DOOM GONG AT ZAPPANALE 2026

The fantastic Doom Gong concert from Zappanale 2026 turned up at YouTube.

We had just arrived when they started with the intro to 'Strictly Genteel'.
And then they kicked off with 'King Kong' only to continue with some hyper-energetic original material.

Goosebumps all over again.

J.M. SMIG - SIT ON A SINGLE

Earlier this month, J.M. Smig added new artwork to his “Sit On A Single” album, previously released in 2015 and in 2021. The 2021 version adding ‘Dog Meat’ and ‘Peaches En Regalia’ as bonus tracks.

On the new artwork, J.M. Smig added:
“…because I want you to add a hairy, moly ass to your music collection for all your friends to see..”.

FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA - WHAT'S NEW IN BALTIMORE AND EASTER HAY

• Fido Plays Zappa: What’s New In Baltimore And Easter Hay
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Swiss Frank Zappa tribute band Fido Plays Zappa has just released this mash-up of FZ’s ‘What’s New In Baltimore?’ and ‘Watermelon In Easter Hay’
It got recorded live at Sud Basel on April 9, 2026.

Lovely.

IN HIS LATEST 'SEARCHING FOR SPARKS' VIDEO PODCAST, TIM MOTZER TALKS MUSIC WITH JULIE SLICK

Tim Motzer:
here’s a fun and energizing chat with bassist Julie Slick on "Searching for Sparks" covering her latest news including an upcoming November-December 2026 tour with Emma Ruth Rundle, and many other new projects. We talk about her work with Adrian Belew, Crimson Projeckts, and Jerry Harrison’s Talking Heads tribute.

NEW ALBUM BY AGITATION FREE

How did this escape me?
Agitation Free has a brand-new album out !

Recorded live in Berlin in 2025:

• Agitation Free: Live In Berlin
      (2026, cd, Germany, mig)

PARITY - PARITY

• Parity: Parity
      (2020, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Athens, Greece-based duo Parity reworked and reharmonized the melody of FZ’s ‘Watermelon In Easter Hay’, added a new section, and used it as a vehicle for improvisation.

It got released on their “Parity” album, made available as a download through Bandcamp in 2020.

AGITATION FREE - LIVE KESSELHAUS BERLIN, APRIL 23, 2013

• Agitation Free: Live Kesselhaus Berlin April 23, 2013
      (2023, 2cd, Germany, mig)

True, I missed the Agitation Free concert at Zappanale.
According to some who were there, it was a highlight.

Well, thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to catch the Rockradio broadcast afterwards.
It looks like I really did miss an impressive concert.

In the meantime, however, I was also able to enjoy one of Agitation Free's recent albums: a 2013 concert, released on CD in 2016, as a digital download in 2023.

Instrumental, psychedelic rock with lots of improvisations.
Great !!

Here's the Zappanale show:

VARIOUS ARTISTS - W.E.R.F. RECORDS - SKETCHES OF BELGIAN SUMMERS

The (Belgian) W.E.R.F. Record label has just released "Sketches Of Belgian Summers", a superfine sampler / introduction to the Belgian jazz artists that they have been releasing.

Highly recommended.

KEVIN KASTNING & PAUL WERTICO - INTERCHANGE TWO

• Kevin Kastning & Paul Wertico: Interchange Two
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / greydisc)

Kevin Kastning has been featured on this blog several times already. He's an instrument inventor, but also a master of the contraguitar,
Paul Wertico performed and recorded with Pat Metheny, Larry Coryell and MarBin, amongst others, but he also had his own trio.

A meeting of these two musicians, where they spontaneously improvise, is a joy for the ear. The exploratory trip was recorded and can be enjoyed on "Interchange One" and "Interchange Two", both out on the Greydisc record label.

I love it.

Here's a piece from "Interchange One":

IBRAHIM MAALOUF'S SESSION AT THE CHELSEA STUDIOS

Ibrahim Maalouf - Full Session | Paste Magazine
2026 07 24

At the Chelsea Studios

00:27 - “Love Anthem”
06:54 - “LAS TROMPETAS DE NAEL”
15:35 - “The Smile of Rita”