Formed in 1986, PWEI will celebrate its 40th anniversary with the upcoming release of ‘PWEI.40‘, due on 19th February 2027. A collaboration and celebration involving band members Graham Crabb and Adam Mole, the project brings together the band’s past and present, with four live appearances offering a chance to experience that history first-hand.

The band will be performing at Shiiine On Festival in Minehead on 13th November, followed by a show at 93 Feet East in London on 26th November, with special guests So Good. They will then head to Network in Sheffield on 27th November, also joined by So Good, before finishing up at Stourbridge Town Hall on 5th December, returning to their hometown for the final show.

Following their tour in early May, these additional appearances mark another opportunity to catch PWEI live within the same year. However, these shows are from a traditional performance. Alongside guest appearances, including John and Rat as Ned’s Acoustic Dustbin, there will be live painting taking place on stage during the band’s set. Additionally, vintage PWEI live and backstage footage will also be featured, taken from their performance at Aston Villa Leisure Centre on 12th and 13th March 1994.

Renowned for their chaotic alternative rock sound, the band have never turned away from exploring politics, science fiction themes and anti-corporate rebellion. Four decades on, those ideals still resonate. In a world where anti-establishment attitudes remain prominent, PWEI’s return feels immensely relevant, bringing together longtime supporters who grew up with their music and a younger generation discovering it for the first time.

The upcoming PWEI.40 release reflects a mixture of nostalgia and reinvention. Instead of simply re-examining their past tracks, the band have given their familiar tracks a refresher. Songs including ‘Kill the Baddies’, ‘There Is A Psychopath in My Soup’, ‘Bulletproof’ and ‘1000 X no’ have been reworked, breathing new life into old material that has been associated with the band for years.

This project also brings together musicians from across a range of genres, with contributions from Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire, solo artist Meryl Streek and Clams Baker of Warmdaschur, among others. And, despite initially intending to avoid recording new tracks, PWEI admit they “got carried away”, resulting in two new tracks: ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ and ‘Night Shift Riot’

This new chapter proves that even after 40 years, PWEI have retained their rebellious spirit and creative energy. Between the exclusive live appearances, unexpected collaborations and upcoming release, the anniversary is about far more than simply looking back at the past. Instead, it is an opportunity to reinvent their sound, bring their music to a new generation and reconnect with the longtime fans who have supported them from the beginning. For those wanting to be part of PWEI’s continuing story and experience the celebrations first-hand, tickets for the upcoming live appearances are available here.

The Mercury Prize is defined as an award that promotes the best of UK and Irish music and the artists who produce it. This is done through the celebration of the twelve ‘Albums of the Year’, recognising artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres.

The 28-year-old South London singer accepted the award at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 22, marking a major achievement in RAYE’s career. Her triumph further cements her position as one of the UK’s most celebrated contemporary artists.

Released on March 27, 2026, ‘This Music May Contain Hope‘ debuted at number one on the UK’s Albums Chart and became RAYE’s first record to reach the top spot. But for the singer, the success extends far beyond mere numbers.

At the ceremony, RAYE spoke passionately about her belief in the album as an art form, describing it as something far more impactful and powerful than a single. She set herself the challenge of creating her most ambitious record yet, combining huge orchestral arrangements with emotional depth.

This ambition was recognised by the Mercury judges, who praised the album for its impressive structure, sound and scale. Moving seamlessly between jazz, soul, R&B and classical influences, the record refuses to be confined to a single genre, forming a diverse composition that proved worthy of one of the biggest prizes in British music.

For RAYE, that freedom was important. She has spoken about the battle between the commercial side of music and the artistic side, choosing to stick with the dramatic, truthful and personal music she wanted to make rather than simply following what might sell.

At the heart of the album is its message of hope. RAYE acknowledged that hope might sound like a “cheesy” idea, particularly to British audiences, but insisted that it is something people need. Describing music as “medicine”, RAYE said she hopes its healing power can reach and inspire those who need it most. She also took the time to thank everyone who helped bring the album to life, emphasising that the achievement was a shared one.

The Mercury Prize awards its winner a trophy and a £25,000 cash prize. The judging process is centred on artistic achievement, with a panel of musicians, journalists, presenters, producers and other music experts assessing the shortlisted albums. The prize also maintains that its judges operate independently of sponsors, record labels and other music organisations, ensuring the final decision is based on the music itself. 

RAYE’s victory therefore represents more than another award. It is recognition of an artist who chose ambition over safety and created an album on her own terms.

At just 28, the South London singer now has a number one album and one of British music’s most prestigious prizes to her name, and after a night celebrating the power of music, RAYE’s message is the simplest one of all: music is medicine, and sometimes it can make you feel seriously seen.

The announcement, made on October 18, came exactly eight years after the release of Fike’s breakout single ‘Babydoll’. The track has experienced a major resurgence over the past year, becoming a viral phenomenon on TikTok before earning Fike his first-ever top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2026. Its renewed popularity has been followed by further chart success, with ‘White Keys’ released in late 2025, reaching number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cementing Fike’s return to the mainstream spotlight.

The singer-songwriter will play Birmingham’s O2 Academy on March 2, followed by London’s Alexandra Palace on March 3, before finishing the UK leg in Manchester’s Co-op Live on March 6. These UK shows will come at the end of a wider European tour beginning in Dusseldorf on February 9 and travelling through cities including Brussels, Zurich, Milan and Amsterdam.

The tour follows the release of Fike’s upcoming album, ‘How to Quit Smoking‘, which is due to arrive on October 30. It will be his first album since 2023’s ‘Sunburn‘, which reached number 56 on the UK albums chart.

Ahead of the album’s release, fans have already been given a taste of the new record, with  ‘Wallflower’, ‘Small Town’ and the recently released ‘Pangea’ arriving in the weeks leading up to it. Released on October 19, ‘Pangea’ was recorded during Fike’s North America Tour, with its accompanying music video capturing the experience of life on the road.

Touring is central to the making of  ‘How to Quit Smoking‘. Departing from the conventional studio album recording format, Fike has embraced a more spontaneous approach, capturing performances and ideas as they emerge on the road and in hotel rooms. The result is a record that promises to feel immediate, uprooted and personal, shaped by the places and experiences surrounding its creation.

Fike has developed a reputation for refusing to be confined to a single genre, moving effortlessly between alternative rock, indie-pop and hip-hop. His music combines electric and acoustic guitar with rap, lo-fi production and melodic songwriting, creating a sound that is distinctively his own. This blurring of boundaries becomes even more apparent in his live performances, where intimate acoustic moments can give way to energetic, guitar-driven rap sequences, showcasing his versatility.

Fike’s rise to fame has extended beyond music, with his role as  Elliot in HBO’s Euphoria introducing him to an entirely new audience. The success of the series also brought attention to his music, although Fike has spoken about fans’ surprise when discovering that he was a musician first. His musical career predates his acting success, beginning with home-recorded demos and the production of his breakout track ‘Babydoll’. Now, many who first discovered Fike on screen are now finding their way to his concerts, demonstrating how his music has grown into an identity of its own.

The UK shows will be particularly notable for Fike, as they mark only his second UK tour. His previous UK dates took place in September 2023.

Artist presales began at 10 am on Wednesday, October 21, with additional presales running throughout the week. General sale is scheduled to begin at 10 am on Friday, October 23. 

Taking place from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 September 2026, the four-day festival offers something distinct from the noise and busy crowds often associated with larger music events. At Deepdale, the focus is on creating an atmosphere where audiences can appreciate how much can be achieved through unamplified and intimate acoustic sounds.

The festival describes itself as a “small but perfectly formed Music Festival with a Heart of Folk across 4 stages on the last weekend of September”. Over the four days, festival-goers can enjoy over 50 acts across four unique stages: the Brick Barn, Orchard Stage, Courtyard and Cafe Stage.

The festival gets off to a strong start on Thursday, with Joe & Mary, Dear Wife and East Angles Brass as the first performers to take the Orchard Stage. The evening then continues with a special 9pm session from Blackbeards Tea Party in the Brick Barn.

One particularly impressive aspect of Deepdale festival is the carefully planned schedule. Despite offering more than 40 hours of live music, performances are scheduled without clashes, meaning visitors can, if they wish, see every act rather than having to choose between their favourites.

The music is only part of the attraction. Deepdale places an emphasis on community, with local street food and artisan markets adding to the festival experience and giving people plenty of time to explore between performances.  Meanwhile, for those looking to take it easy, Deepdale offers yoga classes, meditation sessions and massages which allow for a refreshing start to the morning.

The surroundings are just as much part of the experience. One of the festival’s main venues, the Brick Barn, is an authentic 16th-century farm barn, where modern sound technology meets a century old setting. While it may be considered an unusual place for live music, the contrast gives Deepdale a character of its own.

Around 500 people make the trip to Deepdale festival each year, with on site camping often booked way in advance. For those staying overnight, nearby lodges offer an alternative option, while day tickets mean you can come and go without committing to the full four days. They range from £60 to £70, compared with the full £150 ticket price and are available to buy here.

Friday sets the musical pace with performances from George Boomsma, Langkamer and Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys taking to the Brick Barn, while Honey & The Bear and 3 Daft Monkeys bring vibrancy to the Orchard Stage. Saturday shifts the mood again, with Veduna, Floral Image and Neev adding their own creative flare to the festival’s acoustic side, alongside the Shackleton Trio on the Orchard. By Sunday, things are winding down but hardly quietly with 5 hills out among the acts on the Orchard Stage, before Noble Jacks brings the official festival run to a close.

With more than 50 acts spread across the weekend, Deepdale’s lineup moves between folk, acoustic, roots and contemporary sounds, with enough variety to keep you wandering between stages. It’s this mix that gives the festival its character.