Today’s music-themed Strands puzzle brings the energy of a live show—here are all the answers, hints, and the full spangram solution.
What’s the Theme of Today’s NYT Strands Puzzle?
The NYT Strands puzzle for October 21 (#597) is perfect for music lovers and concertgoers. The theme clue is: “Banding together” — a fun wordplay hint suggesting not only unity, but also bands and live performances.
If that’s too vague, here’s a nudge:
🎸 Hint: Rock out.
How Strands Works (Quick Refresher)
To solve Strands:
- Find theme-related words hidden in the letter grid.
- Every time you find three non-theme words (4+ letters), you unlock a hint to one of the main answers.
- There’s always at least one spangram — a long theme word or phrase that spans from one end of the grid to the other.
Today’s Spangram for Oct. 21
📣 Spangram: LIVECONCERT
- Start at the L located three letters down on the far-left column.
- The word winds through the board and perfectly matches today’s theme: “Banding together.”
Today’s Strands Theme Words (Non-Spangram)
Here are all the theme words you need to complete the puzzle:
- STAGE
- ENCORE
- OPENER
- HEADLINER
- MERCHANDISE
Each of these fits within the live concert experience, from performers and their setlists to what fans buy at the merch table.
Helpful Clue Words to Unlock Hints
If you want to play without spoilers, try entering words like:
POLE, LOPE, RATE, GATE, CORE, REOPEN, HEAD, LINE
— these will help you reveal theme words without giving away full answers.
The NYT Strands puzzle for Oct. 21 (#597) uses the theme “Banding together” to highlight the live concert experience. Theme words include STAGE, HEADLINER, and ENCORE, with the spangram being LIVECONCERT. Perfect for music fans ready to rock.
