Just like Rush themselves, the preeminent Rush fan gathering, RushCon is returning for 2026 after a decade-long hiatus. RushCon 2026 will take place in its traditional home of Toronto this summer over the weekend of August 7-9, coinciding with the band's hometown tour stops. This past weekend at the 4th annual Bubba Bash Neil Peart tribute show, RushCon director Jillian broke some news to John at Cygnus-X1.net regarding their featured guest for this year - none other than Rush producer Nick Raskulinecz. Nick produced Rush's final 2 studio efforts and will be on hand to interact with fans and share some stories. Author Kevin J. Anderson has also been confirmed as one of the speakers, as was previously announced. The festivities will begin Friday evening with a welcome party and pre-show hangout at The Loose Moose. The main event will take place on Saturday at The El Mocambo with games, contests, guest speakers, and more, along with a Sunset Boat Cruise in the Toronto Harbor in the evening. Sunday will include a closing party and pre-show hangout at Henderson Brewing. You can get all the details and purchase tickets at RushCon.org. This won't be the only RushCon event on the tour however; they'll also be hosting a Madison Square Garden pre-show party on Saturday August 1st - the day of the 3rd of 4 MSG shows - with tickets available here. The event will take place at The Rutherford with exact timing TBD. From RushCon.org:
Join us in New York City for the RushCon NYC Pre-Show Party, a limited-capacity rooftop meetup bringing Rush fans together before the concert at Madison Square Garden. Connect with fellow fans, enjoy light food, grab a drink from the cash bar, and soak up the atmosphere at a private rooftop venue. After all, where better to warm up for a concert than a private party with a bunch of other Rush fans? Space is limited.
As mentioned above, Rush tribute band YYNOT hosted their 4th annual Bubba Bash tribute concert in celebration of The Professor this past Saturday night at the Keswick Theatre outside Philly. The show was hosted by Cathy Rankin, and featured YYNOT along with special guests Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Overkill, etc.), Jon Dinklage (Clockwork Angels string ensemble), Joe Bergamini (drum instructor, author, etc.), John Wesley (Porcupine Tree), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob, Category 7), Fer Velasco (Rush Monterrey Tribute, Mexico), Greg Russell (Natural Science), Jack Gibson (Exodus, Category 7) and Tyme Rogers (Tech 21 NYC). All proceeds from the show go to benefit Cedars Sinai Hospital, and you can send along your donation here. The band should be posting some pro-shot videos to their YouTube channel here in the coming days, as they have in years past. In the meantime, you can check out some behind-the-scenes highlights from the event in this Instagram post:
Author Daniel Bukszpan will be following up his 2024 book Rush at 50 with a new Rush book celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rush's 2112, which released in March of 1976. Rush And 2112: 50 Years comes in at 176 pages and will release on March 10, 2026 with pre-orders now available. From the press release:
... Rush and 2112: 50 Years tells the complete story behind this landmark album through:
A deep exploration of how 2112 was created and why it remains the band's masterpiece
Track‑by‑track analysis, including insight into the iconic 20‑minute "2112" suite
Historical context on the state of rock in the mid‑70s and the band's evolution in the decades that followed
Rarely seen photography, including performance shots, candid off‑stage moments, and archival images
Interviews and commentary that illuminate the band's creative process and enduring influenceRush's impact on rock music and popular culture is undeniable. With over 40 million records sold and a fiercely devoted global fanbase, the band continues to inspire musicians, writers, and listeners across generations. This volume captures the virtuosity, innovation, and spirit that made Rush one of the most celebrated rock bands of all time.
Rush and 2112: 50 Years is an essential volume for fans old and new - a definitive tribute to a record that changed everything. ...
30 years ago this past Friday, January 9th, Alex Lifeson released his one and only solo album, Victor. The album was reissued on vinyl in 2024 along with some updated cover art. In the week after its release back on January 15, 1996, Alex Lifeson appeared on the Rockline syndicated radio show to discuss the album. Here's that full interview with the music and commercials removed:
That's all for this week. Have a great weekend everybody!
