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Previously announced was an expansive run of North American dates beginning on June 12 in Orlando, Florida, spanning across the States and ducking into Canada. The run includes four sold-out nights at Fenway Park in Boston, as well as nights in Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis and many more major US cities. But, as the official information account for the singer said in their announcement post, “you thought he was done!” Kahan has added 21 international dates to his 2026 tour.

In September, Kahan will embark on The Great Divide World Tour with two nights in Melbourne. The Australian/New Zealand leg will continue through October with nights in Sydney and Auckland.

The singer returns to the UK with two shows at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena on November 5 and 6. The singer is set up for a string of two-night sets at arenas across the nation. After Glasgow he will play two nights at the AO Arena in Manchester, then to London’s O2 Arena before capping off the UK/IE run at Dublin’s 3Arena on November 21 and 22.

From there, he will head through Europe on the final leg of the tour. Through December he will visit Zurich, Cologne, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Paris and Munich.

Support for the UK leg of the tour comes from New York native singer-songwriter, Bella Kay. Recently, Kay received her first career entry on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts with her single, ‘ILOVEITILOVEITILOVEIT.’

The Great Divide Tour will also continue Kahan’s philanthropic pursuits. A portion of every ticket sale will go towards The Busyhead Project, a mental health initiative founded by Kahan in 2023. The Busyhead Project aims at providing resources and information needed to end the stigma around mental health. According to the official site, $6.6 million has been raised for their work since 2023.

It was announced just last week that Kahan will appear on SNL (US) as the musical guest with host Matt Damon on May 9. Additionally, his documentary, Out of Body will come to Netflix April 13, just ahead of ‘The Great Divide.’ The documentary will see him reckon with his recent launch to fame as he returns back to his home state, Vermont. Kahan called the experience of being filmed for the documentary “weird, difficult, and genuinely beautiful.” He said he is looking forward to fans seeing it despite also being “nervous” about the more personal and “painful” things the documentary touches on. But, he said “anything scary or hard is usually worth sharing with the world” and he hopes that “it will reach [fans] in a time when [they] need it.”

Tickets for The Great Divide World Tour go on general sale this Friday 17 April at 10 AM local time in the UK and Europe. Artist presale will commence on Wednesday 15 April, also at 10 AM local time for the UK and Europe. Sign up for artist presale here.

The Great Divide World Tour UK/IE Dates

5/11 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow, UK

6/11 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow, UK

9/11 – AO Arena – Manchester, UK

10/11 – AO Arena – Manchester, UK

13/11 – O2 Arena – London, UK

14/11 – O2 Arena – London, UK

21/11 – 3Arena – Dublin, IE

22/11 – 3Arena – Dublin, IE

The show marks their only UK show for 2026. In the post, linked below, the band says “just thinking about this night makes us teary-eyed.”

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While the first half of the evening will consist of ‘Stay Gold’  performed in full, they promise the second half to be “a mix of [their] favorite songs, old and new.”

‘Stay Gold’ is the band’s breakthrough album, having been certified Platinum by the Swedish Recording Industry Association in January 2015, just seven months after its release.  After the duo appeared on the Graham Norton Show, the album soared from Number 54 to 11, selling 7,726 copies. It was then certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry in April 2015.  The album holds an 80 overall score on Metacritic with critics saying the album “has a rich texture of classic country instrumentation and stirring string arrangements, matching their soaring vocal melodies.” The album includes some of their most popular tracks, ‘My Silver Lining’ currently has over 288 million streams on Spotify while the title track, ‘Stay Gold’ has over 40 million.

The 65-piece Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, hailing from the band’s homeland, will support them in bringing these beloved ‘Stay Gold’ tracks to fans at the Royal Albert Hall. The band said the upcoming show “truly feels like a dream come true.” Previously, the Swedish sisters,  Klara and Johanna Söderberg, played a show with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in January 2025. There, the band played ‘Stay Gold’ in its entirety, in celebration of 10 years since the album’s release. They called the show an “incredible priviledge” and said that the “songs have never sounded better.” Now, they are set to bring the experience to the UK for the first time.

First Aid Kit released their most recent album, ‘Palmino’ in 2022, which was the their first studio project since 2018. It scored 4 stars from NME and a 7/10 from Clash, who called it, “deeply personal and moving” and it was the band’s “most conventionally ‘pop’ work yet whilst still offering the sisters’ unique blend of folk and Americana.”

The show on Tuesday September 29 will be the duo’s second time appearing at the Royal Albert Hall, with their last appearance being in 2014. Presale begins on Wednesday March 11 at 10 AM GMT. Presale codes will be given out to fans who sign up for First Aid Kit’s text or email list by 9am GMT on Wednesday, 11 March. The link to do so can be found here. General sale will commence on Friday 13 March at 10 AM GMT.

Now 80, Siffre has spent much of the past two decades away from the album cycle, releasing only occasional singles and making rare live appearances while his classic recordings quietly gathered new generations of listeners online. Unfinished Business, due later this year via Demon Music Group, is his first full album since 1998’s ‘The Last Songs‘ and spoken-word project ‘Monument‘, ending an almost three-decade pause in his studio discography. The new record arrives at a moment when his catalogue, once a cult concern, has been reframed as foundational listening for contemporary pop, hip-hop and indie fans alike.

Lead single ‘Far Away’ anchors the announcement, a reflective piano ballad that leans into the soulful inflexions that have long underpinned Siffre’s folk-rooted music. Built around intimate vocals, the track feels like a continuation of the emotional clarity that defined songs like ‘Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying’ and ‘My Song’, but delivered with the weight and stillness of an artist looking back over a long life. ‘Far Away’ has already been showcased in a rare BBC Radio 2 Piano Room performance, where Siffre paired the new piece with ‘My Song’ and a cover of the Four Tops’ ‘Baby I Need Your Loving‘, underlining how comfortably his new material sits alongside his vintage work.

Siffre’s return has been building quietly for several years, helped by social media virality and high-profile sync placements. ‘Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying’ featured prominently in the 2024 film The Holdovers, while ‘Cannock Chase’ appeared in the critically acclaimed Sentimental Value the following year, pushing his songs back into wider public consciousness.

At the same time, tracks like Bless The Telephone have taken on new life on TikTok, and official channels have been steadily uploading restored videos and interviews, reframing him for a younger, online audience.

Across the 1970s and 1980s, Siffre released a run of albums that blended folk, soul and jazz, yielding UK hits like ‘It Must Be Love’ and the anti-apartheid anthem ‘(Something Inside) So Strong’ which would go on to be reimagined through popular covers by Madness, Kenny Rogers and others. His tracks have also been sampled in acclaimed hip-hop singles, including Ye’s cult-classic 2007 single ‘I Wonder’, which samples Siffre’s ‘My Song’.

With a poignant legacy spanning several decades, a legacy now both nostalgic and new to many, Labi Siffre’s ‘Unfinished Business‘ is expected to unite his audience through his revived, soul-touching soft-rock and folk sound. If anyone can encapsulate the human experience through music, it’s Siffre.

Whilst specific dates are yet to be confirmed, the album is expected to be released later this year.

The hypnotic folk ballad, produced by Philip Weinrobe, was released with a romantic music video, where Mescal’s voice shines in a dark red theme.

Mescal teased her heartbreak anthem on Instagram, filming herself in an empty field with the caption “got carried away need to reconnect don’t text me”.

This new track marks a change for the artist as she goes from indie sorrow to folk storytelling. Mescal told Dork Magazine, “It’s a song about asking for reassurance from someone you’re in a tumultuous relationship with and being disappointed by their answer,” she then explained the crux of the story with its title, “Instead of saying they love you back, they say they just got carried away.”

Though, this fresh new track comes with an emotional honesty that’s been present throughout her career, quickly capturing the hearts of listeners worldwide. On ‘Can I Miss It For A Minute’, Mescal explained in an interview with Vogue how this vulnerability comes about in her writing process. She said, “I was writing with my friend yesterday, and he said, ‘Sometimes we write stuff, and we don’t even realize those are our feelings about it […] Then all of a sudden it’s written, and we’re confronted with the fact that we said that, so we mean it.”

The artist has had a quick rise to fame after the EP reached the Scottish Top 100 Album Charts, performing some exciting gigs from joining Florence and the Machine on tour to supporting Shania Twain at the BST Hyde Park Headline show in July. Mescal has also concluded her set of intimate shows around the UK just two days ago (24 July). Fans recorded her last night in Cardiff, with Mescal’s captivating charm silencing the audience at Wales’ signature rock venue, Clwb Ifor Bach.

@keelalaa Nell Mescal performing ‘In My Head’ live from Cardiff! @Nell Mescal #nellmescal #inmyhead #smallartist #acousticmusic #livemusic #cardiff ♬ original sound – keela

You can catch Mescal at several UK festivals this summer, including Newcastle’s Come Together festival and Reading & Leeds. Find tickets on the artist’s official website. 

The tour will hit some exciting venues, beginning in September at Brudenell Social Club, Leeds as well as three dates at London’s The Tabernacle. The tour will then continue throughout Europe and the US.

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In February this year, Yaelokre performed for their biggest crowd, opening for folk-pop singer Aurora. Initially performing underground gigs for about 20 people, the singer spoke to Rappler about their sudden rise in popularity and the overwhelming feeling that came with it. They said, “How can you prepare to face a whole world where kindness is scarce and hate is normalized, when all you’ve ever really wanted to [was] to tell your stories to little children and make them happy?”

Following these difficulties, the artist says that come November of that year, “something magical happened”, in regards to support from friends which led them to continue with their musical pursuits.

In January 2024, Yaelokre made their debut with ‘Harpy Hare’, which took the internet by storm. The sombre, yet addictive, folk single spread through TikTok like wildfire with just under 500k videos using the song according to TikTok statistics. The track tells the story of a mother’s protectiveness and a child’s desire for freedom with the eerie hook “Harpy Hare, where have you buried all your children?”

Listeners were eager to discover the lore behind the track as Yaelokre performs the song in animalistic, earthy costumes. The singer gave little away about the backstory, letting the song speak for itself, though fans were intrigued by the character-based lyricism and created a trend in which two people, donning Yaelokre’s distinctive costuming, perform a childish handshake.   

@half_baked_mushrooms @Thenice_demon ♬ Harpy Hare – Yaelokre

Originally planning to become a kindergarten teacher, the artist took ‘Harpy Hare’s popularity and released their debut EP ‘Hayfields’, telling the stories of four characters Cole, Clémente, Peregrine and Kingsley, who play music together in a group called ‘The Lark’. 

Fans were as dedicated as ever to understand the full story of the whimsical record, and took to social media with numerous ‘lore explanation’ videos.

@a1234music For any new Yaelokre fans out who want to know somw of the lore, here’s a brief rundown for you! #yaelokre #harpyhare #yaelokre_yarrow #yaelokre_cole ##meadowlark #hayfields @ ♬ Harpy Hare – Yaelokre

The singer has shared the general concept behind the record, explaining with Rappler, “the four characters are based off of my childhood. [Creating Yaelokre] was like a [form] of therapy for me.”

In the run-up to the tour, Yaelokre has released a new single ‘Cole’s Response’, a melancholic, ethereal acoustic folk track which the singer describes as “a bashful rabbit’s retort”. The new song and Yaelokre’s full folk discography is greatly anticipated for the upcoming tour. Check for more exciting updates and where Yaelokre will be performing next on their Instagram. 

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The exhibition will take place on 3 May in Covent Garden, the same day as her live performance at OVO Arena in London as part of her What Happened To The Earth tour. In a recent press release, the singer revealed that the exhibition will be an artistic exploration that “blends art, fashion, and digital innovation in an intimate setting”.  The 28-year-old singer has been blending ethereal dark-pop sounds with electronic influence since her debut EP ‘Running With The Wolves’ in 2015. The collection of songs follows a thread of sombre folklore and a dreamy sonic integrity which the singer has held since she began writing the second track on the project ‘Running With The Wolves’ at aged 13. 

The song shows an authentic, unapologetic voice following the opening track ‘Runaway’, a fan favourite which AURORA has since released in piano and orchestral versions. She has also made a documentary on the impact this song has had on her career titled. The documentary, ‘Portrait of a Song’, is available to watch on YouTube.

Since her first release, the singer has made seven EPs and five studio albums including her latest in 2024 ‘What Happened To The Heart’. The album has a natural focus that has been prevalent throughout her discography, including the song ‘Some Type Of Skin’ – the namesake of her exhibition. The event is said to explore the evolution of her discography as well as display a curation of looks and props that have been integral to her musical narrative. 

‘What Happened To The Heart’ breaks down digital and human barriers for connection. In an interview with DIY magazine, she explains the thoughts that led to its creation, sharing “The world is dying; our home is rotting, burning up, and we are engaging in meaningless wars that put resources over human lives. I think a lot of us look at the world and wonder: what happened?”. Her commentary on the state of the world was highlighted similarly in her role as New Music Ambassador for War Child UK, as well has with her single ‘Through The Eyes Of A Child’ which featured on the hit show Adolescence– a staggering Netflix series commentating on the experience of youth in the digital age.  

Her latest album has seemingly inspired the singer to explore her place in the art world with this upcoming exhibition as well as her PAUSE collection of art prints and her latest book release, ‘What Happened To The Heart’. She has expressed the book’s vulnerability to fans stating, “I’d prefer if you’ve read it alone in your room”.

AURORA has recently released a fresh new single ‘The Flood’, a soft dreamy soundscape which she has shared alongside visuals of choreography in an angel inspired look.   

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Sign-up for tickets of the Some Type of Skin exhibition can be found here, along with tickets to her UK and EU tour on her website.

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First established in 1965 by Paul Rayment, Philip Abrams, George Scurfield, and Ken Woollard, the Cambridge Folk Festival was envisioned as a celebration of folk music and a means to preserve its cultural heritage. Since then, the festival has grown to become a cornerstone of the folk music scene, drawing renowned artists such as Joan Baez, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris, and Mumford & Sons.

The decision follows financial losses incurred during the 2024 edition, reflecting broader struggles faced by music festivals across the UK. Rising production costs, the lingering economic impact of Brexit, and the cost-of-living crisis have led to the cancellation of over 71 independent festivals over 2024 alone. Organisers are calling for government support, lower VAT rates, and improved insurance schemes to help the industry recover. Despite these difficulties, demand for major festivals like Glastonbury remains strong, offering hope for a stronger economic future for smaller independents as well.

Despite the disappointment of the 2025 cancellation, organisers remain hopeful for the festival’s future. The council has emphasised its commitment to exploring innovative approaches that will allow the festival to return stronger in 2026. In a statement on the festival’s website they suggested that “throughout 2025 the festival will continue to support the folk community with a series of locally based events throughout Cambridge, with other initiatives to support local emerging youth and folk artists.”

They can’t afford to run a folk music festival which everyone loves, but they can afford £162m for a lame-ass busway which nobody needs or really wants https://t.co/3d6imzqvRD

— Mike Scialom (@CambsOpenMedia) January 19, 2025

Fans and artists alike have expressed their concerns over the festival’s hiatus, with many taking to social media to share their sadness, support, and hopes for its revival. As the folk music community faces mounting challenges, the Cambridge Folk Festival’s potential comeback in 2026 will be one to keep an eye on.

The widely acclaimed singer has been described as a vital guide for today’s music, and was known for his unique sound that combined jazz and folk, with huge artists such as Eric Clapton, Portishead and U2 citing him as a influence in their own music. Over his four decade career, Martyn released a whopping twenty three albums, his most well known being ‘Solid Air’, and received an OBE award in 2009, only a few weeks before his passing. He is now survived by his second wife, Theresa Walsh, and his three children.

Alongside selling Martyn’s instruments and equipment that he used for recording and performing, the auction will also include personal items, such as pieces of clothing worn by Martyn.

“Astrolabe“, an energised droning mix of cello, violin, flute, drums and a pulsating vocal performance, is, according to the band, about “lovers across the centuries; from the love letters between Heloise and Abelard in medieval France to Bonnie and Clyde’s romantic partnership in crime in 1930s America“, thereby enjoining different eras with a recurring theme, love, and creating a shared thread that runs through human history and experience.

Listen to “Astrolabe” below:

Consisting of Nina Winder-Lind (vocals, cello, guitar), Kate Mager (bass), Violet Farrer (violin, guitar, vocals) and Ella Russell (drums, flute, vocals), The New Eves formed in Brighton in 2021, combining an undeniably remarkable DIY ethic with incredible musical talent. This initially resulted in jam sessions in which the band cultivated their now unmistakable sound, splicing ritualistic, communal folk wailing with a punky, droning effect brought by beautiful string tones of cello and violin and, quite clearly, a strong love and appreciation of The Velvet Underground.

Their single “Original Sin” brings together this rustic folk sound with flashes of punk and a certain 60s pop-rock aura, creating a wonderfully catchy track that continually captivates, fades and springs back into glorious life. Like “Astrolabe” this song too weaves a thread through human history, connecting Eve to every woman that has lived since Eve, suffering under the same shared struggle under the traditional patriarchy and religion, yet ultimately becoming emancipated, free to enjoy life as they see fit.

On the lyrics the band added, “The band is fighting a biblical battle between shame and pleasure, body and mind, good and evil. The lyrics are poetic and unapologetic. ‘Throw away my fading halo and start dancing’ is the type of line that’s calling to be written on the bedroom wall of teenagers up and down the country. This is the song Eve would have written if she had an electric guitar.”

Watch the music video for “Original Sin” below:

Watch The New Eves perform “Vallät” at Brighton Electric Studios below:

You can catch The New Eves at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton (15-18 May), Wide Awake Festival in Brixton (25 May) and Green Man Festival in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (15-18 August).

His wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, has since posted a heartfelt statement on Instagram, writing, “I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese. I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures. There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world. Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music. You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much. You meant the world to me.”

An ever-charismatic and endearing figure, MacGowan and his renowned snarl came to represent many things during his 65 years on Earth; the nonchalant fusion of punk and poetry, Irish nationalism and pride, and, to a great many, Christmas music. “Fairytale Of New York“, indeed, remains a true December classic; will we see it take number one spot this Christmas? Above all though, MacGowan always remained true to himself, his culture, heritage and nation, and his nonconforming spirit.

Listen to “Fairytale Of New York” below:

Born in Kent to Irish immigrant parents in 1957 and growing up in various cities in the Southeast of England, MacGowan’s punk nature was evident from the start. He was allegedly expelled from secondary school for possession of narcotics and soon became enamoured with the early punk scene, experiencing his first bout of fame as he was pictured in a newspaper after being injured at a Clash gig. So inspired was MacGowan by the Pistols and the Clash he decided to join Shanne Bradley’s punk band, the Nipple Erectors.

Come 1982 and he had formed his own band, initially named Pogue Mahone (an anglicisation of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin, meaning ‘kiss my arse’). Shortened later to the Pogues, MacGowan employed his Irish identity to explore in his lyrics Irish nationalism, Irish history and the Irish diaspora in England. The Pogues’ first album, Red Roses for Me, came in 1984, followed by Rum, Sodomy & the Lash in 1985 and their most commercially successful record If I Should Fall from Grace with God in 1988.

Listen to “Dirty Old Town” below:

Notable singles from his time with the Pogues include covers of traditional Irish folk songs “Dirty Old Town” and “Irish Rover“, along with “Fairytale of New York” featuring Kirsty MacColl and “Dark Streets of London“. After leaving the band in 1991 he formed another group, Shane MacGowan and the Popes, releasing two full length LPs before re-joining the Pogues in 2001.

Listen to “Irish Rover” below: