As heard on his recent debut solo EP ‘Manabi’, James McVey is relishing the freedom of working independently – his timeless singer-songwriter style the vehicle for him to express a sea of emotions and introspective thoughts, with his voice sounding stronger than ever a year after he underwent career-saving surgery.
Now he takes that creative liberation further with this summer’s release of his upcoming EP ‘Letters Home’ – five songs that were written and recorded as he toured Europe with Henry Moodie at the start of 2024. He introduces the EP by sharing its first track, ‘All The Things’. Listen below.
A product of missing home, ‘All The Things’ shows how such an instantaneous process can so naturally capture the feeling of the moment. With no time to overthink or complicate things, James gets straight to the heart of what he wants to express: unadorned romance with a poetic touch. The music is just as warm and tender – a stripped-back style elevated by sparse and carefully considered production embellishments.
And when you’re writing in such a relaxed way, your collaborators tend to be whoever you happen to be with at the time – in this case his regular co-writer and live band member Alex Stacey and Henry Moodie of ‘drunk text’ fame.
James says, “‘All The Things’ was written and produced on the tour bus between shows. It started at the front of the bus with Alex. The chorus came pretty quickly but we wanted to get a new set of ears on it. I called Henry up from downstairs and he started humming melodies. Before we knew it, we had the verse melody. Alex and I then worked on the lyrics over the next 24 hours and two days later we added it to our set on tour.
The song pertains to the feeling of leaving the one you love and recognising all the things you take for granted when you’re apart. I figured there’s no better place to test it out than the audience on tour. Writing, recording and performing a song in the space of a few days is something I’ve never done before. It was extremely liberating and inspired us to keep on writing on the road, ultimately resulting in the ‘Letters Home’ EP.”
The rest of the ‘Letters Home’ EP mixes up acoustic confessionals, stomping folk-rock and some more layered alt-pop compositions, all while saying the things that you might mean in the moment but then shy away from in the studio. After the slower evolution of ‘Manabi’, ‘Letters Home’ further underlines how much James has to offer alongside his arena-filling, chart-topping success with The Vamps.
James’s month-long tour as special guest to Henry Moodie followed his debut sold-out headline show at Hoxton Hall. He is currently on the road for his first full headline tour and has completed four shows already, including a London date at Lafayette. Remaining tickets are available HERE.
MAY
8th – Newcastle, The Cluny 2
10th – Manchester, The Deaf Institute
12th – Glasgow, King Tuts
15th – Cologne, YUCA
16th – Amsterdam, Melkweg (upstairs)
‘Letters Home’ EP tracklist:
‘All The Things’
‘Hate How I Hurt You’
‘Thick and Thin’
‘State of Mine’
‘Hold On To The Times’
Stormzy at EXIT Festival 2016 - by Exit Festival - licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled extravaganza at Silverstone! From July 4th to 7th, the legendary motorsport event roars back to life on the historic Silverstone track. But it’s not just about the race – the British Grand Prix promises a thrilling spectacle packed with velocity, precision, and pure exhilaration.
Silverstone Circuit, a cornerstone of British motorsport, ensures an unparalleled experience for fans, drivers, and teams alike. The festival vibe amps up with international headliners like Stormzy, Pete Tong, Kings of Leon, and Rudimental igniting the main stage throughout the four-day weekend.
Foo Fighters are releasing extra tickets for all seven of their eagerly anticipated upcoming UK stadium shows this Summer!
Dubbed the Everything or Nothing at All UK Tour, these seven monumental stadium dates will take place in Manchester, Glasgow, London, Cardiff and Birmingham over the course of 13th June through 27th June. Final tickets go on sale Friday, May 10th at 9.00am BST HERE.
Support on Foo Fighters’ Everything or Nothing at All UK Tour will come from Wet Leg, Courtney Barnett, Chroma, Himalayas, Honeyblood, Hot Milk, and Shame. See below for a complete list of dates and corresponding support acts.
‘EVERYTHING OR NOTHING AT ALL’ UK TOUR
JUNE
13th Manchester, Emirates Old Trafford Stadium (Wet Leg + Loose Articles)
15th Manchester, Emirates Old Trafford Stadium (Courtney Barnett + Chroma)
17th Glasgow, Hampden Stadium (Courtney Barnett + Honeyblood)
20th London, London Stadium (Wet Leg + Shame)
22nd London, London Stadium (Courtney Barnett + Hot Milk)
25th Cardiff, Principality Stadium (Wet Leg + Himalayas)
27th Birmingham, Villa Park Stadium (Courtney Barnett + Hot Milk)
This summer’s dates will mark Foo Fighters’ most extensive UK trek since the June 2nd release of their unanimously acclaimed 11th album, But Here We Are, which smashed into the UK charts at #1 — the sixth Foo Fighters album to do so — while generating some of the most positive critical notes of the band’s career.
Today The Ivors Academy announces the nominations for The Ivors 2024 with Amazon Music, recognising and celebrating outstanding songwriters and composers across eight categories – including Best Album, Best Contemporary Song, Best Original Film Score, PRS for Music Most Performed Work and the Rising Star Award with Amazon Music. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony taking place at Grosvenor House, London, on Thursday 23rd May 2024.
Recognised as the pinnacle of creative musical achievement since they were first presented in 1956, winning an Ivor Novello holds a special place in music as they are judged by award-winning songwriters and composers from The Ivors Academy, with winners joining a roll call of greats that includes Adele, Stormzy, Annie Lennox, Sting, Amy Winehouse, Joan Armatrading, Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
Tom Gray, Chair of The Ivors Academy, said, “The 2024 Ivor Novello Award nominees represent a remarkable breadth of talent, showcasing the wide-ranging creativity and innovation that defines British and Irish songwriting and screen composing. From established voices to rising stars, this year’s list reflects an ever-evolving musical landscape and celebrates the writing craft that soundtracks our lives.”
Roberto Neri, Chief Executive of The Ivors Academy, said, “On behalf The Ivors Academy and our community of songwriters and composers, I’m delighted to congratulate all our nominees and thank our members who judge the awards. It is this recognition by your peers that makes an Ivor Novello Award so meaningful, and I look forward to celebrating the highest achievements at an inspiring awards ceremony in May.”
This year, 77 songwriters and composers have received Ivor Novello nominations, with 60% of them receiving a nomination for the very first time. Leading the way are Sampha and Yussef Dayes, who are both up for two Ivors each across the songwriting categories, while composer Daniel Pemberton is nominated twice in the screen categories.
The Ivor Novello for Best Album celebrates consistent and inventive creativity, as well as exceptional songwriting. A variety of genres and styles are represented this year through its nominees, from RAYE’s chart-topping pop debut My 21st Century Blues (also written by Mike Sabath) to the bustling jazz record Black Classical Music from Yussef Dayes (also written by Rocco Palladino and Charlie Stacey). Sampha’s Lahai receives recognition, as do Irish songwriters CMAT for Crazymad, for Me and Lankum for False Lankum (written by Daragh Lynch, Ian Lynch, Cormac MacDiarmada and Radie Peat).
Presented since 1957, the Ivor Novello for Best Song Musically and Lyrically acknowledges outstanding song craft. Tom Odell receives his second nomination in as many years for “Black Friday”, Yussef Dayes and Sampha both receive their second nomination for co-writing Sampha’s “Spirit 2.0”, and 2023 Rising Star winner Victoria Canal returns with “Black Swan”. Also nominated are The Japanese House for “Sunshine Baby” and Blur for “The Narcissist” – 29 years on from the group’s first Ivors nomination.
The BestContemporary Song category celebrates originality in songwriting. Jungle’s “Back on 74” gives Lydia Kitto, J Lloyd and Tom McFarland their first Ivor Novello nomination. Fred again.. & Brian Eno’s “Enough” picks up a nod, as does Kae Tempest and jazz ensemble Speakers Corner Quartet for “Geronimo Blues”. Crafted with British songwriters Barney Lister and 2023 Rising Star nominee Ines Dunn, METTE’s “Mama’s Eyes” is celebrated, as are the songwriting team behind Tyla’s international smash, “Water”.
In the PRS for Music Most Performed Work category, the 2022 hit “As It Was” by Harry Styles, Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson is nominated for the second year running. Also nominated is PinkPantheress & Ice Spice’s “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2”, Jazzy’s “Giving Me”, Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” and the UK Number 1 track from Dave & Central Cee, “Sprinter”.
Returning for its fifth year, the Rising Star Award with Amazon Music champions Britain and Ireland’s most promising songwriting talents, with three of its past nominees all up for gongs this year (Victoria Canal, PinkPantheress and Ines Dunn). Hoping to claim the prize this year are Blair Davie, Chrissi, Elmiene, Master Peace and Nino SLG – with each songwriter receiving their first Ivor Novello nomination.
The Ivors also recognises Britain and Ireland’s finest composers across film, TV and video games. The nominees for Best Original Film Score are Jerskin Fendrix’s debut film score for the Oscar-winning Poor Things; Daniel Pemberton’s score for Marvel’s animated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Carly Paradis’ score for Carol Morley’s feature about the artist Audrey Amiss, Typist Artist Pirate King.
Daniel Pemberton is also nominated in the Best Television Soundtrack category, this time for his work on spy drama Slow Horses. He will be up against Dominik Scherrer for the BBC drama Boat Story, Martin Phipps for the final season of Netflix’s The Crown, Arthur Sharpe’s score for The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies and finally, Benjamin Kwasi Burrell’s soundtrack to Lenny Henry’s six-part ITV drama Three Little Birds.
Nominated for Best Original Video GameScore are three distinct titles. Walter Mair’s soundtrack for the first-person shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III; Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab’s work on the action-adventure game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor; and Matthew Chastney’s soundtrack for the immersive puzzle adventure game, Tin Hearts. All three deliver original and exceptionally crafted music in support of the gameplay.
Music fans can now listen to tracks from the nominees on The Ivors 2024 playlist on Amazon Music here.
As previously announced, Bruce Springsteen will become the first-ever international songwriter to become a Fellow of the Academy, the highest honour the Academy bestows.
Ivor Novello Awards will also be presented for the Songwriter of the Year with Amazon Music, Outstanding Song Collection with PRS for Music, Visionary Award with Amazon Music, Special International Award, and Outstanding Contribution to British Music.
The Ivors 2024 nominations:
BEST ALBUM
BLACK CLASSICAL MUSIC
written by Yussef Dayes, Rocco Palladino and Charlie Stacey
performed by Yussef Dayes
music published in the UK by YD Music-Kobalt Music Publishing and Sentric Music
CRAZYMAD, FOR ME
written and performed by CMAT
music published in the UK by BMG
FALSE LANKUM
written by Daragh Lynch, Ian Lynch, Cormac MacDiarmada and Radie Peat
performed by Lankum
music published in the UK by Beggars Music
LAHAI
written and performed by Sampha
music published in the UK by Young Songs-Sony Music Publishing
MY 21ST CENTURY BLUES
written by RAYE and Mike Sabath
performed by RAYE
music published in the UK by Warner Chappell Music Ltd and Sony Music Publishing
BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG
BACK ON 74
written by Lydia Kitto, J Lloyd and Tom McFarland
performed by Jungle
music published in the UK by Handsome Dad Publishing-Sony Music Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing
ENOUGH
written by Brian Eno, Fred Gibson, Buddy Ross and Winnie Raeder
performed by Fred again.. & Brian Eno
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing, Promised Land Music-Sony Music Publishing, Heavy Duty-Kobalt Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music Ltd
GERONIMO BLUES
written by Kwake Bass, Peter Bennie, Biscuit, Raven Bush and Kae Tempest
performed by Speakers Corner Quartet feat. Kae Tempest
music published in the UK by Warp Publishing and Domino Publishing Company
MAMA’S EYES
written by Todd Dulaney, Ines Dunn, Barney Lister and METTE
performed by METTE
music published in the UK by MNRK Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Promised Land Music-Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music Ltd
WATER
written by Imani ‘Mocha’ Lewis, Corey Lindsay-Keay, Jackson Lomastro, Ari PenSmith, Rayo, Sammy Soso and Olmo Zucca
performed by Tyla
music published in the UK by Always Forward Thinking-Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Ltd, Concord Music Publishing and Sony Music Publishing
BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY
BLACK FRIDAY
written by Laurie Blundell, Max Clilverd and Tom Odell
performed by Tom Odell
music published in the UK by Kobalt Music Publishing-UROK Music Publishing
BLACK SWAN
written by Victoria Canal, Jonny Lattimer and Eg White
performed by Victoria Canal
music published in the UK by Second Songs-Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Ltd and Universal Music Publishing
SPIRIT 2.0
written by Yussef Dayes and Sampha
performed by Sampha
music published in the UK by YD Music-Kobalt Music Publishing and Young Songs-Sony Music Publishing
SUNSHINE BABY
written by Amber Bain
performed by The Japanese House
music published in the UK by Dirty Hit Songs-Kobalt Music Publishing
THE NARCISSIST
written by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree
performed by Blur
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing and BMG
PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORK
AS IT WAS
written by Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson and Harry Styles
performed by Harry Styles
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing and Pulse Songs-Concord Music Publishing
BOY’S A LIAR PT. 2
written by Ice Spice, Mura Masa and PinkPantheress
performed by PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing, BMG and Sony Music Publishing
GIVING ME
written by Conor Bissett, Robert Griffiths and Jazzy
performed by Jazzy
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
SPRINTER
written by Central Cee, Dave, Jo Caleb and Jonny Leslie
performed by Dave & Central Cee
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Ltd and Kobalt Music Publishing
STRANGERS
written and performed by Kenya Grace
music published by Warner Chappell Music Ltd
RISING STAR AWARD WITH AMAZON MUSIC
Blair Davie
Chrissi
Elmiene
Master Peace
Nino SLG
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
POOR THINGS
composed by Jerskin Fendrix
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
composed by Daniel Pemberton
music published in the UK by Sony Music Publishing
TYPIST ARTIST PIRATE KING
composed by Carly Paradis
BEST ORIGINAL VIDEO GAME SCORE
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE III
composed by Walter Mair
STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR
composed by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab
music published in the UK by Universal Music Publishing
TIN HEARTS
composed by Matthew Chastney
music published in the UK by Sentric Music
BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK
BOAT STORY
composed by Dominik Scherrer
music published in the UK by Du Vinage Publishing and Sony Music Publishing
SLOW HORSES SEASON 3
composed by Daniel Pemberton and Toydrum
music published in the UK by Apple-Sony Music Publishing
THE CROWN THE FINAL SEASON
composed by Martin Phipps
music published in the UK by Du Vinage Publishing and Sony Music Publishing
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE BASED ON A PACK OF LIES
composed by Arthur Sharpe
music published in the UK by BDi Music obo Sister Pictures and Rights Worldwide
THREE LITTLE BIRDS
composed by Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Madonna - Credit: youngrobv - licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
On Saturday night, Madonna performed a free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana beach, attracting a massive crowd of over 1.6 million fans. The concert marked the final stop on her Celebration Tour, which celebrated her 40 years in the music industry.
“Rio, here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” Madonna declared as the performance began. The 65-year-old pop idol impressed the audience with multiple set and costume changes, light displays, and performances of her greatest hits, including “Nothing Really Matters,” “Like a Prayer,” and “Vogue.” She was joined on stage by Brazilian singer Anitta at one point.
The concert was a historic event, with giant screens set up along the beach to ensure that the largely Brazilian crowd could see the performance. Some fans watched from apartments, hotels, or boats, while others danced along to Madonna’s songs played from speakers on the stage hours before her arrival.
The neighbourhood was filled with excitement ahead of the concert, with T-shirts, souvenirs, and billboards featuring Madonna’s face. A large police presence was also on hand to ensure the safety of all attendees.
Madonna has had an illustrious career, with 71 hits, including 13 number one singles, since bursting onto the UK charts with “Holiday” in 1984. Her energetic performances have been a hallmark of her tour, which consisted of 80 shows across Europe and North America.
The Rio concert was a fitting finale to her tour, showcasing her enduring popularity and dedication to her craft.
The explosion of reality TV such as The Traitors onto our television screens at the end of the last millennium is one of the major global phenomena in recent media history.
Purporting to show people in unscripted, “real life” situations, this genre of programming took the world by storm and drew in audiences in their millions, much to the delight of television executives. But recent viewing figures suggest the format may have had its day, and is certainly no longer the success story it once was.
The roots of reality TV in the UK can be traced back to the BBC’s landmark 1974 documentary series, The Family, which was one of the first fly-on-the-wall documentaries on British television. But it was at the turn of the millennium, amid increased competition between broadcasters and audiences becoming fragmented between the growing number of content providers, that reality television really took off.
So-called “docusoaps” such as the BBC’s Airport and Driving School in the late 1990s combined elements of the observational documentary with soap opera-like narratives. These led to further programmes which focused on “real” or “normal” people. And then into this mix came US-style confessional talk shows and televised social experiments, such as Channel 4’s Big Brother.
Twenty years on, the golden age of reality TV may be over as audiences dwindle. ITV’s decision to cancel Survivor in 2022 after just two seasons, citing poor ratings and audience indifference, exemplifies this decline. The show was picked up by the BBC in 2023 where, once again, it faces the axe due to dismal audiences.
Similarly, one of ITV’s flagship shows, Love Island, has seen a dramatic drop in viewership. The programme’s 2023 launch episode attracted just 1.3 million viewers – 2 million less than for the launch of the 2019 series.
Why the decline?
There are several possible reasons why the popularity of reality television is waning. For one thing, the global media landscape has changed considerably since the turn of the century, and continues to do so. Those wanting a dose of reality (or maybe mediated reality) now have a range of platforms from which to choose. Social media platforms and podcasts now provide a similar window on the lives of “real people”.
Another factor is that audiences have become more media literate in recent years. There is greater awareness that shows in this genre are, in many cases, scripted and constructed, often with certain narratives created by means of editing.
An item from a 2007 episode of BBC Two’s Screenwipe delves into reality TV editing.
Furthermore, viewers have become more aware of the effect these reality TV series can have on some participants. In May 2019, for example, ITV’s The Jeremy Kyle Show was taken off the air after one of its guests subsequently took their own life.
The show, which allowed guests to discuss personal and relationship problems openly, often used lie detector tests and paternity tests as programme features. Such was the concern after the guest’s death that the UK government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport launched an inquiry.
The controversy surrounding some of these shows continues long after their airing. A new Channel 4 documentary series about a controversial reality show from 2004 has drawn criticism from several commentators in the press. Miriam: Death of a Reality Star documents the Sky series There’s Something About Miriam, in which six men attempted to capture the attention of Miriam Rivera, a 21-year-old Mexican model who, unbeknown to them, was transgender.
The new documentary has been accused of exploiting the story for shock value, while failing to offer a balanced perspective or new information about the tragic events surrounding the show’s star.
There have been longstanding concerns about how some reality TV shows can affect both their cast and crew. Research has highlighted long hours, bullying and harassment as just some of the problems they may face.
The Traitors
One series, however, has bucked this reality TV trend. The BBC’s The Traitors has aired for two seasons with a third having been commissioned. The audience for the second season’s finale peaked at 6.9 million, making it the most-watched show on British television in the week to January 28 2024.
So, how do we explain the success of The Traitors in light of the overall decline in reality TV’s popularity? One reason may be the way the participants are selected. A 2023 article in GQ magazine explained it like this: “The cast were ‘normal’ people of all ages and body types. Not influencers or gym-goers primed for fame, but the kind of people who might know your mum from Zumba class, or work at the checkout in your local supermarket.”
Another reason may be that British audiences are fascinated by the duplicity and deception that runs through The Traitors. Many of us engage with the “hyper-real” nature of the show. As sociologist Danielle Lindemann argues: “It’s like our own lives but more extreme – a funhouse where everything is accentuated. We all know liars in our lives, but probably not to this extreme.”
To its credit, reality TV has adapted and evolved to a multi-channel, multi-provider environment. Big Brother, for example, moved from Channel 4 to Channel 5 in 2011 and then found a new home on ITV1 in 2023, with a companion discussion show on ITV2.
So, using further technological advances could be one way to address the fall in the genre’s popularity.
Virtual and augmented reality experiences could, for example, offer audiences the chance to influence the outcome of programmes beyond the types of engagement that we see at the moment, such as voting by text or online. It’s interesting to contemplate how much more daring producers may become – whether in terms of format, contestants or content – were they to take advantage of this technology.
Such innovations could push the boundaries of the genre, forcing producers to prioritise genuine scenarios and unpredictable outcomes – a return to the very elements that first captivated viewers.
Multi-platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter, producer, and philanthropist Zayn announces a global exclusive live event, presented by Noyz, to celebrate his forthcoming album, Room Under The Stairs, set for release 17th May via Mercury Records / Island Records UK. Tickets only available via the UK album pre-sale link.
For one night only, Zayn will make his debut live appearance at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 17th May, marking his album release and first-ever global solo performance. ZAYN will perform a selection of songs from Room Under The Stairs, with his performance following the world premiere of the ‘Road Back To The Mic’ documentary.
Such is the anticipation for Zayn’s upcoming album that his signings at Banquet Records on 18th May have already garnered over 1M+ page views on the store’s website. In response to this incredible demand, Zayn has announced an additional signing event on 19th May.
For the past few years, Zayn has been writing and crafting Room Under The Stairs at his home studio in rural Pennsylvania. This album marks his most personal release to date, reflecting where he is in life, while exploring the complexities of healing, stillness, and growth. It also sees the genre-bending artist explore a new sound, leaning into his soulful vocals, live instrumentation, and poetic lyricism as a songwriter.
Reflecting upon Room Under The Stairs, Zayn says “This is my favourite album that I’ve made to date, mainly because it comes from a place of sheer honesty and vulnerability. I wanted each song to feel as if it was just me sitting beside you telling you how I feel, singing directly to you. It’s raw and stripped back and the type of music I always hoped to make.”
He continues, “Working with Dave Cobb has been an amazing experience. The way he’s elevated the music is second to none, and he has done an incredible job helping me create this record. I hope we can take listeners on some whimsical, magical journey, and that they enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.”
“I think just being where I was at that time, staying away from things and living with my own thoughts inspired me to want to write something from that place. I’ve got to put this out as a whole body of work, it’s something for myself, not even just for the world,” says Zayn.
Room Under The Stairs was co-produced by Zayn with 9x Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, A Star Is Born, Brandi Carlile). Cobb came on board after hearing the songs Zayn had crafted, marvelled by how raw and honest it was. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Cobb said “What got me about Zayn was his voice, you can hear love, loss, pain, triumph and humanity in it. Zayn has really created his own universe on this record, he really has no fear and is speaking straight from his soul.”
Ed Sheeran has announced details of a special anniversary edition of his seminal album ‘x’, set for release on 21 June – 10 years to the date of its original release.
The record will be available on multiple formats including an EcoRecord; a new, more ecologically sustainable LP format (pre-order formats here). To celebrate the milestone, Sheeran has announced a one-off show at New York’s Barclays Center that’ll take place on 22 May, with the setlist reflecting his ‘x (Wembley Edition)’ release from 2015.
To help get tickets into the hands of fans, Ed Sheeran is partnering with Seated for the exclusive fan on-sale (register here to be in with a chance of being selected for the opportunity to purchase tickets.) Registration opened today, May 1st at 9am ET and will close on Thursday, May 2nd at 11:59pm ET. The exclusive, general on-sale, powered by Seated, will begin for the selected fans on Monday, May 6th at 10am ET via Ticketmaster.
‘x’ – Sheeran’s second album, released in 2014 – was the catalyst behind his global ascent. An LP that has now exceeded 22 million global sales, it generated the smash hits “Don’t”, “Sing”, “Photograph”, “Bloodstream”, and “Thinking Out Loud”. Outside of the original tracklisting, nine bonus tracks will feature on the individual formats of the anniversary editions, all of which have never been released on vinyl – these include “I See Fire” and “All of the Stars” taken from movie blockbusters, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Fault In Our Stars respectively.
Ed Sheeran is an era-defining artist, who has sold over 180 million records across the globe. Most recently, he took his record-breaking Mathematics Tour to South East Asia, UEA and India, where he invited local artists to perform with him each night, and even learned Mandarin and Punjabi for special collaborations at two of the shows.
Tracklisting
One
I’m A Mess
Sing
Don’t
Nina
Photograph
Bloodstream
Tenerife Sea
Runaway
The Man
Thinking Out Loud
Afire Love
Bonus Tracks
Take It Back
Shirtsleeves
Even My Dad Does Sometimes
I See Fire
All Of The Stars
English Rose
Touch and Go
New York
Make It Rain
As part of the BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season, BBC Radio 6 Music is set to unveil “Change The Tune” – a multifaceted initiative across on-air, digital, and social media platforms aimed at spotlighting the detrimental impact of online abuse on artists.
Through personal accounts from musicians, presenters, and insights from mental health professionals, the campaign aims to shed light on the profound effects of online harassment on individuals and their mental health.
In response to these issues, 6 Music will introduce a clear code of conduct and establish a new system for reporting concerning comments on its social media channels.
Highlights of the initiative include:
A special edition of “Journeys In Sound” on 6 Music hosted by broadcaster and psychotherapist Nemone, featuring discussions with artists Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem), Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES, Nitin Sawhney CBE, and SHERELLE.
“Lauren Mayberry: I Change Shapes,” a 15-minute documentary available on BBC iPlayer.
A social media drive across 6 Music’s platforms to promote the code of conduct and reporting mechanisms, alongside testimonials from artists such as AFRODEUTSCHE, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Jamz Supernova, SHERELLE, Gossip, and Hak Baker sharing their online experiences.
Partnering with 6 Music for “Change The Tune” is Music Minds Matter, a charity supporting mental health in the music industry.
Lauren Mayberry reflects on the initiative, stating, “The internet has played a significant role in my career, both positively and negatively. Social media was integral to CHVRCHES’ discovery, but it also brought unforeseen challenges. It’s crucial to address the impact of online behaviour.”
Following the news of her highly anticipated third studio album Hit Me Hard And Soft, set for release on May 17, Billie Eilish has announced arena dates, produced by Live Nation, for her Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour.
Starting in September 2024, Eilish will embark on her North American leg of the tour which runs through to the end of December 2024. The tour will continue in Australia starting February 2025 ahead of her European, UK, and Ireland arena dates starting in April until late July. For a full list of tour dates, see below.
Tickets for Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour will be available starting with the American Express Presale beginning Tuesday, April 30, with additional presales running throughout the week. Any remaining tickets will be available during the general on-sale starting Friday, May 3 on billieeilish.com. On-sale start times vary by market, check local listings for more information.
American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, April 30 (while supplies last) – this is one of the many entertainment benefits American Express Card Members can access. Presale start + end times will vary by market, check your local listings at billieeilish.com for more information.
SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Billie Eilish will continue her long-standing partnership with environmental nonprofit REVERB on this tour, building on the success of previous efforts, which resulted in over $1 million donated to environmental, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate justice projects, more than 150,000 fan actions, and much more. Sustainability efforts on this tour will include reducing greenhouse gas pollution, decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting climate action, and updating concession offerings to promote and encourage plant-based food options with Support+Feed.
The Billie Eilish REVERB Eco-Villages will be set up at 2 locations in the main concourse of every show where fans can take part in the tour’s sustainability efforts, connect with nonprofits, and take meaningful action for people and the planet.
SUPPORT+FEED
For collective action at the intersection of climate and food, Support+Feed will be launching a 360 campaign throughout the tour. Following the success in 2022, Support+Feed will offer an expanded version of the Support+Feed Pledge inspiring fans to eat one plant-based meal a day for 30 days with digital elements and community activations. Fans will also have the opportunity to participate in Plant-based Food Drives in a selection of cities alongside the tour to raise awareness and gather food to distribute to local communities.
Fans are encouraged to join the effort to make the Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour more sustainable. Where possible, take public transportation and carpool to and from the shows to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution and encourage more public transportation options. Fans will receive information via email about public transportation options before the show.
VENUES Venue partners are also helping to lessen the environmental footprint of the tour. In addition to efforts to decrease waste through reducing or eliminating single-use plastics and diverting landfill waste with compost and recycling, venues will be offering plant-based food options at all shows.
FAN PARTICIPATION
Bring an empty reusable water bottle or donate for a custom RockNRefill Nalgene bottle to fill up at the free water refill stations located at each venue. The RockNRefill bottles and refill stations are located at the Eco-Villages in the main concourse at all shows. Fight fast fashion by opting for thrifted, upcycled, or borrowed clothes instead of buying new clothing to wear to shows.
In keeping with her commitment to making a difference in the environmental impacts of her music and touring, a limited number of Changemaker Tickets will be available for All U.K. shows. A portion of proceeds from the Changemaker Ticket will support not-for-profit organizations addressing the impacts of food insecurity and the climate crisis.
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR– NORTH AMERICA*
Sun Sep 29 – Québec, QC – Centre Videotron
Tue Oct 01 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Wed Oct 02 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Fri Oct 04 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Sat Oct 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Mon Oct 07 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Wed Oct 09 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Fri Oct 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sun Oct 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Wed Oct 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Thu Oct 17 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Fri Oct 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sat Nov 02 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Sun Nov 03 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Wed Nov 06 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Fri Nov 08 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center
Sun Nov 10 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Mon Nov 11 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Wed Nov 13 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Thu Nov 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sat Nov 16 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Sun Nov 17 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Omaha
Tue Nov 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Wed Nov 20 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Tue Dec 03 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Thu Dec 05 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Fri Dec 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Sun Dec 08 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
Tue Dec 10 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
Wed Dec 11 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center at San Jose
Fri Dec 13 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena
Sun Dec 15 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Mon Dec 16 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Tue Dec 17 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR– AUSTRALIA
Tue Feb 18, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Wed Feb 19, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Fri Feb 21, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Sat Feb 22, 2025 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Mon Feb 24, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Tue Feb 25, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Thu Feb 27, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Fri Feb 28, 2025 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena
Tue Mar 4, 2025 –Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Wed Mar 5, 2025 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Fri Mar 7, 2025 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
Sat Mar 8, 2025 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR– EUROPE/U.K./IRELAND
Wed Apr 23, 2025 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
Thu Apr 24, 2025 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
Sat Apr 26, 2025 – Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena
Mon Apr 28, 2025 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Tue Apr 29, 2025 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Fri May 2, 2025 – Hannover, Germany – ZAG Arena
Sun May 4, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Mon May 5, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Wed May 7, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Fri May 9, 2025 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
Thu May 29, 2025 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
Fri May 30, 2025 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
Sun June 1, 2025 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
Tue June 3, 2025 – Kraków, Poland – Tauron Arena
Wed June 4, 2025 – Kraków, Poland – Tauron Arena
Fri June 6, 2025 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle
Sun June 8, 2025 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena
Tue June 10, 2025 – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Wed June 11, 2025 – Paris, France – Accor Arena
Sat June 14, 2025 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
Sun June 15, 2025 –Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi Mon Jul 7, 2025 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Tue Jul 8, 2025 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Thu Jul 10, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Fri Jul 11, 2025 –London, UK – The O2
Sun Jul 13, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Mon Jul 14, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Wed Jul 16, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Thu Jul 17, 2025 – London, UK – The O2
Sat Jul 19, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sun Jul 20, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Tue Jul 22, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Wed Jul 23, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sat Jul 26, 2025 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Sun Jul 27, 2025 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
