👋 Hey music fans! Welcome back to Fans With Benefits—your all-access pass to the wildest, weirdest, and most wonderful corners of the music world, powered by Fandiem. We’re talking iconic comebacks, charity-powered concert experiences, and events you’ll regret missing (Insomniac x Tomorrowland at the Sphere anyone? 😎).

This week, Will Smith is trading red carpets for redemption tracks, Lainey Wilson is making major moves to support musicians' families, and the tour calendar is bursting at the seams—from Gaga's mayhem to Stagecoach’s yeehaw energy. And yes, Bob Dylan is still on the road. 

Today, we got the scoop on:

• Will Smith’s musical comeback

• Lainey Wilson goes full heart-core

• 10+ Events

  • Stagecoach Country Music Festival

  • Lady Gaga

  • John Legend

  • Leon Bridges & Charley Crockett

  • Governors Ball Music Festival

Let’s get into it! 🎸🔥

🤘 Fan Focus

Will Smith Unpacks The Slap Through his Album “Based on a True Story”

Will Smith is stepping back into the spotlight not with an apology tour, but with a mic in hand and a mission in mind. After a whirlwind few years—including that Oscar moment and a decade-long Academy ban—Smith is channeling the chaos into his first album in 20 years “Based on a True Story.” 🎤 The record is the first of three he plans to drop this year, built around “seasons” of his life. Season one: Rave in the Wasteland—a deeply personal, spiritually-infused dive into his own evolution, featuring Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jaden Smith, and even Kanye’s Sunday Service Choir.

This isn’t Summertime Will or even Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It Will—this is a man leaning into the hard stuff. Inspired by everyone from his grandma to Nelson Mandela to Buddhist thinker Pema Chödrön, Smith calls his challenges “divine curriculum.” And he’s taking that lesson plan on the road for his first-ever headlining tour, kicking off June 25 in Morocco. Recently, he even partnered with Fandiem for a now-closed sweepstakes supporting charity, offering fans VIP access to intimate shows and soundchecks—and honestly, we’re here for the redemption arc 🌀. Wanna see him in person? Get tickets here!

🫡 Artists Doing Good

Lainey Wilson Drops a Massive Donation to Revolutionize Family Support in the Music Industry

Lainey Wilson is putting her Heart Like a Truck into action, making a hefty donation to the Family Alliance in Music (FAM) via her charitable fund💛. The money will fuel FAM’s first $25K grant to support touring pros and music workers juggling family responsibilities—from fertility treatments to caregiving help. Wilson’s aim? A music industry that actually supports the humans behind the hits. “It’s time we make caring for a family and pursuing professional dreams a reality for everyone,” she says. That’s what we call a high note 🎶.

And if your heart’s singing for Lainey, too—good news: Fandiem is giving you a chance to see her live at the Country Bay Music Festival from the front of the stage, with a signed guitar to boot. Donations support FAM, so it’s a win-win—music, memories, and meaning. 🌟

📢 Sound Off

🗳️ Cast your vote, and yes—we know you’ve got opinions. Let’s hear ’em.

🎶 Event Radar

Stagecoach Country Music Festival – 2025 Edition

Dust off your boots—Stagecoach is saddling up for another three-day takeover of Indio, California! With a star-studded lineup of country legends and fresh talent, this fest delivers southern charm, desert sunsets, and nonstop tunes. From line dancing to food truck feasts, it’s more than a music festival—it’s a country lifestyle weekend.

Get tickets here

Lady Gaga – The Mayhem Ball Tour

Mother Monster is back and bigger than ever. Kicking off her world tour in Mexico and landing stateside this summer, Gaga’s theatrical shows blend avant-garde fashion, pop brilliance, and pure chaos (in the best way). Expect pyrotechnics, piano ballads, and iconic choreography that’ll leave you speechless.

Get tickets here

John Legend – Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour

John Legend is taking fans back to where it all started. Celebrating two decades since Get Lifted, this world tour mixes soul classics, timeless vocals, and that smooth-as-silk stage charisma. It’s a full-circle moment—whether you’ve been there since “Ordinary People” or just hopped on the Legend train.

Get tickets here

Leon Bridges & Charley Crockett – The Crooner & The Cowboy Tour

Two powerhouse voices, one unforgettable night. Leon Bridges and Charley Crockett are teaming up for a summer tour that fuses retro soul with rugged Americana. Whether you’re swaying to the velvet tones of Bridges or stomping along with Crockett’s outlaw twang, it’s the perfect yin-yang of groove and grit.

Get tickets here

Governors Ball Music Festival

The Gov Ball is back and it’s ready to shake up Flushing Meadows with another stacked lineup of chart-toppers, indie faves, and genre-blending sets. Three days, five stages, infinite vibes—this isn’t just a music festival, it’s the East Coast’s main character moment.

Get tickets here

• Backstreet Boys – Las Vegas Sphere Residency – The boys are back with a flashy new residency at the Sphere, serving up nostalgia, choreography, and hits that defined a generation—live in a venue built for spectacle. Get tickets here

• Insomniac x Tomorrowland – Unity Festival, Las Vegas – Two dance music giants unite for an epic weekend of lights, beats, and jaw-dropping visuals inside the Sphere—this one's for the rave history books. Get tickets here

• George Strait & Chris Stapleton – Stadium Tour – Country royalty hits the road for a string of stadium shows, mixing Strait’s timeless classics with Stapleton’s soulful powerhouse vocals. Get tickets here

• Bob Dylan – 2025 Tour – The legend continues his never-ending journey with more tour dates rumored for 2025. Expect stripped-down sets, poetic storytelling, and Dylan doing Dylan. Get tickets here

• Brantley Gilbert – Tattoos Tour – Country rock’s rebel is rumored to hit the road again, bringing inked-up energy, whiskey-soaked ballads, and high-octane shows across the South and beyond. Get tickets here

🎤 Mic Drop

Metallica is the only band to have played on all seven continents—including Antarctica.

Learn more here.

That’s a wrap for this week! Until next time, keep the bass thumping and the coffee brewing. 🎵🔥

Signing off,

The Fandiem Team