Festival Calendar: Chepstow Castle’s Castell Roc kicks off Aug. 13–31 with rock, country, K-pop and major tribute nights, including Hayseed Dixie, Wishbone Ash and a Metallica/Iron Maiden/Black Sabbath-style “Monsters of Roc,” plus Jools Holland to close. Music Heritage & Culture: Mississippi’s MAX names Charlie Patton, Mississippi John Hurt, Bobby Rush, Conway Twitty and the Mississippi Mass Choir to its 2026 Hall of Fame class, with the ceremony set for Jan. 2027. Community Music: The Pink Team Foundation launches “Music Pathways,” taking donations of new or gently used guitars and keyboards to offer free one-on-one lessons in Lafayette. Big-Name Updates: William Orbit, producer behind Madonna’s “Ray of Light” and work with Blur and U2, dies at 69. Global Pop & Streaming: Phoebe Bridgers will debut “Lost Weekend” via phone-free planetarium listening events in 30+ cities, partnering with Spotify. Industry & Awards: BTS declines 2027 Grammy consideration, protesting the new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. Live Music Disruption: The inaugural LA Jazz Festival is postponed/canceled for safety and permitting costs, with plans shifting to 2027. Local Spotlight: Meridian renames part of 4th Street as “Paul Davis Music Row.”