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Gorillaz Announce New Album The Mountain, Reveal “The Happy Dictator”
Music

Gorillaz Announce New Album The Mountain, Reveal “The Happy Dictator”

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Gorillaz fans, get ready to climb The Mountain.

Damon Albarn and co. are preparing to release a new album, The Mountain, on March 20th, 2026 (pre-order here). The album announcement comes with lead single, “The Happy Dictator,” featuring Sparks. Listen to it below.

The Mountain will be Gorillaz’s ninth studio effort, and their first on the band’s very own new record label, KONG. The 15-track LP boasts a vast array of guest stars, including Black Thought of The Roots, Anoushka Shankar, IDLES, Johnny Marr, Jalen Ngonda, Asha Puthli, Omar Souleyman, Yasiin Bey, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, and Paul Simonon of The Clash, among them.

The album will also feature posthumous contributions from the likes of  Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur (aka Trugoy the Dove of De La Soul), Proof, Dennis Hopper, Mark E Smith of The Fall, and Tony Allen.

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Produced by Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton and Remi Kabaka Jr., plus Bizarrap, The Mountain was recorded around the world, with Damon Albarn and company hitting studios in various locations in India, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Rajasthan and Varanasi, as well as London, Ashgabat, Damascus, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. The international feel is further emphasized with the new songs featuring artists performing in five languages: Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish and Yoruba.

As always, the album’s distinctive artwork was created by Jamie Hewlett, whose hand-drawn images of band members Murdoc, Noodle, Russel and 2D working on the new music in India will be available both as a book and as a collection of 12×12 prints.

According to a press release, the animated musical icons are ensconced in Mumbai on fake passports after turning their backs on pop stardom, and now “immersed in the rhythms of mystical music-making, as they navigate the mountainous terrain of this thing called life.”

“As space dust we are here forever and that’s a mighty long time,” drummer Russel Hobbs explained in a press statement. “This is a musical meditation infused with light. A journey of the soul, with beats…”

The group will celebrate the new release with an arena tour of the UK and Ireland, which kicks off on March 21st, 2026, in Manchester, England, with dates in Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin; plus a one-off headline show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday June 20, 2026, with support from Sparks and Trueno. See the full itinerary below.

Gorillaz recently debuted The Mountain with a special “mystery show” featuring most of the album’s cavalcade of guests on the final night of their four-show residency at London’s Copper Box Arena. The band has uploaded a video of the first night of the residency, which was a full performance of their 2001 debut album.

The Mountain Tracklist:
01. The Mountain (feat. Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
02. The Moon Cave (feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda and Black Thought)
03. The Happy Dictator (feat. Sparks)
04. The Hardest Thing (feat. Tony Allen)
05. Orange County (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar)
06. The God of Lying (feat. IDLES)
07. The Empty Dream Machine (feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
08. The Manifesto (feat. Trueno and Proof)
09. The Plastic Guru (feat. Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
10. Delirium (feat. Mark E. Smith)
11. Damascus (feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey)
12. The Shadowy Light (feat. Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
13. Casablanca (feat. Paul Simonon and Johnny Marr)
14. The Sweet Prince (feat. Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
15. The Sad God (feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna and Anoushka Shankar)

Gorillaz 2026 Tour Dates:
03/21 – Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
03/22 – Birmingham, UK @ bp pulse LIVE
03/24 – Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro
03/25 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena
03/27 – Cardiff, UK @ Utilita Arena
03/28 – Nottingham, UK @ Motorpoint Arena
03/29 – Liverpool, UK @ M&S Bank Arena
03/31 – Belfast, UK @ SSE Arena
04/01 – Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
06/20 – London, UK @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

* = w/Trueno
^ = w/Sparks and Trueno

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Havoc Teases First Single From New Mobb Deep Album, 'Infinite'
Music

Havoc Teases First Single From New Mobb Deep Album, ‘Infinite’

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Mobb Deep is returning with their first album in over a decade. Havoc has revealed that the group’s forthcoming LP is titled Infinite, and it’s set for release on October 10 via Mass Appeal Records.

The lead single, “Against The World,” finds Havoc and the late Prodigy trading verses over a soulful instrumental — a rare duo appearance since Prodigy’s passing in 2017.

Nas announced the project in an Instagram post on Monday (Sept. 8), teasing the album with the line, “@mobbdeepqb Against The World #Infinite coming soon.”

The next day, Havoc previewed “Against The World” on the Joe and Jada podcast. In his opening verse, Prodigy raps, “New York is just one crumb on the map/ One crumb ain’t a lot,” delivering his signature grit and aggression that fans have long associated with his style.

Infinite is being billed not just as a comeback for Mobb Deep, but also as a tribute. It’s their first full album since The Infamous Mobb Deep (2014), and it’s their first released after Prodigy’s death. The project is entirely produced by Havoc and The Alchemist, and uses unreleased vocals from Prodigy.

Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic

To recap Mobb Deep’s legacy: the duo, composed of Havoc and Prodigy, rose to prominence in the mid-1990s out of Queensbridge, New York. Their 1995 album The Infamous is considered a classic for its raw storytelling, menacing production, and vivid depictions of street life.

Over the years, they released several acclaimed albums like Hell on Earth (1996), Murda Muzik (1999), and Blood Money (2006), among others. Prodigy (born Albert Johnson) passed away on June 20, 2017, from complications related to sickle cell anemia.

Mobb Deep

Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Since his death, his estate has released his solo posthumous album, The Hegelian Dialectic 2: The Book of Heroine (2022), and also brought his solo catalog back to streaming platforms.

As Infinite approaches, it represents both an end and a preservation of what Mobb Deep has meant in hip-hop — honoring Prodigy’s voice, cementing their influence, and offering fans a proper swan song from one of rap’s favorite duos.

Watch Havoc premiere “Against The World” on the Joe And Jada podcast below.

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Algernon Cadwallader: Trying Not to Have a Thought Album Review
Music

Algernon Cadwallader: Trying Not to Have a Thought Album Review

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Though admired by a range of emo and indie rockers, Algernon Cadwallader originally considered themselves an off-kilter punk band, and they fully embrace that identity on Trying Not to Have a Thought. It’s their densest and loudest album, even if each member sounds more controlled on the whole. From the gnarled rock propelling “Shameless Faces (even the guy who made the thing was a piece of shit)” to the artful, ketamine-fueled post-punk of “noitanitsarcorP,” all four members sound energized, focused, and inspired by each other’s ideas. “There is no ‘I’ in Algernon,” Helmis yells with relief on the title track. It’s a testament to the band members’ tight bond and how their live shows allow the public to share in it.

In the band’s first run, Algernon Cadwallader were sometimes criticized for being too in thrall to their influences: Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Owls. But even that intended bullet bounces like a rubber band in the emo scene, where the Kinsellas are venerated like saints and simultaneously recognized for how they’ve continued to evolve as musicians over the years. Algernon would like to attempt the same, and the development of Helmis’ vocal tactics on “What’s Mine” alone warrants the reunion album: He mumble-speaks like Phil Elverum, switches to pining long notes, and lets melodic hiccups accent his transition from scream-yodel to full-on yell. Meanwhile, Tazza continues the tradition of Analphabetapolothology’s childlike percussive loafing by casting a prism of pastel textures over “Koyaanisqatsi” with triangle, shakers, and diaphanous drum patterns.

Reinhart, who also mixed the album, trains the spotlight on the precise jabs of a buttoned-up fencing match with Mahony, his co-guitarist. The two dance around one another in equal volume, light on their feet, with intricate finger-tapping and rhythmic interplay that cherry-picks from Midwest emo, bluegrass, jazz, and fingerstyle guitar. In “You’ve Always Been Here,” atop Tazza’s steady beat and Helmis’ bassline, Reinhart and Mahony ramp up until their two guitars sound like four, then six. The intentional frenzy of Algernon Cadwallader’s past work is refined into contemplative passages (“What’s Mine”) and sugary Pop Rocks explosions (“World of Difference”) that raise your heart rate without mandating participation in the mosh pit. Tempting as it is to credit that melodic punk push as being solely Reinhart’s handiwork—he’s the band’s not-so-secret weapon, a producer for Beach Bunny and Modern Baseball—a closer ear takes notice of the crucial choices Mahony makes in each of his complementary guitar parts.

By waiting to return to the drawing board, Algernon Cadwallader built Trying Not to Have a Thought on their own time and in their own way. The mood is grateful and reflective, but it doesn’t dull their unruly style. The title track, the album’s centerpiece, introduces an effortless, freewheeling hook that drips with bittersweet nostalgia as Helmis belts mouthfuls like, “I’m trying not to get caught in the backwash of an artificial world constructed by bloodsucking motherfuckers in an anti-social coliseum.” He’s having fun, but he’s not putting on blinders for the sake of a good time. “Hawk” opens the album by grieving a high school friend: Helmis remembers roughhousing and playing with pocket knives together, never imagining they’d run out of time. “A few of your favorite clothes from your high school wardrobe/Are the closest thing to having you back,” he sings. His bandmates know exactly how to brighten pockets of the song to match Helmis’ elegy: “When we had the chance/We did it right.”

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The team behind BST in Hyde Park announce huge new 'Roundhay Festival' in Leeds
Music

The team behind BST in Hyde Park announce huge new ‘Roundhay Festival’ in Leeds

by jummy84
written by jummy84

A huge new music festival has been announced for Leeds’ Roundhay Park by the team behind BST Hyde Park.

Set to become a central fixture of the north of England’s cultural calendar, a press release for the new festival promised it will host some of the music world’s biggest names, with the first headliner set to be announced soon.

The legendary Roundhay Park has already got a storied history with live music, having played host to the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Rolling Stones and, most recently, Ed Sheeran.

Launched in collaboration with Leeds City Council, Roundhay Festival will deliver a sizable economic boost to the local area, and will also run a midweek programme of free-to-access
activities for all ages, offering high-quality arts, culture and wellbeing activities as well as providing a platform for local talent at the park during the summer.

Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said the park was a “fabulous setting” for concerts, adding that the festival would “act as a wonderful showcase” for the city.

“The park is a fabulous setting for concerts, as legendary artists like Madonna, U2 and the Rolling Stones will know from their own fondly-remembered appearances there,” he continued. “It’s also a much-loved part of the fabric of life in Leeds, so it’s fitting that this event will be doing as much as possible to support local vendors, suppliers and staff.”

“Roundhay Festival will act as a wonderful showcase for our city, raising its profile with national and international audiences while delivering an important boost to the local economy. I’m sure music fans, not just in Leeds but across the region and beyond, will agree with me when I say ‘roll on next summer’.”

Organisers AEG Presents, who also run London’s BST Hyde Park, have said they plan to bring premium festival experiences and world-class performances to Leeds.

“Everyone at AEG is thrilled to announce the launch of the Roundhay Festival in Leeds,” Jim King, the CEO of AEG Presents UK and European Festivals, said of the news.

“This landmark event gives us the opportunity to bring world-class artists and world-leading production to even more fans, while building on the park’s incredible musical legacy. Roundhay Park already holds an extraordinary place in music history, having hosted concerts from some of the biggest artists of all time and we cannot wait to add to that story.”

Roundhay Festival’s headliners, full line-ups and programmes are set to be announced soon.

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Ed Sheeran 'Play' Review
Music

Ed Sheeran ‘Play’ Review

by jummy84
written by jummy84

On the bubblegum pink cover of his eighth studio album, Play, Ed Sheeran clearly lays out his goals for the project in a written message. “Play is leaving the past behind. Play is colorful. Play is dancing. Play is nostalgic,” the mission statement reads. Can an album leave the past behind and be nostalgic at the same time? Ed sure hopes so.

On the opening track, aptly-titled “Opening,” the multi-platinum singer-songwriter draws a line in the sand and moves beyond the emotional struggles that were present on 2023’s − (Subtract). In the process, he turns towards South and West Asian rhythms to create a fusion of dance-ready, upbeat pop songs that represent the bright disposition implied by the album’s title and cover. Yet, as promised, Play is also mainly steeped in fond memories of the past as Sheeran spends most of the record revisiting the singer-songwriter pop ballads that made him famous. It’s a somewhat disorienting move for a project that is supposed to be looking ahead. 

The most interesting moments on Play are the cross-cultural, experimental songs that find Sheeran hitting a new pop wave. “Sapphire” is built around a shiny, irresistible rhythm thanks to Iranian-Swedish producer Ilya and an assist from Indian mega star Arijit Singh. Similarly, the sultry, dancefloor number “Symmetry” has a thumping heart that can get anyone dancing, even if they don’t know what the Hindi chorus is saying. Mostly, though, when it comes to globetrotting musical fusions Sheeran isn’t exactly George Harrison or Paul Simon. Instead, songs like “Azizam” and “Don’t Look Down” sound misplaced, especially as their bright sitar and flute tones push against the more melancholy, acoustic-driven tracks on Play.

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For the most part, the album finds Sheeran returning to the singer-songwriter ballad form. Save for the rap verse on “Opening” which recalls early career innovations like 2011’s “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” and pensive folk track “Old Phone,” Sheeran’s time travel only takes him back a few years, to 2017’s Divide to be exact. “Camera” is a sappy, crescendoing ode in the vein of “Perfect” that will undoubtedly dominate future wedding playlists, while “The Vow” is a soulful, jazz-inflected moment with Hallmark-card lyrics ( “I thank the broken road that led me to you”) that weirdly seems to channel a Rascal Flatts love song  of all things. It’s not all misses; Sheeran flexes his detail-focused songwriting on softer ballads like “In Other Words” and “Slowly.”

Overall, despite some of its nods to a more global sound, Play is a lot more of the same radio-tailored singer-songwriter music that has become Sheeran’s signature in his 15-year career. “Been a long time on top, but I ain’t complacent/ If I look down, I can see replacements,” he raps on “Opening.” That sentiment in mind, it’s kind of ironic that in a pop music landscape filled with post-Sheeran balladeers like Alex Warren and Teddy Swims, the man himself can’t find a way to move his music forward. 

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Young Thug Releases 'Man I Miss My Dogs,' Apologizes to Drake, Future
Music

Young Thug Releases ‘Man I Miss My Dogs,’ Apologizes to Drake, Future

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Young Thug has seemingly seen the world around him crumble with every misstep and leaked jail phone call. But now, he’s looking to right his wrongs and change the narrative.

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Thugger returned with the apologetic “Man I Miss My Dogs” on Thursday night (Sept. 11), which is an apology tour of sorts, as he addresses his trials and tribulations with girlfriend Mariah The Scientist, Drake, Gucci Mane, 21 Savage, Future and Lil Baby.

The YSL boss kicks off the seven-minute track apologizing to Mariah The Scientist, as he hopes to win her back after the singer stuck by him throughout his two-year-plus jail stint fighting the YSL RICO case.

“Baby I’m sorry, one of my biggest fears is losing you to the internet/ One of my biggest fears is waking up in our bed without you right by my neck/ Saying don’t you break a sweat, pillow talking ain’t my game,” a beaten-down Thugger melodically raps.

Thug also shows love to Drake, whom he allegedly dissed in a jail call, for visiting him when he was behind bars. “Drizzy, you my brother/ You know I ain’t going against you/ I got manners/ Everything you did for the rap community can’t ban you/ Never diss you/ Came to visit me at Cobb County like my kin do/ F— the jail call, you know the other calls we had,” he raps.

Next, he moves to Lil Baby, as it appears that WHAM isn’t picking up his phone calls at the moment. There’s been a clear divide in the friendship of the once powerful triumvirate of Thug, Baby and Gunna since the RICO case.

“WHAM pick up the phone, yeah talk to me it’s Spider/ Taught you everything you know about this s—t we for lifers,” Thug implores.

He also attempts to clear the air with 21 Savage, letting the Slaughter Gang honcho know they’re on good terms. “Savage you a real n—a/ Don’t let them tell you different,” Thug proclaims.

After plenty of chatter, Thug is attempting to finally control his narrative and the reclamation of the Atlanta rapper is on. He’ll have plenty more to say, as the long-awaited UY SCUTI album is slated to arrive on Sept. 19.

Watch the “Man I Miss My Dogs” video below.

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Paramount Skydance Wants to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery
Music

Paramount Skydance Wants to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Now that the merger between Paramount and Skydance has been finalized, the newly named Paramount Skydance is ready to do some more shopping. The Wall Street Journal reports that the David Ellison-backed company is putting together a majority cash bid for ownership of fellow movie studio Warner Bros. Discovery.

While Skydance only just recently closed its Paramount deal, talks of a Warner Bros.-Paramount merger date back to December 2023.

A curious detail of the news is that the bid is said to include not just the movie studio business, but the company’s collection of cable networks. That might run counter to WBD’s previously announced plan to split the company into two separate entities: One half will be the Streaming & Studios division known as Warner Bros. that includes Warner’s vast film and TV libraries, as well as Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, and HBO Max. The other half will then be known as Discovery Global, including assets like CNN, TNT, TBS, and the Discovery networks. Deadline reports that this split is currently anticipated to take place in April 2026.

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The new Paramount-Skydance deal was immediately followed up by the South Park season premiere mocking its new corporate ownership. One can only imagine the fun Last Week Tonight with John Oliver will also have, should this merger go through.

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Drake's Better World Fragrance House Hosts NYFW Event: Photos
Music

Drake’s Better World Fragrance House Hosts NYFW Event: Photos

by jummy84
written by jummy84

New York Fashion Week is in full swing and Better World Fragrance House kicked the eventful week off by celebrating one of the hottest new scents on the market. BWFH — the fragrance brand led by Drake, Michael Carby, and Givaudan — hosted an immersive experience last night (Sept. 11) in celebration of their Summer Mink Eau de Parfum.

The exclusive event aimed to bring the fragrance’s story to life through “curated design, sensory moments, and storytelling.” Held on Sept. 10 at Storied NYC, the stunning evening of scent discovery boasted a guestlist full of the city’s tastemakers and parfum lovers, artfully curated photo moments, music, custom cocktails, and elegant light bites. Each guest was transported to an other-worldly atmosphere that allowed them to indulge in all things “Summer Mink,” and everyone was also gifted a travel spray with a custom embossed case to remember the evening.

Those who were in attendance to enjoy the installations included perfumer and creator of Summer Mink Michael Carby and Givaudan, influencer and model Sonia Tucker, NBA players Miles McBride and Patrick Beverly, rapper Dreezy, actress Beverly Naya, and plenty more.

Summer Mink is described as “a universal fragrance inspired by the beauty of juxtaposition. It embodies the unexpected — the indulgence of wearing mink in the summer, defying conventions of seasonality and gender while embracing bold sophistication.” Per Better World’s site, Drake’s relationship to scent “is deeply personal,” and he has worked over the last few years to “develop distinctive scents to curate and improve space.” His vision was brought to life with the help of working with leading perfumer, Michael Carby, and Givaudan, a leader in the fragrance industry. Learn more about the brand here and purchase Summer Mink here.

Attendees stepped out in their best NYFW ensembles to match the unique elegance of the evening. View highlights from the event and top looks from guests below.

 

 

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Ed Sheeran – ‘Play’ review: a hasty retreat to the genre-spanning of old
Music

Ed Sheeran – ‘Play’ review: a hasty retreat to the genre-spanning of old

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Even at their most successful, Ed Sheeran albums are a mixed bag. 2017’s ‘÷’ (yes, the one that featured the barely believable ‘Galway Girl’) worked on its own terms because it was a more adventurous record than his critics would give him credit for. Among the usual saccharine acoustic ballads, the open-minded listener was invited to stumble across wailing dad-rock guitar, sprightly Ghanaian highlife and that admittedly queasy Irish jig.

  • READ MORE: JADE – ‘That’s Showbiz Baby!’ review: pop’s star student is ready for the big leagues

You might not rate the results of these sonic explorations, but it’s better to live in a world where somebody as big as Sheeran is willing to play against type. Indeed, the Halifax-born, Suffolk-raised singer (who identifies “culturally as Irish”) really runs into trouble when he goes on autopilot. Take 2023’s ‘Autumn Variations’, a downcast collection that was about as drab as the tatty old mac you dragged out of the wardrobe as summer slunk off.

While he’s never been a critical darling, the reviews were particularly gruelling for what proved to be his lowest-charting album on the Billboard 200 in over a decade. Ed doesn’t see the point in music reviews, so he won’t have read them, but album eight coincidentally finds him ditching the beige sonic palette in favour of colourful pre-release singles ‘Azizam’ and ‘Sapphire’. These respectively Persian and Punjabi-inspired workouts (the latter a team-up with Indian playback superstar Arijit Singh) suggested that the 34-year-old had returned to his stylistic hopscotch. After all, it served him well in the past: ‘÷’ remains his biggest-selling album to date.

It’s dispiriting, then, when ‘Play’’s opening track – entitled, ingeniously, ‘Opening’ – starts off as yet another introspective, finger-picked ballad. The lyrics, though, are bracing enough to snuff out any cynicism: “I have cried at my brother’s grave / I have shaken hands with my wife’s surgeon.” Soon, too, comes a brittle beat as that fragile croon gives way to Ed’s breathless flow. It’s never not annoying to hear a white guy who went to prep school trying to rap, but, again, the words cut through. Seemingly referring to the plagiarism accusations he’s battled in recent years, Sheeran huffs: “Two of them tried it; I won both cases.”

While ‘Play’ directly addresses the life-threatening illness that Sheeran’s wife faced during pregnancy, as well as the death of his best friend Jamal Edwards (the entrepreneur behind rap channel SB.TV), this is the sound of someone rallying from the darkness. There’s a bit of agreeable, lightweight soul (‘A Little More’ and ‘The Vow’), some Bon Iver-style folktronica (‘Heaven’) and – no shit – a Fred Again-assisted psytrance banger (‘Don’t Look Down’) that could have been in the trailer for one of those ropey Matrix sequels in 2003.

Sheeran hasn’t committed as wholeheartedly to the genre-hopping bit as he did on ‘÷’. There are an awful lot of those sickly ballads, some of which are better than others: ‘Old Phone’, inspired by seeing an old text from Edwards, is genuinely moving. But ‘Play’, which apparently kicks off a groan-inducing new series of albums named after buttons on a remote control, just about makes the most of his bag of tricks.

Details

ed sheeran play review

  • Record label: Gingerbread Man Records / Atlantic Records
  • Release date: September12, 2025

The post Ed Sheeran – ‘Play’ review: a hasty retreat to the genre-spanning of old appeared first on NME.

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Farm Aid 40 Considering Cancelling Over University of Minnesota Strike
Music

Farm Aid 40 Considering Cancelling Over University of Minnesota Strike

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Farm Aid 40 has been in the works for months. The anniversary celebration is scheduled to take place on Sept. 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, and more are scheduled to make appearances. But whether the event is still held at the intended venue, or whether it goes on at all, is dependent on whether the University of Minnesota labor strike is resolved.

“Our artists, production team and partners have made clear that they will not cross a picket line,” Farm Aid event organizers shared in a statement. “The team that is scheduled tomorrow to begin building our complex stage and set is made up of loyal production people who have an ongoing relationship with labor across the U.S. They also will not cross a picket line. These decisions reflect our own values: the farm and labor movements are inseparable, and we believe strongly that the University must return to the bargaining table in good faith.”

Teamsters employees at the University of Minnesota began their strike on Tuesday, Sept. 9 after the university failed to return with other contract offers after the union representing maintenance, custodial, and food service workers across campuses in the city rejected their latest, and final, offer. The University of Minnesota issued a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 10, saying “the actions of some picketers on our Twin Cities and Duluth campuses threaten the community’s safety and are extremely concerning.” Per CBS News, a dozen people have been arrested in relation to the strike.

“We are deeply concerned that this jeopardizes our ability to hold Farm Aid 40 as planned but primarily puts these workers in a place of hardship as they labor to provide basic needs for their families,” organizers said. “We are currently looking at all of our options for hosting this event, but it is not an easy task to pivot at this point.”

But a move or cancellation at this point in the planning process could be financially “devastating,” the statement continued: “We are currently looking at all of our options for hosting this event, but it is not an easy task to pivot at this point … The expenses already incurred to bring this historic event to Minnesota may well threaten the survival of our organization after four decades of service to family farmers.”

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The event is scheduled to also feature Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards, and more.

“We urge the University of Minnesota to settle this contract quickly so that Farm Aid 40 can proceed as intended — to celebrate four decades of farmers, music, and solidarity,” organizers said. “The world is watching, and together we can make sure this anniversary is remembered for unity, not division.”

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