The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!
Volume 16 is a special edition where we run down our Top 50 Albums of the Year! 2023 has seen some amazing records released, but who will take the coveted number one spot?
Our News Report is still here also covering the latest from Vended, Slam Dunk Festival, Liam Gallagher & John Squire, Teddy Rocks, Brighten the Corners and LeeStock!
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our âDiscoverâ New Music Playlist with Telltale, Shooting Daggers and Fraser Morgan!
Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the ninth issue now for free!
Volume nine includes an update from cover stars The Hunna and exclusive interview with The Pale White. Plus we review Fall Out Boy live in London and album reviews from The Cadillac Three, The Struts, WARGASM and Black Water County!
We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Green Day, Chelsea Wolfe, Beans On Toast, Dead Poet Society, Casey, Mother Mother, The Beatles, New Model Army, Pet Needs, Pendulum, Therapy?, Normandie, Bob Vylan, Amongst Liars, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard and Kid Kapichi!
Plus new live announcements from 2000trees, Isle of Wight Festival, Takedown Festival, Radar Festival, Bearded Theory, Bruce Springsteen, Hayseed Dixie, Feeder, Delain, Saint Agnes, Chris Shiflett, Black Honey, The K’s, Lake Malice, Kaiser Chiefs, King Nun and Blossoms!
Festival season is in full swing and rock fans once again descend on Upcote Farm in Cheltenham for 2000trees! A true music fans festival, this year there is an absolute smorgasbord of the best new and established acts to savour across three full days of relentless entertainment.
However, before the event proper begins though those with early entry have an additional evening of music on tap in the beautiful forest area. The âForest Stageâ has always been a unique and special feature of this festival which is now on its fifteenth iteration.
Wednesday
The privilege of opening the festivities this year goes to Snayx who, despite playing whilst many are still pitching their tents, still attract an eager and excited crowd. The band are able to seize upon this excitement to whip the crowd up even further with their brand of punk rock. A benchmark is set for the weekend early here and thankfully the organisers have a bill curated to ensure that the quality never drops!
The other stage in operation today is the small âThe Wordâ stage which over the weekend will host various activities such as further bands, live podcasts, comedians and more. Over the next few hours we are able to catch delighted spots from B-Sydes, Masca, Polyanna and Gaz Brookfield.
Over on the âForest Stageâ though, the handful of selected bands combine to deliver a highly memorable evening. Delaire the Liar are up next and are able to continue to build their growing reputation with another assured performance.
A real special moment follows as one of the most talented yet underappreciated bands of the last decade Press To MECO play their final show. Such a moment really deserved a bigger stage and longer setlist but those present are able to bathe in those glorious riffs one more time with an emotional âA Test of Our Resolveâ a highlight of the whole festival.
Next are a band just getting started. Saint Agnes are tipped as the future of rock music by some, and again on the evidence of their set tonight those people are very much correct! Debut album âBloodsuckersâ canât arrive soon enough; thankfully we only need to wait on July 21st!
The latest Tigercub album is already out and next up the band bring âThe Perfume of Decayâ to life with a solid showing as the forest area begins to fill up in anticipation of the nights two headline acts.
Both Holding Absence and Bob Vylan will play two sets over the weekend but before gracing the main stage, they both thrill those packed into the woods! Holding Absence are first and they captivate the crowd with a cleverly selected mix of rarities and fan favourites. This band continues to grow and evolve and itâs scary how good they could be.
Bob Vylan also continue to elevate the game with their headline set tonight they bring carnage to the forest! A spectacular off the cuff collection of on point punk rock more than whets the appetite for their main stage appearance, even showing that they arenât too far away from being able to headline the biggest stage next time they play the festival.
THURSDAY
Each night the now infamous silent disco takes over the site as the party continues into the early hours, but come Thursday morning the arrival of the rest of the attendees ensure even the first act of the day, Blush Puppy on the âForest Stageâ get a good turnout. The duo perform a delightful run-through of adapted favourites which starts the first full day off perfectly.
With the outdoor stage, three tented stages and the âForest Stageâ all rotating throughout each day an avid music fan can fill their boots with live music and literally catch non-stop music for nigh on sixteen hours a day if they wanted to. We donât quite have that stamina but we give it a good go and are rewarded by great sets from Kite Thief, Beach Riot and Gaffa Tape Sandy.
Following that run we then head to first catch recent âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests CARSICK over on the âNEU Stageâ. The group proceed to smash through their set to the delight of those present with the likes of âAnaconda Frankâ showing real bite.
Another act to impress early in the weekend are Lake Malice in âThe Caveâ. The group have been winning over all who see them this summer and their future appears to be very bright indeed.
Lambrini Girls, Graphic Nature and the official debut of new group Unpeople who have formed from the ashes of Press To MECO all follow and continue to hot run of great sets. Unpeople in particular are able to really tease what is to come and make a fantastic first impression.
The main stage soon literally takes centre stage as first Kid Kapichi and then Bob Vylan deliver two of the sets of the weekend. Kid Kapichi are effortless in their delivery of impassioned punk rock which sees an endless sea of crowd surfers on an inflatable burger! Bob Vylan then reinforce the message that their headline set sent last night, that the duo are as advertised â the most important band in the world!
We then head back to the two larger tented stages, firstly for Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun who preview their upcoming new album âColourâ. The record will arrive on July 28th and the band really do a good job of convincing those in attendance that despite the decade plus wait for a new album, the wait will be worth it. All the new material this evening sounds absolutely massive. Then in âThe Axiomâ, The Joy Formidable deliver a delightful little set that evidences the eclectic mix of rock music presented at 2000trees.
Soon enough itâs time for the final run of bands that will close out day one. Skindred are well established as a great live act and tonight they have the crowd at their whim. The Newport Helicopter needs no introduction either as the crowd make the most of the groups big finale.
Back in the big tent next for Eagles of Death Metal who give a festival friendly, crowd pleasing set including the likes of âI Only Want Youâ, âComplexityâ, âCherry Colaâ and âI Want You So Hard (Boyâs Bad News)’.
Finally itâs over to the returning Soft Play (the artists formerly known as Slaves) to close out the day. The duo pick up where they left off and play as if theyâve never been away. Itâs great to have the band back and fans revel in the likes of âCheer Up Londonâ, âFeed the Mantarayâ and âThe Hunterâ.
FRIDAY
Friday begins with an early run of Beauty School, RXPTRS, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion, BLACKGOLD and New Pagans all of whom play their rules well and make the most of their short sets.
After an overcast first couple of days, today is a scorcher and the heat is intense as LostAlone arrive on the stage. The band donât let that phase them though as they pull out all the stops to get the crowd engaged. Itâs mission accomplished by the time they deliver the double header of âThe Final Call For Foreverâ and âThe Last Drop Of Foreverâ.
2000trees do very well to bring together the best new music from home and abroad and the next run of Militarie Gun, Zulu, Microwave and Kublai Khan TX shows the keen eye for upcoming talent that the organisers have.
Itâs this mix of new with the established acts that perfectly balances out the line-up and Hell Is For Heroes are a great nostalgic party next on the main stage. The quality overall is again on show when you can then head immediately to the âNEU Stageâ for an excellently run set from As Everything Unfolds, before returning to the main stage for a very enjoyable Dinosaur Pile-Up show and then jumping straight to the always intense Cancer Bats in âThe Caveâ!
Bullet For My Valentine are the act who close out the night with a huge headline performance. Attracting one of, if not the biggest crowd of the weekend, the band are in confident mood as they showcase their headlining credentials. Older tracks such as âScream Aim Fireâ and âHearts Burst Into Flamesâ naturally receive big reactions, but itâs telling newer tracks also are well received.
A surprise AxeWound reunion with Liam Cormier is another festival highlight before âTears Donât Fallâ and âWaking the Demonâ ensure that come the next morning everyone is talking about how great Bullet were tonight!
The festival has been a whirlwind as per usual for 2000trees and itâs a testament to the quality of line-up that to this point there hasnât been a bad performance. Of course some ultimately standout more than others such as that headline set last night or Bob Vylan destroying the forest but the chilled out atmosphere amongst attendees is reflected by the respect the bands pay the crowd. The reciprocal ambience creates a synergy that elevates every aspect of this event.
SATURDAY
Come Saturday the crowd may be sapped from the previous days heat but over on the âForest Stageâ Xtra Mile Recordings acts (and previous âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests) Hannah Rose Platt and Guise are serenading the early crowd with their beautiful music. They are both well received despite the heat being supplemented today by a lot of the wet stuff!
Xtra Mile Recordings has a great relationship and past with 2000trees and new Xtra Mile favourites (and double Full Pelt Podcast guests!) PET NEEDS attract a big crowd to âThe Axiomâ next. This is no doubt due to some guerrilla advertising from their fans, but everyone that ventures into the tent leave hailing the band as one of the bands of the weekend.
One of the elements that makes the âForest Stageâ so special are the sets from acts playing on the biggest stages which are often acoustic and unique. Next, Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine does a great job of distracting the audience from the deteriorating weather with a highly fun acoustic set.
After catching Dead Poet Society and Enola Gay strutting their stuff we are then able to catch Electric Six themselves who attract another big crowd to the main stage. The crowd lap up the likes of âGay Barâ and âDanger! High Voltageâ as youâd expect, and the band do their job with aplomb.
One Step Closer then cement their hype in âThe Caveâ before Black Honey demonstrate why they are one of the best newer live acts in the country. Tracks from new album, âA Fistful of Peachesâ sound massive as the band achieve another of those more memorable sets of the weekend.
The reshuffled Dream State then show that they still have a big future ahead of them in âThe Caveâ before Deaf Havana battle through a torrential downpour which decimates their crowd at the main stage. We brave the rain until the end before heading into the forest for a short but very fun set from Lynks.
Talking to people across the site, the opinion is unanimous that this has been a spectacular weekend. You feel as the weekend comes to a close that it canât get any better, but then Hundred Reasons deliver perhaps the best set of the weekend. The band get the audience onboard from opening number âIâll Find Youâ and never lose them despite more heavy rain. One of the moments of the weekend comes when Enter Shikari man Rou Reynolds joins the band for a superb âSilverâ.
Jamie Lenman then plays his latest masterpiece âThe Atheistâ in full over in the forest before Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes come out of hibernation to finish the festival with a welcome career-spanning set.
Whilst the band may lack a certain volatility of their early days they donât lack in swagger or controlled ferocity when required. The final run of âMy Townâ, âDevil Inside Meâ, âJuggernautâ, âLullabyâ and âI Hate Youâ is the perfect way to bring an incredible weekend of music to a close.
2000trees has established itself at the heart of the summer as a trusted and respected event. From their humble beginnings to now fifteen events later, the festival lays on the infrastructure but the audience makes the event the special weekend that it is!
Up next are Skindred who also have a new album, ‘Smile’, on the way August 4th.
This week saw the group reveal a new autumn tour which will see the band joined by Blackgold.
Regarding the tour drummer Arya Goggin says, âThere is a lot to Smile about when it comes to this TOUR! We are taking out an amazing new band called BlackGold too. They are bringing âNu Metalâ back and I think âDred fans will love them. Go check âem out!â
The Cult have announced three special summer shows in Cardiff, Halifax and Scarborough alongside a full EU Tour.
Accompanying the tour announcement is the release of The Cultâs fiery, expressionistic new video for âVendetta Xâ, the third single from ‘Under The Midnight Sun’.
As The Cult return to the stage to launch the next chapter of ‘Under The Midnight Sun’, Ian Astbury hopes that the albumâs new dimensions provoke reactions both primal and sublime in listenersâ consciousness – echoing what he himself experienced during its creation.
âAt the core of it all, music contains the vibrational frequency of how we once communicated before we could even speak,â Astbury says. âBird songs, animal calls, string theory, quantum physics, psychedelics⊠The record ultimately becomes about discovering and celebrating anew the beauty from those strangely natural moments that surround and inspire us.â
The final tour announcement in our News Report this week comes from The Winery Dogs who have added October dates to their already announced June shows.
We move our News Report on now to the best festival announcements of the past week and up first is the Beans On Toast curated Foolhardy Folk Festival in Nottingham.
Joining Beans this year will be acts including Skinny Lister, Ferris & Sylvester, Truckstop Honeymoon, Tensheds and more!
Our other festival announcement comes from 110 Above presents OTHR Festival!
The slightly scaled back version of 110 Above will feature Circa Waves, Jack Garratt, Twin Atlantic, Black Honey, Lauran Hibberd, Fatherson, King No-One, Coach Party, Courting, Chappaqua Wrestling and many more.
We move on now to the best new releases from the past week and up first are When Rivers Meet you have shared their brand new single, ‘Play My Game’.
You can listen to the track above, which will feature on upcoming new album, ‘Aces Are High’, which arrives late summer.
Regarding the forthcoming album the duo say, âAs our music is progressing, weâre finding our sound even more. When we went in the studio this time, weâve never been so sure on what we wanted to createâwe had a really clear vision and have stuck to it.   âBefore we held back on being too rocky, but this time we allowed ourselves to create what we wanted to hear, without restricting ourselves. We also allowed ourselves to express the different colours to our music with tracks like âGoldenâ and âBy Your Sideâ, so this album has more extremes. We still call upon our influences from all the years but remain true to ourselves to create music we love.â
The new releases’ continue at pace in our News Report and next up is ‘The Raven’, the latest track from Black Orchid Empire, which you can listen to above.
The track comes from their upcoming album, ‘Tempus Veritas’, which will arrive on April 14th.
A new project next as our News Report brings you How We End. Featuring Jen Majura (Ex-Evanescence) on guitar and Diva Satanica (Ex-Nervosa) on vocals, How We End promises to be an exciting new chapter.
Rounding out the group are Jake E (Cyhra, Ex-Amaranthe) on vocals, Tom Naumann (Primal Fear) on guitar, Mitch Kunz (bass) and Adde Larsson (drums).
This week saw the group arrive with their single, ‘My Fighting Heart’, which you can check out above.
Dead Man’s Whiskey have this week shared their latest single, ‘Masquerade’, which you can check out above!
The single is the first track to be taken from a forthcoming new studio album, ‘In The Storm’, due out September 29th.
Vocalist Nico Rogers says, â’This song has been a bit of a journey for us. In its earliest form we’ve had this song for a couple of years, although it’s grown a lot.
It’s brimming with a kind of dissatisfied energy we all had while we wrote it, in a way I think a lot of people will feel too. It’s a rallying cry against what’s happened to music right now, the three ringed circus of algorithmically generated hits that keep turning up. We know how far we are from those perfect cookie cutter artists and this song is about that dichotomy. We don’t want to conform, we make the music we love. Â I think that shows in the sound too, not just on this track, but on the album as a whole. It’s heavier, darker. Like we got a little older, found a new gear, and now we’re going full throttle in it.â
Norwegian metalcore act Fixation are now gearing up for their debut album with the release of a brand new single ‘Ignore the Disarray’.
About the new track the band states: âThis song is about those with a desire to control other people. It’s not about religion itself, but about those who use religion or their perception of reality to justify oppression, hate and control.âÂ
DEADLETTER – ‘The Snitching Hour’
DEADLETTERÂ share new single âThe Snitching Hourâ.
Lead singer Zac Lawrence comments: “Are we slowly but surely being tacitly tempted into a culture of casual betrayal? The messages we are fed, on the outside, might be read as being solely in the interest of public safety – but take a closer look, and perhaps thereâs a more insidious undertone to it all⊔
The Throwaway Scene – ‘Fake Death’
Sheffield emo rock outfit, The Throwaway Scene have released their brand new single âFake Deathâ.
âThis track is a slight departure from my previous lyrical stylings/choices with a view of exploring narrative that was less self-centered. I think vocally it just âfeelsâ different too âcos the delivery of the lines is a lot more direct than before. Due to lifeâs unfortunate timing we were recording vocals on the day we found out a family member had passed so Fake Death will always be quite a personal song.â – Vocalist, Oliver.
Black Honey come out of the traps early on their third studio album, âA Fistful of Peachesâ. Yes, âCharlie Bronsonâ is the punch in the face needed to grab your attention and captures the band taking the gloves off!
The band have always been unashamed to be just who they are and that has often made them a tricky band to pigeonhole. Those that need to label things may struggle, but realistically the bandâs crossover appeal is enormous and the simple undeniable fact is that they have now delivered three sublime records of infectious music.
Yes, âA Fistful of Peachesâ may have a lot to live up to following the quality of its predecessors, but it easily handles that pressure. The likes of âHeavyâ, âUp Against Itâ, âOut of My Mindâ and âOKâ all sound absolutely massive and you feel that every song brings something special to this album.
This may be the most honest reflection of Black Honey as a band thus far as the group pour their hearts into their art. Each element of their sound is turned up and the results are magnificent. Whilst theyâve always demonstrated this quality, the strongest achievement on this album is the mix of relatability with aspiration.
âA Fistful of Peachesâ is both vulnerable and ferocious in equal measures as singer Izzy Phillips is able make you feel a full palate of emotions; ultimately though Phillips and co are simply able to empower you through their reflective, decisive and uplifting collection of soaring tracks.
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the best new releases from the past week and up first are Enter Shikari with their new single, ‘Bloodshot’, which you can check out above.
On the track, lead vocalist and producer Rou Reynolds explains:
âEvery day, I seem to be asking myself âIs this article biased?â, âis this claim true?â, âShould I be more furious about this issue? Or less furious?â, âAm I being manipulated? Provoked? Radicalised by my own âtribeâ?
Bloodshot is about how hard it is to find truth, and how easy it is to stop thinking for yourself and simply repeat your âteamâsâ mantras.
Everyoneâs so fucking angry with everyone else and itâs exhausting. It seems like social mediaâs main purpose these days is to hypnotise us to hateâ.
The track comes of ahead of their upcoming new album, ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’, which is out April 21st.
Our News Report continues with the brand new single from DevilDriver! You can check out ‘Through the Depths’ above, with the single coming ahead of new album, ‘Dealing With Demons Vol.II’, which is out May 12th.
Frontman Dez Fafara says aboutthe single: “‘Through the Depths’ is a conversation between a higher power and humans regarding the power of thinking ideas into existence, but being very careful of being arrogant behind those wants and needs.
The first lines give this away: âAttention attention, youâre seeking, you’ve asked for, itâs given” (the higher power says)
Then the lines of the chorus are that same higher power speaking to humans, saying: ‘through the depths to the ascension, nothing you wouldnât do for my attention, held to the fire itâs not my crime, you’ve pinned it on me for the last time.’ Meaning – donât blame the Gods (pin it on them) for your fuck ups. Meaning – put it out there and take steps to attain goals and take accountability.
This track is the essence of ‘Dealing With Demons Vol. II’, and the conversations within the record get way deeper than even this.Enjoy.”
This week saw Therapy? debut their new single, ‘Joy’, which you can listen to above. The group also revealed that new album, ‘Hard Cold Fire’, will arrive May 5th!
Singer Andy Cairns says “Joy started with a term from ‘Waiting for Godot’, by Samuel Beckett, this wonderful line: ‘habit is a great deadener’. I just love that word, ‘dead-en-er’. It’s an amazing word. People get themselves into these habits, and the next thing you know, their life is over and they’ve only lived in a very small circle of experience, often through choice, which is scary.â
Another band having a great week this week were James and the Cold Gun who unveiled their new single, ‘My Silhouette’, which you can of course check out above!
The band also revealed that their debut album will arrive on July 28th.
IST IST share new single ‘Nothing More Nothing Less’
The new music continues thick and fast in our News Report and up next are Manchester’s IST IST. The group this week shared their latest single, ‘Nothing More Nothing Less’, which you can listen to above.
Chiming with the overarching concept of upcoming album, âProtagonistsâ, out March 31st, the single finds the band stepping into the shoes of a character trapped in a complex relationship and at odds with her true feelings.
Frontman Adam Houghton explains: ââNothing More Nothing Lessâ is a simple love song really written from a womanâs perspective who isnât exactly sure what she wants.â
Closing out the new releases in our News Report this week are Problem Patterns and their brand new single, ‘Who Do We Not Save?’, which you can check out above.
Commenting on the single, the band say: âOur healthcare system has been falling apart for years due to cuts, and the pandemic only sped up the process. We constantly see campaigns telling people to ask for help, especially in regards to mental health, but the reality is that the services we need are under too much pressure. The line âWeâre one or two paychecks awayâ refers to the fact that many of us will be in a lot of trouble if privatisation becomes reality here. The title itself is lifted verbatim from Dominic Cummingâs photo of the white board used to plan the UK governmentâs early response to COVID. We thought it would be fitting to use it for the singleâs cover art, too.â
Our News Report moves on now to the best tour announcements from the past week and up first is the legendary John Fogerty.
This week saw Fogerty announce his return to the UK with two special arena shows in Manchester and London in May.
âAs of this January, I own my own songs again. This is something I thought would never be a possibility. After 50 years, I am finally reunited with my songs. I also have a say in where and how my songs are used. Up until this year, that is something I have never been able to do. I am looking forward to touring and celebrating this year! I want to thank Concord for helping to make all of this happen. And, I am excited for new ideas and a renewed interest in my music ⊠like a revival.â said Fogerty.
The rejuvenated Funeral For A Friend will be back on the road this October for a very special tour celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their debut album, ‘Casually Dressed and Deep In Conversation’.
Along for the ride will be very special guests Dashboard Confessional.
Another band coming to UK venues later this year is Highly Suspect who have revealed a run of dates this September. They’ll be bringing The Picturebooks along with them as special guests.
We move our News Report now across to the best festival announcements of the week. Following their bigger line-up reveal last week, 2000trees have now introduced Bullet For My Valentine as headlining this year’s event.
They join the likes of Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Hundred Reasons, Skindred, Eagles of Death Metal, Deaf Havana, Bob Vylan, Electric Six, Empire State Bastard, Holding Absence, Black Honey, Cancer Bats, The Joy Formidable, Tigercub, Dream State, Press To MECO and so many more!
Maryland rockers Any Given Sin present their new single, ‘Calm Before The Storm’ ahead of their forthcoming debut album.
âItâs a song about perseverance,â says the front man Victor Ritchie. âYouâre standing up to whateverâs in front of you.â Guitarist Mike Conner adds, âYouâre not just surviving a traumatic experience though – Youâre also becoming stronger because of it.â
Bellwether – ‘Hurricane’
Sydney based Pop Punk band Bellwether have shared their new single âHurricaneâ featuring Brooklane.
âHurricane was inspired by the titular character of the Naruto series and is about wanting to prove the people who didnât believe in you or dismissed you wrong, and blow them away. While we took a lot from Naruto for the song, we also used our experience in the music industry to ensure that we were being honest and sincere in our performance and why weâre so excited to show off this track – To let people know weâre here and to show off our worth as artists.â – Heath Joukhadar (guitarist)
Hematite – ‘Run Devil Run’
Hematite release ‘Run Devil Run’, the final single before their debut EP ‘Speak of the Devil’.
âThis song was written at a time of my life when I felt like I couldn’t slow down or hell would catch up with me. That maybe if I keep pushing through the flames I won’t get burnt. It’s kind of a take on how we donât check in on ourselves until it’s too late. Until there’s hell to pay. The reality is once you put yourself into so many fires, you either burn out or become the flame yourself, burning everything around you. In this song, I felt like I was doing both.â -Hematite
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
Where else could we start this week other than with Glastonbury Festival and their initial 2023 line-up! We now know that Elton John will be joined in headlining the Pyramid Stage by Arctic Monkeys and Guns N Roses!
Also playing over the weekend will be Alt-J, Blondie, Manic Street Preachers, Nova Twins, Royal Blood, slowthai, Texas and Legends Slot filling Yusuf (Cat Stevens).
Another major festival dropping line-up additions this week were the August stalwart Reading & Leeds Festivals.
The likes of The Amazons, Frank Turner, Easy Life, Palaye Royale, Sleep Token, Sea Girls, Vistas, The Murder Capital, Normandie, Knocked Loose, Yonaka, Yard Act and Don Broco join the line-up.
They join the likes Sam Fender, Foals, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons, Wet Leg, You Me At Six, Nothing But Thieves, The Snuts and Hot Milk.
It was a good week for festival fans this week as our News Report continues with this stunning line-up from 2000trees Festival!
The absolutely stacked line-up now features added American Football, Eagles of Death Metal, Electric Six, Employed To Serve, Joy Formidable, Tigercub and Black Honey.
The full line-up also hosts the likes of Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Hundred Reasons, Skindred, Deaf Havana, Rival Schools, Bob Vylan, Empire State Bastard, Holding Absence, Kid Kapichi, Cancer Bats, Dream State, LostAlone, Witch Fever, Blackgold, Guise, Mimi Barks, Pet Needs, Press To Meco and many more!
âFor us, seeing fans just as excited about the bands lower down the line up as they are about the bigger artists is what 2000trees is all about, and this announcement is no different. Heriot and Kneecap were big personal highlights from 2000trees 2022, so to be able to have Heriot return to smash the Main Stage and Kneecap bringing the carnage to the Forest Stage is going to be something special! And thereâs still two headliners to come sooner than you might thinkâŠâ – Festival booker James
Also unveiling more of their line-up this week were Standon Calling. The event is due to be headlined by Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party & The Human League.
Playing across the weekend will be the likes of Rick Astley, Squid, We Are Scientists, Bob Vylan, The Murder Capital, The Big Moon, Lottery Winners, KT Tunstall and The Sherlocks.
Sharing in the excitement of todayâs news, Rick Astley said: âI canât wait to head back to Hertfordshire for Standon Calling this July, hope to see you all there!â
Leicester’s The Long Road festival returns in 2023 with a line-up including Jon Pardi, Blackberry Smoke and many more.
Commenting on todayâs announcement, TLRâs Tennessee-born Creative Director Baylen Leonard said: âWe’re delighted to announce the first wave of artists for The Long Road 2023. Our festival is about offering a unique, inclusive experience for our visitors, with amazing music, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere. Our line-up reflects the very best in Country and Americana music today, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to Stanford Hall for what is going to be a truly unforgettable bank holiday weekend.”
We move our News Report on now to the best tour announcements from the past week and we begin in Wales as Kings of Leon reveal two special dates at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham this May.
Also this week, pop disruptor Ashnikko announced her hotly anticipated world tour and debut album ‘WEEDKILLER’, which is out June 2nd.
Speaking on the announcement Ashnikko states “My bioluminescent heart is glowing. My post-apocalyptic fae world is here for you to journey into. My wings have been ripped out, but Iâve built them anew using WEEDKILLER machine parts. I am the one sent here to eliminate you, WEEDKILLER.”
British Lion next in our News Report as this week they announced a new UK and European summer tour including dates in Manchester and Nottingham.
Steve Harris comments, âWe just had a brilliant time on the January UK tour and itâs great to be heading out again in 2023. Iâm really looking forward to BOTH Summer tours this year!â
Our News Report looks now at the best new releases from the past week and we begin this week with Metallica!
The legendary band are readying their latest album, ’72 Seasons’, which is out April 14th. This week that meant the debut of new single, ‘If Darkness Had a Son’, which you can listen to above.
This week saw Underoath return with their brand new single, ‘Let Go’, which you can check out above.
In discussing the song, the band said, âThis is actually the first song we completed after recording (last yearâs) Voyeurist. It took a few different forms but we got it to a place where we knew this is what it should be. Itâs about letting go of whatever trauma or demons that might be holding you back. As hard as it is to make those decisions sometimes, I feel like we can never grow without stepping out of those toxic environments.â
DMA’S have this week shared their latest single, ‘Something We Are Overcoming’, which you can listen to above.
The track comes ahead of new album, ‘How Many Dreams?’, which is out March 31st.
“‘Something We Are Overcomingâ started as a moving ballad about perseverance but quickly morphed into a trancey anthem of a side quest that is slightly but steadily DMAâS. We hope you like it.â â DMAâS
Brighton’s snake eyes have shared new single, ‘no one is truly cool’, and you can check out the video above.
Commenting on the new single, vocalist Jim Heffy says: “I met a bloke in a band I like at a festival after separately having a really lovely chat with one of their bandmates. he was stand-offish and, to be honest, a bit of a prick, giving proper âtoo cool for schoolâ vibes. the whole exchange left a bad taste in my mouth.â
âthe fake cool guy thing can only go so far. no need for a fake personality. just be real, be yaself. even Keith Richards puts down the whiskey and cigs sometimes and watches âthe last of usâ in his pants with a bowl of nik naks like everyone else.â
The official video for the track was created by the bandâs drummer and visual director Thomas Coe-Brooker, who explains of the concept: “in keeping with the song, we thought it’d be fun to make a really cool looking video in the least cool of spaces – a family garage. kinda like when you’re having band practice as a teenager and you’re all really sending it like total bad asses…but ultimately, your mum’s seconds from bursting in to tell you it’s too loud and that your dinner’s ready. that, but with satisfying, nicely framed angles and dreamy in-camera long exposure, 90s style.”
Hell’s Ditch have shared new single, ‘Ghosts’, ahead of their debut EP, ‘Take Cover’, out March 23rd.
Vocalist Nick Davis explains: “Ghosts is about the hanging weight of the past, the present and the future. Capitalism puts a premium on individual success, which leads people to feel like their failing if they don’t achieve certain goals or milestones. It’s all too easy to plant trees, grow them, and then cut them down inside the confines of your own head. I wrote most of the lyrics while watching my cats seemingly stare at nothing on the ceiling”.
paradise fell. – ‘VICES.’
Alternative artist paradise fell has shared their debut offering âVICES.â.
âVICES. is a frantic confrontation of the irony; that something which kills us slowly, sets us free in the moment. It makes us feel alive. The bad habits we have are the only things that can save us from the drudgery of daily life. The very things that are killing us, become a cornerstone of our identity. They become familiar. They become part of who we are. A comfort in a chaotic world.â – paradise fell.
Hunch Power – ‘Eye for an Eye’
Hunch Power hits back with their new pacifist anthem, ‘Eye for an Eye’.
“I’d been wanting to write a pacifist song about revenge for ages. I was sure about borrowing Ghandi’s famous words for the title and chorus but I couldn’t find the right music to go with it. One day I remembered an old idea I never demoed and realised the music matched perfectly so I wrote new lyrics and the band loved it” – Singer Harvey Springfield
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with a handful of festival announcements and one of the line-ups that got a little bigger this week was the above, belonging to Bearded Theory!
Fresh names include Pretenders, Billy Bragg, Jealous Nostril, Witch Fever and more.
They join a packed line-up including Interpol, Primal Scream, Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly, Gary Numan, Yard Act, The Mysterines, Pigs x7, The Undertones, Beans On Toast, Grace Petrie, Skinny Lister, Millie Manders and the Shutup, Pet Needs and many more.
Also making several line-up additions this week was Suffolk’s Latitude Festival which will see headliners Pulp, Paolo Nutini and George Ezra take to Henham Park in July.
This week has seen James, Yard Act and more join a bill that now includes The Kooks, Paul Heaton + Jacqui Abbott, The Big Moon, Lightning Seeds, The Proclaimers, The Murder Capital, Bob Vylan and many more.
The Boardmasters line-up grew exponentially this week including Lorde joining the already announced Liam Gallagher and Florence + The Machine as a headline act.
The full line-up now includes Cypress Hill, Bob Vylan, Yard Act, Nova Twins, Kid Kapichi, Lottery Winners, Cassyette, Black Honey, Squid and more.
Live At Leeds: In The Park has this week revealed the final acts joining their 2023 line-up set to be headlined by Two Door Cinema Club.
New additions Maximo Park, Kate Nash and Lottery Winners join a bill featuring DMA’s, The Hives, Black Honey, Gengahr, Low Hummer and many more.
Speaking about joining the Live At Leeds: In The Park lineup and Live At Leeds memories of years gone by, Lottery Winners said:
âLive at Leeds is always one of my favourite festival line ups. Itâs always crammed with all of my favourite bands, so Iâm almost more excited to just go than to play. But I am proper excited to play – might even do a crowd surf.â
Speaking about the final names added to Live At Leeds: In The Park, Festival Promoter Joe Hubbard said:
âCan it be May already? Weâre delighted to add even more names to the Live At Leeds: In The Park 2023 lineup – really bringing together an amazing array of names from across Live At Leedsâ history whilst remaining true to that core belief we all have to champion and support the most exciting new names in modern guitar music.
Having the likes of Maximo Park and Kate Nash (who have soundtracked countless memories and influenced a ridiculous amount of artists) alongside the likes of acts like Lottery Winners, James Marriott and Medicine Cabinet really nails what Live At Leeds is all about – and these names joining an already packed bill makes me very excited indeed. All coming together on one day, itâs going to be a special party indeed. Weâll see you there!â
A new festival is coming to Chelmsford as Hideaway Festival reveals its inaugural line-up including headliners Clean Bandit and Bastille.
They’ll be joined by the likes of James Bay, Texas and Jake Bugg.
Speaking about the first ever Hideaway festival, organiser Roy Trickett said: âEveryone on the Hideaway team is so excited to bring this family friendly, boutique Festival to Chelmsford. Headliners have all been hand-selected for their unmissable performances and the venue provides a perfect escape in a central Essex location. Weâre very proud to be hosting the first ever music festival in this unique space – and have a few surprises in store for our festival guests!â
We move our News Report on now towards the best live announcements from the past week.
Having already confirmed support acts for their first sold out Wembley Stadium date this summer, Blur have now confirmed they’ll be joined on their second date by Paul Weller and The Selecter.
This summer promises to be a packed full of great live music and this week Placebo added another night to the mix. The band has confirmed that they will play Dreamland in Margate this June.
Tigercub have just announced that their third album, ‘The Perfume of Decay’ will be out on June 2nd. You can listen to their brand new single, ‘Play My Favourite Song’, below.
The also revealed a full UK tour set for this autumn.
Speaking on the single, frontman Jamie Hall says, âI realised that without music I am alone, without sounds to occupy my brain intrusive thoughts begin to swirl and unease and sadness rises within me, so play my favourite song because silence makes me feel low.â
The next tour announcement in our News Report comes from the iconic Glenn Hughes, who will be hitting the road this October. The special shows will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of classic Deep Purple album, ‘Burn’.
This week Blood Red Shoes revealed that they will be playing a run of club shows including a date at the famous 100 Club in London.
The band said: “We decided it ain’t right that we’ve never played the 100 Club in London. So we booked it! And then it spiralled and we turned it into a 25 date tour of smaller punk venues, in 9 different countries”.
The final tour announcement in our News Report this week comes from Pet Needs who will be out and about playing acoustically over the next couple of months.
Our News Report heads now across to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Blind Channel.
Following the release last year of their ‘Lifestyles of the Sick & Dangerous’ album, Finlandâs Blind Channel are kicking off 2023 with their new standalone single ‘FLATLINE’.
âThis is the beginning of the next chapter of our career,âsay the band.âFlatline is Blind Channel on steroids. We captured the energy of last yearâs 130 shows into one song and threw it to a Berlin rave. The song was written with songwriting duo Blyne and itâs one of the heaviest tracks weâve ever made. This is pretty unique from scratch. If youâre sick and tired of ups and downs, this song might help you.â
Next up in our News Report are Canadians Softcult, who this week shared their latest single, ‘Love Song’, which you can check out above. The single comes ahead of new EP, ‘see you in the dark’, which is out on March 24th.
“This is an anxious love song,” Mercedes explains. “Itâs about loving someone so intensely that you find yourself in constant fear of losing them. Sometimes love and happiness can feel like these unattainable things that are too good to be true. Once weâve finally found something our hearts have been yearning for, itâs hard to shake the thought that we will inevitably have to let it go. But these gnawing thoughts can get in the way of us allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, or enjoying our relationships for fear that they wonât last.”
On the video Mercedes says, “We wanted the video to tell the story in a different way, focussing more on getting carried away with our own imaginations when it comes to falling in love. We filmed in a small legion hall and tried to make the ambiance a little depressing and mundane. Our main character is an elderly man whoâs sort of given up hope. Heâs there having a beer alone while everyone else is playing bingo. When he lays eyes on Gina, his co-star, he gets lost in fantasy, imagining not only the love they might have together but the type of person he could be if he had love in his life.”
Alternative Horror Rock band ANGER PARTY are back with their sophomore single âHad Enoughâ!
“Everyday we wake up and have the same conversations, with the same people, on the same subjects, with no purpose or profound effect on our lives. We create a state of perpetual monotony and anxiety, while wearing masks to hide our every emotion. All this is done to make prying onlookers think that everything is fine. âHad Enoughâ reflects on the deepest, darkest ways to break this cycle and exercise our true feelings on the world. It shows our desire to remove the mask, wipe away the make-up and reveal our true fears, frustrations, aggressions and vulnerabilityâ –Lead Vocalist, Ashley Wilson
Militarie Gun – ‘Do It Faster’
Los Angeles’ Militarie Gun share a thrilling new single in ‘Do It Faster’.
Speaking about the song, vocalist Ian Shelton states: “It is about my overall impatience with life. The agonising wait for things to materialise⊠so before resigning to do it myself, Iâm imploring the world to just move faster.â
De’Lour – ‘No One
South Wales based band DeâLour share their staggering new single âNo Oneâ.
“No One was one of the first songs we wrote together as a band in a room and not remotely. We got together at the first opportunity we could when lockdown was lifted in 2020. When we wrote No One, we wanted to express our thoughts on society’s lack of self reflection. We all worry about what everyone else thinks of us, but when you boil it down, no one is paying attention, no one really cares. People are only really concerned with what’s going on in their world, inside their own heads. So we wanted to express the feeling that we shouldn’t care about what other people think, we should just go for it if it’s what we want or what we think is best.â – Deâlour
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week by running through the best festival announcements made over the past week and up first we have Kendal Calling.
Topping the bill this year will be Kasabian, Royal Blood, Blossoms and Nile Rodgers & Chic! They are joined by the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Frank Turner, Circa Waves, The Enemy, KT Tunstall and The Amazons.
Also across the weekend will be The Hunna, The Murder Capital, Vistas, We Are Scientists, Lottery Winners, Black Honey, Newton Faulkner, October Drift, Jack Valero and many more!
Glasgow’s TRNSMT has added some fifty new acts to the bill for this year’s festival. The events features headliners Pulp, Sam Fender, The 1975, George Ezra, Kasabian and Royal Blood.
They are joined by Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, The View, The Kooks, Pale Waves, Hot Milk, Hamish Hawk, The Wombats, Nothing But Thieves, The Enemy, The Amazons, Bob Vylan, Dream Wife, Lauran Hibberd and many more.
Rock returns to Mote Park in Maidstone with the newly minted Maid of Stone taking place in July. The first headline act to be revealed are rockers Airbourne.
Joining the Aussies on the bill will be Skindred, The Hunna, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, Kris Barras Band, Elles Bailey, Florence Black, Bad Touch, Black Spiders and more.
Wales is also able to attract rocks finest with Steelhouse Festival leading the way. This week the festival announced that Black Stone Cherry will be topping the bill alongside already announced Saturday headliners Airbourne.
They are joined over the weekend by the likes of The Answer, Blues Pills, Kris Barras Band, Florence Black, When Rivers Meet, The Cruel Knives and Dead Man’s Whiskey!
Another rock event getting bigger this week was Slam Dunk Festival who have added more bands to an already packed bill. Probably a good thing then that they’ve also broken down the stage splits.
Added to the event were PVRIS, Sueco, Millie Manders and many more. They join the likes of Enter Shikari, The Offspring, Billy Talent, Bowling For Soup, Yellowcard,Creeper and far too many others to mention!
Live At Leeds: In The Park has added The Hives, DMA’s, gengahr and more to an already packed line up headlined by Two Door Cinema Club.
They join amongst others, The Big Moon, Black Honey, The Beths, Skinny Living, Deadletter, Ellur, Low Hummer and Opus Kink.
Speaking about their appearance at Live At Leeds: In The Park 2023, The Hivesâ frontman Pelle Almqvist said: âSome festival names just have a ring to them donât they? Live At Leeds. It sounds like some upper echelon rock shit and if this yearâs edition wasnât before, now it is. The Hives are very proud and happy to join this upper echelon. They are coming for your money and dignity and in exchange they will deliver however long a show you will let them of life-affirming record-breaking rock â ‘ roll music. If you have never seen them before. imagine a rock show but to the 3rd power. Too much of everything. If you have seen them before, you know you will have to again.â
Skinny Living said: âLive At Leeds is one of our favourite festivals in the UK! The line up is always top class, so to be able to play the main stage as a local band this year is a proper moment for us and our people.â
Looking ahead, Festival Promoter Joe Hubbard said: âIt may be chilly outside, but weâre already incredibly excited about returning to Temple Newsam for an unforgettable summer festival celebration – with even more favourites and new faces joining the party at Live At Leeds: In The Park this year.
DMAâs and The Hives may just be some of the best festival bands going right now, and having phenomena like Cavetown and Crawlers join the party is truly special. At Live At Leeds, we always look to bring unmissable live titans together with fansâ next favourite bands – and this yearâs In The Park is the perfect example of that. All coming together on one day at Temple Newsam, thereâs nothing quite like it – and we canât wait to see everyone this May!â
Following a run of new solo singles, iconic guitarist Chris Shiflett this week revealed a run of UK dates this March including a tour finale at Scala in London.
Our News Report continues with news that Pierce The Veil will be in the UK next April. The band will play a number of large venues finishing up at Alexandra Palace in London.
Next in our News Report is the latest single from Willie J Healey featuring Jamie T. Listen to ‘Thank You’ above now.
The track comes from forthcoming album, ‘Bunny’, which is out August 25th.
Willie comments on the new single: “I was tired and flat and didnât know what to make & then my friend Jamie said ay willie Iâve got this drum machine it might inspire you.. I picked it up and wrote ‘Thank You’ the next day, it was my way of thanking Jamie for being a good friend. I dedicate it to anyone trying to do their own thing.”
Mimi Barks concludes this portion of our News Report with the new video for her track, ‘SAW’, which you can watch above!
The track features on their recently released mixtape, ‘DEADGIRL’.
Barks had the following to say, “SAW, the third song on the DEADGIRL Mixtape, marks the resistance, rage, and anger I experienced while seeking my identity and self-worth on an emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental level.â
She continues to mention – âWorking independently on set with a micro teamâjust me, and my videographer, and his cameraâit takes me back to my roots. No crew, no lights, and no screenplay. Itâs raw, industrial and dirty – with the walls of the derelict buildings captured in the music video reflecting the wrath and backlash of my internal war.â
Blondshell will release her self-titled debut album arrives April 7th and is preceded by new single, ‘Joiner’.
Describing the new single, Blondshell explains, âI was listening to a lot of Britpop when I wrote this song. A lot of those bands like The Verve, Pulp, Suede, and Blur channelled dark subject matter, drugs, and all this dirty stuff, but with a fun acoustic guitar under it. I was listening to The Replacements, too. Thatâs what this song was inspired by sonically. I wanted it to feel like youâre watching HBO, where even though itâs heavy, itâs still a good time.”
BLACKGOLD – ‘Boogeyman’
Masked Misfits BLACKGOLD are back at it again with new single âBoogeymanâ!
The band comment, ââBoogeymanâ is about that person that haunts your dreams. They have full control over you within your subconscious and it feels like you canât escape.â
Riyah – ‘Perfect’
Riyah is ready to unleash her first single ‘Perfect’, showcasing what is to come from her hands and lungs.
She comments, “I’m excited to see this new chapter roll out with this new EP. I’ve spent almost two years figuring out which way to go, and these songs might feel like baby steps to some, but for me it’s gigantic leap into my passion”Â
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with returning Britpop legends Blur as they are set to play not one but two huge headline dates at Wembley Stadium.
Support comes from Slowthai, Self Esteem and Jockstrap!
Speaking on the announcement Damon Albarn said ââWe really love playing these songs and thought it’s about time we did it again.â
Graham Coxon said â âIâm really looking forward to playing with my blur brothers again and revisiting all those great songs⊠blur live shows are always amazing for me. A nice guitar and an amp turned right up and loads of smiling facesâŠâ
Alex James added â âThere’s always something really special when the four of us get in a room. It’s nice to think that on 8th July that room will be Wembley Stadium.â
And Dave Rowntree said â âAfter the chaos of the last few years, itâs great to get back out to play some songs together on a summerâs day in London. Hope to see you there.â
We move our News Report on now to festival announcements and start with new event Dog Day Afternoon which is set for Crystal Palace Park in London next July.
The event will feature Iggy Pop, Blondie and supergroup Generation Sex.
âBlondie and Iggy Pop⊠we are excited to reunite with our friend, the one & only Prince of Punk, Iggy for this special show in Crystal Palace Park. Once more, with feeling!â – Debbie Harry
âJust every now and then we find time to get together with old pals from back in the day – purely just for the crack and to have fun. If it ainât fun then we ainât interested, lifeâs too shortâ – Steve Jones
The final festival announcement in our News Report this week comes from Bloodstock, who have made further additions to a line-up that features Killswitch Engage, Megadeth, Anthrax, In Flames, Ugly Kid Joe, Knocked Loose and Nonpoint amongst others.
New additions this week include Heaven Shall Burn and Seething Akira.
Next, our News Report covers the best new releases from the past week and we begin this week with Enter Shikari.
The group shared new single, ‘Bull’, featuring Cody Frost and you can check out the video above.
Lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds comments: âSome people seem to crop up in your life, do immense damage to it, and then scuttle off again unscathed and unfazed. Whether itâs harassers or bullies, social media trolls, or ill-considered romantic partners, this song is about those who damage your mental health, your self-esteem, and even your very identityâ.
âWeâve known Cody for years and years now, and consider them a real part of the inner Shikari family. Weâve always known they were a wonderful talent and itâs been great to see them begin to ascend and find their voice.
When I was writing the chorus to Bull I could just immediately hear their voice. It seemed ingrained in the very viscera of the song already. We showed them the track and they came at us with all the passion in the world. Cody has incredible dynamic ability and is able to offer enormous power but with real vulnerability and tenderness never too far away. It was a joy to have them on this one, it all came together so effortlessly and we are all over the moon with the resultâ.
Cody Frost adds: âI canât tell you how much this collab means to me, and it came at just the right time. Iâd been through a hard breakup and lost everything, so when Rory messaged me asking if I wanted to be on a Shikari track, I lost my mind! Iâve been a huge fan of Enter Shikari since I was 15, I even have my favourite track title tattooed on my palms.
When I got the news I sat in my room for hours and the lyrics just poured out, I went into the studio with Dan (Weller), who has worked with me on my own music and some of Shikariâs too, to lay down the vocals while the band listened!
Filming the video was a dream, my favourite musicians serving me pies!!! It was surreal, and the concept was so fun I just know that Shikari fans are gonna dig it.â
Stray From The Path debut video for ‘Neighborhood Watch’
Stray From The Path, have released a music video for new single, ‘Neighborhood Watch’, with footage shot during their recent headline tour. Check out the video above.
“We wanted to do something fun, and something special on our last tour around North America,” says guitarist Tom Williams, “we filmed every single show and put together a music video where people were apart of it. It’s awesome to see familiar faces, and new faces having fun, playing new shit and just enjoying what we’ve missed so much.”
The Murder Capital have shared the latest single from their upcoming album, ‘Gigi’s Recovery’, which is out January 20th. Listen to ‘Ethel’ above.
The band share about the new single: âThe song âEthelâ is a picture of a crossroads, really, asking you what you want from life. Whether you want to continue down a path of chaos, or make a change in your course. Itâs showing you what is possible when you make the decisions that bring a sort of cradled warmth into your future. The idea of âEthelâ is that you can have what you truly desire if you put to rest those short-lived fixes that never bring you any real happiness.â
The band also share the Maxim Kelly directed video for ‘Ethel’; Kelly shares about the making of the video: âInitially I thought Ethel should be the main character and do the dance at the end, and I always had this image from this French film called ‘My American Uncle’. Where itâs like a little girl standing up at a table. I originally had that image in my head for a rap video, but it didnât really make sense to the song, I wanted this to feel more like surreal so then as I started finding more imagery, it kind of transpired that maybe the maid was the more interesting character.â
Jamie Lenman reveals NHS Charity single ‘Hospital Tree’
Ahead of the release of his fifth solo album, ‘The Athiest’, out November 25th, Jamie Lenman has shared new single ‘Hospital Tree’, which you can listen to above.
Proceeds from the track go towards NHS Charities.
Commenting on the track, Lenman says: âI ended up visiting Frimley Park Hospital, who treated me when I got pneumonia and took care of my Dad when he had cancer, to talk to them about the idea of Christmas in hospital. One lady said she was glad I’d noticed their efforts with things like decorations and such, that cheering the place up around the holidays is important to them, and that one of the things that made the pandemic even harder was that they weren’t able to do as much of that. So it was wonderful that they could hear my message of thanks. I hope they all hear it.â
The single comes with a beautifully simplistic video directed by Jen Hingley that echoes the poignant lyrical themes of the song, which sees Lenman flexing his multi-instrumental muscles on a piano ballad in yet another impressive chameleonic turn.
âMy original idea had been to get hold a huge choir and have everyone singing away in this whole epic production,â says Lenman of the visuals, âbut I just couldn’t get it together so we ended up going the other wayâjust me and a piano in a beautiful old village hall, really concentrating on the song and, of course, the tree.â
Willie J Healey shares new single ‘Sure Feels Good’
About to hit the road supporting Florence + The Machine on her UK Arena Tour, Willie J Healey has shared new single âSure It Feels Goodâ, which you can listen to above. The tracks serves as another taster ofnew album ‘Bunny’ out 24th March.
Earlier this year James And The Cold Gun released debut EP, ‘False Start’. Now the ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist alumni will start to build towards their full debut album with new single, ‘Chewing Glass’, which you can listen to above.
Frontman James Joseph had the following to say about the themes behind their new single:
“Chewing Glass” was written during a time where I felt like I couldn’t catch a break. The verses are a conversation with myself in the mirror at a low point where I’m re-evaluating all of my decisions – in essence, it’s a song about being down on your luck but persisting anyway. It’s our first self-produced song, which in itself was an act of persistence, but we’re super happy with the result.”
The former Boy Jumps Ship return as STAY FREE and share their new single, ‘Future Self’.
The band had the following to say:
âWeâre so excited to release new music, it’s by far the most exciting thing we have ever been a part of as musicians, and weâre excited to get it out there and release new tunes consistently. Working with Jason was a blast, itâs the most fun we have ever had in the studio.â
Lux Lyall – ‘Draw Blood’
Acclaimed singer, songwriter and poet Lux Lyall has released her brand new single, ‘Draw Blood’.
Regarding the new single Lux says, ââDraw Bloodâ is actually about multiple things. A few years ago I was finally open with my therapist about an assault that happened while I was dating someone when I was younger; I was pretty closed about it after it happened because I actually felt guilty for staying in the relationship afterwards. Now I know I basically shut the whole thing out because I didnât want to face it, itâs still hard to talk about.
âReflecting on that a few years ago while in another romantic situation that made me feel stifled, I wrote the chorus about being angry at what Iâd put up with, and what a lot of my friends were still putting up with in abusive situations. The verses are more about how trapped I felt at the time.
âI was watching a few of my guy friends going on tour and I was happy for them and envious at the same time. I kept thinking about the concept of âbeing with the bandâ and how Iâd been that way when I was young and all it did was give me trauma! Iâm trying to say I donât want to be with the band anymore I want to BE the band.â
Adult Leisure – ‘Control’
Bristol-based alt-indie four-piece Adult Leisure release new single, ‘Control’, taken from upcoming debut EP, ‘The Weekend Ritual’.
Reflecting on the EP, the band state, âweâve always wanted to produce an honest and homegrown debut selection of songs which both showcases our ability as musicians, but also keeps in line with our honest grass roots style. We wanted people to hear us with no filter or 3rd party influence. In an industry where so much is insincere, we wanted to give people us and us alone.â
Speaking about the inspiration behind the single the band state, âControl focuses around an immeasurable love to which itâs clear the object of affection isnât the wisest choice, yet still the lover is drawn ever closer, due to the overwhelming presence the recipient of their adoration has within their life.
They are the drug they can’t seem to pry themselves away from. They are hell, yet they are home and this is the battle the lover is having with themselves.â