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Organisers of Wireless, Festival Republic, say in an official statement: “As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time. Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.”

West, known professionally now as Ye, shared an official statement addressing the controversy just this morning, ahead of the Home Office decision. It was an addition to his January apology titled ‘To Those I’ve Hurt’ which had been published in the Wall Street Journal. In it, he offered explanation to his erratic and contentious behavior in recent years. In Tuesday’s addition to the apology he said he has “been following the conversation around Wireless” and that he wishes to “address it directly.” He appealed to members of the Jewish community in the UK saying he “would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with [them]” and “listen.” He said, “I know words are not enough” and that he will “have to show change through [his] actions.”

The festival was due to take place in July with West headlining all three days. But since then, scrutiny of the festival and this choice erupted among many Jewish rights groups. Namely the groups cited the numerous instances of the rapper sharing harmful antisemitic beliefs. In February 2025 he released a song titled ‘Heil Hitler’ which praised the Nazi leader, he also sold merchandise featuring swastikas and attempted to release his album ‘Bully’ with artwork that included a swastika. His campaign of antisemitism is not recent, in 2022 the rapper shared offensive and dangerous antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media.

Previously, West has been stripped of a visa to enter Australia and would be faced with immediate arrest upon entering Brazil. And now the UK’s Home Office has joined, barring the rapper from entering the country this afternoon (7 April).

Earlier today, Melvin Benn, the Managing Director of Wireless’ organiser, Festival Republic told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Jewish communities had refused to speak to West. But a spokesperson from the Board of Deputies of British Jews told BBC “either the Board of Deputies nor, we understand, the Jewish Leadership Council has refused any request to meet.” And that “when the Board of Deputies received a letter from Melvin Benn on 6 April, proposing to meet, in response to a letter we sent setting out our concerns, we responded positively. In any event we are clear that the invitation to Kanye West to perform should be rescinded.”

Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews released an official statement after the Home Office’s decision to ban West. He says, “We welcome the government listening to the concerns of Jews in the UK” and called the booking of West for the Wireless Festival “deeply regrettable.”

“We are immensely grateful for the support of those across the political spectrum and from other minority and faith communities. It should not be for the Jewish community alone to advocate for our safety; it is incumbent on the entire arts and culture sector, and civil society as… pic.twitter.com/dh8Ffs1zkQ

— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) April 7, 2026

Reaction to West’s ban has also come from Prime Minister Keir Starmer who says, “Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.” He also says the UK government “stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.”

Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.

This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.

We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and…

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 7, 2026

The Community Security Trust has also released an official statement in reaction to West’s ban, calling it “sensible outcome to what has been yet another bruising episode for British Jews.” They added, “Anti-Jewish hatred should have no place in society and cultural leaders have a role to play in ensuring that is the case. People who show genuine and meaningful remorse for previous antisemitic behaviour will always receive a sympathetic hearing from the Jewish community, but that process must come before this kind of public rehabilitation.”

Before West’s ban on entry to the UK, major sponsors Pepsi, PayPal, Diageo and Rockstar Energy had all pulled support from the Wireless festival. Additionally, American actor David Schwimmer shared a statement hitting out against Wireless. He praised PayPal, Diageo and Pepsi as being companies with “moral clarity” (Rockstar had not yet pulled support from the festival). He condemned Wireless and Festival Republic for “platform[ing] an artist who became one of the most recognisable hate-mongering bigots in the world.” He concluded: “An apology letter is just that: Words on paper. An advertisement, generating publicity before a concert tour. It does not erase years of abuse. I believe in forgiveness, but it takes much more than this.”

After the global sensation of her album ‘BRAT‘ in 2024, Charli shifted to a more gothic, dark musical lens with her soundtrack album ‘Wuthering Heights’, created for Emerald Fennell’s 2026 film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel. The album dropped alongside the film on 13 February 2026, which became a major box office success, significantly grossing their original filming budget.

The controversy began when Ferreira replied to a meme about Charli “getting Sky Ferreira in the studio for Wuthering Heights,” writing: “To record my old songs******”. She later responded to claims that the intro to Charli’s ‘Chains of Love’ was lifted from her 2018 demo ‘Ancient Idols’, and that ‘Altars’ was based on a 2015 Ferreira demo. In follow-up comments, Ferreira said the fan’s “industry insider” was “wrong,” but added, “I’m not going to get into it but it was definitely more than an intro. I have proof of everything with dates”.

Charli’s team denied the suggestion that she copied Ferreira’s material and said Charli “always shares credits fairly and appropriately, and values her collaborators tremendously”. In a statement cited by Billboard, the team said a “standard review process” was carried out before the Wuthering Heights release, involving managers, legal representatives, artists and producers, along with a review of archival materials and demo recordings. They also said all relevant parties were consulted, songwriting credits and splits were agreed collectively in writing, and all credits were formally approved before release.

In a statement to Billboard, Charli’s team said: “Charli has made seven albums, four mixtapes and one EP, and has written countless songs for other artists throughout her career. She began as a songwriter with ‘I Love It,’ and her work has been recorded by and pitched to multiple artists. She has her own personal history with publishing and production negotiations and because of this, she always shares credits fairly and appropriately, and values her collaborators tremendously.“

Ferreira is already credited on ‘Wuthering Heights’ as a featured artist, co-writer and vocal producer on ‘Eyes of the World’, one of the tracks on the album Charli released in February alongside Emerald Fennell’s film of the same name. The two artists have worked together before, including on Charli’s 2019 single ‘Cross You Out’. Charli has also publicly supported Ferreira in the past, which makes the dispute especially notable within their shared history.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/charli-xcxs-team-responds-to-sky-ferreira-acussing-her-of-recording-part-of-her-old-songs/feed/ 0 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/former-turnstile-guitarist-reportedly-held-on-attempted-murder-charge/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/former-turnstile-guitarist-reportedly-held-on-attempted-murder-charge/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:37:43 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=118497 Brady Ebert, founding guitarist of Baltimore rock group Turnstile has allegedly been arrested on charges of attempted second degree murder and first degree assault, according to Lambgoat.

Turnstile formed as a hardcore punk band in Baltimore, Maryland in 2010, originally releasing heavy, energetic music to mosh to – but it all changed with 2021 album ‘Glow On’, which eschewed hardcore conventions and instead dove into dreamy pop, shoegaze and rock and roll. While Ebert’s chugging riffs were always a big part of their sound, his melodic leads and solos on ‘Glow On’ became a defining feature that set them apart from the pack.

He parted ways with the band in 2022, following a live absence that saw session guitarist Greg Cerwonka fill his vacancy for dates including their manic set on Glastonbury’s (then-named) John Peel Stage. After his exit, rhythm guitarist Pat McCrory took the reins, and the group went on to release three-time Grammy-winning ‘Never Enough’ in 2025, which was lighter on guitar solos but far denser in its melodic elements and commercialised sheen.

Since his departure, Ebert formed new band The S.E.T., (The Self-Evident Truth), in 2025. The band released one single ‘T.M.T.’, marking a strong return to a hardcore template, with their debut EP ‘Self Evident Truth’ on the way for early March. However, Ebert was then also forced out of The S.E.T. in February of this year. This was allegedly down to a string of attacks he aimed at Turnstile, accusing them of mishandling the takings from a financial benefit gig.

He has repeatedly harassed his old band over various issues in recent times, including accusing the members of being disingenuous over their stance against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) during their controversial activity in US cities. In a deleted post on Instagram, he claimed “No one in Turnstile cares at all about ethics or social issues in general, they’re just pandering to their audience.” Ebert further alleges Turnstile drummer Daniel Fang took out a restraining order against him following his exit from the group.

Music news site Lambgoat were the first to report that an arrest warrant was filed on Tuesday the 31st of March in Montgomery County for Brady O’Brien Ebert. ThePRP also published the Montgomery County arrest warrants database, where you can see one Brady O’Brien Ebert of Silver Springs, Maryland, and his charge of attempted second degree murder. A further charge of first degree assault is also being pressed over the incident which allegedly occurred on Sunday the 29th of March. According to Lambgoat, the arrest warrant was issued on Monday the 30th, with Ebert being held without bond since his arrest.

Ebert, aged 33, made his initial court appearance yesterday, Wednesday the 1st of April, with a further hearing due to take place today to discuss the terms of any bail or bond conditions.

The band came about in Quebec in 2019, with the two members made immediately distinctive by way of strange stage names, and their donning of unusual black and white costumes and Papier-mâché headpieces. The pair consist of singer and guitarist Khn de Poitrine and drummer and vocalist Klek de Poitrine. Their fuzzy, chaotic experimental rock is defined by Khn’s use of a double-necked microtonal electric guitar and bass, which expands the range of musical notes beyond a typical instrument. This lends the riffs a sound unheard of in most western music, which can appear almost accidental on the first listen. When coupled with Klek’s erratic jazz drum beats, and the duo’s indecipherable alien vocals, the music is utterly out of this world.

After releasing debut album ‘Vol. 1’ in 2024, the band became a viral sensation earlier this year. Their live performance for radio station KEXP in February captured attention in all the desired ways, with viewers enraptured by the four meandering tracks and the unique attires. The set has been viewed nearly 6.5 million times on Youtube, with Angine de Poitrine fast-becoming one of the year’s biggest pop-culture phenomenons and their image already considered iconic.

Second album ‘Vol. II’ was announced on the 18th of March, promising to expand the sound of their first release to wilder, weirder heights. Three of the tracks, ‘Sarniezz’, ‘Mata Zyklek’ and most-recent single ‘Fabienk’ can be heard in the KEXP performance, but the album includes three more items – ‘Utzp’, ‘Yor Zarad’ and ‘Angor’. Due to the extended run-time of their progressive-styled jams, the full six tracks clock in at over 35 minutes of music.

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With plans already in place for a sold-out visit to the UK this May, before touring France, Belgium, and Canada, they announced their first headline tour of the US earlier in March. Yesterday they revealed a further leg of European dates, including a second run of the UK, only this time at much larger venues and festivals. It begins at End of the Road Festival in Dorset this September, before ending with a huge finale at the beautiful venue Troxy in London in October. The full list of UK dates for 2026 is here:

MAY
• 10 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (SOLD OUT)
• 11 – Electric Ballroom, London (SOLD OUT)
• 12 – Strange Brew, Bristol (SOLD OUT)
• 14 – The Great Escape, Brighton

SEPTEMBER
• 4 – End of the Road, Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset
• 5 – Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester
• 6 – Edinburgh Psych Fest, Edinburgh

OCTOBER
• 13 – Prospect Building, Bristol
• 14 – SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
• 16 – Opium, Dublin
• 18 – Project House, Leeds
• 19 – Troxy, London

Angine de Poitrine release ‘Vol. II’ this Friday, the 3rd of April, through label Les Cassettes Magiques. Physical versions will be available on their web store, and you can click here for digital pre-orders and pre-saving options.

From February 12 to 27 this year, a series of special gigs took place in some of the best music venues across the UK. Buildhollywood contributed outdoor advertising and DHL returned as a War Child’s partner for the event.

Headliners included huge names such as Olivia Dean, Fatboy Slim, Robbie Williams, kwn and Jacob Alon. See more details about the line up in the post below.

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Head of live music at War Child UK, Clare Sanders-Wright, called the £1.16 million raised “phenomenal” and that “by all measures, this year was our biggest yet since the inception of BRITs Week.” She said the money would go toward “[supporting] thousands of children impacted by the travesties of war across the globe.” She went on to say, “this year wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible artists and their teams that have been so generous, as well as the teams at BPI, AEG, DHL, and of course my incredible colleagues at War Child.” Finally she thanked “the amazing music fans who came to the shows, bought merch, donated, and entered our prize draws” saying, “we couldn’t do this without you!”

The BRITs left London for the first time this year, taking the UK’s biggest night in music to the Capital of the North. And likewise, BRITs Week for War Child expanded to Nottingham, Brighton, London, Edinburgh and the ceremony’s host city, Manchester. This gave fans across the country unique opportunities to see their favorite artists at intimate, one-off gigs ahead of the award ceremony on 28 February.

Maggie Crowe OBE, BPI director of events & charities said on the local impact of the event: “With the BRIT Awards and four of the BRITs Week shows being held in Manchester, the city and surrounding regions came alive. The artists and their teams who donate their time and commitment to support is testament to the power of music.” She also highlighted key players in the concert series’ success saying, “BRITs Week 26 smashed all fundraising records under the amazing leadership of War Child’s Clare Sanders-Wright. Elliott Santon of DHL along with his team and the War Child and AEG Presents posse, delivered this year’s series of gigs with the world looking on.”

War Child’s official site explained the urgency of the need for support from events like these: “Right now, it’s the deadliest time in history to be a child. 1 in 5 children globally (over 520 million) are currently affected by war. But there is hope. With support from music fans, War Child can help children put the pieces back together. By joining the charity for the intimate, one-off performances of some of their favourite artists, fans will be directly contributing to help War Child rebuild children’s lives.”

Listen to Amazon Music’s BRIT Awards 2026 official playlist, including some of the artists who contributed to War Child’s efforts:

Wireless is predominantly a festival celebrating rap and hiphop music, taking place in London’s Hyde Park. Following supposed leaks and rampant speculation, rumours at the start of the month that Ye would be booked for Wireless were confirmed yesterday by the organisers. Following last year’s format that saw Drake perform at the end of every night, the festival’s only confirmed act so far is Ye across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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West’s last headline show at Wireless was in 2014 following Drake’s withdrawal from the bill, but it received negative press for being a poor choice of replacement and for West’s mid-set rant about his treatment by the media. This was followed by a Glastonbury headliner in 2015, currently his last festival show on British soil, that saw a 130,000 strong petition attempt to remove him from the bill due to his egotistical preaching.

Ye’s hate campaign against Jewish people began in 2022, when he first started sharing offensive opinions and antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media. He was suspended by both Instagram and Twitter (now X), as well as losing significant business partnerships with companies like Adidas. More recently, he openly referred to himself as “a Nazi”, in addition to penning the single ‘Heil Hitler’ in 2025 and attempting to release 2026 album ‘Bully’ with a swastika as its artwork. This January, West made an attempt to apologise by purchasing a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, in which he blamed his bipolar disorder, and reiterated that he loved Jewish people, though this did nothing to dissuade public opinion.

Since the Wireless Festival announcement yesterday, several Jewish rights bodies and activist groups have come out in force against both the festival and West. The Guardian published a statement from the Jewish Leadership Council, a charity protecting Jewish interests in the UK, which reads “It is deeply irresponsible for Wireless festival to be headlining Kanye West. The UK Jewish community is facing record levels of antisemitism, including a terrorist attack in Manchester, the attack on ambulances in Golders Green and foiled plots which would have killed many more. West has repeatedly used his platform to spread antisemitism and pro-Nazi messaging. His most recent apology must be considered in the context that he went on to sell swastika T-shirts and release a song called Heil Hitler after apologising previously. Any venue or festival should reconsider before providing their platform to Kanye West to spread his antisemitism.”

Kanye West is set to headline all three nights of Wireless festival this year, here in the UK.

It would mark his return to the UK music scene after an eleven-year hiatus, since headlining at Glastonbury in 2015. Since then, he has dedicated years of his life to trying to incite… pic.twitter.com/4bHOQGkMgP
— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) March 31, 2026

Charity organisation Campaign Against Antisemitism also issued the above message on social media site X, saying “It is disappointing that venues have been so quick to invite someone who was so recently peddling conspiracy theories, Hitler worship and bigoted lies – including now one of the UK’s biggest festival stages. His cycle of apology and relapse has become a routine, and we must wait to see if this time is any different. What is notable is that the latest apology came on the eve of the release of a new album.”

Indeed, despite multiple setbacks, West released ‘Bully’ on the 28th of March, which appears to have shed his hateful messages in favour of concentrating on the music. Wireless have claimed Ye’s “UK comeback will be an extraordinary chapter in Wireless’s story”, which will be told in London’s Finsbury Park from Friday the 10th to Sunday the 12th of July

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This is not the first time Katy B and Jessie Ware have shared the stage. The two British singers united at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May 2013 to perform a collaboration from an EP which Katy B released in December 2012. Nowadays, Ware is currently doing promotions for her sixth album ‘Superbloom’ due to be released in April, whilst Katy B has not released any music since the single ‘Paradise’ in March 2023. Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Billy Bragg also took to the stage. Bragg who is renowned for his politically charged lyricism took to Instagram earlier in the week to encourage fans of his to join him in supporting the cause. He inspired all attending to march together “to show our neighbours that we’ve got their backs” and urged fans to join him to “make unity visible”. This eclectic range of performers was a  reflection of London and the UK as a whole – a multicultural, diverse and all-compassing collection of communities.

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The march began in Park Lane where it then followed a route which finally made its way to Trafalgalar Square. Aside from speeches and performances, crowd chants of “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here” helped to underpin one of the central themes which inspired the march. It is estimated that over a hundred charities as well as nearly fifty civil society organisations showed their support. Other celebrities who are also known to be proudly supporting the cause include Sir Lenny Henry, Paloma Faith, The Fontaines, James Acaster and Steve Coogan. Elsewhere, Green Party leader Zach Polanski and Labour MP Diane Abbott seemed to come together on a shared issue to galvanise the crowd to continue fighting for inclusion and community. In a speech to the crowd, Polanski declared “We will defeat hate. It’s time to make hope normal again.”

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Now made up of Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Ronnie Vannuci Jr and Mark Stoeremer, the Killers were formed in Las Vegas in 2001. Considered one of the biggest rock bands of the 21st century, the Killers have been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, seven Brit Awards and a staggering twenty-four NME Awards. Their popularity extends greatly to the UK where each of their seven albums have reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. Their performance at the Champions League Final could contribute greatly to a night to remember for British fans as the final could still be made up of two English teams with Liverpool and Arsenal remaining in the competition. They head into the quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain and Sporting Lisbon respectively in April.

Musical performances at the Champions League final are a relatively new development for the competition which was originally founded in 1955. However after drawing from inspiration from the infamous NFL Superbowl Halftime shows, the first performance at the Champions League Final was by Dua Lipa in 2018. There was a brief gap between performances before Camila Cabello performed in 2022, followed by Lenny Kravitz in 2024 and Linkin Park in 2025.

American influences on European and English football has increased tenfold perhaps owing to actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny’s well documented journey as they bought then, national league team Wrexham. Following huge investment and media interest, Wrexham have now reached the Championship and are on course to play in the Premier League sooner rather than later. Furthermore, football based sitcom ‘Ted Lasso’ which follows an American coach in the UK has received mass critical acclaim and the US President Donald Trump was a guest of honour at the recent Club World Cup competition which was won by English club Chelsea.

The band are currently on a run of shows in South America with tickets available now before they head to Budapest for the final.

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Fans can also expect the release of the eight studio album following confirmation from lead vocalist Flowers who told the Sun; “My best guess is that in 2027 you will get the best Killers record”.

The Ivor Novello Awards recognise excellence in British and Irish songwriting and composition for the screen. The award body remarks on their official site “winning an Ivor Novello is the highest global recognition for songwriting and composing.” This year, the ceremony is in partnership with Amazon Music and is set to take place on 21 May at London’s Grosvenor House.

61 nominees were named Tuesday (24 March) across seven different categories. And of those, 34 nominees are first time recipients. This includes Dean, Alon and Self Esteem co-writer Johan Hugo.

Veteran nominees include two-time winner Little Simz, who has gotten her fifth ever Ivor nod for her single ‘Free’ in Best Contemporary Song. Damon Albarn also received his fifth nomination for the Gorillaz’s ‘Damascus’ which features Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bay.

Lola Young has picked up her fourth ever nomination at the Ivors for her song, ‘Messy’ which is up for PRS for Music Most Performed Work. Welch joins Young in receiving her fourth Ivor Novello nomination, this year’s comes for her song, ‘Everybody Scream,’ for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. The song is co-written by Mistki and Mark Bowen.

Lily Allen’s ‘West End Girl’ is nominated for Best Album which marks the singer’s third Ivor nomination. And Coldplay also gets their third nod for their single ‘Viva La Vida’ for the PRS for Most Performed Work.  This category is said to celebrate “songs that received the most broadcast, online and general performances in the last year, based on PRS data.”

CMAT’s ‘Euro-Country’ has been nominated for Best Album, which is the Irish singer’s second nomination. The Ivors describe the Best Album category as celebrating “exceptional songwriting craft, creativity and cohesion across the record as a whole.” Other contenders for the award include Dean’s ‘The Art of Loving,’ Jim Legacy’s ‘Black British Music’ and Wolf Alice’s ‘The Clearing.’ Dean commented on the Instagram post below announcing her Best Album nomination with four heart emojis, and reposted the announcement to her Instagram Stories. Dean’s second nomination this year comes for her song, ‘Man I Need’ in the Most Performed Work category.

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Meanwhile, Tempest is set to compete against himself in for Best Contemporary Song with both ‘I Stand on the Line’ (co-written by Fraser T Smith) and ‘Know Yourself’ (co-written by Smith and Tom Rowlands) nominated for the award.   The Rising Star Award with Amazon Music is another exciting category at the Ivors. 2026 nominees include kwn, Jacob Alon, Chloe Qisha and Skye Newman. The award recognizes songwriters from the UK and Irelands who the Ivor Academy believes are “at the tipping point of greatness.” Last year’s nominees include, PinkPantheress, Holly Humberstone, Rachel Chinouriri and Lola Young, who won the award in 2025.   The Ivor Novello Awards are peer-judged by fellow songwriters and composers. They remain the most prestigious and enduring award to celebrate craft and cultural achievement. And at a time tense with generative AI edging into the creative industries, the Ivors Academy says “when questions around authorship and AI are reshaping the music landscape, The Ivors stand as a powerful affirmation of human creativity and the cultural value of songwriters.”   While fans wait for the awards ceremony on 21 May, Amazon Music has curated an “Ivors 2026″ playlist, including many nominees and spanning a wide variety of genres, here. See the full list of nominees in the post below

 

 

 

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The MOBO Awards are Europe’s largest and most significant celebration of Black music and culture. And the MOBO Fringe events are designed to uplift and connect new talent with industry professionals. Events are held in the ceremony’s host city and span many different genres and disciplines. Today, 24 March, ten Manchester-based artists will perform at The Social, Aviva Studios. These performances serve as part of the MOBO x PPL Manchester Talent Development Programme which supports new talent through mentorships, performance opportunities and industry knowledge.

Also taking place today is the MOBO Summit in association with Amazon Music. The official website describes the summit as “[bringing] together artists, executives and emerging creatives for a day of panels, workshops and networking focused on the future of music, culture and creative careers.” Panels for the day include the MOBO30 Legacy Spotlight celebrating 30 years of MOBO’s cultural impact, Getting Seen and Heard a panel with voices from Amazon Music, Mixtape Madness and I Luv Live, and Independently Done a panel led by artists who have made careers outside of major labels. There will also be a specific Manchester focus to the event, with cultural discussions featuring Red Bull, the playmaker group and BBC Music Introducing, which will center on how cities like Manchester are leaders in fostering new opportunities in the UK industry.

MOBO Group Founder, Kanya King, said when the location for 2026’s events was announced, “For 30 years, MOBO has been more than an awards show – it has been a movement, shaping culture, championing creativity, and opening doors for generations of talent.” She went on to say that the MOBO Awards celebrating 30 years is “a reminder that when you celebrate culture, you don’t just preserve history – you shape the future. Three decades on, the MOBO Awards remain a powerful reminder of how music can inspire, unite, and transform lives.” Finally she added, “Manchester has always been a city of music and movement, and now, together with MOBO, we will write the next chapter of cultural history.”

The star-studded award ceremony will take place on Thursday 26 March. Hip-hop icon Eve and comedian Eddie Kadi are set to host this year. It will be the latter’s second year in a row hosting the event. Leading the nominees for the evening are Olivia Dean, Little Simz, kwn and Jim Legxacy with four nominations each. Dean and Little Simz are both up for Album of the Year and Best Female Act. While recent recipient of the BRIT Award for Best Producer, PinkPantheress as well as FLO, Central Cee and Skepta are all up for three awards each.

The 2026 MOBO Awards will be streamed live on Amazon Music’s Twitch, a link to that can be found here.