It’s an honour to announce that I will be doing a gig for the NHS and careworkers at London’s TheO2 on October 29th. They do an incredible job, we are very lucky to have them. LG x pic.twitter.com/iRfb2RNNNy

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) April 10, 2020

Featuring a career-spanning set of 20 songs consisting of mainly Oasis covers, Gallagher transformed the struggle of lockdown and COVID into a nationwide reassurance that everything will eventually be okay; with no shortage of thanks to those who have dedicated the most time and effort to the cause, the countries NHS workers. Support slots from Primal Scream and Black Honey ensure the evening will come with all the force an Indie-Britpop fusion could offer. As well as old Oasis classics like ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Supersonic’, ‘Morning Glory’, and ‘Live Forever’ Gallagher also triumphantly bounced through some of his genuinely great solo material. ‘Wall of Glass’ and ‘Once’ outshine any of the material he wrote back in the day by quite a significant margin. All in all, a pretty good gig.

Set for March 2^nd, the self-proclaimed “wildest night in music” will be hosted at London’s iconic O2 Brixton Academy, tickets to the event are still available and you can find more information here. With hosting expertise from comedian Daisy May Cooper and grime star Lady Leshurr the evening will feature a range of performances from Bring Me The Horizon, Same Fender, Griff, Rina Sawayama, BERWYN, and the recently announced collaboration of Chvurches and The Cure frontman Robert Smith. Many other surprises are bound to crop up throughout the night, so watch this space for more information soon.

Other artists already confirmed to receive awards this year include: FKA Twigs being crowned is year’s Godlike Genius, Halsey will take home the Innovation Award, and Jack Antonoff has already bagged the Songwriter Award, full information on this year’s nominees can be found here. You can also cast your vote on the Hero of the Year, and Villain of the Year categories 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.

The comments come after some rather controversial decisions from the government earlier this year, such as giving NHS workers only a 3% pay rise, which resulted in talks of possible industrial action from workers in protest. Bush is not the only artist to say something about the matter either. Dua Lipa made her thoughts known at the 2021 BRIT Awards last May, noting the work of Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, who fought to improve equality in the NHS through her Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice. Lipa said that “it’s very good to clap for them but we need to pay them. And so I think what we should do is we should all give a massive massive round of applause and give Boris a message that we all support a fair pay rise for our frontline.“

It’s not the first time this year Bush has been involved in fair pay issues either. A while back, Bush was among 156 musicians who signed an open letter to Boris Johnson asking for fairer pay to artists by streaming services. Other artists who signed include Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher and Chris Martin. The letter argued that “For too long, streaming platforms, record labels and other internet giants have exploited performers and creators without rewarding them fairly. We must put the value of music back where it belongs – in the hands of music makers.“

However, on a less serious note, Bush was also pleased to let us know in her statement that she saw a nice looking bird a few weeks back. Apparently, it was a Goldcrest, “the smallest bird in Europe”, but it was significant to Bush since it was only the second time in her life she’d encountered one. She said that she “stood still, hoping not to frighten it away“, describing the bird as a “gorgeous little ball of fluff“ that “flew away after 10 minutes or so …. It made my day.“ She finished off her statement by wishing her fans well, saying “Please stay safe“ and “Wishing you a restful Christmas and hoping 2022 is a happier year for everyone. With love, Kate.”

After an inquest found that the DJ had been transferred between two hopsitals without a nurse escort, as well as being given substandard handover notes, the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has issued the family an apology. Chief medical officer at the trust, Dr Phil Wood, said: “I would like to offer our sincere condolences to Alexander’s family and apologise that the care he received was not to the standard we would expect.”

Alex T, full name Alex Theodossiadis, passed away on the 28th of January 2020. He suffered from meningitis and sepsis, as well as enduring a subdural haemorrhage in hospital. A Rinse FM resident, he also worked at Tribe Records, one of the most highly-regarded record shops in Leeds and the UK at large, an integral part of Leeds’ electronic music scene. He was a well-known member of the scene, known for his passion and dedication to the electronic music scene. He recieved many tributes from members in the scene and beyond, including Paul Woolford, Minor Science, and Mor Elian; shortly after the announcement of his death, Bruce dedicated a night on his Get Loose! radio show to Alex T.

Kevin McLoughlin, the coroner, said he would write two “prevention of further deaths” reports in conclusion to the case, as well as a letter to the Royal College of General Practicioners containing advice on how to care for those with meningitis for GPs.  The parents of Alex T expressed satisfaction with the coroner’s narrative, as well as his dedication to future action for meningitis sufferers. This is despite the mother arguing that “Alex was a victim” of poor care and poor communication in hospital.

Professor Sue Theodossiadis, Alex T’s mother and medical professional, said: “The coroner picked up that there is a need for [GP] receptionists to ask questions and help people to disclose what they need to disclose and triage them to get urgent appointments. I think that’s a positive.”

The inquest and apology provide some much-needed closure to Alex’s passing after nearly two years of uncertainty, though he will be sorely missed in the electronic scene.

The charity gig held on 10th August 2021 supported and thanked the nation’s NHS workers who have worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the middle of the concert, ticket-holders were treated to live redemptions of the three new collaborative songs. The ‘Clint Eastwood’ performers teamed up with rapper and singer Jelani Blackman on track ‘Meanwhile’, Alicia Harley on the song ‘De Ja Vu’ and finally the British hitmakers joined forces with multi-talented British artist AJ Tracy on brand new track ‘Jimmy Jimmy’

The group took to their Instagram to post photos of the event and their collaborative performances.

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A post shared by Gorillaz (@gorillaz)

The triumphant event boasted an impressive setlist of 32 songs, the band also shared the stage with various other special guests. Some of music’s most respected and popular artists joined the band to entertain and thank the audience of NHS staff and their families. The Cure’s frontman and pop culture figure Robert Smith joined the group to perform a version of ‘Strange Timez’, a track which Smith featured on from the group’s seventh studio album ‘Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez’, the single was released on 9th September 2020.

Other artists who joined Gorillaz on The O2 stage included rapper Posdunos member of legendary hip-hop group De La Soul, Popcaan, Leee John, actress and singer Fatoumata Diawara, Happy Monday’s members Shaun Ryder and Rowetta, EARTHGANG, Little Simz, singer and DJ Sweetie Irie, Slowthai and Slaves who previously worked together with Gorillaz on track ‘Momentary Bliss’. The group were also joined by a member of another iconic and pioneering group within the dance and electro music genre, Peter Hook from New Order paired with the band in celebrating the healthcare key workers.

The charitable event marked the victorious return for Gorillaz, the group had not helmed a live performance since October 2018. The band have been a staple of the countries’ radio play since their first hit ‘Clint Eastwood‘ released on 5th March 2001. The single reached number four within the UK Singles charts and propelled the virtual band into popularity. The group was formed by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, the musician and artist who created the individualistic group which features a mix of animated and non-animated band members.

Damon has spoken to NME regarding the group’s new music, within the interview the musician also hinted that he has been discussing reuniting iconic Brit-pop band Blur, in which he started his musical career. In the interview Albarn revealed the virtual band’s new album’s sound, the singer also teased that the group’s new material will be a throwback to Gorillaz’s debut album ‘Gorillaz’ released in 2001. “Since then I’ve been working on carnival-themed music with Gorillaz with a lot of people from west London, We’re really going back to the spirit of the first record.”

Albarn continued to discuss the new album, whilst comparing the musical process to that taken whilst recording his second solo album ‘The Nearer The Fountain, the More Pure the stream Flows’. “It’s really exciting and we’ve been really enjoying it. It’s a nice kind of counter-balance to ‘The Nearer The Fountain…’, really. I’ve definitely needed a dose of something else after I finished that record. Steel pan drums and Casio MT-40s were always going to be a good cure.”

Although the group has completed both of their London O2 performances, Gorillaz has one more UK appearance this month at the Cornwall festival, Boardmasters, on 14th August 2021.  After their last UK appearance, the group is set to hit the road on their European tour which starts on 29th August 2021 in the Netherlands. UK fans may have missed the band’s August UK dates, but fans can get excited about the new tracks’ possible release with new material being performed live.

The choir is called the ICU Liberty Singers, all of which have been touched by the pandemic while working as nurses, doctors and health care professionals throughout the UK. Laura Morton, one member of the Liberty Singers mentioned her reasoning and importance of this virtual cover, saying that music is good for the soul. It’s really uplifting and genuine to sing a way through this. On a more personal note, Morton describes how the Liberty Singers help its group members that that being apart of the choir feels like we’ve created this family. We all chat to one another, tell our stories and support one another.

The Choir has set itself the goal to reach #1 on the charts on Christmas day, in an effort to raise money for their charitable cause, taking this cover to the next level. One member said the choir’s musical director managed to get a record deal with Sony. The impact of their version of Every Breath You Take has come has a welcomed surprise and joy to the medical singers, saying that they are looking to raise as much money as possible to help improve mental health and wellbeing of all critical care staff across the UK.

The cover is on track to make #1 on the 25th, however, their biggest obstacle is in the form of another charitable choir, which the ICU Liberty Singers would be happy to take a silver medal next to. Justin Bieber has released a collaboration with Lewisham and Greenwich NHS choirs to raise money for medical workers as well.

The race is on! The #1 spot on Christmas can only go to one track, but the ICU Liberty Singers and Bieber’s collaboration are both worthy contenders for the throne as all proceeds are headed towards the needs of medical workers in the UK regardless of the winner. As the year 2020 nears to an end, the support and comradery for care workers in this difficult pandemic represents what the holiday season has always been about; giving love and merry to family, friends and those whom might need cheer in the cold winter.

The artist posted to Twitter with a letter to fans, which began, “thank you to all of you that have and continue to support me and my music up until now.” He also posted in a separate Tweet that the song is written as “a reminder to always appreciate what you have whilst you have it,” saying, “be happy and make do with what you have.”

my new single ‘nhs’ is out now. i wrote this track as a reminder to always appreciate what you have whilst you have it. be happy and make do with what you have. things could always be better but things could also be worse. thank you for everything  https://t.co/mBIky60NKb pic.twitter.com/8jgghn8C9S

— TYRON (@slowthai) November 19, 2020

Sonically, ‘NHS’ is mellow with meaningful lyrics such as “What’s a flight without turbulence? A life without circumstance? Boxing without another stance? Country with no coat of arms?”. Slowthai’s music video is centred around the effects of Covid-19, showing people queueing outside a supermarket and the rapper standing atop a tower of loo roll, and it already has 95,000 views.

The single is the latest release from his new album ‘TYRON’, due 5th February 2021, which Slowthai also announced yesterday. Titled after his real name, Tyron Frampton, he has said that he hopes “this album can be the light if you’re in the dark, and to know you’re not alone,” as he told followers, “it’s okay to be yourself, fuck everything else. learn, grow, aim to be better than you were yesterday.”

my second album TYRON is available to pre-order now → https://t.co/bGc9LNMZdq https://t.co/jdnMc3uleH pic.twitter.com/afkZIPD7Q1 — TYRON (@slowthai) November 19, 2020

So far one other songs has been heard from the 2-disc LP: feel away’, which was met with a great reception. ‘TYRON’ will feature the likes of A$AP Rocky, Skepta, James Blake, and more. Find the full track-list below.

DISC 1

1. 45 SMOKE
2. CANCELLED (feat. Skepta)
3. MAZZA (feat. A$AP Rocky)
4. VEX
5. WOT
6. DEAD
7. PLAY WITH FIRE

DISC 2

1. i tried
2. focus
3. terms (feat. Dominic Fike & Denzel Curry)
4. push (feat. Deb Never)
5. nhs
6. feel away (feat. James Blake & Mount Kimbie)

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions for the live music industry, the Manics have moved their previously announced shows in December at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena to Fri 16th & Sat 17th July 2021. All tickets remain valid.

More info: https://t.co/s5HVozPG4c pic.twitter.com/3tYIRMFutk

— ManicStreetPreachers (@Manics) October 14, 2020

The rescheduled July performances could now coincide with the release of the Blackwood rockers’ as-yet-unnamed fourteenth studio album, set for release on a date to be confirmed next summer. Earlier this year bassist Nicky Wire hinted that the new record would move in a different musical direction to 2018’s Resistance Is Futile, telling NME that: “It’s very broad – it feels like an expansive record. Resistance Is Futile certainly felt more tight and ‘pop’ in a Manics sense. Everything was really melodic and concise. This album just feels broader. It’s got a wider landscape, sonically.”

Manics’ singer and lead guitarist James Dean Bradfield has also been busy this year promoting his critically-acclaimed summer solo release Even in Exile, inspired by the life of the murdered Chilean musician and activist Victor Jara. The album, which reached number 6 in the UK charts in August, was also accompanied by a three-part podcast series, Inspired By Jara.

The Manics had already anticipated the likelihood of needing to rearrange the NHS gigs, with James Dean Bradfield telling NME in the summer that the Gwent trio would “play those gigs, eventually, whatever happens.” In the same interview the multi-talented frontman spoke of the band’s desire to give back to the NHS, whose creator Aneurin Bevan famously inspired the title of their classic 1998 album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours.

Bradfield said “We just saw the struggle. I know a lot of people around me who work for the NHS and you could see the immediate strain that they were all under. We’re talking about proper stress from proper hard work that you’d never ever begin to realise how hard it is. They’re under immense strain. The NHS is the biggest employer in Wales, and all around us we saw people giving and giving and giving and not getting enough back. We just thought that this should be for them.”

2021 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the band’s Gold-certified 2001 album Know Your Enemy, and the subsequent Louder Than War gigs in Havana which saw them become the first western rock band to play in Cuba. Fans might expect some of the album’s most enduring songs – including singles So Why So Sad, Ocean Spray and Let Robeson Sing – to feature on Manics’ set lists next year.

The aim of the song was to raise money for the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust Charity, which supports not only its staff but the communities all across the north west of England. The song has raised over £6,000 so far, surpassing the target of £2,000.

The justgiving.com description reads; “The North West Ambulance Service charity are fundraising to support the staff and communities of the North West Ambulance Service who do so much for us. They are there for us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The charity provides lifesaving equipment, education programmes, community first responders and mental health & well-being programmes for the amazing staff outside of NHS funding and supports services to help YOU, YOUR family and YOUR community in the North West. They are there for us – time for us to step up for them and care for the carers.”

North West Ambulance Service Team leader Andrew Wood spoke to The Mail about the project and said; “I decided to choose the song because the lyrics really hit home with everything that was going on with Covid-19 and the pressure that it was putting on all of the NHS, not just the ambulance service”. 

Wood can’t believe the support people have shown the video; “It was only supposed to be a bit of fun to put a smile on NWAS staffs’ faces but unbelievably we have had over one million views of the video across Facebook and YouTube, and raised around £6,000 on the JustGiving page.”

The success of the song has been so overwhelming, they even decided to release it on all streaming platforms too. The video is also available on YouTube and the NWSA social media platforms. You can also donate on the JustGiving page to support this great cause by clicking here.

Sam Fender, Gerry Cinnamon and Royal Blood are going to headline the festival, but festival organisers are promising a festival “line-up of heavyweight household names across music and comedy, all of whom will be donating their time to show their appreciation for the region’s frontline health workers.”

Whilst NHS workers can attend the event for free, they are welcome to bring their family and friends along, adult tickets are priced £25, kids tickets cost £15, with all proceeds being donated to regional NHS trusts.

Introducing This is For the NHS, a free festival for our local heroes to recognise the courage and bravery of NHS staff and care workers.
Huge line up TBA, all proceeds donated to local NHS, tickets available Friday 10am.https://t.co/tfm9mjhuta pic.twitter.com/exRDvNUa1p

— This Is Tomorrow (@ThisIsNCL) May 20, 2020

“We’re donating This Is Tomorrow’s festival site to give NHS workers a big day out and say a massive thank you to the key workers who are putting their own health at risk to keep us all safe”, says Steve Davis, the festival’s Managing Director. According to the statement, Davis himself has worked for the NHS for 18 years, as a radiographic practitioner. After speaking to his former colleagues, he realised “just how hard it has been for NHS workers. Considering the amount of risk that they have had to face on a daily basis and with the number of NHS staff that have died as a result of the disease, it is commendable that they have continued to go to work while everyone else has been able to stay safe at home.”

“The care workers also need to be recognised for the courageous protection of the elderly in care homes and hospices. I hope we can give them a day to remember with their colleagues in May.”
Davis explains how spectacular the plans for the festival are, “pulling out all the stops in showing its thanks”, the statement reads and adds that a charity banquet dinner and big prizes are also in the talks.

This year’s This Is Tomorrow festival had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak but is aiming to return in 2021. “But without the incredible work being done by the NHS, the festival might never have gone ahead again, their hard work will ensure we get over this difficult time.”