Get ready for an Iris-level emotional night, butt, because the Goo Goo Dolls have just been announced as the headliners for the 2025 Carousel Ball! Held annually in Denver, Colorado, this glitzy, star-studded event isnโt just about tuxes and tunes โ itโs now entering its 39th year of raising vital funds for type 1 diabetes research. ๐๐ฉบ
The Carousel Ball is hosted by the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, and over the years itโs become one of the most prestigious charity events in the U.S. Think glam gowns, massive donations, and big-name artists who give their all for a good cause. Previous headliners have included legends like Earth, Wind & Fire, Usher, and even Barry Manilow โ but this year, itโs all about those Buffalo-born alt-rock balladeers. ๐ค๐ธ
Expect Johnny Rzeznik and Robby Takac to bring the heartstring-smashing hits: Slide, Name, Black Balloon, and of course Iris โ a song scientifically proven to make even the toughest rockers weep a little into their whiskey. ๐ฅฒ๐ฅ
Why it matters:
The Carousel Ball has raised tens of millions of dollars over the decades, all going towards groundbreaking work in T1D prevention and treatment. With the Goo Goo Dolls involved, 2025โs event is shaping up to be one of the most memorable yet โ and not just because someone will inevitably sob during Better Days. ๐
๐ฉท Rock for a reason, mun โ now thatโs a proper job.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialโfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heโs battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heโs always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heโs not writing or interviewing artists, youโll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicโtheyโre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatโs exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. ๐ค
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