Nicol Ostrc

Day N Vegas 2022 has been cancelled

This year’s edition of the Day N Vegas festival, which was due to kick off in exactly two months, has been formally cancelled. The announcement was made overnight by Goldenvoice – the agency that also hosts Coachella, Head In The Clouds, Cruel World and more – who cited “a combination of logistics, timing and production issues” for the cancellation. READ MORE: Coachella 2022 review: the festival’s return to the desert is cause for celebration In a statement shared on social media, the festival’s team assured ticketholders that “the refund process will begin immediately”. Tickets purchased with credit cards will be refunded to the account used for the transaction, with the full amount expected to be processed within two to four weeks. Punters that bought festival passes through AXS, and have questions about their individual process, can reach out to AXS’ support service here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Day N Vegas (@daynvegas) Advertisement The line-up for Day N Vegas 2022 was announced last month, and made waves for having Travis Scott billed as one of its three headliners (alongside SZA and J. Cole). Should the event have gone ahead, it would have marked Scott’s first live… Read More →

01JULNews

Michael Jackson biopic could reportedly be in the works, says nephew

A Michael Jackson biopic could reportedly be in the works, his nephew has said. TJ Jackson, son of Michael’s brother Tito, claims that a film about the musician is “going to happen”, as reported by the Daily Mirror. The singer reportedly told the publication that a new biopic was necessary to reframe the “awful” allegations levelled against Michael. Advertisement It’s not clear whether the film TJ speaks of is the same as the biopic in development, with Bohemian Rhapsody‘s Graham King on board to produce. “I think it’s awful, to be honest. I think it’s very sad,” Tito said of the accusations levelled against his uncle. “I think it’s in a way disgusting because what sells in this world is negativity. People like to gossip, people like scandals. My uncle is not here to defend himself, so he’s an easy target. He was always an easy target, because he was always quiet.” Janet and Michael Jackson at the Grammy Awards February 26, 1993. CREDIT: John Barr/Liaison He added: “But now that he’s no longer with us, there couldn’t be an easier target. Everyone knows who Michael Jackson is. So it’s an easy story to sell. But I truly believe truth… Read More →

30JUNNews

Fred Again.. shares new Four Tet collaboration ‘Jungle’

Fred Gibson, AKA electronic producer Fred Again.., has released a new track called ‘Jungle’ – check it out below. READ MORE: Fred Again.. – ‘Actual Life 2 (February 2 – October 15 2021)’ review: acclaimed producer turns despair into hope The track – which contains a sample of Elley Duhé’s 2017 track ‘Immortal’ and also features a production co-credit from Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden – follows Fred’s February team-up with I. JORDAN (formerly India Jordan) ‘Admit It (U Don’t Want 2)’. Prior to that, Fred released two albums in 2021 – his April debut ‘Actual Life (April 14 – December 17 2020)’ and November’s follow-up ‘Actual Life 2 (February 2 – October 15 2021)’. Advertisement Listen to ‘Jungle’ below: Speaking on his previous collaboration with I. JORDAN, Fred wrote: “It was such an effortless joy working with India on this. We made it in like three sessions and finished it on the rooftop where I live. It was sick that like while we were working on it India could go and road test it and we ended up evolving the tune based on the reaction. “We both wanted to make something that just honoured the feeling of hearing ‘u don’t want 2…..admit… Read More →

30JUNNews

Did Beyoncé’s Renaissance Cover Art Just Reference A Famous Painting?

Stop horsing around and bow down — Queen Beyoncé has arrived with the majestic cover art for her upcoming album, Act I: Renaissance, on Thursday (June 30). The singer took to Instagram to share the artwork, which shows Beyoncé posing astride a glowing silvery horse against a stark black backdrop. Her body faces forward while she glances at the camera with an intensely regal stare. Her long blonde hair falls behind her back, and she dons armor-like jewelry that wraps around her body. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfb3ddsFe2S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Fans on social media were quick to see resemblances in the Carlijn Jacobs-shot photo to other iconic equestrian imagery. Some have pointed out the similarities to actress Bianca Jagger’s grand horseback entrance at Studio 54 in 1977 for her 27th birthday. Others have speculated that it is a reference to the famed painting of Lady Godiva, an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to English legend, rode a horse nude to protest the citizens’ oppressive heavy taxes enforced by her husband. https://twitter.com/TheTitanBaddie/status/1537446379664027653?s=20&t=UQqCqGKg9ajgqPeeEydaog https://twitter.com/consequence/status/1542547179717513216?s=20&t=UQqCqGKg9ajgqPeeEydaog In the post’s caption, Bey revealed more details about her album and the journey she experienced while working on it. “Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world…. Read More →

30JUNNews

Band Spectra and The Anchoress share powerful and political new single, ‘Human Reciprocator’

Band Spectra and The Anchoress have teamed up for a new collaborative song and video, ‘Human Reciprocator’ – see it first on NME below. Described as being “politically charged”, the track was inspired by West Germany’s Krautrock movement in the 1970s as well as the “vocal expressiveness” of David Bowie‘s 1977 album ‘Low’. READ MORE: The Anchoress shares ‘The Art Of Losing’ video and tells us about her Manics-featuring new album ‘Human Reciprocator’ serves as the first preview of Band Spectra’s (aka Robert Manning) debut studio record, details of which are yet to be announced. It arrives with an official video directed by Callum Henderson. Advertisement The Anchoress (aka Catherine Anne Davies) co-produced the single alongside Manning, with the pair delving into the “discontent, disillusionment, and anger over the current political landscape in the UK”. Davies explained: “Human Reciprocator was heavily inspired by an overdose on the toxic news cycle, ruminating on privilege and abuse of power in politics, deception, hypocrisy and the slow slide into a Britain steeped in poverty and a cost of living crisis while a political elite bluster and lie their way through a decade in power. “Growing up with periods of my childhood relying on… Read More →

30JUNNews

Years & Years’ Olly Alexander on why he loves the “Kate Bush-aissance”

Years & Years spoke to NME backstage at Glastonbury 2022 and told us why he’s excited about the current revival of Kate Bush‘s music. Watch our interview above. READ MORE: Years & Years at Glastonbury 2022: the story of his set – in stunning photos Olly Alexander talked to us right before performing on the Other Stage on Sunday (June 26). The show marked his third time at Worthy Farm, and his first time taking to the stage solo as Years & Years. During our interview, we asked Alexander about a recent tweet, where he’d shared Bush’s name in all capital letters without any further comment. Bush’s recent resurgence comes after her 1985 track ‘Running Up That Hill’ secured the top spot on the UK singles chart after appearing in the latest season of Stranger Things. Advertisement “I’ve always loved Kate Bush so much,” he replied. “We have [this current] Kate Bush renaissance, the Kate Bush-aissance. Just hearing her voice and how magical she is, I think she really brings this essence of magic. “People really connect that with her. I just feel like she’s released magic in the world again, and I’m just like ‘thanks, Kate Bush’.” KATE BUSH — olly alexander (@alexander_olly)… Read More →

30JUNNews

Sole surviving assailant of 2015 Paris terrorist attacks sentenced to life in prison without parole

Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving assailant of the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris in which almost 130 people were killed, has been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The attacks, which took place on November 13 throughout parts of Paris, included suicide bombings outside the Stade de France, attacks on cafes and restaurants, and a massacre at the Bataclan theatre during a concert by Eagles of Death Metal that left 90 people dead and hundreds more injured. On Wednesday (June 29), presiding judge Jean-Louis Peries found Abdeslam guilty of murder and attempted murder in relation to a terrorist enterprise, closing out a months-long civil trial. The court found Abdeslam’s explosives vest malfunctioned – contradicting a key argument from the defence that he had abandoned the vest because he decided not to go forward with detonating it in a crowded bar in northern Paris. Abdeslam’s sentencing of life in prison without parole marks a rare instance in France. The sentence has only been handed down four times in the past, for crimes of rape and the killing of minors. During his final court appearance on Monday (June 27), Abdeslam apologised to the victims… Read More →

29JUNNews

Alanis Morissette pays tribute to former drummer Taylor Hawkins at London gig

Alanis Morissette paid tribute to late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins last night (June 28) at the first of two shows at London’s The O2 – see footage below. READ MORE: Taylor Hawkins, 1972 – 2022: Foo Fighters drummer who always stole the show The Canadian singer-songwriter is currently on the road as part of her ‘Jagged Little Pill’ anniversary tour, which had previously been rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Towards the end of her set, Morissette performed her hit 1996 single ‘Ironic’ while displaying images of Hawkins on a screen behind her. Once the song finished, a message reading “In Memory Of Taylor Hawkins” flashed up on the screen under a photo of the drummer. Advertisement Hawkins played as part of Morissette’s live band before joining the Foos in 1997. In a 2018 interview, he told Matt Wilkinson on Beats 1 that he “wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for [Morissette]”, adding that he would “be delivering pizza if it wasn’t for her”. You can check out footage of Morissette’s tribute below: After a couple of postponed shows thanks to Covid, I finally got to see @Alanis Morrisette. What a show, I loved every minute! It’s safe to say, if I needed to… Read More →

29JUNNews

Chanel Haynes claims she was sacked from ‘Tina’ musical after singing with The Rolling Stones

Singer Chanel Haynes has opened up about being sacked from her role in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, after singing with The Rolling Stones. READ MORE: The Rolling Stones live in Madrid: Celebrating six decades at the top for rock’n’roll royalty The musician had been portraying Tina Turner in a West End production of Tina but was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform ‘Gimme Shelter’ with The Rolling Stones in Milan. Haynes appeared with the Stones in place of their longstanding backup singer, Sasha Allen, who sat the Milan show out for an unspecified reason. A mentee of the iconic Quincy Jones, Haynes is best known as one third of the gospel trio Trinitee 5:7. More recently, she played the lead role in the UK’s production of Tina. Advertisement “I can’t say exactly when I got the call because I don’t want to give timelines,” Haynes told Rolling Stone magazine about the offer from the legendary rock band. “But I’ll tell you that there was was very little notice. Very little. Everybody was biting their nails. ‘How are we going to pull this off?’ But I tell you the machine the Stones have is like Buckingham Palace or the White House. They have the same… Read More →

29JUNNews

Paul McCartney fan who caused halt to his Glastonbury set after fainting speaks out

A festivalgoer who fainted during Paul McCartney‘s headline show at Glastonbury 2022 last weekend, which caused a brief halt to the set, has said she is “absolutely gutted” about missing the show. The legendary Beatle‘s near-three-hour show on Saturday night (June 25), which featured a whole host of classic songs and special guest appearances from Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen, drew a huge crowd to the Pyramid Stage. READ MORE: Paul McCartney live at Glastonbury 2022: history-making rock’n’Grohl with The Boss Some fans, such as Lisa Morris, had waited hours to see McCartney’s set from the front of the crowd barriers. Advertisement However, Morris, 50, from Bath, started to feel unwell shortly before McCartney came on stage. She fainted around 25 minutes into the performance, and had to be carried out of the crowd by security guards. McCartney had been telling a story about Jimi Hendrix at the time, but stopped to check in on Morris. “What’s going on there? Something happening in the middle of the crowd,” he said. “Let’s attend to it.” Once he saw that security were successfully dealing with the incident, he joked: “It wasn’t that solo I played, was it?” Speaking to BBC News, Morris… Read More →

29JUNNews

The 1975 reveal title and tracklist for fifth album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’

The 1975 have announced that their fifth album will be titled ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, while also revealing its tracklist. READ MORE: The 1975: “I just hope that my honesty is not seen as self-indulgent” The band are set to return with new single ‘Part Of The Band’ on July 7, which will be the fourth song on the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’. A snippet of the track was shared on Instagram by Matty Healy yesterday (June 29). Fans have now been sharing new posters that feature the album’s title and its 11-song tracklist, which you can see below. As is customary with the band, the album begins with a self-titled song that has opened each of their four albums to date, featuring the same lyrics set around different music. Advertisement It comes after mysterious posters appeared in London featuring a black-and-white photo of Healy taken from a distance. The date of July 7 was then confirmed as one of significance for the band ahead of the release of their fifth studio album. See the album’s tracklist and title reveal below. Album Tracklist Via: @PeaKayEff #the1975 pic.twitter.com/GBBZDXY4C6 — The 1975 News (@the1975_mfc) June 29, 2022… Read More →

29JUNNews

Haim, The Roots, The Flaming Lips, Sheryl Crow and more to play climate-themed music festival in New York

Haim, The Roots, The Flaming Lips and Sheryl Crow are scheduled to headline The Big Climate Thing Festival, a three-day climate-themed festival in New York City. Seeking to address and raise awareness of the climate crisis, the event will blend musical programming with climate-related dialogue, including videos, talks, and calls to action. The event, which takes place at the start of Climate Week NYC in September, will also be carbon-mapped in an effort to reduce its environmental footprint. The festival’s proceeds will support EarthPercent, a Brian Eno-launched nonprofit which seeks to raise $100million of music industry funds for climate initiatives by 2030. The festival’s planned contributions to the initiative have not yet been specified. Advertisement Other acts slated to play the three-day event include Khruangbin, Princess Nokia, Pom Pom Squad, and The Weather Station. More acts are scheduled to be announced. The Big Climate Thing Festival will take place in New York City’s Forest Hills Stadium from September 16 to 18. Single-day passes run from $119 onwards, while three-day tickets are $268 onwards. Ticket pre-sales have begun while general sales start tomorrow (June 30) at 10am local time. More details can be found on the festival’s site here. In a statement… Read More →

28JUNNews

Porcupine Tree on course for this week’s number one album

Porcupine Tree look set to earn the first number one album of their career this week with new album, ‘Closure/Continuation’. READ MORE: Porcupine Tree share video for ‘Rats Return’ and tell us: “We’re the quintessential cult band” It’s the band’s eleventh album of their career, plus their first since going on hiatus in 2009. While the physical sales are strong, the band face tough competition from Harry Styles and Drake, streaming sales for their recently released albums are high according to The Official Charts. Advertisement Elsewhere in the chart, new entries look set to appear from Chris Brown, Luke Combs, Conan Gray and Eric Clapton’s new collection of 17 previously unreleased live performances from 1994. The trio released new album ‘Closure/Continuation’ on June 24 – their first since going on hiatus after 10th album ‘The Incident’ in 2009. Singer/guitarist/keyboardist/bassist Steven Wilson, keyboardist Richard Barbieri and drummer Gavin Harrison also celebrated their return by announcing a European tour in October and November, climaxing with a huge homecoming show at SSE Wembley Arena on November 11. Speaking to NME about their new album, Wilson said: “We felt there was unfinished business. Our last album, ‘The Incident’, wasn’t our best. We’d got into the album/tour/album/tour… Read More →

28JUNNews

Kendrick Lamar’s Glastonbury crown of thorns featured 8,000 micro pavé diamonds

The crown of thorns worn by Kendrick Lamar during his headline set on Glastonbury‘s Pyramid Stage on Sunday (June 26) featured 8,000 cobblestone micro pavé diamonds. The Compton rapper’s powerful show on the final night of the 2022 festival saw him take to the stage wearing a custom titanium and pavé diamond crown. READ MORE: Glastonbury Festival 2022 – review: camping, killer tunes and catharsis on Worthy Farm The headpiece was designed over the course of 10 months by Lamar along with his longtime creative collaborator Dave Free (of pgLang) and the jeweller Tiffany & Co., according to Vogue. Advertisement The crown featured 8,000 cobblestone micro pavé diamonds totalling more than 137 carats, weighing in at around 200g. Four craftsmen put in 1,300 hours of work to handset the diamonds. Kendrick Lamar (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images) “The crown is a godly representation of hood philosophies told from a digestible youthful lens,” Free said of the creation. “Kendrick Lamar represents the artistry, risk-taking creativity and relentless innovation that has also defined Tiffany & Co. for nearly two centuries,” Alexandre Arnault, executive vice president, product and communication at Tiffany & Co., added. “We are proud and incredibly excited to work with a… Read More →

27JUNNews

Madonna says she’s “plain scared” about Roe v. Wade reversal

Madonna has shared her thoughts about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, saying that the decision has sent her into “deep despair”. READ MORE: The Big Read – Madonna: “People pick on me. That’s just the way it is” Last week, the US Supreme Court made the decision to overturn the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade. This means abortion will no longer be protected as a federal right in the US for the first time since 1973, and each state will be able to decide individually whether to restrict or ban abortion. On Sunday (June 26), Madonna took to Instagram to voice her disappointment in the new ruling. She told fans that she was scared for her daughters and all the women in America. Advertisement “I woke up to the terrifying news that Roe V Wade had been overturned and that Legislation has decided that We no longer have rights as women over our bodies,” she wrote, captioning a series of new pics from a night celebrating Pride at Terminal 5 in New York. “This decision Has plunged me And every other woman in this country into deep despair.” “Now the Supreme Court has decided that Women’s rights are no longer… Read More →

27JUNNews

KCON 2022 US Tour to feature STAYC, LIGHTSUM, CRAVITY and more

KCON has announced its upcoming ‘KCON 2022 US Tour’, a spin-off of their yearly KCON festival. READ MORE: STAYC say they’re not fazed by their meteoric rise: “It’s not too difficult or heavy to carry” Over the weekend, KCON shared that it would be going on a spin-off tour, following its upcoming three-day KCON LA 2022 event in August. The K-pop music festival is set to go on tour with four “next generation” K-pop groups, namely CRAVITY, LIGHTSUM, STAYC and TO1. The 12-date cross-country tour will see the four groups visiting six cities across the US from August to September. The four K-pop groups will perform in cities like San Francisco, Houston, New York City and more. Official ticketing information are set to be announced at a later date. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KCON (@kconusa) Advertisement Each stop will include two nights, the first of which will feature performances by CRAVITY and LIGHTSUM, while STAYC and TO1 will take the stage on the second night. The tour is set to kick-off on August 22. The dates for KCON’s upcoming tour are as follows: August 2022 22, 23 – San Francisco, California 24, 25 – Minneapolis,… Read More →

26JUNNews

Watch Conan Gray perform ‘Disaster’ on ‘The Tonight Show’

Conan Gray recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a live rendition of his track ‘Disaster’. Airing last week, Gray stopped by the show to celebrate the release of his new album ‘Superache’, from which ‘Disaster’ is lifted. READ MORE: Conan Gray talks NME through his ‘Firsts’ His performance was a play on the song’s title, featuring a fallen moped and pile of strewn luggage to represent a crash. Roses were scattered across the stage and Gray’s white outfit was smattered with red beading, reminiscent of blood. Advertisement Watch the performance below. Gray’s ‘Superache’ arrived on Friday (June 24) and featured a number of previously released singles, including ‘People Watching’, ‘Telepath’, ‘Jigsaw’, ‘Astronomy’ and ‘Memories’. NME awarded the album four stars in a review, describing it as “confessional pop bangers with a real sense of drama”. “It may be theatrical, but ‘Superache’ still feels deep and honest,” wrote NME’s Georgia Evans. “‘I’ll just take a footnote in your life / And you could take my body / Every line I would write for you,’ he sings on ‘Footnote’, inspired by Pride and Prejudice and the realisation that unrequited love doesn’t match up to fictional romance.” “That’s OK, though: Gray knows this kind… Read More →

26JUNNews

Lorde gives impassioned speech about Roe v. Wade at Glastonbury 2022

Lorde gave an impassioned speech about Roe v. Wade being overturned during her Pyramid Stage set at Glastonbury 2022 tonight (June 26). The New Zealand pop star was performing as the final act before Kendrick Lamar headlines the final day of this year’s festival. READ MORE: The story of Glastonbury 2022 in glorious photos At the end of ‘Secrets From A Girl (Who’s Seen It All)’, Robyn’s pre-recorded closing monologue did not play over the PA. Instead, Lorde spoke to the crowd, referencing the US Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade. The move means abortion will no longer be protected as a federal right in the US for the first time since 1973, and each state will be able to decide individually whether to restrict or ban abortion. Advertisement “Welcome to sadness,” she began. “The temperature is unbearable until you face it. You wanna know a secret, girls? Your bodies were destined to be controlled and objectified since before you were born. That horror is your birthright.” Lorde changed the ending monologue of “Secrets from a Girl” due to recent events regarding women’s rights in the US. pic.twitter.com/VW7iULmhCx — Lorde Updates ☀️ (@LordeUpdatesBR) June… Read More →

26JUNNews

Róisín Murphy tells us about her “slab of gold” new album and acting debut at Glastonbury 2022

Róisín Murphy spoke to NME backstage at Glastonbury 2022, telling us what to expect from her upcoming headline performance, new album and acting debut. The former Moloko turned solo star headlined the West Holts Stage last night (Saturday June 25), but was taking it easy on site before her performance. “I stayed in watching Larry David on the tour bus last night,” she told NME. “I’ve watched a good few episodes of Curbed. I’m trying to save my energy for the big one tonight.” Advertisement On bringing a touch of David to Worthy Farm, she continued: “I was hoping that they’d have Mick Lynch here, you know – the trade union fellow. You could have him on the Pyramid Stage.” Murphy was last here to film her dance spectacular as part of last year’s Live At Worthy Farm livestream event. Looking back on how it felt to be at the festival site while audiences were kept at bay due to lockdown restrictions, she said: “It was weird but brilliant. The production was incredible with the filming and the way it was all done, but it was weird because it was wintertime. It was even colder than now! “We didn’t see anybody… Read More →

26JUNNews

Jack White confirmed for secret set at Glastonbury 2022

Jack White has been confirmed for a secret set at Glastonbury 2022 today (Sunday June 26). The likes of Arcade Fire and Green Day were among the rumours for the much anticipated ‘TBC’ slot on The Park Stage at 6pm today, but now White has been announced for the performance in today’s edition of the Glastonbury Free Press – a newspaper handed out on site. “Exciting opportunity in the field of audience science,” the notice read. “Musician Jack White is seeking 10,000 lively and loud individuals to participate in a top secret experiment of musical concertry. Qualified applicants must apply in person on 26 June at 6pm at The Park Stage.” Jack White. The Park. 6pm. pic.twitter.com/z0g7UxbyXh — Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) June 26, 2022 Advertisement White released new solo album ‘Fear Of The Dawn‘ back in April, with ‘Entering Heaven Alive’ set to follow on July 22. News of The White Stripes and Raconteurs legends’ appearance comes after George Ezra was confirmed for a long-rumoured secret set on the John Peel Stage at 2pm. Another act to perform surprise secret sets across the weekend was IDLES, who played their debut album ‘Brutalism’ in full on the BBC Introducing Stage yesterday. After Billie… Read More →

26JUNNews

George Ezra confirms himself for Glastonbury 2022 secret set

George Ezra has confirmed himself for a secret set at Glastonbury 2022 today (Sunday June 26). The singer-songwriter has been rumoured for an appearance after an image of a sign revealing his set appeared online. Now, Ezra has taken to Twitter to confirm that he’ll be performing on the John Peel Stage at 2pm today, promising “a big old party”. Ezra’s rumoured set was put into doubt after he cancelled a gig in Denmark earlier this week due to illness. Advertisement Another act to perform surprise secret sets across the weekend was IDLES, who played their debut album ‘Brutalism’ in full on the BBC Introducing Stage yesterday. There is another secret set at The Park Stage at 6.15pm, which has been confirmed as Jack White. SURPRISE! @glastonbury see you 2pm on the John Peel Stage for a big old party ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Gft01Zj77O — george E Z R A (@george_ezra) June 26, 2022 After Billie Eilish headlined day one of Glastonbury alongside Foals topping the bill on the Other Stage, last night saw a spectacular Pyramid Stage closing set from Paul McCartney – where he was joined on stage by Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen. Megan Thee Stallion meanwhile, headlined The… Read More →