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Royal Albert Hall has been hosting concerts in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000, and this year’s run of gigs was curated by The Cure’s Robert Smith. This week, a stacked line up of acts included English rock band, Elbow, Scottish rock band Mogwai and Irish rock band My Bloody Valentine. The Teenage Cancer Trust website says they are “the only UK charity providing specialised nursing care and expert youth support for young people diagnosed with cancer, ages 13-24.” And last year, the gig series at the Royal Albert Hall raised a record £2.05million.

Ahead of the set Wolf Alice’s lead singer, Ellie Roswell, took to the band’s Instagram to share her personal connection to the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series. Saying, “when I was a kid they used to get all the schools in Camden to sing songs at the royal Albert hall so actually this isn’t my first rodeo.” She also shared that the band would be selling an exclusive t-shirt, the complete proceeds of which would go to the charity Flynne’s barn.

  The Standard reported, in their five-star review of the night, that Roswell took the stage saying, “I want to have the best Sunday night ever, and I want you to as well.” The band began with ‘Heavenward,’ a track which hasn’t seen a live performance since 2020. Then, songs from 2025’s ‘The Clearing’ took center stage. The Standard noted ‘White Horses’ was “given fresh, punky life.” Other songs performed from their latest multi-award winning album include ‘Just Two Girls,’ ‘Leaning Against the Wall’ and ‘Midnight Song.’ 

The set took an acoustic turn as Roswell welcomed violinist James Gavin to the stage. Roswell forewarned the crowd: “We wanted to try something a bit different tonight, so I hope you will be patient with us.” Three more session musicians joined the stage who helped the band perform a traditional Irish folk reel. Roswell joined on the flute and tin whistle, having grown up playing traditional Irish music. The folk musicians stuck around as Wolf Alice debuted their unreleased track, ‘Hit the Sky.’ The track has steady frolic and characteristics of a folk beat. Some lyrics caught by fans include “If the world serves you lemons, you just twist ‘em.”      

Wolf Alice performing brand new song «Hit The Sky» live at Royal Albert Hall last night pic.twitter.com/NBxQqniwBm — gherkin rowsell (@gherkinrowsell) March 30, 2026

The band performed another unreleased song with the folk accompianment, ‘Gospel Oak.’ A softer offering with sparing musical accompaniment and tender vocals, the singer was overcome with emotion by the end of the performance, embracing her bandmates.

After, the band ripped through some heavier hitters including ‘Delicious Things’, ‘Lipstick’, and ‘Bread Butter Tea Sugar’ which propelled the set toward a flourishing, rock-flavored ending.

The set closed out with an organ-backed rendition of  ‘The Last Man On Earth’ and the motivating, bubbly ‘Don’t Delete the Kisses’ which had the entire audience contributing vocals.

Roswell ended the night saying, “Thank you for allowing us to play songs we haven’t played for some time and some we haven’t played forever.”

The weekend also saw Wolf Alice perform as the second-ever musical act on SNL UK. There, the band performed ‘White Horses’ and ‘Leaning on the Wall.’ The band continues their busy 2026 schedule with two Ivor Novello Award nominations (ceremony on 21 May at London’s Grosvenor House), their biggest headline show ever lined up at London’s Finsbury Park (5 July) and a headline spot at the 2026 Green Man Festival in Wales (23 August).

Donations can be made to the Teenage Cancer Trust here or by texting or text ‘RAH10’ to 70085 to give £10.

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.

East London-born rapper and poet Kojey Radical, whose real name is Kwadwo Adu Genfi Amponsah, has released his sophomore album ‘Don’t Look Down’. The Independent describe it as an “all-encompassing creative approach makes for one outstanding album”.

The release comes three years after his critically acclaimed debut ‘Reason to Smile’, which earned him a Mercury Prize nomination. That record blended funk and soul while exploring themes of Blackness, women, sex, fatherhood, family and faith. The project established him as one of the UK’s most inventive voices, praised for bringing a painterly sense of detail to rap while keeping his roots in spoken word and performance art.

The 32 year-old artist has become known for mixing a wide range of genres into something uniquely his own. ‘Don’t Look Down’ continues in this style, weaving R&B, funk, soul, and even unexpected flourishes such as a mariachi-inspired trumpet section. Originally intended to be called ‘Life of the Party’, the new record reflects on the highs of success, the pressure of fame, the search for meaning and connection and what it means to stay true to yourself.

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The album opens with a spoken word introduction in which Radical reflects: “You’re supposed to be the life of the party. How many homies didn’t make it? How many times did I count the empty seats, instead of the ones that showed their faces?” This vulnerability sets the tone for the rest of the project, which circles themes of loneliness and the struggle to remain grounded while in the spotlight.

Born in Hoxton to Ghanaian parents, Radical first trained as a visual artist. He studied Fashion Illustration at the London College of Fashion, graduating with First Class Honours. His early music was directly inspired by his coursework illustrations, which explored faith, love and social media.

Leading into the album, Kojey Radical linked with Montreal trio Planet Giza (Tony Stone, Rami B and DoomX) on the sleek single ‘Expensive’. Produced by Swindle, the track leans on warm keys and a floor-ready pulse, with Tony Stone’s falsetto lifting the hook before Radical tightens the focus on verse two. The single appears on ‘Don’t Look Down’ and arrived with an official visualiser, underscoring the record’s cross-Atlantic blend of hip-hop, soul and club textures.

Collaboration has always been central to his work. ‘Don’t Look Down’ features contributions from Ghetts, Bawo, MNEK, Dende, James Vickery, Benjamin A.D, Col3trane, SOLOMON and Victor Ray. He is also joined by Moses Boyd and Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective, whose frenetic jazz-driven energy gives life to several tracks.

Alongside the album, Radical has created a short film that ties together several songs and videos. Building on his Mercury Prize recognition and FIFA soundtrack success, the East London artist will bring ‘Don’t Look Down’ to life on stage next year, with his UK tour finishing at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2026.

 James Ainscough OBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Albert Hall and founding trustee of the LIVE Trust spoke about the decision a press release. He said that “By embracing the £1 contribution and becoming the first arena where it is ‘always on’, we are adding this charity’s name to the growing momentum around the £1 grassroots contribution.

He added “[I] look forward to playing my part in ensuring that every pound raised has the maximum impact, securing a thriving grassroots music sector for generations to come.”

Jon Collins, Chief Executive of LIVE, continued: “For such an important and iconic venue as the Royal Albert Hall to make this commitment is a huge indicator of the growing levels of confidence in the LIVE Trust. With an ever-increasing schedule of major tours announcing their support alongside numerous individual company initiatives, which are creating new revenue opportunities, the LIVE Trust is well placed to begin its mission to support grassroots music across the UK, he added. “We thank the team at the Royal Albert Hall for this forward-thinking and innovative announcement and hope that others will be inspired to follow suit.”

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 LIVE trust offers vital financial support to those working across live music in the UK delivering funding within the sector where it is needed most. The initial focus of the charity is on the UK grassroots music sector where LIVE trust is working to support venues, artists, festivals, and promoters. The recent £1 ticket levy has been supported publicly by huge names such as Sam Fender, Katy Perry and Coldplay – all of whom are donating portions of their tour revenue to the grassroots sector. To read more about the trust and their £1 ticket levy visit the website here.

This comes in light of nationwide strategies to boost the music sector. The UK government also recently announced a significant boost to the sector through the unveiling of a Music Growth Package which will deliver £30 million in public funding to help support breakthrough artists and grassroots venues. In case you missed it, MXDWN’s recent coverage of the UK government’s Music Growth plan can be read here.

Chuck D, DJ Lord and Flavor Flav, better known as Public Enemy, have never been ones to shy away from challenging cultural and sociopolitical realities within their music, and their latest offering is no exception. The single, released on Flavor Flav’s own record label, has been described as “a powerful rebuke against crooked politicians and the ongoing crisis of gun violence.” 

The New York based group’s outwardly political lyricism and anti-establishment outlook has been at the focal point of their career since their formation in the mid 80s, with songs like ‘Fight The Power’, a brazenly unapologetic protest against authority within the US, being revered as some of their best work.

On this particular occasion, Public Enemy teamed up with a collective of Harvard University students (Anthony Bell, Ollie Marinaccio, Rhiannon Rae Ellis, and rapper Dee-1) to curate the lyrics for ‘March Madness’, whilst also collaborating with Berkley College alumni Sydney DeLeonardis and Ciaran de Chaud, who are producers on the record. 

In typical Public Enemy style, all proceeds from this track will be donated to the Black Music Action Coalition Human Rights Fund and Everytown, a non-profit organisation against gun violence, a fitting statement for such a lyrically pungent song.

Flavor Flav, a founding member of the group, stated, “It’s horrible what’s going on right now around the world and especially here. I hate it. But I got a voice and a platform and we are still fighting the power and for positive change all these years later.”

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The band are currently in the midst of a world tour, taking them across the globe and stopping off in London next week for a sold out show at the Royal Albert Hall. Read about it here.

 

 

 

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The unannounced show attracted a mix of devoted fans and well-known faces, including Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Gary Kemp, and Bobby Gillespie. Leading the charge was Frank Carter, former frontman of Gallows and Rattlesnakes, who stepped in for John Lydon. Lydon’s absence stems from an ongoing feud with the band over the use of their music in the Disney+ series Pistol, based on guitarist Steve Jones’ autobiography. Despite Lydon’s legal challenge, Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock reunited for a setlist packed with punk anthems.

Launching into ‘Pretty Vacant’, ‘God Save the Queen’, ‘Holidays in the Sun’, and ‘Anarchy in the UK’, the band’s performance was electric. Carter’s fierce stage presence channeled the raw energy the Sex Pistols are known for, while the remaining members proved their chemistry was as sharp as ever. Following last year’s successful reunion shows at Bush Hall, the positive reception from both fans and critics has now paved the way for a full-scale world tour.

@glennmatchett ♬ original sound – Glenn Matchett

Friday’s show may have embraced nostalgia, but Sunday’s Albert Hall performance brought a sense of rebellion to an unexpected setting. The grandeur of the 150-year-old venue, originally opened by Queen Victoria, provided a surreal backdrop for the anarchic spirit of punk. Once symbols of defiance, the Sex Pistols now stood on one of Britain’s most prestigious stages, making the moment feel both ironic and iconic.

The audience included punk pioneers like The Clash’s Paul Simonon, alongside modern artists such as Chrissie Hynde and Yungblud. Witnessing the Pistols blast through their set beneath the venue’s ornate domes was a testament to punk’s lasting influence.

While Lydon dismissed the new line-up as the “karaoke Sex Pistols,” the band’s undeniable energy and tight sound told a different story. Jones’ guitar snarled through the speakers, Cook’s relentless drumming drove each track, and Matlock’s signature basslines pulsed with vigor. Carter’s gritty vocals may have surprised some, but his presence won over both fans and skeptics.

But the Sex Pistols’ return is about more than nostalgia. It’s a deliberate reminder of their power as a live band. For Jones, Cook, and Matlock, these shows are an opportunity to challenge the caricature that the band became under the influence of former manager Malcolm McLaren. Instead, they are proving that the Pistols were never just a product of punk mythology — they were a force of musical rebellion.

Closing with the furious chords of ‘Anarchy in the UK’, the Sex Pistols left no doubt that their legacy endures. Nearly 50 years on, their sound remains as fierce and relevant as ever.

#TeenageCancerGigs at the Royal Albert Hall is back for 2025, with another incredible line-up

Tickets on sale Friday 31st Jan at 9amhttps://t.co/e6jo2B8WzP pic.twitter.com/0d1VWsDmc7

— Teenage Cancer Trust (@TeenageCancer) January 27, 2025

The Who will perform two shows during the week, bringing their timeless hits to the historic venue. They rose to fame in the 1960s and are credited with helping shape the modern rock genre. They are best known for their album ‘Who’s Next‘ (1971), which includes classic tracks like ‘Baba O’Riley’ and ‘Behind Blue Eyes’. The band’s lead singer, Roger Daltrey, has also announced a tour for 2025, starting on April 20 in Brighton. A special collaboration between Frank Carter, Paul Cook, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock brings together punk history with an explosive performance. This night promises to pay homage to the punk legends of the Sex Pistols, who were pivotal in shaping the British punk movement. Their participation adds a rebellious spirit to the 2025 lineup. This one-off performance is expected to be a highlight of the week.

 

 

 

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The chart-topping singer-songwriter James Arthur will headline on Wednesday, March 26, offering an evening of his soulful melodies. The singer is most known for winning the ninth season of The X Factor UK in 2012, which catapulted him to fame. His debut single, ‘Impossible’, became a massive hit, topping the UK Singles Chart and selling over a million copies in the UK alone.The Corrs are known for their distinctive blend of pop, rock, and traditional Irish music. The band consists of four siblings, who are celebrated for seamlessly incorporating Celtic influences into mainstream pop music, creating a unique sound that resonates globally. This fusion helped them stand out in the 1990s and 2000s, bringing Irish music to an international audience. The Corrs’ biggest hit on the UK Singles Chart was ‘Breathless’, released in 2000. The song reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and became one of their most iconic tracks.The Teenage Cancer Trust concerts have been a cornerstone in raising funds and awareness for young cancer patients, with all proceeds supporting the charity’s vital work. This year’s lineup continues the tradition of bringing together top-tier talent to make a meaningful impact. Tickets for these events will be available from midday on January 31, 2025 and can be purchased through the Royal Albert Hall’s official website.

The recently released album features 20 songs from across Lipa’s discography, including some of her earlier work with ‘Be The One’ alongside her most recent releases, from her third studio album ‘Radical Optimism’ and her number 1 hit from the Barbie movie – ‘Dance The Night’.

The English-Albanian ‘Houdini’ singer is reputable for her energetic and empowering pop anthems which exhibit relatable themes of love, heartache, resilience and independence. A discography so notable that the singer has seven BRIT Awards and three Grammy’s to her name.

‘Dua Lipa Live From Albert Hall’ stands at 1hr 21mins, whereas ‘An Evening with Dua Lipa’ will only air one hour of footage. This means the 20 songs will be condensed to balance celebrity appearances and commentary from Lipa between track intervals. This is expected due to ITV’s typical structure when hosting their ‘An Audience with…’ and their ‘An Evening with…’ specials, previous years have notably seen Kylie Minogue and Adele take over ITV for an evening on their respective TV specials. This year ITV will host three very special music specials over the Christmas period, besides from Dua Lipa, the TV broadcasting company will air concerts from both Girls Aloud and Katy Perry.

Reliving a magical night! “Dua Lipa: Live from the Royal Albert Hall” is now available on all platforms!https://t.co/OtFX5QXqpQ

Watch “An Evening With @DUALIPA” on @ITV this 8th December and on @CBS on the 15th for the full experience! pic.twitter.com/gH2Uwe7eF7

— Team Dua HQ (@TeamDuaHQ) December 7, 2024

The live album and the ITV Special sees Lipa take listeners and viewers at home on a journey throughout her career. With glamorous outfit changes (in true pop icon style), a special appearance from Elton John to perform ‘Cold Heart’, comforting chats with attendees and an orchestral backdrop performed by Heritage Orchestra, the singer entices viewers to convey her down-to-earth pop star status.

Heritage Orchestra are a renowned orchestra, known for their renditions of mainstream and popular music through compositional experimentation, working with the likes of RAYE, Björk, The XX and many more eclectic acts throughout the years. Their sonic contributions to the live album and TV special are outstanding, elevating the inherent powerful vocal of Lipa throughout the entire set. The fusion of Lipa and Heritage Orchestra’s talents transforms each track’s reinterpretation into an elegant masterpiece – which does not erase Lipa’s pre-existing talents as a pop sensation instead, uplifts the multi-faceted and multi-dimensional talents of the singer.

‘Dua Lipa Live From Albert Hall’ and Lipa’s upcoming ITV special will present a show-stopping experience exhibiting the singer at her very best. With her most recent album, ‘Radical Optimism’ being snubbed during the 2025 Grammy nominations, ‘An Evening With Dua Lipa’ will demonstrate the singer in the hearts of the British public, who admire the singer for her talent and will ‘Dance The Night’ away during the special.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/dua-lipa-releases-a-live-album-ahead-of-itv-special-an-evening-with-dua-lipa/feed/ 0 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/st-vincent-announces-new-dates-for-her-uk-and-europe-tour/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/st-vincent-announces-new-dates-for-her-uk-and-europe-tour/#comments Tue, 25 Jun 2024 08:31:47 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=100957 The American singer songwriter St Vincent recently announced headline dates across the UK and Europe. Her ‘All Born Screaming’ tour will take her to Dublin, Manchester, Barcelona, Madrid, and Milan this October.

Her additional European dates come hot on the heels of her extremely successful tour across the United States and Europe, and her sold out show at the Royal Albert Hall in London earlier this month. Now she is continuing her tour in Europe, and the presale for her new dates begins Tuesday 25th June at 10am, and general onsale begins Friday 28th June at 10am, and you can find tickets here.

The tour is in support of her most recent album ‘All Born Screaming’ that was released in April earlier this year. The eponymous, fan-loved track features Cate Le Bon, whose name is a tribute to Duran Duran’s frontman Simon Le Bon. St Vincent’s new ten track album follows her last album ‘The Nowhere Inn’, released in 2021, and ‘Daddy’s Home’, which was also released in 2021.

Since her debut album in 2007 with ‘Marry Me’, St Vincent has become a much loved character of the orchestral indie-pop genre, and she has been listed among the best guitarists of the 21st century by multiple publications, including Rolling Stone, who placed her 26th in their ranking, above Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Brian May.

Before her adventure into the world as a solo artist, St Vincent was a member of the Polyphronic Spree, a coral rock band from Dallas, however she left in 2006 and formed her own band after being a member of Sufjan Stevens’ touring band. She then continued to grow to fame as a solo artist, and in 2009 made ‘Rosyln’ with Bon Iver for Twilight New Moon.

Across her discography, she delves into a range of genres and emotions and is renown as a musical shapeshifter, as ‘Marry Me’ embodies orchestral indie-pop, and in 2017 with ‘Masseduction’, she moved on to glam rock, before including 70s psychedelic rock in her 2021 album ‘Daddy’s Home’.

Fans can watch her eclectic performance this Autumn as she traverses across the USA and Europe, telling NME that she’s “gonna f**k ‘em up”. If you’re wondering what to expect, then you can watch the video below of St Vincent performing at her sold out show at the Royal Albert Hall.

The choir and orchestral infusion Raye and her team have put into this celebrated pop album uplifts and intensifies each song’s intended mood, whether that’s with the heart-wrenching yet inspirational ballad “Ice-cream Man”, or with the entrancing dance single, “Black Mascara”. Additional interludes, preludes, overtures and requiems allowed for conductor Tom Richards to showcase his own vision (or sound, mind you) of Raye’s musical prowess, intertwined sonically with original arrangements fans loved from the original album.

Listeners gain an insight into Raye’s infectious stage presence and sense of humour, “Are you f****** joking”, she screams in joy and disbelief at the beginning of the album to 3,442 cheering attendees.

“I will never forget this night – as long as I live,” she announces to the crowd at the end of the album, followed by music of which you imagine her twirling and dancing off stage.

Perhaps her biggest hit off the studio album, “Escapism”, comes as the encore performance on the live version – originally a genre-bending take on a “pop” song, now transformed with the epic cacophony of the haunting, Phantom of the Opera-esque organ, electric guitar and of course, Raye’s unwavering vocals echoed by the powerful harmonies of The Flames Collective.

“The show of my entire career, I can’t handle this… I cannot believe this is my real life after all these years of hustle and monstrous dreams, my city saw me for the artist I truly want to be and continue to strive to be,” she stated in a celebratory Instagram post.

The release of this live album comes after a string of successes for the London-born singer. Not only did “Escapism” chart at no.1 in the UK singles chart at the beginning of the year, or that her current collaboration “Prada” with CaSSo and D-Block Europe is currently at no.2 on the charts, but she was also shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize back in July – an award that goes to the best album recorded by a UK artist.

Last week, Raye appeared on The Late Show starring Jimmy Fallon to perform a medley of “Escapism/Worth It” accompanied by a smaller orchestra to promote the release.

Raye’s popularity is growing by the day on an international scale, currently touring worldwide – taking a short break only to rehearse for the live recording at Royal Albert Hall. Raye is currently touring the U.S but will return for several sold-out shows in the UK this November/December. See below for UK touring dates:

29/11/2023 – Bridlington Spa Centre – Bridlington
30/11 – O2 Academy Glasgow – Glasgow
01/12 – NX – Newcastle Upon Tyne
02/12 – O2 Apollo Manchester – Manchester
05/12 – O2 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham
07/12 – O2 Academy Bristol – Bristol

Listen to My 21st Century Symphony (Live At Royal Albert Hall) here: