The Curtis Theatre's annual, “An Evening of Latin Jazz,” returns Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, as audiences can experience this unforgettable performance by Gabrielito y La Verdad.

Led by veteran musician Gabrielito Gonzalez, the Los Angeles–based ensemble La Verdad blends Afro-Caribbean rhythms, funk, soul and Latin jazz into an electrifying live performance. This dynamic, intergenerational group unites seasoned musicians with emerging talent, drawing on decades of community mentorship to create music that celebrates culture, connection and identity.

Known for its energetic live shows, Gabrielito y La Verdad delivers music that gets audiences moving while honoring the roots of Latin jazz. The performance is designed to deliver a vibrant concert experience that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Ticket holders are also invited to enjoy dinner and a cash bar on the Curtis Theatre Plaza beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is included with every ticket, making it the perfect way to complete an unforgettable evening of live Latin jazz.

Event Details:

• What: An Evening of Latin Jazz featuring Gabrielito y La Verdad
• When: Saturday, August 8th, 2026
• Showtimes: 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM
• Where: The Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Cir, Brea, CA 92821
• Tickets: www.CurtisTheatre.com

I spoke with pop duo Dichotomy, the newly formed music project from LGBTQ+ influencers Icon Abbly and Marcy Jumper, following the release of their debut single, “High Fashion.”

“High Fashion” channels the energy of the Y2K club-pop era with glossy production and hook-driven melodies reminiscent of Britney Spears, Kesha, Katy Perry and early Lady Gaga.

The duo celebrated the single’s release with an exclusive launch event at Sweetwater in West Hollywood, CA. The high-energy gathering drew fellow musicians, music industry professionals and digital creators to mark Abbly and Jumper’s official transition into the music space.

Dichotomy’s identity is rooted in the contrast between its two members. Abbly has built a following around a dark, goth-inspired aesthetic while Jumper is known for her bright pink, Barbiecore style. Together, the pair have amassed a combined social media audience of more than 350,000 followers, bringing their established online presence into the pop music landscape.

With a distinctive visual identity and a debut single that embraces early-2000s dance-pop nostalgia, Dichotomy enters the music scene with a sound and image designed to resonate with a new generation of pop fans.

“High Fashion” is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

Follow Marcy Jumper on Instagram @marcyjumper.

Follow Icon Abbly on Instagram @iconabbly.

Follow Dichotomy on Instagram @dichotomyduo.

Performances by The Lumineers, The Chicks and more than 20 other acts echoed across the mountainsides as fans of all ages came together to celebrate the transformative power of live music. While this year’s festival is now in the rearview mirror, Zootown Music Festival is already looking ahead to next summer.

The 2027 edition of Zootown Music Festival is scheduled for June 18-19, 2027. A First Cast presale launches today, June 25, at 10 a.m. MT at ZootownFestival.com, offering a limited number of two-day general admission tickets at the lowest available price while supplies last.

The third annual Zootown Music Festival will once again take place in June, helping kick off Missoula’s summer season. The festival will continue its mission of creating a world-class music experience for local fans and visitors while investing in and supporting the region it calls home.

In 2026, Zootown partnered with Five Valleys Land Trust to support the nonprofit’s conservation efforts, including the Mount Dean Stone project, which is visible from the festival grounds. The initiative seeks to strengthen the Missoula community’s connection to the landscape, improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk on the edge of town and protect future access to the lands that help define the region’s quality of life.

Five dollars from every official lineup poster sold was donated to Five Valleys Land Trust. The festival also partnered with Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers on a special sweepstakes that raised additional funds for the organization.

Zootown Festival will continue serving as an economic driver for the region, providing a meaningful boost to local businesses, including the outdoor recreation and outfitter economy. Through the festival’s partnership with Guide Time, hundreds of guided hikes, fly-fishing excursions, whitewater rafting trips, Clark Fork River floats and other outdoor experiences were booked around the 2026 festival.

While most ticket buyers came from within Montana, music fans traveled to Missoula from across the country, with attendees representing all 50 states.

According to a study by Zenith Economics, the 2025 edition of Zootown Festival generated $9.1 million in net new economic activity in Missoula County, more than $400,000 in net tax revenue for state and local governments and $3.3 million in new labor income for workers throughout the region. The festival also supported the equivalent of 67 full-time annual jobs across Missoula County.

With attendance increasing at the recently completed 2026 festival, those economic impacts are expected to grow in the years ahead.

Zootown Festival also extends its gratitude to its 2026 sponsors: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Montucky Cold Snacks, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Bonanza Wines, Dry Fly Distilling, Kona Big Wave, Kodiak, High West, Dos Hombres, Fly MSO, Montana River Guides, Western Montana’s Glacier Country and Sun Cruiser.

Visit ZootownFestival.com for First Cast presale details.

Nashville-based Premiere Collectibles is teaming up with rock icon and Poison frontman, Bret Michaels to give collectors and music fans something special: authentic signed memorabilia and the chance for one lucky fan to enjoy a VIP concert experience with the legendary performer.

“Bret Michaels embodies everything we look for in a partne,authenticity, passion, and a genuine appreciation for his fans. We’re proud to bring this exclusive collection and unforgettable VIP experience to collectors and music fans around the world,” states Jay Green, CEO of Premiere Collectibles.

The partnership comes after the Premiere Collectibles team recently spent time with Michaels in Los Angeles during a private signing session. There, the Poison frontman personally signed a collection of iconic records and memorabilia for fans.

From the moment he arrived, Michaels brought an energy that filled the room. The signing session quickly turned into a lively gathering filled with stories, laughter and conversations that reflected his enthusiasm for connecting with people.

What impressed the Premiere Collectibles team most wasn’t just Michaels’ energy. It was his authenticity.

Despite decades of success as a musician, entertainer and entrepreneur, Michaels remained grounded throughout the day. He frequently spoke about his small-town Pittsburgh roots, the work ethic that helped shape his career and the appreciation he continues to have for the fans who have supported him along the way.

Again and again, conversations returned to the people and experiences that helped define his journey. For the team, it became clear that Michaels’ connection with fans isn’t simply part of his success story — it’s part of who he is.

That authenticity is one of the reasons Michaels chose to partner with Premiere Collectibles.

Known for providing verified signed collectibles, the company shares Michaels’ commitment to creating meaningful experiences for fans. According to the team, he was eager to personally sign the collection and make it available directly to the people who have followed his career for decades.

Before the signing session wrapped up, Michaels had another idea.

Turning to Premiere Collectibles Director of Partnerships Ashley Ellis, he proposed adding something extra for fans.

“Let’s take this thing to the next level. I want to throw in something special for one of these fans. Let’s make this an experience they’ll never forget.”

Michaels then suggested including two VIP tickets to any domestic Bret Michaels concert in 2026, complete with backstage access and the opportunity to meet him in person.

For the Premiere Collectibles team, it was a moment that perfectly captured everything they had witnessed throughout the day — an artist who genuinely loves his fans, values their support and looks for opportunities to create lasting memories with the people who have been part of his journey.

As part of the promotion, one purchaser will receive two VIP tickets to a domestic Bret Michaels concert in 2026, along with backstage access and the opportunity to meet Bret in person.

“At Premiere Collectibles, our mission has always been to connect fans with authentic, meaningful collectibles and experiences they simply can’t find anywhere else,” continued Premiere Collectibles CEO Jay Green. “We’re committed to delivering excellence in everything we do, from the authenticity of every signed item to creating once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that bring fans closer to the people they admire most. Bret Michaels embodies everything we look for in a partner—authenticity, passion, and a genuine appreciation for his fans. We’re proud to bring this exclusive collection and unforgettable VIP experience to collectors and music fans around the world.”

The exclusive collection is now available through Premiere Collectibles, giving fans the opportunity to own authenticated memorabilia signed by Michaels while also entering for a chance to win a backstage experience with one of rock’s most recognizable performers.

Fans can now purchase authentic Bret Michaels signed editions through Premiere Collectibles and be entered for the VIP concert and backstage experience. The collection is available now.

I spoke with the dynamic duo of The Ex-Bombers, where we quickly found ourselves talking about our shared love of professional wrestling, music and the unexpected controversy that erupted during the filming of their new music video, ‘In Music City‘.

Official Interview:

The shoot was a collaboration with Music City Pro Wrestling and featured an impressive mix of talent from the NWA’s Lightning One and Bruce Tharpe eras alongside rising stars including Jeremiah Plunkett, LT Falk, Deadly Sinn Se7en, Will Huckaby, Johnny Bandana, Ray Bruce, Pha’Nesse and Isaiah Snow.

Original plans were simple: film The Ex-Bombers performing in a wrestling ring surrounded by wrestlers while vintage television viewers watched the action unfold. But during production, LT Falk and Zack Kennedy became involved in a legitimate altercation that continued after filming stopped. Rather than scrap the footage, the band restructured the video around the incident.

The result is a chaotic and fitting companion to ‘In Music City‘, a song that recently reached No. 44 on the Radio Indie Alliance chart and has been played on more than 250 radio stations.

Official Music Video for ‘In Music City‘:

The video is also a love letter to Tennessee’s wrestling heritage, recreating the atmosphere of the territory era while showcasing today’s Nashville wrestling scene. To make the project count for something beyond entertainment, The Ex-Bombers are donating one cent for every full view of the video through June 21, 2026, to the Cauliflower Alley Club, professional wrestling’s only 501(c)(3) charity that assists wrestlers facing hardship.

The band’s connection to wrestling runs deep. The Ex-Bombers previously wrote ‘Get the Experience‘ for The Jim Cornette Experience podcast, ‘He’s a Bad, Bad Man‘, for Jeremiah Plunkett and ‘The Adventures of Beef‘ for AEW and ROH star BEEF.

‘In Music City‘ will also serve as the opening theme for the upcoming Music City Pro Wrestling television show and will appear on The Ex-Bombers‘ forthcoming album, ‘Lace Up Your Boots‘.

To find out more about the Cauliflower Alley Club and attending the 60th annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion in Las Vegas, NV, visit:

https://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/.

Visit The Ex-Bombers official website for tour dates and more information on their forthcoming album at:

http://www.theexbombers.com/.