine rock music, surviving members John Densmore and Robby Krieger have revisited one of the band's most enduring works through a new global collaboration with Playing For Change. The project brings a reimagined version of Riders On The Storm to life, uniting musicians and dancers from across the world in a performance that honours the legacy of The Doors while reinforcing music's power to connect cultures. The project includes an appearance from Australia’s William Barton.

Legendary singer and bassist Glenn Hughes has announced the cancellation of his 2026 U.S. tour, citing a “minor health issue that requires his attention over the upcoming months.” The news was shared by Hughes on his social media accounts on Friday, with a statement confirming that ticket and VIP upgrade refunds will be available from points of purchase.

German emo-punk and hardcore outfit Shoreline have unveiled their third studio album, Is This The Low Point Or The Moment After?, set for release on 13 March 2026 through Pure Noise Records. Alongside the announcement, the band released two singles, Sweet Spot and Out Of Touch, giving a first taste of the record's introspective yet dynamic sound.

David Bowie's formative years in south-east London are set to be preserved for fans and music historians alike, with the announcement that his childhood home at 4 Plaistow Grove, Bromley, will open to the public as an immersive cultural experience. The acquisition, made by the Heritage of London Trust, coincides with what would have been Bowie's 79th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his passing, offering a rare insight into the early environment of one of the world's most influential musicians.

Morrissey has confirmed the release of his fourteenth solo studio album Make-Up Is A Lie, marking his first full-length release in more than five years and a significant return to Sire Records. The album will be released on March 6, with the title track Make-Up Is A Lie unveiled immediately as the lead single.

Third Man Records has announced a major new archival release celebrating the creative force of Jimi Hendrix, revealing Valley Of Jams 1969-1970 as the 67th instalment in its long running Vault series. Created in partnership with Experience Hendrix and in connection with Legacy Recordings, the collection stands as a substantial document of Hendrix's improvisational studio work during the final chapter of his career.

Silversun Pickups have unveiled a new recording of Party In My Tummy, offering their own interpretation of the much loved song from the Yo Gabba GabbaLand! Season 2 soundtrack. The release arrives as the Los Angeles quartet prepare for the launch of their seventh studio album Tenterhooks, due out on February 6 via their New Machine Recordings imprint.

Forty years ago, on January 13, 1986, The Bangles released Different Light, an album that would transform the Los Angeles quartet from cult favourites of the Paisley Underground scene into international pop stars. With its slick production, irresistible hooks, and crossover appeal, Different Light remains the band's most successful record and a defining statement of mid-1980s pop rock.

HunterGirl opens 2026 with a release that feels grounded in memory and movement. Somewhere Wild, out now via 19 Recordings, BBR Music Group and BMG Nashville, marks a defining moment for the Tennessee born singer songwriter as she reconnects with the instincts that first pulled her toward music. The song arrives as a slow building, windswept piece that leans into space, reflection and the quiet desire to step away from noise and return to something elemental.

British heavy metal force Sylosis have sharpened their blade once again, unveiling the punishing new single Erased as the latest statement from their forthcoming seventh studio album The New Flesh. Due for release on February 20 via Nuclear Blast Records, the album arrives at a pivotal moment for a band that has spent more than two decades refining a sound built on precision, intensity and unwavering commitment to modern metal.

Finnish rock project Hokka have advanced their emerging mythology with the release of their second single Death By Cupid's Arrow, deepening the cinematic world first introduced on debut track In The Darkness. The new release reinforces the band's intent to operate on a grand narrative scale, combining stark emotional themes with the weight and drama associated with Finland's long tradition of dark, atmospheric rock.

Francis Rossi opens 2026 with renewed momentum, unveiling two brand new songs that mark the first chapter of his next studio album The Accidental, due for release on January 30, 2026. Issued today as a digital double single, Push Comes To Shove and November Again reaffirm Rossi’s enduring presence as one of British rock’s most distinctive voices and guitarists.

Fifteen years after its release, Seahaven's debut album Winter Forever continues to resonate with fans and critics alike. In early 2026, the Californian band will celebrate the milestone with the Winter Forever 15th Anniversary Tour, performing the album live in full for the first time.

Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum global superstar The Kid LAROI has unveiled his first full-length album in two years, Before I Forget, marking a defining moment in the 22-year-old's career. Known for his genre-blending approach and emotive songwriting, LAROI's latest work presents an intimate portrait of vulnerability, introspection, and creative confidence.

Perth rockers Electric State have officially joined the XMusic label family, marking a new chapter for one of Western Australia's most formidable live acts. To celebrate the signing, the band have dropped a high-octane music video for their latest single “What Do You Want”, a track that signals both resilience and relentless momentum.

Across nearly two decades with Busby Marou, Tom Busby’s songwriting has thrived on restraint, melodic patience and an instinctive understanding of place. With his debut solo album Rockhampton Hangover, Busby steps away from the shared harmonies and collective identity of the duo to reveal a more solitary creative voice, one that feels exposed, reflective and grounded in lived experience.

Australian indie rock mainstays Last Dinosaurs have opened a new chapter in their story with the release of two songs deeply connected to one of the most important records of their career. The Brisbane band have shared “Apxllo” and “Pink Flags”, the first official taste of Wellnxss, a complete reimagining and re-recording of their beloved 2015 sophomore album Wellness, due for release on February 13 via independent Canadian label Nettwerk.

Mon Rovîa has released his long awaited debut album Bloodline, a 16 track work that introduces a fully realised artistic statement from the Afro Appalachian singer songwriter whose journey spans continents, cultures, and generations. Available now, Bloodline positions Mon Rovîa as a major emerging voice, bringing together intimate storytelling with expansive themes of memory, identity, migration, grief, and resilience.

Freaks of Nature has confirmed its long awaited return to Saudi Arabia in 2026, unveiling the first phase of artists set to perform at its seventh edition, Freakyard. Across two weekends in February, the boutique electronic music and arts festival will once again transform the MDLBEAST Soundstorm site in Banban, Riyadh, into a multi layered immersive playground for dance music fans from around the world.

For five young musicians from Rome, Georgia, the rise of The Georgia Thunderbolts has been anything but ordinary. Built on relentless touring, deep respect for Southern rock tradition and an unshakeable sense of brotherhood, the band has spent the better part of a decade earning its reputation the hard way. Now, with the release of their new single Overlord, the group has chosen to pause, drawing the lights down on an intense and defining chapter of their story.

Scranton indie-rock stalwarts Tigers Jaw have unveiled their latest single, “Ghost,” offering a soaring glimpse into the band's highly anticipated seventh studio album, Lost On You, set for release on March 27 via Hopeless Records. The track follows December's lead single, “Head Is Like a Sinking Stone,” further cementing the band's reputation for emotive, guitar-driven rock that bridges introspection with expansive melody.

Melbourne is about to turn up the heat this summer as the Athenaeum Theatre welcomes the award-winning production of Saturday Night Fever, with performances kicking off on Thursday, January 8th, 2026, ahead of the official opening night on January 10th.

Sydney Festival opens today, marking its 50th anniversary with a city-wide celebration of theatre, dance, music, visual arts and immersive experiences. From today until Sunday 25 January, Sydney transforms into a living stage, inviting residents and visitors to gather, reflect and reconnect through a diverse program of performances and installations that honour half a century of cultural innovation while looking to the future.

Canadian indie collective Foxwarren has unveiled a new dimension to their 2025 album ‘2' with a remix of their single “Yvonne” by acclaimed electronic avant-pop artist Helado Negro. Known offstage as Roberto Lange, Helado Negro has reimagined the track into a shimmering, beat-driven piece that fuses subtle electronic textures with a warm, lilting pulse.

Stray Kids' ascent from a self-producing rookie act to one of the most commercially dominant forces in global pop is now being translated to the big screen for Australian audiences with Stray Kids: The DominATE Experience. The concert documentary captures the scale, ambition and intensity of the group's record-breaking Dominate World Tour, presenting it as a cinematic event rather than a conventional tour film.

Hawaiian singer-songwriter Thunderstorm Artis will return to Australia in March 2026, bringing his deeply personal live show to a carefully curated run of intimate venues across Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland. Designed to prioritise connection over scale, the tour places Artis in close proximity to audiences, allowing his warm vocal delivery and reflective songwriting to resonate in the way his music was always intended.

Baz Luhrmann is returning to the world of Elvis Presley with a bold new cinematic event, EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert, a film designed to place audiences inside the live experience Elvis himself never fully realised, a global tour beyond America's borders. Following its acclaimed unveiling at the Toronto International Film Festival, the project now begins its journey with a series of high profile Australian premieres, led by Luhrmann in person.

Two of the most enduring and influential names in punk and power pop, Redd Kross and The Hard-Ons, have confirmed a significant update to their long-awaited joint Australian tour, announcing a Melbourne Saturday night venue upgrade alongside full national support details and documentary screenings that further underline the depth of history shared by both bands.