Music News

Playing For Change has announced a major global tribute marking the 60th anniversary of The Doors, unveiling a new “Riders On The Storm” Song Around The World set to premiere on January 9, 2026. The project brings together surviving Doors members John Densmore and Robby Krieger, honours the late Ray Manzarek, and features the unmistakable recorded vocals of Jim Morrison, reintroduced through a worldwide, cross cultural performance spanning eight countries.

Billy Joel has made an unannounced return to the stage, delivering his first live performance since revealing his diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, offering fans a brief but emotional reminder of his enduring presence in popular music. The surprise appearance took place on January 2 at the Wellington Amphitheater in Florida during celebrations marking the village's 30th anniversary.

Queen have once again opened the vaults, with Brian May confirming that an unreleased track titled Not For Sale (Polar Bear) will finally receive an official release as part of a major 2026 reissue of Queen II. The song, shared publicly for the first time in a rough, work-in-progress form late last year, predates the formation of Queen itself and reaches back to the band's earliest creative roots.

Rainbow's formative years are set to be documented in unprecedented detail with the announcement of Rainbow The Temple Of The King 1975-1976, a lavish 9CD boxset arriving on March 6th 2026 via Edsel Records. Covering the opening chapter of the band's history, the collection stands as the most comprehensive archival release yet devoted to the early vision of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore following his departure from Deep Purple.

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band will be celebrated with Good Evening Boys & Girls, a major new archival release documenting the group at full flight on stage. The comprehensive 21 CD box set brings together concert recordings spanning the band's most vital years, capturing the performances that built their formidable reputation across the UK, Europe and beyond.

Classic Canadian rock will be front and centre in 2026, with April Wine confirmed as special guests on Triumph's long awaited North American tour. For fans of homegrown hard rock, it is a rare double bill that brings together two bands whose histories have been intertwined for almost five decades.

Wanstock will deliver a genuine first in 2026, with Canadian hitmakers Loverboy confirmed to play their debut Australian shows when the festival returns to Sydney and Melbourne in March. The long-running rock event has grown steadily since its beginnings in 2018 and now stands as one of the most reliable gatherings for classic rock devotees, with next year's line-up built around an unprecedented mix of Australian and international acts.