Rod Stewart’s 30th studio album ‘Blood Red Roses’, out now on Decca Records, went straight to the top of the UK Official Album mid-week chart today and it’s on course to become his ninth UK Number 1!

‘Blood Red Roses highlights Stewart’s acclaimed songwriting roots – blending the poignant observation, self-reflective introspection and playful swagger which established him as one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. Co-produced by Rod’s long-term collaborator Kevin Savigar, ‘Blood Red Roses’ moves easily from acoustic driven folk through Motown-tinged pop/R&B to unadulterated rock’n’roll and heart-melting ballads.

‘Blood Red Roses’, a deeply personal 13-track collection of originals and three covers, is quite simply peak Rod Stewart.  The album’s first single, ‘Didn’t I’, is about the damage drugs can do from a parent’s point of view. This new album, his first in three years, follows international bestsellers ‘Another Country’ (2015) and ‘Time’ (2013) and will be released nearly 50 years to the date from when he signed his very first solo recording contract.

Rod plays a string of massive outdoor UK shows in 2019:

May
Weds 22nd   BRISTOL, Ashton Gate Stadium
Fri 31st    SOUTHAMPTON, St Mary’s Stadium

June
Sat 1st    YORK, York Racecourse
Tues 4th    MILTON KEYNES, Stadium MK
Fri 7th    IPSWICH, Portman Road Stadium
Sat 8th    WOLVERHAMPTON, Molineux Stadium
Wed 12th   ABERDEEN, AECC
Fri 14th    BOLTON, University of Bolton Stadium

Following the release of her acclaimed new album E.G.O. this summer, singer-songwriter Lucie Silvas will host a special London show at The Courtyard on December 1st.

Fans will have the rare chance to enjoy an intimate evening of live music and stories about life, Nashville and the making of ‘E.G.O.’ in the unique setting of East London’s The Courtyard Theatre while Lucie is in the UK on tour with American country duo Brothers Osborne. Tickets will go on sale Friday October 5th at 9am HERE.

Hailed for her “gutsy, smouldering vocals…razor-sharp lyrics and sparkling melodies” (Rolling Stone), Lucie Silvas has earned critical-acclaim both internationally and stateside. The British-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter has delivered an album that effortlessly mixes soul, funk, rock and country.

As well as headlining The Courtyard, Lucie is special guest on the Brothers Osborne UK tour:

November
Sun 25th   GLASGOW, O2 Academy
Tues 27th  NEWCASTLE, O2 Academy
Weds 28th  MANCHESTER, Manchester Academy
Fri 30th   NOTTINGHAM, Rock City

December
Sat 1st   LONDON, The Courtyard
Sun 2nd   LONDON, O2 Forum Kentish Town

Lucie Silvas is a pianist, songwriter, and vocalist whose genre-defying music has led to performances with a diverse range of artists to date including Elton John and James Bay and has spent the better part of the past two years touring with the likes of Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town and Miranda Lambert.

Olly Murs has released his brand new single ‘Moves Ft Snoop Dogg’.  Written by Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac, it’s a massive slice of pure pop joy and you can watch the lyric video here!

When Olly started working on his forthcoming new album he reached out to Ed Sheeran and couldn’t believe his ears when he heard ‘Moves’. Both Olly and Ed were keen to add a melodic US rapper to the track, and the only name on both their lists was Snoop Dogg.

“Snoop was just perfect for the song,” Olly enthuses. “There’s no one else that has that much character in his raps. He’s such an original.”

What began life as a really good track was transformed into an instant classic and features as the end credits track on the forthcoming Johnny English Strikes Again, in cinemas October 5th through Universal Pictures. Director David Kerr says ‘Olly’s track is the perfect feel-good tune for the end of the movie. It’s incredibly catchy – and the lyrics are uncannily apt. Let’s face it, no-one has “moves” like Johnny English.’

Olly, who joined the Voice as a judge last season and returns in the new year, is currently putting the finishing touches on his new album, his first since ’24 HRS’ in 2016 featuring the smash hit ‘You Don’t Know Love’. Olly toured the album last year, playing 24 sold out dates in the UK, selling over 600,000 tickets.

After a blockbuster summer of live dates supporting Little Mix, Rak-Su release their eagerly anticipated new single ‘I Want You To Freak’ out now on Syco Music.

Watch the lyric video HERE

Ever since the four-piece from Watford dominated our TV screens last autumn on The X Factor we knew they were different. Each and every week Ashley, Jamaal, Myles and Mustafa sang and danced their way to the winner’s crown on the back of their own songs, becoming the only act in the show’s history to win performing their own original music. No mean feat!

Working with producers/writers Banx & Ranx (Charli XCX, Gorillaz) and Rykeyz (Wiz Khalifa) Rak-Su’s classic new single ‘I Want You To Freak’ spins Adina Howard’s R&B classic ‘Freak Like Me’ into a bassy, bouncing dancehall track full of their signature energy and charm, and is guaranteed to leave a smile on your face.

Dimelo, the group’s winners’ duet with Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, debuted at #1 on iTunes and top 3 in the UK singles chart, going on to sell over 320k, knocking Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé off the top spot in the process. The day after being crowned winners also saw Rak-Su achieve an incredible five songs in the iTunes Top 6 at one point, including Dimelo at No.1.

Since then they have been working hard on their debut album with a host of A-list producing and writing talent including Wayne Hector (Nicki Minaj), Rykeyz (Wiz Khalifa), Jamie Scott (Ed Sheeran), MNEK, Ali Tamposi (Justin Bieber) and Grammy Award Winning Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor (Drake).

Today, Columbia Records has released “Don’t Lie To Me,” a new single written and recorded by Barbra Streisand from her upcoming album Walls, due out November 2nd. It’s Streisand’s first album primarily consisting of original songs since 2005. “Don’t Lie To Me” is a stirring precursor to the forthcoming Walls, the first Barbra Streisand album to encompass a unified social theme. Led by the passionate plea, “Don’t Lie To Me,” Streisand shares the guiding principles and values she has believed in, spoken about, and fought for her entire life.
Fans can obtain “Don’t Lie To Me” and pre-order Walls both available today here.

WALLS finds Barbra exploring both her concerns and hopes for the future in a collection filled with beautiful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. In addition to the three original tunes which the Oscar-winning songwriter contributed to, the songs on Walls explore topics near to the celebrated artist’s heart. Streisand also brings a fresh perspective to the classic songs “Imagine” and “What A Wonderful World,” and the Bacharach/David pop standard “What The World Needs Now.” The penultimate song that Streisand sings is a timely one called “Take Care Of This House” by the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner.

Streisand’s “What’s On My Mind,” the first song she conceived of for Walls, “Don’t Lie To Me” and “The Rain Will Fall” all speak to core issues she believes in. For all her many record-breaking and award-winning accomplishments as a singer, actress, film director, producer, screenplay writer, author and songwriter, Streisand’s dedicated social activism and commitment to philanthropy have always equaled her artistic passions.

To serve her inspirational themes, she shares production and arrangement duties on the new album with Walter Afanasieff, John Shanks and David Foster – all Grammy recipients for Producer of the Year – and Songwriter Hall of Fame recipient Desmond Child.  Streisand’s vision also comes through on the defining title track “Walls,” with lyrics specifically written for the album by revered Streisand collaborators Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

Over the course of her astonishing career, Streisand has recorded a number of songs that address the human condition. Recognized as one of the foremost interpreters of contemporary song, “Don’t Lie To Me,” and the other songs on Walls are sure to add to her enduring legacy as an award-winning singer and songwriter. In 1977, she became the first woman to win an Oscar for composing the music to the timeless standard “Evergreen” (Love Theme from A Star Is Born), which also went on to win the Grammy for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe. In addition, she has been duly recognized throughout her career for compositions on film projects emblematic of her songwriting gifts.

Streisand is the only recording artist in history to achieve a #1 Album in six consecutive decades. She has recorded 52 gold, 31 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums in her career. She is the only woman to make the All-Time Top 10 Best Selling Artists list. Streisand has had 34 albums make the Top 10 on the US charts, the only female artist to have achieved this milestone, tying her with Frank Sinatra. She is also the female artist with the most number one albums in Billboard’s history. Widely recognized as an icon for her artistic achievements, she has been awarded two Oscars, ten Grammys including two special Grammys, five Emmys, three Peabodys, and eleven Golden Globes including the Cecil B. DeMille Award. In 2015, President Barack Obama presented her with the highest civilian honor the United States bestows, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She had already received the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton in 2000, as well as France’s prestigious Legion of Honor.

Tracklisting Below:

1. What’s On My Mind
2. Don’t Lie To Me
3. Imagine / What A Wonderful World
4. Walls
5. Lady Liberty
6. What The World Needs Now
7. Better Angels
8. Love’s Never Wrong
9. The Rain Will Fall
10. Take Care Of This House
11. Happy Days Are Here Again

London – September 24, 2018 – In November 1968, millions of double LPs were shipped to record stores worldwide ahead of that tumultuous year’s most anticipated music event: the November 22nd release of The BEATLES (soon to be better known as ‘The White Album’). With their ninth studio album, The Beatles took the world on a whole new trip, side one blasting off with the exhilarating rush of a screaming jet escorting Paul McCartney’s punchy, exuberant vocals on “Back In The U.S.S.R.” “Dear Prudence” came next, John Lennon warmly beckoning his friend and all of us to “look around.” George Harrison imparted timeless wisdom in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” singing, “With every mistake we must surely be learning.” Ringo Starr’s “Don’t Pass Me By” marked his first solo songwriting credit on a Beatles album. For 50 years, ‘The White Album’ has invited its listeners to venture forth and explore the breadth and ambition of its music, delighting and inspiring each new generation in turn. On November 9, The Beatles will release a suite of lavishly presented ‘White Album’ packages (Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe). The album’s 30 tracks are newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and mix engineer Sam Okell in stereo and 5.1 surround audio, joined by 27 early acoustic demos and 50 session takes, most of which are previously unreleased in any form.

“We had left Sgt. Pepper’s band to play in his sunny Elysian Fields and were now striding out in new directions without a map,” says Paul McCartney in his written introduction for the new ‘White Album’ releases.

This is the first time The BEATLES (‘White Album’) has been remixed and presented with additional demos and session recordings. The album’s sweeping new edition follows 2017’s universally acclaimed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Anniversary Edition releases. To create the new stereo and 5.1 surround audio mixes for ‘The White Album,’ Martin and Okell worked with an expert team of engineers and audio restoration specialists at Abbey Road Studios in London. All the new ‘White Album’ releases include Martin’s new stereo album mix, sourced directly from the original four-track and eight-track session tapes. Martin’s new mix is guided by the album’s original stereo mix produced by his father, George Martin.

“In remixing ‘The White Album,’ we’ve tried to bring you as close as possible to The Beatles in the studio,” explains Giles Martin in his written introduction for the new edition. “We’ve peeled back the layers of the ‘Glass Onion’ with the hope of immersing old and new listeners into one of the most diverse and inspiring albums ever made.”

The BEATLES (‘White Album’) releases include:

Super Deluxe: The comprehensive, individually numbered 7-disc and digital audio collections feature:
CDs 1 & 2: The BEATLES (‘White Album’) 2018 stereo album mix
CD3: Esher Demos
– Esher Demo tracks 1 through 19 sequenced in order of the finished song’s placement on ‘The White Album.’ Tracks 20-27 were not included on the album.
CDs 4, 5 & 6: Sessions
– 50 additional recordings, most previously unreleased, from ‘White Album’ studio sessions; all newly mixed from the four-track and eight-track session tapes, sequenced in order of their recording start dates.
Blu-ray:
– 2018 album mix in high resolution PCM stereo
– 2018 DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 album mix
– 2018 Dolby True HD 5.1 album mix
– 2018 direct transfer of the album’s original mono mix

Deluxe: The BEATLES (‘White Album’) 2018 stereo album mix + Esher Demos
The 3CD; 180-gram 4LP vinyl box set (limited edition); and digital audio collections pair the 2018 stereo album mix with the 27 Esher Demos.

Standard 2LP Vinyl: The BEATLES (‘White Album’) 2018 stereo mix
180-gram 2LP vinyl in gatefold sleeve with faithfully replicated original artwork

The minimalist artwork for ‘The White Album’ was created by artist Richard Hamilton, one of Britain’s leading figures in the creation and rise of pop art. The top-loading gatefold sleeve’s stark white exterior had ‘The BEATLES’ embossed on the front and printed on the spine with the album’s catalogue number. Early copies of ‘The White Album’ were also individually numbered on the front, which has also been done for the new edition’s Super Deluxe package. The set’s six CDs and Blu-ray disc are housed in a slipsleeved 164-page hardbound book, with pull-out reproductions of the original album’s four glossy color portrait photographs of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, as well as the album’s large fold-out poster with a photo collage on one side and lyrics on the other. The beautiful book is illustrated with rare photographs, reproductions of handwritten and notated lyrics, previously unpublished photos of recording sheets and tape boxes, and reproduced original ‘White Album’ print ads. The book’s comprehensive written pieces include new introductions by Paul McCartney and Giles Martin, and in-depth chapters covering track-by-track details and session notes reflecting The Beatles’ year between the release of ‘Sgt. Pepper’ and recording sessions for ‘The White Album,’ the band’s July 28 1968 “Mad Day Out” photo shoot in locations around London, the album artwork, the lead-up and execution of the album’s blockbuster release, and its far-ranging influence, written by Beatles historian, author and radio producer Kevin Howlett; journalist and author John Harris; and Tate Britain’s Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Andrew Wilson.

The Deluxe 3CD is presented in an embossed digipak with the fold-out poster and portrait photos, plus a 24-page booklet abridged from the Super Deluxe book. Presented in a lift-top box with a four-page booklet, the limited edition Deluxe 4LP vinyl set presents the 2LP album in a faithful, embossed reproduction of its original gatefold sleeve with the fold-out poster and portrait photos, paired with the 2LP Esher Demos in an embossed gatefold sleeve.

Much of the initial songwriting for ‘The White Album’ was done in Rishikesh, India between February and April 1968, when John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr joined a course at the Maharishi’s Academy of Transcendental Meditation. In a postcard to Ringo, who had returned to England before the others, John wrote, “we’ve got about two L.P.s worth of songs now so get your drums out.”

During the last week of May, The Beatles gathered at George’s house in Esher, Surrey, where they recorded acoustic demos for 27 songs. Known as the Esher Demos, all 27 recordings are included in the new edition’s Deluxe and Super Deluxe packages, sourced from the original four-track tapes. Twenty-one of the demoed songs were recorded during the subsequent studio sessions, and 19 were ultimately finished and included on ‘The White Album.’

The Beatles’ studio sessions for The BEATLES (‘White Album’) began on May 30, 1968 at Abbey Road Studios. In the 20 weeks that followed, The Beatles devoted most of their time to sessions there for the new album, with some recording also done at Trident Studios. The final session for the album took place at Abbey Road on October 16, a 24-hour marathon with producer George Martin to sequence the double album’s four sides and to complete edits and cross-fades between its songs. The Beatles’ approach to recording for ‘The White Album’ was quite different from what they had done for ‘Sgt. Pepper.’ Rather than layering individually overdubbed parts on a multi-track tape, many of the ‘White Album’ session takes were recorded to four-track and eight-track tape as group performances with a live lead vocal. The Beatles often recorded take after take for a song, as evidenced by the Super Deluxe set’s Take 102 for “Not Guilty,” a song that was not included on the album. This live-take recording style resulted in a less intricately structured, more unbridled album that would shift the course of rock music and cut a path for punk and indie rock.

The Beatles’ newly adopted method of recording all through the night was time consuming and exhausting for their producer, George Martin. Martin had other duties, including his management of AIR (Associated Independent Recording), and he had also composed the orchestral score for The Beatles’ animated feature film, Yellow Submarine, released in July 1968. After the first three months of ‘White Album’ sessions, Martin took a three-week holiday from the studio, entrusting the control room to his young assistant Chris Thomas and balance engineer Ken Scott. Scott had taken the place of engineer Geoff Emerick, who left the sessions in mid-July. On August 22, Ringo Starr also left the sessions, returning 11 days later to find his drum kit adorned with flowers from his bandmates. While the sessions’ four and a half months of long hours and many takes did spark occasional friction in the studio, the session recordings reveal the closeness, camaraderie, and collaborative strengths within the band, as well as with George Martin.

The BEATLES (‘White Album’) was the first Beatles album to be released on the group’s own Apple Records label. Issued in both stereo and mono for the U.K. and in stereo for the U.S., the double album was an immediate bestseller, entering the British chart at number one and remaining there for eight of the 22 weeks it was listed. ‘The White Album’ also debuted at number one on the U.S. chart, holding the top spot for nine weeks of its initial 65-week chart run. In his glowing ‘White Album’ review for Rolling Stone, the magazine’s co-founder Jann Wenner declared: “It is the best album they have ever released, and only The Beatles are capable of making a better one.” In the U.S., ‘The White Album’ is 19-times platinum-certified by the RIAA and in 2000, it was inducted into the Recording Academy’s GRAMMY® Hall of Fame, recognizing “recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance.”

Preorder The BEATLES (‘White Album’):  http://thebeatles.lnk.to/WhiteAlbum

Watch / embed a brief trailer video for The BEATLES (‘White Album’):  http://thebeatles.lnk.to/WhiteAlbumTrailer

Metallica’s WorldWired Tour has confirmed its return to the UK and Europe, this time for a staggering May 1-August 25, 2019 run of their own outdoor gigs at stadiums, parks, and even one at a castle.

Tickets go on sale September 28th at 10am
Fifth member pre-sale September 25th

The new dates are Metallica’s first in the UK and Europe since the Sept. 2017 to May 2018 indoor run that broke attendance records in 29 venues across the continent. Kicking off May 1, 2019 at Lisbon’s Estadio Restelo, the 25 newly announced WorldWired shows across 20 countries include a good dozen cities not visited on those 2017-2018 legs of the tour—including Milan, Zürich, Dublin, Brussels (for the first time since 1988), Berlin, Moscow, Warsaw, Bucharest and Gothenburg, and first ever appearances in Trondheim Norway, Hämeenlinna, Finland and Tartu Estonia.

Special guests Ghost and Bokassa will provide support on all dates.

With this kind of itinerary, it’s natural that the Wherever I May Roam Black Ticket will be returning: one ticket allowing floor access to any Metallica show on the 2019 UK/Europe tour. From A(msterdam) to Z(urich) and all points between, Black Ticket holders need only choose the show(s) and make an online reservation no less than 48 hours before the gig. A limited number of 750 of these Black Tickets* will be available for 598 Euro, more info here:  CID Entertainment.

As with most of Metallica’s WorldWired shows, every ticket purchased includes a choice of standard physical or standard digital copy of the band’s 10th and current album, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct.

And once again, all tickets will include a free MP3 download of the show(s) attended, mixed and mastered by the team behind Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. The free full-show downloads can be obtained by scanning or entering the barcode from that show’s ticket stub at LiveMetallica.com/scan

Enhanced experience options will also be returning in partnership with the team at CID Entertainment: Three options of special enhanced experiences, including premium tickets and amenities ranging from early access to the venue and the “Memory Remains” travelling museum to meeting members of the band. Visit CID Entertainment for full package details.

Fan Club Presales begin tomorrow, Tuesday, September 25. Click here for details—and for a complete list of other presales, click here. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 28 at 10:00 AM local time.

May 2019
Weds 1st   Lisbon, Portugal, Estádio do Restelo
Fri 3rd   Madrid, Spain, Valdebebas
Sun 5th   Barcelona, Spain, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Weds 8th  Milan, Italy, San Siro Hippodrome
Fri 10th   Zürich, Switzerland, Letzigrund
Sun 12th   Paris, France, Stade De France

June
Sat 8th   Dublin, Ireland, Slane Castle
Tues 11th  Amsterdam, NL, Johan Cruijff Arena
Thurs 13th  Köln, Germany, RheinEnergieStadion
Sun 16th   Brussels, Belgium, Koning Boudewijnstadion
Tues 18th  Manchester, UK, Etihad Stadium
Thurs 20th  London, UK, Twickenham Stadium

July
Sat 6th   Berlin, Germany, Olympiastadion
Tues 9th   Goteborg, Sweden, Ullevi
Thurs 11th  Copenhagen, Denmark, Telia Parken
Sat 13th   Trondheim, Norway, Granåsen
Tues 16th  Hameenlinna, Finland, Kantolan Tapahtumapuisto
Thurs 18th  Tartu, Estonia, Raadi Airport
Sun 21st   Moscow, Russia, Luzhniki Stadium

August
Weds 14th  Bucharest, Romania, Arena Națională
Fri 16th   Vienna, Austria, Ernst-Happel-Stadion
Sun 18th   Prague, CZE, Airport Letnany
Weds 21st  Warsaw, Poland, PGE Narodowy
Fri 23rd   Munich, Germany, Olympiastadion
Sun 25th   Mannheim, Germany, Maimarktgelande

*Wherever I May Roam Black Tickets are non-transferable and if re-sold will be revoked. Each ticket is good for entry to Metallica specific shows and may not be used for festivals, promotional shows, benefit concerts or any other dates not included in the 25 city European tour announced on September 24, 2018. Use of a Black Ticket will require an online reservation for each show you plan to attend no less than 48 hours in advance. More details about how to use your Black Ticket will be sent to purchasers via e-mail.

**Every ticket purchased through official outlets includes your choice of a standard physical or standard digital copy of Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. Fans will receive an e-mail from their ticketing agent with information on how to redeem their albums. Full details of how you can gift the album, should you have already purchased it, will be given on the redemption page.

Metric’s seventh studio LP, Art of Doubt, is out today on MMI/Crystal Math Music; purchase/stream the album HERE. In celebration of the new record, the band is premiering the new video for album track “Now or Never Now,” directed by Lorraine Nicholson; watch/share the video HERE.

“Many music videos take place in night clubs,” notes Nicholson, “very few depict them as they so often are: pensive, dark and depressing.” Metric frontwoman Emily Haines adds, “This was a night shoot leading to dawn, as Lorraine wanted to place the video in those most questionable hours of the morning…I’m profoundly lost and alone with random uncaring strangers…the rest of the band is on an urgent quest to find me and rescue me from this sad existence, but they always arrive too late.”

The band has released two other videos ahead of the LP, watch “Dressed to Suppress” HERE and “Dark Saturday” HERE.

“In general, I found in the writing of these songs that I was positioning myself as being out in the world in solidarity with the people around me, kind of looking left and right and being like, “Wow, are you seeing this? Is it just me or is this all deeply fucked up and disorienting?” But no matter what’s going on internally or externally, there’s that sense of urgency, of energy. We’re still going to go out, we’re still going to socialize, to push ourselves, we’re still going to celebrate. It’s just going to be dark,” Haines explains.

For the first time in the band’s last three albums, guitarist Jimmy Shaw did not co-produce, preferring to turn over the producer mantle to first time collaborator Justin Meldal-Johnsen whose many other musical collaborations include M83, Beck and Nine Inch Nails. The album—which was recorded at Metric’s own Giant Studio in Toronto—was mixed by first time collaborator Tony Hoffer, whose countless credits include Phoenix, Depeche Mode and Air.

“Justin was just what we needed in a producer for this album,” notes Shaw. “He really saw every band member eye to eye and was able to capture what we each do best. It was something I realized I couldn’t do at this stage, having been in the band for so long. We were finally able to focus on just playing again, as we did at the start. Making this album brought us together in a way we hadn’t been for quite some time and I think you can hear it in the music.”

Metric will embark on a 20-date overseas headlining tour beginning in Moscow on October 25. Tickets are on sale via the band’s website. The unstoppable four-piece that spent the lead up to this LP release on an almost 40 date arena tour across North America with the Smashing Pumpkins will announce further North American dates in the coming days via the bands website and social media. Sign up to the Metric email list here to be one of the first to know and get access to exclusive pre-sale tickets and other special offers. Metric play the following UK dates in November as part of their European tour:

November
Sat 17th   BIRMINGHAM, O2 Institute 2
Sun 18th   GLASGOW, Queen Margaret Union
Mon 19th  MANCHESTER, O2 Ritz
Tues 20th  LONDON, O2 Kentish Town Forum

Art of Doubt Track List:

1. Dark Saturday
2. Love You Back
3. Die Happy
4. Now or Never Now
5. Art of Doubt
6. Underline the Black
7. Dressed to Suppress
8. Risk
9. Seven Rules
10. Holding Out
11. Anticipate
12. No Lights on the Horizon

Metric will launch today a new exclusive merchandise store with limited edition items to celebrate the launch of their new album, Art of Doubt. ilovemetricexclusives.com

With more than 40 million albums sold and eight Grammy nominations, global recording superstar Avril Lavigne released her first new music in five years today.

Listen To ‘Head Above Water’ HERE

Preceded by a heartfelt letter to her fans on social media last week, “Head Above Water” details the personal side of Avril’s journey through her widely reported battle with Lyme Disease.  The singer co-wrote the song, which hinges on stark piano chords and her powerhouse vocals, to share the most intimate look at her experience and how she has emerged stronger than ever.   Released by BMG, the song is available to stream and download everywhere now.

“One night, I thought I was dying, and I had accepted that I was going to die. My mom laid with me in bed and held me. I felt like I was drowning. Under my breath, I prayed ‘God, please help to keep my head above the water.’ In that moment, the song writing of this album began. It was like I tapped into something. It was a very spiritual experience. Lyrics flooded through me from that point on,” said Avril.

Coinciding with the music release, Avril is continuing to bring the strong messaging of Head Above Water through The Avril Lavigne Foundation. The Foundation has launched a charitable t-shirt campaign that will raise funds to directly impact individuals affected by Lyme that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford treatment. Feeling the need to bring awareness to the severity of Lyme Disease, Avril and her Foundation have made the EXCLUSIVE #HeadAboveWater charitable t-shirt available below or by visiting  http://www.TheAvrilLavigneFoundation.org

The Avril Lavigne Foundation supports people with Lyme Disease, serious illness or disabilities. Through programs and grants, it provides funding, education and encouragement for its beneficiaries.

Kicking off what promises to be a massive year of 40th birthday celebrations, OMD will reissue their first four classic albums on 180g vinyl, mastered at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road and housed in their original iconic die cut sleeves designed by the legendary Peter Saville.

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, best known and loved as OMD, were formed in1978 by teenage friends Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys. They quickly became electro-pioneers with a string of hit albums released throughout the 1980’s including the four to be re-issued on Universal Records November 2nd, eventually selling over 25 million singles and 15 million albums across their career to date.

Their 1980 self-titled debut album, ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark’, featured hit singles ‘Electricity’ and ‘Messages’. ‘Organisation’ followed later that year and reached #6 in the UK chart, showcasing undoubtedly one of the greatest synth-pop songs of all time ‘Enola Gay’.

Maintaining a prolific work rate and a rich vein of form, the band released their third studio album in 1981, ‘Architecture & Morality’, which reached #3 in the UK chart, featured the top 5 singles: ‘Souvenir’, ‘Joan of Arc’ and ‘Maid of Orleans’ and sold over a million copies in the UK alone.

Two years later, in 1983, OMD unveiled their masterpiece ‘Dazzle Ships’ – another top 5 album, featuring the singles ‘Genetic Engineering’ and ‘Telegraph’.

Earlier this year the band announced two concerts at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on October 6th and 7th. Both shows are sold out.  They coincide with the anniversary of OMD’s first ever gig which took place at legendary Liverpool club Eric’s in October 1978.

These ‘must see’ shows will feature orchestral arrangements of many of OMD’s biggest hits, also fan favourite ambient tone poem pieces like ‘Stanlow’, ‘Sealand’ and ‘Ghost Star’ written especially for these concerts by Ian Stephens and Gary Carpenter, in addition to songs which have never been performed live before including rare B-sides.

Alongside the classic vinyl re-releases, the autumn shows with the Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be recorded as a live album, and a very special 40th anniversary book will tell the story of OMD from the garage beginnings right through to the latest sell out tours. Featuring memories from band members, other musical artists that they have influenced, famous admirers and loyal fans.

Usually when bands approach their 40th anniversaries they have long since run out of ideas, yet OMD continue to push musical boundaries, creating genuinely exciting sounds and powerful live performances. Having released three highly successful albums since they reformed 12 years ago, they continue to make music for the future. This anniversary is a rare moment of reflection for a legendary band that continues to influence and inspire.

A 40th birthday world tour starting in late 2019 will be announced very soon.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark (1980)

Side A
1           Bunker Soldiers
2           Almost
3           Mystereality
4           Electricity
5           The Messerschmitt Twins

Side B
1           Messages
2           Julia’s Song
3           Red Frame/White Light
4           Dancing (Instrumental)
5           Pretending To See The Future

Organisation (1980)

Side A
1           Enola Gay
2           2nd Thought
3           VCL XI
4           Motion And Heart
5           Statues

Side B

1           The Misunderstanding
2           The More I See You
3           Promise
4           Stanlow

Architecture & Morality (1981)

Side A
1           The New Stone Age
2           She’s Leaving
3           Souvenir
4           Sealand

Side B
1           Joan Of Arc
2           Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans)
3           Architecture & Morality
4           Georgia
5           The Beginning And The End

Dazzle Ships (1983)

Side A
1           Radio Prague
2           Genetic Engineering
3           ABC Auto-Industry
4           Telegraph
5           This Is Helena
6           International

Side B
1           Dazzle Ships (Parts II, III And VII)
2           The Romance Of The Telescope
3           Silent Running
4           Radio Waves
5           Time Zones
6           Of All The Things We’ve Made

Pre-order the Vinyl Reissues here – https://OMD.lnk.to/VinylReissues

Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum selling artist, Mike Posner (“I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” “Cooler Than Me”), is back with his first original song in over two years with brand new single, “Song About You.” The melodic genre-defying track, which is the first single off his forthcoming album, was released today, September 10th, via Island Records.

Listen To “Song About You” HERE

“Song About You” is a piercing introspective look at a relationship that didn’t work out. It dredges up the pain that comes when love seems to be in the palm of one’s hand and yet is impossible to grasp.  The song has the principle characteristics of Mike’s finest work, in that it allows us to hear what only Mike can be feeling, while at the same time striking a recognizable chord inside all of us who’ve suffered through our own unique romantic collapses.

A line at the heart of the song says it all for millions of us at some point in our lives: I think I miss something I never had.

We’ve all felt the exasperation in Mike’s voice as he sings this song, maybe even his resounding howl, and we can easily recognize the sadness coming through Mike’s guitar that brings a sense of resignation to his frustration.

“Song About You” is filled with the same piercing honesty that brought “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” a Grammy nomination and sent it streaming around the world more than a billion times.

For Mike, “Song About You” is yet another self-cleanse. “It was good to make this song because of all the angst that was inside me. What do you do with that angst? I put it in a song. Then I don’t have to throw it on another human or on myself,” he says.

“You can only hope someone feels a sense of beauty or connection out of your suffering – that’s the highest goal as an artist.”

www.mikeposner.com

Having just played a rip-roaring show at a sold out Camden Assembly last night, rising British artist LION (aka Beth Lowen) releases her explosive self-titled debut EP today along with a brand new video for current single ‘Oh No’.

Watch the video for ‘Oh No’ HERE

The four track EP, released on Fiction Records, was written by LION and recorded at London’s Snap Studios with producer Rich Cooper. Combining bluesy riffs with soaring choruses and led by LION’s unique rasping vocal prowess and deft guitar playing, the ‘LION’ EP is equal parts The White Stripes and Florence Welch.

Listen to the LION EP HERE

Live favourite ‘Fiction’ is a high-energy rock workout combining jagged guitars, smashing drums and her unique voice. The EP also includes debut single ‘Self Control’, current single ‘Oh No’ (already receiving huge support from 6 Music & Radio 1) and the understated ‘Garden’. Speaking of the EP LION said ‘releasing music for the first time has been such a daunting, but extremely exciting experience. My self-titled EP gives a small taste of who I am from playing acoustic gigs in pubs as a teenager to expressing myself with a distorted guitar’.

LION’s multi-instrumentalist brother Samuel T. Lowen adds bass and keys on the EP and plays drums in LION’s raucous live show, adding an electrifying family dynamic which has already seen them play The Great Escape, Dot To Dot and Boardmasters festivals, support the likes of Albert Hammond Jr, The Vaccines and Girli, and sell out their own headline shows at The Lexington and Camden Assembly. LION plays the following shows next month, including a slot at Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival

September
Thurs 20th   Hamburg, Reeperbahn Festival
Sat 22nd    MANCHESTER, Victoria Warehouse – The British Sound Project

www.iamlionofficial.com