The indie folk band talks the way things change with RM.
You’ve likely heard The Head and the Heart’s music echoing through grad parties, wedding venues and even during sappy sitcom scenes. The Seattle-based indie folk band has always had a knack for writing grassroots music that somehow feels incredibly personal yet still made for the masses—think songs like “Rivers and Roads,” “Lost in My Mind,” and “People Need a Melody.”
Now, with six albums in the rearview and a jam-packed tour ahead—including a Raleigh stop at Red Hat Amphitheater July 16—the band is ready to turn a new page.
The six-piece is still churning out folky ballads that ring true at any occasion where reminiscing is called for, but after ~15 years as a group with various record labels, their sound was bound to shapeshift. For their sixth record, Aperture, The Head and the Heart’s goal was to head back home to their roots and reconnect with the strummy spirit of their early days.
“We intentionally tried to kind of get back to ‘being in the room’ vibes, really making a record focused on collaboration and starting songs from scratch all together,” drummer Tyler Williams told RM.
Aperture, cover courtesy of Grandstand Media
And they achieved that old-yet-refreshed indie sound in the most grassroots way possible: A Virginia studio down a gravel road. “It was like an adult summer camp,” describes vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Russell. “There was plenty of outdoor space, one of the houses had a piano in it and plenty of space in the studio.” All the wide-open vibes left plenty of room for creative expression—and room for all six members to get along.
“With six people, you can’t just plug it in and it automatically works, you know?” emphasizes Russell. “You have to be cognizant of people’s moods that day or who’s listening to what.” But fortunately, over the years, the band’s learned to “read the room”—and ensure every member has their fingerprints on the final product.
Truly going back to the basics on Aperture, it’s only their fingerprints on the final record. After label-hopping for years, the newest record was released under The Head and the Heart’s own label, Every Shade of Music. While a label and producer seems like the easier route, it felt far more removed from the original sonic goal. “It’s on us to do the leg work to actually make the final decisions, and therefore it actually sounds like our decision,” maintains Russell. “It’s almost like creativity loves hard work.”
After all the work behind the newest record, it’s time for more heavy lifting: Four more months of touring kicks off with Raleigh as the second stop, just after a short break from the road. With family matters now added in the mix—with some kids on tour and some kids at home—being able to take the stage is both more difficult and all the more worth it, the band describes.
“I’m so excited about it, because I think I finally figured out what I needed to do to hit the stage running,” Russell muses. “I’m so glad we are starting off in North Carolina.” So, head to Red Hat to tune in to refreshed indie ballads with same beloved sound. theheadandtheheart.com
Here are the highlights of City Council’s last meeting for over a month.
Raleigh’s City Council needs an occasional break too—but before they were able to get away, they had a hefty agenda stacked for July 1, the last session until Aug. 19… and a lot went down. Here are some of the biggest highlights.
With no ability to overcome the huge budget deficit the project faced, City Council canceled the Six Forks Road Improvement Project. The initial plans included a six-lane road with a median and bike and pedestrian paths with a budget of $60.1M.
After the cost escalated to $93.5M, Council found no feasible way to move forward. Opting to keep the money in the district, the project’s budget will now go toward closing the sidewalk gap in front of Carroll Middle School and funding design of the Midtown multi-modal bridge, followed by completing the Lake Wheeler Road and Barbell Road projects, and lastly, improving Old Wake Forest Road. $9.3M had already been spent on over a decade of work surrounding Six Forks.
RFD revealed only 54% of units made the first due NFPA target time—or arrived within 240 seconds to 90% of incidents—in 2024. Performance was highest in DTR (81%) and lowest near Station 23 in Northwest Raleigh (31%). To combat this low stat, station replacements and relocations were recommended to City Council, plus four new stations, more ladder trucks and strong recruiting strategies.
Newsworthy Notes
Red Hat Amphitheater is working toward a final design with utility work already underway, with the aim for a 2027 opening.
The Convention Center expansion is in the design phase with an anticipated 2029 opening.
Updated terms surrounding the Convention Center Hotel (Omni Hotel & Resorts) include additional rooms, a room block agreement of 50 years, a projection completion guarantee, and a land sale to yield property tax.
The new City Hall is 25% complete at Floor 8, with a final completion aimed for March 2027.
Fire Station No.1 is in its concept design phase with an amendment forthcoming for a safety-themed playground.
The Chavis-Dix Strollway honoring and uplifting the Fourth Ward is in the final design process with a detailed project design expected summer 2026.
Design is underway for pedestrian safety improvements for Downtown and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
How to order wine at a restaurant—and appear like you know what you’re doing.
“…And here is out wine list.” Though a simple statement, it can inspire anxiety when picking out a glass or bottle at a restaurant— but this shouldn’t be the case.
“It’s about discovery, not intimidation,” emphasizes Doreen Colondres, wine educator and founder of Vitis House. The easiest route to a confident, smart select is a sommelier— and, thankfully, the days of stuffy, dismissive vino experts are over. “Sommeliers love to introduce people to new favorites,” ensures Colondres. “It’s like matchmaking!”
Sans sommelier, Colondres’ rule of thumb is opting for varietals from countries with long winemaking histories—and avoiding cheap bottles from those with less experience (think: Chile, Australia and the States). And don’t feel pressured to use wine lingo, maintains Colondres—if you know your price and preferences, your server will be able to take care of you, no buzzwords necessary.
So, for the next time that daunting phone book-thick wine list is dropped off, we tapped Colondres to uncork alternatives to the panic picks.
Price Point Sweet Spot?
Usually between $18 and $30 a bottle. You can find incredible quality from regions that aren’t necessarily on the mainstream radar yet—places like Portugal, Croatia, Greece, parts of Spain, Argentina, and even lesser-known French and Italian appellations. Of course, prices can vary widely depending on the grape, the region’s prestige and how the wine is made. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to drink well.
Pairing Hacks?
Don’t just think about the protein—focus on the sauce, spices and how the dish is cooked. One of my best tips? Eat and drink in the same locale—pairing wine with food from the same region is almost always a win. Also, acidity in wine is your best friend—it brightens the palate and cuts through richness, salt or fat. Don’t be afraid to break the rules! Bubbles, rosé or orange with steak, or red wine with fish can be amazing. Just watch out for heat: If it’s spicy, reach for something with a touch of sweetness to cool it down.
Glass or Bottle?
If you’re exploring or unsure, by the glass is a great way to try something special without the full commitment—and it lets you taste a few different styles. Keep in mind premium wines by the glass are often marked up more to offset waste. That said, don’t be shy—if the wine smells off or seems corked, you can absolutely send it back, just like you would with a bottle.
When Is a Bottle the Move?
If you’re with friends and open to sharing— it’s usually a better value and gives you more time to enjoy how the wine evolves in the glass. Sometimes, a bottle really is the smarter splurge.
Among Wine Countries, What’s the Must-Have Bottle—and Most Budget-Friendly?
Spain is definitely having a moment, and, honestly, it deserves the spotlight. From elegant reds to sparkling cava—even volcanic wines from the Canary Islands— the quality-to-price ratio is hard to beat. Greece, Croatia, and Italian islands like Sicily and Sardinia are also hidden gems offering ancient varieties full of character at great value. And if you’re in the mood to venture off the beaten path, Hungary and Austria are packed with delicious surprises. … As I always say: One life isn’t enough to taste all the grapes in the world, so why not try something new every now and then?
Even if you don’t recognize her by name, you’ll recognize the widespread photography of the American portrait lensmaster Annie Leibovitz—and her iconic framed figures, from Queen Elizabeth II to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. And capturing her career of captured moments is the ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / WORK exhibit at Charlotte’s Mint Museum.
Few photographers have earned a legacy as illustrious as Leibovitz’s. First making waves as Rolling Stone’s ’70s chief photographer, she later broadened her lens (!) and dipped her feet in fashion photography for Vogue and Vanity Fair.
Now, inarguably one of the greatest portrait photographers of our time, Leibovitz continues to capture history’s (and today’s) most decisive individuals over her 50-years-and-counting career—from John Lennon and Yoko Ono, taken the very day Lennon was assassinated, to former VP Kamala Harris’ campaign-era Vogue cover.
Well worth a spin down I-85, the Mint’s landmark exhibit at once spotlights the lens icon’s world-renowned images while also unveiling rarely seen portraits ranging from the early black-and-white days to her more recent “painterly conceptual” images. So, you can feel the breadth of her creative legacy via both prints and cutting-edge digital displays—freezing in time a roster of artists, musicians, politicians and athletes—and put yourself in history’s shoes. Through Aug. 31, mintmuseum.org
Finally, a vacay less about FOMO and more about finally missing out.
I’ll sleep when I’m dead: So goes the mantra of movers and shakers, partiers (s/o Barstool) and generations past—see Mama Ann Bailey’s steadfast advice. But a dreamy emerging travel trend is hitting snooze on overworking and overpartying—and prioritizing wellness while on vacay.
Enter sleep tourism, the tranquil new trend spotlighting the difference between traveling and vacationing. With an explicit goal of an improved snooze schedule, sleep tourism is less about seeing and doing, and more about tucking in and tuckering out.
If a vacay without a packed morning-to-night itinerary sounds fringe or foreign (or like wasted time and money), research begs to differ. A 2024 Gallup poll found Americans are getting less sleep than they need and reporting higher stress levels. To boot, less shut-eye causes more stress—and more stress causes less sleep… unlocking a never-ending (literal) nightmare cycle and contributing to one-third of adults not getting enough Z’s.
Combatting widespread sleep deprivation and excessive coffee reliance, hotels and resorts are leveling up their slumber-party factor. Colorado’s The Springs Resort & Spa in Pagosa Springs proves soaking in a natural hot spring isn’t just a luxury—it’s science-backed self-care. Their signature sleep program taps into the region’s hydrothermal magic to help guests drift off faster, stay asleep longer and wake up actually rested. Turns out, slipping into 100-degree waters under the stars might be the most soothing sleep aid of all.
Serving up similar reboots, Arizona’s Castle Hot Springs offers a Soak & Slumber package touting a private hike, massage and sleep kit, while Aman New York provides a team of wellness experts to assess and polish your sleep habits via a diagnostic device—plus sound-healing breathwork, guided yoga, circadian-friendly tweaks and takeaways to extend the serenity post-vacay. So, maybe still a full itinerary, but a restful one.
While having no plans sans rotting in bed all day may feel like a dream and the solution to your tired troubles, sleep tourism is about optimizing your sleep schedule—not getting as much pillow time as possible. Apologies to anyone envisioning of wasting the day away, but movement is essential to getting rest. Indulging in a soundbath with white or brown noise, popping in for a facial and soaking in a long bath, or Zenning out in yoga class are all sleep vacay-friendly pursuits meant to get you out of bed—but not out of your relax-and-reset state of mind.
If you aren’t entirely ready to kick back, wind down and part ways with a jam-packed vacay itinerary and the grim age-old mantra, start small—take an extra hour a day to relax, or set a goal of at least a few good nights’ rest. Bottom line: The main priority on vacay is your well-being, and hopefully when it’s time to leave, you can take new habits back to reality with you. Sweet dreams.
SLEEPING IN
Wanna skip the terminal stress and suitcase Tetris? Home turf hits different. Save your pennies and pull out the PTO for a little R&R—and DIY a sleep staycation instead. Think of it as a pillowcation, where out-of-office means lights out. Translation: Prioritize sleep and indulge in DIY sleepytime escapades—mix up a sleepy girl mocktail, flow through an evening yoga sesh and hit the sack early with an ambiance of white noise. Your body—and your wallet—will thank you.
