At 86, Mavis Staples is still proving that the power of song can change the world. The soul, gospel and civil rights icon will release her new album Sad And Beautiful World on 7 November 2025, an extraordinary project that spans seven decades of the American songbook while showcasing her timeless voice and message of unity.

Lucinda Williams is set to deliver one of the most politically charged and emotionally raw albums of her career with World's Gone Wrong, arriving 23 January 2026 through her own Highway 20 Records label. The record continues Williams' lifelong habit of holding up a mirror to American life - this time reflecting on division, resilience and the fight to stay human when the world feels anything but.

With the 2025 leg of his sold-out Still Feel Like Dancing! Australian tour wrapping up this weekend, Leo Sayer isn't ready to hang up the mic just yet. The beloved British-born, Australian-adopted icon has announced two major encore shows for early 2026, a third and final night at Melbourne's Palms at Crown on Sunday 25 January, and a One Night Only show at Sydney's State Theatre on Saturday 18 April.

When Basement Jaxx first erupted from the London club underground in the late 1990s, Australia was quick to catch the fever. The duo's high-energy, genre-melting sound found a second home down under, where their hits became festival staples and radio favourites.

The Damned will pay tribute to their late founding guitarist Brian James with a powerful new covers album, Not Like Everybody Else, due for release on 23 January 2026 through earMUSIC. The record arrives as the punk icons mark their 50th anniversary, with founding drummer Rat Scabies reuniting with Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Paul Gray for their first studio recording together in four decades.

The Michael Cassel Group, in partnership with the La Jolla Playhouse, has announced the world premiere of GRIM - an audacious, funny, and emotionally charged new musical that puts the daughter of the Grim Reaper centre stage. Mixing heart, humour, and high-energy pop, GRIM reimagines life after death as a vivid, musical celebration of what it means to truly live.

Bernard Fanning will celebrate two decades of his landmark debut solo album Tea & Sympathy with a national Australian tour in February and March 2026. Following the lightning-fast sell-out of his anniversary concert at Brisbane's QPAC, Fanning will bring the full album performance to stages across the country, performing Tea & Sympathy in its entirety for the first time in twenty years, along with a selection of fan favourites from his career.

Jay Watson, one of the most versatile and consistently inventive figures in Australian music, has unveiled his latest single “Expanding Blue” under his solo moniker GUM, marking his first release through King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's label, p(doom).

Bad//Dreems have emerged from a year of sold-out shows and critical recognition with a powerful new statement piece, unveiling their new single Shadowland, the first release from their own newly established label, Gutto Records. The single arrives as the band's first new material since 2023's acclaimed Hoo-Ha! album and comes with the first instalment of an accompanying short film project directed by Kaius Potter, shot across the northern fringes of Adelaide.

After a year of career-shaping moments and mounting acclaim, Australian alt-pop artist Fletcher Kent has unveiled his most intimate release to date. His new single, ‘Blindspot', is a sweeping and cinematic duet featuring the soulful vocals of his fiancée, Lil, marking both a musical and personal milestone in Kent's fast-rising career.

Sam Fender's 2025 Australian tour won't just be about the Brit Award winner himself - it's set to be a showcase of some of the most exciting rising artists from both sides of the globe. Joining Fender on select dates are Australian acts Esha Tewari, Beddy Rays, Sycco, and Day We Ran, alongside British singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone.

Open Door Management has relaunched as Immortal Music Group, marking a bold new era for one of Australia's most active heavy music management companies. The rebrand, announced this month, introduces a broader creative vision, an expanded roster, and new senior hires that reinforce the company's commitment to longevity, innovation, and artist growth.

Tangerine Records will continue its mission of honouring the genius of Ray Charles with No One Does It Like… Ray Charles!, a newly remastered collection arriving 21 November 2025. The release gathers together mid-1960s singles, B-sides, and rare non-album cuts that have never before been compiled in one place, capturing the soul pioneer in one of the most creatively explosive phases of his career.

The next generation of Victorian music talent will take centre stage this November when SongMakers LIVE makes its debut at one of Australia's most iconic live music venues, The Espy in St Kilda. On Sunday 23 November, sixteen emerging bands from across the state will showcase their original songs in a special all-ages event designed to give young artists their first taste of performing on a professional stage.

New Zealand's acclaimed indie-rock outfit The Beths have made their long-awaited U.S. late-night television debut, performing the title track from their latest album Straight Line Was A Lie on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The appearance marks another major milestone for the Auckland quartet, who are currently riding high on the success of their fourth studio record and are set to bring their biggest-ever Australian headline tour to fans in April 2026.