What-is-Hip

Tonight on JamFest: What is Hip?! Radio Show — Spotlight on New Orleans Jazz and the Latest Local Music Scene

by JamFestWhat is Hip?!

New Orleans, Louisiana—universally celebrated as the birthplace of jazz—is the focal point of tonight’s What is Hip?! Radio Show on JamFest. From the earliest strains of Dixieland jazz, often called traditional jazz or “New Orleans jazz,” to the modern sounds keeping the city’s music legacy alive today, New Orleans has always been a city where music breathes in every street, corner, and stage.

Tonight, JamFest takes you straight into the heart of the Crescent City’s vibrant scene, blending history, culture, and live sound in a way only What is Hip?! Radio Show can deliver. Every performance featured on JamFest is live, capturing the spontaneity, passion, and energy that defines New Orleans music. From jazz standards to contemporary grooves, listeners experience the authentic sound of the city without compromise.

Major Upcoming Event: Rockin’ 1000 Comes to New Orleans

The excitement in New Orleans is building for the U.S. debut of Rockin’ 1000 on January 31, 2026, at the Caesars Superdome. Known worldwide for assembling 1,000 musicians to play in perfect synchrony, Rockin’ 1000 promises a massive, unmissable spectacle. New Orleans, with its rich musical heritage, is the perfect city for this monumental event, merging community spirit with the raw, live energy that JamFest celebrates.

Funding Crisis Hits Local Musicians

Despite its thriving music scene, New Orleans artists are facing challenges offstage. A city budget crisis has temporarily paused grants from the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy and the City Council’s Recreation and Culture Fund, impacting numerous musicians, artists, and cultural non-profits.

Organizations affected include:

  • Ellis Marsalis Center for Music – A cornerstone of Musicians’ Village, nurturing generations of jazz talent.
  • Cafe Reconcile – A youth-focused workforce training program blending music and social empowerment.
  • UnCommon Construction – Supporting young apprentices while preserving cultural traditions.

While individual grant recipients have not been publicly named, the pause is already creating uncertainty across the city’s creative community, highlighting the delicate balance of culture and funding in a city synonymous with music.

Album Releases and Tributes

The Crescent City’s music scene continues to honor its legends:

  • Clap Hands – Friends and collaborators of the late drummer, singer, and songwriter Carlo Nuccio have completed his final album. A free, all-ages listening party and celebration is scheduled for Sunday, November 16, at The Broadside Pavilion.
  • Tribute Concert at Tipitina’s – Honoring Art Neville and Eddie Bo, this one-night-only concert benefits the Musicians’ Clinic, ensuring the legacy of these New Orleans icons lives on.

These events underscore the city’s deep respect for its musical pioneers while keeping the scene vibrant and connected.

Live Music Highlights: November 13–19, 2025

New Orleans is alive with music this week. Notable live performances include:

  • Acid Bath – South Louisiana’s revived sludge rock band headlines at UNO Lakefront Arena on Saturday, November 15, after a 28-year hiatus.
  • Andy Bell of Erasure – One-half of the British synth-pop duo brings his solo Ten Crowns tour to the Orpheum Theater, blending electronic pop with live energy.
  • Jazz Nights at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro – Including the Jason Marsalis & Victor Goines Quintet and Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, delivering the signature improvisation and spontaneity of New Orleans jazz.

Every performance embodies JamFest’s mission: live music, raw and unfiltered, connecting artists and audiences in real time.

New Venue Spotlight: The Barnett – JDV by Hyatt

The Warehouse District welcomes the newly reopened Barnett – JDV by Hyatt, formerly the Ace Hotel. This 4-star venue features refreshed dining and live music spaces, providing a fresh hub for performances and nightlife in New Orleans. Its reopening reflects the city’s resilience and dedication to keeping its music culture thriving.

Tune in Tonight: What is Hip?! Radio Show

Tonight’s What is Hip?! Radio Show celebrates New Orleans’ unparalleled jazz legacy while spotlighting the latest news, concerts, and tributes from the city. JamFest listeners will experience the magic of live performances, just as New Orleans musicians intend it—spontaneous, vibrant, and full of soul.

Whether you’re a jazz aficionado, a rock enthusiast, or a fan of live musical energy, JamFest delivers New Orleans to your ears, bringing the streets, clubs, and concert halls of the Crescent City directly to your home.

Stream What is Hip?! Radio Show tonight on JamFest — because in New Orleans, the music is always live, always authentic, and always unforgettable.

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JamFest Spotlight on The NRN Radio Show as Brandi Carlile Returns with Soul-Stirring Album Returning to Myself Tonight

by JamFestNRN Radio Show

Brandi Carlile, one of modern music’s most compelling voices, is back with an album that fans and critics alike are calling a triumph. Returning to Myself, released on October 24, 2025 via Interscope Records and Lost Highway, is a deeply personal work that revisits the singer-songwriter foundations that first brought Carlile to prominence while exploring new emotional and musical terrains. Tonight, listeners have the chance to dive into her latest work during the NRN Radio Show segment Unveiling the Enchantment: A Very Special Handpicked New Release by Your Favorite Music Artist, highlighting selected tracks and behind-the-scenes insights from Carlile herself.

Critical Acclaim: A Universal Consensus
Returning to Myself has garnered overwhelming praise, achieving a Metascore of 82 from seven professional reviews. Every critic surveyed praised the album, a rare feat that underscores its resonance across diverse audiences.

Variety describes the work as a “singer/songwriter record in the classic sense,” highlighting its intimate, transformative qualities reminiscent of 1970s LPs, where each note and lyric invites listeners to slow down and experience moments of reflection. Paste Magazine emphasizes Carlile’s vulnerability and emotional honesty, noting how the album communicates profound feelings without tipping into melodrama. Glide Magazine lauds the record as “beautifully and articulately rendered,” celebrating Carlile’s comfort in experimenting with new musical directions while staying unmistakably herself.

Classic Rock Magazine and Mojo praised the album’s stylistic diversity, from the poignant storytelling of A Long Goodbye to the dramatic energy of Church & State and the angelic harmonies of You Without Me and Joni. Rolling Stone notes that the album shines brightest when Carlile is fully immersed in introspective storytelling, and AllMusic highlights its understated elegance, confirming Carlile’s enduring gift as a communicator who blends technical mastery with heartfelt emotion.

Themes of Resilience and Self-Discovery
Thematically, Returning to Myself reflects Carlile’s journey of reflection, growth, and self-expression. After a four-year gap since 2021’s In These Silent Days, the singer returns to the studio with fresh experiences and perspectives, translating them into songs that are at once deeply personal and universally relatable. Tracks like the contemplative You Without Me and the country-inflected narrative of No One Knows Us explore life, love, loss, and resilience with nuanced lyricism and emotional depth.

Musically, Carlile fuses acoustic folk, soft rock, and subtle country influences, complemented by layered harmonies and meticulously crafted instrumentation. Longtime fans will recognize familiar touches of Carlile’s earlier sound, while also discovering new stylistic ventures, including nods to iconic influences like Joni Mitchell, adding historical and emotional richness to the album.

Fan Reception and Standout Tracks
Fans have responded enthusiastically to Returning to Myself, echoing the critical consensus. The album’s sincerity, vocal dynamism, and emotional transparency have resonated strongly with audiences. Standout tracks include Church & State, You Without Me, and the title track Returning to Myself, which serves as the emotional and philosophical centerpiece of the album.

Whether you’re a lifelong follower of Carlile’s work or discovering her for the first time, Returning to Myself offers a thoughtful, soul-stirring experience. Its blend of introspection, resilience, and artistic growth cements Carlile’s position as one of her generation’s most authentic and compelling voices.

Tune in to NRN Radio Show Tonight
Tonight’s NRN Radio Show presents Unveiling the Enchantment: A Very Special Handpicked New Release by Your Favorite Music Artist, featuring Returning to Myself. Listeners can explore selected tracks, hear Carlile’s personal reflections on the album, and gain a rare glimpse into the stories and inspirations behind one of 2025’s most celebrated releases.

With Returning to Myself, Brandi Carlile proves once again that she is a master of emotional storytelling, musical sophistication, and authentic artistry. Fans and newcomers alike are invited to experience the album tonight on NRN Radio Show and witness why critics are hailing it as a universally acclaimed addition to Carlile’s distinguished career.

For full coverage, interviews, and in-depth analysis of Brandi Carlile’s latest work, visit JamFest.

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Billy Strings Ignites Asbury Park Tonight on JamFest, A Legendary Night at The Stone Pony Returns to the Airwaves on Live Nuggets Tonight

by JamFestLive Nuggets

Tonight at 9PM EST, Live Nuggets Radio dives deep into one of the most unforgettable nights in modern jamgrass history — Billy Strings, live from The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, recorded on November 10, 2019. This week’s Live Nuggets broadcast is a full-length, handpicked performance aired in its entirety — a sonic time capsule of raw talent, improvisational mastery, and pure musical electricity.

Few venues embody the spirit of live music like The Stone Pony. Nestled on the Asbury Park boardwalk, it’s a place where legends are born and sounds ripple through generations. On that cool November night in 2019, the Pony became a cathedral of strings, rhythm, and energy as Billy Strings and his band unleashed a performance that bridged the traditional soul of bluegrass with the fearless exploration of jam-rock.

The show opens with Away From the Mire, a sprawling journey of emotion and melody that sets the tone for the night. From there, the setlist is a masterclass in dynamics — Turmoil & Tinfoil, Fireline, and Meet Me at the Creek deliver blistering tempos and soaring solos that had the crowd spinning in a trance of rhythm. The instrumental interplay showcased Billy’s uncanny ability to shift between precision and chaos, between tradition and innovation.

As the night unfolded, the audience was treated to the full spectrum of Strings’ artistry — from the reflective beauty of Love and Regret to the storytelling elegance of Watch It Fall and In the Morning Light. Each song bled seamlessly into the next, weaving together moments of delicate stillness with explosive bursts of jam-fueled improvisation. The chemistry between band and crowd was palpable, a feedback loop of energy that made this Asbury performance feel more like a shared experience than a concert.

The encore sealed the night’s legend. Rocket City took flight with joyous momentum before the band dove headfirst into an extended “Turmoil Jam”, a 15-minute improvisational odyssey that pushed every boundary of bluegrass form. It was the kind of finale that made jaws drop and hearts race — the essence of live music distilled into pure, unfiltered expression.

Fans often cite this Stone Pony show as one of the defining moments of Billy Strings’ early touring years — a turning point where his name began to resonate beyond bluegrass circles and into the wider world of jam and rock audiences. Tonight’s Live Nuggets broadcast gives listeners a front-row seat to that pivotal moment, capturing not just a performance, but a movement in motion.

Every Tuesday night, Live Nuggets Radio delivers something special — a complete, handpicked live concert from the archives of the world’s best musicians. Each week’s show celebrates the art of live performance, the unpredictability of improvisation, and the communities that form around it. But tonight’s feature is especially significant, bringing Billy Strings’ Stone Pony triumph back to life for fans old and new.

Tune in to Live Nuggets tonight at 9PM EST to relive this unforgettable evening of bluegrass brilliance and Asbury Park magic. Close your eyes, turn up the volume, and let Billy Strings transport you back to that November night when The Stone Pony shook with the future of Americana.

For more upcoming live features, artist news, and jam scene updates, visit JamFest — your home for everything live, loud, and unforgettable. Billy Strings – Two Nights of Bluegrass Brilliance – at The Pru in New Jersey is this week!

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JamFest Tonight on the All Things Considered Live Radio Show is Harry Connick Jr. at the Newport Jazz Festival from October 12, 2004

by All Things Considered LiveJamFest

If you love live music, hidden gems and high‑energy performances, tonight’s edition of the All Things Considered Live program is an absolute must. This week we’re diving into the spectacular world of live recordings from across the country—featuring cuts from the Newport Folk Festival, SXSW (South by Southwest), the iconic 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, and many more.

🎶 Why This Show Matters

Thanks to the partnership of NPR Music, you’ll hear exclusive live performances and recordings captured at legendary venues and festivals. These aren’t just studio takes—they’re sweaty, raw, in‑the‑moment musical journeys. You’ll experience the crowd, the ambience, the tension of live artistry.

  • Discover new favorites before they blow up.
  • Relive unforgettable festival moments you may have missed.
  • Enjoy premium sound and intimate performances—right from home.

Tonight’s Feature: Harry Connick Jr. at the Newport Jazz Festival (October 12, 2004)

Tonight we’re rolling back the clock to one of jazz’s memorable live sets: Harry Connick Jr.’s performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2004, recorded live in Newport, Rhode Island.

  • From the first chords of “The Other Hours”, Connick commands the stage with his smooth vocals and precise piano.
  • He glides through the swing‑era flavour of “What a Waste,” the quirky storytelling of “Oh, My Dear (Someone’s Gone Wrong),” and the frenetic funk of “Do Dat Thing.”
  • The closer, “Take Advantage,” seals a set that balances classic jazz traditions with modern sensibilities, all delivered with his signature charm.

If you’ve never witnessed Harry Connick Jr. live in this setting, tonight’s show offers the perfect opportunity—it’s a front‑row seat to history.

What Makes It Special for JAMFest Readers

Here at JAMFest, we chronicle the culture of live performance, from festivals and showcases to underground gigs and major venues. This edition of All Things Considered Live intersects perfectly with our mission:

  • Long‑form music journalism meets the live‑show experience.
  • We link the big festivals (Folk, Jazz, SXSW) with smaller venues (9:30 Club) that feed the live‑music ecosystem.
  • It’s about the thrill of discovery, the shared memory of a live event—and tonight you don’t need a ticket or crowds.

Tune In & What to Look For

  • Listen for the dynamic interplay between Connick and his band—especially how they pivot from swing rhythms to full‑on improvisation.
  • Notice the atmospheric commentary: Newport’s coastal breeze, the festival audience, the stage lights—all captured in audio.
  • Reflect on how a live set like this still resonates—almost two decades later—because the energy is timeless.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re a jazz purist or simply love great live music, tonight’s show is for you. It’s a reminder that the essence of performance isn’t just the song—it’s the moment, the audience, the live transmission of art. At JAMFest, we believe that vibe matters—and tonight, it’s coming into your living room.

Don’t miss it. Turn on All Things Considered Live, press play, and let the music take you to Newport 2004—even if only for an hour.

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Global Music Festivals Gear Up for 2026 as 2025 Wraps with Exciting Events & The Festival Radio Radio Show on TuneIn & JamFest

by Festival Radio ShowJamFest

The world of live music continues to pulse with energy as festival organizers unveil major lineups, date changes, and locations for the upcoming seasons. Fans are already marking their calendars for 2026, while the final months of 2025 offer a packed schedule of global music events. Whether you’re chasing the desert sun in California or the immersive stages of the UK, the festival scene is alive and vibrant.

2026 Festival Lineups and Dates to Watch

Some of the world’s biggest festivals have announced their next editions, bringing a mix of blockbuster headliners and exciting new acts:

  • Coachella (Indio, California, USA): Slated for April 10–12 and April 17–19, 2026, Coachella continues to draw massive crowds with a diverse lineup. Early announcements suggest Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Anyma, and Karol G will headline, while fans can look forward to a 20th-anniversary reunion of K-pop sensation BIGBANG, a performance sure to make waves across social media.
  • Download Festival (UK): Rock and metal fans are in for a treat with Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, and Guns N’ Roses topping the bill for 2026, promising a high-octane weekend of guitar riffs, thunderous drums, and nostalgic anthems.
  • TRNSMT Festival (Glasgow, Scotland): The festival has shifted its dates earlier in June 2026, giving fans more summer vibes and longer evenings of music along the banks of the River Clyde.
  • Pa’l Norte (Monterrey, Mexico): This festival’s 2026 edition will feature Guns N’ Roses, Tyler, The Creator, The Killers, and Deftones, offering a cross-genre experience for attendees from across North and South America.
  • Boomtown Fair (UK): Known for its immersive, theatrical environments, Boomtown has revealed its first wave of acts for 2026, including Skrillex, Scissor Sisters, and Madness, bringing dance, electronic, and punk-infused performances into its unique narrative-driven festival world.
  • Latitude Festival (UK): Celebrating its 20th year, Latitude promises David Byrne, Teddy Swims, and Lewis Capaldi, blending indie, pop, and soul into a weekend of music, art, and culture.
  • The Innings Festival 2026, featuring headliners Blink-182 and Twenty One Pilots, will take place in Tempe, Arizona, from February 20-22, 2026. Tickets are available now, with options ranging from single-day to multi-day platinum passes. 

    Dates and Location
    Dates: February 20–22, 2026
    Location: Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park, Tempe, Arizona
    Note: The festival is expanding to three days for the first time since 2018 and coincides with Major League Baseball Spring Training. 

    Lineup Highlights
    The festival features over 25 artists across three stages with no overlapping sets. 
    Friday, Feb. 20: Mumford & Sons (headliner), Goo Goo Dolls, Myles Smith, Grouplove, OK Go, Public Enemy, and more.
    Saturday, Feb. 21: Twenty One Pilots (headliner), Cage The Elephant, Lord Huron, The Fray, Dashboard Confessional, Silversun Pickups, and more.
    Sunday, Feb. 22: Blink-182 (headliner), Sublime, Public Enemy, Big Boi, Switchfoot, Bowling For Soup, and more. 

    In addition to the music, the festival includes baseball-themed activities and appearances by MLB legends like Torii Hunter, Brandon Crawford, and Jessica Mendoza. 

Trends and Changes in the Festival Landscape

The festival world has not been without challenges. Several 2025 events, including Asuncionico, Paradise Blue, and Rolling Loud Europe, have been canceled, a shift partly driven by rising ticket prices and evolving fan priorities. Meanwhile, some festivals are seeking fresh beginnings: WOMAD, the celebrated world music festival, will relocate to Neston Park in Wiltshire for 2026, promising new scenery and experiences for attendees.

November 2025 is not slowing down, with standout events including Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavik, Freakout Festival in Seattle, and EDC Orlando, ensuring music lovers have plenty of opportunities to catch live performances before the year’s end. On November 6, fans can dive into Freakout 2025 in Seattle or head to the UK for Hard Rock Hell 2025 in Great Yarmouth, each festival offering unique lineups and immersive experiences.

Festival Radio: Nonstop Celebration of Music Festivals

For those craving festival vibes from the comfort of home, TuneIn to the Festival Radio Radio Show, airing every Thursday night. From 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., the show delivers over 8 hours of nonstop music exclusively from popular festivals around the world. Relive the moments, memories, and magic of the festivals you attended—or discover new favorites—through a continuous live mix that keeps the spirit of the stage alive all night long.

As music fans look ahead to 2026, it’s clear that the global festival circuit remains a cornerstone of live music culture. With massive headliners, innovative new stages, and a thriving radio experience keeping fans connected year-round, the pulse of the festival season continues to beat strong.

For more on global music festivals, updates, and insider coverage of upcoming events, visit Explore New Jersey Music and stay ahead of the festival curve.