Music News

As the situation can change by the day it’s best to check social media and local weekly publications to see what gigs have been arranged. All info on this page was correct at the time of writing. WORDS RIK FOXX

¿QUÉ PASA? ...on the music front

This month at Starlite Festival sees BONNIE TYLER on the August 14 and TOM JONES will be promoting his April released Surrounded by Time cover version album on the 16th. And on September 1, the BOOTLEG BEATLES, regarded by many as the world’s best Fab Four tribute band. For the full line-up plus ticket info: starlitemarbella.com

This month at Fuengirola’s Marenostrum Festival: a QUEEN tribute on the 4th and for those who like their music heavier, Metal Paradise takes place on the 28th & 29th but no groups have been confirmed yet. The festival runs until September 25 with most performances at the castle. For the full programme plus ticket info: marenostrumfuengirola.com

The Benalmádena town hall has lined-up a number of activities including a gig by JAVIER OJEDA, the former lead singer of the 1980s legendary local rock ‘o’ pop outfit DANZA INVISIBLE on August 4 and the Latin-influenced jazz/ funk band DRY MARTINA on the 28th, both at the sea front Castillo El Bil Bil. For the full schedule: www.benalmadena.es

All the above will have restricted capacity and covid protocol will be enforced.

Italy’s Eurovision winners MÅNESKIN, who recently capped two UK top 10 singles, had offered their services to Glastonbury for its two-dayer next month (if it gets the go-ahead). But after the result of the Euros football final the rock outfit are now reconsidering.

The Reading and Leeds sister festivals have also been granted a licence and are scheduled to take place August 27 - 29 with STORMZY, POST MALONE and LIAM GALLAGHER headlining. BBC TV is expected to have coverage, mainly on their iplayer service.

Most of the music biz is on the side of BRITNEY SPEARS over her ‘conservatorship’ family affair with many offering help. Interesting fact: during her three-year multi-million grossing Las Vegas residency her weekly wage was $2,000 meanwhile her dad’s was $4,000. As per her 2011 song – Criminal.

PETER JACKSON has announced his The Beatles: Get Back documentary will land as three two-hour shows and will include their 1969 iconic final performance as a band, on London’s Savile Row rooftop, in full. Disney+ have landed the rights and will premier them over America’s Thanksgiving weekend (November 25 - 27).

After his sabbatical ED SHEERAN bounced back recently with the UK chart-topping single Bad Habits. During his time-out he travelled, helped looking after his baby daughter, learnt Italian and penned over 200 new songs (some with ELTON JOHN) including one for K-Pop global conquerors BTS. He also signed the highly rated MAISIE PETERS to his Gingerbread Man Records label and her debut album You Signed Up For This is out on August 27.

The Bootleg Beatles @ Starlite Ed Sheeran © Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com Oliva Rodrigo © Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

On top of all that he has been recording himself plus collaborations with KYLIE, and TAYLOR SWIFT on her track Everything Has Changed for her latest re-recorded album Red (Taylor’s Version) (originally released in 2012), which lands on November 19. And… he signed a shirt sponsorship deal with his beloved Ipswich Town for the forthcoming football season. Plus a live streamed gig on TikTok and a week in the US on the Late Late Show with James Corden. Coming this month...

In the first six months of 2020 BILLIE EILISH took the world by storm – this year’s model is OLIVIA RODRIGO. The 18-year-old recently celebrated graduation from US High School and then boosted her bank balance with both the UK’s best selling single (Drivers License) and album, Sour of 2021 so far. She was accused of plagiarism, with the song Brutal compared to the 1978 ELVIS COSTELLO hit Pump It Up. The veteran singer defended her saying his song was inspired by 1965’s Subterranean Blues by BOB DYLAN, which in turn was influenced by 1956’s Too Much Monkey Business by CHUCK BERRY. COSTELLO added, “It’s how rock ‘n’ roll works. You take the broken pieces of another thrill and make a brand new toy. That’s what I did”

THE KILLERS drummer RONNIE VANNUCCI JR. says the band will release a new album this month. No date or title yet but he said it was “very different” and it may include the recent collaboration with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, Dustland.

Other expected best sellers this month include Release Me 2 by BARBARA STREISAND and Crying On The Bathroom Floor by WILL YOUNG on the 6th; UK electronic project JUNGLE with Loving in Stereo and Australia’s 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER lead singer LUKE HEMMINGS with When Facing the Things We Turn Away From on the 13th; Saturday Night, Sunday Morning by JAKE BUGG and Solar Power by LORDE on the 20th; and Scottish synth-popsters CHVRCHES with Screen Violence plus America’s HALSEY with If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power on the 27th.

Music collectors Hipgnosis spent $1billion in the last tax year acquiring 84 musician’s back catalogues and now own over 65,000 songs. They intend to raise another $210million on the London Stock Exchange and recently contacted NOEL GALLAGHER about his wares. It’s not known if they will include OASIS tunes but if they do LIAM won’t be very happy. e