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The new album will play host to an exciting selection of features, including Mike Brainchild, Toddla T, Tre-Jean Marie, Wretch 32, Jojo, Tiwa Savage and Louisa Johnson. The first taste of the album has been given in the smooth breakbeat banger ‘Wake Up’. The track draws influence from the silky 2-step sounds of the 2000’s, with David singing and rapping over those staple string stabs and rumbling bass. “Roll pon a riddim, roll pon a riddim — know/I know you’ve been hurt before, gotta let it go”, says the singer, with lyrics summing up his duality as a soulful love-singer and garage icon.

The Southampton-born singer gave a press statement on the new single and its meaning to him:

“‘Wake Up’ for me is my way of not only respecting my garage roots, but also keeping alive the cultural foundation of the sound from where it all started.  The lyric reinforces literally & metaphorically the essence of making sure we don’t fall asleep on the importance of nurturing something we care about. Especially if we don’t want to end up losing it by taking it for granted. This echoes how I feel about the unique sound of UK Garage and the importance of nurturing it for generations to come around the world. I felt super inspired mixing in the vibes of ‘Indo – R U Sleeping’ on this one, just like me playing out a TS5 garage set. The whole vibe ignited some core memories for me that not only had me in my feels, but inspired me to grab the mic & spit bars again. Just like when I was on pirate radio MC’ing back in the days.”

‘Wake Up’ was released as a single featuring three other tracks that may appear on the upcoming album – a soft dancehall collab with Tiwa Savage titled ‘Commitment’, a tropical-house tune called ‘SOS’ and a song called ‘In Your Hands’ which has an almost Avicii-like whistle-pop quality. 

Craig recently joined Usher onstage at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, April 5, duetting his classics ‘Fill Me In’ and ‘7 Days’ with the American star. David stepped out to a roaring crowd, who excitedly sung back the words to his iconic tunes.

Feeling truly blessed to share the stage with the legend @Usher This is a real full-circle moment for me Growing up, I had ‘I Think of You’ and ‘U Make Me Wanna’ on repeat He’s always been an artist I deeply respect and one of the greatest to ever do it Thank you… pic.twitter.com/LeMnpTbmux

— Craig David (@CraigDavid) April 5, 2025

‘Commitment’ is available for pre-order here.

People involved include Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts, Max George of The Wanted, Craig David and many more. The video made use of the classic 1965 Beatles single, “Help!“, which includes appropriate lyrics such as “Help me if you can, I’m feeling down“ and “Every now and then I feel so insecure.“ The artists recite the lyrics in the video, and at the end, we’re reminded that anyone struggling can either refer themselves or go through a GP to get some professional support.

Feelings like anxiety and depression can affect us all. If you’re struggling with your mental health, the NHS can help you get your feet back on the ground.

You can refer yourself or your GP can refer you. #TalkingTherapies #HelpUsHelpYou pic.twitter.com/4ot3TM4DXg

— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) January 17, 2022

Some of the artists involved also spoke of their own struggles with mental health, and how important talking to someone was for them. Nicola Roberts struggled with trauma after being stalked for five years by an ex-partner. She said that “I’m someone that has benefited hugely from talking therapy. I think there is such a taboo around it that people almost feel like they’ve failed or they weren’t strong enough to figure out a situation by themselves. But if you’re feeling like you can’t see the wood from the trees or light at the end of the tunnel, it’s imperative to reach out because you can’t always do it alone.”

Craig David also noted that he’d “had points in my life where I struggled with my mental health, but what was so important for me was opening up and starting to talk about how I was feeling. I now know that real courage & strength isn’t in trying to do it alone, but instead being able to share our feelings in a safe space with people who can help“.

The campaign comes as 2.3 million have reportedly signed up to the NHS talking therapy services since the start of the pandemic. Other figures show that over half of the population last year were worried about their mental health, but most did not try to find professional help. The campaign has been backed by charities such as Mind, AGE UK and Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Claire Murdoch, the NHS mental health director, had this to say: “The pandemic has taken a toll on the nation’s mental health, and we know January can be a particularly tough month for many .… If you are experiencing anxiety, stress, or are feeling low, it’s important you know you are not alone and that it is okay to get help. No one should suffer in silence.”

If you’re struggling at the moment, you can look for help on the NHS website here.

here’s the incred line-up for #BRITsWeek 2022 presented by @MastercardUK for @WarChildUK: @AnneMarie@bastille@joycrookes@maisiehpeters@BeckyHill@mimiwebb@CraigDavid@Damonalbarn

For info on the shows head to: https://t.co/km2Rwkqqb9 pic.twitter.com/LIgMuRPs8p

— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) December 14, 2021

The concert series will kick start with a performance by English singer-songwriter Anne-Marie. The 30-year-old artist will take the stage at King Cross’ Lafayette on 1st February 2021. The Essex born singer is no stranger to the Brits, she was nominated for four awards including Best British Female Solo Artist at the 2019 awards. After her set for BRITs week, Anne-Marie is set to hit the road for her Dysfunctional Tour in May 2022.

Music fans will then get the chance to see Bastille when they perform at Hackney’s Earth Theatre on 2nd February 2022. The English pop band are also part of the BRIT awards alumni, the group won Best New Artist in 2013 and were nominated for three more awards. The band were also in the running for British Group, Best British Album for Bad Blood and Song Of The Year for their hit “Pompeii”.

It has been announced that former Blur frontman Damon Albarn will conclude the series on 20th February 2022 with a performance at The Troxy. The artist will treat ticketholders to live renditions of classics as well as tracks from his recently released album The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows. The 53-year-old singer released his second solo studio album on 12th November 2021 via Transgressive Records.

Head of Live at War Child, Ben Anderson has provided the following statement, “We are delighted to be working with BPI and AEG once again on another BRITs Week series. Whilst there was a temporary pause on all things live music over the past 12 months or so, there was no pause to the challenges facing children who live in conflict zones around the world. With conflict rates on the rise, and more children at risk, our work as a charity is never more needed. “The whole music team and the wider War Child teams are very excited to be working on a fantastic series of gigs. There are some real treats for fans to see their favourite artists in some venues across the capital that they wouldn’t normally play, and we look forward to not only the gigs but also to raising much needed funds and awareness of the fantastic work that War Child do.”

Other acts have also been announced to take part in the annual concert series. It has been revealed that Joy Crookes will perform on 2nd February 2022, the English singer is set to perform at Omeara. The 23-year-old singer was shortlisted for the Rising Star Award at last year’s ceremony. Fellow singer-songwriter Maisie Peters is billed to play the next day at the same venue.

British singer-songwriter Becky Hill has also been announced to perform in the series. The 27-year-old singer will take the stage at The Lafayette on 3rd February 2022. Fans will also be able to catch Mimi Webb at London Bridge’s Omeara on 5th February 2022. The 21-year-old singer will be performing tracks from her recently released EP Seven Shades of Heartbreak, the release dropped on 22nd October 2021 and reached number nine within the UK charts. Three days before Albarn’s closing gig, Craig David presents TS5 will take place at Under The Bridge on 17th February 2022. TS5 began as an exclusive pre-party by David but has now developed into a club night full of anthems and hits.

Mastercard cardholders have access to an exclusive pre-sale for all shows, the pre-sale began today at 10 am. Fans can also win tickets via the prize draw, to enter the competition fans must make a £5 donation via the Brits Week War Child website.

Previously set to take place later this month, the live stream event will now take place on 8th May 2021 at 8 pm.

Announcing the rescheduled date on Instagram, the British R&B artist and DJ wrote: “I’m really sorry to let you all know we’re having to push the ‘Born To Do It’ online show back to Saturday 8th May at 8pm BST. All tickets remain valid. I can’t wait to perform this album for you guys, All my love, CD.”

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A post shared by Craig David (@craigdavid)

 The reason behind the rescheduling of the event is unknown. Crosstown Concerts, the promoters of the event, said in a statement: “Crosstown Concerts apologise to all ticket holders and Craig himself but due to unforeseen circumstances, we need to move the date for Craig’s ‘Born To Do It’ global broadcast. All tickets remain valid for the new date and we look forward to presenting a truly magical evening of music.”

 The concert is set to be Craig David’s 20th-anniversary performance, revisiting his debut album ‘Born To Do It’ which was released in August 2000, alongside a live band.The album still holds the record for the fastest selling debut album by a British Male Solo act in UK Chart history and the global live stream will be the first time the artist has performed it in full. Speaking on the album’s release and his upcoming virtual concert, David said: “This album means the world to me. I wanted to do something to celebrate the 20th anniversary and as touring live isn’t possible, I couldn’t let the anniversary go by without marking it in some way. Sharing this album with you has been one of the highlights of my career and I never thought I would get the opportunity to do the whole album in full like this – It’s going to be really special. Thank you for all the love and support these past 20 years… wow!” 

Craig David will be making his return to live music this summer, headlining a number of UK festivals, including: Victorious Festival,  Standon Calling and MFor Festival. The UK artist is also heading out on tour next year with numerous arena dates. It is unsure yet whether he will be continuing his summer residency at the iconic Ibiza Rocks pool party with his sell-out event ‘Craig David presents TS5,’ in Summer 2021, with the club writing that their events are to be confirmed. 

The singer-songwriter has had a successful 2021 so far, kicking the year off he was named in the Queen’s annual New Year’s Honours list. After having a hit career as an R&B artist and selling over 15 million records worldwide in his 20 years on the music scene, Craig has also successfully pursued making dance music. His TS5 DJ brand, established in 2013,  has a slot on both Kiss and Capital playing his sets, giving an exclusive look into the renowned TS5 Miami party. 

Tickets for ‘Craig David Born To Do It’ are still available to buy via Ticketmaster. 

Alongside racing driver Lewis Hamilton, actresses Nina Wadia and Lesley Manville, cinematographer Roger Deakins, and many others to receive the prestigious Order of the British Empire this year, Craig David was awarded an MBE (Member) and Colin Lester an OBE (Officer) for their outstanding contribution to the world of music. Lester himself was amongst the first people to congratulate David, proudly stating: “This is a remarkable achievement and so deserved – I am honoured not only to work with Craig but to also call him an amazing friend and confidante“.

I am so proud and thrilled that @craigdavid has been Honoured with an MBE in recognition of his incredible contribution to music. This is a remarkable achievement and so deserved – I am honoured not only to work with Craig but to also call him an amazing friend and confidante. pic.twitter.com/QaTFihKkJD

— Colin Lester (@ColinLester) December 30, 2020

Discovered and signed by Colin Lester to his label Wildstar, Craig David recently celebrated 20 years since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album Born To Do It on 14 August 2000. The album currently holds a 6-time platinum status in the UK and ended at #35 at the decade-end Official Album Chart in the UK (2000-2009). It set the beginning of a productive partnership and long-lasting friendship between the two, and kickstarted the singer’s sucessful career who went on to release 20 UK Top 40 singles and seven chart breaking albums.

Colin Lester has spent his entire career as artist manager of some of the most prolific music acts to emerge in the UK scene in the last few decades. Originally involved with Wildlife Entertainment, followed by Wildstar Records and most recently founding JEM Music in 2015, Lester is associated with the likes of the Brand New Heavies, Travis, Arctic Monkeys, Craig David, and many more. Additionally, he is on the board of trustees of the MOBO Charity and is connected to The ’45 Aid Society.

Alongside all of his artists’ achievements and sucessful record sales, Colin Lester has been awarded with many other prestigous awards, including “‘The Peter Grant Award’ for outstanding achievement from the UK’s Music Managers Forum (MMF) in 2002, the Gold Badge Award’ by BASCA (The British Academy of Songwriters , Composers and Authors’) for his work with UK songwriters in 2007 and the ‘Artist Loyalty Award’ for his longstanding relationship with Craig David at the 2016 A&R awards.” Craig David immediately returned the favour and congratulated his “manager, friend and business partner” for receiving the honourary OBE. 

Congratulations to my Manager, friend and business partner for being awarded an OBE for services to the music industry and charity, in the Queens New Year Honours list. I’m so happy for you @ColinLester ! xxx pic.twitter.com/tJYHRfqsti — Craig David (@CraigDavid) December 30, 2020

Late last evening, MusicWeek shared the full list of musicians and industry professionals to also receive the honour alongside David and Lester. Apache Indian and Yasin El Ashrafi received an MBE for outstanding services to young people, music and mentoring. Other recepients include conductors Jane Glover, Daniel Harding and Wayne Marshall, director Graham Vick, composer Julian Anderson, pianist Barry Douglas, cellist Natalie Clein, as well as Wasfi Kani from Grange Park Opera, Nigel Newton from Bloomsbury Publishing and also John Kirkpatrick for services to folk music.

Last year, Queen’s legendary drummer Roger Taylor was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours of 2019.

The Sun newspaper reported an insider for the BBC to of said, “The BBC has gone all out with securing talent for this year’s Top Of The Pops Christmas special and they want it to be bigger and better than ever. Getting Craig to join the line-up was a real coup as he’s such a legend. He’ll be performing his song Really Love with KSI but everyone would love it if there was time for him to throw in one of his classics. It’s been a tough year for the industry so the Beeb is going to make this year’s one-off episode as ­celebratory as possible.”

Craig rose to fame in 1999 having featured on the single, ‘Re-Rewind,’ by Artful Dodger. His debut solo album ‘Born To Do It’ was released in 2000 from which he had four Top 10 singles, which sold more than 8 million copies worldwide and earnt multi platinum selling status in more than 20 countries. Since then he released another six albums and has not only had success as a singer, but as a rapper, DJ, record producer and song writer, proving he’s an all rounder when it comes to music talent.

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Craig released his latest album ‘The Time Is Now’ in 2018, which reached Number 2 in the UK album charts and last month he announced he’s been working on his comeback. The Sun reported him saying, “I’ve been recording loads of music through lockdown. I love to think I can keep singing for ever and I will sing for as long as I can. And I hope the fans welcome that.” His latest track ‘Really Love’ currently sits at number 11 in the Official UK Charts, after it’s 5th week of being released.

BBC have also announced a New Years Eve Special ‘Top Of The Pops’ show for this year. Both shows will be hosted by Ferne Cotton and Clara Amfo who took over from Regi Yates in 2017. Fern admitted to The List that she was worried the show maybe cancelled this year due to the Coronavirus. She said, “I have my fingers crossed that they will find some sort of socially distanced way to make it happen. It’s such a tradition now that you sit down to watch it as a family, and your parents complain how awful pop music is today and then you all go and have your lunch.”

There is no doubt people will be looking forward to the popular iconic music chart show on the festive day to add some Christmas cheer. With the current line up in place, the festive programme will surely not disappoint.

The event is going to be free to view via the, ‘My McDonalds App,’ with family sessions being available on the family website. The UK has missed their live music scene this year and with the restrictions getting tighter again due to the pandemic, the popular fast food chain has put together a weekend of live music to lift the spirits of music lovers.

The festival will open on Friday with live performances from female pop stars, ‘Jess Glynne’ and ‘Becky Hill.’ Saturday will see pop band, ‘Kaiser Chiefs,’ take the centre stage along with, ‘Craig David,’ and ‘Olly Murs.’ The show go out with a bang as pop star, ‘Lewis Capaldi’ an rap legend ‘Stormzy’ headline the show.

This is going to be a treat for Stormzy fans as he had to cancel his ‘Heavy is the Head’ tour in March due to the pandemic. His rescheduled tour is set to take place in the UK in April 2020.

Make sure you don’t miss I’m Lovin’ it Live! Tap ❤️ and we’ll Tweet you a reminder just before each show is about to start. pic.twitter.com/gF7hFrilbv

— McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) October 23, 2020

Michelle Graham-Clare who works for McDonalds in the VP Food and Beverage, Product Development and marketing sector for the company said, “We know the new normal is tough on everyone. I’m Lovin’ it Live is our way of saying thank you to our people and to our customers for all their support this year. Hopefully our week of good things and good times offers something for everyone from families looking for fun to music fans missing the gig scene.” – The Mirror

McDonalds has done a lot this year including teaming up with the, ‘End the Child Poverty Campaign,’ and funding the provision of ‘One Million Meals,’ in the coming weeks through their partnership. In addition the fast food chain is going to be hosting football sessions with legend Peter Crouch as well as lioness England footballer Lucy Bronze. They are also planning a reading club with pop star children’s author Tom Fletcher.

The meals that will be distributed in the coming weeks will support Marcus Rashford’s campaign for ‘Free School Meals,’ in the UK as families struggle with the ongoing pandemic, which the footballer has been urging the government to extend over the half term period.

McDonalds have been slated this year as the Bank of America have stated they are, “tired of their own cooking,” -Business Insider. As the pandemic movers into a deeper stage of turmoil, the company have proven themselves and shown their support through the current crisis.

The Line up for the virtual gig as follows:

30/10/2020
Becky Hill
Jess Glynne
Craig David

31/10/2020
Kaiser Chiefs
Olly Murs

01/11/2020
Lewis Capaldi
Stormzy

The YouTube star announced the single a couple of weeks ago on his social media channels saying; “When you hear this tune fam…Madness. Legit so crazy that I have a song with Craig.”He went on to talk about Craig David’s impact on him, saying; “From bangers like 7 days to Walking away to Rise and Fall, this man was a BIG part of my childhood. He’s an absolute legend and I can’t wait for you to hear the song we’ve created together. Shoutout to DFA for making the beat and absolutely killing it too.”

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When you hear this tune fam…Madness. Legit so crazy that I have a song with Craig. From bangers like 7 days to Walking away to Rise and Fall, this man was a BIG part of my childhood. He’s an absolute legend and I can’t wait for you to hear the song we’ve created together. Shoutout to DFA for making the beat and absolutely killing it too. Really love ft Craig David & Digital Farm Animals is available for pre order now. Link in Bio. : @dvisualsz

A post shared by KSI (@ksi) on Oct 9, 2020 at 2:14am PDT

Craig David will also be joining KSI on tonight’s episode of Celebrity Gogglebox for Stand Up To Cancer. The show invites celebrities to sit on their couches and react to the biggest thing on television that week. Other celebrities on the line-up are Mo Gilligan, David Mitchell, Victoria Coren Mitchell, John Bishop and Babatúndé Aléshé.

Stand Up To Cancer is a charity that speeds up life-saving cancer research by taking developments in the lab and accelerating them into new tests and treatments for cancer patients who need them. Stand Up To Cancer works with Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 to create a range of shows like Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off and The Last Leg: A Stand Up To Cancer Special.

Born To Review It

Join @KSI and his mate @CraigDavid this Friday for Celebrity #Gogglebox for #StandUpToCancer @Channel4 @SU2CUK #SU2CUK #CelebrityGogglebox #GoggleboxFriday #DontEvenHaveToWait7Days pic.twitter.com/H3BQR4RiQ1

— C4 Gogglebox (@C4Gogglebox) October 21, 2020

This announcement comes following the recent release of KSI’s song with Nathan Dawe Lighter. The song has reached number four in the UK charts. The music video has gained 13 million views in just two months. They also released an acoustic version with Ella Henderson. KSI also recently announced a five date UK tour in May 2021 to support his album Dissimulation.

Really Love is out now on all platforms, you can watch the music video below, Celebrity Gogglebox is on tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm. You can get tickets to KSI’s tour here. The dates are as follows:
13/05/2021 – O2 Institute – Birmingham
19/05 – O2 Kentish Town Forum – London
21/05 – Academy 2 – Manchester
27/05 – Riverside – Newcastle
28/05 – The Garage – Glasgow

So here’s that Radio 2 Live at Home line-up in full!

Featuring
Classic Hyde Park sets
New sets from @SherylCrow, @nilerodgers @CHICorg @RebeccaFMusic, @CraigDavid, @erasureinfo, @RealSirTomJones, @thekillers, @johnlegend, @mcflymusic, @GregoryPorter, @ThePretendersHQ pic.twitter.com/TnRTlvMQhT

— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) September 1, 2020

The festival will take place over the weekend of September 12/13. All the sets will be available on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer. Throughout the weekend there will also be highlights shows and compilation footage, and furthermore, special BBC Red Button content. After this, the footage will be available for another month.

On Saturday, the live hosts include Fearne Cotton and Rylan Clark-Neal. Sunday’s sets will be presented by Trevor Nelson, Sara Cox and Zoe Ball. A detailed line-up is available in the tweet below.

The UK acts will film their performances at Radio 2’s Live At Home stage which is somewhere in the British countryside. American performers will stream their sets from remote locations; rumour has it that The Killers’ set takes place on the roof of a Las Vegas hotel, and Nile Rodgers and co. will be live in Central Park, New York.  British synth pop duo Erasure will perform live from either side of the Atlantic!

In addition to new sets, the other ‘headliners’ will be compiled of some of the best previous performances from earlier years. These will be available on iPlayer in the lead up to the event. They include Elton John, The Pet Shop Boys, Take That and Kylie Minogue. BBC Radio 2 have shared a teaser clip from Elton John’s “spellbinding” 2016 set – watch it below!

“And you can tell everybody this is your song…” You can now re-live @eltonofficial‘s spellbinding Hyde Park set as part of Radio 2 Live at Home. Watch on @BBCiPlayer. Listen on @BBCSounds. pic.twitter.com/e8KMGbfsKB — BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) September 1, 2020

Speaking about Radio 2 Live at Home, Craig David says: “Whilst we can’t party in person, we can have a house party for Radio 2 Live at Home.” Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders adds that, “After months in lockdown, come rain or shine, we are so happy to be able to perform in the glorious British outdoors for Radio 2 Live at Home!”

The Head of Music for Radio 2, Jeff Smith, had this to say about the newly digital festival: “Radio 2 Live At Home will celebrate some of our favourite artists performing in the great outdoors, as well as offering the opportunity to relive some classic sets from our Festival in a Day from years gone by. Who wouldn’t want to relive Jeff Lynne’s amazement at 55,000 people singing along as ELO performed their first full set in 27 years, or Kylie’s impromptu reunion with Jason Donovan on stage for a unique performance of Especially for You.”

Per a report from the Guardian, the causes of the both deaths are believed to be due to the consumption of high-strength Ecstasy.

Reports on social media alleged that there was a noticeable lack of drinking water after 4pm, with some of the on-site taps not working at all. The organisers of the Mutiny Festival have responded to these suggestions, maintaining that there were 21 water taps working at all times throughout the festival.

The fact mutiny festival ran out of water yesterday on the hottest day and you're not even allowed to take water in is disgusting

— ♡Holly♡ (@lolhollyy) May 27, 2018

On the Saturday of the festival, the festival issued a ‘harm prevention alert’ via their Twitter page to warn those in attendance about any drug use, which you can read below.

Please RT – Please RT – Please RT pic.twitter.com/JjdZpuWYuO

— Mutiny Festivals (@MutinyFestivals) May 26, 2018

Police were then alerted at 7:10pm on Saturday evening, when the 18-year-old woman, later identified as Georgia Jones, fell ill, with the 20-year-old man, named Tommy Cowan collapsing just 20 minutes later. At least 12 other people are known to have been taken hospital over the course of Saturday night, though none of these have yet been confirmed to have been drug-related.

Cowan’s father has spoken to the BBC, saying: “It’s no good saying ‘don’t do drugs, all I can say is ‘take this on board, look what’s happened, if you want to end up that way, carry on’. If you don’t, don’t even think about it.”