hard rock
Five Songs I’m Obsessed With [1/1 – 1/4]
It has been 2026 for, like, three seconds and already, we have soooo much good music to listen to. I am building a playlist, as per usual, which you can check out here. However, I am going to share new releases a bit differently this year.
Instead of doing bi-weekly posts with everything I’ve found during that period – and twelve separate playlists, one for each month – I will be hitting the highlights each week and adding all songs to a single 2026 playlist. I will share as much as I can to my Facebook page, but I intend to share posts directly from the musicians/artists rather than doing my own. Shares and likes help them, and that’s my main goal.
So here are five songs that were released this week that I absolutely adore. Please give them a listen and add them to your playlists!
Skillet Shares Spring 2026 Dates
Christian rockers Skillet are heading out on the road in early 2026. This 9-date run features support from The Protest and kicks off February 26th in Lancaster, PA.
Tickets: skillet.com
- 2/26 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
- 2/27 – Bensalem, PA – Parx Xcite Center
- 2/28 – Huntington, WV – Keith Albee Performing Arts Center
- 3/13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Rivers Casino Pittsburgh (New date!)
- 3/14 – Charlestown, WV – Hollywood Casino at Charlestown Races
- 3/15 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
- 3/19 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
- 3/20 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
- 3/27 – Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino & Golf Resort*
* No support
Pop Evil: What Remains Tour 2026
Pop Evil has announced headlining dates interspersed among their shows opening for Sabaton. In support of their latest album, What Remains, this run boasts stops in Birmingham, Las Vegas, and Portland. Tickets are on sale now at popevil.com!
Pop Evil headlining shows
- 2/6 – Destin, FL – Club LA
- 2/7 – Birmingham, AL – Workplay
- 2/12 – Biloxi, MS – The Sanctuary
- 2/19 – Las Vegas, NV – The Portal at Area15
- 2/22 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
- 2/25 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theatre
- 4/12 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – The Machine Shop
Supporting Sabaton
- 2/9 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – FTL War Memorial
- 2/10 – Tampa, FL – Yuengling Center
- 2/13 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
- 2/14 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
- 2/15 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
- 2/18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
- 2/20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
- 2/21 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live
- 2/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
- 2/26 – Loveland, CO – Blue FCU Arena
- 2/27 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
- 2/28 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
- 3/2 – Des Moines, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
- 3/3 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory
- 3/4 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
- 3/6 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
- 3/7 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
- 3/8 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
- 3/10 – Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center
- 3/11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
- 3/12 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
- 3/14 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
- 3/15 – Washington, DC – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
- 3/17 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Special Events Center
- 3/18 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
- 4/6 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
- 4/9 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
- 4/11 – Toronto, ON – Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
- 4/14 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
- 4/17 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Convention Centre
- 4/18 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre
- 4/20 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum
ENMY Shares January 2026 Dates With Softspoken and Summer Hoop
Ohio metal band ENMY will be touring this January with fellow Cincinnatians Softspoken and the Florida-based Summer Hoop. This 2-week run kicks off on the 16th in Orlando, Florida. Tickets are available at enmymusic.com!
- 1/16 – Orlando, FL – Conduit
- 1/17 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
- 1/18 – Jacksonville, FL – The Albatross
- 1/19 – Fort Walton Beach, FL – Downtown Music Hall
- 1/20 – Atlanta, GA – 529 Bar
- 1/22 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa
- 1/23 – Dallas, TX – TX Tea Room
- 1/24 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
- 1/25 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
- 1/27 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
- 1/28 – Biloxi, MS – The Sanctuary
- 1/29 – Birmingham, AL – Workplay
- 1/30 – Nashville, TN – The End
- 1/31 – Jeffersonville, IN – Losers 812
Live: Like a Rollin’ Thunder Tour, Canada 2026
Alt-rockers Live have announced Canadian dates for the “Like a Rollin’ Thunder Tour.” With support from Big Wreck, and special guests Econoline Crush or The Damn Truth at certain shows, this late winter run kicks off February 23rd in Abbotsford, BC. Tickets are on sale now at livetheband.com!
- 2/23 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre+
- 2/24 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place+
- 2/26 – Tsuut’ina, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre+
- 2/27 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place+
- 3/1 – Saskatoon, SK – Sasktel Centre+
- 3/2 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre+
- 3/5 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum+
- 3/6 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre+
- 3/7 – London, ON – Canada Life Place+
- 3/9 – Oshawa, ON – Tribute Communities Centre+
- 3/10 – Laval, QC – Place Bell*
- 3/11 – Quebec City, QC – Centre Vidéotron*
- 3/13 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre*
- 3/14 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre*
+ with Econoline Crush
* with The Damn Truth
Sabaton Shares Early 2026 North American Dates With Pop Evil and Wings of Steel
Tickets and VIP available at sabaton.net!
U.S.
- 2/9 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – War Memorial Auditorium
- 2/10 – Tampa, FL – Yuengling Center
- 2/13 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
- 2/14 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
- 2/15 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
- 2/18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
- 2/20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
- 2/21 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live
- 2/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
- 2/26 – Loveland, CO – Blue FCU Arena
- 2/27 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
- 2/28 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
- 3/2 – Des Moines, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
- 3/3 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
- 3/4 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
- 3/6 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
- 3/7 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
- 3/8 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
- 3/10 – Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center
- 3/11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
- 3/12 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
- 3/14 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
- 3/15 – Washington, DC – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
- 3/17 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Event Center
- 3/18 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
Canada
- 4/6 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
- 4/9 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
- 4/11 – Toronto, ON – Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
- 4/14 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
- 4/17 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Convention Centre
- 4/18 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre
- 4/20 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum
Collective Soul Announces 2026 Dates
Collective Soul has shared a handful of 2026 dates ranging from late January to late May, plus a festival they’re playing in late July. Without this being an actual “tour,” there are no set lineups, but I will notate who else is on the show when I can. Tickets are on sale now at collectivesoul.com!
January 2026
- 1/29 – Anaheim, CA – Grove of Anaheim
- 1/30 – Rancho Mirage, CA – Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa
- 1/31 – Rohnert Park, CA – Graton Resort & Casino
February 2026
- 2/4 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre (with Edwin McCain)
- 2/6 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre (with Edwin McCain)
- 2/7 – Las Vegas, NV – The Venetian Theatre (with Edwin McCain)
March 2026
- 3/27 – Windsor, ON – Caesars Windsor, The Colosseum (with The Blue Stones)
- 3/29 – Niagara Falls, ON – OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino Resort
- 3/31 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Art
April 2026
- 4/2 – Red Bank, NJ – The Vogel at Count Basie Center for the Arts
- 4/3 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Theatre
- 4/4 – Waterloo, NY – Del Lago Resort & Casino
- 4/7 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center
- 4/9 – Bristol, VA – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
- 4/10 – Charles Town, WV – The Event Center at Hollywood Casino
- 4/11 – Danville, VA – The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia
- 4/17 to 4/21 – Port of Miami, FL – Summer of ’99 and Beyond Cruise^
- 4/24 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
- 4/25 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre
- 4/28 – Greenville, SC – Peace Center Concert Hall
- 4/29 – Dothan, AL – Dothan Civic Center Arena
May 2026
- 5/1 – Baton Rouge, LA – L’Auberge Baton Rouge Casino Resort
- 5/2 – Bossier City, LA – Margaritaville Resort Casino
July 2026
- 7/25 – Menahga, MN – Mid Summer Music Fest 2026*
^ Cruise
* Festival
Sebastian Bach Announces Early 2026 North American Tour
Sebastian Bach, the dynamic vocalist formerly of Skid Row, is touring North America in 2026. This late winter/early spring run kicks off February 26th and features support from alternative band Stitched Up Heart. You can grab tickets and check out the offered VIP packages at sebastianbach.com!
- 2/26 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Theater*
- 2/27 – Fresno, CA – Tower Theatre
- 2/28 – Oroville, CA – Feather Falls Casino & Lodge*
- 3/3 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
- 3/4 – Victoria, BC – Capital Ballroom
- 3/6 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
- 3/7 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
- 3/9 – Billings, MT – The Pub Station
- 3/10 – Minot, ND – The Original
- 3/13 – Des Plaines, IL – The Des Plaines Theatre
- 3/14 – Florence, IN – Belterra Casino Resort
- 3/15 – Wyandotte, MI – District 142
- 3/18 – Marion, IL – Marion Cultural and Civic Center
- 3/20 – Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre, Funhouse, & Café
- 3/21 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
- 3/22 – Hampton, NH – Wally’s
- 3/24 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
- 3/25 – Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall
- 3/27 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
- 3/28 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
- 3/29 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
- 3/31 – Jacksonville, FL – FIVE
- 4/2 – Sebastian, FL – Capt. Hiram’s Resort
- 4/3 – St. Petersburg, FL – Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill*
- 4/4 – Destin, FL – Club LA
- 4/6 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Hall
* No Stitched Up Heart
Slomosa: Breaking Ice Tour 2026
The Norwegian-based Slomosa are bringing their brand of rock, dubbed “tundra rock,” to the United States in early spring. Support will be announced soon, and tickets are available at slomosamusic.com!
- 3/26 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
- 3/27 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
- 3/28 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
- 3/29 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall
- 3/31 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
- 4/1 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
- 4/2 – Atlanta, GA – Purgatory at The Masquerade
- 4/3 – Nashville, TN – The Blue Room
- 4/6 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada
- 4/7 – Austin, TX – Brushy Street Commons
- 4/9 – Phoenix, AZ – The Rebel Lounge
- 4/10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre
- 4/11 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
- 4/12 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
- 4/14 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Mission Theater
- 4/15 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
- 4/17 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
- 4/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
- 4/20 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
- 4/21 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
- 4/23 – Kansas City, MO – The Record Bar
- 4/24 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
- 4/25 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge
- 4/26 – Detroit, MI – El Club
- 4/28 – Toronto, ON – The Garrison
- 4/29 – East Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground
- 4/30 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
- 5/1 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Mostly Music 