Spring 2026 | Volume 46

Hello Dear Readers!

Here are some highlights of what our esteemed clients, extended family and our own McBrands have been up to lately... enjoy, and feel free to get in touch if we can advise with your media strategy, a new website, jingle, investor presentation or other digital needs.

Cheers!

BREAKING NEWS

Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024 + 2025) and James Beard Best Chef Texas (2023) Chef G and her husband / partner Graham Painter own Street to Kitchen in Houston's East Downtown EaDo district and they are currently serving 400 meals a day to TSA staff at both Hobby and Bush IAH airports as part of Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen Chef Corps. 



(Graham) “We wanted to show our gratitude to the TSA workers who are showing up without pay and keeping us safe. World Central Kitchen is there for people when in most need and we are honored to help out.”

Previously, Street to Kitchen stepped up with World Central Kitchen, providing hundreds of meals for hungry Houstonians during the big freeze. Street to Kitchen also helped coordinate restaurants in Myanmar during the big Earthquake that left hundreds of thousands without food and potable water.

(G) “World Central Kitchen is the best of who we can be as chefs and restaurant owners, feeding people when they most need help.”

https://streettokitchen.vip

Watch Graham Painter of Street to Kitchen on Fox 26 3/18/26

Read the Dining Out HTX Article

Read the Chron.com Article

Read The National Article

Read the MSN Article

PAUL McCARTNEY ROCKS THE FONDA⁠ TWO NIGHTS ONLY ⁠⁠MARCH 27th & 28th, 2026 ⁠AT THE FONDA THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES,CA. Click the image above for more details.

Using AI to Enhance Corporate Video : Prometric

We created a corporate video with AI animations from still photos (Corporate Headshots) as well as permission based voice clones reading the scripts for our client, Prometric.


About Prometric: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow

Prometric is a global leader in credentialing and skills development, leveraging 30 years of expertise, innovation, and industry-leading solutions to create pathways for tomorrow’s workforce.


(Click the graphic above to watch the film.)

Edgar Winter & Billy Strings in Nashville

On February 20, 2026, legendary musician Edgar Winter joined Billy Strings on stage at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN, for a special collaboration. Winter played piano and saxophone on several songs, including "Fly Away" and "Ain't Nothin' To Me," highlighting a memorable night during the first night of the Nashville stop on Strings' tour. 


Watch their performance on YouTube

New Website Creation for Surprise Studio

From the website: "Welcome to Surprise Studio, home of composer / producer / sound designer Graham Palmer.
At Surprise Studio, I partner with clients across a range of creative industries to bring their projects to life. From podcast production to original music for live theater, here are a few of the areas in which I specialize:

Composition - Sound Design - Engineering - Tracking - Editing - Mixing - Mastering - ADR - Foley"

Visit the studio

Updated Website for Producer/Engineer Niko Bolas (neeks.com)

Our dear friend and client Niko Bolas has added to his accolades on his newly revamped website, neeks.com. We had the distinct pleasure of updating his enormous body of musical engineering, producing and mixing work. Niko is also part of the METalliance (see article below) and is currently on tour with this group of esteemed musical professionals, sharing the stories from behind the mixing console.

Please visit neeks.com

Benna McCartney Launches New Website

From BennaMcCartney.com

"As a qualified life coach and business consultant for more than two decades, my greatest joy is supporting people to come home to their true selves and live the life their intuition has always known was possible.​

​

My approach blends structure with sensitivity, and practicality with deep presence and empathy. I also bring the perspective of someone who has navigated their own complex inner landscape; lived experience that adds a layer of insight, compassion, and grounded understanding to my work.

​

I honour the uniqueness of every person I work with and celebrate the full spectrum of who you are. Whether you’re at a crossroads or simply wanting more clarity and ease, I’ll walk alongside you to take practical steps towards a life that feels true to you.

​

I am Enhanced DBS checked."

CREDITS:

©Benna McCartney 2026

Logo by Alisha Lehman

Background photo by Benna McCartney

Bio photos by Wendy Pye & David Manion 

And now, back to our regular programming...

METalliance 'Studio Confidential' Off Broadway Run

The METalliance group of 7 top music engineers/producers hosted their 'Studio Confidential' live events off Broadway on Feb 12th - 14th 2026

Loreto Theatre at the Sheen Center, New York

Studio Confidential is an intimate on-stage event where seven of music’s most accomplished producers and engineers share behind-the-scenes stories from iconic recording sessions, personal career highlights and riveting rockstar-studded moments. The show balances reverence for craft with moments of pure comedy. There are many unpredictable, laugh out loud and gripping moments that make Studio Confidential such a singular celebration of music and the visionaries who make it come to life.



Featuring Chuck Ainlay, Niko Bolas, Jimmy Douglass, Frank Filipetti, George Massenburg, Sylvia Massy, and Elliot Scheiner, the show offers a rare look into the artistry and innovation behind legendary recordings by Eagles, Lowell George & Little Feat, Dire Straits, Jimmy Page, Toto and many more. Together, these studio icons boast 68 GRAMMY® nominations, 31 GRAMMY® Awards, Emmy® and ACM® honors, hundreds of Gold and Platinum albums, and credits on over 7,000 recordings that have sold in the hundreds of millions.



(Click image to watch the sizzle reel)

METalliance.com

Springboard Music Festival Tours Texas

Springboard Festivals & Sustainable Artists two leading innovators in the music industry, are thrilled to announce their first ever “Springboard Texas Tour”, a transformative music conference, festival and tour set to redefine the independent music business landscape.

“Springboard” is not just another music conference or festival; it is an avant-garde blend of music, technology, and education that embodies the spirit of independent music while providing a roadmap to the future for both renowned and rising music talents across the globe.

The 24th Springboard Conference & Festival will begin March 25th 2026 and continue for seven day across five cities in Texas featuring 48 independent artists, 4 conferences, featuring 30 industry experts, with 6 performance days, on 19 stages. It will end in the historic Stockyards of Fort Worth, Texas on April 1st.

These events promises to be impactful, unforgettable and transformative for the artists, industry and the independent music community. For all the details go to SpringboardTexas.com.

New Release : Greg Evigan with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Musician, composer, actor, writer Greg has just released his new classical album featuring Evigan at the piano. The album was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London and is also available on vinyl. He has also recently been a guest on TeaFlix Tuesdays, hosted by the McCartney ladies, where he talks about this classical adventure.

Visit Evigan.com

Musaafer in Houston's Galleria won The Truffle Masters Cocktail Competition at The Astorian. Bartender Aniket Bhingare won using sponsor Meticulous Spirits. The winning cocktail called "Pour Me a Slice".

Pour Me a Slice is the title of this year’s Truffle Masters winning cocktail created by mixologist Aniket Bhingare of Musaafer Houston

A Meticulous Interpretation of the Neapolitan Classic

THE SPIRIT

Truffle-Infused Meticulous White Rum,

Sous-vide with black truffle and toasted Italian herbs.

THE ESSENCE

Clarified Pizza Sauce

Clarified Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, and oregano.

THE TEXTURE

Parmesan Frico

Parmigiano-Reggiano Crisp finished with truffle salt

THE FINISH

Neon Basil-Truffle Pearls

1:1 hand-pressed basil and Truffle oil droplets.

"We’ve taken the soul of a wood-fired pizza - the earthiness of truffle, the brightness of Roma tomatoes, and the aromatic punch of fresh basil - and refined it through the lens of Meticulous White Rum. Pour me a slice!"

UPCOMING EVENTS 
Musaafer is also celebrating some exciting upcoming events:

Southern Smoke Foundation - Alexa/Revana Benefit Wine Dinner on 3/26

A 4 Hands collab. dinner with fellow Michelin winner Chef Emmanuel Chavez of Tatemø on 3/30pm and their "not to be missed" annual Spring Soirée al fresco event at Blackwood Land Institute in Hempstead / HTX on 4/9. Visit the events page here.

eculent returns in Kemah

Texas’s Wildest Fine-Dining Restaurant Is Back

Chef David Skinner revives eculent, with playful interactive dishes, a new Liquid Lab cocktail program, and an AI-powered dining experience.


By Brittany Britto Garley. March 11, 2026. Photos by Brian Kennedy.

Visit eculent.com



ISHTIA wows in Kemah

Houston Chefs Are Redefining Dining in the Suburbs

Fine dining and chef-driven restaurants are spreading from Kemah to The Woodlands, giving suburban diners more than just chains.

By Sofia Gonzalez  January 2, 2026  Published in the Winter 2025/26 issue of Houstonia Magazine

Visit ISHTIA.com

Xolo Bar - New PR Client in Montrose / HTX

We are thrilled to announce that Chef Javier Becerra and the team at the newly opened Xolo Bar in Montrose are coming under the McCartney Media umbrella for PR Representation. We will announce the new media portal soon, and look forward to inviting members of the culinary press to experience this extraordinary representation and vision of Mexico City food in the heart of Houston at 223 Montrose.

Visit their website here.

Mrs. McCartney's Teas Introduces:

Cup O’Kintyre - A Highland Morning in Every Cup!

On the western edge of Scotland, where the Atlantic winds sweep across rugged hills and the sea meets the land in quiet coves, lies the Kintyre Peninsula - a place of timeless beauty, misty mornings, and strong tea shared among friends. Inspired by Teaflix regular viewer Kerran Reeder of Edinburgh, and his intimate knowledge of the special pH and alkalinity water properties of Scotland, we have sourced a blend of teas that pair perfectly with waters such as these.

Thus, the inspiration for Cup O’Kintyre was born.

In the early hours of a Highland morning, before the fishing boats leave harbour and before the village streets stir to life, a kettle whistles somewhere in a small seaside kitchen. The scent of rich black tea rises with the steam, warming the room as the day begins. Cup O’Kintyre captures that moment.

Scotland’s reputation for excellent tea isn’t folklore—it’s chemistry.

Naturally soft water (the big one)

Most of Scotland sits on granite and ancient igneous rock, which do not release much calcium or magnesium into the water.

• Low mineral content = low hardness
• Less limescale buildup
• Tea compounds (polyphenols) extract cleanly

Result: brighter color, cleaner taste, no “film” on top

Slightly acidic pH (often ~6.0–6.8)

Rainwater filtering through peat bogs and organic soil gives Scottish water a gentle acidity.

• Ideal tea extraction range: ~6.0–7.0 pH
• Prevents bitterness and dullness

Result: crisp, lively cup rather than flat or chalky

Where Our USA Waters are a Perfect Match:

Pacific Northwest (BEST match overall)

Oregon / Washington (especially mountain-fed systems)

• Very soft water
• Low mineral content
• Similar rainfall patterns to Scotland

Closest U.S. equivalent to Scottish tea water

New York City (Catskills watershed)

Famously excellent water:

• Naturally filtered through protected mountains
• Low hardness
• Slightly acidic

One of the reasons NYC bagels and tea taste better

Northern California (Sierra Nevada sources)

Some areas (not all):

• Snowmelt-fed systems
• Soft, low-mineral water

Good, but varies by municipality

Appalachian regions (select areas)

Parts of:

• Western North Carolina
• Virginia mountain systems

Can have:

• Soft, slightly acidic water
• But more variability due to mixed geology

Our Ingredients:

Malty, full bodied character with bright flavoury notes and hints of cask oakiness. 

A bracing Highlander's cup of tea.

Luxury Ingredients: Black tea.

Small Batch Blended and Packed in: Canada

Tea(s) From: India / China

Region(s): Assam + Nilgiri / Anhui

Antioxidant Level: Very High 

Caffeine Content: Medium

New Single from Martin Nethercutt : HODL (Hold On for Dear Life)

Since the dawn of Bitcoin in 2009, we here at McCartney, especially our president, Martin Nethercutt, have been avid supporters of this new digital currency. We've seen the ups and downs, we've been through many 'Crypto Winters' and have seen the highest highs. So, Martin decided to write a song about how we all just have to 'HODL' (hold on for dear life), and think long term. After all, how are we going to pay for AI products and services in the future? With cash? We don't think so. The song is called is called: 'HODL' and is now streaming on all major platforms. Enjoy and you're welcome!

Stream on: Spotify | Amazon Music | Apple iTunes

TeaFlix Tuesdays with The Zombies!

Tune in Tuesdays at 11:30am Pacific time at fb.com/drangiemccartney to sip tea, ask questions and join in LIVE to Dr. Angie's and Ruth McCartney's weekly chat show, TeaFlix Tuesdays. This time they had the pleasure to welcome and chat with:

The Zombies who are an influential English rock band, often mistakenly described as a duo due to the prominence of their two principal members, vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist/songwriter Rod Argent. Formed in 1961 in St. Albans, the group became one of the most distinctive and sophisticated voices of the British Invasion. Blending jazz-inflected chord structures, baroque pop textures, and ethereal vocals, they achieved early international success with hits like She's Not There and later the timeless classic Time of the Season. Their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle - notable for its unique spelling - has since been hailed as one of the greatest pop albums of all time, admired for its lush harmonies, inventive melodies, and introspective songwriting. Although the band initially disbanded shortly after recording Odessey and Oracle, their music enjoyed a major resurgence in the late 1960s when Time of the Season became a surprise U.S. hit. Over subsequent decades, The Zombies reunited in various lineups led by Blunstone and Argent, continuing to tour and record new material while earning a revered place in rock history. After The Zombies first disbanded, Colin Blunstone quietly reinvented himself as one of Britain’s most distinctive solo vocalists. His 1971 album One Year revealed a more intimate, orchestral sound, highlighted by the timeless hit “Say You Don’t Mind.” Rather than chasing trends, Colin carved out a career defined by elegance, emotional subtlety, and that unmistakable breath-soft tenor. Across decades of solo recordings and touring, he has remained a singer’s singer - proof that restraint and vulnerability can be just as powerful as volume.

Their incredible documentary "Hung Up On A Dream" Directed by Robert Schwartzman is a journey through the 60 year career of The Zombies documenting the formation of the band in the 1960s and their hits “She’s Not There” and “Time Of The Season”. It also follows the solo careers of the band members and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019

(Click the graphic to watch Teaflix on YouTube)

Enjoy the show, and until next time!