The album was written and recorded in a tight ten-day sprint in Los Angeles last December, with finishing touches added in London and New York earlier this year. Helping bring it to life were Blue May (longtime collaborator and musical director), along with executive producers Seb Chew and Kito. A small, tight unit, which probably helped keep things honest.

Allen hasn’t given much away in terms of sound or singles just yet, but she’s made one thing clear: this isn’t a polished pop comeback. “I’m nervous,” she said, “The record is vulnerable in a way that my music perhaps hasn’t been before, certainly not over the course of a whole album.” That’s a strong statement from someone who’s never exactly been guarded on record.

She goes on to say the album reflects her time in a new city, and the personal mess that got her there:

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“Why we humans behave as we do.” It’s described as a mix of fact and fiction, which suggests she’s not playing this one straight down the middle. Instead, expect blurred lines, character sketches, maybe even some emotional misdirection.

“At the same time, I’ve used shared experiences as the basis for songs which try to delve into why we humans behave as we do, so the record is a mixture of fact and fiction which I hope serves as a reminder of how stoic yet also how frail we humans can be. In that respect I think it’s very much an album about the complexities of relationships and how we all navigate them. It’s a story.”

In many ways, this feels like a natural extension of ‘No Shame’. That record ditched the big hooks and leaned into something more intimate… divorce, addiction, parenthood. All handled with a kind of resigned honesty. But even then, Allen never fully dropped the armour. This time, it sounds like she might be leaving it at the door.

It’s also worth pointing out the speed at which West End Girl came together. Ten days to write and record a full album is intense, even for someone as sharp as Allen. That time pressure could mean a looser, more instinctive sound.

We could see this record with less focus on the radio edit, more about capturing a mood.

There’s no official tracklist yet, and no promo single in sight, which makes the whole thing feel pleasingly uncalculated, and very characteristic of Lily Allen.

No campaign, no rollout, just the music. 

West End Girl’ is out October 24. You can pre-order it here

The DMA’s most recent appearance in the UK came this summer, when they supported Catfish and The Bottlemen at both the Principality and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Indie-Rock trio, fronted by Tommy O’Dell, bring a modern day melodic answer to the bands of the 90s that seemed relatable yet admirable. The feel good, dreamy sound of their music has garnered the attention of music appreciators globally, most notably in the UK. Part of this is their working class appeal. The defiant vulnerability of their music was bound to resonate with a population gasping for a revamp of the sound of old.

Their fashion also resonates massively with the terrace style culture here in the UK. Tommy’s iconic aquascutum cap, for instance, would fetch a fair few compliments at a football match.

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Renowned for their powerful live performances, the freedom of their sound allows gig-goers to fill their lungs full of passion, and belt out the unpolished beauty at the summit of their voices.

The unique 2026 tour will see the band play their debut record in full, as well as some of their other hits. The Album is a beautiful, guitar driven, elevating display of their talent. It’s as peaceful as it is thought provoking. Songs like ‘Delete’ and Lay Down’ dominate the headlines when this album is referred to, and rightly so… they’re absolutely fantastic.

Speaking to NME in 2020, vocalist Tommy O’Dell explained what you can expect from the Sydney based band:

“it’s about letting off steam and having some fun. I don’t think writing political music would really suit us. It’s never been our thing.

“I don’t think of music as a platform for that. I like to think that our music, in a way, can help people escape from those kinda things. We prefer to sing about love, loss and everything in between.”

“The songs are written from the heart and they’re performed from the heart. I don’t say that in a cheesy way; it’s just honest songwriting and people can feel that.”

The UK tour will see the band grace the following venues:

6 Feb 2026 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

7 Feb 2026 – NX, Newcastle

8 Feb 2026 – O2 Academy, Birmingham

10 Feb 2026 – O2 Academy, Bristol

12 Feb 2026 – O2 Academy Brixton, London

14 Feb 2026 – O2 Academy, Leeds

16 Feb 2026 – O2 Academy, Glasgow

21 May 2026 – Rock City, Nottingham

22 May 2026 – UEA, Norwich

You can sign up for, and see, all ticket information here.

Pre-sale begins at 9am on Wednesday October 15, general sale will follow at 9am on Friday October 17.

Speaking to the Independent, the legendary former Verve frontman said he will “never experience anything like this summer again”.

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The Artist, who gave Oasis their first big break as a support act to The Verve in the 90s, experienced the definition of the phrase ‘full circle’ as he supported the Gallaghers around the UK and as we have recently come to learn, will follow them to South America.

The singer said:  “On stage, it was great. The reaction from the crowd was just incredible. For someone like me, as a songwriter or a performer, your camel hump gets drained and you don’t know where you’re gonna find any sustenance.”

“And then something happens like this and you think, actually, I’ve got new energy. Even just the art of writing a tune, refocusing on that, it’s inspiring.”

Noel and Liam Gallagher have always appreciated the Verve’s impact on them, and on British music. They even wrote the song ‘Cast No Shadow’ about Richard Ashcroft himself.

In a conversation with Steve Lamacq in 1997 Noel, talking about Ashcroft, said  “Richard is a genius. Even when we supported them years and years and years ago, they were a great band then. Circumstances worked against them.”

He has got to be a better songwriter than me and in return, I’ve got to write better songs than him. That’s what it’s about.

“People are going to build up this thing about The Verve and Oasis, but we go back SO far, from Manchester and Wigan, that they will never be able to touch the bond and the friendship that we have.”

Ashcroft will be taking his new Album ‘Lovin You’ on tour next year, putting the exclamation point on the rebirth of R.A.

Originally released in 2004, the album told the story of one man’s lost £1,000, but it was always about much more than that: love, miscommunication, paranoia, and working-class frustration, all filtered through Skinner’s deadpan delivery and brutally honest lyricism..

Speaking to Radio X Mike Skinner sounded apprehensively excited for the gigs:

“We’ve been looking for something bold to do with the live show, and we landed here: some tracks have never been played live, others haven’t surfaced in years.”

“It’s a new challenge to bring the whole journey to life on stage, but I have an incredible band and we always give everything every night. So I’m certain we’ll make finding out what happened to that thousand quid a party every night.”

Now, for the first time, the album’s full narrative will unfold on stage. It’s a bold move many of the songs, on man album featuring hits like ‘Dry Your Eyes’, ‘Fit But You Know It’ and ‘Blinded By The Lights.’ have either never been played live, or have long since left The Streets’ set lists.

The album is a moment in British history which can always be looked back on as Skinner defining an era. An album that captures his unique storytelling ability. This of course comes with a huge range of lyrics, which in typical Streets fashion, can vary incredibly line to line, and at times make little sense.

Aa playful instagram post Skinner posted a video of him in the studio rehearsing, captioned:

“you might be excited about me performing ‘a grand don’t come for free’ start to finish but i’ve got to learn the words!!. see you next year!”

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UK Tour Dates — Summer 2026

June 26  – Dreamland, Margate

June 27 – Bristol Sounds, Bristol

July 11 – Castlefield Bowl, Manchester

July 18  – Alexandra Palace Park, London

 July 23– Ludlow Castle, Ludlow

 July 24 – Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds

August 7 – Audley End Estate, Essex

 August 21 – Rock n Roll Circus, Norwich

Artist presale opens Tuesday October 14 at 10am BST, with general sale beginning Friday October 17 at 10am BST.

All ticket information can be be found here.

The news, which shook fans around the world, revealed that Payne, aged 31, had died in October 2024 after a fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina. The cause of death was later confirmed to be multiple traumatic injuries, with toxicology results citing the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription medication.

@steven “Niall broke the news” Louis Tomlinson describes the moment he heard devastating news that Liam Payne had passed away. He recalls having a similar feeling to when his sister, Félicité, passed away. #onedirection #louistomlinson #celebrity #liampayne #liampayne  original sound – The Diary Of A CEO

“It was the same feeling I had with Félicité,” Tomlinson shared, referencing the tragic loss of his younger sister in 2019. “Anyone who’s been close to someone struggling knows that feeling,  my 150 percent wasn’t nearly enough.”

 Tomlinson went on to reflect on Payne’s state of mind at the time, acknowledging that while he had tried to be there, the pain his friend was carrying ran far deeper than he could have understood.

“That’s my own arrogance,” he admitted. “Thinking I could have helped. But it was more than I could reach.” Shortly after the news broke, Tomlinson posted a quiet, heartfelt tribute on Instagram — “lost a brother,” he wrote… a sentiment that continues to echo with those who grew up watching their shared rise.

 

 

 

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The statement in part read: 

“A message to you Liam if you’re listening…,

I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be…

I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.. 

I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you… 

Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X”

Having stepped out from the shadow of his boyband beginnings, Louis Tomlinson has firmly established himself as a solo force.

With two No.1 albums to his name and over 4.5 billion streams under his belt, Tomlinson continues to evolve, most recently with the release of “Lemonade,” a sun-drenched teaser from his forthcoming record How Did I Get Here?. 

But Louis’s vision extends beyond the studio. He’s the driving force behind the DIY-spirited Away From Home Festival, and the founder of 28 Clothing, a genderless streetwear label that reflects the same grounded authenticity that’s come to define his post-1D journey.

You can access tickets to Louis’ forthcoming tour here. 

According to the statistics, the band have accumulated over 400 million seconds of airplay on tv and radio. This is equivalent to a whopping 12 and a half years of nonstop listening, ‘Its A Kind Of Magic’, taking the cake as the top track.

According to the company themselves: “PPL, which licenses recorded music for use on UK radio and television, and in public spaces such as bars, restaurants and gyms, compiled the chart using extensive airplay reporting data from radio and TV broadcasters across the country.” 

The top ten was released as well, with the following acts co-dominating our ears since the year 2000.

1 Queen

2 David Bowie 

3 U2

4 Oasis 

5 Fleetwood Mac 

6 Stereophonics 

7 The Rolling Stones 

8 The Police 

9 The Killers

10 Kings of Leon  

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Peter Leathem, the CEO of PPL, spoke on the importance of a study like this

He said “This chart underlines how rock music across the decades continues to thrive on UK airwaves. Congratulations to Queen on this great accolade in such a significant anniversary year for their first number one album.”

“It’s a testament to their expansive and much-loved music catalogue that they continue to mean so much to UK audiences to this very day.“

Former Queen guitarist Brian May spoke about the achievement

He said: “Astounding news! Bearing in mind that most of Queen’s major works were done in the 20th century, it’s amazing to top a 21st century list. Big thanks to all our fans.”

Queen are set to release a 50th anniversary vinyl reissue of ‘A Night At The Opera,’ the iconic album featuring the legendary hit “Bohemian Rhapsody”,  on National Album Day, October 18. The special edition will be issued globally on crystal clear vinyl with gold labels.

The band announced two shows in their home nation of Ireland last week, one in Cork and another in Dublin. The Band’s debut album, which was “made in a garage in Donaghadee,” will grace venues far bigger than the pubs and bars the album was bouncing around in, when it first hit the airways.

The London gig will take place on Friday June 26, at Crystal Palace Park, which can host around 30,000 spectators.

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It just wouldn’t be right restricting this album’s booming anthems with a roof. Two Door Cinema Club, and the outdoors go hand in hand.

Tunes like ‘What You Know’, ‘Undercover Martyn’ and ‘Something Good Can Work’ were born to be rolled out over thousands of fans, over the hills and into the sunset.

There’s something in those early tracks bright, restless, and made to echo through fields full of movement; they aren’t just hits, they are summer distilled. bottling the feeling of festivals at golden hour.

TDCC won’t be alone, support on the day will be brought by fellow indie heavyweights The Vaccines, James Marriot and The Royston Club. 

In ‘The Royston Club’, we could be seeing a passing of the torch. One band who have dominated festivals for years, and brought eyes to any lineup, supported by this young gunning band from Wrexham, who have really stepped it up this year. 

‘Songs For The Spine’ is the name of their record released just months ago, its full of anthem potential and a raw passion for making hits, they could be the ones to full the huge gap left by the golden generation of Indie bands, that wont be around in the next decade. 

The band commented on the gig via their social media: “London is the first place outside of Ireland we called home, we recorded Tourist History in this city and it’s been the setting for so many iconic moments in our career.” 

“We’re proud to be Irish but this also feels like a hometown show for us. London knows how it’s done so we can’t wait to celebrate with you along with our special guests”

The setlist will definitely include the whole of the album, plus other hits from the group. So you’re going to want to get your lyrics in for the following tracks: 

Cigarettes in the Theatre

Come Back Home

Do You Want It All?

This Is the Life

Something Good Can Work

I Can Talk

Undercover Martyn

What You Know

Eat That Up, It’s Good for You

You’re Not Stubborn

Pre-sale will take place on Wednesday October 8 at 9am BST, with general sale beginning two days later at the same time. 

Sign up for access to the pre-sale here.

If you didn’t know the name Olivia Dean, you probably will after this moment, which punches her one way ticket to the summit of the music industry.

On just her second offering, her album, ‘The Art Of Loving’ has claimed the throne in the UK Charts this week, leapfrogging the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat. Her single ‘Man I Need,’ which has spiralled into popularity, also claimed pole position on the UK Singles Charts. 

Both mark the first time the singer has achieved either feat. The last female artist to have such a debut week, (53,00 units moved) was none other than Adele in 2021. Whilst following  those footprints seems unimaginably difficult, there is certainly no better way to go about it…

Dean has also topped the Official Vinyl Albums Charts. Oh, and dispute having the number one single, that wasn’t enough for her, she also snags number 4 (Nice To Each Other) AND number 9 (So Easy (To Fall In Love)).

Following the excitement, fans were delivered a second serving. Dean announced on her social media that two more O2 dates would be added to next year’s ‘Art Of Loving Tour’. 

That brings what is now an O2 Residency to six nights in total. Dean was performing in venues holding less than 5,000 people just one year ago. She will now sing to around 120,000 fans over 6 nights in what’s arguably the country’s greatest arena.

She really does make it look dangerously easy, but has stayed personal and connected with her followers. In a wholesome heartfelt style, that the London born singer has always embodied, she shared a heartfelt thank you to her fans on her Instagram.

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The artist wrote: “my heart is so full thank u for receiving the album so warmly. feeling very loved and understood!”

That would be a career defining feat for many, but you can’t ignore the feeling that this could be merely a surface scratching procurement.

Pre-sale tickets will be available from 10am on Wednesday 8th October.

To gain access, you can order the number one album from Dean’s official store by 5pm on Monday 6th October.

General sale tickets will be released at 10am on Friday 10th October.

The Irish alt‑pop artist, known for her genre‑bending sound and theatrical live shows,  was due to kick off her tour this month in support of her third studio release ‘Euro-Country ’which has seen widespread critical praise and strong fan support, even a Mercury Prize nomination.

The cancellation comes at a pivotal time in CMAT’s rise. Off the back of a standout Glastonbury set earlier this summer, she’s continued to build a loyal fanbase, drawing praise for her sharp lyricism, self-aware humour and bold creative direction.

It’s due to this that the timing of the situation is so desperately unfortunate. In a ruthless industry, staying in the spotlight can, at times, be more of a feat than getting there to begin with. CMAT is bubbling on the brink of explosion, making this so untimely.

CMAT October 2025 Tour Dates (Pre-Postponement)

• Oct 2 — London, O2 Academy Brixton
• Oct 4 — Manchester, Manchester Academy
• Oct 5 — Leeds, O2 Academy Leeds
• Oct 6 — Newcastle Upon Tyne, O2 City Hall / NX
• Oct 8 — Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom
• Oct 9 — Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom (second night)
• Oct 10 — Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom (third night)
• Oct 12 — Nottingham, Rock City
• Oct 13 — Cambridge, Cambridge Corn Exchange
• Oct 15 — Brighton, Brighton Dome
• Oct 16 — Birmingham, O2 Institute Birmingham
• Oct 17 — Norwich, UEA LCR
• Oct 19 — Sheffield, Octagon Centre
• Oct 20 — Bristol, O2 Academy Bristol
• Oct 22 — Cardiff, DEPOT Cardiff
• Oct 23 — Birmingham, O2 Academy Birmingham

However, In a statement shared on her social media, CMAT explained that she woke up in severe pain and was rushed into an emergency dental appointment, where she was diagnosed with an infection in both of her lower wisdom teeth. She’s now been advised to have them surgically removed, followed by a two‑week recovery period:

“I currently can’t even open my mouth wide enough to laugh, let alone sing,” she wrote. “I’m devastated.”

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The full run of shows has now been pulled, with her team confirming that all ticket holders will either be refunded or given access to rescheduled dates once they’re confirmed.

Despite the abrupt halt, fans have flooded her comments with support, echoing sentiments of care and patience. While the news will come as a disappointment to those who had tickets, many are already expressing hope that the singer takes the time she needs to fully recover.

The artist does seem to be handling the post well despite this. In a hilarious Instagram story displaying her swollen ( and painful looking) injury, the artist played on the lyrics of her hit song ‘Take A Sexy Picture Of Me’.

It was captioned: “I did the butcher, i did the baker, maybe i should have done the f***ing dentist.”

There’s no word yet on when the shows will be rescheduled, but CMAT reassured fans she’s “working hard behind the scenes” to make it happen.

The 24-year-old South London artist, known for tracks like “Messy” and “One Thing,” was performing at Forest Hills Stadium when she lost her balance and fell backwards on stage, prompting concern from fans and crew. She was unable to complete the set, and her scheduled appearance the following day in Washington DC was also pulled.

Now, in a statement shared via social media, Young confirmed she’s stepping away from the spotlight for the time being. She cited the need to prioritise her health and wellbeing, and expressed gratitude to fans for their ongoing support. Ticket holders for upcoming shows have been promised full refunds.

The post, which was shared three days after her collapse, says: 

“I’m going away for a while. It pains me to say I have to cancel everything for the foreseeable future. Thank you for all the love and support. I’m so sorry to let anyone down who has bought a ticket to see me, it hurts me more than you know.”

“Obviously you will be entitled to a full refund.”

“I really hope you’ll give me a second chance once I’ve had some time to work on myself and come back stronger. Love you all, Lola x.”

The comment section was full of fans and celebrities alike showing love to the artist. Stormzy, Teddy Swims and Rachel Chinouriori were amongst the supportive messages.

The cancellations will include the artists’ gigs in  the UK which were set to take place this month.

Young’s recent work hasn’t gone unnoticed — her music video for “One Thing” has just been shortlisted for Best Pop Video at the 2025 UK Music Video Awards.

Young has been steadily gaining momentum over the past few years, known for her raw lyricism, genre-blurring sound and emotionally charged performances. While the sudden hiatus may come as a disappointment to many, there’s hope she’ll return stronger when ready.

No new dates have been confirmed thus far.