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New figures suggest much of the UK is becoming a ‘touring desert’

New figures from the Music Venue Trust have revealed that the touring circuit has been shrinking due to bands increasingly skipping towns and cities. As reported by Music Radar, artists and musicians are playing roughly 11 shows on average on the grassroots circuit in 2024 versus the 22 that used to be done in 1994. The statistics come from industry stakeholders, promoters and artists alike. The situation has been described as a “spiralling crisis” for all aside from the biggest artists and promoters by Sam Duckworth – the Noughties singer songwriter Get Cape Wear Cape Fly – who works for the Music Venue Trust. Duckworth also spoke at the Beyond The Music conference in Manchester last week and shared: “My first major tour was 54 dates. There’s no way I could do a 54-date tour now. What it really means is that fans in certain parts of the country have now either got to travel long distances or hope to be the one non-major city on a tour. Advertisement View of the audience as British band Oasis performs on stage, circa 1980. (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty Images) “So not only are we seeing a crisis in economics, we’re also seeing a… Read More →

16OCTHit Singles

City To City: Introducing Gallus

In partnership with Marshall As they bicker genially over afternoon pints in a Glasgow beer garden, Gallus can agree on one thing. “We want to have fun,” says singer Barry Dolan. “That’s the goal for us. The best thing about live music is seeing a band having the time of their lives. We want people to come and forget their problems and let off steam for 45 minutes.” And the old friends go back to happily squabbling about which member originally wanted to name them The Alphabets, whether Frank Sinatra played Celtic Park or Ibrox, and how many songs they managed to get through at their debut gig before running out of material. THE CURE, BRYAN FERRY, THE MC5, RADIOHEAD, KIM DEAL, PAUL WELLER AND MORE STAR IN THE NEW UNCUT – ORDER A COPY HERE Advertisement The Glasgow five-piece were founded by cousins Eamon Ewins (guitar) and drummer Paul Ewins after they left university and realised they needed to find something to do. They recruited Dolan, a pal they hung out with at Gallus, the bar near Kelvingrove Park that ultimately supplied their name – it’s a Scottish word for bold or confident. Although Dolan had never sung before,… Read More →

16OCTNews

PJ Harvey announces Australia and Japan shows for 2025

PJ Harvey has announced a run of headline shows in Australia and Japan for 2025 – find all the details below. The singer-songwriter is due to head Down Under next March in support of her 10th and latest album ‘I Inside The Old Year Dying’, which was released last summer. She’ll take to the stage in Perth, Adelaide, Meredith, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in the first half of the month before heading to Japan for gigs in Tokyo and Osaka. Australian artist Mick Turner will serve as a special guest support act in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Advertisement Tickets for the Australian dates go on general sale at 10am AEDT this Friday (October 18) – you’ll be able to buy yours here. The general sale for Japan begins here on Saturday November 2. Alternatively, fans can gain access to a pre-sale for Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane from 10am AEDT tomorrow (October 17) by signing up to Harvey’s mailing list community. Check out the announcement post and see the full list of shows below. Recommended PJ Harvey’s 2025 Australia and Japan dates are: MARCH04 – Perth Festival, Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth07 – WOMADelaide, Adelaide 09 – Golden Plains, Meredith11… Read More →

15OCTNews

This overlooked Tom Hanks film is top of Netflix right now

A Tom Hanks film is becoming a sleeper hit on Netflix two years after it first came to cinemas. Although it was overlooked at the time, the 2022 comedy-drama A Man Called Otto is now topping the charts on the streamer, having just been added to its catalogue of films. The film stars Hank as the titular character, a grumpy, lonely old man who ends up getting more involved in the lives of his neighbours than he bargained for, but finds connection with others where he least expected. Hanks also has a producer credit on the film. A Man Called Otto is the English-language remake of the 2015 Swedish film A Man Called Ove, which is in turn an adaptation of the 2012 novel by Frederik Backman. The original film was nominated for two Oscars. Advertisement Check out the trailer below: [embedded content] Fans online have been taking to social media to praise the film, but some were surprised that it could be characterised as a comedy given it has a rather sad ending. Recommended “Just watched A Man Called Otto and I’ve cried so much I’ve got a headache. Be kind to people who might be having a hard time,” one user… Read More →

15OCTHit Singles

Live! David Gilmour at the Royal Albert Hall October 9th, 2024

David Gilmour is someone who has made a career by letting his guitar do the talking. Rather than emerging on stage in a blaze of laser light to sing a song everyone knows – that does happen, but much later – he begins his instantly sold-out run of six nights at the Albert Hall with an arguably more characteristic motion. He shuffles slowly backwards in the dark, and plays two back-to-back instrumentals from his two most recent solo albums. If at first it seems odd, there may be more wisdom in this move than is immediately obvious. You might not have a particularly deep relationship with “5AM” and “Black Cat”, but there’s a larger point being made here. Even if those songs are minor, they are instantly recognisable as being built from his sound. And that sound is much as it was in 1971: bright and glassy, a weaponised mellow. As much as his former Pink Floyd bandmate Roger Waters might like to diminish Gilmour as simply being a good guitarist and a nice singer, his remarks really only serve to illustrate Waters’ limitations as a conceptual thinker. Gilmour’s ownership of this sound – to be clear, the classic Pink… Read More →

15OCTNews

Sharon Van Etten announces new single ‘Afterlife’, coming next week

Sharon Van Etten has announced a new single called ‘Afterlife’ – check out the teaser clips below. READ MORE: Sharon Van Etten: “I have to be hopeful. I’m a mother and I want to be brave for my son” The New Jersey singer-songwriter began signalling her return last week by sharing a series of posts on social media. She posted two black-and-white images soundtracked by a pulsing synth line. Later, Van Etten uploaded footage from her intimate show at London’s 100 Club this summer. “Coming soon,” she wrote as the caption. The musician has now revealed another preview snippet of new material online, confirming a track titled ‘Afterlife’. It is due for release next Wednesday (October 23) – pre-save/pre-add here. Advertisement The forthcoming song is credited as Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – a moniker that was introduced at her recent gigs. It was given its live debut in London this July. Check out the posts below. Recommended Since playing her small gig in the capital – which marked her first live performance in over a year – Van Etten has played a show at The Viper Room in Los Angeles, California and supported Mitski at the Hollywood Bowl…. Read More →

14OCTNews

Tupac’s brother believes Diddy wasn’t ‘honest’ about connection to 1996 murder

Tupac‘s brother has alleged that Diddy has been dishonest about his apparent lack of connection to the rapper’s murder in 1996. In September of last year, Duane “Keffe D” Davis was charged with the late rapper’s murder, 27 years after he was fatally wounded from a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. The former gang leader was charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon in connection to the attack. Earlier this month, Tupac’s family began investigating Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ alleged link to his murder. Davis had previously claimed that Combs offered him $1 million to kill Shakur. Per People, a DEA and U.S. Department of Justice report on a 2008 interview with Davis said he had claimed Combs said he “needed to get rid of [Suge] Knight and Shakur” and offered Davis the money to “handle the problem.” Combs has never been charged in connection to the murder. Per the Guardian, in 2008, Diddy denied any connection to the shooting after an LA Times report alleged his associates, James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond and Jimmy Sabatino, helped stage a robbery of Shakur after offering the late rapper $7,000 to record a track at the studio on the night in question. Advertisement “The story is… Read More →

14OCTHit Singles

Introducing the Ultimate Music Guide: Pink Floyd Solo

The solo works of Syd, David, Roger, Rick and Nick While it began life like a thrilling and improvised space craft, by the time of its most commercially successful work, Pink Floyd was more like a corporation or a rebranded utility company. A highly-organized business with a streamlined visual message, not to mention a phenomenally high turnover. As you’ll read in this new magazine, what this initially meant for the artistic aspirations of the individual members of Pink Floyd told you a lot about the impulse to create. For David Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason solo work clearly began as a release: a break from the responsibilities of the day job. Even Roger Waters, who released a weirdly playful and experimental documentary soundtrack called The Body with Ron Geesin in 1970, seems to have enjoyed himself occasionally. Advertisement When Roger Waters quit Pink Floyd in 1983, however, something changed – and solo music which had previously been a pleasing distraction assumed a far more competitive edge. For Waters, the ongoing existence of a Pink Floyd without him stung him into action: if you were in any doubt about his key contributions to the Pink Floyd albums The Wall and… Read More →

14OCTHit Singles

Jeff Tweedy – Bearsville Theater, NY, October 13

It’s been remarkable to watch Jeff Tweedy evolve from wired young country-punk to industrious, avuncular indie-rock vet, performing “Freedom Highway” with Mavis Staples on national television during the Democratic Convention in his Chicago hometown, or presiding over Solid Sound, Wilco’s biennial festival in the Berkshire Mountains. So it’s fitting to see him perform at the Bearsville Theater, on the edges of Woodstock – stomping ground of Dylan and Todd Rundgren, minutes from The Band’s old Big Pink house, in the same room where Rick Danko’s memorial service was held. It’s sacred ground for elder statesmen of song, which is exactly what Tweedy has become. THE CURE, BRYAN FERRY, THE MC5, RADIOHEAD, KIM DEAL, PAUL WELLER AND MORE STAR IN THE NEW UNCUT – ORDER A COPY HERE Advertisement Those who follow his Starship Casual Substack, full of spare solo versions of all manner of songs (recent covers include Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place” and Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love A Bad Name”) know how affecting a busker-style storyteller he can be. Those skills are on full display tonight, the finale of a three-night solo run featuring just Tweedy and a few acoustic guitars (a series of US solo dates… Read More →

14OCTHit Singles

Disney+ unveils new Beatles ’64 doc from Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi

Beatles ’64, an all-new documentary from producer Martin Scorsese and director David Tedeschi, will be available to stream on Disney+ from November 29. According to a press release, “The film captures the electrifying moment of The Beatles’ first visit to America. Featuring never-before-seen footage of the band and the legions of young fans who helped fuel their ascendance, the film gives a rare glimpse into when The Beatles became the most influential and beloved band of all time.” THE CURE, BRYAN FERRY, THE MC5, RADIOHEAD, KIM DEAL, PAUL WELLER AND MORE STAR IN THE NEW UNCUT – ORDER A COPY HERE Advertisement Beatles ’64 includes rare footage filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles, restored in 4K by Park Road Post in New Zealand. Live footage from The Beatles’ first American concert at the Coliseum in Washington, DC has been demixed by WingNut Films and remixed by Giles Martin, along with their appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. The documentary also includes new interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as fans whose lives were transformed by The Beatles. In case you missed it, you can read all about The Beatles’ first trip to America – along with… Read More →

14OCTHit Singles

Send us your questions for Joe Boyd!

When you write out Joe Boyd’s biography in bullet points, it looks almost unbelievable: production manager when Dylan went electric at Newport; co-founder of London’s UFO club; enabler of Britain’s folk-rock boom; music supervisor for Deliverance and A Clockwork Orange; producer of Nick Drake, Nico and REM; champion of world music via his Hannibal label. THE CURE, BRYAN FERRY, THE MC5, RADIOHEAD, KIM DEAL, PAUL WELLER AND MORE STAR IN THE NEW UNCUT – ORDER A COPY HERE All of these experiences and more have fed into his new book, a mightily impressive tome called And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain (after a lyric from Paul Simon’s Graceland). Subtitled A Journey Through Global Music, it explores – in a series of compelling anecdotes – how Western popular music is interwoven with and indebted to cultures from all around the world. Advertisement Boyd has kindly agreed to take some time out from his current book tour to submit to a gentle grilling from you, the Uncut readers. So what do you want to ask this font of all musical knowledge? Send your questions to audiencewith@uncut.co.uk and Joe will answer the best ones in a future issue of Uncut. THE CURE, BRYAN… Read More →

14OCTNews

‘I, Robot’ director slams Elon Musk for ripping off his designs with new line of Tesla robots

Australian filmmaker Alex Proyas has called out Elon Musk for stealing his designs for a new line of Tesla robots. Last week, Musk and Tesla unveiled two new self-driving vehicle prototypes: the Cybercab and Robovan at an event titled We, Robot. Also present at the presentation was an autonomous robot, Optimus, that was capable of making and handing out drinks and was entertaining guests. pic.twitter.com/VK9vlGF0Ms — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 11, 2024 Proyas caught wind of the showcase, and decided to call out Musk for all three designs – which are admittedly strikingly similar to the concepts used for his hit 2004 sci-fi film I, Robot. Advertisement On X (formerly Twitter), which is owned by Musk, Proyas shared a post comparing the designs from his film and the Tesla robots side-by-side, revealing their similarities. He wrote: “Hey Elon, can I have my designs back please?”. Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please? #ElonMusk #Elon_Musk pic.twitter.com/WPgxHevr6E — Alex Proyas (@alex_proyas) October 13, 2024 Proyas isn’t the only one vocalising the similarities between designs. On social media, many users have been comparing Tesla’s new line of robotics to the iconic 2004 Will Smith film. Recommended See some reactions below. 2004… Read More →

13OCTNews

Robert Smith shares plans for The Cure’s 2025 tour – and 50th anniversary plans

The Cure‘s Robert Smith has shared the band’s plans for a full world tour in 2025, likely stretching into their upcoming 50th anniversary as a band. To mark the release of long-awaited 14th album ‘Songs Of A Lost World‘, the alt-rock icons are set to play two London shows – one for BBC Radio 2 on October 30 and another intimate album release show at Troxy on November 1 – but have no further tour dates in the diary. Now, in a new and long-ranging interview filmed by the band for fans in conversation with Matt Everitt (shared via unlocking their ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ website), Smith has shared when fans can see them on stage after that. The same interview saw Smith reveal that The Cure have another new album that’s “virtually finished” – with a third new record also on the way. Speaking about the band’s plans for a full world tour, the frontman said he’d be aiming to complete one of the LPs before hitting the road again in 2025. “We’ll start up again next year,” said Smith. “Seriously, I have to finish the second album. We were going to play festivals next year, but then… Read More →

12OCTNews

Neil Young endorses Kamala Harris for President: “She is an honest, forthright truth teller”

Neil Young has officially endorsed Kamala Harris to be the next US president, describing her as “an honest, forthright truth teller”. The rock icon has been politically outspoken for much of his career, and with the election just over three weeks away, he has chosen this moment to nail his colours to the mast. Writing on his Archives site on Friday (October 11), he has said: “She is an honest forthright truth teller who is experienced in the White House, free from ambiguity or evasiveness, who goes straight to the point.” “Clear headed, young enough to hold the office for a couple of bright future terms, Kamala Harris is a good person who is unafraid to take on criminals and uphold the law of the USA. She’s my candidate for the future of this great country.” Advertisement Neil Young performs onstage at the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) He added he believes Harris “will take on the billionaire class and make them pay their share of taxes. She will not owe them any favors. She is a kind, considerate American.” In August, Young granted Harris’ running-mate Tim Walz permission to use… Read More →

12OCTNews

Jackmaster dies from accidental head injury aged 38

The Scottish house DJ and producer Jackmaster has died following “complications arising from an accidental head injury” at the age of 38. The news was confirmed by representatives of the musician on Instagram, who wrote: “It is with profound sorrow that we confirm the untimely passing of Jack Revill, known to many as Jackmaster”. The statement added that Revill had passed away on Saturday morning (October 12) in Ibiza after sustaining the head injury. “His family—Kate, Sean, and Johnny — are utterly heartbroken,” the statement continued. “While deeply touched by the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and fans, the family kindly requests privacy as they navigate the immense grief of this devastating loss.” “Jack’s passion for music and his relentless drive to push creative boundaries through his work at the Numbers label and Rubadub Records in Glasgow, including discovering countless innovative artists, made him a beloved and pioneering figure in the electronic music community both in front of and behind the scenes.” “His talent for blending genres and delivering electrifying DJs sets and productions earned him the respect and admiration of peers and fans across the globe. His legacy will continue to inspire, and his impact on the world of… Read More →

12OCTNews

Here’s every song on the ‘Sweetpea’ soundtrack

The new Sky Atlantic dark comedy Sweetpea is making headlines, but what songs feature on the show’s soundtrack? Read on for the full list. All six episodes of the series are streaming on the platform and NOW TV in the UK as of Thursday (October 10), and it is available to watch on Starz in the United States and Canada. The show has been created by Kirstie Swain and is based on the series of novels of the same name by CJ Skuse, the first of which was published in 2017. [embedded content] Advertisement Sweetpea stars Ella Purnell (Fallout, Yellowjackets) as Rhiannon, an admin assistant at a local newspaper who appears unassuming, but is hiding a rampantly murderous private life. Nicole Lecky, Jon Pointing and Ingrid Oliver co-star. Here’s every song on the Sweetpea soundtrack The show features an original score by Isobel Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Emma), who also wrote the opening theme, ‘Do You See Me Now’. In addition, the series is packed full of pop bangers from the likes of Katy Perry, the Spice Girls, Sugababes and Charli XCX. See the full list below. Recommended EPISODE ONE The Staves – ‘I’m On Fire’Gin Wigmore – ‘New Rush’Ladytron – ‘Destroy… Read More →

11OCTNews

KISS’ Gene Simmons says “I stand by every word I said” after accusations of misogyny on ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Gene Simmons has said he stands by his comments on Dancing With The Stars after receiving accusations of misogyny. The veteran KISS singer and bassist sparked a backlash during an episode of the US dancing show this week (October 8), on which he was a guest judge alongside Bruno Tonioli, Derek Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba. Some viewers criticised some of the comments he made, describing him as “disgusting”, “uncomfortable” and “disrespectful”, claiming he focused more on the female competitors’ appearance rather than their dancing ability. When reviewing the performance from actor Reginald VelJohnson, for instance, he said, “Hey Reggie, you’ve got a beautiful woman right beside you who can twist it and turn it and knows how to move it and all that.” He also said that actor/singer Chandler Kinney “fogged up” his glasses, adding: “You move me, not just with your gyrations and so on, but your beautiful face and how you are into the emotion of it”. Advertisement Gene Simmons. Credit: Axel Heimken/picture alliance via Getty Images Now, Simmons has doubled down on his appearance on the show, telling the Daily Mail: “All media is clickbait. I stand by every word I said. I had a great… Read More →

11OCTHit Singles

Introducing the new Uncut CD – curated by Kim Deal!

The new issue of Uncut – in UK shops from today or available to order direct from us by clicking here – comes with a FREE 14-track CD curated by none other than the legendary Pixie, Breeder and now solo artist, Kim Deal. “I don’t know if it’s a driving compilation,” she explains. “But that might be good, because if it’s a real CD then a lot of readers might listen to it in their cars…” Read on for our track-by-track guide… Advertisement 1 Joy DivisionWarsawKim kicks off with the opening track from the Manchester crew’s debut EP, “An Ideal For Living”. Here are Joy Division at their punkiest, with Ian Curtis sneering and Bernard Sumner’s guitar slashing and savage. Stephen Morris’s innovative drum beat points towards their future, though. 2 Th’ Faith HealersThis TimeOne-time support act to The Breeders, this London group were bizarrely called ‘baggy metal’ back in the early ’90s – listening from 2024, though, this track, taken from their 1992 debut Lido, sounds like an impossibly cool and feral collision of Neu! and The Stooges. A rediscovery is definitely overdue. 3 OmertàKremer & BergeretA psychedelic group from the modern-day French underground, Omertà use two bass guitars… Read More →

11OCTHit Singles

Robert Smith: “I thought that was the end of The Cure”

In the new issue of Uncut – in UK shops from today or available to order direct from us by clicking here – Robert Smith reveals how he almost disbanded The Cure upon reaching the group’s 40th anniversary in 2018. “I thought that the Hyde Park show would be it, I thought that was the end of The Cure,” says Smith. “I didn’t plan it, but I had a sneaky feeling that this was going to be it. But it was such a great day and such a great response, I enjoyed it so much and we gota flood of offers to headline every major European festival. ‘Do you want to play Glastonbury?’ So I thought maybe it’s not the right time to stop. “I wasn’t stopping because I didn’t want to do it any more, I just thought it would allow me a few years when I’d still be able to do something else. I wasn’t that bothered, funnily enough. I’d arranged everything to end in 2018, so when we got to 2019, I felt relieved. ‘We did it!’ I’ve had a different outlook to everything since.Pretty much everyone that died that meant something to me died prior to… Read More →

11OCTNews

Dream Theater announce new album ‘Parasomnia’ with technical new track ‘Night Terror’

Dream Theater have announced their new album, ‘Parasomnia’, and have shared the blistering new track ‘Night Terror’ – find out all the details below. Last night (October 10), the progressive metal band took to social media to announce ‘Parasomnia’, which will mark their first record with founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy since 2009’s ‘Dark Clouds & Silver Linings’. ‘Parasomnia’ will serve as the band’s 16th studio album in total and 11th with Portnoy. The album is due for release on February 7, 2025. ‘Parasomnia’ will be available for pre-order later today (October 11). To celebrate the album’s announcement, the band have also shared a new single, ‘Night Terror’, along with its accompanying music video. The nearly 10-minute-long song sees Mike Portnoy’s technical drum style along with the rest of the band’s signature odd-time signatures. Advertisement Listen to ‘Night Terror’ below. [embedded content] They wrote about the album via a press release: “This album marks the beginning of a special new chapter for us as bandmates and as brothers. This album represents not just our growth as musicians but also the journey we’ve embarked on together of the last four decades.” Recommended Dream Theater are set to go on their… Read More →

10OCTNews

Listen to Duran Duran’s spooky cover of ELO’s ‘Evil Woman’ for Halloween

Duran Duran have shared a spooky cover of ELO‘s ‘Evil Woman’ in time for Halloween. Check it out below. READ MORE: Duran Duran: “We’d love to do Glastonbury – we just need the right slot” The band shared their Halloween-themed album ‘Danse Macabre’ last year, which saw them cover Billie Eilish, Talking Heads and more. Now, they’ve announced ‘Danse Macabre – De Luxe’, an expanded version which is set for digital release tomorrow (October 11) and on CD and vinyl box set October 25. You can preorder/presave here. Ahead of the release, they’ve shared one of the new bonus tracks – a cover of ELO’s 1975 hit, taken from their album ‘Face the Music’. Arriving on time to soundtrack the spooky season, Simon Le Bon and co. give the track a haunted-disco feel, complete with a rousing synth chorus and touches of bewitching strings. Check it out below. Advertisement [embedded content] Elsewhere on the deluxe album will be new tracks ‘New Moon (Dark Phase)’ – an updated cover of their classic track ‘New Moon on Monday’ featuring former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor – and an instrumental titled ‘Masque of the Pink Death’. In a press release, keyboardist Nick Rhodes said: “When we… Read More →