A Georgia man was sentenced to five years, with two years to be served in prison for stealing hard drives, laptops and other electronic devices containing unreleased Beyoncé music and confidential tour material. The items were taken during preparations for her Cowboy Carter tour in Atlanta.

The man, identified as Kelvin Evans, accepted a plea deal in Fulton County Superior Court. He was sentenced by Judge Jane Barwick to five years. Two of these will be spent in prison, while the remaining will be on probation. The judge ordered him to stay away from the victims and the theft location.

Photo: TMZ

The incident happened in July 2025, two days before Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter shows in Atlanta. According to investigators, Evans broke into a rented Jeep Wagoneer used by Beyoncé’s choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue.

Read Also: Beyoncé Crosses the Billion-Dollar Mark Following the Commercial Success of the Cowboy Carter Tour

Police reports revealed that the hard drives contained data connected to the Cowboy Carter tour. Laptops and Apple AirPods Max headphones were also taken.

Some of the stolen items were located using Apple’s “Find My” tracking system. Investigators linked Evans to the crime through surveillance systems. A Hyundai Elantra was used and the stolen items were kept at an apartment associated with his sister. Evans was arrested weeks later in September.

Photo: Instagram

Despite Evans’ arrest, the authorities have not found the stolen items. Prosecutors  also confirmed that none of the stolen materials have been recovered. There is no indication that any of the unreleased Beyoncé songs have leaked online.

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July has announced that Masego, Bryson Tiller, and DJ Mustard as headliners of a new hospitality and music experience called The Ascots. The event is set for 4 July 2026 at the Greyville Racecourse in Durban.

This is the first time these three international acts will share one stage in South Africa under a single event concept. Bryson Tiller, known for tracks like “Don’t” and “Exchange,” has a strong local fan base. Masego has performed in South Africa 4 times, including at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Photo: Instagram

Read Also: Prince Kaybee Questions Music Awards Value After Zee Nxumalo’s Metro FM Snub

The Ascots is a premium hospitality and music experience inside the Durban July. The event is planned by Aline Media Group and founded by music executive Sibo Mhlungu. He says the intention of the event is more than just a show.

“The focus is on the full experience, from arrival to the final act. As someone born and bred in Durban, this is more than just an event to me, it’s a way to uplift and contribute to my hometown. For years, Durban has been treated as a secondary market for large-scale shows and has rarely been considered a destination for international artists or events of this scale,” he said.

Photo: Instagram

Entry level access includes racecourse entry, access to performances, and a champagne brunch. Higher tiers offer private lounges, dedicated service staff, and VIP areas. The most expensive package includes a private marquee setup with dedicated services.The music lineup includes South African acts such as Shekhinah, Elaine, and Tresor.

Durban July is centered on horse racing and fashion, but the addition of a music festival inside the event shows the focus is on creating entertainment that can attract top stars like Masego, Bryson Tiller, and DJ Mustard.

Jorja Smith will be the headline act for the Rocking the Daisies 2026 edition. The announcement.makes Smith the first major international name revealed for the event. This event will take place from 2nd to 4th October at Cloof Wine Estate in the Western Cape.

Despite Smith’s popularity across African audiences, the performance is her first-ever live appearance on the continent.  She started out as a songwriter in Walsall before evolving into a popular British R&B Artist. Smith has produced albums like Lost & Found (2018) and Falling or Flying (2023). In 2017, she won a BRIT award as the most promising British Artist. She got a Grammy nomination in 2019 in the Best New Artist category. The award and nomination shows how far she has come in the industry.

Photo: Instagram

Now in its 21st year, the festival has hosted popular acts in South Africa who perform well in entertainment. Previous editions Kehlani and Summer Walker. This year’s festival is expected to be more entertaining than previous ones.

Read Also: Londie London Moves Beyond the Glamour in New Reality Series “Life With Londie London”

Smith combines R&B with jazz, and has produced tracks like Blue Lights and Be Honest.  She has collaborated  with Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Burna Boy, as well as South African duo Major League DJz.

Photo: Instagram

The 2026 edition comes under the theme “Welcome to the Garden,” inspired by the natural blooming of the Cape Daisy in Darling. Organisers confirm that there will be multi-stage performances and several art exhibitions.

The announcement has made Rocking the Daisies 2026 more popular. With more artists yet to be announced, Smith’s African debut will be closely watched this festival season.