Iggy Pop, now 78, is pausing his 6 Music duties after around twelve years on the station to focus on other musical projects, with plans already in place for him to return in 2027. His final Sunday broadcast before the break is scheduled for 29 March, after which Cocker will take over from 5 April. Iggy first became part of the 6 Music schedule in the mid‑2010s and has since become a cult favourite for his gravelly delivery, deep musical knowledge and willingness to champion both classic and underground sounds. His temporary absence will leave a noticeable gap in the lineup, but the station hopes Cocker’s arrival will soften the blow.

Cocker’s comeback marks a full-circle moment for 6 Music weekends. He originally launched his Sunday show in 2010, building a reputation for carefully curated playlists, themed episodes and a warm, intimate style that made the programme feel like a private listening party. Over time, the show became a kind of weekly ritual for many listeners, who tuned in as much for his wry commentary as for the music itself.

When he signed off in 2017 with the words “it’s not goodbye, it’s just farewell”, many listeners hoped he would one day return to the station in a regular role. His new run of Sunday shows is expected to revive that spirit while introducing fresh music discoveries and new features for a changed audience. There is also speculation that he may invite special guests, collaborators and old friends to join him, adding an extra layer of anticipation around the new series.

Alongside Cocker’s arrival on Sundays, Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto will take over Saturday mornings, bringing her own perspective and tastes to the station’s eclectic mix. For 6 Music, enlisting figures like Iggy Pop, Jarvis Cocker and Beth Ditto shows its commitment in letting musicians themselves shape the sound and character of the network. For listeners, Cocker’s return as Sunday host promises a comforting show at the heart of their weekend routine.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dr. John Cooper Clarke (@johncooperclarke)

  The 76-year-old has experience on the station, having fulfilled a similar role in 2013 when he stood in for Pulp frontman, Jarvis Cocker, on his own Sunday afternoon show, ‘Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service’. Cooper Clarke’s performance was reviewed by The Guardian, with Nosheen Iqbal saying, “Hearing Cooper Clarke pontificate is probably as close as 6 Music gets to replicating the ‘down the pub’ chatty spirit so many shows work to achieve.”  

The Bard of Salford was on Laura Laverne’s Radio 6 show on Friday, celebrating World Poetry Day, in which he chose some of his favourite readings throughout the show. On the BBC website, the stand-in slot promises “a Sabbath Special, the compulsory Elvis number, and a nod to Iggy via Clarke’s Compilation Corner”.

@bbc6music Happy World Poetry Day John Cooper Clarke joined Lauren to share some of his favourite poetry recordings. Listen on @bbcsounds and on your Smart Speaker #worldpoetryday #johncooperclarke ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music

This afternoon’s show opened with a tribute to the late Johnny Green, Cooper Clarke’s tour manager and friend. The poet told audiences that Green’s “invisible fingerprints were all over this afternoon’s playlist.” Green found success as the road manager for the Clash, documenting his time with them in the book, ‘A Riot of Our Own’, and also managed US musician Joe Ely. He died earlier this month, with tributes pouring in from across the punk world.  

Cooper Clarke has often mentioned the impact that Iggy Pop has had on him on more than one occasion. He likened himself to the titular passenger in Pop’s song, when revealing his influences, and saying “It’s a poor artist who only paints the picturesque.”

The BBC website for ‘Iggy Confidential’ seems to indicate that Cooper Clarke’s run will last for two shows spread over three weeks, those being 23 March and 6 April. The intervening weekend will feature a wrap-up show for the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival, which takes place next week in Manchester. Cooper Clarke is also set to perform in Manchester next week, headlining an event at the Co-op LIVE arena on Saturday, 29 March, making him the first poet to headline an arena in the UK.  

It will be a busy week for the poet, as he is also set to receive an award at the Northern Music Awards, held in Liverpool on Thursday, 27 March. Cooper Clarke will be awarded the Northern Music Award, which celebrates a legacy act who is a “household name with a long and highly-respected career that is still active in music.”  

This could go down as the best few weeks radio for a long long time. Listening to Dr Clarke tell some stories whilst plying a bit of music for two hours each day. All for free.

— Streetwise Stu (@StreetwiseStu79) March 23, 2025

Reaction to the news of Cooper Clarke’s shows was extremely positive, with one X user saying: “This could go down as the best few weeks radio for a long long time. Listening to Dr Clarke tell some stories whilst playing a bit of music for two hours each day. All for free.”

With an exclusive mix of punk, reggae, and old school rock ‘n’ roll, Cooper Clarke’s first show goes toe-to-toe with Pop’s own renowned playlists. It’s clear to see that the punk poet has meticulously curated the show, from each song, the order, and the dedications to his late friend. 

The show is available on BBC Sounds for 29 days.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester (@o2vicwarehousemanc)

The Manchester venue, with a capacity of 3,500, offers an intimate experience, ensuring that even at 77 years of age, Iggy’s legendary energy and stage presence will remain the focal point. For comparison, Alexandra Palace holds a hefty 10,000, while Glasgow’s O2 Academy fits 2,500, making the Victoria Warehouse a mid-sized addition to the tour.  

Tickets for the Manchester show will be available through Ticketmaster, with O2 customers gaining early access two days before the general sale. Given the demand for the original dates, fans should act quickly to secure their place. Tickets w=for those with O2 priority will be able to purchase through the link at 9am on Wednesday December 4, and general sale will begin at 9am on Friday December 6. Tickets for the London date cost £75, so fans wanting to see the Manchester show should be expecting to pay a similar amount.

Though details may shift, fans can expect Iggy Pop to deliver a career-spanning setlist, showcasing tracks from his time with The Stooges to his prolific solo career. Recent shows have opened with the Stooges’ iconic ‘T.V. Eye’ and concluded with ‘Frenzy’ from his 2023 album Every Loser, as well as the Stooges’ classic ‘1970.’  

In between, audiences are treated to anthems such as ‘Lust for Life,’ ‘The Passenger,’ and ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog.’ While some hits, like ‘China Girl’ (which hasn’t been played live since 2018) remain curiously absent, the setlist leans heavily on fan favourites and high-octane crowd pleasers.

Iggy Pop on Radio 6 what a voice what a taste in tunes.
Good company while I juggle with tasks in prep of next week.

— Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou (@JoPavlopoulou) June 9, 2024

Beyond his music, Iggy Pop has found a devoted UK audience through his BBC Radio 6 Music show, Iggy Confidential. Broadcasting every Sunday afternoon, the show is as eclectic as its host, spanning rock and roll classics such as Little Richard, deep cuts like Captain Beefheart’s ‘Bat Chain Puller’, and emerging artists. In 2023, his show made headlines when he hosted Tom Waits, in what one fan called a “growl-off” between the two legends and their hoarse voices.

Iggy Pop and Tom Waits having a growl-off on BBC Radio 6. Too close to call which of them is hoarser but they both make latter-day Bob Dylan sound like a boy soprano. pic.twitter.com/98rMUjp2ZU — Frank McNally (@FrankmcnallyIT) December 5, 2023

Iggy Pop’s return to Manchester marks his first performance in the city since 1993. For a city that birthed post-punk pioneers like Joy Division and The Fall—bands heavily influenced by Iggy’s early work—the concert feels like a homecoming of sorts. While the city’s musical scene has evolved, Manchester continues to celebrate its rich heritage, and Iggy Pop’s presence will undoubtedly feel like a full-circle moment for fans.

With his boundless energy and rebellious spirit, Iggy Pop’s live shows remain as electrifying as ever. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer drawn by his BBC Radio 6 presence, the Manchester date offers a rare chance to witness one of music’s true originals.

Don’t miss out—tickets are sure to sell fast. Get ready to dive into the chaos, the classics, and the charisma that define Iggy Pop.

With its prime location, Bearded Theory borders the West Midlands, South Derbyshire and Staffordshire whilst remaining 2 hours away from 50% of the UK’s population.

Originating in 2007 as a birthday celebration in a field, featuring a performance from the 3 Daft Monkeys, Bearded Theory has returned fifteen more times bringing local communities together, who all share a love for music and raising money for charity.

Since its commencement Bearded Theory have raised over £300,000 for charity. This is a spectacular amount for an independent festival, which has no sponsorship or branding but relies on the generosity of its attendees. Bearded Theory are responsible for healing its local communities through a variety of aid, including: financial support to youth clubs, modernising Village Hills and giving support to local food banks and rescue centres.

This process has seen Bearded Theory transform from an up-and-coming festival to a multi-award winning event. In 2016 Bearded Theory won ‘UK’s Best Family Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards along with ‘Promoter of the Year’ at the same awards two years prior. Most recently, the festival was shortlisted for ‘Festival of the Year’ at the Music Week Awards 2024, alongside being crowned ‘Promoter of the Year’ at the UK Festival Awards in 2023, for a second time.

These prestigious awards do not go unnoticed given the festival’s reputation for putting together star-studded lineups year after year. Previous years has seen Soft Play in 2024, Primal Scream in 2023, and Patti Smith & Band in 2022.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bearded Theory (@beardedtheoryfestival)

Next year Bearded Theory will welcome rock legend Iggy Pop to their stage, known for his contributions to punk band the Stooges along with his memorable tracks ‘The Passenger’ and ‘Lust For Life’. With multiple decades of performing experience and iconic tracks, there is no doubt Iggy Pop’s set will be one to watch next year at Bearded Theory.

Bearded Theory will also see the likes of Welsh Alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, known for their tracks ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will be Next’ and ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, perform their socially-conscious tunes to attendees. Alongside Leeds rock band Yard Act, known for their jocular lyricism and punchy instrumentation, will take to the stage to perform some of their classics like ‘Fixer Upper’ and ‘The Overload’.

The 2025 countdown is on! We’re returning to Catton Park with some ace acts in tow, join us and join Iggy Pop, Manic Street Preachers, The Sisters Of Mercy, Yard Act, Leftfield, The Mary Wallopers, CMAT, Nova Twins, Ash, Fat Dog, & 30+ more who we can’t wait bring to the fields! pic.twitter.com/PK8sTgEVlg

— Bearded Theory (@beardedtheory) October 11, 2024

Bearded Theory evidently places their attendees at the forefront, booking acts based off of audience recommendations whilst creating a culture that is accessible and diverse to heighten attendee’s enjoyment. It’s a festival music lovers cannot miss.

Tickets for the upcoming Bearded Theory festival can be purchased here.

This marks the first time in nearly 9 years that Blondie last performed at Glastonbury, the first time ever was back in 1999. The band discussed with Foxy Radio their plans on the side of the road, as reported by Metro. They said, “We’re also doing Isle Of Wight Festival and some other festivals… I guess the full list of artists to be playing Glastonbury hasn’t really been announced yet… but we are going to be playing Glastonbury, so maybe you’ve got an exclusive there.” 

Blondie are also due to perform at The London Palladium for the Lytham Festival 2023 including a special guest slot at Crystal Palace Park, alongside Iggy Pop on Saturday 1 July. As well as Blondie’s appearance at Glastonbury 2023, other legendary US bands are also scheduled to perform as well. Guns N’ Roses bassist, Duff McKagan, accidentally revealed on Sirius XM that the band are headed towards the festival this year. He said, “Glastonbury is going to be iconic for us. We’re going to be announcing some shows, you guys, at some point, we’ll be announcing a bunch of stuff.” An interview about McKagan talking about Guns N’ Roses’ collaboration with Iggy Pop was shared in an audio waveform on Reddit, in which McKagan says “maybe some of those Iggy shows we’re going to do.”

pic.twitter.com/6QVcyKh4AZ

— Emily Eavis (@emilyeavis) December 2, 2022

Sir Elton John has confirmed that he will be the final act to perform on the last night of the festival. He expresses his gratitude by saying that he “couldn’t be more excited“ to be playing the set, after 52 years on the road, which will mark the last gig of his farewell tour.  Emily Eavis, the organiser of the world-famous event with her father Michael has promised that it will be “the mother of all send-offs.”

Blondie UK and Ireland Tour Dates:

06/15/2023 –  Isle Of Wight Festival –  Newport, Great Britain (from June 15-18)

06/16 –  Cardiff Castle –  Cardiff, Great Britain

06/16 –  Cardiff Castle –  Cardiff, Great Britain (Official Ticket and Hotel Packages)

06/18 –  Isle Of Wight Festival –  Newport, Great Britain (Sunday Ticket)

06/22 – Scarborough Open Air Theatre –  Scarborough, Great Britain

06/22 –  Scarborough Open Air Theatre –  Scarborough, Great Britain (Official Ticket and Hotel Packages)

06/28 – 07/01 – Lytham Green –  Lancashire, Great Britain (4-day Pass)

06/28 – 07/02 – Lytham Green –  Lancashire, Great Britain (5-day Pass)

Ireland Tour dates:

o6/28/2023 – Malahide Castle And Gardens – Dublin, Ireland  (Alongside Sting)

You can purchase your ticket for both UK and Ireland tours here.

‘Post Pop Depression’ was released earlier this month on the 18th March. It seems that Josh Homme’s producing skills have again worked wonders; having previously helped produce albums for his bands ‘Eagles of Death Metal’ and ‘Queens of the Stone Age’ as well as working with the likes of Davi Grohl with ‘Them Crooked Vultures’.

‘Post Pop Depression’ features legendary singer Iggy Pop on vocals with Homme and Dean Fertita from Queens of the Stone Age, as well as Arctic Monkey’s drummer Matt Helders.

For those wanting to listen to the album it is readily available on Spotify and Itunes and it is possible to listen to the music on Youtube. ‘Gardenia’ and ‘Break Into Your Heart’ were the selected singles from the album. Listen to them below:

Iggy is set to tour around Europe a bit however he is only in England for a one off gig at the Royal Albert Hall on May 13th, tickets and availability can be found here.

The nine track long album is available to listen to here.

First Listen: Iggy Pop, 'Post Pop Depression' @IggyPop @qotsa https://t.co/McPSStjTBy pic.twitter.com/MrdjvypG84

— nprmusic (@nprmusic) March 10, 2016

The now confirmed track list is as follows:

‘Break Into Your Heart’
‘Gardenia’
‘American Valhalla’
‘In the Lobby’
‘Sunday’
‘Vulture’
‘German Days’
‘Chocolate Drops’
‘Paraguay’

Both ‘Gardenia’ and ‘Break Into Your Heart’ have already been released as the official singles for the album; listen to ‘Break Into Your Heart’ below:

More than just an album release, Iggy is set to return to the UK for at the moment, just the stand alone tour date. Iggy is set to be in London at the Royal Albert Hall in a few months on May 13th. As mentioned in our previous article on Iggy’s new material (read here) we can hopefully expect more tour dates to eventually be confirmed, however the band itself has confirmed that they are going to be very particular about where and when they play; with guitarist Josh Homme saying that they prefer to play at places that are:

“small, beautiful theaters where their presence might still seem disruptive.”

And with Iggy being Iggy, well I expect he could just turn up to any venue and they’ll let him play!

Iggy had recently reunited with The Stooges and it seems he is determined to continue to stay in the music industry, as he is set to release his latest album with Helders and Homme in two short months on March 18th. The album is set to be called ‘Post Pop Depression’. The full band is expected to have Iggy on lead vocals, Homme and fellow Queens of the Stone Age member Dean Fertita on guitar with Matt Helders on drums.

The full track list of the album is expected be as follows:

‘Break Into Your Heart’
‘Gardenia’
‘American Valhalla’
‘In the Lobby’
‘Sunday’
‘Vulture’
‘German Days’
‘Chocolate Drops’
‘Paraguay’

‘Gardenia’ has already been released as single, listen to the song below:

Iggy Pop and his band are set to perform numerous live performances this year however they are set to be very particular about the locations they perform; I guess with the combined reputation of the band they can afford to be as picky as they want!

Tickets for the London show are set to become available tomorrow on January 29th.