Tom Walker today makes a poignant return, sounding like you’ve never heard him before on brand new, defining single ‘Burn’ – listen HERE.

‘Burn’ arrives as a rallying cry from an artist who made his name – and earned his Number One album, 2019 Brit Award, & international hit in ‘Leave A Light On’ – for the candour in his craft. But what happens when that artist, with two million worldwide album sales and over three billion global streams in tow, nearly calls it quits?

The songs he wrote last year for album number two? Binned. The half-measures and second-guessing? Burned. The relationship with his record label? Fractured. Just like any job, Tom Walker wasn’t immune to the pressures of work and high expectations. Exhausted from the ongoing pressure of being present on social media and of the criticism from his record label on over 130 “mediocre” songs he’d written, he was fuming…

“I had just done seven days of rehearsal in a row, straight into a UK tour, then into 2 weeks of writing, worked my arse off every hour, of every day for months,” Tom explains. “When the powers that be came back having a dig at the songs I’d poured my heart and my soul into, I absolutely lost it. I honestly thought ‘I’m going to have to call it a day with music, it was making me miserable’ I was angry, and you can hear that in ‘Burn’. In many lines of work, music included, you give it everything and sacrifice every other aspect of your life and it’s never enough.”

Tom subsequently headed out to Los Angeles to write with the McDonough brothers, Ryan Daly & Castle, who’s credits between them include Joji, Khalid, Mimi Webb and John Legend. “Their love and passion for the whole thing reignited something in me that I didn’t realise I’d lost – which was the excitement and the love and the trying of brand new things.”

The results speak for themselves. On ‘Burn’, that song writing skill now comes armed and armour-plated with dynamic production, propulsive rhythm and multi-coloured soundscapes.

“I gave you my blood, my sweat, my tears / And all you ever did was leave me here / Set me on fire cause you love the hurt,” sings Walker, like his life depended on it, taking a swipe at the record label over urgent, hammering beats, teeing up a towering chorus: “Set me on fire just to watch me… BURN.” Like the man said: he sounds like he’s been pushed to his absolute limit, and the song that came at the lowest moment in his relationship with the label, ends up being the track the label demanded be his comeback single.

“The day I wrote ‘Burn’, I thought ‘Fuck everyone, I’m sick of this” Tom summises. “I scrapped a whole album and decided to go back to making songs that I love. Songs that make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Songs that bring a tear to my eye. Songs that actually mean something to me.”

Since bursting into the charts with huge tracks ‘Leave A Light On’ and ‘Just You And I’, selling out shows across the globe and becoming the biggest selling UK signed artist of 2019, Tom has gone from strength to strength, and in 2021, took part in a truly special performance with The Duchess Of Cambridge from Westminster Abbey where she joined Tom on piano for a memorable version of his track ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’.

But now, looking ahead, as Tom succinctly puts it; “I will die for these songs. It’s the first time in a long time I’ve felt like that. You’ve got to ignore what everyone else wants from you, and you’ve got to back yourself.”

And with that, welcome to the exciting, limitless next phase of Tom Walker. A man who knows where he’s headed: to arena-scale songs with molecular-level heart. 

FOLLOW TOM WALKER:

Website / Instagram / TikTok / Facebook / Twitter

“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

“Fleetwood Mac meets Haim… Huge emotional bangers coming this summer” – Fabulous Magazine

One of The Independent’s 10 New Music Acts To Watch in 2023

Daily Star’s Talent To Watch in 2023

Dork Magazine 2023 Hype List

2023 just keeps getting bigger and better for rising duo Dolores Forever. After a run of summer festival dates, the band today announce their superb new single ‘Why Are You Not Scared Yet’, out now on Sweat Entertainment – listen HERE.
 

Produced by King Ed (Baby Queen, Dylan), ‘Why Are You Not Scared Yet’

is the band’s most energised single to date and alongside their first UK tour, marks the duo as one of the most exciting acts around.

The band explain; “Are you terrified most of the time? Cos we are! Climate change, social media, relationships and societal expectations of women are all included in our handy tool kit of anxiety about the world we inhabit, so we made a song about it. Why cry when you can shout, why mope when you can dance. If the world is ending this is our soundtrack to the existential crisis house party.”

Following the success of previous singles ‘I Love You But You’re Making Me Sad’,  ‘When I Say So’ & ‘Conversations With Strangers’, Dolores Forever have been tipped across media and radio alike and are living up to their tags as one of the most exciting new acts to make an impact this year.

Formed by close friends and songwriters Hannah Wilson (from Yorkshire) and Julia Fabrin (from Copenhagen), Dolores Forever 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 last summer 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 for their breakthrough debut EP ‘Baby Teeth’ and infectious single ‘Rothko’, the duo look set for a huge career.

The band played a summer of festival and support dates this year including impeccable sets at The Great Escape, Latitude and Boardmasters. In support of the new single they head out on their first headline UK tour with dates across the country listed below.

Already looking to the future with even more magical singles to come, Dolores Forever are building unstoppable momentum. Watch this space.

UK DATES
Sep 23rd Louisiana, Bristol

Sep 26th Hope & Ruin, Brighton

Sep 27th Oslo, London

Oct 4th Oporto, Leeds

Oct 5th Deaf Institute, Manchester

Website / Instagram

Following the announcement of their 2024 World Tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut album ‘Hopes and Fears’ last week, Keane have added a second London 02 show on May 11 due to overwhelming demand.

 Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am.

Keane now play two London 02 Arena shows on May 10th and May 11th in addition to 6 other UK arena shows. The band will release a special remastered version of ‘Hopes and Fears’ on May 10th 2024, exactly 20 years after its initial release.

Next year’s tour will celebrate Keane’s acclaimed body of work from their imperious debut ‘Hopes and Fears’ through to their 2019 studio album ‘Cause and Effect’ 

Lead singer Tom Chaplin says; “I remember standing by that amazing old mixing desk at Heliocentric Studios where we made Hopes and Fears, listening to an early mix of Somewhere Only We Know. I had this feeling that we’d come up with something that had an extra bit of magic. Making music is so often a process full of doubt…but on this occasion there was something undeniable about what we’d created. Clearly a lot of people felt the same when the album came out!”

Founding band member and songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley said: “When I think about these songs, I still picture us playing them in little rooms in pubs around the UK. I remember how exciting it was watching the crowds start to grow. Those songs opened the door to another dimension for us; everything that has happened in our lives since then was born out of that moment. It’s an incredible privilege for us that people are still listening after all this time.”

Keane play the following UK & Irish dates: Support comes from The Lathums across the UK and The Sherlocks in Dublin and mainland Europe. Tickets are on-sale HERE.

May

Fri 3rd LEEDS, First Direct Arena
Sat 4th BIRMINGHAM, Utilita Arena

Sun 5th MANCHESTER, Co-Op Live

Tue 7th BOURNEMOUTH, BIC Sold-Out

Wed 8th CARDIFF, Utilita Arena Sold-Out

Fri 10th LONDON, The O2 Sold-Out

Sat 11th LONDON, The O2 New Date Added

Mon 13th DUBLIN 3Arena

‘Hopes and Fears’ was a landmark album for Keane and has set all kinds of records in the process. It’s one of the best selling albums in UK chart history having sold over 2.5 million in the UK in its first year, and a million in the USA propelled by their absolutely classic song ‘Somewhere Only We Know’. ‘Hopes and Fears’ is 9x platinum in the UK, a remarkable achievement. The album has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

In 2004 Keane were the biggest selling British artist in the UK. The following year they won two BRIT Awards: Best British Album for ‘Hopes and Fears’ and British Breakthrough act award as voted for by Radio 1 listeners.

‘Somewhere Only We Know’ has enjoyed a recent revival on Tik Tok going viral in Indonesia which lit the spark for a global renaissance of the track which is currently

clocking up two million Spotify streams a day, and in the past 12 months has become Island Records’ biggest selling single. In total it has been streamed over a billion times.

WORLD TOUR DATES

April

Mon 1st MEXICO CITY, Sports Palace Sold-Out

Wed 3rd GUADALAJARA, Auditorio Telmex Sold-Out

Fri 19th AMSTERDAM, AFAS Live Sold-Out

Sun 21st KOLN, E-Werk Sold-Out

Mon 22nd KOLN, E-Werk Sold-Out

Wed 24th BRUSSELS, The Cirque Royal Sold-Out

Thu 25th BRUSSELS, The Cirque Royal Sold-Out

Fri 26th PARIS, L’Olympia Sold-Out

Sat 27th PARIS, L’Olympia Sold-Out

September

Wed 4th BERKELEY, CA, The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley

Thu 5th LOS ANGELES, CA, The Greek Theatre

Fri 6th SAN DIEGO, CA, Humphreys Concerts By The Bay Sold-Out

Sun 8th SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Venue TBC

Mon 9th DENVER, CO, Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre

Wed 11th DALLAS, TX, The Majestic Theater

Thu 12th AUSTIN, TX, ACL Live At The Moody Theatre

Sat 14th ATLANTA, GA, The Eastern

Sun 15th NASHVILLE, TN, Ryman Auditorium

Tue 17th MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Palace Theater

Wed 18th CHICAGO, IL, The Chicago Theatre

Fri 20th TORONTO, ON, The Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Sat 21st PHILADELPHIA, PA, The Met

Mon 23rd BOSTON, MA, MGM Music Hall At Fenway

Tue 24th NEW YORK, NY, Radio City Music Hall

Thu 26th WASHINGTON, DC, The Anthem

https://www.keanemusic.com/

Get ready to celebrate the remarkable legacy of one of the UK’s most treasured bands.  

Iconic soul and pop band Simply Red today earmark their forthcoming 40th anniversary by announcing an incredibly special UK & Ireland arena tour for September & October 2025, culminating in two nights at London’s O2 Arena on October 9th & 10th, 2025.

Pre-sale tickets start Tuesday, September 19th at 10.00am, with general sale starting Thursday, September 21st at 10.00am at www.simplyred.com.

“Simply Red are turning 40! We’re looking forward to marking this special milestone with you all in 2025 on our UK tour” says Mick Hucknall.

“Fans can expect to hear all their favourite Simply Red tracks from 1985 to the present, and enjoy a memorable night celebrating the incredible journey that we’ve been on together over the past four decades.”

Few bands have enjoyed the success and longevity of Simply Red. With over 60 million albums sold worldwide, five UK #1 albums, 1.8 billion streams across streaming platforms worldwide, and over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Simply Red remain one of the UK’s most successful and well-loved bands. Their 1991 classic Stars was the best-selling album for two years running in Britain and Europe, and all 13 of Simply Red’s studio albums, including their latest release ‘Time’, have been UK Top 10’s.

Mick Hucknall formed Simply Red in 1985 working-class Manchester, and enjoyed early success with first single ‘Money’s Too Tight To Mention’ and the Brit Award-nominated album ‘Picture Book’ (the first of 13 nominations, and 3 Brit Award wins). This was followed by a decade of superstardom and global hits. Today Simply Red continue to sell out tours across the globe. Their live show is renowned for its exceptional quality, with Mick Hucknall long-established as one of the great vocalists of contemporary music.

To celebrate this impressive 40-year milestone, Simply Red head back out on the road in 2025, telling the musical story of Simply Red so far – from ‘Picture Book’ to ‘Time’, and everything in between. 

Simply Red will play the following headline shows in September & October 2025:

September 2025
Tue 23rd Belfast SSE Arena

Wed 24th Dublin 3 Arena

Fri 26th Leeds First Direct Arena

Sat 27th Manchester Co-op Live

Sun 28th Glasgow OVO Hydro Arena

October
Wed 1st Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

Fri 3rd Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

Sat 4th Birmingham Utilita Arena

Sun 5th Cardiff, Utilita Arena

Tue 7th Brighton Centre

Thu 9th London The O2

Fri 10th London The O2

Simply Red recently celebrated the release of their 2023 album ‘Time’ with a special one-off launch show at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in June. The band will return to the UK to play BBC Radio 2’s sold out ‘Live In The Park’ on September 17th in Leicester’s Victoria Park. 

www.simplyred.com

After the recent announcement of their forthcoming new studio album, synth pioneers Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) reveal details of their return to the stage, with the band taking to the road next year.

Across February & March 2024, OMD will play 22 dates across the UK & Ireland, 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). “We are so excited to be able to tour again with a brand new album to showcase.” says Andy McCluskey. “It’s been six years since we learned new songs for live performances. The songs from Bauhaus Staircase will fit beautifully into our setlist – we just have to choose which five to play, as we have to treat people to the hits as well!”

The band also release ‘Slow Train’ – the second installment from their forthcoming new studio album Bauhaus Staircase – out October 27th on 100% Records. A raucous, glam-tinged explosion, ‘Slow Train’ arrives with help from the band;s only other external influence David Watts. Known as a rock producer, who helmed Sheffield band The Reytons’ recent No 1 album What’s Rock And Roll?, he brings a sharp, exciting new sound to the record. Watch the incredible futuristic animated video (created by Cine1080 Studio) HERE.

“Slow Train is a bonkers song and the video is stunningly crazy!” Andy reflects. “It feels nice to be able to challenge people’s expectations of the band after 45 years of creating music”

The new album sees the band’s most explicitly political record and the crowning achievement of their desire to be both Stockhausen and Abba – born from the impetus to kickstart new explorations during lockdown. A broad, electronic, sonic masterpiece that lyrically tackles the topics of the future, it was predominantly written, recorded, and mixed by both McCluskey & Paul Humphreys (who has recently become a second-time father).

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).

By rights, OMD should be in semi-retirement, performing classics like Enola Gay and Maid Of Orleans on the nostalgia festival circuit like so many peers. Instead, they’ve created a landmark album worthy of their finest work. If real life meant OMD were happy to get help, Bauhaus Staircase remains unmistakably the work of a duo who are still perfectly in sync 45 years after their first gig at legendary Liverpool club Eric’s.

OMD play the following UK dates across February & March 2024:
*Support comes from Howard Jones (London Only) & Walt Disco (All Other Dates)

February 2024
Tue 27th Belfast, Ulster Hall

Wed 28th Dublin, 3Olympia Theatre

March

Fri 1st Manchester, O2 Apollo

Sun 3rd Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena

Tue 5th Leeds, First Direct Arena

Wed 6th Edinburgh, Usher Hall

Fri 8th Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall

Sat 9th Newcastle, O2 City Hall

Sun 10th Sheffield, City Hall

Tue 12th Leicester, De Montfort Hall

Wed 13th Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall

Fri 15th Wolverhampton, Civic Hall

Sat 16th Swansea, Arena

Sun 17th Southend-On-Sea, Cliffs Pavillion

Tue 19th Bristol, Beacon

Wed 20th Oxford, New Theatre

Fri 22nd Portsmouth, Guildhall

Sat 23rd Ipswich, Regent

Sun 24th London, The O2*

Tue 26th Brighton, Dome

Wed 27th Eastbourne, Winter Gardens

www.omd.uk.com

Ahead of her tour of the US with Queens of The Stone Age and Viagra Boys, Jehnny Beth unleashes a taste her incomparable live show exclusively to streaming services. 

The 5 live tracks, including 2 previously unreleased songs ‘MORE ADRELINE’ and ‘AMAZING LIFE’, showcase the Jehnny Beth at her very best.

Including songs from the critically acclaimed album To Love Is To Live, JEHNNY BETH – LIVE EP is available HERE 

Tickets to see Jehnny Beth, Johnny Hostile and E.R.E.X raucous live show with QOTSA & Viagra Boys are available at HERE.  Expect high adrenaline! 

9/16/23 Chicago, IL – Riot Fest

9/17/23 Minneapolis, MN – Armory 

9/19/23 Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha

9/20/23 Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre

9/22/23 Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheatre at White River State Park 

9/23/23 Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park 

9/24/23 Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life 2023

9/26/23 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP 

9/27/23 Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion 

9/29/23 Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre 

9/30/23 Magna, UT – The Great Saltair

10/2/23 Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum 

10/3/23 Vancouver, Canada – Pacific Coliseum 

10/4/23 Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

10/5/23 Sacramento, CA – Aftershock 2023

For updates from the road, and for all Jehnny Beth news follow along on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook.

https://www.jehnnybeth.com/

Today marks the release of ‘Too Far Gone? (Live from MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ – August 6, 2023),’ a digital single capturing the debut M72 tour performance of the 72 Seasons standout track as played for some 80,000 fans on night two of the tour’s North American opening weekend. Hailed for “its roaring melody” by the OC Register in their review of Metallica’s recent record-breaking weekend at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, “Too Far Gone?” has quickly become a staple of the M72 No Repeat Weekend setlist rotation. 

Find out for yourself why the song has quickly become a fan favourite by giving ‘Too Far Gone? (Live from MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ – August 6, 2023)’ listen HERE.

As for the original studio version of ‘Too Far Gone?’… it’s been reimagined as a music video directed by Coan “Buddy” Nichols (The Original Skateboarder, The Body Corporate, Deathbowl to Downtown, Love Letters to Skateboarding). Through Nichols’ lens, ‘Too Far Gone?’ becomes the score to raw Metallica performance footage intercut with action shots of pro skater Felipe Nunes. The energy levels of the two scenarios feed off one other, resulting in peak after peak of hyperkinetic intensity—plus a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from Tony Hawk, who premiered the video yesterday. Watch the video for ‘Too Far Gone?’ HERE.

Metallica recently completed the first North American swing of its M72 World Tour September 9 in Glendale AZ. The band will make a headlining appearance October 8 at Power Trip at the Empire Polo Club in Indio CA, before M72 resumes with its next No Repeat Weekend taking place November 3 and 5 at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis MO.

Praise For 72 Seasons

‘an ultra-professional execution of musical warmongering.’ – 4* The Times

‘Metallica still sound defiantly in their prime’ – 4* Financial Times

‘72 Seasons delivers 77 minutes of relentless power and melody’ – Daily Mirror

‘The hard rock veterans roll back the years to deliver a thrilling sonic onslaught.’ – 4* NME

‘Metallica triumph (again) on sprawling but deadly 11th album.’ – 4/5 Kerrang

https://www.metallica.com/ 

Following a triumphant, stand out performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury this year, which The Independent described as “one of Friday’s most memorable performances”, Texas will return to the stage for a run of UK Arena shows in 2024. 

Kicking off at Leeds First Direct Arena on Friday September 6th and culminating with a hometown date at Glasgow’s Hydro on Saturday September 14th, the run will see the band play a set of classic hits from their recently released The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023. Artist presale will be available at 10am on Wednesday September 20th, with general sale on Friday 22nd HERE.

Texas will play the following UK dates:

September 2024

Fri 6th LEEDS, First Direct Arena

Sat 7th LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena

Tue 10th BOURNEMOUTH, Bournemouth International Centre

Wed 11th CARDIFF, Utilita Arena Cardiff

Fri 13th BIRMINGHAM, Utilita Arena Birmingham

Sat 14th GLASGOW, OVO Hydro

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. The band celebrate their continued legacy with a special 2LP & 2CD compilation The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023 – out now on [PIAS] Recordings.

https://www.texas.uk.com/

Following his recent return with new tracks ‘Blindside’ & ‘A Year Ago’, James Arthur today announces his fifth, brand new studio album Bitter Sweet Love – out January 26th, 2024 on Columbia Records.

James also announces his return to the stage with a huge UK & European tour that hits the UK in March next year for a run of 8 huge arena shows, including London’s Wembley OVO Arena on March 16th, 2024 (full dates below).

As well as featuring the two recently released singles, Bitter Sweet Love is James back to his very best, producing thirteen bites of world class music. After being on stage, it struck him how his fifth album should sound. A sold-out crowd was singing along to his hits, immersed in the emotion that James could hear in his own voice.

Within days of the tour ending in the States, James began sessions with different producers to see who could click with his vision. His final stop was in L.A. with Steve Solomon, with whom he co-wrote his 2016 megahit ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’.

Back in Britain, James attempted to write with more producers, but none came close to his bond with Steve, who flew over to finish the album at Miloco Studios in South London last summer, and produce a mature body of work, full of depth and oozing the impeccable songwriting quality that has defined James’s esteemed career to date.

The Middlesbrough-born, recent Brit Billion-certified artist has scored 4 top 10 albums, with 2016’s Back From The Edge hitting the Number 1 spot and over his career has collaborated with the likes of Anne-Marie, Sigala, Rudimental, Marshmello & many more.

James is one of the world’s biggest streaming artists, with over 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ became his breakthrough hit in the US. It was officially the UK’s most streamed song in 2016 and has gone on to be enjoyed via 4 billion streams while the song’s official video has achieved 1.5 billion views on YouTube. Earlier this year, the track became his first RIAA Diamond Single with 10 million certified units – making James one of just 100 recipients of an RIAA Diamond Single certification in the programme’s history.

Other huge hit singles include: ‘Impossible’, ‘Can I Be Him’, ‘Sun Comes Up’, ‘Naked’, ‘Empty Space’, ‘Rewrite The Stars’, ‘Falling Like the Stars’, ‘Train Wreck’ and ‘Lasting Lover’, which are all certified platinum records. The song Cars Outside is currently becoming another global hit for James.

Back from the Edge was released on October 28, 2016 and entered the UK Albums Chart at #1. James’ last album, 2021’s It’ll All Make Sense In The End, was a lockdown project recorded at home that leant heavily on programmed beats.

“The more albums you make and the more success you have, the more the pressure tends to be upon you. But I genuinely felt like a kid again, just making music I loved, not worried about trying to please everyone.”

James Arthur will play the following UK & Irish arena dates next year: Tickets on general sale Friday, September 22nd HERE.

March 2024

Sun 3rd Dublin, 3Arena

Tue 5th Bournemouth, International Centre

Wed 6th Birmingham, Utilita Arena
Fri 8th Sheffield, Utilita Arena

Sat 9th Newcastle, Utilita Arena

Sun 10th Hull, Connexin Live

Wed 13th Glasgow, OVO Hydro

Fri 15th Manchester, AO Arena

Sat 16th London, OVO Wembley Arena

After recently stepping out from behind the screen, half-Irish, half-Argentinian  lockdown sensation Luz (pronounced ‘Luce’) continues her recent re-emergence with magnificent new single ‘not going anywhere’ – an acoustic-led beauty, yet again showcasing both her hugely relatable songwriting and delicate, soul-piercing voice – listen HERE.

Alongside new music, Luz recently announced a trio of debut headline shows for October, selling out London’s Omeara in just three days (October 10th), for what will be one of 2023’s most highly-anticipated showcases.

‘not going anywhere’ follows the 2022 Ivor Novello Rising Star nominee’s recent return with the stunning ‘sustain’, as well as her previously captivating singles ‘the author’ & ‘counting houses’ and sees her entire catalogue having been streamed collectively more than 120 million times to date.

Luz comments; “This is the first song I wrote after having writer’s block for about a year and a half. I put a lot of pressure on myself on my last songs to follow them up with something equally as thought out and honest. I didn’t know what I wanted to say, and any attempt at writing something felt false. I went into a bit of a spiral, and felt I didn’t deserve a career in music. I lost all motivation. I felt like I was climbing an infinite ladder and didn’t see the point of going any further. I eventually did get pulled out of this by the people in my life. The chorus is them telling me that regardless of what happens, they’re ‘not going anywhere’.”

Luz first posted music secretly from her bedroom, with her identity always remaining anonymous. At the age of 16, she started to slowly lift the veil of secrecy and it was only then that she told her parents. Her mesmerising voice and emotive storytelling is sophisticated beyond her years, tackling issues such as mental health and sexuality. She has since caught the attention of Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Sigrid, Julia Michaels, Lewis Capaldi, Dermot Kennedy, Niall Horan and many more. 

Also, during lockdown, Luz put a piano version of Dua Lipa’s ‘Don’t Start Now’ on TikTok. Her cover has now amassed over 8 million views and was officially approved by Dua Lipa herself. She also featured alongside Noah Kahan for a mesmerising version of his single ‘Passenger’.

Having previously supported Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi and JP Saxe at one off dates, Luz will take on her debut headline shows in October, in Cork, Dublin & London. Tickets available HERE.

At just 22 years of age, tackling real life issues in real time, Luz enters the world as one of the most exciting new voices from Ireland. With lots more new music, and details of her debut headline shows to come, watch this space.

LUZ UK HEADLINE DATES
October

Thu 5th Cork, Crane Lane

Fri 6th Dublin, Academy Green Room

Tue 10th London, Omeara (SOLD OUT)

Follow Luz:
TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | YOUTUBE
SPOTIFY | FACEBOOK

Off the back of a string of summer festivals and supporting Muse, Twin Atlantic mark a return to their roots with raucous new single ‘Stuck In A Car With You’. The first taste of new music on their own label Staple Diet and currently in the studio working on new music, the band are back; bigger, bolder and with a confident swagger back in their stride. 

‘Stuck In A Car With You’ is infectious, raw, guitar driven pop rock at its very best. “’It’s a song about the little things in life that can pass you by,” Sam says of the track. “It’s easy to get wrapped up in life without acknowledging how important they are to you until you’re forced to imagine living without them.” Listen to ‘Stuck In A Car With You’ HERE.

Speaking of the new era of the band, Sam comments, “Stuck In A Car with You’ marks the beginning of a new chapter for Twin Atlantic. Having our friend Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Nova Twins) involved from the inception has been a full circle, satisfying moment. We worked together on our first EP and always knew we’d do another project. He’s been a mentor to our band on all things audio production and studio building for years so to have him besides us on this song and be a part of the Twin Atlantic story is so special to us.

The band will also head out on a run of very intimate shows this winter. Tickets for the dates are available HERE.

November 2023

Mon 13th Milton Keynes, Crauford Arms

Tue 14th Lincoln, Drill Hall

Wed 15th Southend-On-Sea, Chinnerys 

Fri 17th Guildford, Boileroom

Sat 18th Ipswich, Baths

Sun 19th Tunbridge Wells, The Forum

Tue 21st Bournemouth, Old Fire Station

Wed 22nd Hertford, Corn Exchange

Thu 23rd Hull, The Welly

Sat 25th York, The Cresent 

Sun 26th Blackpool, Bootleg Social

Mon 27th Chester, Live Rooms

‘Stuck In A Car With You’ is produced by lead singer Sam McTrusty and bassist Ross McNae and mixed by Romesh Dodangoda at Long Wave Recording Studio.

Twin Atlantic are Sam McTrusty, Ross McNae, Barry McKenna & Joe Lazarus.

Instagram // Twitter // YouTube // Spotify // Facebook 

twinatlantic.com 

Metric have released their new single, ‘Who Would You Be For Me.’ The single appears on their forthcoming album Formentera II, out on October 13 via Metric Music International/Thirty Tigers. The album is the surprise follow up to Metric’s 2022 album Formentera. In addition to the new single, both ‘Nothing Is Perfect’ and ‘Just The Once’ have been released in the past few weeks. 

“‘Who Would You Be For Me’ is a throwback lullaby set in NYC in 2002. All the action takes place in Tompkins Square Park, in a subway car, and at the café on St. Marks Place where I worked as a waitress when we were getting our start,”  lead singer Emily Haines says of the track. “Automatic behaviors and patterns are often fairly easy to flag in others, but can be a riddle to spot in yourself. In life and in love, all the emphasis in your mind can default to being what someone else wants until it dawns on you to consider your own desire. I could be the girl for you, but who would you be for me?”

This week also marks the 20 year anniversary of their remarkable debut, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, and Metric have re-issued the album on vinyl with new color variants (neon violet, hot pink and tangerine), available now in the Metric Store.

To celebrate this incredible milestone, Metric will also play a series of intimate concerts this autumn at some of their favourite clubs in the US, Canada and Europe. The shows will kick off on October 10th at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, with a run of very special Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw acoustic shows in London, Paris and Berlin. Tickets for are on sale now HERE. 

Formentera II was recorded primarily at the band’s own Main Street Studios in a rural hamlet outside Toronto from 2020-2022 and was completed at Motorbass Studios in Paris in 2023. From Main Street to Motorbass, this is Metric at its best.

As was the case with Formentera, the songs of Formentera II were brought to life with Metric’s tried and true co-engineering & co-production trinity of Jimmy Shaw, Liam O’Neil, and Gus van Go, this time with the trio guiding the unpredictable process to completion from Main Street to Motorbass in Paris, the studio where some of the band’s favorite artists and sources of inspiration such as Air, Daft Punk and Sébastien Tellier have worked, in the very neighborhood Metric first visited with Olivier Assayas in 2004 when working with the director on his Cannes Palme D’Or award-winning film Clean. The final touches that happened on Formentera II in Paris at the end of the European leg of Metric’s global Doomscroller Tour infused the album with fresh energy and made for a celebratory finish to the labyrinthine process of making these two ambitious albums during the pandemic.

Taken together, Formentera I & II embody an 18 song statement piece written and performed by a dedicated band of artists at the height of their sonic and songwriting powers. Solidifying their identity as genre-defying risk takers, as they did 20 years ago with their debut album, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, Metric’s ninth studio album Formentera II continues to build upon the body of work that drives the group’s urgent purpose, with Haines acting as a lighting rod at the helm, expressing and interpreting the turbulence of life in this world, giving our complex emotions a voice.

Formentera II will be released physically on CD and on limited edition marble blue vinyl as well as sea glass blue vinyl. Metric are also releasing a complete double vinyl set of both Formentera I & II on opaque white vinyl. It’s all available for pre-order now in the Metric store. Digital pre-orders are available HERE. Indie retailers will carry a limited edition clear pink version of the Formentera II  LP.

UK & EU DATES:
October:
Tues 17th The Courtyard Theatre, London
Thur 19th Etoile, Paris
Sat 21st Privat Klub, Berlin

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