Music Minute - Texas Blues Legends with Kirk Fletcher (Gibson App Course)

Gibson—the name behind generations of iconic sound—invites you to turn up the tone with the Gibson App’s newest release: Texas Blues Legends with Kirk Fletcher. Whether you’re a bedroom player or a seasoned stage veteran, the Gibson App makes it easy to master Texas Blues. This immersive three‑part course—Rhythm, Lead, and Full Song—delivers more than 20 high‑quality video lessons that guide players step‑by‑step from foundational grooves to expressive soloing and complete song performance, all while connecting you to a global community of blues players. Download the Gibson App on iOS and Android to begin your guitar adventure.

For more information about Texas Blues Legends and the Gibson App, download the Gibson App on iOS and Android or search “Gibson App” on your device. The Gibson App works with any guitar, for every skill level. Download today to begin your guitar journey.

Gibson App:

 

GIBSON APP

Gibson:

 

GIBSON.COM | X | IG | FB | TT | GIBSON GARAGE NASHVILLE | GIBSON GARAGE LONDON | GIBSON RECORDS | GIBSON GIVES | GIBSON CERTIFIED VINTAGE | GIBSON LIFESTYLE | GIBSON TV EN ESPANOL | GIBSON TV

Epiphone:

 

EPIPHONE.COM | X | IG | FB | YT

  

Kramer:

 

KRAMERGUITARS.COM | X | IG | FB | YT

 

MESA/Boogie:

 

MESABOOGIE.COM | X | IG | FB 

 

KRK:

 

KRKMUSIC.COM | X | IG | FB | YT

 

Maestro:

 

MAESTROELECTRONICS.COM | IG

About Kirk Fletcher:

Kirk Fletcher is a Grammy‑nominated blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer whose soulful tone and searing technique have made him one of the most respected voices in contemporary blues. Born in Bellflower, California, and steeped in gospel and church music, Fletcher built his reputation touring and recording with artists from Joe Bonamassa to The Fabulous Thunderbirds, earning multiple Blues Music Award nominations and praise from Guitar World, Guitar Player, and Living Blues. As a solo artist his albums—most recently Heartache By-The-Pound, recorded at FAME Studios—have garnered critical acclaim and strong chart performance, while his previous releases have landed on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums and earned industry recognition. A passionate educator and collaborator, Fletcher brings decades of stage and studio experience to every performance and lesson, blending classic blues tradition with fresh, modern fire. For more information about Kirk Fletcher, visit: https://kirkfletcherband.com.

About Gibson:

Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for over 130 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by all Gibson brands. Explore more at Gibson.com, Gibson App, and on Gibson TV, follow us on Instagram, X and Facebook, and visit us at the Gibson Garage Nashville and the Gibson Garage London.

Music Minute - Jon Mullane: The Road

“The Road” All-In-One Link

Website I Bandcamp I Facebook I Instagram

Jon Mullane, one of Canada's most consistently compelling voices in modern rock, pop, and country – has released 'The Road', a five-song EP produced by Toronto's Creighton Doane, available now on all major platforms. It is Mullane's first artist-centric collection of new original songs since the pandemic, and it arrives with the confidence of an artist who knows exactly where he has been and exactly where he is going.

The road that led to 'The Road' ran through Nashville. Mullane spent the better part of two years travelling between his home in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia and Music City, reconnecting with old collaborators and forging new ones, and finding in that creative environment the inspiration to write songs that felt genuinely close and personal. Four of the five tracks were co-written in Nashville, including work with Grammy-nominated hitmaker Michael Dulaney – whose credits include Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, and Rascal Flatts among dozens of others – and Michael Jay, the songwriter and producer behind Martika's Number One Billboard hit "Toy Soldiers", whose work spans Celine Dion, Eminem, Gloria Estefan, and New Kids On The Block. For Mullane, being back in Nashville normalised what he has always known: "It's just everyday business there, as opposed to most other places in the world, and feels right to me."

The EP's lead single "Remember in November", co-written with Dulaney and Jay and recorded at Nashville's legendary Peer Music Publishing studio, announced the collection with warmth and melody to spare – a reflective anthem about connection, memory, and the golden glow of late summer. The music video scored a win at the 2026 California Music Video Awards for Best of Canada Music Video, nominated in three categories. Current single "Moon on Fire" has since climbed to #1 on the Yangaroo/DMDS chart, appearing among the Top CANCON Downloads, Most Active Indies, and Top Country Downloads simultaneously.

Across the EP's five songs – "Remember in November", "Moon on Fire", "Follow Your Own Road", "One Day Closer", and "Bring It On" – the common thread is feeling. Joy, hope, sadness, purpose, and the satisfaction of knowing you have followed your own instincts all the way to the finish line. "After being in this industry for quite some time now, it seems every song and album I make takes on a special meaning on this musical journey," Mullane says. "Putting it out to the world to find a home seems like a gift to me." 

It is a gift well earned. Mullane has released five full-length albums, charted multiple Top 40 Billboard singles in Canada and the US, placed his music with NBC's Olympic Games coverage, and performed everywhere from the House of Blues in Hollywood to the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles to the Molson Canadian Centre in New Brunswick. The Associated Press has called him "one of Canada's most consistently compelling voices in contemporary pop-rock." 'The Road' makes the case all over again.

Going Green - US Componsting Stats

2026 has already been a busy year for U.S. food policy. In the last 30 days alone, we've seen Maryland finalize farm composting grants, Washington sign a food security act, and Illinois advance a bill that would fundamentally change how every major airport, hotel, and grocery store in the state handles food scraps.

To get a better picture of the compost revolution in conjunction with Earth Day (April 22), LawnStarter put together a collection of U.S. Composting Stats, Policies, and Roadblocks. Why does LawnStarter care about composting? Organic yard waste, like grass clippings, is compostable, and 26 states have banned yard waste from landfills.

Food waste hits home financially: The average U.S. family of 4 tosses out $2,913 worth of food (or $728 per person) each year. This accounts for about 11% of total annual household food budgets and is almost double the cost of household food waste (previously $1,500) initially introduced by the USDA in 2010.

More Insights:

• The U.S. has just 18 years of landfill capacity left, a 2020 report found, fueling price increases and indicating a need for new waste management solutions before 2038. 
• A report on contamination across 10 U.S. composting facilities found that an average of 21% of operating costs are spent on removing contaminants. 
• 7 states have active or pending extended producer responsibility for packaging laws, making companies responsible for the waste caused by their packaging.
   

Read the full story here: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/statistics/us-composting-stats-policies/ 

Other helpful links:

• By the Numbers: Composting and Food Waste
• Reality Check: Composting Challenges and Imperfect Infrastructure
• Timeline: U.S. Food Waste Policy Highlights

 

More from LawnStarter: 

• States That Waste the Least Food
• Scraps to Soil: Top Cities for Composting
• How to Keep Pests out of Your Compost Bin
• Best Cities for Urban Gardening
• U.S. Cities Going Green: Most Sustainable Cities
• 15 Inspiring Ideas for Your Backyard Vegetable Garden

Healthy Habits - Pest Control Survey

As the weather warms up and kids spend more time outside, pest control safety is top of mind for families. A new study from Modern Pest Services finds that 79% of homeowners are concerned about pest control products being harmful to children or pets.

What Parents Need to Know About Safe Pest Control:

• Many (49%) are focusing on preventative measures like sealing gaps and cracks
• 44% are trying natural sprays (like peppermint or neem oil)
• 81% of gardeners prefer eco-friendly pest control methods, and 53% are switching to natural fertilizers

What should parents look for in safe pest control services? The experts at Modern Pest Services weigh in on their eco-friendly alternatives:

“The treatments themselves are designed to target the specific biology of pests—not people or pets. And once these products dry on a surface, they become stable and stay in place, which greatly reduces their potential to transfer to curious toddlers or pets.” - Dan S., Field Specialist

Take a look at the full report for more expert tips on keeping your home safe for the whole family this spring

Consumer Critique - Festive Chickpeas

Over 6 million Americans have a nut allergy, so I'm happy to highlight an alternative snacking option I recently got to review - Festive Chickpeas.

This Amazon bestselling and Walmart favorite indie brand looks like a nut, tastes like a nut, and is just as just as nutritious, but isn't a nut. Festive Chickpeas are:

• Dehusked chickpeas roasted into crispy golden peanut like morsels
• Coated in bold nostalgic flavors like nacho cheese, honey bbq, fiery spicy and ranch 
• Full of 20g of protein and 15g of fiber

I got to try several different flavors of Festive Chickpeas. I really liked the ranch and honey BBQ options. Fiery spicy was a bit hot for me, but I know plenty of people who would like it! The texture is very nut-like, although they're a little smaller than traditional peanuts. I thought they tasted fine plain, but they also made a great topper for salads and worked well in snack mixes.

As plant-based, non-GMO snacks, Festive Chickpeas work for a variety of dietary needs. They're Halal and free of soy and gluten. And they're definitely more filling than chips! Whether you're accommodating nut allergies or just want to try something new, Festive Chickpeas make a great snack.