In Music News, RUSH Return to the Stage with “Fifty Something” Tour in 2026 + Blackmore’s Night Announce 2025 Fall Dates + Cyndi Lauper Brings Her First-Ever Vegas Residency.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inductees, GRAMMY® nominees, and prog-rock icons RUSH are officially back. For the first time in more than a decade, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will tour together in 2026 for a limited run of headline shows billed as the “Fifty Something Tour.” The tour will celebrate the music and legacy of RUSH while honoring the late Neil Peart, whose drumming and lyrics helped shape the band’s legacy across five decades.
The announcement arrived via the official Rush newsletter, where fans saw a casual home video filmed at Geddy’s studio. The band also staged a private event last night at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, complete with an on-stage Q&A session.
Geddy Lee Speaks on the Return
In a heartfelt statement, Lee reflected on what the reunion means:
“It’s been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of RUSH alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil… after all that has gone down since that last show, Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we f***ing miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music. So in 2026, my BFF Lerxst (aka Alex Lifeson) and I are going to hit the road once again to pay tribute to our past and to Neil by performing a vast selection of RUSH songs in a handful of cities.”
Joining Lee and Lifeson on drums will be German musician Anika Nilles, best known for her solo work and for performing with Jeff Beck. Lee acknowledged the difficulty of stepping into Neil Peart’s shoes, but praised Nilles’ talent and approach:
“Her name is Anika Nilles, and we could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated RUSH fanbase, whom, we know, will give her every chance to live up to that near impossible role.”
Tour Details
The “Fifty Something” Tour kicks off June 7, 2026 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles—fittingly, the same venue where RUSH closed their R40 Tour back in 2015. From there, the band will play multiple nights in seven cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Each stop will feature “evening with” shows where RUSH performs two sets and rotates songs from a catalog of 35 fan favorites.
Fans can sign up for the RUSH Artist Presale at livemu.sc/rush by October 9 at 11:59pm ET. Artist presales begin October 13 in the U.S. and Canada, and October 16 in Mexico. General onsale starts October 17.
Blackmore’s Night Announce 2025 Fall Tour
Meanwhile, another legendary act is heading back out. Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night will bring their long-running Renaissance folk-rock project Blackmore’s Night on a U.S. tour this fall.
The band will perform a series of intimate shows beginning November 9 at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA and wrapping November 29 at Tarrytown Music Hall in New York. Along the way, stops include Wilmington, Cohoes, and Lititz, PA.
Founded in 1997, Blackmore’s Night has built a devoted fanbase with their signature mix of medieval melodies, folk traditions, and rock stylings. Their concerts often feel like time travel, with fans dressing in Renaissance attire and joining in on the revelry.
As always, Blackmore’s Night will support local no-kill animal shelters at every stop, inviting organizations to set up donation tables in the lobby.
Blackmore’s Night 2025 Tour Dates
- Nov 9 – The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
- Nov 13 – Mickey’s Black Box, Lititz, PA
- Nov 15 – Newtown Theater, Newtown, NJ
- Nov 20 – The Queen, Wilmington, DE
- Nov 23 – Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, NY
- Nov 29 – Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
Get Blackmore’s Night tickets here
Cyndi Lauper Announces Las Vegas Residency
And if prog rock isn’t enough, pop icon Cyndi Lauper just made headlines of her own. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has announced her first-ever Las Vegas residency, “Cyndi Lauper: Live in Las Vegas,” set for April 24 – May 2, 2026 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Vegas will become “Cyn City” next spring when Lauper brings her acclaimed Girls Just Wanna Have Fun show to town. The residency offers fans who missed her Farewell Tour one last chance to celebrate Lauper’s catalog in a spectacular setting. The show is being created and designed in partnership with Lauper and Brian Burke Creative.
The announcement comes on the heels of a major year for Lauper. Her Farewell Tour crossed the globe with 68 dates, including her first-ever sold-out headline performance at Madison Square Garden. She also recently starred in CBS and Paramount+’s “A GRAMMY Salute to Cyndi Lauper: Live from the Hollywood Bowl,” which featured appearances by Joni Mitchell, Cher, John Legend, SZA, and more.
Lauper is also set for her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction on November 8, and has been busy developing “Working Girl: The Musical” for La Jolla Playhouse. Add to that the Paramount+ documentary Let the Canary Sing and her ongoing advocacy work, and it’s safe to say Lauper is enjoying a career renaissance.
Ticketing Information – Cyndi Lauper: Live In Las Vegas
- Presales begin Tuesday, October 7
- Public onsale begins Friday, October 10 at 10 a.m. PT
