English chart-topping singer-songwriter Sheeran started the Loop Tour in support of his 2025 UK Number One Album ‘Play’ this January, visiting New Zealand, Australia and Latin America in the first half of the year. The North American leg kicked off in June, with British star Myles Smith acting as lead support act for the majority of dates until the last August show in Detroit, Michigan.

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Macklemore was scheduled to be main support for the second stretch, with September’s shows starting with two nights at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium, followed by one at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field and two at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. During both shows at the MetLife Stadium on September 4 and 5, he opened his pro-Palestine protest song ‘Hind’s Hall’ with a passionate speech addressing the worsening situations in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. In the break from the music, he said he wanted the people of Palestine to know “they have not been forgotten”, and spoke of other global issues, adding “I say Free Palestine, free Cuba, Congo, Sudan and Iran and all the people of America who live in fear because of this terrorist organisation ICE.” In the conflict following on from the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack in 2023, it has been concluded that Israel are committing genocide in Palestine by both the United Nations and Amnesty International, and the British Government have placed sanctions on illegal Israeli West Bank settlements in recent weeks. The Israeli government denies all allegations regarding genocide and war crimes.

Macklemore’s actions were met with outrage by Israeli and Jewish groups including the Israeli American Council, which started a petition to Sheeran and his management team to drop the rapper from the remaining tour dates. Singer Pink (stylised P!NK) shared a post by page StopAntisemitism calling for Macklemore’s removal, before writing her own feelings about the effect of the incident on Jewish-Americans in an Instagram update. Her comment says in-part “You don’t have to agree with one thing Israel’s government does to not want the Jewish family two rows down from you to be scared or targeted at a concert.”    

 

 

 

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This evening, Macklemore announced on social media that he had been removed from all future dates of the Loop Tour, citing that the decision was made by “Ed Sheeran and his team”. In the post, he alleges that in conversation with Sheeran he found out that Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the Gillette Stadium – which was set to host the next two dates of the tour, would block the events if Macklemore was performing. In his own words, “Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” Macklemore clarifies in the piece that there is no ill-feeling with Ed Sheeran, and cements his philosophy that the two shows he played were worth it to send his message: “Free Palestine.”

Many figures in music have backed Macklemore’s resolve throughout, including Garbage singer Shirley Manson, who described his dismissal in an Instagram post as “madness. Sheer madness.” and Foo Fighter’s guitarist Chris Shiflett, who in conversation on the matter on X with blues artist Joe Bonamassa wrote “maybe speaking out against genocide trumps etiquette.” Elsewhere, Macklemore’s Instagram comments have seen replies from stars including UK rock group Bob Vylan frontman Bobby Vylan, who quoted the line “There is no thanks for a duty”. Bobby Vylan was at the centre of a year-long investigation by the Met Police, following his pro-Palestine speech and chants of “death to the IDF” during the band’s 2025 Glastonbury appearance – the Met Police announced in August that they will be taking no further action.

Messina Touring Group, who are the promoter for the US Loop Tour dates, told Rolling Stone that they had been informed by the venues that shows would not go ahead with Macklemore on the bill, and confirmed that the tour will continue without him. Variety have since published a statement by Robert Kraft explaining his reasoning for axing Macklemore, which says “Gillette Stadium has a longstanding commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech.”

For Ed Sheeran, the show must go on. His remaining shows for September are at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on the 19th, and the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on the 25th and 26th.

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Created from a partnership forged between Somerset County Cricket Club, who play their games at the ground, and award-winning live events company Full Fat 360, Somerset Sounds aims to develop a new annual live experience for the South West of England. The Cooper Associates County Ground has previously hosted shows from the likes of Elton John, Lionel Ritchie and Rod Stewart, but this will be a big rise in its profile as a music hotspot. In a statement published by local news site SomersetLive, Full Fat 360 founder Oli Bartlam says “The Cooper Associates County Ground already has an incredible legacy of hosting world-class live entertainment, and Somerset Sounds is the next ambitious step in that evolution.”

While the South West is seeing a resurgence in its live music scene through schemes like Powderham Castle’s summer events near Exeter and alternative music gathering Burn It Down in Torbay, both in Devon, this marks a new ambitious move forward for Taunton, where most of the largest cultural happenings tend to gravitate towards nearby Glastonbury or Bristol. Bartlam touches on this in the rest of his statement, saying “Taunton and the wider region have a massive appetite for major live music, and this partnership allows us to establish the region as a destination on the national touring circuit. We’re thrilled to be working with Somerset County Cricket Club to bring international acts to this iconic venue and build an event series the entire South West can be proud of. Summer 2027 is only the beginning.”

SomersetLive report that Somerset County Cricket Club is already a major part of Taunton’s economy, in 2025 providing over 200 jobs and bringing over £20 million to the city. Jamie Cox, CEO of the club said of the project “Somerset Sounds represents an important step in the evolution of the Club and the Cooper Associates County Ground. Cricket will always be at the heart of who we are, but we have a much wider ambition for the venue and for the role it can play within Somerset. We want to create experiences that bring new audiences to Taunton from across the South West and beyond, while generating meaningful economic and cultural benefits for the County.”

Somerset Sounds was first announced yesterday, September 10, with a set of brand new social media accounts. So far, the latest information is a post on Instagram which claims their “first artist reveal is just around the corner”. You can sign up here for the latest reveals as they break before the festival makes its debut in August 2027.

The UK tour will feature support from legendary North London rapper and actress Little Simz as well as the Swedish post-punk band Viagra Boys. It will take place in five outdoor venues and stadiums across the UK. Kicking off on June 29th in Blackweir Fields in Cardiff, Fontaines DC will then head on to Newcastle’s St James’ Park, Manchester’s Heaton Park, Glasgow Green and finish at London Stadium.

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Presale for tickets to the shows go on sale at 10am BST on September 8th for those who have registered here by 9pm BST September 7th. General sale will be available from 10am BST September 10th .

This new tour announcement comes off the back of Fontaines DC’s incredible headline festival shows at Reading, Leeds and Electric Picnic; as well as a sold out Autumn 2026 UK and 2027 EU tour including a huge homecoming stop at iconic Irish venue Slane Castle with support from Hayley Williams, Damien Dempsey as well as up and coming Irish band Madra Salach. Making history as Fontaines DC become the third ever Irish act to headline the venue and the first in 25 years, after Thin Lizzy in 1981 and U2 in 2001. Keen-eyed fans have also noticed that whilst the two shows fall during the Glastonbury weekend (26th and 27th of June), there is still space in Fontaines DC’s schedule for Friday June 25th; meaning there’s still a chance for an appearance at the UK’s most legendary festival.

These five headline shows mark Fontaines DC’s biggest shows so far and are announced in anticipation for their upcoming album ‘Dopamine Chamber.’ Which is set to release on October 16th via XL Records and is produced by James Ford who the band previously worked with on their UK platinum certified record ‘Romance’. With the lead single ‘Marianne’ being released on all platforms as a further two songs ‘Six Shot Morning’ and ‘Happy, For You’ having both debuted live exclusively.

Fontaines DC’s 2027 UK outdoor and stadium tour date:

29/6 – Blackweir Fields – Cardiff, UK

1/7 – St James’ Park – Newcastle, UK

3/7 – Heaton Park – Manchester, UK

6/7 – Glasgow Green – Glasgow, UK

9/7 – London Stadium – London, UK

The run kicks off in Kingston on Monday, 24th of August, taking the Australian trio to record stores and small venues across the country, with fans getting the chance to hear songs from the new album in exclusive live performances paired with signing sessions. Confirmed stops include Manchester, Middlesbrough, Dundee, Leeds, Norwich and Bristol.

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Ahead of their fourth album, DMA’S ran a similar series of in-store shows, with the Liverpool date selling out in 30 seconds and a second Edinburgh show added within four minutes of the first selling out. The demand is expected to be strong again, given the band’s growing UK stance.

The announcement comes as anticipation builds for the new record, following the release of lead single ‘Killing Time’.  The track is fast-paced and euphoric and follows earlier singles such as ‘My Baby’s Place’, ‘Heatin Park’ and ‘Hurracane’, which have expanded on the band’s signature indie-rock sounds while introducing fresh sonic aspects that are similar to their album ‘How Many Dreams?’

The album was written and recorded between the band’s own studio in Glebe, Sydney, and Los Angeles and is co-produced by DMA’S and  Grammy-nominated producer Lach Bostock, known for his work with Mansionair, with additional contributions from Jimi Somewhere and Styalz Fuego.

DMA’S, Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O’Dell  have built a UK following spanning more than a decade, with five Top 40 albums to their name. The band have also become festival mainstays, having played Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza and Truck Festival, making the acoustic run an exciting opportunity for fans to hear the new material in a stripped-back setting before it’s listened to in much bigger stages and venues.

DMA’S will launch a full UK and Ireland headline tour on the 1st of February 2027 in Southampton, building to a major show at London’s Eventim Apollo on the 12th of February, before continuing through Liverpool, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin. The in-store shows will give the band’s most devoted fans a first, up-close listen to the new songs months before they’re heard in arenas and theatres across the UK!

The garage collective are the product of BBC mockumentary sitcom People Just Do Nothing, which followed the crew of pirate radio station Kurupt FM and its operation out of a tower block flat in Brentford, West London. Headed up by the overbearing MC Grindah and his naive best friend DJ Beats, the cohort also included DJs Steves and Decoy, and their inept manager ‘Chabuddy G’. People Just Do Nothing won accolades for Best Comedy at both the BAFTAs and Royal Television Awards, and yielded a full-length movie in People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan.

The lead cast, who also created the series, wrote and produced several authentic UK garage tracks for the show, including songs ‘Get out the Way’ and ‘Heart Monitor Riddem’. In 2015, they burst onto the scene as fully-fledged musical performers with their Sixty Minutes Live set on MistaJam’s BBC Radio 1 Xtra broadcast, and started to perform live in clubs and warehouses. Kurupt FM have played international shows and appeared at Reading & Leeds, Boardmasters and Glastonbury Festival, as well as playing a massive headliner at London’s Printworks venue. In 2021, they released their debut album ‘The Greatest Hits (Part 1)’ as a companion to the movie Big In Japan, featuring artists like General Levy and Craig David.

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In May, the group posted a comedy skit, announcing in character that MC Grindah had returned to making music and production had begun on new EP ‘Grindah Decided We’re Doing Music Again’ – or ‘GDWDMA’ for short. After collaborating with drum n bass duo Sigma and others on the track ‘Legendary Status’ in April, Kurupt FM have released two singles due to appear on ‘GDWDMA’, ‘Feelings’ and ‘Tek Time’. Last week, they released new single ‘Reload’, which sees them link up again with Australian DJ Young Franco, who they worked with on ‘Feelings’.

The 2026 UK tour in support of ‘GDWDMA’ was announced this morning on the band’s social media, with a message that read ‘GRINDAHS DECIDED WER DOIN A UK TOUR’. The four-date run across England hits Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham before ending in a big finale at the Roundhouse in London. Tickets for the GDWDMA UK Tour go on pre-sale (with access here) on Wednesday July 29 at 10am, while general sale begins on Friday July 31 – check the full dates on the poster below. Before that, they’re supporting their friend Craig David at New World 2026, taking place at Chelmsford’s Central Park on August 30.

Since co-founding Las Vegas rock group The Killers in 2001, Flowers has released 7 albums with the band, all of which have been UK Number Ones. With their hits including ‘Somebody Told Me’, ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’, and their iconic debut ‘Mr Brightside’, The Killers have sold over 35 million records, been nominated for 7 Grammys, and won 2 BRIT Awards. The group’s shows have been celebrated as a fantastic live experience, having headlined Glastonbury in 2007 and the US’s Coachella Festival in 2009. While still active, The Killers have not released an album since 2021’s ‘Pressure Machine’, though Flowers told NME that their eighth album might release in 2027.

Flowers first stepped away from the fold to begin his solo career in 2010 with debut album ‘Flamingo’, which was again a UK Number One, as was his 2015 second album ‘The Desired Effect’. He toured ‘The Desired Effect’ extensively, including performances for Barack Obama and the British royal family.

In 2025, Flowers spoke to NME about the two “South West” styled solo albums he had recorded in Nashville, with a sound and feel inspired by Bruce Springsteen, hinting that they would be out before the next Killers album. He announced the first of them, ‘Thrasher’, earlier this week, with the lead single ‘Plans’ due to release tomorrow, the 26th of June. The full track-listing was made available this week:

1. Does It Ever Cross Your Mind?
2. One Of Us
3. Tiger’s Blood
4. Plans
5. Paradise
6. Miss America
7. Angel
8. The Red Ground
9. In A Heartbeat
10. An American Dream

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With the album’s announcement and ‘Plans’ releasing imminently, Flowers has announced his full solo tour since 2015, with September and October dates in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. His return to the Royal Albert Hall will be his first full show at the venue since The Killers played 2 nights there in 2009, which was recorded and later released as the album and concert film ‘Live From The Royal Albert Hall’. Here are the full dates for the UK and Ireland:

OCTOBER:

14 – Bournemouth, O2 Academy
15 – London, Royal Albert Hall
17 – Bristol, Beacon
18 – Nottingham, Rock City
20 – Manchester, O2 Apollo
21 – York, Barbican
23 – Glasgow, O2 Academy
24 – Birmingham, O2 Academy
27 – Dublin, Olympia

The single ‘Plans’ releases tomorrow ahead of ‘Thrasher’, which comes out on the 21st of August. Pre-ordering the album gives you access to the live show pre-sale, which opens on the Wednesday the 1st of July at 10am. General sale opens at 10am on Friday the 3rd.

Dua Lipa is indisputably one of the biggest British names in pop, already owning three Grammy Awards and seven BRITs, as well as two Guinness World Records for her incredible ticket sales and Spotify streaming figures. At the age of 30, she has already made multiple lists by publications like British Vogue and Time for most influential celebrities – outside of music, her philanthropic work and political outspokenness have made her a prominent figure in advocacy for peace initiatives and LGBTQ rights. Her now-husband Callum Turner, is an English actor best known for his roles in the Fantastic Beasts film series, and for his BAFTA-nominated performance in 2019 BBC series The Capture. 36 year-old Turner has been frequently rumoured to be a front-running candidate for the mantle of movie super-spy James Bond, following Daniel Craig’s retirement from the character in 2021.

The pair’s relationship was first reported in January 2024, when their appearances together started a paparazzi frenzy. Later that year, Lipa headlined Glastonbury Festival in June, before news of their engagement was reported by British Vogue in December. Lipa said to them at the time “It’s very exciting. This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don’t know, be best friends forever – it’s a really special feeling.”

Reports came out yesterday that the couple had married in a private civil ceremony at London’s Old Marylebone Town Hall on Sunday the 31st of May. The venue previously held several celebrity weddings, including those of Sir Paul McCartney to Linda Eastman and Nancy Shevell, and Oasis’s Liam Gallagher’s marriages to Patsy Kensit and later Nicole Appleton.

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Dua Lipa was reportedly wearing a Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit created by American designer Daniel Roseberry, while Callum Turner donned a stylish navy-blue suit. The couple were surrounded on the day by their nearest friends and relatives, with an insider telling People magazine that “The London ceremony was exactly what they wanted. It was intimate and meaningful, and they were surrounded by loved ones.”

The next plans for the happy couple allegedly involve three days of celebrations in Sicily at the end of next week. As it stands, Dua Lipa has not released her own new music since 2024 album ‘Radical Optimism’, the touring cycle of which ended last December. However, her performance of ‘Dance The Night’ and ‘Electricity’ while celebrating Mark Ronson’s Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s BRITs ceremony was a highlight of the year so far. As for Turner, GQ reported last week that auditions for James Bond are underway, and have confirmed the murmurs that he might be the top candidate.

The singer-songwriter from Liverpool has scheduled his upcoming album to be released on Friday the 4th September ahead of his tour that will begin the day after on the 5th. The album will be his first follow-up since his Top Five album in 2024, ‘For The People’. He will be kicking off the live tracks in Southampton in The 1865.

The tour is set to differ from his last live appearances where he played to huge crowds that ranged from a massive hometown performance and area-based visits. This year he will be playing intimate shows for his fans in smaller venues to showcase his sound in a comfortable and close environment.

The singer announced his tour and album just this week with the release of ‘Just Begun’, where he also released a groovy music video for the track. From press talks, Webster speaks of the album reflecting notions of identity and reflection, that nonetheless, still spotlights his strength as a songwriter that released classic indie anthems such as ‘Weekend In Paradise’ and ‘Allez Allez Allez’. When he spoke of the new release he said: “This album is about trying to make sense of it all – life, pressure, expectations, the way things are changing around us and still holding onto who you are through it.”

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The news is exciting for indie fans, marking his return to the stage after a year off live performances, particularly after his year-after-year appearances at Glastonbury festival. Though, he kicked off his year of performing just last weekend at Warrington’ Neighbourhood Weekender, accelerating the excitement for new music from the legend.

Sat 5 Sep – Southampton, The 1865
Sun 6 Sep – Bristol, O2 Academy 1
Mon 7 Sep – Cardiff, Students Union
Wed 9 Sep – London, Electric Ballroom
Thu 10 Sep – Birmingham, O2 Institute 1
Fri 11 Sep – Manchester, Academy 1
Sun 13 Sep – Leicester, O2 Academy
Tue 15 Sep – Sheffield, Network
Thu 17 Sep – Leeds, O2 Academy
Fri 18 Sep – Hull, University Union
Sat 19 Sep – Newcastle, NX
Mon 21 Sep – Dundee, Live House
Tue 22 Sep – Glasgow, O2 Academy
Wed 23 Sep – Carlisle, The Old Fire Station
Fri 29 Sep – Isle of Man, Villa Marina Royal Hall

You can buy general sale tickets on sale tomorrow on the 29th of May 2026 at 10am here!

Founded in 2012, the festival has grown into a two-day celebration of electronic music and sound system culture, featuring house, techno, drum and bass, jungle, garage and hip-hop across multiple stages. From its early days in Castle Park through to Eastville Park, the festival eventually found a permanent home at the Ashton Court Estate where it hosts 860 acres on the edge of the city that has been visited by many, from Portishead to Robert Plant over the decades.  This year’s headliners included Sammy Virji, Confidence Man DJS, Chase and Status and more.

With Glastonbury taking a fallow year, Love Saves The Day has stepped up as the UK’s festival season opener, and the 2026 lineup reflected this. Temperatures hit 27°C across the weekend, and for the first time the main stage was powered entirely by solar energy. Saturday was headlined by Sub Focus, whose new audiovisual show drew in excited fans and festival goers. Sunday, last night, was handed to Sammy Virji to close up until next year.

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The Birmingham DJ and producer has spent the last two years converting underground credibility into a bigger discography and performance scale. His reputation was originally built in clubs where selection and timing matter, as well as dancers and dark rooms but the qualities he had in those spaces translate well to a main stage for his recent appearances at festivals over the years. He moves between drum and bass, jungle, and garage with beats that always keep the crowd moving. The DJ also came out with an album last year, ‘Same Day Cleaning’.

At Ashton Court on Sunday evening, Sammy Virji’s set rounded off the hot, summery weekend with some of his most famous bangers. His top charted songs include ‘Find My Way Home’, ‘Shella Verse’ and ‘Cops and Robbers’, where he merges his house music sound with garage and drum and bass genres. The closing act was the finish Love Saves The Day needed to complete the bank holiday weekend for Bristol.

Love Saves The Day has always paired big headliners with upcoming UK talent and local collectives, reflecting Bristol’s dance and techno heritage. Virji closing the weekend confirmed his place among the most compelling live draws in UK dance music right now and the continuation of dance anthems in the UK.