This Week In Entertainment News 29 May 2026
Duelling guitars, the end of an era for a metal giant, and the passing of a beloved jazz icon, plus new releases and tour news from Australia and around the world.
PRS Guitars is the latest target of a legal campaign by guitar giant Fender to protect the design of their iconic Stratocaster. PRS confirmed the company received a cease-and-desist letter from Fender in relation to the PRS Silver Sky, the signature model of John Mayer. The best-selling signature guitar was designed after Mayer, who endorses PRS, left Fender. PRS has said the company disagrees with Fender’s assessment and offered no further comment. The controversial campaign follows Fender’s victory in a German court against a Chinese manufacturer, establishing “broad legal protection for Fender’s iconic Stratocaster”.
Brazilian metal gurus Sepultura have announced they will play their final ever concert this November in Sao Paulo. The farewell show will conclude the band’s ‘Celebrating Life Through Death’ tour and bring a ceremonial close to more than four decades of reshaping the metal landscape. It is reported that former Sepultura Jean Dolabella and Jairo Guedz are expected to participate but founding brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera have declined to appear.
Legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins passed away in the same week his contemporary and collaborator Miles Davis would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Sonny was a pioneering tenor saxophonist that defined the very essence of jazz. He is considered among the most influential jazz musicians of all time with a career spanning seven decades and 60 albums.
Grammy winning singer/songwriter and actress Ashanti will be back on theatre and arena stages in Australia for her ‘Rock Wit U’ tour. Returning to Australia/NZ following an extensive run of international tour dates including a recent successful UK arena tour with Sean Paul, this new chapter for Ashanti is one that is only adding to a career marked by numerous awards and accolades.
Melbourne-based artist Mat Rigby introduces himself with debut single ‘Holdin On To You’. ‘Holdin On To You’ captures a pivotal moment in Mat’s life. Reflecting on a challenging period within his family, the track explores the feeling of holding onto something that no longer exists and the struggle to move forward. Now at 18, Rigby is ready to share that story, offering a raw and honest introduction to his artistry.
Breakthrough alternative star ratbag shares her latest single ‘drag’ and its accompanying video, co-directed by ratbag and Jack Carden. The track is ratbag’s third new single of 2026, following ‘how to cry’ and last month’s ‘halftime oranges’. ‘drag’ shows a more vulnerable side of ratbag as the artist explores her own mental health, building from an understated ballad towards a cathartic crescendo with gorgeously layered harmonies and walls of sound.
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Self-described as a “bald and bearded, metal-headed, hill hiking, dopamine dealing, loud sounding man”, Seattle-based comedian Luke Severeid has made a name for himself around the globe, fusing comedy with a love for heavy metal music and unique insights on life and the world swirling around him. Having made an impact doing stand-up on the 2025 edition of Knotfest Australia, the funnyman today announces his return Down Under, announcing the aptly titled ‘Here To F#@k Spiders’ tour for September.
As the first music release from Melbourne-based artist and producer Theradiomusicola, ‘Cos We’re Girls’ arrives with excitement and enthusiasm driving each tempo and hook, backed up by some incredibly slick production. Born from a love of powered up pop and rock music, the first single from the artist gives the audience an insight into the wide bed of influences that drives this project. ‘Cos We’re Girls’ is a fun first step forward from the prolific Melbourne multi-instrumentalist and artist, while also creating an air of mystery and intrigue around him and what is to come.
Purity Ring’s ‘Place Of My Own’ Australia Tour is getting even bigger, with special guests now confirmed for all Australian headline dates. In Brisbane, Indonesian‑Australian producer and artist Yuniverse will open the night with her textured electronic pop, blending aching melodies, confessional lyrics and dreamlike atmospheres. Having just wrapped a 23‑date run opening for Purity Ring in North America, she now brings her deeply personal live show to Australian audiences. For Melbourne and Sydney, mmj – the solo project of Purity Ring’s mj – will perform a special acoustic set. mmj refracts lost folk songs through a haunted lens of dream pop and shoegaze, centred on mj’s crystalline vocals and immersive, analogue‑driven production.
