Categories
Country Daypop

Nickelback, Brantley Gilbert to perform on Day 2 of ‘Velocity Festival’ at Field Of Dreams

Nickelback has been announced as the headliner of the second day of the new Velocity Festival hosted at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa.

The two-day weekend fest, scheduled for August 30th and 31st, will feature previously announced headliner Tim McGraw performing on Saturday the 30th, and Nickelback headlining Sunday the 31st. Brantley Gilbert has also been confirmed as a performer on Sunday, with more to be announced.

Velocity is billed as a new multi-city festival that will launch in other locales in 2026, with the initial iteration taking place on the 193-acre farm and baseball diamond made famous by the 1989 film Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner. In recent years, the field has also been used by the MLB for a pair of official regular season games.

Promoter Nick Abate of U.S. Concert Agency shared in a press release: “Adding a second day to this event is going to make it even more epic! With Nickelback hitting the stage at the iconic Field of Dreams, we’re kicking off something special with Velocity, our new multi-city music festival launching in 2026. It’s all about bringing incredible performances to legendary locations and creating unforgettable experiences for fans. We’re beyond excited for what’s to come!”

For ticket information, head HERE.

Editorial credit: Antonio Scorza / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

See Stagecoach Festival’s star-studded lineup for 2025 Diplo’s HonkyTonk

Stagecoach Fest — California’s country music festival — shared the lineup for this year’s HonkyTonk tent, curated once again by Diplo, returning for the third year.

The star-studded roster includes exclusive performances from Diplo himself with Paris Hilton, DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak), Chromeo, and Sofi Tukker, plus a mix of global dance music icons.  A social post from Diplo and Stagecoach reads: “HonkyTonk stage is back for the 3rd year… this time we’re doin it even bigger and puttin more dance floor outside the tent too. We’re gonna be ravin, wranglin, 2 steppin and beer chuggin all weekend 🤠

In addition to the HonkyTonk, the festival will feature headlining sets from country music favorites Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs, as well as performances from Brothers Osborne, Lana Del Rey, Sturgill Simpson, Nelly, The Backstreet Boys, Midland, Sammy Hagar, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, and many, many more.

Stagecoach runs from Friday, April 25th-Sunday, April 27th at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Netflix cancels ‘The Recruit’ after two seasons

Netflix has canceled its spy adventure The Recruit after two seasons. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news. Season 2 only consisted of six episodes, rather than eight in its first season.

Created by Alexi Hawley, The Recruit starred Noah Centineo, Laura Haddock, Colton Dunn and Aarti Mann, premiering on Netflix in December 2022 (Season 2 was released in January). The spy series followed Owen Hedricks (Centineo), a CIA lawyer who becomes involved in international conflicts with dangerous parties after an asset tries to expose her relationship to the agency.

Dunn wrote on Instagram: “You can’t cancel the memories. Very thankful to the cast, crew and creator of The Recruit. It was a good run with lots of fun. #therecruit”

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

See Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal in the trailer for ‘Materialists’

Celine Song’s upcoming rom-com Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, will arrive in theaters June 13, and now A24 has released the first trailer for the film.

Written, directed and produced by Song, Materialists is a romantic comedy that follows a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker Lucy (Johnson) who finds herself torn between the perfect match (Pascal) and her imperfect ex (Evans). The trailer shows Lucy celebrate her matchmaking service yielding nine marriages, before meeting Pascal’s character, whom she describes as “a unicorn, an impossible fantasy” who lives in a $12 million apartment. Evans portrays John — a man from Lucy’s past who isn’t over her, with the film following Lucy as she tries to figure out which suitor is the best match for herself. The ensemble cast also includes Zoe Winters, Marin Ireland, Succession‘s Dasha Nekrasova and Louisa Jacobson.

A24 originally announced the release date for the film in a social media post on X, which features a photograph of a white, heart-shaped cake with Materialists written in thin red icing. The cake has already been cut into, and features a stamped out cigarette next to the serving knife. A red business card that says “Adore Matchmaking” appears alongside the dessert, with the caption reading: “Save the date. Celine Song’s MATERIALISTS 6.13.2025”

Materialists arrives in theaters June 13; see the trailer: HERE.

Editorial credit: Matteo Chinellato / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Four teen suspects in custody after Virginia shooting that left 3 dead and 3 wounded

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that four teenagers are in custody following a shooting during an illegal gun sale and robbery in northeastern Virginia on Tuesday evening that left three people dead and three others injured.

The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office received calls about a shooting just outside of Fredericksburg, in the area of Olde Greenwich Drive and Lafayette Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Deputies responded to find multiple people shot at the town house complex following what they now believe was an “illegal gun sale/robbery,” according to a news release. The three people killed were two 18-year-old men, identified as Spotsylvania County residents Chase Feaster and Alonzo Goffney; and one 20-year-old man who was not publicly identified.

The four suspects — two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old — were arrested and charged with “malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony unlawful assembly” on Wednesday morning.  Three of the suspects are being held without bail; one 16-year-old suspect suffered a gunshot wound and is in the hospital, but will be incarcerated upon his release.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office sharing in a social media post: “All suspects are in custody and there is no threat to public safety … We commend our detectives on bringing this tragedy to a closure,” the sheriff’s office said. “We want to thank our partnership with the Fredericksburg Police Department and the Virginia State Police for their assistance during the investigation.”

Fredericksburg City Public Schools announced on its website that schools would “operate on a two-hour delay” Wednesday “in light of the profound impact this incident has had on members of our school community. This delay will allow us the necessary time to prepare our buildings and staff to welcome students with the care and support they may need during this difficult time.”

Spotsylvania County Public Schools also operated on a two-hour delay Wednesday, saying it would allow staff to have support in place to help students and staff who may have been impacted. The support included additional deputies and presence from the sheriff’s office at each of the high schools.

Editorial credit: MargJohnsonVA / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Trump administration freezes $1B in federal funding for Cornell, $790M for Northwestern

The White House confirmed that more than $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and  $790 million for Northwestern University have been frozen while the government investigates alleged civil rights violations at both schools.

A Trump administration official said “the money was frozen in connection with several ongoing, credible, and concerning Title VI investigations,” referring to a federal statute that prohibits discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funding. The New York Times was first to report the freeze on funding for the universities.

In a statement, Cornell said it had received more than 75 stop work orders earlier Tuesday from the Defense Department related to research “profoundly significant to American national defense, cybersecurity, and health” but that it had not otherwise received any information confirming $1 billion in frozen grants.  A statement from Michael I. Kotlikoff, the university president, read: “We are actively seeking information from federal officials to learn more about the basis for these decisions,” adding it has “worked diligently to create an environment where all individuals and viewpoints are protected and respected.”

Northwestern University president Michael Schill said in an email to his community that it had not been notified by the federal government of the cuts (according to the campus newspaper The Daily Northwestern.).  Schill said that “federal funds that Northwestern receives drive innovative and life-saving research, like the recent development by Northwestern researchers of the world’s smallest pacemaker, and research fueling the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This type of research is now at jeopardy. The University has fully cooperated with investigations by both the Department of Education and Congress.”

On March 14, the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, announced it had opened Title VI investigations into 45 universities, emphasizing it has “reiterated” the schools’ “civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities.”

This new freeze is the latest in a series of federal funding attacks against the Ivy League, but Northwestern would be the first institution to face a funding cut outside of that group. The Trump administration has already frozen funding at Brown University, Columbia University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. Yale University and Dartmouth College are the only two Ivies that have yet to receive a similar notice.

Editorial credit: Jay Yuan / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Morgan Wade shares the single, “East Coast”

Morgan Wade has shared her new single “East Coast,” a fan favorite during her live shows across the country.

“East Coast” is Morgan’s first look at her forthcoming new music and follows her most recent album, Obsessed, released late last year.  Morgan also just wrapped up her headlining Obsessed tour that made stops in major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, and New York City before concluding in Boston, MA.  In addition, Morgan will hit the road this summer with Shinedown as support on their cross-country tour.

‘East Coast’ arrives alongside an accompanying music video, filmed on the coastline with powerful imagery; take a look – HERE.

Editorial credit: Geoffrey Clowes / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Blake Shelton to release new album ‘For Recreational Use Only’

Blake Shelton will drop his first album in four years with ‘For Recreational Use Only,’ his highly anticipated debut with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, set for release on May 9.

The 12-track album will feature Shelton’s Top 10 hit single ‘Texas,’ as well as his latest track, ‘Let Him In Anyway,” co-written by Hardy. The song tells the story of a man seeking divine forgiveness for a lost friend, with Shelton sharing: “This is one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever recorded. When I first heard it, I knew it was something special.”

For Recreational Use Only also features guest appearances from Shelton’s wife Gwen Stefani, John Anderson, and Craig Morgan, and is produced by longtime collaborator Scott Hendricks. Said Shelton: “It’s been a long time since we put out a new album. Scott and I have worked on this music for years, and I’m beyond excited to finally share it with the fans.”

Listen to Let Him In AnywayHERE.

Pre-save For Recreational Use Only HERE.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘The Last of Us’ renewed for third season ahead of Season 2 premiere

Warner Bros. announced Wednesday that HBO Max’s The Last of Us has been renewed for Season 3, ahead of Season 2’s premiere this Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT.

The Last of Us, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, takes its inspiration from the video game franchise.  Joel and Ellie are trying to survive amid an infectious outbreak that transforms the sick into zombie-like beings.

According to an official synopsis, the sophomore season takes place five years after the first season ended, with a longline reading: “Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.” Season 2 also stars Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Jeffrey Wright and Catherine O’Hara.

Game co-creator and series co-creator, writer, director and executive producer Neil Druckmann in a statement: “To see ‘The Last of Us’ brought to life so beautifully and faithfully has been a career highlight for me. And I am grateful for the fans’ enthusiastic and overwhelming support. Much of that success is thanks to my partner in crime, Craig Main, our partnership with HBO, and our team at PlayStation Productions. On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog, our cast, and crew, thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. We’re thrilled to bring you more of ‘The Last of Us!’”

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Zendaya to play Ronnie Spector in biopic directed by Barry Jenkins

Zendaya has signed on to portray legendary singer Ronnie Spector in the upcoming biopicBe My Baby’, helmed by Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins for A24.

Zendaya, who has been attached to the project since 2020, will portray the ’60s music icon in the biographical drama. Before Spector passed away in 2022, she was an executive producer on the film and hand-picked Zendaya to portray her on screen.

A24 confirmed the news of Zendaya and Jenkins’ involvement on social media, writing: “Dream reunion with
@BarryJenkins and @Zendaya for BE MY BABY, a new film about the life and work of legendary songstress Ronnie Spector”

The biopic will be written by Dave Kajganich, adapted from Spector’s 1990 memoir “Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or, My Life as a Fabulous Ronette” that Spector co-wrote with Vince Waldron. The film is expected to focus on the singer’s life with the troubled producer Phil Spector, per Deadline, who first reported the news of Jenkins’ involvement. Jonathan Greenfield is set to executive produce the film, with producers including Zendaya, Marc Platt and Adam Siegel.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com