At Unplugged Live Radio, every song we play comes directly from authentic Unplugged and stripped-down live performances — real rooms, real microphones, and real moments. This week’s spotlight fits that mission perfectly, as one of the most influential acoustic performances in modern music history returns in a newly expanded and fully immersive presentation.
The acoustic and “unplugged” scene remains active with significant archival releases, new stripped-back albums, and intimate live performances scheduled through 2026.
Latest MTV Unplugged News
- Archival Releases: The Cranberries released their 1995 acoustic concert for the first time as a standalone album on vinyl, CD, and digital on November 7, 2025.
- Film & Streaming: A remastered, extended version of Eric Clapton’s iconic 1992 performance, titled Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later, premiered in theaters in late January 2025 and is scheduled for Paramount+ streaming globally on February 12, 2025.
- Platform Changes: While MTV shut down several dedicated music channels on December 31, 2025, the flagship channel continues to air, and its historic Unplugged library remains a focus for digital streaming on Paramount+.
Recent & Upcoming Acoustic Albums (2025–2026)
- Said The Sky: Released a surprise acoustic album titled Salt & Silence on January 30, 2026, featuring piano and string arrangements.
- Jacob Collier: His album The Light for Days features him stripping down to his voice and guitar.
- Vince Gill: Recently released “I Gave You Everything I Had” as part of his acoustic-leaning 50 Years From Home series.
- Dylan Day: Released The Unanswered Prayer (January 2026), a set of solo guitar compositions recorded live to tape.
- Notable 2025/26 Stripped Releases: Other significant acoustic or folk-rooted projects include Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow, Jeff Tweedy’s triple album Twilight Override, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s The Purple Bird.
Live Acoustic Shows & Tours
- +LIVE+ (The Band): Currently on a major 2026 tour across Canada, with dates in cities like Abbotsford (Feb 23), Edmonton (Feb 27), and Winnipeg (March 2).
- David Foster & Katharine McPhee: Performing an intimate evening of music on February 6, 2026.
- Fingerstyle Guitar: Virtuoso Hiroya Tsukamoto has a live performance scheduled at the Kelly Center in Havertown, PA, on March 13, 2026.
- Intimate Residencies:
- Dave Cudrak performs regular acoustic rock/country cover sets through June 2026.
- Brighton Road, an acoustic duo, has a monthly residency at the Whitpain Tavern through December 2026.
More than three decades after it first reshaped what a live acoustic album could be, Eric Clapton’s legendary MTV appearance has been reintroduced to a new generation with Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later — a feature-length restoration that deepens the story behind the performance and modernizes the sound without losing its original intimacy.
For Unplugged Live listeners, this release isn’t just nostalgia. It is a reminder of why stripped-back performances continue to resonate in an era dominated by studio perfection.
A landmark Unplugged performance, reimagined for today
The original concert, recorded in 1992 at Bray Studios, became a cultural milestone. It earned six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and went on to become the best-selling live album of all time.
Now, Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later expands that historic night into a newly restored 90-minute presentation, offering far more than a simple remaster.
For the first time, fans are invited inside the moments immediately before the cameras rolled. Newly integrated behind-the-scenes footage captures Clapton speaking candidly with the production crew about the artists who shaped his playing, the emotional weight behind certain songs, and the creative decisions that guided the acoustic arrangements heard that evening.
The new edition also features previously unreleased interview material and bonus performances that were not included in the original broadcast or album — giving longtime fans fresh perspective on a performance they may already know by heart.
A modern cinematic mix for a timeless acoustic set
One of the most meaningful upgrades in this new release is technical. The entire performance has been fully remixed and remastered in Dolby Atmos, creating a wide, three-dimensional listening experience that places the listener directly inside the studio.
The soundstage feels natural rather than exaggerated — acoustic guitars breathe, audience reactions sit organically in the room, and Clapton’s vocal delivery feels closer and more conversational than ever. For Unplugged Live Radio listeners who value authentic live recordings, this kind of respectful, high-fidelity restoration matters.
Where and how to experience the new release
The restored film began streaming worldwide on Paramount+ on February 12, 2025, giving global audiences access to the expanded performance for the first time.
Collectors and audiophiles can also find the companion physical release, Unplugged: Enhanced Edition, issued on May 9, 2025 through Surfdog Records. The set is available on triple-vinyl and double CD, alongside newly released digital-only Dolby Atmos mixes created to match the film’s audio presentation.
Why this performance still defines the Unplugged format
When Clapton stepped onstage for MTV Unplugged, the goal was never to recreate his catalogue note-for-note. Instead, the performance reintroduced well-known songs through vulnerability and restraint.
Acoustic reinventions of tracks such as “Layla” became iconic in their own right, while the deeply personal “Tears in Heaven” transformed the show into something far more than a television taping. It became a defining artistic statement — one that proved stripped-down performances could be just as powerful, and often more revealing, than their full-band originals.
The 2025 edition restores that emotional gravity while adding vital context directly from the artist himself — allowing viewers to understand how the arrangements were shaped, and why certain songs were chosen for such an intimate setting.
For Unplugged Live Radio, this release reinforces exactly why live acoustic recordings remain at the heart of what we broadcast.
The unplugged and acoustic movement is far from over
While Clapton’s return to the spotlight anchors this week’s feature, the wider unplugged and acoustic scene is more active than it has been in years. Archival releases, new stripped-down studio albums, and intimate live performances are continuing well into 2026.
One of the most notable archival projects comes from The Cranberries, whose 1995 acoustic concert has finally been released as a standalone album on vinyl, CD, and digital — giving fans an official, high-quality document of a long-requested performance.
At the same time, the future of the Unplugged catalog remains secure. While several dedicated music channels were shut down at the end of 2025, MTV’s flagship channel continues to operate, and its historic Unplugged library remains a major focus for digital streaming on Paramount+.
New acoustic and stripped-back albums shaping 2025 and 2026
Across genres, artists are returning to minimal production and intimate arrangements — often using acoustic instrumentation as the primary storytelling vehicle.
Recent and upcoming releases include:
- Said The Sky – Salt & Silence, a surprise acoustic album built around piano and string arrangements (released January 30, 2026).
- Jacob Collier – The Light for Days, a deliberately minimal project centered on voice and guitar.
- Vince Gill – “I Gave You Everything I Had,” part of his acoustic-leaning 50 Years From Home series.
- Dylan Day – The Unanswered Prayer (January 2026), featuring solo guitar compositions recorded live to tape.
Several other major stripped and folk-rooted releases are also defining the current cycle:
- Jason Isbell – Foxes in the Snow
- Jeff Tweedy – Twilight Override (a triple-album project)
- Bonnie Prince Billy – The Purple Bird
For Unplugged Live Radio programming, these releases expand the modern pool of high-quality, performance-driven recordings that sit naturally beside classic Unplugged sessions.
Live acoustic shows and intimate tours to watch
The live side of acoustic music is just as vibrant.
Canadian favorites LIVE are currently touring across Canada in early 2026, with major stops in Abbotsford, Edmonton, and Winnipeg — delivering a performance style that emphasizes stripped arrangements and direct audience connection.
Fans of piano-led and vocal-driven performances can catch David Foster and Katharine McPhee for an intimate evening of music on February 6, 2026.
Fingerstyle guitar audiences can look forward to a live performance from Hiroya Tsukamoto at the Kelly Center Havertown on March 13, 2026.
Smaller-room residencies continue to play a crucial role in keeping acoustic performance culture alive. Dave Cudrak is performing regular acoustic rock and country cover sets through June 2026, while the duo Brighton Road maintains a monthly residency at the Whitpain Tavern through the end of 2026.
Why this matters for Unplugged Live Radio listeners
Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later reminds us that truly great live recordings do not age — they evolve. With modern audio presentation, expanded storytelling, and newly revealed behind-the-scenes insight, this release strengthens the legacy of one of the most influential acoustic performances ever recorded.
More importantly, it reinforces what Unplugged Live Radio has always stood for: live music at its most honest, stripped of studio polish, and shaped by the moment it is performed.
As new acoustic albums, restored archival sets, and intimate tours continue to emerge through 2026, the unplugged tradition is not simply being preserved — it is being actively rebuilt, one live performance at a time.