After an emphatic 2023 that saw a career-spanning The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023 release, as well as one of the standout Pyramid Stage sets at Glastonbury, Texas and legendary American songwriter & pianist Spooner Oldham will release their first joint album The Muscle Shoals Sessions – out March 29th via [PIAS].

Recorded at the renowned ‘Fame Recording Studio’ in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, during the summer of 2022, the album features twelve of Texas’ greatest hits, and two covers (‘Would I Lie To You’ by Charles and Eddie and ‘Save The Last Dance’ by The Drifters) – reimagined and laid bare. Stripped back to their bare bones, guided by the soulful voice of Sharleen Spiteri, accompanied by the delicate piano lines of Spooner Oldham, the songs simply shine in this format and prove their worth as sheer standalone timeless classics.

Sharleen Spiteri says of the experience; “To have the option to go to Muscle Shoals to record was like being a little kid in a sweet shop. Working with Spooner was inspiring, fun and he’s just a wonderful human being. The fact that Northern Soul music has been such a massive influence for Texas made the fit with Spooner just right. Him writing ‘Keep On Talking’ was essential to us recording it for this album.”

On adapting the tracks for the album, Sharleen continues; “To reimagine the classics and break them down so you hear the clarity in the lyrics – it may give you a different take and a different feeling on these songs. It’s just vocal and a piano with some beautiful backing – all recorded live. I think you’re going to get something quite different from what you will have heard on the original versions.”

Inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Spooner Oldham has shaped American soul music with his formidable talent. A songwriter, producer and session keyboardist, Oldham has left his mark on classics such as “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “Mustang Sally” and “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).” Oldham went on to play on a string of Aretha albums and co-write some classics, “I’m Your Puppet” “Cry Like A Baby” and “Sweet Inspirations” with Dan Penn.

After the end of the pioneering era of Southern soul, Oldham put his considerable talents to work for other artists, including Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and the Everly Brothers, playing piano and organ. He remains a respected figure among music aficionados, not only for his tasteful keyboard playing, but also for his compositions.

34 years since they recorded ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’, then watched, gobsmacked, as it reached Number Eight in the charts, Texas, one of the UK’s most loved bands, have gone on to produce ten studio albums, selling over 40 million records worldwide.

Today, Texas take to Maida Vale to perform as part of BBC Radio 2’s ‘Piano Room’ season. In September the band will embark on a UK arena tour which will see the band play nine dates across the UK, including their newly announced date at Hull Connexin Live (on sale Friday 16th February at 10am), two hometown shows at The Hydro in Glasgow, as well as The O2 in London. Known for their enthralling, high-energy shows, the run will see the band play a set of classic hits . Support across the dates come from KT Tunstall.

Tickets on sale HERE.

September 2024

Tue 3rd​​​HULL, Connexin Live​​​​NEW DATE ADDED

Thu 5th​​​LONDON, The O2

Fri 6th​​​LEEDS, First Direct Arena

Sat 7th​​​LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena

Tue 10th​​BOURNEMOUTH, International Centre

Wed 11th​​CARDIFF, Utilita Arena Cardiff

Fri 13th​​​BIRMINGHAM, Utilita Arena Birmingham

Sat 14th​​GLASGOW, OVO Hydro​​​​SOLD-OUT

Sun 15th​​GLASGOW, OVO Hydro​

Texas & Spooner Oldham – The Muscle Shoals Sessions Track Listing

With their highly-anticipated new album Millennials coming later this month, Scottish 4-piece The Snuts have announced a 2024 UK winter tour, including a date at London’s Roundhouse on Wednesday November 27th.

Kicking off at Newcastle City Hall on Friday November 22nd, the 8 date tour follows the band’s sold-out album launch shows at the Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom on February 27th and 28th and a summer run of festivals including a headline slot at Liverpool’s Sound City Festival in May. Full list of dates HERE.

February

Tue 27th​       Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom​​Sold-Out

Wed 28th​      Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom​​Sold-Out

May

Sat 4th.       Liverpool, Soundcity Festival

July

Fri 12th.        ​​Glasgow, TRNSMT Festival

Sat 27th        ​Tramlines Festival, Sheffield

Sun 28th       ​Truck Festival, Oxfordshire

August

Fri 2nd           ​Kendal Calling, Kendal

Sat 3rd          ​Y Not Festival, Derby

Fri 23rd          ​Victorious Festival, Portsmouth

November

Fri 22nd​         Newcastle, City Hall

Sun 24th​        Bristol, Academy

Tue 26th.       ​Bournemouth, Academy

Wed 27th​      London, Roundhouse

Fri29th​​          Birmingham, Academy

Sat 30th​         Manchester, Victoria Warehouse

December

Mon 2nd​      Nottingham, Rock City

Tue 3rd​​        Leeds, Academy

From start to finish, top to bottom, Millennials has been made entirely to The Snuts’ script. The result: a tight, taut, fat-free masterclass in songwriting and production, with 10 tracks clocking in just shy of half-an-hour. Also look out for ‘Millionaires’, an epic anthem with stadium scale, as well as ‘Circles’, the last track on the album and a fittingly epic closer to everything the band wanted to achieve with Millennials.

Frontman Jack Cochrane took the studio lead in collaboration with the band’s live MD Scott Anderson. Tracks were written on the run as The Snuts toured the world in support of their previous Top 3 album Burn The Empire, recorded on the fly in tour buses, dressing rooms, hotel rooms and a 300-quid-a-week studio in the Scottish Highlands.

The Snuts have a chart-topping and top 3 albums under their belts, songs that attack subjects affecting the youth of today, and an arsenal of adoring fans up and down the country. As these four lads from Whitburn, West Lothian vowed four years ago, The Snuts wanted to be risky. And with Millennials, the millennial men of The Snuts have followed through on that promise.

On their third album they’ve followed up, changed up and – fully, wholeheartedly, joyfully – revved up.

UK LIVE DATES

February

Tue 27th​       Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom​​Sold-Out

Wed 28th​      Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom​​Sold-Out

May

Sat 4th.       Liverpool, Soundcity Festival

July

Fri 12th.        ​​Glasgow, TRNSMT Festival

Sat 27th        ​Tramlines Festival, Sheffield

Sun 28th       ​Truck Festival, Oxfordshire

August

Fri 2nd           ​Kendal Calling, Kendal

Sat 3rd          ​Y Not Festival, Derby

Fri 23rd          ​Victorious Festival, Portsmouth

November

Fri 22nd​         Newcastle, City Hall

Sun 24th​        Bristol, Academy

Tue 26th.       ​Bournemouth, Academy

Wed 27th​      London, Roundhouse

Fri29th​​          Birmingham, Academy

Sat 30th​         Manchester, Victoria Warehouse

December

Mon 2nd​      Nottingham, Rock City

Tue 3rd​​        Leeds, Academy

The Snuts are Jack Cochrane, Callum ‘29’ Wilson, Joe McGillveray
and Jordan ‘Joko’ Mackay.

Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok / YouTube

Psych-pop four-piece Lo Moon has announced the release of their anticipated third studio album, I Wish You Way More Than Luck, to be released April 5th via Thirty Tigers / The Orchard.

To coincide with the announcement, the band has revealed two new tracks, including focus single, ‘Water’ and a b-side ‘Connecticut’. Both tracks were written by Matt Lowell and produced by Mike Davis (Ratboys, Pool Kids, Great Grandpa), with Alan Moulder (Depeche Mode, U2, Ride, The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, The Smashing Pumpkins) mixing the record.

Also released today, the official Saoli Nash-directed music video for ‘Water’ – watch HERE. The video’s Creative Director, Warren Fu (Daft Punk, The Strokes, Depeche Mode, The Killers), a close friend and frequent collaborator from over the years, directed the band’s first music video for ‘Loveless’.

Speaking about ‘Water’, Lo Moon’s Matt Lowell reveals, “Since all the songs on our new album were inspired by the moment I found my artistic voice as a teenager, I started Water with the riff on an acoustic guitar. It really reminded me of something I might play when I was sixteen. It felt whimsical and nostalgic and when the band jumped in it felt like refreshing new ground for us. A couple days before the song appeared I had re-read David Foster Wallace’s transcript of a commencement speech he gave at Kenyon College in 2005. It had a much more profound effect on me from the first time I read it, and I thought the last line of the speech I Wish You Way More Than Luck could work perfectly within the musical framework. In some ways the song felt like it came to us, it’s hard to explain when those things happen, but we’re happy it did.” 

‘Water’ and ‘Connecticut’ offer fans the first taste of new music from Lo Moon in 2024, following the release of ‘Evidence’ last year. The track was paired with an official music video, directed by Saoli Nash & Warren Fu – watch HERE.

New music follows the band’s recently concluded tour, which included four SOLD OUT nights at The Lexington in London. They also completed SOLD OUT underplay residencies last fall in Los Angeles, which saw them play four packed-to-the-rafters shows at Zebulon, and three jam-packed shows at the iconic Piano’s in New York City’s Lower East Side. Throughout the run, the band was joined by special guests, including Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES (WATCH), Adam Granduciel from The War On Drugs (WATCH), Curt Smith from Tears For Fears (WATCH) and Bartees Strange (WATCH).

Lo Moon comprises bassist/keyboardist Crisanta Baker, guitarist Sam Stewart, drummer Sterling Laws, and Lowell, the group’s singer, and chief songwriter. The band has toured with everyone from The War on Drugs, Phoenix, Glass Animals and Air to London Grammar, Chvrches, Metric, Muna and The Lemon Twigs.

Tracklisting:

1. Borrowed Hills
2. Waiting A Lifetime
3. Connecticut
4. When The Kids Are Gone
5. Water
6. Day Old News
7. Mary In The Woods
8. Evidence 
9. The Chapel
10. Honest

OFFICIAL WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

‘Bauhaus Staircase shows OMD thriving’ – 4* MOJO

‘A stellar return’ – 9/10 Clash

‘Glory in the sounds and influences which originally made OMD’ – 4* Record Collector

‘Sublime’ – 5* Classic Pop

‘Their finest work of their 45-year career’ – 5* Retro Pop

Ahead of their much anticipated UK tour, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) release latest track ‘Kleptocracy’ – taken from their impeccable UK Top 2-charting studio album Bauhaus Staircase, out now on 100% Records.

Mixed by the album’s main external influence, rock producer David Watts (The Reytons’s recent #1 album), the clattering, hectic ‘Kleptocracy’ is OMD’s greatest straight-up protest song – its chewy discourse wrapped in an absolute earworm. Watch here. Kleptocracy will also be released on limited edition 7”, 12” and CD singles out 22nd March, available for purchase here.

Andy McCluskey says; “This is the most political song that we have ever recorded. The band believes that democracy is the only legitimate way to balance different opinions and create a functioning representative government. Sadly, we are living through times that see us ruled by thieves and flagrant liars. Democracy has been subverted by Kleptocracy.”

The album, which charted at #2 in the UK, arrived with aplomb as the band’s new music exploded over the airwaves, and saw exquisite performances on BBC’s Later…with Jools Holland (watch here). The record was also met with critical acclaim – Clash describing it as ‘a stellar return’, MOJO declaring the band as ‘thriving’, and Classic Pop simply labelling the album as ‘sublime’.

OMD have sold an astonishing 25 million singles and 15 million albums, which has established them as electronic synthesiser pioneers and one of Britain’s best-loved pop groups. Their 13 albums include reissued ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark’ (1980), ‘Organisation’ (1980), ‘Architecture & Morality’ (1981) and ‘Dazzle Ships’ (1983).

Across February & March next year, the band will play 22 dates across the UK & Ireland (tickets here), including their biggest ever London headline show at London’s O2 Arena on March 24th, 2024 – with support coming from the legendary Howard Jones (London only) & Walt Disco (all other dates).

UK HEADLINE TOUR
February 2024
Tue 27th                     Belfast, Ulster Hall                                                                  SOLD OUT

Wed 28th                   Dublin, 3Olympia Theatre                                                   SOLD OUT

March

Fri 1st                           Manchester, O2 Apollo                                                       SOLD OUT

Sat 2nd                       Manchester, O2 Apollo

Sun 3rd                       Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena

Tue 5th                       Leeds, First Direct Arena

Wed 6th                     Edinburgh, Usher Hall                                                           SOLD OUT

Fri 8th                          Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall                                             SOLD OUT

Sat 9th                        Newcastle, O2 City Hall                                                       SOLD OUT

Sun 10th                     Sheffield, City Hall                                                                SOLD OUT

Tue 12th                     Leicester, De Montfort Hall                                                 SOLD OUT

Wed 13th                   Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall                                        SOLD OUT

Fri 15th                        Wolverhampton, Civic Hall

Sat 16th                      Swansea, Arena

Sun 17th                     Southend-On-Sea, Cliffs Pavillion

Tue 19th                     Bristol, Beacon                                                                      SOLD OUT

Wed 20th                   Oxford, New Theater                                                           SOLD OUT

Fri 22nd                       Portsmouth, Guildhall                                                          SOLD OUT

Sat 23rd                      Ipswich, Regent Theatre                                                     SOLD OUT

Sun 24th                     London, The O2*

Tue 26th                     Brighton, Dome                                                                    SOLD OUT

Wed 27th                   Eastbourne, Winter Gardens                                              SOLD OUT

www.omd.uk.com

Triple BAFTA winning stand up sensation Mo Gilligan today announces a huge 2025 UK leg of his highly anticipated World Tour… In the Moment due to phenomenal demand. Following on from his 2024 UK leg Mo will head back out on the road starting March 13th, 2025 in Croydon, before closing out the tour April 13th, 2025 in Glasgow.

In The Moment will be Mo’s biggest tour to date, bringing his phenomenal stand up show across the globe, taking on the US, Canada, Dubai, Australia, New Zealand, throughout Europe with additional names recently announced at Just for Laughs Vancouver and Netflix is a Joke Festival in Los Angeles in May 2024.

Tickets on sale Friday 9th February at 10:00am from mogilligan.com

IN THIS MOMENT WORLD TOUR (2024 UK DATES)

September

Thu 5th                       Leeds, Grand Theatre

Thu 12th                     Oxford, The New Theatre

Fri 20th                        Cambridge, Corn Exchange

October
Wed 9th                     Brighton, Dome

Thu 10th                     London, Eventim Apollo

Fri 11th                        London, Eventim Apollo

Sat 19th                      Manchester, O2 Apollo

Thu 31st                      Bristol, Beacon

November
Fri 1st                           Exeter, Great Hall

Thu 7th                       York, Barbican

Fri 8th                          Middlesbrough, Town Hall

Sat 9th                        Edinburgh, EICC

Fri 15th                        London, Eventim Apollo

Sat 16th                      Bournemouth, BIC

Thu 21st                      Bradford, St Georges Hall

Fri 22nd                       Sheffield, City Hall
Sat 23rd                      Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall

Thu 28th                     Newcastle, O2 City Hall

Fri 29th                        Liverpool, Empire

Sat 30th                      Birmingham, Utilita

December

Thu 5th                       Manchester, O2 Apollo

Fri 6th                          London, Eventim Apollo

Sat 7th                        London, Eventim Apollo

2025 – New Leg Added Due To Phenomenal Demand

March

Thu 13th                     Croydon, Fairfield Halls

Fri 14th                        Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre

Sat 15th                      Huddersfield, Town Hall

Thu 20th                     Leicester, De Montfort Hall

Fri 21st                         Basingstoke, The Anvil

Sat 22nd                     Ipswich, Regent Theater

Thu 27th                     Hastings, White Rock Theater

Fri 28th                        Southampton, O2 Guildhall

Sat 29th                      Portsmouth, Guildhall

April

Wed 2nd                    Brighton, Dome

Thu 3rd                       Plymouth, Pavilions

Fri 4th                          Cardiff, Utilita Arena

Fri 11th                        Bristol, Beacon

Sat 12th                      Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena

Sun 13th                     Glasgow, Pavilion

mogilligan.com

“Indie pals with the bold ambition of future festival headliners” – NME

“Irresistible indie pop peppered with brilliantly surreal lyrics and infectious hooks” – Rolling Stone UK

“One of the UK’s most exciting new acts.” – The Forty-Five

After a 2023 that launched rising indie-pop duo Dolores Forever into the music stratosphere, the band kick off 2024 with their infectiously liberating new single ‘Someday Best’. Listen HERE.

Produced by Daniel Hylton (Rachel Chinouriri, Hak Baker, Ama Lou), ‘Someday Best’ is a synth driven, retro pop-banger, which shows Dolores Forever at their very best. “Sometimes you need to just shut up and eat the pasta. Stop worrying, stressing, fretting over the small things, over whether you party too much or too little, over whether your mates are more popular than you, over whether you ate a bit too much last night,” the duo said of the track. “Quit the shame spiral and quit waiting for life to begin because, guess what, it’s happening. Yeah, eat your vegetables, but also SHUT UP AND EAT THE PASTA.”

Tipped across media and radio alike, Dolores Forever are living up to their tags as one of the most exciting new acts in the UK. Formed by close friends and songwriters Hannah Wilson (from Yorkshire) and Julia Fabrin (from Copenhagen), the duo met at a house party in London, connecting over their love of Mitski, Sharon Van Etten, Stevie Nicks and the Spice Girls.

Having already wowed at Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds Festivals and with acclaim across the board from the likes of BBC Introducing, Radio 1, NME, The i, i-D Magazine, The Independent, The Line Of Best Fit, Dummy, Mahogany and more, the duo continue to set themselves up for a huge career.

Already looking to the future with their debut album set for release later this year, Dolores Forever are building unstoppable momentum. The band are set to play a string of festivals including Vida and Get Together Festival. For full tour details check HERE.

February

Fri 9th Lincoln, Beam Me Up, The Drill

Sat 10th Oxford, Beam Me Up, OX4 Festival

May 

Sat 18th Sheffield, Get Together Festival

July

Thu 4th Spain, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Vida Festival

August

Sat 3rd Barnsley, Underneath The Stars Festival

Website / Instagram

“Wonderfully grown up pop” – MOJO

“A splendid solo set of sumptuous vocal harmonies” – UNCUT

“A unique both literally and metaphorically” – Lauren Laverne

One of the country’s most underrated singer-songwriters, John Bramwell, announces the first single ‘A World Full Of Flowers’ from his remarkable new album The Light Fantastic, out February 23rd via Townsend Music.

‘A World Full Of Flowers’ veers away from the darker sound that he is most synonymous with I Am Kloot. With its joyous feel and almost Beatles-esque air, the track is full of lush melodic vocal harmonies over a Beck sounding syncopated drum loop, atmospheric Fleet Foxes soundscapes and hand claps. It’s a welcome return and one that offers a glimpse into John’s new material, which as he puts it himself “are the most uplifting songs of my career”.

Anyone who has heard John’s work with seminal Manchester band I Am Kloot, will be cheered by the news of this impending release. Nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2010 for their acclaimed Sky At Night album, I Am Kloot never quite received the widespread success their music deserved.

This new album is a masterclass in emotionally charged and melodically driven tunes for the adventurous. All 12 tracks were written by John except for ‘Nobody Left But You’ which he co-wrote with album producer Dave Fidler.

“After both my Mum and Dad died, I started writing these songs to cheer myself up,” John admits with typical candour. “The themes are taken from my dreams at the time. Wake up and take whatever impression I had from what I could remember of my dream and write that.”

Despite the sentiment, the songs are surprisingly uplifting. And will no doubt sound great live.

Kicking off with three dates at London’s St Pancras Old Church in February, John Bramwell will play the following shows. Tickets are on sale now.

John Bramwell & The Full Harmonic Convergence

February 2024

Wed 21st        London, St. Pancras Old Church               SOLD OUT

Thu 22nd        London, St. Pancras Old Church               SOLD OUT

Fri 23rd            London, St. Pancras Old Church               SOLD OUT

Sun 25th         Bristol, Folk House                                          SOLD OUT

Thu 29th         Manchester, Stoller Hall                               SOLD OUT

John Bramwell & The Full Harmonic Trio

March 2024

Thu 14th         Cardiff, Acapela Studios

Fri 15th            Ludlow, Ludlow Assembly Rooms

Thu 21st          Falmouth, The Cornish Bank

Fri 22nd           Totnes, The Barrel House Ballroom

Wed 27th       Carlisle, Old Fire Station

Thu 28th         Glasgow, Saint Luke’s

April 2024

Fri 5th              Twyford, St. Mary’s Church

Sat 6th            Corsham, Pound Arts

Thu 11th         Tunbridge Wells, The Forum

Fri 12th            Norwich, The Waterfront

Fri 19th            Oxted, United Reformed Church

Sat 20th          Aldershot, West End Centre

Thu 25th         Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Abbey

Sat 27th          Birmingham, St. Paul’s Church

Sun 28th         Chester, St. Mary’s Creative Space

May 2024

Thu 9th           Nottingham, Metronome

Sat 11th          Dublin (EIRE), The Well

Fri 17th            Barton-upon-Humber, The Ropewalk

Fri 24th            Lancaster, Lancaster Grand

Fri 31st             Cardigan, Mwldan

June 2024

Sat 1st             Bath, Rondo Theatre

Fri 7th              Liverpool, Philharmonic Music Room

Sat 8th            Newcastle, The Cluny

Pre-Order The Light Fantastic HERE

Following the release of the critically-acclaimed album Weathervanes last summer and off the back of picking up the Trailblazer Award at the AMA UK Awards, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have announced their return to the UK for a run of dates this November.

Known for their captivating live shows the seven date 2024 tour kicks off at Brighton Dome on Monday November 18th, and culminates with a show at London’s Eventim Apollo on Monday November 25th. Jason also plays two very special, sold-out intimate shows in London this weekend at Cadogan Hall tonight and Union Chapel on Sunday. Pre-sale tickets go on-sale at 10:00 GMT on Wednesday January 31st and general sale at 10:00 GMT on Friday January 2nd HERE.

January 2024

Fri 26th                        London, Cadogan Hall                               SOLD-OUT

Sun 28th                     London, Union Chapel                                SOLD-OUT

November 2024

Mon 18th                   Brighton, Dome

Tue 19th                     Manchester, O2 Apollo Manchester

Wed 20th                   Edinburgh, Usher Hall

Fri 22nd                       Bristol, Bristol Beacon

Sat 23rd                      Wolverhampton, The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

Sun 24th                     Stockton-On-Tees, Stockton Globe

Mon 25th                   London, Eventim Apollo

Off the back of a year which seen him celebrate the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed breakthrough album Southeastern, release his own HBO documentary  and make his stamp on Hollywood with an assured performance in the celebrated Martin Scorsese film Killers Of The Flower Moon, Jason continues his accent as one of the most essential artists around.

Landing in a host of end of year ‘best of’ lists including MOJO, Uncut, Classic Rock and more, his latest album Weathervanes, which features Isbell’s GRAMMY-winning band, the 400 Unit, received widespread acclaim last year. Recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio, the album features special guests include GRAMMY winner Amanda Shires (Fiddle, Background Vocals) and acclaimed harmonicist Mickey Raphael (Harmonica on ‘Strawberry Woman’) with Background Vocals on ‘If You Insist’ by renowned producer and engineer Sylvia Massy & Ian Rickard and Strings on ‘Death Wish’ by Morgan O’Shaughnessey.

https://www.jasonisbell.com/

“The hype is now theirs to own”- The Forty Five

“VEPS are leaning hard into a very rough and ready DIY aesthetic, and I am absolutely here for it” – Far Out Magazine 

“The band was born out of friendship, with their playfully subversive songwriting fusing alt-pop with indie rock elements” – Clash Magazine

Following the release of their beautifully frantic debut album Oslo Park in 2022, Norwegian alt-indie pop quartet Veps return with new single ‘Greetings From Peru’. The track is the first cut from their sophomore album Dedicated To, which comes out via Miktam Records/Universal Music on June 14^th.

Produced by Marcus Forsgren and mixed by Matias Tellez (Girl In Red, Maisie Peters), ‘Greetings From Peru,’ is another infectious indie-pop earworm from the quartet. “’Greetings from Peru’ is a song written from when one of us was backpacking through South America, and figuring out what they really wanted back home,” the band said about the single. “It’s about how distance can make a picture much clearer, and sometimes the right amount of distance is halfway around the world.”

Self-directed and shot by the band in their hometown of Oslo, the playful video sees the band travel across land and water, from tram to the fjord, to deliver an important piece of news. Listen HERE and watch the video HERE.

Veps deliver another collection of indie pop bangers on second album Dedicated To. Finding a sound with a new sense of maturity and freedom, the band haven’t strayed far from their raw, DIY ethics on the LP. Opening with the beautiful, piano driven track ‘Break & Entry’, the album includes raucous new single ‘Greetings From Peru,’ the emotionally vibe filled ‘Say What?,’ the jagged, dark synth popper ‘For Thirsty Dogs’ and future live favourite ‘So Speak’.

“While writing our second album we took most of the inspiration from the people we know and from the situations we saw them in,” the band said of Dedicated To. “The title comes from just that. It’s a thank you to all the people that inspire us. It was written in one of the most hectic phases we have gone through as a band, but we hope the progress we’ve made comes to show in the songs”.

Formed when the girls were 14 years old, Veps have already achieved more than they could have imagined at that age. Releasing their debut EP Open The Door to acclaim in 2021, the band followed with their stunning debut full length Oslo Park in 2022. Already ticking off a plethora of international festivals including The Great Escape, Reeperbahn and Stag & Dagger, as well as Norway’s biggest festival Øyafestival, Veps completed their debut UK headline tour in spring 2022, culminating with a headline date at Sebright Arms in London.

Now signed to new label Miktam Records/Universal Music and with a craft of song writing well beyond their tender years, Veps, with their seamless blend of 90s indie aesthetic with classic pop hooks, are ready to take 2024 by storm.

Veps are Helena Mariero Olasveengen (keys/vocals), June K. Urholt (bass), Laura Dodson (guitar/vocals) & Maja B. Berge (drums)

https://www.vepsofficial.com/

Emerging from a year which saw rising talent Luke Royalty question where his journey in music was taking him, the young and exciting artist is back with the release of his brilliant new EP 9INE. Listen to 9INE EP HERE.

“This project was very close to never seeing the light of day,” Luke said. “This is me not giving up, proving to myself that I don’t need to be anything or become anything. I’ve always tried to make music that’s innovative and I hope people see that. I’m putting this out for myself, for the love of music, not for anyone else.”

Self-produced and taking Influence from the likes of Frank Ocean, Tirzah and Tame Impala and mixed by longtime collaborator Bob MacKenzie, 9INE follows Luke’s debut EP My Blue Room. Merging lo-fi beats, with Luke’s raw, easy-going tones, the collection of seven tracks intertwine through hazy vibes to breezy pop hooks. “9INE is a messy pop project about love, hope and fear,” Luke said of the EP. “I really wanted to try and make something that sounded different to the other music that’s being released right now and separate myself from any labels or genres that people might expect when listening to Luke Royalty. I want to create something that’s fresh, exciting, and rough around the edges.”

Hailing from Darlington in the North East of England, Luke came from a creative family of artists and musicians. He, however, avoided dabbling in music until his late teens, preferring to spend his time playing Sunday League football and following his beloved Darlington FC. Upon finding influence in the likes of Mac Miller, Amy Winehouse and Bill Withers, Luke got drawn into the culture of turning his words to music and the rest is history in the making.

Without doubt one of the most exciting emerging acts around and having already garnered support from key players including BBC Radio 1 (Jack Saunders’ ‘Future Artists Next Wave Pick’), BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, NME, Clash Magazine, Far Out Magazine, Notion, The Line Of Best Fit, The Independent and Amazing Radio, Luke Royalty continues to be an artist we should all be watching.

Facebook // Instagram // Twitter // Youtube

Armed with an already extensive back-catalogue of stunning music, Palace return with the announcement of their brand new, deeply personal, fourth studio album, Ultrasound – out April 5th, 2024. Its new offering, ‘Bleach’ is available today – listen HERE.

The record’s production sees the band reunited with Adam Jaffrey, 8 years after working together on their debut album, and arrives off the back of ‘Part I – When Everything Was Lost’ and ‘Part II – Nightmares & Ice Cream’, the band’s 2023 companion EPs.

While writing the first batch of songs for the album, frontman Leo Wyndham’s partner suffered a late miscarriage. Ultrasound naturally became an open diary of a year-long struggle from devastation to deliverance. “It was incredibly hard to comprehend what had happened, how to deal with it and how to move forward,” Leo says. “The album is the journey of that experience – starting with a loss, then a period of processing, and then finally acceptance, release and growth. And being in awe of women within that. Their dignity, strength and courage in how they can deal with these things that feel beyond a man.”

Album opener ‘When Everything Was Lost’, is chilling ozone rock with a hint of Bon Iver, capturing what Leo calls “that initial bombshell feeling”. From there, Ultrasound picks its way through the wreckage, seeking light, with the languid and lustrous pop-gaze trio of ‘Bleach’, ‘Nightmares & Ice Cream’ and ‘Rabid Dog’. The hallucinogenic ‘Nightmares…’ was based on a dream Leo had about seeing his partner in the afterlife: “It was a very beautiful abstract thing that we were together and there was this total acceptance of what had happened and it was euphoric,” he says.

At the album’s core sit three songs of support and consolidation. ‘Make You Proud’ is about wanting to be the best version of yourself out of love for another. There’s the soulful ‘Inside My Chest’, and ‘Love Is A Precious Thing’, the album’s melodic centrepiece.

The final stretch signifies a more reflective period. ‘Say The Words’ acknowledges the societal pressures on women to raise families and their resilience in the struggles of motherhood, ‘How Far We’ve Come’ confronts ageing and mortality. ‘All We’ve Ever Wanted’ revisits the rawness of Leo’s anguish in its images of forest fires and quicksand, his desire for fatherhood still burning.

Leo, guitarist Rupert Turner and drummer Matt Hodges began playing together in 2012 after fate had brought them all separately to London. The childhood friends released their acclaimed debut EP Lost In The Night in 2014, followed by the Chase The Light EP the year after. With three albums under their belt, So Long Forever, Life After and 2022’s Shoals, the band have acquired a mass of adoring fans across the world.

Palace will perform Ultrasound in full at an exclusive one-off show at London’s EartH on February 23rd. There will be an exclusive ticket pre-sale from Wednesday, January 31st for those who have pre-ordered the new album from wearepalace.com.

Epic album closer ‘Goodnight Farewell’ sums up the future. Sonically corroded, beaten, but standing proud, it finds Leo finally attaining a sense of peace.“That’s about transitioning to a new phase. It’s saying goodbye to this life-changing year, saying goodbye to former versions of ourselves and what would have been a child as well. It’s that transcendence of suddenly discovering that we can move forward into something that feels lighter and optimistic.”

And with that, Palace sail into 2024, fired up for one of the biggest years of their careers.

Palace – Ultrasound Tracklisting

1. When Everything Was Lost
2. Son
3. Bleach
4. Nightmares & Ice Cream
5. Rabid Dog
6. Make you Proud
7. Inside My Chest
8. Love Is A Precious Thing
9. Cocoon
10. Say The Words
11. How Far We’ve Come
12. All We’ve Ever Wanted
13. Goodnight Farewell

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Natasha Bedingfield sees her iconic 2004 hit ‘Unwritten’ enjoy a spectacular resurgence as it re-enters the UK Top 20 for the first time in 19 years, charting at #18. It also marks Natasha’s first appearance in the UK charts since her 2007 Sean Kingston collaboration, ‘Love Like This’.

The track’s re-emergence was boosted by its heavy inclusion in the brand new box office rom-com Anyone But You, starring Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney and Top Gun: Maverick actor Glen Powell.

Natasha says; “I’ve had songs in movies before but this time I really love the way it’s been used in such a special way that it makes you feel joyful. People are actually singing it as they leave the theatre! Over the years Unwritten has somehow become an anthem to sing at the top of your lungs . This makes me the happiest girl in the world as I have always felt that a good pop song is actually something you can belt. Like a good football song!”

Its charting is timely, as this year will see the 20th anniversary of the song that has firmly rooted itself as one of the 2000s’ most recognisable hits that’s currently streaming just under 2 million times a day globally, and to date has gone 2x platinum in the UK & US.

Since the film’s release, ‘Unwritten’ has gone viral again on TikTok, with users re-sharing the song, clocking up millions of views and demonstrating love for the song as theatre-goers post themselves singing it and dancing as they leave.

American filmmaker and songwriter Will Gluck recently used another of Natasha’s songs ‘Pocketful Of Sunshine’, in the Emma Stone movie Easy A – a scene which again went viral. Gluck wrote the song into a pivotal moment in the story and had the actors sing a line in every scene, culminating into an unprecedented comedy rendition of a pop song in a movie. TikTokers have posted themselves and the crowd singing along and also dancing to ‘Unwritten’ as they leave.

Named one of VH1’s “100 Greatest Women in Music,” Bedingfield has sold over 10 million albums and has earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and multiple Brit Award nominations for Best British Female Artist. With an illustrious career that includes collaborations with icons like Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars and Sheryl Crow, she has steadily refined her artistic vision over the years.

Watch this space for new music later this year.

SINGLES
1 x UK #1 (These Words)
5 x UK top 10s  (These Words, Single (#3), Unwritten (#6), I Wanna Have Your Babies (#7), Soulmate(#7)
7 x UK top 40s (^ + I Bruise Easily, Love Like This)
15 weeks in the top 10
4 Million UK SINGLE SALES

ALBUMS
1 UK number 1 (Unwritten)
2 UK top 10s (Unwritten, NB)
3.6 Million UK ALBUM SALES

WORLDWIDE
4 Million SALES
Just Under 2 Billion AUDIO STREAMS

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