Music News
The Fray Announce Summer Of Light Tour With Special Guests Dashboard Confessional, Colony House & More
Multi-Platinum band The Fray announces the Summer of Light Tour, featuring special guests Dashboard Confessional, Colony House, The Strumbellas and Brother Elsey on select dates. The North American tour, promoted by Live Nation, kicks off on May 11th in Moncton, New Brunswick, with stops across Canada and the U.S. in Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, Kansas City, Minnesota, Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, Atlanta, Boston, and more before wrapping up on August 29 in Chicago, IL.
TICKETS: Tickets will first be available via a Citi presale starting Tuesday, January 27, in select U.S. markets (details below). Fans can also sign up now at TheFray.com to access the Seated registration presale beginning on Wednesday, January 28, at 10 am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning on Friday, January 30, at 10 am local time
CITI PRESALE: Citi cardmembers in the U.S. will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, January 27, at 10 am local time through Thursday, January 29 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details, visit www.citientertainment.com.
SUMMER OF LIGHT TOUR DATES
May 11 — Moncton, NB — Casino New Brunswick %
May 13 — Montreal, QC — MTELUS %
May 15 — London, ON — Centennial Hall %
May 16 — Ottawa, ON — Hard Rock Hotel and Casino %
May 19 — Winnipeg, MB — Centennial Concert Hall #
May 21 — Saskatoon, SK — TCU Place #
May 22 — Edmonton, AB — Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium #
May 24 — Calgary, AB — MacEwan Hall #
May 26 — Vancouver, BC — Orpheum #
July 10 — Indianapolis, IN — Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park *^
July 11 — Maryland Heights, MO — Saint Louis Music Park *^
July 14 — Kansas City, MO — Starlight Theatre *^
July 16 — Milwaukee, WI — Landmark Credit Union Live *^
July 19 — Great Falls, MT — Voyagers Stadium *^=
July 23 — Berkeley, CA — The Greek Theatre *=
July 24 — Los Angeles, CA — YouTube Theater *
July 25 — San Diego, CA — Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre *
July 27 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre *
July 29 — Austin, TX — Moody Amphitheater *
July 31 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall *
August 1 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory *
August 4 — Franklin, TN — FirstBank Amphitheater *
August 5 — Atlanta, GA — Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park *^
August 7 — Charlotte, NC — Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre *^
August 8 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre *^
August 10 — Selbyville, DE — Freeman Arts Pavilion *^=
August 12 — Cleveland, OH — Jacobs Pavilion *^=
August 14 — Columbia, MD — Merriweather Post Pavilion *^=
August 15 — Boston, MA — Leader Bank Pavilion *^
August 19 — Asbury Park, NJ — The Stone Pony Summer Stage *^
August 20 — Gilford, NH — BankNH Pavilion *^
August 22 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell at Jones Beach Theater *^
August 23 — Bridgeport, CT — Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater *^
August 26 — Toronto, ON — RBC Amphitheatre *^
August 28 — Detroit, MI — Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at *^
August 29 — Chicago, IL — Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island *^
Support Key
* Dashboard Confessional
^ Colony House
# The Strumbellas
% Brother Elsey
=Non-Live Nation Date
“We have such great memories of touring in the summer. The vibe for us and for the fans is something that we’ve all really connected with and had a good time with over the history of The Fray,” Wysocki says. “Getting these new songs in front of people is going to be exciting.
The tour supports The Fray’s upcoming album, A Light That Waits, arriving March 13. The record marks the band’s first full-length release in years and ushers in a renewed creative chapter defined by emotional clarity, cinematic songwriting, and the timeless sound that has connected The Fray to fans around the world for more than two decades. The album’s title track, “A Light That Waits,” is available now, offering a powerful first look at the band’s next era. Listen to the title track and Pre-Save/Add the album HERE .
Written by Joe King (lead vocals), Ben Wysocki (drums), Dave Welsh (guitar), and producer Jason Suwito, the title track holds special significance as the first song born from a full collaboration between the three band members since their return.
“This was the first moment where the three of us were writing from scratch,” says King. “We were in Ben’s studio in Denver, just trying to discover something… All of a sudden, it was clear: this is a light that waits. But it took us being in the room, listening to ourselves and to one another, to really find the song. And that’s what’s beautiful about being a band.”
The album follows the 2025 releases “My Heart’s a Crowded Room,” “Emerald,” and “Songs I’d Rather Not Sing,”and features 11 tracks in total, produced by Jason Suwito, Ryan Linvill & The Fray.
A Light That Waits Track List:
- “A Light That Waits” *
- “Still Got You” *
- “Ice Cold Lakes” *
- “Emerald” *
- “My Heart’s A Crowded Room” *
- “Wherever You Reach For Me” *
- “Let Me Go First” *
- “Songs I’d Rather Not Sing” *
- “Tasted Glory” #
- “After You, Only God” *
- “Sea Level Drive” #
* produced by The Fray & Jason Suwito
# produced by The Fray & Ryan Linvill
“We could have hung it up, and I think we all contemplated that, but we have more stories about life to tell,” adds Welsh. “And we had to respect what we had earned from fans. I heard it phrased once by somebody that plays tennis, that you have to respect the spirit of the player. We’ve earned a seat at the table with a lot of people, and to not do it just because you’re tired wasn’t an option. We owe it to both the life that happens in us and to the people that have listened to us and asked for more. And so, A Light That Waits is more.”
Rising to prominence in the early 2000s, The Fray introduced a soul-searching alt-rock sound that was both expansive and intimate. Over the course of their career, the band has earned four GRAMMY Award nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, multiple Billboard Top 10 hits, and a devoted global fanbase. Their breakout single, “How to Save a Life,” is RIAA Diamond-certified, spent 58 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a defining anthem through its association with ABC’s Emmy-winning series Grey’s Anatomy.
For more information on A Light That Waits, tour dates, and ticket details, visit thefray.com.
Music News
“The Hayley Williams Show” Live in the Americas North & Latin America Tour Announced
“The Hayley Williams Show” today unveils its highly anticipated expansion across North and Latin America. The North American leg will feature support from Magdalena Bay and Rico Nasty, while singer-songwriter Annie DiRusso joins the lineup for Latin America and Puerto Rico. $1 from every ticket sold in North America will directly benefit REVERB & Support+Feed. In Latin America, the local currency equivalent of $1 per ticket sold supports food access and climate initiatives in the region. An artist pre-sale will begin starting May 12 at 10 AM local time. General sales begin on May 14 at 10 AM local time.This expansion comes on the heels of immediate sell-outs at iconic venues including Espaço Unimed in São Paulo, Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. See below for a full list of tour dates.
To ensure tickets reach genuine fans, a verified presale registration process has been established. Registration for the HW HQ presale opens at 3pm EST on May 7 via https://hayleywilliams.club.os.fan/thws. In the U.S., the tour uses Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange to help fans get tickets at the original price. Tickets will be non-transferable and can only be resold on Ticketmaster at face value. In Illinois and New York where laws prevent resale restrictions, tickets can be transferred but Ticketmaster will still honor Hayley Williams’s terms by keeping resale prices at face value on its site
For the last several months Hayley Williams has been touring her most recent album Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party. The tour has been a celebration of her critically acclaimed GRAMMY and Libera Award nominated album which she’s played in full each night. The full North American, UK and European tour legs sold out in seconds, and has featured numerous surprise guest stars at stops along the way. Now she announces a new era – “The Hayley Williams Show.” “The Hayley Williams Show” will feature material across all three of the singer’s solo albums as well as some exciting surprises.
Photo Credit: Elise Joseph James
Hayley Williams is a 3x GRAMMY winning singer, songwriter and musician best known for her role as the frontperson of legendary rock band Paramore. With her incredible range and delivery, Billboard ranked her at #13 on their list of 50 Greatest Rock Singers of All Times saying, “when it comes to singers in contemporary rock, Hayley Williams reigns supreme.” Frequently listed as a source of inspiration from contemporary performers as varied as Chappell Roan, Doechii and Billie Eilish – she’s also appeared on a wide variety of albums and singles as a collaborator and guest vocalist including Turnstile’s latest “Seein’ Stars”, Moses Sumney’s “I Like It I Like It,” and Taylor Swift’s “Castles Crumbling.” Swift went on to have Paramore open the first ever The Eras Tourshow that debuted in Arizona and later they went on to open all dates on the European leg of her world tour.
At just 16 she brought Paramore to the masses with the release of their album All We Know Is Falling which was certified Gold and just celebrated its 20 year anniversary last week. The band’s breakthrough came with 2007’s Riot!, powered by the success of the 6X certified platinum single “Misery Business.” In 2009, Brand New Eyes solidified their place in the rock landscape. Paramore’s self-titled 2013 album marked a commercial and critical peak, with the platinum single “Ain’t It Fun” earning Paramore their first Grammy win for ‘Best Rock Song’ in 2015 and further nominations for ‘Best Rock Album.’ 2017’s After Laughter introduced a polished, ‘pop-influenced sound that continued to attract acclaim with the breakout single “Hard Times.” After a long hiatus, in 2023, they returned with This Is Why, a full grown, alternative-leaning record that earned the band two Grammy wins for ‘Best Alternative Song’ and ‘Best Rock Album’ making Paramore the first female-fronted rock band to ever win the category in its 31-year history.
At last year’s 68th annual GRAMMY’s, Hayley Williams racked up an impressive four nominations for Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party. Her album was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album, with nominations for songs “Parachute” in the Best Alternative Music Performance category, “Mirtazapine” in the Best Rock Performance category, and “Glum” in the Best Rock Song category. She has previously been nominated 5 times for her work in Paramore, with 3 wins including Best Rock Album and Best Alternative Performance in 2023. Ego Death is one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year and its success is even more impressive considering it was self-released on Williams’ newly created Post Atlantic Records (distributed by Secretly Distribution). On the same day the GRAMMY’S were announced, the final physical version of the record became available in stores worldwide. The completed album includes 20 songs.
2026 TOUR DATES
New additions in bold
* w/ Water From Your Eyes
# w/ Snuggle
^ w/ Tiberius b
= w/ Magdalena Bay and Rico Nasty
% w/ Annie DiRusso
May 7 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA* sold out
May 9 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA* sold out
May 10 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA* sold out
May 12 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA* sold out
May 13 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA* sold out
May 15 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA* sold out
May 17 – Kilby Block Party – Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 5 – Alcatraz – Milan, Italy# sold out
Jun 8 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands* sold out
Jun 10 – Live Music Hall – Cologne, Germany# sold out
Jun 11 – Live Music Hall – Cologne, Germany# sold out
Jun 15 – Tempodrome – Berlin, Germany* sold out
Jun 16 – Poolen – Copenhagen, Denmark* sold out
Jun 19 – Roundhouse – London, United Kingdom*^ sold out
Jun 20 – Roundhouse – London, United Kingdom*^ sold out
Jun 22 – Academy 1 – Manchester, United Kingdom* sold out
Jun 23 – Academy 1 – Manchester, United Kingdom* sold out
Jun 26 – O2 Academy – Glasgow, United Kingdom* sold out
Jun 27 – O2 Academy – Glasgow, United Kingdom* sold out
Jun 29 – National Stadium – Dublin, Ireland* sold out
Jun 30 – National Stadium – Dublin, Ireland* sold out
Sept 3 – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach, FL=
Sept 5 – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA=
Sept 6 – Credit One Stadium – Charleston, SC=
Sept 8 – Truliant Amphitheater – Charlotte, NC=
Sept 9 – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC=
Sept 11 – Xfinity Center – Boston, MA=
Sept 12 – Albany Med Health System at SPAC – Saratoga Springs, NY=
Sept 14 – BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH=
Sept 16 – Forest Hills Stadium – Queens, NY sold out=
Sept 17 – Forest Hills Stadium – Queens, NY sold out=
Sept 19 – Pine Knob Music Theatre – Detroit, MI=
Sept 23 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH=
Sept 24 – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL=
Sept 26 – Merriweather Post Pavilion (All Things Go Music Festival)- Columbia, MD
Sept 30 – White River Amphitheatre – Seattle, WA=
Oct 2 – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA=
Oct 3 – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – San Diego, CA=
Oct 5 – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA sold out=
Oct 6 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA sold out=
Oct 9 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman – Houston, TX=
Oct 10 – Champions Square – New Orleans, LA=
Oct 12 – Bank Plus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove – Southaven, MS=
Nov 6 – Movistar Arena – Bogotá, Colombia %
Nov 10 – Qualistage – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil %
Nov 12 – Espaço Unimed – São Paulo, Brazil sold out %
Nov 13 – Espaço Unimed – São Paulo, Brazil sold out %
Nov 15 – Parque Sarmiento – Buenos Aires, Argentina %
Nov 18 – Movistar Arena – Santiago, Chile %
Nov 20 – Costa 21 – Lima, Peru %
Nov 23 – Auditorio Nacional – Mexico City, MX %
Nov 27 – Coca-Cola Music Hall – San Juan, Puerto Rico %
Music News
Modern Country Festival Strummingbird Announces Huge 2026 Lineup
Australia’s largest touring country festival Strummingbird returns with another crackin’ lineup for 2026, and Grammy-nominated, genre-defying megastar Post Malone is leading the charge. Rolling into Victoria Park Ballarat, Newcastle Foreshore and Sunshine Coast’s Kawana Sports Precinct this October, the stacked lineup spans international heavyweights, alt-country stars, country legends and homegrown favourites worth road-tripping for. If Post Malone’s last visit down under is anything to go by, these tickets won’t last long. Fans wanting to experience Strummingbird 2026 should act now and sign up for the presale for the best chance at tickets.
Three years on from his sold-out Spilt Milk run, Post Malone returns to Australia, and this time, he’s bringing country with him. Malone has spent over a decade racking up record-breaking hits, five American Music Awards and a fanbase that spans every corner of the globe. His star-studded Nashville-style record F-1 Trillion earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album and united legends like Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Strummingbird’s alumni Jelly Roll on a single project. That’s without mentioning a back catalogue packed with undeniable solo hits like “Sunflower”, “Rockstar” and “Circles”.
Joining Post Malone is multi-platinum American country artist Bailey Zimmerman – one of the genre’s fastest rising stars. Known for his chart-topping hits and gritty sound, his breakout debut Religiously. The Album. went viral on the back of hits like “Fall In Love”, “Rock and a Hard Place”, “Religiously” and “Where It Ends” before 2025’s Different Night Same Rodeo – featuring a standout collaboration with Luke Combs – cemented his place at the top table. Most recently, his cover of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” at Stagecoach stopped the internet in its tracks.
Strummo fans can rev up for rowdy sing-alongs, fearless showmanship and all the unfiltered authenticity of North Carolina musician Cooper Alan. Since his beginnings in cover bands and Nashville honky-tonks, Alan has soared in popularity with his balance of reflective lyrics, witty humour and unique genre blends on anthems like “Plead The Fifth” and “Take Forever (Hally’s Song)”. Two acts currently climbing the Billboard Top 100 make the bill even harder to ignore. LA-based country superstar Stella Lefty is set to deliver a blissed-out performance with feel-good hits like “Boston” and “Thinking ‘bout You” in tow, while Texan outfit Dexter & The Moonrocks bring their self-coined Western Space Grunge to the bill, all DIY grit and rock-driven firepower.
Homegrown hero Brad Cox needs little introduction – from fan-favourite “Lake House”, to acclaimed single “Give Me Tonight” and his heartland rock pivot on Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions. Highly sought-after, Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER songwriter Cam brings her beautiful vocals and introspective blend of folk, country and pop, including Grammy-nominated album All Things Light, while US outfit Cigarettes @ Sunset are set to serve up their signature ‘Possum Rock’ – raw, soulful Americana with an Appalachian edge. CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2025 alumna Kaitlin Butts is ready to sling her soulful voice and theatrical storytelling and rising Californian Noah Rinker arrives with intimate, dusky acoustic anthems. Fresh off 750 million streams and global stages, Sydney’s Sons of the East will bring their beloved blend of blues, classic country, soul and folk back where it belongs. Brisbane native and 2026 Countrytown Breakthrough Artist of the Year nominee Briana Dinsdale joins the lineup, along with Central Queensland cattle station turned global sensation Mack Geiger. Back-to-back CMAA Female Artist of the Year Max Jackson is primed and ready to prove exactly why she’s taken the title twice, running with her electrifying live performance. The earthy presence of Sara Berki will transport crowds to serene outback plains, and bootscootin’ will be guaranteed when country DJ Willie Pake takes the stage.
Each stop on the Strummingbird run brings a local artist along for the ride – repping the country flavours of their own backyard. Ballarat scores the rising folk-country and modern pop infusions of Lewis Love, Newcastle is treated to Gamilaraay artist Loren Ryan and her powerful blend of traditional language and modern acoustic songwriting, while the Sunshine Coast rounds out the tour with Sammy White, whose voice is fast becoming one of the most talked-about in modern Australian country. Keeping boots moving between sets across all three stops, Strummo legend, renowned performer and instructor Maddison Glover is back to lead the line dancing sessions that had crowds kicking up dust last year.
Keen for the full Strummingbird experience? Camping at Sunshine Coast and Ballarat is your best bet. Prefer to leave the driving to someone else? Buses from Melbourne to Ballarat have you covered. Keep your eyes peeled – camping and bus tickets go on sale later in May.
Sign up at strummingbird.com.au to access presale for a shot at lowest-priced tickets, payment plans available. Or you can skip the stress and guarantee yourself a ticket from 12pm AEST Wednesday 6 May with Moshtix Ticket Request, find out more here.
STRUMMINGBIRD FESTIVAL 2026
Presented by Kicks Entertainment
Saturday 10 October – Victoria Park, Ballarat, VIC / Wadawurrung
Saturday 17 October – Newcastle Foreshore, Newcastle, NSW / Awabakal
Sunday 18 October – Kawana Sports Precinct – Sunshine Coast, QLD / Kabi Kabi
LINEUP
POST MALONE
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
COOPER ALAN
STELLA LEFTY, DEXTER & THE MOONROCKS
(A-Z) BRAD COX, CAM, CIGARETTES @ SUNSET, KAITLIN BUTTS, NOAH RINKER, SONS OF THE EAST
(A-Z) BRIANA DINSDALE, MACK GEIGER, MAX JACKSON
SARA BERKI, LATE NIGHT RIOT WITH WILLIE PAKE
LEWIS LOVE*, LOREN RYAN^, SAMMY WHITE+
& LINE DANCING WITH MADDISON GLOVER
*Ballarat, ^Newcastle +Sunshine Coast
Strummingbird is an all-ages event.
TICKETS
Wednesday 13 May 2026
10am: Sunshine Coast
11am: Newcastle
12pm: Ballarat
Thursday 14 May 2026
10am: All locations
Or lock in your ticket from 12pm Wednesday 6 May with Moshtix Ticket Request
Payment plans available from Wednesday 13 May through PayPal and Afterpay
Sign up for presale & ticket info at strummingbird.com.au