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The trio of vocalist Jack Voss, guitarist Mason Clifford and bassist Todd Groome have been on the grind since 2019, working day jobs while touring relentlessly and uploading rebellious alternative rock singles. After a strong run of singles and EPs, Mouth Culture broke into the British festival circuit with appearances at Download, Reading & Leeds, 2000Trees and Slam Dunk in recent years.

Back in September, they released the song ‘Growing Pains’, a sombre Brit-pop jam that wouldn’t be out of place in Oasis or Stereophonics’ back catalogue. With lyrics about rainy days, traffic jams and tea, it’s a quintessentially English experience with a modern indie rock twist from Voss’s vocals.

Fast-forward to today, and Mouth Culture have finally announced their debut album including ‘Growing Pains’ and brand new single ‘Fool’. Their latest track is an angsty hard-rock anthem, led by heavy riffs building into a huge anthemic chorus. In terms of inspiration, Jack Voss says ‘Fool’ is about “the kind of attraction that makes you completely lose your head. It’s that push and pull of wanting someone so badly, even when you know they’re probably not good for you. There’s a real sense of back and forth throughout the song, where someone can make you feel like the best version of yourself one minute, then completely knock you down the next. I think there’s something quite universal about knowingly putting yourself in that position, convincing yourself it’ll be different this time, even when you know exactly how it’s going to end. Sometimes you just can’t help being a fool for someone.”

Their maiden studio album, ‘The Wire’ will release on April 2 2027 through independent UK label Killabop, co-produced by former You Me At Six guitarist Max Helyer and the band’s long-term friend Jamie Ward. It is also reported by Killabop to feature comedian and Celebrity Traitors star Romesh Ranganathan on unreleased track ‘Dying To Stay’. The full listing for ‘The Wire’ looks like this:

1. Growing Pains
2. Outta Here!
3. Fool
4. Dying To Stay
5. I Don’t Care
6. Spiralling
7. Lucky Number (925)
8. Dive
9. Brisbane
10. Never Been Closer

The social media announcement for The Wire includes a message saying “it’s been a hell of a journey so far – thanks to each and every person that has been part of the ride to get to this milestone. hope you love it as much as we do. the wires just getting started ragers.”

Ahead of the April launch for ‘The Wire’, Mouth Culture are set to support Oxford rockers South Arcade on all dates of their Welcome To The Real World Tour in February. The tour kicks off in Belfast with shows in Dublin, Manchester, Birmingham, London and more – check out the dates below:

FEBRUARY 2027:

7 – Limelight, Belfast
8 – 3Olympia, Dublin
10 – O2 Academy, Leeds
12 – Academy 1, Manchester
13 – NX, Newcastle
14 – Barrowlands, Glasgow
16 – O2 Academy, Birmingham
18 – Rock City, Nottingham
19 – UEA, Norwich
21 – Great Hall, Cardiff
22 – O2 Academy, Bristol
25 – O2 Academy Brixton, London

Mouth Culture’s debut album ‘The Wire’ releases through Killabop Records on April 2 2027, with singles ‘Fool’ and ‘Growing Pains’ out now. You can pre-order the album now on their official site, which also has a fun little wire-walking game to play while you browse.

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As the BBC’s flagship music-first station, Radio 6 Music operates without pigeon-holing itself into only the biggest chart singles or nostalgic classics like its BBC sister platforms. In its eclectic 2025 Artist of the Year list, it identified acts who had a huge influence on the year, many of whom have continued to have a big impact into 2026 like Turnstile, CMAT, Geese and Pulp. The previous list also shone light on underappreciated and emerging acts, including British singer-songwriters Blood Orange and Jasmine.4.t.

This year’s list was unveiled by 6 Music DJ Nick Grimshaw on his breakfast show this morning. Standout names include international synthpop superstar Charli xcx; Irish indie rockers on a meteoric rise, Fontaines D.C.; and The Cure, with frontman Robert Smith continuing to have a big presence 50 years since the band’s formation. The complete list looks like this:

• beabadoobee
• Charli xcx
• corto.alto
• Erykah Badu
• Fontaines D.C.
• Madra Salach
• Mandy, Indiana
• Phoebe Bridgers
• Robyn
• Show Me The Body
• Shygirl
• The Cure

Charli xcx’s place needs no explanation – this year saw her set a UK Album’s Chart record as the first female artist to have two UK Number One Albums in the same year. Her soundtrack for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation hit the top spot in February, before her eighth studio album ‘Music, Fashion Film’ did the same in August.

The Cure are enjoying a significant renaissance, with a string of outdoor shows and festival appearances including headlining this year’s Isle of Wight festival. Their founding lead singer Robert Smith has also curated a programme of popular concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in support of Teenage Cancer Trust, as well as appearing on US popstar Olivia Rodrigo’s single ‘What’s Wrong with Me’.

Swedish pop singer Robyn returned with her first album in 8 years with ‘Sexistential’, which scored her first ever UK Top 10 Album. American star Phoebe Bridgers also romped back into the spotlight with ‘Lost Weekend’, her first LP in 6 years and first UK Number One. The last long-awaited return was that of genre-crossing singer Erykah Badu, whose collaboration with the Alchemist, ‘Before the World Blows’, was her first full album since 2010.

Filipino-British singer-songwriter Beabadoobee cemented her spot at the top of the alternative scene with her second consecutive UK Number One Album ‘Pylons’ this year, and is currently conquering the world with her Powerlines Tour which starts its UK leg later in November. After headlining this August’s Reading & Leeds Festival, Dublin indie rock giants Fontaines D.C. built on the wild success from 2024’s ‘Romance’ and also landed their second UK Number One Album with ‘Dopamine Chamber’.

Also on the list are Scottish experimental jazz group corto.alto, project of multi-instrumentalist maverick Liam Shortall, who the Official Chart Company report have played over 200 shows around the world in the last 3 years. Irish folk act Madra Salach are part of the growing movement of traditional folk revival, while Manchester and Berlin-based Mandy, Indiana are making serious waves with their second noise rock album ‘URGH’. The list is rounded out by NYC hardcore trio Show Me the Body, whose 2026 release ‘Alone Together’ is packed with the sounds of many of New York’s renowned music scenes; and London DJ and singer-songwriter Shygirl, whose eagerly-anticipated second album ‘Swallow!’ releases this Friday, November 6.

Radio 6 Music have made posts recognising each act on their official Instagram account, with several of them including messages of thanks from the artists. Robert Smith writes “This is Robert from The Cure. Very excited that we have made the 6 Music Artist of the Year shortlist. Excellent! Thank you! I am adding it to my personal musical highlights list of 2026 so far…”, while Robyn says “I feel so flattered to be one of 6 Music’s Artists of the Year. To be considered for having in some way defined 2026 with my album Sexistential is so special and I’m really excited you feel that way.”

BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds will be continuing to champion the winners throughout this week, with special shows featuring highlights of the year, interviews with fans and peers of the artists, and more. Part 1 is available here, covering Beabadoobee, Charli xcx, The Cure, corto.alto, Erykah Badu and Fontaines D.C.

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Twain is the best-selling female country artist of all time, and one of the top singers for overall record sales, having shifted over 100 million units in a career spanning five decades. She is best known in the UK for singles like ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman’, ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ and ‘You’re Still The One’, all tracks on the best-selling country album of all time, 1997’s ‘Come On Over’.

After a hugely popular Sunday Legend slot at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival, Twain was hand-picked by British pop superstar Harry Styles to open all 12 nights of his 2026 Together, Together  tour at London’s Wembley Stadium. The residency ran through June and July, and set a Guinness World Record for the longest residency at Wembley. Also in July, Shania Twain released her seventh LP ‘Little Miss Twain’, a deeply nostalgic return to her country music roots.

The new deluxe edition ‘Little Miss Twain: The Places I’ll Go’ released on October 9, adding six bonus tracks which Twain describes as “six more stories that paint the full picture leading up-to me signing my recording contract in Nashville.” Now with 21 more tracks to play live, she has announced a 2027 summer tour of the UK and Ireland, bringing the sunny country sounds to an assortment of beautiful outdoor venues including palaces and castles.

The Places I’ll Go Tour kicks off on June 16 at Scarborough Open Air Theatre. From there, Twain plays Glasgow Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park and Chelmsford State Fayre, which Ticketmaster names “the UK’s largest music and BBQ festival”. Next up is Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields, and a trip down to Exeter for Live at Powderham Castle’s summer programme, before travelling to Dublin’s Marlay Park and Belfast’s Belsonic Festival. The tour wraps with a date at Blenheim Palace Festival in Oxfordshire. Check below for full dates:

JUNE 2027

16 – Scarborough, Open Air Theatre
17 – Glasgow Summer Sessions, Bellahouston Park
19 – Chelmsford, State Fayre
22 – Cardiff, Blackweir Fields
24 – Exeter, Live at Powderham
26 – Dublin, Marlay Park
27 – Belfast, Belsonic
29 – Oxfordshire, Blenheim Palace Festival

In an Instagram post announcing the tour, Twain wrote “The Places I’ll Go Tour is coming to the UK & Ireland next June! Help me build the songbook? I want to play your favourite songs from any time in my musical journey. It’s big anniversaries for Up! And Come On Over next year too, there are a lot of memories to squeeze into one show. I would like to play some golden oldies and some new things too…” ‘Come On Over’ will be turning 30 next year, while 2002’s ‘Up!’ celebrates 25 years. Fans can expect all the hits, plus new cuts from ‘The Places I’ll Go’.

Catch Shania Twain on The Places I’ll Go Tour in June 2027 – pre-sales begin at 9am on Wednesday November 4, accessed with a purchase of ‘Little Miss Twain’, ahead of general sale at 9am on Friday November 6.

The South Yorkshire five-piece are the hottest band in the latest wave of Northern metalcore and hardcore groups, and they continue to rise up the ranks as one of the most exciting British exports. They released new single ‘Silhouette’ on their own label MLVLTD Music back in February, which showed a sensitive depth to their otherwise brash, groovy metallic onslaught, before a summer of festivals and shows around the world. They played this year’s Slam Dunk Festival in Leeds and Hatfield, as well as European tours with Kublai Khan and Thrown, before supporting Killswitch Engage and Machine Head around Canada.

Malevolence teased the new tour out with a social media post on the weekend – the image simply read “UNITED KINGDOM OF CHAOS ‘27” with a caption saying “EARLY ACCESS AT MLVLTD DOT COM”. The tour was announced this morning, Tuesday October 27, with frequent touring partners Guilt Trip and up-and-coming scene supergroup Bodyweb opening the shows.

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The United Kingdom of Chaos run visits 14 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, with many of the regions in England like the South West and East Anglia often overlooked by big tours. A statement by the band says “This tour is an intentional celebration of the beautiful heavy music scene that we have right here, right now on our little island and the amazing artists that it has cultivated. A proper UK run with a full UK line up in support, and a bonus show for our brothers and sisters in Ireland and Northern Ireland.” It continues “There are so many incredible places to play that are often forgotten in favour of the big hotspots like Manchester & London. We are seizing the opportunity to delve a little deeper and give these cities the attention they deserve.”

The tour kicks off next February at Southampton’s Engine Rooms, and visits hidden gems like Arena in Torquay, Epic Studios in Norwich, and Newcastle’s NX. After dates in Dublin, Belfast and Edinburgh, the tour ends with a hometown show at Sheffield’s O2 Academy. Check below for all of the dates and venues:

FEBRUARY 2027

4 – Engine Rooms, Southampton
5 – Content, Liverpool
6 – Arena, Torquay
7 – Tramshed, Cardiff
9 – Chalk, Brighton
10 – Epic Studios, Norwich
11 – Asylum, Hull
12 – Rock City, Nottingham
14 – NX, Newcastle
16 – Academy, Dublin
17 – Limelight, Belfast
19 – Liquid Room, Edinburgh
20 – O2 Academy, Sheffield

Registration for early access is available now at the MLVLTD website, ahead of the pre-sale at 10am tomorrow, Wednesday October 28. General sale begins at 10am on Friday October 30. With Malevolence’s rapidly-rising profile, this may be the last chance you’ll get to see them in such intimate venues!

Formed in 1970, Kraftwerk laid the foundations for electronic music as we know it, and have continued to inspire synth-pop acts, DJs and producers for the last 56 years. They have been recognised by the Grammys with a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as Hall of Fame status for their 1974 work ‘Autobahn’, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Kraftwerk played in the UK in May and June of this year for the 2026 stage of their Multimedia Tour, performing three shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall as well as dates including Glasgow, Bristol and Edinburgh. Their 2026 touring schedule wound down with big shows in Germany and Austria in August and September respectively.

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So far their newly announced UK outdoor gigs are their only known bookings for 2027. The first is on June 22 in Halifax as part of the Live at The Piece Hall programme of events, and the second is at Cardiff Castle on June 23 as a date in their DEPOT Live series. Both venues have a long summer of bookings, with both of them sharing performances by guitarist Slash backed by Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Bananarama, plus Jack Savoretti and James Morrison.

While the news of the shows is big on its own, the bigger story is the timing, which many think is more than serendipitous. After a 2026 fallow year, Glastonbury 2027 is set to run at Worthy Farm from June 23 to 27, meaning Kraftwerk will be in the UK when the festival is running. As of now, no line-up news has been revealed for Glastonbury, with none likely to be made public until March or April next year, but that hasn’t stopped fans from generating rumours for acts who are touring the UK in late June. So far, the bookies’ favourites for headliners include Sam Fender, whose recently-announced Proper Massive Stadium Tour takes a break between June 20 and July 1; and Harry Styles, whose 2027 Together Together international roadtrip takes a break after the North American leg on June 5 until the first German date on July 2.

Tickets for both of Kraftwerk’s 2027 UK shows are available now – check here for Halifax’s Piece Hall on June 22, and here for Cardiff Castle on June 23.

The group went on hiatus in 2023 after finishing their last touring cycle for their fourth album ‘Screen Violence’. Despite the members generating suspense for work on a fifth album, their return in 2026 was subtle – two cover songs for Hulu series Tell Me Lies, and an appearance in the Teenage Cancer Trust’s series of shows at the Royal Albert Hall in March. They were selected for the Royal Albert Hall events by curator Robert Smith of The Cure, who appeared on Chvrches 2021 single ‘How Not to Drown’. During this show, they debuted a new single, ‘Conman’, which has yet to be released.

In February, they told NME that the album was “90 per cent finished”, and the material was “sure to surprise people”. Fast-forward to September, and the first single from the then-unnamed LP was revealed to be ‘Roses’. The track is stripped-back, with loud, echoing drums dominating the mix on top of dark, pulsating bass and synth lines, all supporting singer Lauren Mayberry’s voice. The playful nursery-rhyme styled chorus cannot disguise the ominous themes behind the lyrics, which seem to take cynical aim at the UK’s current social climate.

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Chvrches took to social media yesterday, October 21, to break the news of ‘All The King’s Men’, their fifth studio album due to release on January 22 next year. According to NME, the 11 tracks were written over several three-week intensive sessions in Glasgow, with the trio imbuing the music with themes of Scottish and British culture, diving deep into the UK’s history. The full track listing is available, including ‘Roses’ and ‘Conman’ – check it out here:

1. Roses
2. Evil
3. Adore You
4. Overthinker
5. Royal Blue
6. Comedown Tomorrow
7. Friend Of A Friend
8. Three Out Of Five
9. Conman
10. Jamie’s Prayer
11. Faith In Flying

In the same post, they announced a set of live dates for the US, Canada, Ireland and the UK for early 2027. While they are already set to play intimate charity shows next week in their hometown of Glasgow and London, plus a further one in Las Vegas in November, the 2027 dates will be the first full debut for new songs from ‘All The King’s Men’ following its release. The tour starts in Philadelphia in February before the North American run closes in March. Then the next stage starts with three shows in Scotland and one night in Dublin in April, and five dates in England next May. Find Chvrches full list of 2027 dates for Ireland and the UK below:

APRIL
23 – Glasgow, O2 Academy
26 – Aberdeen, Music Hall
27 – Dundee, LiveHouse
29 – Dublin, 3Olympia

MAY
1 – Manchester, Victoria Warehouse
2 – Birmingham, O2 Academy 1
4 – Bristol, O2 Academy 1
5 – Norwich, The LCR UEA
6 – London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

‘All The King’s Men’ arrives January 22 2027 via Futures Music Group. Tickets for the UK and Ireland 2027 tour go on sale at 10am on Friday October 30, with an artist pre-sale available through pre-orders starting at 10am on Tuesday October 27.

After its first edition in Camden, London in 2012, the Desertfest brand has expanded into an international enterprise, with previous events in Germany, Belgium, the US, Greece and Norway. The 2026 event this May saw famous Camden venues like the Roundhouse, the Underworld and the Electric Ballroom host an eclectic mix of alternative acts like Green Lung, Clutch and The Sword.

Back in 2027 for its 15th edition, Desertfest London’s initial announcement had a massive first headliner in Melvins. Known for frontman Buzz Osbourne’s iconic look and their utter lack of respect for genre boundaries, Melvins have inspired countless rock, metal and punk movements since 1983. When they were announced in September, Desertfest’s promoters wrote “We are over the moon to finally have the Melvins headline Desertfest – a band that needs no introduction to followers of the heavy. As true pioneers in heavy music their status as one of modern music’s most influential bands is undeniable, and their live shows are truly unparalleled. Often imitated, never duplicated, we here at Desertfest London are honoured to have the Melvins take their rightful place as headliner next May 2027. It’s been a long time coming!”

Alongside them is a UK exclusive show for Swedish doom metal outfit Monolord, and a hotly-anticipated set by German sludge duo Mantar. There will also be two 20th anniversary parties: US crossover act Inter Arma look back on their 2006 formation, while Oxford progressive metal heavyweights Desert Storm celebrate their emergence in 2007.

The updated poster for Desertfest 2027

The new wave of acts announced this week kicks off with Oregon doom metal three-piece YOB, who last played Desertfest in 2022 at the Roundhouse. Desertfest’s promoters describe them as “modern day living legends and masters in megalithic music.” They’ll be bringing a set of heavy, dense and atmospheric tracks to London in 2027.

Next up is sludge metal legends Kylesa from Savannah, Georgia, who bounced back from a 10-year hiatus in 2024 and are back playing live shows as of 2025. The group are well-known for their brand of groovy, riff-laden metal packed with psychedelic vibes. They will be making their Desertfest debut next year, sure to make the festival one for the history books.

Another debutant is Richmond, Virginia stoner metal collective Windhand, who Desertfest promise will “will dose us into a deep hypnosis with the heaviest of eerie psychedelia.” A huge story for the festival will be the return of London duo Lowen, who fuse metal with Middle Eastern elements and themes. After sets at Download Festival and ArcTanGent in 2025, the pair are working on their third album.

Here’s all 18 bands announced in the second wave for Desertfest 2027:

YOB
KYLESA
WINDHAND
LOWEN
MARGARITA WITCH CULT
BONNACONS OF DOOM
GURT
RITUAL KING
CARDIEL
DRUIDESS
PINK FUZZ
BLUE HERON
GOYA
FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS
STONUS
CONGULUS
OCCULT HAND ORDER
TELLEMEHOOKAH

Desertfest comes to various venues in Camden, London, May 21 to 23 2027. Weekend tickets are available now, with seating and standing options at the Roundhouse.

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The first ever run of British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park shows saw Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys among others play one-of-a-kind outdoor shows in London’s Hyde Park, taking place over a two week span in July 2013. Now, the BST series have expanded to a massive campaign of shows, each with a stacked roster ranging from the biggest up-and-comers to classic legacy acts. This year’s iteration kicked off in June with country giants Garth Brooks and the Zac Brown Band, before shows featuring Maroon 5, Duran Duran and a final two nights headed by Lewis Capaldi.

Arena rock legends Bon Jovi released their well-received sixteenth studio album ‘Forever’ in 2024, before re-envisioning it as 2025’s ‘Forever (Legendary Edition)’. The re-issue brought brand new recordings of each track, plus a cast of guest musicians including Robbie Williams, Avril Lavigne, and Bruce Springsteen. After forming in 1983, the current line-up for the group still includes three founding members: lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, drummer Tico Torres and keyboard player David Bryan.

Bon Jovi return to Hyde Park while on their Forever Tour, which has already seen them sell out a 9-night residence at New York’s Madison Square Garden, as well as sold-out shows in Edinburgh, Dublin, and Wembley Stadium in London this summer. Their BST Hyde Park show for next year was announced as part of a larger extension of the tour, kicking off with stadium nights in Australia in March before the London date in June, with US stadium dates scheduled for July and August.

NME published a statement from frontman Jon Bon Jovi, in which he says “we have a storied history with performing at Hyde Park on previous tours and it’s a full circle moment to be returning to BST Hyde Park, 14 years after headlining the very first festival.” He adds “the ‘Forever Tour’ has been an incredible celebration of the music and the fans who have been with us all these years. There’s nothing quite like the energy of a UK crowd, and the joy and excitement we shared with our fans this summer was something truly special. To bring that energy back to Hyde Park means a lot to us. We’re grateful for every one of you and can’t wait to make more memories together.“

Jim King, founder of BST Hyde Park and CEO of its promoters AEG Presents, has also issued a statement (again provided by NME) which reads “Bon Jovi helped launch BST Hyde Park in 2013, and it’s a pleasure to welcome them back. They are one of the defining rock bands of their generation, with an extraordinary catalogue of hits and a live show that remains as powerful and compelling as ever. They continue to connect with audiences around the world, making this rare return to Hyde Park a genuinely special occasion.”

After the initial announcement this morning, Jon Bon Jovi posted a jovial video on his personal social media accounts of him unboxing a new suitcase, preparing for the future dates. The caption reads “Forever Tour special delivery! See you in 2027! Watch out for a city near you”, suggesting there may be further gig announcements to come for next year.

Bon Jovi return to BST Hyde Park on June 24 2027 – tickets are available now on an American Express members pre-sale. A second pre-sale starts at 10am on Wednesday October 21, ahead of general sale at 10am on Friday October 23. A full support line-up for the event will be announced at a later date, with more BST Hyde Park shows yet to be revealed.

Brighton-natives Architects are one of the most well-respected and influential bands in the modern metalcore landscape, inspiring swathes of young acts with their genre-defining masterpiece ‘All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us’ in 2016, and picking up a UK Number One Album with their anthemic LP ‘For Those That Wish to Exist’ in 2021. Their sound is characterised by clinical, technical guitar riffs and Carter’s fantastic range of vocal styles, balancing harsh screams and growls with impassioned melodic singing. After two consecutive albums which explored more accessible sounds, Architects moved back into a heavier style on 2025’s ‘The Sky, the Earth & All Between’, retaining the big choruses while reintroducing more of Carter’s harsh vocals from their older material.

Throughout the extensive touring cycle of ‘The Sky, the Earth & All Between’, fans have speculated online that Carter’s voice has sounded strained during their typically-spectacular live shows, with many urging him to take a break to recover – however some have also taken to tormenting and harassing the singer. In a heartfelt Instagram post earlier this week, he addressed the critics directly, and dove into the impact of the negativity surrounding his vocals ahead of their UK run supporting nu metal legends Korn later this month.

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Carter opens the statement by saying “It’s time for me to be honest here, and it’s not going to be easy, as it’s something I’ve worked tirelessly at over the last year. My anxiety and constant focus on my voice have gotten me to a place where the joy of performing has been taken away from me. I got to a place where, whenever I go to scream, the voice inside my head stops me from being able to do the job that I’ve done for the last 20 or so years.” He continues “Now this isn’t something that I started. It’s been the online discourse around my voice and the constant judgment that have ultimately led me down a tunnel that I’ve struggled to get out of.”

He further explains that his turmoil came to a head after their set at German metal festival Rock am Ring this June, where he says he had tested a new vocal technique in front of a crowd of over 90,000 – “The more I tried, the crueler the comments over the summer got, and it led me to a place where I was physically and emotionally shot. My performance anxiety had gotten out of control, and I wasn’t able to enjoy anything about the band or being on stage.”

Later in the post, he comments that he is working tirelessly to bring his voice back to where he wants it to be in partnership with a vocal coach, and is using both therapy and medicine to improve his mental health, but that his current state is concerning those dear to him. Carter writes “I want to take this time to say that everything I’ve been doing, and the stress I’m putting on myself, is ultimately making it and my mental health worse and got me to a place where the people that love me are worried. I’ve been in bits today describing exactly how I feel and how the weight of it all has got too much. My band mates and wife have been so supportive over the last year I can’t begin to tell you how loved I feel but it’s time to let you guys in on how much it’s crushing me.” He adds “The comments and the judgment have got too much. I’m a human being trying my hardest up there, and some things aren’t going to be perfect.”

The post signs off on an optimistic note – “On this tour with Korn, I’m going to scream the words from a place of passion and determination. Ultimately, I want to get back to a place where I’m having fun with my friends on stage. It’s not going to be perfect, but I’m not, so there’s that. Be kind you never know what someone is truly going through.”

Architects released their latest single ‘Machine’ in September. The track is a slow, pulsating ballad with an extremely vulnerable vocal performance by Sam Carter, as well as sombre lyrics which may show the emotional trauma he was caught in while writing it. Catch Sam and co. on tour with Korn and Youth Code this October and November – dates are below:

26/10 – First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds
28/10 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
30/10 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
31/10 – AO Arena, Manchester
02/11 – 3 Arena, Dublin
04/11 – The O2, London

British singer-songwriter Raye has had a phenomenal year – her massive 2025 single ‘Where Is My Husband!’ was the first UK Number One of 2026, with her second album ‘This Music May Contain Hope’ scoring a Number One Album in the UK and Ireland, also making the shortlist for the Mercury Prize going into the ceremony on October 22. After further acclaim from her fantastic set on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in 2025, she headlined the new Grid Stage at this year’s Reading & Leeds Festival.

Her special night, This Symphony May Contain Hope at the Royal Albert Hall was set up with a sign-up process, similar to the one employed in Oasis’s massive sale in September, attempting to replace a conventional pre-sale process which scalpers are known to exploit. Raye hoped that a manually-reviewed list of applicants would lead to the tickets landing in the hands of “real fans”. The fans selected by the screening would receive access to the pre-sale this morning, Tuesday October 13, ahead of general sale on Thursday October 15.

♥️ https://t.co/G5BsGJu5EE

— RAYE (@raye) October 13, 2026

However, Raye announced on social media this morning before the sale that the system had been “overwhelmed by scalpers, using AI bots to create hundreds of thousands of fake registrations.” Over 1.8 million sign-ups had been received for the allocation of 5,000 tickets, with Raye writing “it is a new world we are living in now, I have never witnessed bots on this scale.” She continued “It is so important to me that fans can buy tickets at the face value price. Therefore rather than risk opening a presale that scalpers could exploit, we felt the best and safest solution for this specific show was to manually review the sign-up list to identify a shortlist of people we believe are real fans.”

BBC News report that a spokesperson for the Royal Albert Hall has said the “law needs to catch up on the scale and sophistication of the ticket touting industry”, and that they “invest heavily” in protecting themselves from what they call “automated attacks”. In May this year, there was discontent from artists and industry officials when the government’s proposed ‘Ticket Tout Bill’ was ‘downgraded’ to a draft bill, which takes longer to pass through parliamentary procedures – currently, the draft bill is still in policy limbo. Following Raye’s statement, a spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said that they are still “fully committed to stamping out ticket touting for good.”

Raye’s post ends with the remark “I’m not sure what the future holds for ticketing, I do know this experience has really opened my eyes. Me and my team are going to think really hard about what we can do in the future.”

This Symphony May Contain Hope is set to be a symphonic and orchestral live reimagining of ‘This Music May Contain Hope’, reinventing and re-exploring the album’s 17 tracks in one of the most famous venues in England. She will be supported on the night by her backing band, plus The Heritage Orchestra and Flames Collective. It follows her previous 2023 show at the Royal Albert Hall, which was released as a concert film and live album ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall’, which was nominated for Best Music Film at this year’s Grammys.

General sale for Raye’s This Symphony May Contain Hope show at London’s Royal Albert Hall opens on Thursday October 15 at 10am.