“[Being Dead] have irresistible charm and a Pavement—level knack for speaking out of both sides of the mouth.” – 8.3 Pitchfork

““A thrilling ride through a barrage of ideas from one of the most imaginative and infectious bands to come out of the US this decade.” – 8/10 The Line Of Best Fit

“A classic on too much caffeine.” – 4* Far Out Magazine

“The balance between earnest storytelling and playful eccentricity is where EELS truly shines.” – Under The Radar

Following raucous sets at Wide Awake and The Great Escape in summer, Being Dead, the Austin, TX-based project of multi-instrumentalists and best friends Falcon Bitch and Shmoofy, have announced a run of UK and EU headline dates for February 2025. 

Kicking off at the Louisiana in Bristol on Sunday February 23rd, the UK run will see the psych-indie band bring their chaotic show back to these shores for four headline dates, including London’s Moth Club on Thursday February 27th. Tickets available now. 

Being Dead play the following UK & EU dates:

February 2025

Thu 13th Rusti, Copenhagen

Fri 14th Nochtwache, Hamburg

Sat 15th Urban Spree, Berlin

Mon 17th Paradiso, Amsterdam

Tue 18th Witloof Bar, Brussels

Wed 19th Pop Up du Label, Paris

Fri 21st Borderline Festival, Dublin

Sun 23rd Louisiana, Bristol

Tue 25th Glad Café, Glasgow

Wed 26th YES Basement, Manchester

Thu 27th Moth Club, London

The band have also shared the video for new single ‘Dragons II” from their sublime new album EELS. Appearing in its demo form on the album, the track was taped on a hand recorder and is unexpected but intuitive, and most importantly, singularly Being Dead. The ‘Dragons II’ video captures Being Dead performing live in a tunnel and showcases what the band says is them “writing the track in their rumpus room.” The video is directed and edited by Alex Winker, shot by Erik Gatlin, recorded and mixed by Will Clark, with titles by Alan “Rickman” Official. Watch the video HERE.

Being Dead recently wrapped their U.S. headline tour in support of EELS and will cap an incredible 2024 with a sold out performance at Gold Diggers in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 7th and a hometown show at Austin’s RADIO/EAST on Sunday, December 15th. More dates in 2025 will be announced soon. 

Being Dead’s records are mosaics, technicolor incantations, each song its own self-contained little universe. Something about their music suggests it’s a dispatch from both the future and the past – vocal harmonies that sound like they’re reverberating in a medieval church to surfy guitar lines, weirdo-punky cacophonies erupting into chaos. For EELS, they decamped to Los Angeles for two weeks to record with GRAMMY-winning producer John Congleton. EELS is a darker record, tapped more into the devilishness within, but it’s also a more raucous, rougher ride sonically. There’s heartbreak, excitement, enchantment, dancing. It’s a fitting encapsulation of Being Dead, exuding a welcoming, playful energy even if something foreboding lurks just beyond the pale.

Instagram | Bandcamp | Bayonet Records

Pendulum – one of the most iconic electronic rock acts of all time – are back and they are heading to the Yorkshire coast next summer.

The chart-topping and acclaimed Australian band headline TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Friday June 20. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday November 22 from ticketmaster.co.uk

Pendulum marked the end of a self-imposed hiatus earlier this year with two new stunning EPs ‘Elemental’ and ‘Anima’ along with a sensational run of headline festival shows. It has been an incredible journey for Pendulum since they formed in their native Perth in 2002.

Releasing their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Hold Your Colour’ in 2005, which included monster tracks ‘Slam’, ‘Fasten Your Seatbelt’, ‘Tarantula’ and ‘Blood Sugar’, Pendulum became instantly known for their unique blend of high-tempo productions and energetic shows. 

Led by Rob Swire and bandmates Gareth McGrillen and Paul Harding, the album went platinum and the band set about taking the world by storm. By the time 2008’s platinum-selling follow up ‘In Silico’ arrived, Pendulum were one of electronic music’s biggest live acts, with the album spawning the now legendary productions ‘Granite’ and ‘Propane Nightmares’.

Headlining stages at festivals worldwide, including Download, Creamfields, Coachella, Rock Am Ring, Reading/Leeds and T in the Park, Pendulum’s momentum continued to grow before releasing their third studio album in 2010, ‘Immersion’ which shot straight to Number 1 in the UK album charts.

After hitting the peak of their success, and to the shock of their fans, the guys decided in 2012 to take a break from the band and shifted their focus onto their Knife Party project.

But now Pendulum are well and truly back and ready for an incredible headline show at Scarborough OAT – the UK’s largest open-air concert venue.

Scarborough OAT venue programmer Julian Murray, of promoters Cuffe and Taylor, said: “Pendulum are one of the most important bands of the last 20 years and we are delighted to be adding them to our list of headliners for 2025.

“They returned earlier this year with two brilliant EPs that add to an incredible body of work which has won them an army of fans around the world and seen them headline some of the biggest venues and festivals.

“This is going to be another unmissable night at this very special venue.”

Pendulum join Rag’n’Bone Man, Blossoms, Shed Seven, Texas, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and The Script as the headliners already announced for TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre 2025.

A record-breaking 114,000 tickets were sold for 2024’s 18 Scarborough OAT headline shows from the likes of Jess Glynne, Simple Minds, Anne-Marie, Fatboy Slim, Paul Weller, Deacon Blue, Korn, Becky Hill, Tom Jones, Madness, James and comedian Bill Bailey.

For more information about TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre please visit scarboroughopenairtheatre.co.uk 

CONNECT WITH PENDULUM

OFFICIAL WEBSITE | X |FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

Pendulum – one of the most iconic electronic rock acts of all time – are back and they are heading to Yorkshire next summer.

The chart-topping and acclaimed Australian band will headline TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall on Saturday June 14. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday November 22 from ticketmaster.co.uk

Pendulum marked the end of a self-imposed hiatus earlier this year with two new stunning EPs ‘Elemental’ and ‘Anima’ along with a sensational run of headline festival shows. It has been an incredible journey for Pendulum since they formed in their native Perth in 2002.

Releasing their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Hold Your Colour’ in 2005, which included monster tracks ‘Slam’, ‘Fasten Your Seatbelt’, ‘Tarantula’ and ‘Blood Sugar’, Pendulum became instantly known for their unique blend of high-tempo productions and energetic shows. 

Led by Rob Swire and bandmates Gareth McGrillen and Paul Harding, the album went platinum and the band set about taking the world by storm. By the time 2008’s platinum-selling follow up ‘In Silico’ arrived, Pendulum were one of electronic music’s biggest live acts, with the album spawning the now legendary productions ‘Granite’ and ‘Propane Nightmares’.

Headlining stages at festivals worldwide, including Download, Creamfields, Coachella, Rock Am Ring, Reading/Leeds and T in the Park, Pendulum’s momentum continued to grow before releasing their third studio album in 2010, ‘Immersion’ which shot straight to Number 1 in the UK album charts.

After hitting the peak of their success, and to the shock of their fans, the guys decided in 2012 to take a break from the band and shifted their focus onto their Knife Party project.

But now Pendulum are well and truly back and ready for an incredible headline show in The Piece Hall’s iconic courtyard.

Nicky Chance Tompson MBE DL, CEO of The Piece Hall charitable trust, said: “What a time to be welcoming these iconic electronic pioneers to our courtyard. 

“With drum and bass hitting a whole new generation this will be incredibly exciting news for their original fans and those who are just discovering the band.

“The impact of their huge and unique sound combined with our stunning backdrop means we are in for one very powerful show.”

Pendulum join The Saw Doctors, Weezer, James, The Libertines, Simple Minds, Khruangbin, Texas, Olly Murs, Rag’n’Bone Man, UB40 ft Ali Campbell, Dean Lewis and The Script among the first headliners announced for TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall 2025.

The venue has just celebrated a record-breaking summer of live music as close to 200,000 music fans visited its iconic open-air courtyard with headline shows from the likes of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Blondie, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Sheryl Crow, Loyle Carner, Jungle, Korn, Biffy Clyro, Fatboy Slim and Bryan Adams, plus many more.

For more information on the 2025 series please visit thepiecehall.co.uk 

CONNECT WITH PENDULUM

OFFICIAL WEBSITE | X |FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

Rufus Wainwright is a musical polymath who occupies a unique and beloved place in our musical lives – singer, songwriter and composer of two operas and a musical.

His latest work, Dream Requiem, is an epic work for orchestra, chorus, soprano and narrator. It received its world premiere in June this year in Paris with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the chorus and children’s choir of Radio France conducted by Mikko Franck with Meryl Streep as the narrator and soprano Anna Prohaska.

On 17th January 2025, Warner Classics will release the live recording from the premiere on digital, CD and vinyl.. The first single, Sequentia V: Confutatis, is released today.

A co-commission from major cultural institutions in the US, UK and Europe, Dream Requiem was written during the pandemic and in Wainwright’s own words it’s a requiem “for the people we have lost in this crisis, for the past from which we are cut off and for the future to which we do not yet know how to connect, a Requiem for human contact, solidarity and the human voice that have all become dangerous and contagious.”

Dream Requiem is also a reflection on environmental collapse with its text combining words from the Latin Mass for the Dead – as used by Verdi, Britten, Mozart and many others – with Lord Byron’s apocalyptic poem Darkness, an imagined dream about total planetary ecological collapse written after the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1915 that darkened the skies worldwide and led to the “year without a summer.”

Both texts are interwoven in the composition but treated in a distinctly different manner musically. Byron’s text is mostly narrated by an actor and is underscored by dark orchestral arrangements demonstrating the brutality and sheer force of the apocalyptic images that the poem conjures. The Latin Requiem text is sung by a large mixed choir, children’s choir and soprano. Massive choral moments are interrupted by quieter soprano solo passages to underline the fragility of life and nature. Wainwright’s Dream Requiem ultimately overcomes this desolation and tragedy, giving rise to hope and beauty through the music.

Dream Requiem is dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi and Puccini. When his mother played him a recording of Verdi’s Requiem when he was 13, Wainwright underwent one of the most transformative experiences of his life, showing him a clear artistic path for his future.

The co-dedicatee, Puccini, isn’t the great operatic composer but Wainwright’s beloved little dog who was killed during the pandemic in a violent encounter with a larger dog when he was only 18 weeks old.

Rufus says; “No matter what one’s [spiritual] leanings are, as an artist when dealing with a strong and ancient sacred text revolving around death, you kinda have to go there. This, I humbly believe, happened while composing Dream Requiem. Be it turning 50 and my final earthly landscape beginning to form on the horizon; my latent catholic upbringing which, though not strict, was still incredibly impactful; or just the fact that this ain’t my first time at the rodeo; many strong forces converged in the composition of this piece and not once was I lacking in a sense of direction.”

Praised by the New York Times for his “genuine originality,” Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists, songwriters, and composers of his generation. The New York-born, Montreal-raised singer-songwriter has released eleven studio albums to date, three DVDs, and three live albums including the Grammy-nominated Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall.

He has collaborated with artists such as Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Miley Cyrus, David Byrne, Boy George, Joni Mitchell, Pet Shop Boys, Heart, Carly Rae Jepsen, Robbie Williams, Jessye Norman, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Sting, and producer Mark Ronson, among many others. He has written two operas, a musical and numerous songs for movies and TV.

His latest GRAMMY® nominated album Folkacracy reinvents folk duets with artists like Chaka Khan, Brandi Carlile, John Legend and Anohni and many more.

Over the next two years, Dream Requiem will be performed at major international venues including in 2025 Barcelona’s Palau de la Musica, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with Jane Fonda, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

Dream Requiem Tour Dates
Jan 25th Barcelona/Palau de la Musica
May 4th LA Master Chorale Walt Disney Concert Hall, with Jane Fonda
Jun 20th Amsterdam Concertgebouw, with Carice van Houten

Other dates to be announced in 2025 including major venues in Finland, Germany, Greece and Ireland.

Dream Requiem Track Listing:

1. Darkness I 
2. Requiem aeternam 
3. Lux perpetua 
4. Kyrie, eleison 
5. Sequentia I: Dies irae 
6. Darkness II
7. Sequentia II: Mors stupebit 
8. Sequentia III: Rex tremendae 
9. Sequentia IV: Ingemisco 
10. Sequentia V: Confutatis 
11. Darkness III 
12. Offertorium 
13. Sanctus 
14. Agnus Dei 
15. Lux Aeterna 
16. Darkness IV
17. In paradisum 
18. Applause

Artists:

Meryl Streep, narrator

Anna Prohaska, soprano

Nathan Mierdl (concertmaster), violin solo 

Marc Desmons (principal viola), viola solo

Maîtrise de Radio France, chorusmaster Marie-Noëlle Maerten

Choeur de Radio Francem, chorusmaster Guillemette Daboval

Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France

Mikko Franck, conductor

St. Vincent has released the new single ‘El Mero Cero,’ a Spanish language version of her song “Big Time Nothing.” It is the final single to preview the upcoming album Todos Nacen Gritando ahead of its release this Friday. 

Todos Nacen Gritando is the result of Annie Clark a/k/a St. Vincent’s ambitious decision to re-record every vocal track on her Grammy-nominated All Born Screaming album translated into Spanish. The echoes of tens of thousands of fans chanting her lyrics across Latin America and Spain moved Clark to pay tribute to her Spanish-speaking fans and the Spanish language she loves so much. “It was really inspiring,” she says, recalling experiences like the crowd reaction to her set at Primavera Sound 2023. “At the end, I asked myself, ‘If they’re able to sing in a second or third language, why can’t I do the same thing?”

That is how Todos Nacen Gritando was born. Clark defines this meticulous reinterpretation as one of the biggest challenges of her musical career: “It’s been a much more complicated process than anything I’ve done before.”

No small statement for an artist whose accomplishments and accolades include 3 Grammy awards (“Best Rock Song” in 2019 and “Best Alternative Music Album” in 2015 and 2022) — a tally that may wind up doubling (or more) with this year’s career-high 4 nominations — collaborations with artists from Taylor Swift to David Byrne, fronting Nirvana for their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, contributing to Paul McCartney‘s III-Imagined album and playing live with Metallica—and a just-announced pair of shows supporting Olivia Rodrigo in Mexico City and Curitiba, Brazil (Tickets for these newly unveiled dates will be on sale beginning November 12. For further information, go to ilovestvincent.com.)

The stark nature of the album —her first fully self-produced record— found in Spanish a way to enhance its visceral original vocal performances. “There are things that I sing in Spanish that maybe I would feel self-conscious singing in English because they feel so sincere… it was a fascinating experience to find how to convey the feeling, but also discover a new way through words,” she explains.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

11/16/24 – Corona Capital – Mexico City, MX

11/22/24 – Joyland – Jakarta, ID

11/25/24 – Palais Theatre – Melbourne, AU

11/26/24 – Her Majesty’s Theatre – Ballarat, AU

11/27/24 – Forum – Melbourne, AU

11/28/24 – Crown Aviary – Melbourne, AU

11/30/24 – Clockenflap – Hong Kong, CN

01/04/25 – Rockin’On Festival – Tokyo, JP

01/06/25 – YES 24 Live Hall – Seoul, KR

01/08/25 – The Filinvest Tent – Manila, PH

01/11/25 – AlterEgo – Los Angeles, CA

03/26/25 – Estadio Couto Pereira– Curitiba, Brazil (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

03/29/25 – Estéreo Picnic – Bogotá, CO

04/02/25 – Estadio GNP Seguros– Mexico City, Mexico (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

04/04/25 – Pa’l Norte – Monterrey, MX

04/06/25 – The Factory in Deep Ellum– Dallas, TX

04/07/25 – Moody Amphitheater– Austin, TX

04/08/25 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX

04/10/25 – Orpheum Theater – New Orleans, LA

04/11/25 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA

04/12/25 – Ting Pavilion – Charlottesville, VA

04/13/25 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA

04/15/25 – Agganis Arena – Boston, MA (w/ Nick Cave)

04/17/25 – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY (w/ Nick Cave)

04/18/25 – College Street Music Hall – New Haven, CT

https://ilovestvincent.com/

“Shultz remains a high-octane frontman, one of the most exciting in rock… Neon Pill mixes deeply personal vignettes with more abstract lyrics.” – Rolling Stone

“Space-age psychedelic and pumping love songs that could belong in Bowie’s galaxy…every track could be a single” – 4* Telegraph

‘A tight, refreshing return.’ – 7/10 Clash

Fresh off the back of a triumphant 47 date tour across the US this summer, selling 500,000 tickets, Grammy Award Winning rockers Cage The Elephant have announced they will return to the UK and Europe for a run of dates in February 2025. The shows will be the band’s first in the UK and Europe since 2019.

Kicking off at the O2 Academy in Glasgow on February 13th, the nine date run will see the band return to the O2 Academy Brixton in London on Monday February 17th before heading to Europe to play shows in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium, before finishing at the legendary Zenith Arena in Paris on February 26th.

Fans can sign-up to access the artist presale HERE which begins on Tuesday 12th November at 10am local time. Tickets and VIP will go on general sale Friday November 15th at 10am local time HERE

Cage The Elephant Play The Following Dates:
(Support on all dates comes from Sunflower Bean and Girl Tones)

February 2025

Thu 13th O2 Academy, Glasgow, UK

Fri 14th O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK

Sun 16th University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, Wolverhampton, UK

Mon 17th O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK

Thu 20th Palladium, Cologne, DE

Fri 21st Columbiahalle, Berlin, DE

Sun 23rd AFAS Live, Amsterdam, NL

Mon 24th Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, BE

Wed 26th Zenith, Paris, FR

The band recently announced they will be joining Oasis for their highly anticipated 2025 North American tour. The run will take the band to Toronto, Chicago, New Jersey, Los Angeles and Mexico City starting in August 2025.

Speaking on the announcement, Cage The Elephant’s front-man Matt Shultz shared “It’s an absolute honor being asked to support such a legendary group as Oasis, as well as being one of my all-time personal favorites. I’ll definitely be catching their set every single night on tour. A true blessing, couldn’t be more thrilled.” Brothers, Matt and Brad Shultz spoke about the announcement with Anthony Mason for CBS Mornings – watch HERE. 

Earlier this year, the GRAMMY® Award-winning, multi-platinum, and gold-selling band released their 6th studio album, Neon Pill via Columbia Records. Neon Pill finds the 6-piece—brothers Matthew Shultz [vocals] and Brad Shultz [guitar], Daniel Tichenor [bass], Jared Champion [drums], Nick Bockrath [lead guitar], and Matthan Minster [guitar, keys, backing vocals]— forging new musical ground, while maintaining their uncompromising creativity and wildly cathartic performances. Listen to Neon Pill HERE.

The band recently surpassed one billion streams for their single ‘Cigarette Daydreams’, and celebrated their twelfth Number 1 song on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay Chart for their song ‘Rainbow’, which they performed recently on NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon [watch HERE].

https://www.cagetheelephant.com/

Today, Live Nation and renowned live music promoter Cuffe & Taylor have revealed the first headliners for TK Maxx Presents Plymouth Summer Sessions 2025, taking place at Plymouth Hoe from 12–15 June.

Following the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural event, which drew thousands of fans, this year’s lineup kicks off on Thursday with legendary British band James, supported by Razorlight, Jamie Webster and Tom A Smith. Followed by the electrifying Pendulum on Friday, and beloved Snow Patrol closing the weekend on Sunday, with further names to still be announced. Fans eager to experience the full weekend lineup can purchase four-day passes on 15 November, with day tickets also available on general sale the same day via smmrsessions.com and ticketmaster.co.uk

Pendulum, one of the most iconic electronic acts in history, will be performing at Plymouth Hoe on Friday, 13 June. Since the release of critically acclaimed debut album ‘Hold Your Colour’ in 2005, which included massive hits like “Slam” and “Blood Sugar,” Pendulum has gained recognition for live shows which blend an eclectic combination of captivating visual effects and high-octane drum and bass rock. The band achieved significant success with their platinum-selling album ‘Immersion’ in 2010, which included chart-topping singles like “Watercolour.” With a headline UK arena tour earlier this year, Pendulum made a triumphant comeback in 2024, and they are set to continue that momentum with next summer’s performance at Plymouth Summer Sessions.

These shows mark the return of one of the UK’s most beloved live event series following the success of this summer’s Summer Sessions, which showcased artists like Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain, Bryan Adams, Sting, Tom Jones, Becky Hill across five locations in England and Wales.

Four-day passes and day tickets will be available on Friday, 15 November via smmrsessions.com and ticketmaster.co.uk. For the latest updates and more exciting announcements, fans can follow @smmrsessions on social media.

‘Uptown Funk’ was released on November 10th, 2014 and soon after dominated global airwaves, streaming and charts enjoying unprecedented worldwide success.

Written by Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars, Jeff Bhasker and Phillip Lawrence and produced by Mark, Bruno, and Jeff, ‘Uptown Funk’ delivered a sound like no other.

Mark had previously produced 3 tracks for Bruno Mars’ 2nd album ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’ and they wanted to work together again. They later enjoyed a studio jam with Jeff Bhasker that sowed the first seeds of what would become ‘Uptown Funk’.

“‘Uptown Funk’ remains one of the most meaningful musical experiences of my life,” Mark reflects. “Creating it in a jam with Bruno, Jeff, and Phil and then spending seven months refining every detail was a true labour of love. Performing it live on SNL is a memory I’ll always cherish. Now, watching how the song has taken on a life of its own—from clubs to weddings to graduations—I’m genuinely moved by the joy it seems to bring to people. I’m endlessly grateful to Trinidad James for sparking that initial inspiration and to my brothers Bruno, Jeff, and Phil for pouring their heart and brilliance into it.”

The stylish video, directed by Bruno Mars and Cameron Duddy, was released on November 17th, filmed on a New York City backlot created in a Hollywood Studio. On November 22nd, Mark and Bruno performed ‘Uptown Funk’ live for the first time on Saturday Night Live.

From then on records were broken around the world.

‘Uptown Funk’ topped the charts in 19 countries and was top 10 in 15 others. It spent 14 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and 7 weeks at #1 in the UK where it broke its own streaming record 3 times. It also broke US and global streaming records.

The song has received numerous awards and accolades including:

BRIT Award )2015) British Single of the Year

GRAMMY Award (2016) – Record of the Year 

GRAMMY Award (2016) – Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

BMI (2015) -Pop Song of the Year

iHeart Radio Music Awards (2016)- Collaboration of the Year

MTV Video Music Awards )2015)- Best Male Video

Soul Train Music Awards (2015)- Song & Video of the Year

APRA Music Awards (2016)- International Work of the Year

In the UK ‘Uptown Funk’ is 10x Platinum and in the US 11x Platinum while the latest global streams are 1.2billion.

Roll sound! Roll camera! The Amazons are back. After a huge Top 5 record with 2022’s How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me?, the band returned recently with the emphatic ‘Living A Lie’. Today, they present 21st Century Fiction: their darkest and most heartfelt record to date – out May 9th, 2025.

Latest offering – the Muse-meets-soul rock-noir ‘Pitch Black’ – is out today and speaks to the pressures and crushing weight on frontman Matthew Thomson to live up to what he has been led to believe is a ‘real man’. Listen here. 

“The Dress Rehearsal For Life Is Over, So We’d Better
Make Our Mark Now.”

‘Now’ – it’s a strong word that speaks to the urgency and ethos of the Reading band’s fourth album. 21st Century Fiction is the sound of “a man in his late 20s, struggling with unrealistic ideals of masculinity and a sense of unfulfilled promise”, surrounded by “a world plagued by chaos”. This is the time to take stock and captain your own ship. 

The record “comes from the frustration of being in that place where my 20s were ending and being really cognisant of that,” says Thomson, of that spot where the adolescent dream collapses under “self-flagellation; always wondering what’s around the corner, always scolding myself for not matching up to some unattainable ideals of what it means to be a successful band or even just a man.”

These were songs that Thomson needed to write, not just to lift himself from the doldrums but for a generation of young males with the same struggles. Take the call-to-arms grunge of ‘Night After Night’ and the rollicking blues of ‘Love Is A Dog From Hell’ – both helmed by Catherine Marks at Real World Studios; a reunion with the producer of their first two albums who has since gone on to win her first Grammy after producing The Record by boygenius.

There is also the tender but towering ‘Go All The Way’, through the Jack White snarl of ‘Wake Me Up’, and the hard rock undoing of ‘Joe Bought A Gun’ (the latter squaring up against the cycle of violence in American society), the rest of the album enjoyed the “freeing” experience of being produced by Pete Hutchings (Foals, Royal Blood, Gang Of Youths) – aside from the beefy and triumphant ‘My Blood’ – produced by Royal Blood frontman Mike Kerr and featuring drummer Ben Thatcher.

How did the teenage Thomson imagine his life as he approached 30? 

“I definitely imagined financial security, having a house,” he says, admitting that the state of the economy and a music industry in turmoil has seen these milestones fall by the wayside. “I also wasn’t happy about the composition of myself when I looked in the mirror. I spent thousands of pounds in my 20s on personal trainers, supplements and the idea that I was going to be fitter, stronger and look like the people you’d see on Instagram and in the movies. I thought I’d get closer to the ideal of what a man should be: stoic, doesn’t talk much, sexy, elegant, always knows what to say, has practical skills, and financial fluency. I was thinking about entering my 30s, and I wasn’t amounting to any of that.”

21st Century Fiction signals the emergence of The Amazons’ bold new sound – still loaded with riffs and roaring with aggression, but packed with a whole new level of introspection, energy and grandiose. With three huge Top 10 records and sold out shows across the globe under their belts, The Amazons are facing their futures: fired up and ready to go.

Let the show begin!

21st Century Fiction Track Listing

1. Living A Lie
2. Night After Night
3. (Panic) (Interlude)
4. Pitch Black
5. My Blood
6. (Shake Me Down) (Interlude)
7. Wake Me Up
8. (Intermission) (Interlude)
9. Joe Bought A Gun
10. Love Is A Dog From Hell
11. The Heat! pt.2
12. Heaven Now
13. Go All The Way

theamazons.co.uk 

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Twenty years ago, Martha Wainwright stepped out of her family’s illustrious shadow and announced herself to the world with her stunning debut album ‘Martha Wainwright’. Featuring ‘Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole’, a song about her father, ‘Factory’ and ‘When The Day Is Short’, it immediately proved she was a major talent to be reckoned with. 

This Spring, PIAS will release this album on vinyl for the very first time. The Sunday Times called her ‘a tour de force’, Uncut described the disc as ‘brilliant’ while Q said she was ‘a thing of wonder’. She is all that and more and twenty years on continues to enthral both onstage and record.

Martha Wainwright plays the following dates next May/June. Tickets go on sale November 8th. 

May 2025

Tue 27th Bury St Edmunds, The Apex

Wed 28th Stroud, Subscription Rooms

Thu 29th Worthing, Pavilion Theatre

Fri 30th London, Union Chapel

Sat 31st Manchester, New Century Hall

June 2025

Sun 1st Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall

Tue 3rd Sunderland, The Fire Station

Wed 4th Edinburgh, The Queens Hall

Fri 6th Belfast, Mandela Hall

Sat 7th Dublin, The Button Factory

“20 years ago my life as an artist took shape when my first record was released,” Martha recalls. “In many ways that record defined me, as well as launched me into a now over 20 year long career that has made me who I am. It was after 10 years of playing in bars, making cassettes and EPs to sell at my shows, singing backup for my brother Rufus, falling in love and out of love, practising, writing, singing until I could barely sing anymore, partying, playing with musicians and listening to great artists, working with my ex-husband in the studio for 2 years, all that created this first record.”

“20 years later, with 6 other albums under my belt, 2 kids and a career that is chugging along, I can safely say my first record paved my way forward. On March 21st we will release the record on vinyl for the first time ever as well as digitally release unheard songs, outtakes and early material from that 10 year period of discovery that led to my first record. There will be a tour with a few great musicians, where I’ll play the record in its entirety as well as a few new songs- there’s no 48 year old me with the 28 year old me.”

Revered singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams has just released a sensational cover of The Beatles’ “Something”. Williams’ captivating rendition of the George Harrison classic appears on the forthcoming album Lucinda Williams Sings The Beatles From Abbey Road, which comes out on December 6th via Highway 20 Records/Thirty Tigers. 

“Something” was filmed during the recording at the legendary studio, watch the video here. The clip features Williams with her band – Marc Ford (guitar), Butch Norton (drums), Doug Pettibone (guitar), David Sutton (bass), with Richard Causon (Hammond B-3) and Siobhan M Kennedy (backing vocals). The video was shot by Neighbourhoods Apart Productions.

While many great artists have recorded at Abbey Road Studios, it turns out that Williams is the first major artist to actually record Beatles’ songs there aside from the Fab Four themselves. Lucinda Williams Sings The Beatles From Abbey Road serves as Vol. 7 of her celebrated Lu’s Jukebox series and is the first new volume in almost four years. 

As an acclaimed, award-winning singer/songwriter for more than four decades, Williams is a pioneering artist whose music has been highly influential and covered by a multitude of others. Williams is also an extraordinary interpreter who, like all great interpreters, has the ability to inhabit a song and make it her own. She does just that throughout this selection of Beatles tracks, as she has done on each Lu’s Jukebox volume.

Lu’s Jukebox originally began during the pandemic in 2020 as a way to help independent music venues when there were no live performances. Scheduled as a six-episode series of mostly full-band, HD video performances in-studio, the series featured themed sets of cover songs curated by Williams and streamed for a fee with proceeds going to designated venues. The series became a fan favourite and each has been released on vinyl, CD and via streaming services. 

The original six in Lu’s Jukebox are ,Vol 1 – Runnin’ Down A Dream (A Tribute To Tom Petty), Vol 2 – Southern Soul: From Memphis To Muscle Shoals & More, Vol 3 – Bob’s Back Pages: A Night Of Bob Dylan Songs, Vol 4 – Funny How Time Slips Away: A Night Of 60’s Country Classics. Vol 5 – Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas, Vol 6 – You Are Cordially Invited: A Tribute To The Rolling Stones. 

LucindaWilliams.com

After announcing a massive hometown show at Leeds’ Temple Newsam Park for May 2025, to celebrate 20 years of their iconic debut album Employment, Yorkshire indie icons Kaiser Chiefs announce further 20th anniversary celebration shows for next summer, including London’s Alexandra Palace Park, Brighton Beach and more.

Starting in Port Talbot on May 23rd, the band will bring pure joy across the UK as they celebrate 20 years of their iconic debut album, making their way to Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, London, Brighton, Cumbria & Newquay – full dates below.

Kaiser Chiefs said: “20 years ago, a brand new song by a brand new band was released. I Predict A Riot was the start of something really special for some musicians from Leeds. And the album that followed, Employment, changed our lives and has soundtracked the lives of millions of others since 2005. In 2025 we are saluting 20 years of that album and everyone is invited. Come celebrate the 2000’s, loving everything less & less and stripey blazers taking over the world. See you all next year.”

Released in March 2005, the seven-times Platinum and multi-award winning ‘Employment’ remains the biggest ever selling record from a Leeds artist, with hits from the record like ‘I Predict A Riot’ and ‘Oh My God’ becoming anthems for the city; forever intertwined with Leeds life, culture, football and more.

Coming home to Leeds on Saturday 31st May, the band will be joined by an incredible supporting cast of their mid-noughties peers, including a return to Yorkshire for London quintet Razorlight who are set to perform a special show to mark 20 years since the release of their seminal debut album ‘Up All Night’. Also joining them on the bill are local heroes The Cribs (who in turn will celebrate 20 years since their classic sophomore album ‘The New Fellas’), Merseyside’s finest The Coral, and cult-favourite US indie rockers We Are Scientists (who will also honour the 20th release anniversary of their exhilarating major label debut ‘With Love And Squalor’).

As well as marking one of the great eras of British indie music, the band will also be keeping one eye on the future, inviting two of the most exciting new indie artists in the UK to open the day; Hastings trio HotWax and West Yorkshire’s own Ellur.

Tickets On Sale – Friday, November 8th @ 9.00am HERE.

2025 UK OUTDOOR SHOWS
May
Fri 23rd PORT TALBOT, In It Together
Sat 31st LEEDS, Temple Newsam Park

June
Thu 26th BRISTOL, Bristol Sounds

July
Fri 4th EDINBURGH, Edinburgh Castle

Sat 19th LONDON, Alexandra Palace Park
Sun 27th BRIGHTON, Brighton Beach

Thu 31st CUMBRIA, Kendall Calling Festival

August
Fri 8th NEWQUAY, Boardmasters Festival

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