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In the legendary rooms of Muscle Shoals, artists like Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and Paul Simon forged a sound that bypassed borders and reshaped the global musical landscape. This month, a new transatlantic documentary, “I’ll Take You There”: Discovering the Sound of Alabama, explores how that legacy was born—and why its connection to the UK remains so profound.

Set to premiere globally on YouTube on March 12, 2026, the film is a deep dive into the intersection of Alabama’s world-shaping music scene and its pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement.

A Pilgrimage of Powerhouse Voices

The documentary follows a “pilgrimage” of award-winning female artists, led by Alabama soul icon Candi Staton and acclaimed UK singer-songwriters Lady Nade, Michele Stodart, and Lauren Housley. Together, they explore storied sites—from the hallowed halls of FAME Recording Studios to the Birmingham Civil Rights District—reflecting on how a history forged in both oppression and creativity continues to influence songwriting today.

Beyond the artists, the film features the local custodians of Alabama’s cultural memory, including studio owners, faith leaders, and historians. These voices reveal how the “Sound of Alabama” traveled across the Atlantic to embed itself in the DNA of British soul, rock, and Americana.

A Modern Approach to Musical History

Developed in collaboration with partners like Visit the USA and Sweet Home Alabama, the project utilizes a strategic production model designed to create substantive, enduring storytelling rather than short-term promotion.

Executive Producer Romano Sidoli emphasized the importance of community trust in bringing the project to life:

“This film would not exist without the generosity of the people of Alabama. For me, this project has always been about honoring legacy while creating something contemporary, honest, and culturally meaningful.”

Join the Global Premiere

Audiences worldwide are invited to join the filmmakers and cast for a live global premiere, featuring a real-time conversation via YouTube Live Chat.

Date: Thursday, 12 March 2026

Time: 8pm GMT | 3pm CDT | 4pm EDT

In the early 1960s, the glamorous world of Hollywood collided with the high-stakes glamour of casino culture when Frank Sinatra purchased the legendary Cal Neva Lodge & Casino. Under his ownership, the quiet Lake Tahoe resort became one of the most exclusive and talked-about entertainment hotspots in America, synonymous with the wild glamour of the Rat Pack era. With insight from Mr Luck, here’s a look at how it became one of the decade’s hotspots for the rich and famous.

Sinatra Buys the Cal Neva
Sinatra first became acquainted with the Cal Neva during visits in the 1950s. Recognising its potential as both a casino destination and a celebrity retreat, he purchased a stake in the property in 1960 through his company Park Lake Enterprises. Initially holding about 25 per cent of the resort alongside business partners and associates, Sinatra gradually increased his ownership to around 50 per cent by 1962.

The purchase marked the beginning of a brief but transformative period for the resort. Determined to elevate it beyond a seasonal Lake Tahoe lodge, Sinatra invested heavily in upgrades and entertainment facilities.

A Celebrity Playground
One of Sinatra’s most significant additions was the Celebrity Room, a lavish showroom theatre built to host concerts and stage performances. The venue allowed top entertainers to perform in an intimate setting, often for an audience filled with Hollywood royalty.

Sinatra also installed a helipad on the roof, making it easy for famous guests to fly directly into the resort without attracting too much public attention.

These changes transformed the Cal Neva into a year-round entertainment venue and an exclusive destination for performers and high-profile guests.

The Rat Pack’s Lake Tahoe Headquarters
During Sinatra’s ownership, the resort became closely associated with the legendary Rat Pack, a circle of entertainers that included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford.

The group frequently performed in the Celebrity Room and treated the property as an informal headquarters during Lake Tahoe’s summer season. Their presence attracted a long list of stars from stage and screen, including Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Lena Horne and Red Skelton.

With Sinatra at the centre of it all, the Cal Neva quickly gained a reputation as one of the most glamorous and exclusive resorts in the United States.

Lavish Parties and Notorious Nights
The Cal Neva’s newfound fame wasn’t just about entertainment. It also became notorious for its extravagant parties. Celebrities, musicians, athletes and socialites gathered at the resort for nights of drinking, gambling and late-night performances that often continued until dawn.

Stories from the era describe spontaneous jam sessions, celebrity poker games and impromptu performances in the Celebrity Room. The atmosphere reflected the excess and glamour of early-1960s show business, with the Rat Pack setting the tone for the resort’s free-wheeling lifestyle.

Behind the scenes, the property also had a more secretive side. Prohibition-era tunnels beneath the resort were reportedly used to discreetly move celebrities and other guests around the property away from public view.

The Peak of the Cal Neva Era
Between 1960 and 1963, the Cal Neva reached the peak of its fame. The casino was widely regarded as one of the hottest destinations in Nevada, drawing high rollers, Hollywood icons and music legends alike.

Although Sinatra’s ownership ended after regulatory scrutiny surrounding some of his associates, his influence on the resort was lasting. The Celebrity Room remained a symbol of the Rat Pack era, and the Cal Neva’s reputation as a glamorous celebrity hideaway endured for decades.

A Legacy of Glamour
Frank Sinatra’s time at the Cal Neva lasted only a few years, but it permanently reshaped the resort’s identity. What had once been a quiet Tahoe lodge became an entertainment landmark, a place where Hollywood met casino culture and where some of the biggest stars of the 1960s came to perform, celebrate and escape the spotlight.

Even today, the legend of Sinatra’s Cal Neva lives on as a symbol of the Rat Pack’s golden age, an era defined by music, glamour and unforgettable nights on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

Music News is proud to host the exclusive world premiere of “Cold Country” by Rob Bellamy & the Rebel Hearts.

It’s rare in life for someone to chase—and fulfill—even one true passion, let alone two. When Rob Bellamy retired from professional hockey at 30, he could have taken it easy. Instead, he chose to rekindle a love for music that had lived quietly within him since childhood. The moment inspiration struck, Bellamy was all in—packing a bag and moving to Nashville without knowing a single soul. Though the transition wasn’t seamless, the discipline and work ethic he honed as an athlete translated seamlessly into his new pursuit. Before long, he was songwriting and touring alongside some of Music City’s finest, including his future wife, Ayla Brown.

Enter the Rebel Hearts—a collection of fierce New England musicians united by a voracious hunger to capture the spirit of their home. Their music harvests the real stories and sounds sown deep into the soil—cold winters, long roads, fresh air, hard work—cultivating an unmistakably American identity built on raw songwriting, resonant vocals, ringing guitars, and driving drumlines. With new singles rolling out every few weeks through the summer, they’ll close their first chapter with their full-length debut album, a project celebrating the Northern State of Mind. Hopeful, humble, and energized by what lies ahead, Rob Bellamy & the Rebel Hearts promise to be just as expansive and compelling as the countryside they hold close to heart.

When the rolling green hills of summer inevitably give way to endless stretches of drab grays, muddy browns, and eventually blinding whites, those living in “Cold Country” come out of the woodwork, reveling in the harsh sting of a season entombed in frost. Channeling that exhilaration, the track opens with a mysterious, reverb-laden guitar solo before pouncing into untamed fury, as the Rebel Hearts’ distinctly northern soundscape whips like a cruel January wind—spiteful and unrelenting. Bolstered by Bellamy’s gravely vocals, flickering like a candle in a foggy window, this song’s soul lives and breathes deep in the woods of western Massachusetts. And as unappealing as it may sound to outsiders, Bellamy and his crew wouldn’t have it any other way. They wear the battles of each winter with a badge of honor. Enduring frigid nights and seemingly endless overcast days forges a special kind of character—a region of people willing to fight as long as it takes to reach the hard-earned thaw of spring.

From the moment the accompanying visual unfolds, it’s simultaneously striking and fitting to see this band pouring their hearts into a soul-stirring, high-energy performance deep in the backwoods of New Hampshire. Their breath whisps into clouds of vapor with every line, sparks twinkling in their eyes, and it never once occurs to viewers that they should be on a stage. Out in the wilderness is exactly where they belong—even if they mean that quite literally. These are born and bred “Cold Country” folk, beaming with pride and purpose. Bathed in the glow of faint, crackling fire, they soar like a flock of songbirds—raw, real, and radiating joy—a testament to the magic that happens when passion and talent collide at just the right moment.

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Every week, Music News and Liberty Music look at the best new releases from emerging and self-releasing artists.

D’chrome Foster – ‘Rain’
D’Chrome Foster returns in 2026 with ‘Rain’, a sleek new release that blends soulful melody and confident rap cadences, building on the traction of ‘Pack Yo Bagz’ while showcasing his ability to move fluidly between contemporary R&B, pop, and hip-hop. Drawing from his New York battle roots and extensive theatre training, the Brooklyn-born performer delivers a charismatic, emotionally layered track that reinforces his growing presence as a dynamic force in today’s urban music scene.

Michelle Kash – ‘Gravity (Stash Koenig Remix)’
Michelle Kash presents ‘Gravity (Stash Konig Remix)’, a nocturnal electronic reinterpretation of her brooding alt-pop track that reshapes its intimate poetry into a pulsing club-ready experience. Teaming up with Los Angeles producer Stash Konig, the New York-born artist preserves the song’s emotional tension while amplifying it with immersive synth textures and driving beats, reinforcing her reputation as a Billboard-charting vocalist who seamlessly bridges vulnerability and dancefloor magnetism.

Jason Patel – ‘Do It Again?’
Jason Patel launches his first release of the year with ‘Do It Again?’, a heartfelt, slow-tempo track inspired by conversations about imperfect romances and the question of whether past relationships were still worth the pain. Arriving amid rising acclaim for his leading role in Unicorns and following the momentum of his EP ‘Delicious’, the single blends understated soul influences with reflective lyricism, underscoring his growing presence across both music and film.

Emily Ryan – ‘All This Time’
Emily Ryan unveils ‘All The Time’, a moody, after-hours pop release crafted in Atlanta with Ghostkid that explores the pull of lingering thoughts you can’t quite shake. Now based in New York after growing up in Detroit, Ryan continues building momentum through playlist traction and radio support, pairing stripped-back instrumentation with candid lyricism that transforms everyday fixation into something quietly consuming.

VÆB – ‘GAMERBOI’
Icelandic sibling duo VÆB return with ‘GAMERBOI’, a high-voltage pop release blending 8-bit nostalgia, dancefloor energy and internet-era absurdity as the latest preview of their debut album ‘VÆBOUT’ (April 17, 2026). Riding the global momentum of Eurovision breakout ‘RÓA’, the brothers channel gaming escapism and livestream culture into a chaotic, hook-packed anthem, complete with a mixed-media video crafted alongside their international Discord community and ahead of a near sold-out European tour.

Emerging artists Special Offer Promotion.

Every week, Music News and Liberty Music look at the best new releases from emerging and self-releasing artists.

D’chrome Foster – ‘Rain’
D’Chrome Foster returns in 2026 with ‘Rain’, a sleek new release that blends soulful melody and confident rap cadences, building on the traction of ‘Pack Yo Bagz’ while showcasing his ability to move fluidly between contemporary R&B, pop, and hip-hop. Drawing from his New York battle roots and extensive theatre training, the Brooklyn-born performer delivers a charismatic, emotionally layered track that reinforces his growing presence as a dynamic force in today’s urban music scene.

Michelle Kash – ‘Gravity (Stash Koenig Remix)’
Michelle Kash presents ‘Gravity (Stash Konig Remix)’, a nocturnal electronic reinterpretation of her brooding alt-pop track that reshapes its intimate poetry into a pulsing club-ready experience. Teaming up with Los Angeles producer Stash Konig, the New York-born artist preserves the song’s emotional tension while amplifying it with immersive synth textures and driving beats, reinforcing her reputation as a Billboard-charting vocalist who seamlessly bridges vulnerability and dancefloor magnetism.

Jason Patel – ‘Do It Again?’
Jason Patel launches his first release of the year with ‘Do It Again?’, a heartfelt, slow-tempo track inspired by conversations about imperfect romances and the question of whether past relationships were still worth the pain. Arriving amid rising acclaim for his leading role in Unicorns and following the momentum of his EP ‘Delicious’, the single blends understated soul influences with reflective lyricism, underscoring his growing presence across both music and film.

Emily Ryan – ‘All This Time’
Emily Ryan unveils ‘All The Time’, a moody, after-hours pop release crafted in Atlanta with Ghostkid that explores the pull of lingering thoughts you can’t quite shake. Now based in New York after growing up in Detroit, Ryan continues building momentum through playlist traction and radio support, pairing stripped-back instrumentation with candid lyricism that transforms everyday fixation into something quietly consuming.

VÆB – ‘GAMERBOI’
Icelandic sibling duo VÆB return with ‘GAMERBOI’, a high-voltage pop release blending 8-bit nostalgia, dancefloor energy and internet-era absurdity as the latest preview of their debut album ‘VÆBOUT’ (April 17, 2026). Riding the global momentum of Eurovision breakout ‘RÓA’, the brothers channel gaming escapism and livestream culture into a chaotic, hook-packed anthem, complete with a mixed-media video crafted alongside their international Discord community and ahead of a near sold-out European tour.

Emerging artists Special Offer Promotion.