Phish Begin Second Sphere Residency, Sam Bush to Join Toy Factory Project
The Roots Announce Inaugural Roots Picnic London, Railroad Earth Share New Music
Relix Daily
April 17, 2026
April 17, 2026
RECAP
Phish were made for Sphere. Over four decades of performance, the groundbreaking jam quartet has earned a reputation for turning even routine performances into high-concept marvels, determined to fine-tune even details as slight as a set’s balance of rarities and standards, or a hint of another song in a solo. For special occasions, they’ll go above and beyond to give their passionate fans an experience worth bragging about — as was the case at their unforgettable four-night Sphere residency in 2024. There’s no band that better embodies the balance of theatricality and artistry that the singular arena demands.
NEWS
The Toy Factory has added a new player to its May live itinerary. According to the newly forged Southern rock supergroup, which pays homage to the music of the Marshall Tucker Band and features original drummer Paul Riddle, while also honoring the late Toy Caldwell’s contributions, Sam Bush has joined the lineup. The member of New Grass Revival has committed to four concerts, all of which land on the band’s Spring Tour.
Former Spafford Bassist/Vocalist Jordan Fairless Releases New Lineup Big Deep (Illustration By New York Times Artist Michael Arthur)
Jordan Fairless, former bassist and co-founder of Spafford, unveiled the lineup for his new project Big Deep and confirmed a Summer 2026 debut album. The announcement features artwork by Michael Arthur known for work in major publications and currently the in house artist at Levon Helm Studios.
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NEWS
As the highly anticipated 18th annual Roots Picnic approaches, the Philadelphia staple has announced its expansion overseas with Roots Picnic London. On Aug. 8 and 9, the Questlove and Black Thought-led three-decade band and Live Nation Urban will present two programs stacked with hip-hop and R&B superstars. To tie the celebration back to its origins, The Roots will extend their annual headline set to the spin-off by sharing the spotlight with Nas on Saturday.
Before there were setlist apps and lot vendors, there was the Fillmore Auditorium and psychedelic poster artists who made San Francisco in the 1960s and '70s look like no place on earth. This collection brings together original vintage concert posters, handbills, and tickets from two promoters that defined the era: Family Dog Productions and Bill Graham Presents.
NEWS
Gratefulfest has unveiled its official artist lineup. The three-day tie-dye-filled weekend will take place at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Garrettsville, Ohio, July 24-26, 2026. In addition to an overview of the artists who have signed on to participate in the Buckeye State gathering, the latest itinerary fills gaps that were unaccounted for in the initial lineup, providing the most comprehensive predictions for the songs and spirits that will enliven the occasion.
LISTEN
Relix Staff Picks: I’m With Her, Frog, Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize, They Might Be Giants, MALIA and More
Every Friday, Relix surveys the wealth of new music released over the past seven days and selects standouts for the Relix Staff Picks playlist. Read on for the highlights from this week’s batch, presented by Qobuz: experience the difference with high-quality music streaming and human-curated selections from the platform that puts artists first.
LISTEN
Railroad Earth has shared the second single off their impending full-length release, which is intended to harken to the group’s silver jubilee. Today’s arrival represents a collaboration between the longstanding Garden State jamgrass ensemble and guest player and fellow purveyor of the craft, Greensky Bluegrass’ Paul Hoffman. The new title, “Everything Keeps Changin’,” is now available on streaming services.
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NEWS
Tedeschi Trucks Band has announced a one-off Boston-based film screening of The Garden Party: A cinematic capture of the 12-piece band’s career-defining, sold-out debut at New York’s Madison Square Garden and an exclusive interview with husband-and-wife duo Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. The viewing also includes a special guest appearance by the movie’s director, John McDermott, who will participate in a Q&A segment during the Friday, May 1 screening at the Regent Theatre.
NEWS
Tom Waits and Massive Attack have released “Boots on the Ground,” a long-awaited landmark for both parties. The harrowing, sunken protest song is Waits’ first original song since 2011’s Bad As Me, and Massive Attack’s first release since their 2020 Eutopia EP, billed as the first of several imminent releases from Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall’s electronic project.
FEATURE
“There’s a lot of attention to detail and trying to be as intentional as possible,” Clay Street Unit frontman Sam Walker says while describing his Colorado-bred band’s debut, Sin & Squalor, which recently dropped on Leo33. “But it’s a living, breathing organism. Sometimes it takes a left turn when you thought it was gonna take a right turn.”
REVIEW
Sam Beam hasn’t altered the concept of Iron & Wine all that much since he launched the project in the early 2000s: lo-fi, acoustic-based tunes; breathy, Nick Drake-ian vocals and sunny harmonies; carefully tailored, evocative stories that enchant; and rootsy, often minimalist accompaniment characterize Beam’s work under his chosen nom-de-indie. And why should he tinker with such a reliably good thing? Iron & Wine’s music is what it is, and even when Beam steps out, turns up the tempo, kicks up the volume, adds an instrument or 10, the core characteristics are never too far away.