“She escaped the monster she knew… only to face the truth she feared.”
If you love a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last frame, mark your calendars. Coming to theaters and digital platforms this June 2, 2026, is Fathers, a gripping new dramatic mystery-thriller that proves blood isn’t always thicker than water. (One Tree Entertainment, 2026)
🎬 The Premise
After years held in captivity, Natalie finally escapes the man she believed was her father. But the nightmare doesn’t end there. As her true father steps in to bring her home, Natalie’s loyalty, fear, and confusion spiral into a web of violence. Trapped in a maze where every clue leads to another lie, she must figure out what is real before everything explodes, forcing both father and daughter to confront a devastating truth about her past.
🎭 Cast & Crew
Directed and written by Harley Wallen and distributed by One Tree Entertainment, Fathers boasts a stellar indie cast, including an award-winning lead performance.
Writer/Director: Harley Wallen
Starring:
Kaiti Wallen (Finding Nicole, Beneath Us All, Ash and Bone) – Winner of Best Actress honors at the Top Indie Film Awards for this role!
Harley Wallen (Ash and Bone, Finding Nicole)
Leslie Mechigian (Chasing Hope, Final Recovery)
Richard Tyson
Vida Ghaffari
Dennis Marin
📅 Release Date & How to Watch
Fathers hits theaters and digital platforms across the U.S. and Canada on June 2, 2026. Ready to dive into the mystery? You will be able to rent or buy the film on the following streaming platforms:
Prime Video
Fandango at Home / Vudu
Netflix
What are your thoughts? Will Natalie find peace, or is her real father hiding secrets of his own? Let me know in the comments below if you’ll be adding Fathers to your summer watchlist.
Magik Theatre unleashes super charged summer camps, including musical theater camp. Photo: Magik Theatre, used with permission.
Beat the Summer Heat with Magik Theatre’s 2026 Summer Camp Blockbusters
Attention parents! The region’s hottest ticket in summer childcare is back and better than ever. TheMagik Theatre, San Antonio’s premier theatre company for young audiences, has officially unveiled its 2026 summer camp program featuring a back-to-back schedule of blockbusters, more convenient schedules, and a newly renovated, icy-cool facility. (Magik Theatre, 2026)
Whether your child is a fresh preschool graduate stepping onstage for the first time or a seasoned high school performer, Magik has a stage waiting for them.
Why Choose Magik Theatre Camps?
At the heart of every Magik camp is a core mission: to ignite imagination, spark curiosity, inspire empathy, and foster a lifelong love of learning.
Magik’s teaching artists are a rare combination of working performers, skilled technicians, and seasoned arts educators. By weaving social-emotional learning into every session, they build confidence and creativity in a way that’s genuinely fun, deeply engaging, and surprisingly educational.
Plus, thanks to recent renovations, campers will enjoy enhanced accessibility, safety, softer theatre seats, and, most importantly, brand-new HVAC to keep everyone cool during the San Antonio summer.
🎭 2026 Camp Lineup by Age Group
From June to August, Magik Theatre is offering flexible one- and two-week sessions tailored to every age and interest. (Note: All campers must be fully potty-trained to participate).
🧸 Little Legends (Rising K – 1st Grade)
The Vibe: Creative play, imagination, and storytelling.
The Themes: Inspired by children’s favorites like Bluey, Paw Patrol, and classic tales of pirates and fairies.
The Schedule: Half-day, two-week sessions running from June 8 through July. Sign up for one, or book all four to cover your summer.
🌟 Rising Stars (Elementary Ages)
The Vibe: Mainstage musical sessions designed to let young talents shine.
The Themes: Eight themed options catering to whatever they’re obsessed with, from Wicked and K-Pop Demon Hunters to Legos and Pokémon.
🎬 Drama Crew (Middle Schoolers)
The Vibe: Skip the acting and dive behind the scenes.
The Focus: A technically focused camp featuring music, puppetry, prop making, lighting, and sound design.
🎤 Intro to Musical Theatre (Rising 9th – 12th Graders)
The Vibe: High-energy skill-building for teens.
The Focus: Master the elements of modern musical classics like Beetlejuice and Mean Girls, concluding with an exciting end-of-session showcase.
🎭 Center Stage Players (High Schoolers)
The Vibe: A special series of Saturday workshops for serious high school actors looking to hone their craft.
The Focus: Deep dives into character work, script analysis, and public speaking, all without the burden of memorizing lines. Features a must-see evening performance on August 1.
🗓️ Special Specialty Weeks
Don’t need a full two-week commitment? Check out these standalone options:
Theatre Explorers Camp (June 1–5 | Grades K–8): Perfect for those who want to dip a toe into the theatre world. Introduces newbies to theatre basics through games, voice/dance exercises, and acting activities.
Summer Send-Off (August 3–7 | Rising K–8th): Beat the dog days of August with a camp that focuses on stagecraft, heavy on the “craft,” including puppetry, costume design, and more.
🚙 Perks for Parents: Stress-Free Logistics
Magik has designed this supercharged season with busy families in mind:
Consistent Schedules: Mainstage Musical, Drama Crew, and Intro to Musical Theatre all run for two weeks from June 8 – July 31 (9a.m. – 4p.m.).
Extended Care: Optional extended care is available one hour before and one hour after standard camp hours.
One Stop, Multiple Kids: Camps for different age groups are held at the same location with the same start times. No convoluted commutes.
Discounts: Save money with sibling and multi-session discounts.
🎟️ Spaces Are Limited—Book Your Spot Today
Because the Magik team took time earlier this year to revamp programming during building renovations, this year features the widest variety of day camps in recent history.
But hurry, Magik’s day camps are some of the hottest tickets in town and prone to sell out quickly.
Established in 1994, Magik Theatre is a professional theatre for young audiences. Our mission is to create theatrical experiences that ignite imagination, spark curiosity, inspire empathy, and foster a lifetime love of learning in young people.
Choir Boy L-R: Chaz Costello, Adam Klopp, Michael Paulsen, Jeff Kleinman Photo: Kris Kirk, used with permission.
Ethereal Indie Darlings Choir Boy Triumphantly Return With New Single, “I’ll Always Let You Down”
Ethereal indie darlings Choir Boy have triumphantly returned with their brand-new single, “I’ll Always Let You Down,” produced by the legendary Jorge Elbrecht (Sky Ferreira, Japanese Breakfast). (another side, 2026)
Marking their first taste of new music since 2020, the track hit just in time for their support tour with AFI. The single is available now via Dais Records and is accompanied by a charmingly bizarre, self-directed animated music video.
Sensual, Sinister, Sardonic
“I’ll Always Let You Down” finds Choir Boy at the height of their powers, taking their nostalgia-laced, romantic dream pop to thrilling new depths. The track manages to sound simultaneously sensual and sinister, equal parts delight and sorrow.
Musically, drum machines shuffle over a dirty synth bass while bright bells blossom under the light of frontman Adam Klopp’s angelic vocals. When pressed to describe the deeper meaning behind the track, Klopp offers a grin:
“(I’ll Always) is an anti-love song—a sardonic self-indictment of a failing lover.”
Watch the official music video below:
“Just Say That We ‘Got Lost'”
“Triumphantly return?” Time is a notorious trickster, and the band is jovial when confronting the four-year gap since their last major release.
“Just say that we ‘Got Lost,'” they joke.
Over the past four years, Choir Boy hasn’t exactly been idle. They have continued making surrealist music videos, sharing avant-garde updates on social media, and playing live across North America and Europe. Yet, for their dedicated fanbase, the lack of new music has felt like an eternity.
“Tell everyone the delays are my fault,” Klopp asserts through laughter. “Blame everything on me.”
Following the end of their run with Provoker, Choir Boy’s momentum was at an all-time high. After kicking off 2026 with a series of one-off shows in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, a creative rebirth took place, leading directly to the recording of “I’ll Always Let You Down.”
The Jorge Elbrecht Connection
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when the band tapped Jorge Elbrecht, a renowned songwriter and stalwart of Los Angeles’s underground music community, to produce the new single.
Together, the band and producer immediately clicked, finding a harmonious workflow and “a shared sense of humor about the bleakness.”
“In [the song’s] previous incarnation, before we were working with Jorge, there was something missing,” the band reflects. While producing the track, Elbrecht contributed fresh sounds and arrangements, encouraging the band to dive even deeper into the depths.
The result? A new day, carrying on right where they belong. Serendipitously, the themes of their upcoming music and the greater arc of Choir Boy are finally coming together.
Their ultimate takeaway? “Redemption.”
About Choir Boy
The Origin
“Choir Boy” was what kids called singer/songwriter Adam Klopp in his early teens when he fronted punk cover bands in Cleveland, Ohio. Though intended as an insult, the label seemed fitting given Klopp’s religious upbringing and angelic voice. After high school, Adam left Ohio for college in Utah. While his academic career was short-lived, he seamlessly integrated into Provo and Salt Lake City’s underground music and art scenes, left religion behind, and officially named his new project Choir Boy. (Dais Records, 2026)
The Evolution
Since their debut album, Passive With Desire, the dream-pop outfit has gained a massive cult following in underground circles. Choir Boy’s signature sound relies on a perfect blend of nostalgia-laced romantic pop music, brought to life by a stellar lineup:
Adam Klopp – Stunning vocal range, lyrics, and melodies
Chaz Costello – Bass (Fossil Arms, Sculpture Club, Human Leather)
Jeff Kleinman – Saxophone and Keyboards
Michael Paulsen – Guitar
“I’ll Always Let You Down” is out now on Dais Records.
Tenfold Rooftop Bar at Kimpton Santo San Antonio – Riverwalk. Photo: Kimpton Santo San Antonio, used with permission.
San Antonio Memorial Day Weekend Guide: Rooftop DJs, Pool Parties, and New Hotspots
With Memorial Day Weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, San Antonio is buzzing with energy. Whether you are a local planning a staycation or a visitor exploring the Alamo City, top local establishments are rolling out the red carpet. From rooftop DJs and curated cocktail tastings to resort-style pool days and exciting new venue launches, here is how you can celebrate the long weekend in style. (La Panadería, Miles, The Newstand Coffee & Sandwiches, Kimpton Santo San Antonio, Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Pearl, The Gunter Hotel, 2026)
Bakery Lorraine, Otto’s Ice House, and Freight Fried Chicken will be open for business on Memorial Day for guests looking for places to dine with loved ones. Corinne San Antonio located inside Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa will also be offering its brunch menu from 7a.m. – 3p.m. on Memorial Day.
What: Seasonal Drinks Launch & Memorial Day Brunch When: Launching Friday, May 22 & Friday, May 29 (Available all summer)
Just in time for the warm weather, La Panadería is introducing a limited-time lineup of seasonal beverages blending citrus, spice, and refreshing summer flavors. They will also be open on Memorial Day hosting a spectacular brunch.
Launching May 22:
La Panadería Mont Blanc: Vanilla-orange cold brew topped with orange cold foam and fresh orange zest.
Matcha Mont Blanc: An iced matcha latte topped with orange cold foam and orange zest.
Launching May 29:
Spicy Sparkling Pomegranate Lemonade: A refreshing mix of jalapeño simple syrup, lemonade, and pomegranate syrup topped with sparkling water. Bonus: This mocktail can be made alcoholic by adding tequila.
What: National Wine Day Celebration When: Monday, May 25
Celebrate National Wine Day with a specially curated wine experience helmed by Advanced Sommelier & Beverage Director Austin Tabbone. The Newstand’s menu breaks wine down into approachable, fun categories like Bubbles and Sweets, Red and Berry Fruited, Weighty and Textured, and The Weird Reds. Pair your glass with refined light bites like a cheese board, house-made Focaccia, or stuffed dates for the perfect date night or girls’ night out.
Summer returns with a sunset state of mind at Kimpton Santo’s skyline celebration. Hosted atop the Tenfold Rooftop Bar in collaboration with For Lovers Only and Release The Rhythm, guests can enjoy panoramic views, poolside energy, and flowing Aperol cocktails.
The Beats: Soundtrack provided from day to dusk by DJ Cura, DJ Natvillain, DJ OmgNini, and DJ Retrostatic.
Admission: Tenfold access is free and open to the public (space is limited; reservations via OpenTable are highly encouraged).
Pool Access: Non-hotel guests can access the pool via ResortPass. For May 24, Day Passes are $80 and private cabanas are available for $300.
What: Summer Reset: Garden + Pool Kickoff When: Sunday, May 24 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Join Plaza San Antonio poolside at the Anaqua Garden Bar for a sun-drenched sanctuary experience featuring live music from DJ Mars and curated cocktail tastings by High Desert Vodka.
Anaqua Crush: High Desert Vodka, cucumber juice, lemon, agave, yuzu.
Desert Water: High Desert Vodka, lemon, prickly pear, lime, soda.
Admission: Access to Anaqua Garden Bar is free and open to the public (space is limited; reservations via OpenTable encouraged).
Pool Access: Non-hotel guests can access the adjacent pool via ResortPass. For May 24, Day Passes are $40 and cabanas start at $100.
💡 Locals’ Tip: Summer Kick-off with ResortPass Can’t make it this Sunday? Both Kimpton Santo and Plaza San Antonio offer ResortPass access all summer long.
Kimpton Santo: Features the tallest luxury open-air rooftop pool in the city. Standard summer day passes start at $55; cabanas start at $100. Book Here
Plaza San Antonio: Enjoy a lush garden oasis, spa, and pool nestled between Downtown and Southtown. Standard summer day passes start at $30; cabanas start at $50. Book Here
What: “Where Summer Comes Alive” Staycation Package When: Bookable now through August 31
Looking to extend your holiday weekend? The Gunter Hotel in downtown San Antonio is debuting a brand-new summer travel package.
The Deal: Book two nights and get a complimentary third night.
Perks: Includes discounted valet parking ($39/night) and access to the hotel’s unique Vinyl Library Experience, where you can check out up to three vinyl records to enjoy right in your room.
What: Grand Opening / Memorial Day Weekend Celebration When: Soft opening Friday, May 22 Where: 1170 E. Commerce St.
The East Commerce corridor has a brand new rhythm. Say hello to Miles, a high-energy bistro and cocktail-forward neighborhood bar from Dreamers & Doers Hospitality Group. Inspired by the legendary jazz innovator Miles Davis, the space is anchored by an expansive 360-degree central bar designed for late-night conversations and sharing elevated small plates.
Hours: Post-holiday weekend, Miles will be open weekly from Wednesday through Monday, 5:00 PM to midnight (extended until 1:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays).
The chart topping, award winning podcast returns to explore AI and the apocalypse. Photo: Agoric Media, used with permission.
Suspicious Minds Podcast Selected for 2026 Tribeca Creators Market as Season 2 Premieres
NEW YORK — Suspicious Minds, the critically acclaimed Top 100 charting podcast series, has officially been selected for the 2026 Tribeca Creators Market, taking place June 8–10 in New York City. (EG-PR, 2026)
Produced by Agoric Media in partnership with Wondermind (the mental health media company co-founded by Mandy Teefey and Selena Gomez), the exciting announcement perfectly coincides with the launch of Season Two: AI and the Apocalypse, which premiered on May 21 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms.
Exploring AI, Anxiety, and the End of the World
Fresh off two Webby Award nominations (Best New Podcast in News, Business & Society and Podcast: Documentary), Suspicious Minds has established itself as one of the most original projects exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming human life.
While Season One examined the emergent phenomenon often referred to as “AI Psychosis,” Season Two takes a larger, more existential view: What does the age of AI mean for our collective psychology and sense of the future?
AI and the Apocalypse is a deep investigation into humanity’s oldest and most persistent fear: the end of all things. The series asks not just whether AI could end the world, but why humans have always needed to imagine that it might, and what that obsession reveals about meaning, mortality, and the strange moment we are all living through.
Across eight episodes, the season dives into:
The deep history of apocalyptic thinking
The psychology of dread and doomsday prepping
Transhumanism and anti-natalism
Pro-extinctionism and the art we create to face what we most fear
The Minds Behind the Show
Host and Creator Sean King O’Grady spent two years speaking with the world’s leading philosophers, scientists, psychologists, historians, and theologians.
As with Season One, the new episodes are anchored by the thinking and contributions of Dr. Joel Gold and Ian Gold, PhD—the brilliant brothers who coined “The Truman Show Delusion” and authored the book Suspicious Minds: How Culture Shapes Madness. Together, they examine whether AI represents a genuine existential threat, and what it reveals about the human psyche that so many of us are now living inside that question.
Executive Production Team
Executive Producers: Mandy Teefey, Selena Gomez, Jonathon Glucksman, David Tuohy, Feras M. Shammami, Jesse Ford, and Molly Borman.
Producer: Jesse Ford.
Heavy-Hitting Guest Lineup
This season features an incredible roster of expert interview subjects, including:
Timothy Morton – Author of Hyperobjects and Hell: In Search of a Christian Ecology
David Benatar – Antinatalist philosopher and author of Better to Have Never Been
Professor Judith Wolfe – St. Andrews School of Divinity
Sheldon Solomon – Psychologist and founder of Terror Management Theory
Dr. Michael Ferguson – Harvard Neurospirituality Lab
Dr. Samuel Justin Sinclair – Psychologist and Writer for The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Nolen Gertz – Author of Nihilism and Technology
Johann Hari – Author of Stolen Focus
Malo Bourgon – CEO of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute
Emily Ray and Robert Kirsch – Authors of Be Prepared
Kelly Bulkely – Psychologist and renowned Dream Expert
James Cussen – Creator of The Living Philosophy on YouTube and Substack
Dorian Lynskey – Author of Everything Must Go
Dr. Amy Levy – Chair of the American Psychoanalytic Association President’s Commission on Artificial Intelligence
From the Creators
“Humans have been thinking about a catastrophic end to our species since we first started throwing paint on the walls of caves. Each generation believes it might be the last. But I keep wondering — in an era of compounding existential threats… if this time we might be right. What does it mean to be living through such a moment? And how do we face our own deaths while holding the prospect of the end of all human life?”
— Sean King O’Grady, Host & Creator
“Right now, millions of people are walking around with an anxiety about the future that they can’t quite name. I’ve always believed that naming what you’re feeling is the first step to doing something about it. That’s why we made Suspicious Minds: AI and the Apocalypse — to take something so new and so frightening and make it human.”
— Mandy Teefey, Executive Producer & Co-Founder of Wondermind
Award-Winning Storytelling
The series’ Tribeca Creators Market selection brings Suspicious Minds to one of the most prestigious independent media markets in the world, backed by heavy critical acclaim.
Award Competition
Category
Result
2026 Telly Awards
Series – Non-Scripted
Winner (Bronze)
2026 Telly Awards
Series – Documentary
Winner (Bronze)
2026 Telly Awards
Campaign – Health & Safety
Winner (Bronze)
2026 Webby Awards
Best New Podcast (News, Business & Society)
Nominated
2026 Webby Awards
Podcast: Documentary
Nominated
About Wondermind
Wondermind is the world’s first comprehensive and multifaceted mental fitness ecosystem. The company is on a mission to destigmatize and democratize mental health while normalizing and advancing the topic of mental fitness through candid conversations and expert-backed insights. Comprising three verticals — content, editorial, and product — Wondermind provides the tools and language necessary to make navigating your mental health a little easier.
Host and Creator Sean King O’Grady. Photo: Agoric Media, used with permission.
The DoSeum announces Dinosaurs in Motion exhibition. Photo: The DoSeum, used with permission.
Roaring into San Antonio: Interactive ‘Dinosaurs in Motion’ Exhibition Opens at The DoSeum!
Get ready to experience dinosaurs like never before! This summer, The DoSeum is bringing a breathtaking fusion of art, science, and history to San Antonio with the debut of Dinosaurs in Motion. (The DoSeum, 2026)
Running from May 23 through September 7, 2026, this highly interactive exhibition is fully included with general admission.
Where Art Meets Engineering
Sponsored by the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust, Dinosaurs in Motion is an amazing blend of science, art, and innovation. The exhibition features 14 life-size, interactive dinosaur sculptures crafted entirely from recycled metal.
Created by the late artist and master sculptor John Payne, the exhibit invites families to take the reins. Visitors can use levers, pulleys, and remote controls to set these massive kinetic sculptures in motion, learning the mechanics behind the art.
What Kids (and Parents!) Can Expect:
Become an Apprentice: Kids can step into the role of an apprentice to John Payne, exploring the unique artistic and engineering skills required to build these intricate works.
Hands-on STEM Learning: Additional stations throughout the exhibit offer opportunities to experiment with interactive art and science projects, reinforcing critical STEM concepts through play.
A Word from The DoSeum
“The exhibition Dinosaurs in Motion embodies aspects of The DoSeum’s mission perfectly. Our team was drawn to the exhibition’s exciting mix of materials science, natural history, arts and interactivity. The themes and ideas presented in Dinosaurs in Motion inspired The DoSeum team to plan and develop a summer full of related program experiences. We’re excited for our guests to join in them.” — Dan Menelly, CEO of The DoSeum
Plan Your Visit
Dinosaurs in Motion is created and produced by Imagine Exhibitions Inc., with sculptures by John Payne and Studio Properties LLC. Special thanks to the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust for making this one-of-a-kind experience accessible to San Antonio families.
About The DoSeum
Celebrating its 10th anniversary (with roots dating back to 1995 as the San Antonio Children’s Museum), The DoSeum has grown into one of the nation’s top children’s museums. Boasting 68,000 square feet of indoor exhibits and 55,000 square feet of outdoor space, it serves as a premier educational resource designed to spark curiosity and ignite imaginations.
Victoria Cardona releases a solo video series performing songs from her debut album Que Pasó. Photo: Dreamspider Publicity, used with permission.
Artist Spotlight: Victoria Cardona is Redefining the One-Woman Band
West Palm Beach, Fla. — Based out of South Florida, Victoria Cardona is a Cuban American singer/songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist who is rapidly turning heads in the music world. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2026)
Her live looping performances are a true sonic and visual experience, taking the audience on a ride through the mind of a spontaneous improvisationalist. With the aid of the Boss RC-600 loop pedal, Victoria masterfully stacks intricate layers of guitar, bass, percussion, and vocal harmonies. The result? A rich, massive backdrop for her smokey alto vocals and ripping lead guitar solos.
The Critical Success of Que Pasó
Victoria recently released her debut studio album, Que Pasó, to critical acclaim across Latin and world radio and media. The record has put up some seriously impressive numbers on the charts:
#1 on The Roots Music Report’s Top 50 World Album Chart (holding the top spot for three consecutive weeks).
Top 20 on the NCAA (North American College and Community) Radio Chart for 20 weeks, peaking at #10.
Currently Climbing: The album is now making fresh waves on Americana and Triple A radio.
Que Pasó Fast Facts
Feature
Details
Producer
Tim Goodman (Founding member of Southern Pacific)
Tracklist
8 original tracks + 3 creative covers
The Sound
A blend of Cuban rhythms, jazz, rock, and world influences
The album features a powerhouse lineup of legendary guest musicians, including Jimmy Haslip on bass, Jimmy Branley on drums, Justo Almario on horns, Bill Payne on piano, Francisco Torres on trombone, and Tim Goodman pulling multi-instrumental duty on organ, mandolin, guitar, marimbas, and synthesizer.
From Studio Elegance to Live Looping Mastery
While Que Pasó showcases Victoria’s music with the lush backing of a full studio band, she is best known for the raw energy of her live-looping solo performances.
To bridge these two worlds, Victoria recently filmed an exclusive solo performance showcasing the songs from Que Pasó at The Grange in Martha’s Vineyard.
What’s Next: She will be releasing a series of videos from this session across her social media platforms and YouTube. The series kicks off with her original song “Ghost” and will drop every other week.
It’s one thing to deliver a stellar studio record, but it’s another talent entirely to recreate that dynamic, full-band sound completely solo on stage.
Roots, Rhythm, and Global Influence
Victoria’s Cuban roots and deep familiarity with multicultural genres provide the driving inspiration for her music. She delivers a heavy rhythmic undertone fused seamlessly with jazz, blues, soul, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, salsa, and rock ’n’ roll.
The Upbringing: Growing up in a traditional Cuban household, she was heavily influenced by legends like Celia Cruz, Buena Vista Social Club, and Gloria Estefan.
Modern Inspiration: Today, she closely resonates with culturally conscious contemporary acts like Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma.
After formally studying jazz guitar in Florida and Minnesota, Victoria developed her signature live-looping, one-woman-band project. International tours have already taken her across Europe, while her relentless performance schedule throughout the Southeast U.S. continues to sharpen her unique, boundary-pushing sound.
Follow Victoria Cardona on YouTube and social media to catch the bi-weekly Martha’s Vineyard video series!
Sight Unseen will be available on digital and on demand on May 19. Photo: One Tree Entertainment
Movie Review: Sight Unseen
Every Gift Has a Price
The Synopsis
Three siblings inherit their estranged father’s rural cabin after his mysterious death. But the longer they spend in the house, the more apparent it becomes that someone, or something, still lives there. (One Tree Entertainment, 2026)
Sight Unseen traps viewers in a rural nightmare where something waits in the dark. You can’t hide from what you can’t see.
Film Credits
Release Date: Digital and On Demand — May 19, 2026
Written & Directed by: Stephen Packhurst
Starring: Lauren Pisano (Law & Order), Daniel Burns (Inventing Anna, Insomnia), and Kellie Spill.
Atmosphere & Tension
Sight Unseen is a tense and atmospheric horror thriller that leans heavily into isolation and the fear of the unknown. It begins as an uncomfortable family reunion and quickly spirals into something far more terrifying. As strange noises, missing objects, and unsettling encounters mount, it becomes clear the siblings are not alone.
The film’s atmosphere is its greatest asset. The rural setting feels cold, empty, and claustrophobic all at once. By keeping the “presence” largely obscured, the director taps into the primal fear that our imagination is far scarier than any physical monster.
The Verdict on Dread: Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, the cinematography turns darkness into a living threat. The true star, however, is the sound design. Every creaking floorboard and distant whisper builds a layer of anxiety that makes the tagline feel like a personal threat.
The Sibling Dynamic
The emotional weight of the movie rests on the shoulders of the three leads. Their chemistry feels authentic, with years of resentment and unresolved trauma bubbling to the surface.
Grounded Performance: Their bickering provides a realistic contrast to the escalating supernatural absurdity.
Personal Stakes: Their fractured relationships make the survivalist nightmare feel earned, turning a standard family drama into a fight for their lives.
Final Thoughts
While some plot beats may feel familiar to veteran horror fans, Sight Unseen succeeds through sheer mood and suspense. It is an eerie, nerve-rattling experience that keeps audiences guessing until the final moments.
The takeaway? Some doors are better left locked, and the secrets we inherit can eventually hunt us down.
**Thank you to One Tree Entertainment for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Tony Rice’s 1977 self-titled album returns on vinyl and digital. Photo: Craft Recordings, used with permission.
Bluegrass Legend Tony Rice’s 1977 Masterpiece Returns for 75th Birthday Celebration
Los Angeles, CA — In celebration of what would have been influential bluegrass guitarist Tony Rice’s 75th birthday, Craft Recordings has announced the return of his seminal 1977 self-titled album. (Craft Recordings, 2026)
Out of print for more than 40 years, Tony Ricecaptured a pivotal shift in bluegrass toward a more expansive, ensemble-driven sound. Featuring a “who’s who” of bluegrass legends, the record remains a cornerstone of the “new acoustic” genre, seamlessly blending bluegrass standards with contemporary compositions.
The Definitive Reissue
For the first time in decades, fans can experience this foundational recording in its purest form.
Release Date: June 5
Format: Vinyl (featuring AAA mastering) and Digital (Standard/Hi-Res)
Audio Quality: Cut from the original tapes with all-analog (AAA) mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.
Packaging: A faithful replication of the original 1977 jacket design.
Listen Now: Rice’s take on the traditional folk ballad “Banks of the Ohio” is available to stream today.
Tony Rice (1951–2020) was more than just a guitarist; he was an innovative force who shaped the very sound of modern bluegrass.
Born in Virginia and raised in Los Angeles, Rice first rose to prominence in Louisville, KY, as the lead vocalist and guitarist for J.D. Crowe’s legendary group, The New South. In the mid-’70s, Rice returned to California to join the David Grisman Quintet, where he began incorporating jazz, classical, and other sophisticated styles into his playing.
The Birth of “New Acoustic”
Released during his tenure with Grisman, Tony Rice was the guitarist’s third studio album and his first for Rounder Records. It stands as a prime example of the “new acoustic” style—an improvisation-driven blend of bluegrass, jazz, and prog-rock played on wholly acoustic instrumentation.
The album features an incredible lineup of collaborators:
Larry Rice: Mandolin
J.D. Crowe: Banjo, Backup Vocals
Jerry Douglas: Dobro
David Grisman: Mandolin
Darol Anger: Fiddle
Todd Phillips: Bass
Richard Greene: Fiddle
Together, they artfully blend tradition with progression, moving from Bill Monroe’s “Big Mon” to contemporary compositions like Grisman’s “Rattlesnake.”
An Enduring Legacy
Rice’s influence cannot be overstated. Ricky Skaggs once hailed him as “the single most influential acoustic guitar player in the last 50 years.”
Over a four-decade career, Rice released over a dozen solo albums—including the acclaimed Church Street Blues (1983)—and over two dozen collaborative titles. A GRAMMY® Award winner and International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee, Rice’s distinctive touch and harmonic complexity continue to influence generations of pickers worldwide.
David McKenna in Lord of the Flies (2026). Photo: J Redza/J Redza/Eleven/Sony Pictures Television
Book to Series Spotlight
Lord of the Flies
By William Golding
Book Synopsis
Lord of the Fliesremains as provocative today as when it was first published in 1954, igniting passionate debate with its startling, brutal portrait of human nature. Though critically acclaimed, it was largely ignored upon its initial publication. Yet soon it became a cult favorite among both students and literary critics who compared it to J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye in its influence on modern thought and literature. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)
William Golding’s compelling story about a group of very ordinary small boys marooned on a coral island has become a modern classic. At first, it seems as though it is all going to be great fun; but the fun before long becomes furious and life on the island turns into a nightmare of panic and death.
As ordinary standards of behavior collapse, the whole world the boys know collapses with them—the world of cricket and homework and adventure stories—and another world is revealed beneath, primitive and terrible. Labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, even a vision of the apocalypse, Lord of the Flies has established itself as a true classic.
Photo: Barnes & Noble
TV Series Adaptation
Lord of the Flies has been adapted as a limited series on Netflix, premiering on May 4, 2026. This BBC/Netflix production, adapted by Jack Thorne, follows a group of stranded schoolboys whose attempt to create a civil society devolves into violence and savagery.
Quick Facts
Format: 4-Episode Limited Series
Runtime: 1 hour per episode
Platform: Netflix / BBC
Key Cast:
Winston Sawyers as Ralph
Lox Pratt as Jack
David McKenna as Piggy
The Plot
Following a plane crash, a group of young boys become stranded on a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean in the early 1950s. Ralph attempts to lead the boys, with help from the intellectual Piggy, in the hope of surviving and seeking rescue. However, Jack starts a rebellion, and their makeshift society begins a terrifying descent into chaos.
Each episode focuses on different characters navigating the island’s rising dangers and the collapse of their fragile civilization.
SA Examiner 