Alex Edkins, the musician recognized as the former frontman of METZ and a current member of Noble Rot, has released a new single titled “Where I Belong” under his solo project, Weird Nightmare. The track arrives as a significant preview of his upcoming full-length album, Hoopla, which is scheduled for global release on May 1, 2026 via Sub Pop Worldwide and Dine Alone in Canada.
The new single is accompanied by an official music video directed by boy wonder, which depicts Edkins performing in a setting described as potentially being a Burlington Coat Factory after-hours. This release follows a series of previous singles that have shaped the sonic identity of the upcoming record, including “Pay No Mind,” “Forever Elsewhere,” and “Might See You There.”
The Production of Hoopla
The recording of Hoopla represents a collaborative effort between Edkins and Jim Eno of the band Spoon, who co-produced the album. The project was tracked at Seth Manchester’s Machines With Magnets studio located in Providence, Rhode Island according to official label announcements. The resulting sound is characterized as “power-pop,” blending a crisp, immediate recording style with a specific balance of punk rock “fuzz and crunch.”
Unlike many contemporary indie rock releases that lean heavily on expansive rollouts of multiple advance tracks, the songwriting approach for Weird Nightmare focuses on the immediacy of the hooks. The project emphasizes the “sugar-shock” quality of the songs, treating them as distinct singles rather than components of a larger conceptual scope.
Global Tour Dates and Schedule
To support the release of Hoopla, Weird Nightmare has announced an expanded world tour covering North America, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. The North American leg is set to begin on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Indie Plaza in New York City in celebration of Record Store Day as detailed in the tour itinerary.
The North American run includes the following confirmed dates:
- April 18: New York City, NY – Indie Plaza
- April 24: San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
- April 25: Los Angeles, CA – Gold Diggers
- April 26: Oakland, CA – Thee Stork Club
- April 29: Seattle, WA – Baba Yaga
- May 1: Toronto, ON – Sonic Boom (in-store)
- May 3: Brantford, ON – zBTFD (in-store)
- May 12: Kingston, ON – Broom Factory
- May 13: Montreal, PQ – Bar le Ritz
- May 16: Halifax, NS – Marquee Ballroom
- May 27: St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
- May 28: Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge
- May 29: Pontiac, MI – Pike Room
- May 30: Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
The North American tour is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Deep Cuts in Medford, Massachusetts per the official schedule.
Following the North American dates, the tour will move to the UK and EU. This leg begins on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Canela Party Festival in Malaga, Spain, and continues through Sunday, September 13, 2026, concluding at the Misty Fields Festival in Asten, Netherlands according to the tour announcement.
Tour Summary Table
| Region | Start Date | Complete Date | Key Venues/Festivals |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | April 18, 2026 | June 28, 2026 | Indie Plaza, Sonic Boom, Deep Cuts |
| UK/EU | August 28, 2026 | September 13, 2026 | Canela Party Festival, Misty Fields Festival |
The next major milestone for the project is the official release of the album Hoopla on May 1, 2026, available on CD, LP, and digital streaming platforms.
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