17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting announces a series of outdoor and festival performances for summer 2025 as part of his “STING 3.0″ World Tour. With virtuoso guitarist and longtime collaborator, Dominic Miller, and dynamic drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers), the band will perform the most electrifying hits and rarities from Sting’s timeless discography. Following their hugely successful headline performance at BBC Radio 2 In The Park in Preston earlier this month, Sting’s UK shows will include a headline sets at Isle of Wight Festival and Latitude next summer. Full itinerary below with ticket details.
The “STING 3.0” World Tour launched in Europe this summer and recently kicked off its’ North American leg at the Fillmore in Detroit, MI to rave reviews:
“It was the kind of night — world-class performers, and performance, in an intimate space — that gets talked about for years.”(Oakland Press)
“It was the sort of show that connected the broader artistic dots, from the crisply syncopated Police stuff to his jazz-kissed solo excursions, while showcasing the songwriting that runs as the through line to it all.”(Detroit Free Press)
Known for his groundbreaking work as a solo artist and as the front man and songwriter in the seminal group The Police, Sting, managed by Martin Kierszenbaum/Cherrytree Music Company, has consistently pushed the boundaries of musical innovation throughout his illustrious career. The “STING 3.0” Tour represents a new dynamic era showcasing selections from his vast catalog through the urgent lens of a tight three-piece combo and inspired his new song, “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)”– mixed by 4-time Grammy Award-winning mix engineer Robert Orton – released September 5 on Cherrytree Music Company/Interscope Records.
UK Outdoor and Festival Performances:
Wednesday 18th June – UK, Tetbury – Forest Live, Westonbirt Arboretum*
Friday 20th June – UK, Isle of Wight – Isle of Wight Festival~
Sunday 22nd June – UK, Liverpool – Pier Head On the Waterfront*
Wednesday 25th June – UK, Glasgow – Summer Sessions @ Bellahouston Park*
Friday 27th June – UK, Cannock – Forest Live, Cannock Chase*
Saturday 28th June – UK, Cardiff – Depot Live, Cardiff Castle*
Thurs 24- Sun 27 July – UK, Suffolk – Latitude Festival
*Tickets for these dates go on general sale on Friday 27th September at 9am BST via LiveNation.co.uk
~ Tickets go on general sale Wednesday 25th September at 8am via isleofwightfestival.com
= Tickets for Latitude Festival are already on general sale at Latitudefestival.com
Rock legends The Darkness have unveiled details of their highly anticipated eighth studio album, Dreams On Toast, which is set for release in March 2025 via Cooking Vinyl.
Frontman Justin Hawkins describes the album with his characteristic wit: “You know that feeling when you’re inspired by something greater? We took that divine nudge and turned it into a dozen bangers that showcase the best of rock music,” he said ‘Dreams On Toast’ is our extravagant sonic feast, served with a side of playful irreverence.”
The lead single, ‘The Longest Kiss,’ is available now. It’s a tribute to ’70s pop royalty like Queen and Paul McCartney, and the track features upbeat piano and lively guitar riffs. Hawkins shared his inspiration for the song, recounting a picturesque morning in Nairn, Scotland, where the song’s lyrics were born.
The Darkness will also embark on a UK headline tour, which will conclude with a grand finale at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on the 29th March 2025. The tour will feature 17 dates across the UK and will see support from Northern Irish indie-rock band Ash, who previously toured with The Darkness in 2004. Ash’s Tim Wheeler remarked, “We’re excited to reunite with The Darkness for what promises to be a memorable tour. We believe in a thing called rock!”
Pre-sale tickets for the UK tour will be available starting at 10am on the 25th September for fans who pre-order Dreams On Toast from The Darkness’s official store. General ticket sales will commence at 10am on the 27th of September 2024.
March 2025 UK Headline Tour Dates:
07/03 – Ipswich, Regent’s Theatre
08/03 – Oxford, New Theatre
09/03 – Swansea, Arena
11/03 – Guildford, G Live
12/03 – Hull, Connexin Arena
14/03 – Liverpool, Guild Of Students
15/03 – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
17/03 – York, Barbican
18/03 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall
20/03 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
21/03 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall
22/03 – Manchester, O2 Apollo
24/03 – Bristol, Beacon Theatre
25/03 – Portsmouth, Guildhall
27/03 – Leicester, De Montfort Hall
28/03 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
29/03 – London, OVO Arena Wembley
The Darkness continue to capture audiences worldwide, recently making headlines when Taylor Swift joined in with singing their iconic hit ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ at the US Open, propelling the song back to the top of the charts.
With ‘Dreams On Toast’, The Darkness promise another collection of unforgettable rock anthems and electrifying live performances in 2025.
Kylie today announces her highly anticipated ‘Tension Tour’ for 2025, which will see the global icon perform in cities across the globe and is set to be Kylie’s biggest tour since 2011.
Opening in Kylie’s home country, Australia, the world tour will then head into Asia and reach the UK in May, with more countries and dates to be announced over the coming weeks including Europe and North and South America.
Kylie said: “I am beyond excited to announce the TENSION TOUR 2025. I can’t wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more! It’s been an exhilarating ride so far and now, get ready for your close up because I will be calling Lights, Camera, Action … and there will be a whole lot of Padaming!”
The UK dates announced for the ‘Tension Tour’ 2025 are –
Fri 16 May – Glasgow – OVO Hydro
Sat 17 May – Newcastle – Utilita Arena
Mon 19 May – Manchester – AO Arena
Thurs 22 May – Liverpool – M&S Bank Arena
Fri 23 May – Sheffield – Utilita Arena
Mon 26 May – London – The O2
Tues 27 May – London – The O2
Fri 30 May – Nottingham – Motorpoint Arena
Sat 31 May – Birmingham – BP pulse LIVE
Tickets for the UK dates will go on general sale at 10am Friday 27th September. Please visit Kylie.com for more information on tickets for the ‘Tension Tour’.
‘Tension II’ – a brand new collection of 13 songs – will be released on 18th October via BMG and is available to pre-order here. The high energy, high octane partner of the Number 1 album and global smash ‘Tension’, sees Kylie head further into the electronic space, and is packed full of dance floor anthems. The record includes nine brand new Kylie studio tracks plus the latest dance hit ‘Edge of Saturday Night’ with The Blessed Madonna as well as the collaborations with Orville Peck, Bebe Rexha and Tove Lo, and Sia.
Full track listing for the album is –
1. Lights Camera Action
2. Taboo
3. Someone For Me
4. Good As Gone
5. Kiss Bang Bang
6. Diamonds
7. Hello
8. Dance To The Music
9. Shoulda Left Ya
10. Edge Of Saturday Night (with The Blessed Madonna)
11. My Oh My (with Bebe Rexha & Tove Lo)
12. Midnight Ride (with Orville Peck & Diplo)
13. Dance Alone (with Sia)
Lead single from the new collection ‘Lights Camera Action’ will be released on 27th September and is available to pre-save now.
Kylie said: “The Tension era has been so special to me … I can’t possibly let it be over just yet! Welcome to ‘Tension II’.”
Multi Platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter, producer, and philanthropist Zayn has announced his first ever solo tour, Stairway To The Sky. The intimate 6-date UK tour will commence in Edinburgh on 20th November, with stops in Manchester, London and more before concluding on 3rd December in Newcastle. Fans will see Zayn perform tracks from his critically acclaimed, recent 4th studio album Stairway To The Sky, released earlier this year.
The tour will be held in intimate sized venues to highlight the raw and stripped sound of his critically acclaimed 4th studio album. Fans can expect to hear the new record along with fan favorites never before performed live.
Stairway To The Sky has been lauded by fans and critics alike. Rolling Stone UK writes “Malik proves he’s still capable of greatness.” and CLASH praised the album, “Both sonically and emotionally charged, Stairway To The Sky marks a striking evolution for Zayn.”. Dork Magazine added, “The Album is refreshingly organic, eschewing pop sheen for an earthy, live atmosphere that allows Malik’s soul-baring performances to take centre stage.”
Tickets to the Stairway To The Sky Tour will be available starting with the Zayn VIP Key Presale Thursday 19th September. General on-sale will begin on Saturday 21st September.
For the past six years, Zayn has been writing and crafting Stairway To The Sky 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.
Zayn UK tour dates and venues 2024
October 23, San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
October 25, Las Vegas, CA – The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
October 27, Los Angeles, CA – Shrine Expo Hall
October 30, Washington, CA – The Anthem
November 2, New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
November 20, Edinburgh, UK – O2 Academy November 21, Edinburgh, UK – O2 Academy *New Date*
November 23, Leeds, UK – O2 Academy
November 24, Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo
November 26, London, UK – Eventim Apollo November 27, London, UK – Eventim Apollo *New Date*
November 29, Wolverhampton, UK – Wolverhampton The Halls November 30, Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo *New Date* December 2, Leeds, UK – O2 Academy *New Date*
December 3, 2024 – Newcastle, UK – O2 City Hall December 4, Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo *New Date*
Following the spectacular sellout success of the summer 2024 European leg of Coldplay’s record-breaking Music Of The Spheres World Tour, the band have announced six new shows at London’s Wembley Stadium and two at Hull’s Craven Park Stadium, for August 2025. These are the only UK/European cities where the band will perform next year.
Fans can get exclusive first access to tickets by ordering the band’s upcoming new album, Moon Music (landing October 4) from the official Coldplay UK or EU Stores – head to store.coldplay.com for more info and to purchase, before 11.59pm BST on Tuesday, September 24. All those who have already pre-ordered the album from the Coldplay UK or EU Store will automatically be eligible for the presale, which begins on Thursday, September 26 at 9am BST.
Fifty percent of the tickets for the Hull shows – the band’s first ever concerts in the city – will go to local fans (with HU, YO, DN or LN postcodes), via Ticketmaster on Thursday, September 26 at 6pm BST.
The general sale for both Wembley and Hull will begin at 9am BST on Friday, September 27.
The new dates are as follows:
AUGUST 2025
18 – Hull, Craven Park Stadium
19 – Hull, Craven Park Stadium
Pixies today share new single ‘Motoroller’, the fourth new song to be released from their anticipated new studio album The Night the Zombies Came, due for release on 25th October via BMG. Listen here. The single comes alongside the news that Pixies will return to the UK and Europe in April and May 2025 for a 20-date headline tour, including nine UK shows with two nights at London’s O2 Brixton Academy.
Following its debut on Steve Lamacq’s BBC Radio 6 Music show last night, the dynamic ‘Motoroller’ follows frontman and principle songwriter Black Francis on a scooter ride across Berlin. Speaking on the track, Francis says:
“This is one of those kinds of songs where there’s little threads you can follow and they take you somewhere. But they’re not required for the experience. You can just start fishing around in the lyrics, and maybe you won’t find exactly what the story is, but you’ll find a story related to the city of Berlin. So just have fun with the clues that are there.”
‘Motoroller’ follows the previously released tracks ‘Oyster Beds’, ‘You’re So Impatient’, ‘Que Sera, Sera’ and ‘Chicken’ – met by widespread acclaim, with The Times describing it as “Dark and dangerous” in their Essential Tracks and Daily Telegraph as a “new, darker direction” in their Songs of The Week, whilst NME hailed it as “haunting”, MOJO as “delightfully ghoulish” and CLASH proclaimed it “Pixies at their blood-curdling best.”
Pixies will kick off their 2025 UK and European headline tour in Utrecht, Netherlands on 25th April, with performances across Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and Portugal before arriving at the P&J Arena in Aberdeen on 13th May. The tour continues with nine dates across the UK at O2 Academy Edinburgh, two nights at London’s O2 Brixton Academy, shows at O2 Academy, Leeds, Academy Birmingham, Cardiff’s Utilita Arena and Newcastle City Hall, before concluding at O2 Apollo Manchester on 24th May.
The news arrives after Pixies wowed UK fans in August. Their mainstage performance at London’s All Points East was described as “raucous” by Rolling Stone UK after their sold out Glasgow Academy show was tipped “a full-on head rush of classics” by the Scottish Sun and “as relevant in 2024 as they were over 35 years ago” by Glasgow World.
Fans can pre-order the album for access to presale tickets here, beginning at 9am BST, Wednesday 18th September, and on general sale from 9am BST, Friday 20th September here.
35 years since their groundbreaking Platinum-certified album Doolittle catapulted the band into the UK Top Ten, and 20 years since their celebrated reformation at Coachella, Pixies are deep into their second act, and in the midst of a creative purple patch.
The Night the Zombies Came is Pixies’ tenth album, if you count their classic 1987 4AD mini LP Come On Pilgrim, and first new music since 2022’s acclaimed Doggerel LP. 13 new songs that find Pixies looking ahead to the most cinematic record of their career.
Druidism, apocalyptic shopping malls, mediaeval themed restaurants, 12th century poetic form, surf rock, gargoyles, bog people, and the distinctive dry drum sound of 1970s era Fleetwood Mac are just some of the disparate wonders that inform the new songs.
For the new album recording sessions the band returned to work with producer Tom Dalgety, who drummer David Lovering refers to as “a fifth Pixie” after producing 2016’s Head Carrier, 2019’s Beneath the Eyrie and 2022’s Doggerel. Early on in the recording process at Guilford Sound studio in Vermont, the band noticed the new songs were dividing into two camps: what they came to call the “Dust Bowl Songs” – country-tinged, ballad-esque numbers such as ‘Primrose’ and ‘Mercy Me’, and on the other side, the album’s furious punk numbers such as ‘You’re So Impatient’ and ‘Oyster Beds’. Only ‘Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)’ keeps its feet in both camps — reminiscent of early 60s Phil Spector, the band hitting the sweet spot between mushy and abrasive, it’s a track that Black Francis allegedly likened to being chased by a swarm of bees.
The Night the Zombies Came sessions also saw Pixies welcoming new bass player Emma Richardson (Band Of Skulls) to the line up; the first British band member to join the group. There’s also an expanded role for guitarist Joey Santiago. After contributing his first-ever Pixies lyrics on Doggerel, for the new record Santiago wrote the words to ‘Hypnotised’ by completing a complex lyrical riddle of sorts, known as a sestina.
Looking ahead, Pixies will head for New Zealand and Australia in November for stadium gigs with Pearl Jam, closing what’s set to be a monumental year for one of the world’s most influential, revered and deeply adored bands, before embarking on their UK and European headline tour in Spring 2025.
The Night the Zombies Came is released on 25 October via BMG on black vinyl, CD, digital download and on streaming platforms. A crystal clear and red smoke LP will be available at HMV and independent record shops, as well as a limited edition pearlescent vinyl available from Blood Records. A crystal clear and violet smoke LP plus merchandise bundles will be available from the official Pixies store here.
The Night the Zombies Came Tracklisting
1 Primrose
2 You’re So Impatient
3 Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)
4 Chicken
5 Hypnotised
6 Johnny Good Man
7 Motoroller
8 I Hear You Mary
9 Oyster Beds
10 Mercy Me
11 Ernest Evans
12 Kings of the Prairie
13 The Vegas Suite
2025 UK and European Headline Tour
April 25th – TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
April 26th – Lotto Arena, Antwerp
April 28th – Oosterport, Groningen
April 29th – 013, Tilburg
May 1st – Tempodrom, Berlin
May 2nd – Palladium, Cologne
May 3rd – TonHalle, Munich
May 6th – Arkea Arena, Bordeaux
May 7th – Zenith, Nantes
May 9th – Palacio de los Deportes de Granada, Granada
May 10th – Sagres Campo Pequeno, Lisbon
May 13th – P&J Arena, Aberdeen
May 14th – O2 Academy, Edinburgh
May 16th – O2 Brixton Academy, London
May 17th – O2 Brixton Academy, London
May 19th – O2 Academy, Leeds
May 20th – Academy, Birmingham
May 21st – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
May 23rd – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
May 24th – O2 Apollo, Manchester
Following the reveal of new single ‘He’s My Man’, Luvcat has today announced a new headline shows in Manchester, Brighton and London for November 2024. Tickets are on sale at 10am on Wednesday 18th September, available here.
Alongside this, Luvcat has been added to the line-up for Live At Leeds, whilst the London show forms part of the acclaimed Great Escape First Fifty series.
A murder ballad about a bored housewife slowly poisoning her husband with arsenic, ‘He’s My Man’ is a cinematic follow-up to Luvcat’s debut release, ‘Matador’, which has seen snowballing popularity since coming out earlier this year and marks the arrival of an artist with big plans for the year ahead.
“I guess the crux of the song is about how love often goes hand in hand with obsession,” Luvcat says of the track. “It wasn’t supposed to be the second single but a video of us playing the song drunkenly one night in soho went mad online so we had to rush a recording out with a twisted music video to match.”
Raised in Liverpool but made somewhere between the South London pub circuit and the underground clubs of Paris, Luvcat is a project which sees generation-spanning influences [ref. her The Cure-inspired moniker] coalescing with noirish mystique, twisted romance and chic à la parisienne aesthetics. The live ensemble is completed by a band of close friends that Luvcat has met along her journey thus far, each of whom leave their own mark on the project’s musical output.
From the first moment that candid footage of Luvcat’s early pub shows found its way online, there was a palpable sense that something of note was brewing here.
Once inaugural single ‘Matador’ officially entered the world on the final day of May 2024, the organic, cultish community cultivating around the project were already filling grassroots venues on both sides of the UK’s North-South divide. Luvcat’s recent show at Hackney’s Paper Dress Vintage sold out in 4 minutes and hit capacity before being threatened with closure due to the volume of bodies [including not one, but two of her ex-lovers] sneaking in through the back door for a glimpse of the performance.
This summer, Luvcat sold out a headline performance at Liverpool’s Kazimier Garden (also in a matter of minutes) and made her London festival debut at All Points East. October will see her returning to Paris – the city of Luvcat’s first ever show – for Supersonic, before a spot at Tokyo’s Rockin’on Sonic Festival comes in January, where she will share the stage with Pulp, St Vincent and Primal Scream. More show announcements, both headline and support, are arriving in the near future.
Listeners of Radio 1 in recent weeks (where ‘Matador’ has seen regular airtime as introducing tune of week) and BBC 6music (where Huw Stephens, Lauren Laverne and Emily Pilbeam have supported) will already be familiar with the rumour that Luvcat took an early leave from education to run away with the circus. This was to be a sign of things to come in regards to the headstrong sense of adventure which saw her touring with The Waterboys as a teenager and – in another chapter entirely – took her to the velvet-upholstered hotel suites of Paris, adorned with forays to the Moulin Rouge and a short stop in the back of a Parisian Police car.
Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience is a six-part reality show following five British trainees over 100 days as they debut as a Korean-pop (K-pop) idol boy group called Dear Alice. In collaboration with SM Entertainment, a K-pop powerhouse, the show will introduce the behind-the-scenes of making a K-pop idol through an immersive training system.
Showing a glimpse of the lives of K-pop trainees, the first episode introduces K-pop as a multi-billion global phenomenon, stating: “Six of the top 20 best-selling artists in the world were K-pop and 90 billion streams were by K-pop idols.”
K-pop is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Girl group Aespa and boy group BTS have sold out shows in the country’s largest arenas.
In 2023, the group Blackpink became the first Korean band to headline a UK festival at BST Hyde Park, where they played to an audience of 65,000. They were also awarded honorary MBEs by the king for their role in encouraging young people to engage with the global UN climate change conference at COP26 in Glasgow 2021.
There is certainly an appetite for shows about K-pop for western audiences. Netflix have released their own version of Made in Korea, Pop Star Academy: Katseye.
The docuseries follows 20 girls from Japan, South Korea, Australia and the UK going through a year of K-pop training to become the group Kasteye. It’s a collaboration between the K-pop label Hybe and US label Geffen (a subsidiary of Universal).
Generally speaking, K-pop is characterised by catchy and lively melodies and highly choreographed dance routines in perfect unison and fancy outfits. Inspired by various pop music genres – including but not limited to electronic dance, hip hop, and R&B – the genre became distinctive from the nation’s traditional music, especially after a handful of pioneers began producing idol groups in the 1990s.
I’m South Korean and I’m studying cultural industries, so it’s interesting for me to see westernerss becoming K-pop-inspired idol groups. It’s a famously competitive industry, which is already oversaturated with hopeful K-idols. Considering that the domestic market is small and highly saturated, their success will be a breakthrough for SM Entertainment and HYBE, as well as other K-pop companies, proving whether they can continue to grow beyond east Asia.
The production and delivery of this popular music genre have become more international than ever in recent years, with hundreds of choreographers, composers and producers worldwide contribute to creating K-pop songs and performances. In contrast, K-pop performers have until recently been predominantly Korean. But as the new shows demonstrate, this too is changing.
K-pop companies have hosted auditions outside the country to recruit foreign trainees to make their idols appeal to global audiences. Huge global music corporations like Sony, Universal Music Group and Virgin Records have also got in on the game, signing distribution contracts with major K-pop idols to promote their music in foreign markets.
This search isn’t because there is a lack of willing hopefuls in Korea. There were around an estimated 800 trainees waiting to debut in 2022. But Korea’s population is only around 50 million and record companies want to appeal beyond the domestic market, so they are hoping recruiting non-Korean stars will help do that.
Music agencies in the west tend to find new artists who are already gifted and then largely serve as intermediaries arranging things like tours, marketing and artists’ wider schedules. However, major K-pop companies have developed a unique system of finding and launching new artists. This involves hosting auditions with a competition of at least 1,000 to 1 odds. The winners then undergo years of of acting, vocal, and dance training before debuting.
To make the vocals flawless and the dance moves precise, trainees, known as yeonseupsaeng (연습생), are expected to spend up to 17 hours per day practising performances and training for several years – although they aren’t guaranteed to become professional artists. Even if they do become successful, their private lives – including their dating lives – are strictly controlled.
It is no exaggeration to say that the industry is labour-intensive as well as capital-intensive, built on the blood, sweat and tears of yeonseupsaeng.
The first episode of Made in Korea ends with SM’s director Hee Jun Yoon’s critique of the Britons’ first performance. It’s difficult viewing for those unfamiliar with the harsh world of K-pop. To borrow the words of BBC’s unscripted content head, Kate Phillips, it makes “Simon Cowell look like Mary Poppins.”
Some might question the prefix “K-” being used to describe these international groups but the genre will remain decidedly Korean. It is Korean companies which will lead the production mechanisms and the domestic market will continue to serve as the testbed for new artists. But the success of Dear Alice and Katseye is important if the genre is to survive and continue to grow beyond Korea.
In a surprising turn of events, Leeds-based guitar band English Teacher won the 2024 Mercury Prize for their debut album This Could Be Texas, marking a triumph for indie rock.
This four-piece group, formed in 2020 while studying at Leeds Conservatoire, have quickly risen to prominence on the UK music scene, capturing the hearts of listeners and critics alike with their distinctive sound and northern charm.
English Teacher’s music sets them apart from their post-punk contemporaries. Their sound is a product of diverse influences including The Beatles’ melodic sensibilities, Siouxsie and the Banshees’ gothic allure, and Amy Winehouse’s raw emotion. A unique blend of surrealism and social commentary in their lyrics plus subtle musical experimentation offers a fresh take on the classic guitar-band format.
This innovative approach has not gone unnoticed, with the Mercury Prize judges praising the album for its creativity and personality. Lily Fontaine, the band’s lead vocalist, expressed their astonishment at winning the prestigious award: “It’s surreal, feels like a dream – we must thank [producer] Marta Salgoni. She made so many great sounds.”
Salgoni’s expertise in crafting intricate soundscapes contributed to the album’s “subtle integration of musical experimentation”, according to the judges.
Fontaine’s reaction reflected the band’s genuine surprise at this high-profile recognition of their artistic endeavours. English Teacher’s success story is intertwined with their signing to Island Records, a major label – home to the likes of Ariana Grande, Drake and fellow nominees The Last Dinner Party – that played a crucial role in launching their debut album.
This collaboration has not only birthed a prize-winning album but reignited discussions about the vitality of indie rock in an era dominated by algorithmic playlists and ephemeral viral hits.
The victory underscores indie rock’s enduring appeal and potential impact on the contemporary music scene. As the genre continues to evolve, bands like English Teacher push boundaries and challenge conventions, creating music that resonates with audiences and critics alike.
The band’s success also highlights the importance of regional music scenes in nurturing talent. By honouring figures from the Leeds music scene during their acceptance speech, English Teacher acknowledged the supportive ecosystem that helped propel them to national recognition. The band is the first act from outside London to win the prize for a decade.
The 2024 Mercury Prize ceremony also marked a significant shift in the award’s presentation format. The event was held in the more intimate space of Abbey Road Studios for the first time, moving away from its traditional venue at the Hammersmith Apollo.
This change, and the decision to broadcast the ceremony on BBC Four, reflect the Mercury Prize’s adaptation to changing times and its commitment to profiling new music for a broader audience. As Jo Twist, chief-executive of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) which oversees the Mercury Prize, told MusicWeek:
For the 2024 Mercury Prize we will work imaginatively with the BBC to deliver a premium programme of music content and digital engagement that will, as ever, benefit all 12 artists in reaching a wider audience, providing an important platform for their evolving career and musical journey.
The move to a more intimate setting at Abbey Road, and the focus on recorded performances, may have enhanced the prize’s ability to showcase the nominated artists’ music in a more direct and accessible manner.
But, while English Teacher’s win is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, it also sheds light on the challenges bands face in today’s music industry. The stark reality is that it’s common for these accomplishments to coexist with being on universal credit, living at home, or sofa surfing. It’s a precarious business.
On the upside, as English Teacher bask in the glow of their £25,000 award, the music world eagerly anticipates their next moves.
Having topped Amazon’s vinyl pre-order sales, completed a Piano Room session for Radio 2, and recharted her life story with a Classic Pop cover and a feature in The Times, anticipation for the October 4th release of Alison Moyet’s ‘Key’ album is at a high. Now Alison pushes that momentum forward as she shares the new ‘Key’ version of one of her biggest solo hits, ‘Love Resurrection’.
The new ‘Key’ version of ‘Love Resurrection’ streamlines the ‘80s produced original with a punchy, live energy driven by Alison’s distinctive and powerful vocals. Evolved through decades of performance and compromising none of its initial spark, the song resonates keenly today with lyrics as relevant as they ever were.
Alison says, “‘Love Resurrection’ is indeed a key track being the first record I released as a solo artist, then with no expectation of how it would land. The ‘Key’ album version is the one we take to the stage and has become a set highlight, a shared moment of determined and exuberant connection. It feels more pertinent now than it ever did.”
‘Love Resurrection’ became Alison’s first UK Top 10 hit when it was released in the summer of 1984. Together with another Top 10 peak for the follow-up ‘All Cried Out’, It positioned Alison for much greater success later that year with her #1 solo debut album ‘Alf’. Another UK #1 album, four more Top 10 hits, two more BRIT Awards and a Grammy nomination all followed.
Alison further reflects on her experiences around the time of ‘Love Resurrection’ in the fourth episode of her hit podcast series ’40 Moyet Moments’. Hosted by Steve Coats-Dennis, it has reached #1 on Apple Podcasts UK (Music and Music Interviews), Spotify UK (Music), Apple Podcasts Australia (Music Interviews) and Apple Podcasts Ireland (Music). Listen to the podcast HERE.
‘Key’ is available to pre-order HERE. Alison’s official store offers an array of physical formats, while album bundles can also include a new phonetic t-shirt design and a signed art print. There are also retailer-specific double-vinyl formats available from Amazon, HMV, The Sound of Vinyl and select indie stores.
Alison will also take another deep dive into her remarkable story with two sold out ‘In Conversation’ events and album signings at London’s Rough Trade East (October 4th) and Brighton’s Resident (October 8th) with her friend, the renowned writer Amy Raphael.
2025 will see Alison head out on a long-awaited world tour. All 25 UK and Ireland shows sold-out in days, while sales across all European shows are also in high demand. She recently extended the tour with an additional leg covering Australia and New Zealand, which will be her first shows in those countries since 2017. Her tour dates now run as below, tickets for some dates remain available HERE.
UK AND IRELAND
16 Feb – Dublin, 3Olympia (SOLD OUT)
17 Feb – Belfast, Waterfront Hall (SOLD OUT)
20 Feb – York, Barbican (SOLD OUT)
21 Feb – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall (SOLD OUT)
22 Feb – Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall (SOLD OUT)
24 Feb – Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall (SOLD OUT)
25 Feb – Stoke-on-Trent, Victoria Hall (SOLD OUT)
27 Feb – Birmingham, Symphony Hall (SOLD OUT)
28 Feb – Cambridge, Corn Exchange (SOLD OUT)
1 Mar – Ipswich, Regent Theatre (SOLD OUT)
3 Mar – Sheffield, City Hall (SOLD OUT)
4 Mar – Stockton, Globe (SOLD OUT)
6 Mar – Gateshead, The Glasshouse (SOLD OUT)
7 Mar – Buxton, Opera House (SOLD OUT)
8 Mar – Reading, Hexagon (SOLD OUT)
10 Mar – Brighton, Dome (SOLD OUT)
11 Mar – London, Palladium (SOLD OUT)
13 Mar – Bournemouth, Pavilion Theatre (SOLD OUT)
14 Mar – Swansea, Arena (SOLD OUT)
15 Mar – Bath, Forum (SOLD OUT)
17 Mar – Southend, Cliffs Pavilion (SOLD OUT)
18 Mar – Aylesbury, Waterside Theatre (SOLD OUT)
20 Mar – Edinburgh, Usher Hall (SOLD OUT)
21 Mar – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall (SOLD OUT)
22 Mar – Aberdeen, Music Hall (SOLD OUT)
EUROPE
31 Mar – Oslo, Norway, Sentrum Scene
1 Apr – Stockholm, Sweden, Göta Lejon
3 Apr – Hamburg, Germany, Grosse Freiheit 36
5 Apr – Antwerp, Belgium, De Roma (SOLD OUT)
7 Apr – Amsterdam, Netherlands, Paradiso (SOLD OUT)
8 Apr – Groningen, Netherlands, De Oosterpoort
9 Apr – Eindhoven, Netherlands, Muziekgebouw Frits Philips
11 Apr – Cologne, Germany, Carlswerk Victoria
13 Apr – Frankfurt Germany, Batschkapp
14 Apr – Berlin, Germany, Huxleys Neue Welt
15 Apr – Copenhagen, Denmark, DR Koncerthuset (SOLD OUT)
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
21 May – Auckland, Town Hall
24 May – Wellington, Michael Fowler Centre
26 May – Christchurch, Isaac Theatre Royal
29 May – Brisbane, QPAC Concert Hall
31 May – Sydney, Darling Harbour Theatre
1 Jun – Melbourne, Plenary
4 Jun – Perth, Riverside Theatre
