Music News Monthly - March 2022 by MusicNewsMonthly

MUSIC NEWS

MONTHLY MUSIC NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS

March 2022

REVIEWS

Frank Turner Vaquelin Dave Bainbridge Saxon Thunderpetz William Poyer

LIVE MUSIC

The Stranglers + Ruts DC KAWALA

MUSIC NEWS

Brian May

Florence + The Machine Emeli Sandé Kae Tempest Rockford Winston Surfshirt and much more

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FRANK TURNER Frank Turner's brand new album, "FTHC" (Frank Turner Hardcore), is Frank's ninth studio album. It is an epic journey of raw emotion and hard hitting lyrics. The album was recorded at Abbey Recording Studios in Oxford and produced/mixed by Rich Costey (Foo Fighters, Muse, Biffy Clyro). It packs in a whopping 14 tracks on the standard release.

"FTHC"

It is a surprise to no one that the album kicks off with a powerful performance of "Non Servium". This is fast-paced and as heavy as it gets, but this is just a taste of things to come. Once Frank has your heart pumping, he takes you into the stunningly anthemic lead single "The Gathering", a call for the return of live music, something that was so badly affected by the pandemic. This leads to the perfectly balanced and catchy "I Haven't Been Doing So Well." Looking at issues of mental health and self doubt, it is well written and will be sure to resonate with how many people feel in the present climate. The open and honest nature of this album continues with "Untainted Love", which explores self doubt, addiction and the realisation that nobody is invincible. There isn't a track in this superb collection of biopic songs that doesn't put Frank's life's ups and downs on full show. Unafraid to deal with things that many would choose to brush under the carpet, this album is a true modern masterpiece. From family issues to drugs and mental health struggles, there is no stone left unturned. From the angry "Fatherless" to the emotionally charged "Miranda", Frank tells his story with passion and a refreshing openness that is both heartbreaking and joyous at the same time.

WWW.FRANK-TURNER.COM "A Wave Across A Bay" is a standout track which is as beautiful as it is desperately emotionally charged. It is a tribute to Frank's friend Scott Hutchinson, from the band Frightened Rabbit. With lyrics that are both lyrically unapologetic and skillfully composed and produced, and with Frank's punk / folk rock sound, this album is anything but tame; it sounds incredible through old headphones, but it would be mind-blowingly good live. So it's definitely one for the "Bands to see this year" list. A solid 11 out of 10. Frank Turner has set the bar high for 2022. It will take a lot to beat an album of this calibre. Released on 11th of February on Xtra Mile Recordings / Polydor. Visit www.frank-turner.com for more information.

Nick Mulvey

RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE ‘STAR NATION’

Photo: James Ronkko

www.nickmulvey.com

In these times of death and rebirth we live, heal and serve” is one of multiple totemic lines from Mercury Prize nominated Nick Mulvey’s new single ‘Star Nation’, an invitation to cultivate radical joy in times of ‘great turning’. The song is a microscope into the musical exploration Nick has gone on over the four years since his critically acclaimed second record Wake Up Now. ‘Star Nation’ is both a tender and stark beginning, which speaks about finding answers in times of deep crisis through courage, rituals and playfulness, with a video directed by Kate Bellm forming a stunning accompaniment. The song sets the scene for Mulvey’s third album, “New Mythology”, announced today and set to be released on 10 June 2022 on Fiction Records. New Mythology is an album that centers on “interbeing”, the interconnectedness we share with all life, a collection of songs that meets this moment in time head-on and shows Mulvey’s exceptional talent for putting complex, philosophical ideas into three-minute songs. Playing songs from the album for the first time live, Mulvey will perform at Lafayette on 22 March for an intimate show. Tickets are on sale this Friday, 25th February at 9am GMT. “I'm singing about our times. The time of the lone wolf is done! We are at the beginning of a collective awakening. My song weaves ancient teachings (Hopi Prayer / Nyingma Buddhism) through the lyric and a joyfulness in the melodies and chords. Particularly in these times, joy can be a powerful tool. It is not apathy. I hope my song brings you joy.” - Nick Mulvey “The Star Nation video is an ode to growing up on island life, dedicated and inspired by my son, Sage” - Kate Bellm

To arrive at this album, the acclaimed artist and songwriter has come a long way – both experientially, musically and philosophically. Musician, composer and producer, Nick’s work pushes boundaries in songwriting and sound, music both traditional and experimental, acoustic and electronic. A founding member of the award-winning British collective Portico Quartet, he left in 2011 to concentrate on his own material. Once solo, he released the Mercury Prize nominated debut album First Mind in 2014, and 2017’s celebrated Wake Up Now, along with a number of EPs. On New Mythology, our shared humanity becomes common sense and this humanity and the natural world are enmeshed. The possibility of flourishing futures becomes real. The album explores the vulnerability of the everyday human experience; becoming a father, sickness and death, navigating the pandemic, but also Nick’s journey to compute the scope and scale of his feelings: an attempt to embody the personal all the way to the planetary – and grasp their true inseparability. ‘Star Nation’, and ‘Begin Again’ - released during the pandemic - both sow the seeds of this interconnected space.

New Mythology was recorded during the pandemic in Paris with renowned producer Renaud Letang [Manu Chao, Feist, Connan Mockasin] at Studio Ferber – which miraculously remained open whilst the city was in lockdown. Nick also credits his friends and family, teachers past and present who’ve helped him arrive at this point – from mentors like the Polynesian ambassador and elder Aunty Ivy, the life’s work of Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Berry’s collection of essays evening thoughts and Mac Macartney’s book The Children’s Fire. Further inspiration Nick credits to his beloved homeland of Britain, his ever deepening kinship to the land, ancestors and the living world . Now, Mulvey finds himself at the precipice of change and is ready to share his raw musings with the world.

AWOLNATION Diamond-selling recording act AWOLNATION today announced the tracklisting for their upcoming covers project My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me, now available for pre-order, which will include collaborations with Beck, Jewel, Portugal. The Man and more. Today they also released "Beds are Burning (Featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against)," a new track from the album.

The album, which is set for a May 6, 2022 global release, is a fiercely collaborative and celebratory project, a collection of masterfully crafted and carefully curated covers, with each track featuring at least one acclaimed musical artist with whom AWOLNATION's founder Aaron Bruno has a personal connection. After crossing paths over the years at festivals and other shows, the band joined forces with Tim McIlrath of Rise Against to give a futuristic, raw, and In their exclusive reveal of the album's title and release date, gritty twist to the 1987 Midnight Oil classic. See the tracklisting Billboard spoke with Bruno about his core mission for this below. Pre-order the album across platforms starting today. collection of songs and collaborations: to illustrate the mental health benefits music brings and the connection within the artist A hypnotic and visually stunning animated music video was also community. Bruno will continue tackling this subject head on in a unveiled today to accompany the "Beds Are Burning" release. Showcasing a series of futuristic funky visuals, it amplifies the next- series of in-depth conversations with his collaborators generation approach to the reimagining of the song. The credits for throughout the album's campaign. the project are as follows: Directed and Edited by Jason Michael Hall, CG Assets; Editing and Compositing: Gingerbear Haus Studio Motion Today's release also comes with the official announcement that Capture Performance; Actors: Aaron Bruno and Jason Michael Hall. AWOLNATION is partnering with The Jed Foundation (JED) to continue having and amplifying these conversations about mental WATCH NOW. health that started during the pandemic. In 2020, Bruno started Marking today's release, Bruno gave a statement on what this song having organic, honest conversations about some of the mental means to him, "Ever since I was much younger, I would sing along to health challenges the world was facing during quarantine. On his social media, he spoke with a myriad of artists across genres, this song. The singer may have the coolest dance moves in music many of whom became his collaborators on this project. These video history. I think this song speaks for itself in terms of the message and meaning of the song. I was excited that Tim from Rise initial conversations sparked the partnership with JED, which is a leading mental health nonprofit. Both parties are excited to use Against performed on this one in particular, given the power and the album release to continue shedding light on this important influence his lyrics and music have had for so many years." topic, and a portion of the proceeds from the album will go to JED's mental health awareness efforts. More information about McIlrath said of the collaboration, "When I met Aaron years ago at one of our shows at the Coliseum in L.A., he disclosed his past time where and when fans can hear these conversations will be spent in hardcore bands, and we bonded over that. I've always been revealed in the coming weeks. a fan of his, both as a person and his music, so it was an easy decision to guest on his version of Midnight Oil's 'Beds Are Burning.' "Through our work, we see daily how starting conversations and It didn't hurt that I also love the song and all it stands for. I'm really sharing stories can break down the barriers and misunderstandings that leave too many people struggling in impressed with the ways in which he made it his own because it's silence," said John MacPhee, CEO of The Jed Foundation. "Music is not an easy song to reimagine." such a powerful mental health vehicle and we are excited to partner with Bruno to amplify this impact." Originally recorded by Midnight Oil, drummer Rob Hirst gave their stamp of approval, stating, "A tough new light on our old song! The To follow the covers project, AWOLNATION is currently working whistle near the end is a deft touch...congrats AWOLNATION and on a new album with original music, after most recently Tim on doing a brilliant job!" celebrating the 10th anniversary celebration of the group's platinum debut album Megalithic Symphony,which spawned the AWOLNATION'S first official offering from the project, a powerful reimagining of Scorpion's "Wind of Change,"featuring Portugal. The rare DIAMOND-certified "Sail", and releasing their 2020 album ANGEL MINERS & THE LIGHTNING RIDERS. Featuring the hit single Man and Brandon Boyd of Incubus, earned over 1M streams in its "The Best" and collaborations with Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and first month of release and was accompanied by a striking visual Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, ANGEL directed by Amalia Irons. The video's imagery depicts waves of MINERS was the band's first album after signing to Better Noise nostalgia, weaving together different scenes that explore the full Music and was praised by both critics and fans upon release. spectrum of how the passing of time impacts everyone.

VAQUELIN "Where Dreams Hurt" Four-piece rock band Vaquelin have put their heads above the proverbial parapet with their debut album "Where Dreams Hurt". The York-based band recorded the thirteen track album in two halves, starting pre-pandemic and finally finishing the second half towards the end of 2020. The album was mixed and mastered by Luiz Fernando Vieira (Audio Arena, São Paulo) and released to the ears of the public on the 28th of January 2022. The time and effort was not spent in vain, "Where Dreams Hurt" is a superb debut. The band are influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others, and that influence is clear throughout. At times, it would have been easy to mistake it for an RHCP album, no more so than in "Silence". This is a great track which keeps the energy going throughout the latter half of the record. All thirteen tracks have been superbly crafted and whilst the band have worked hard to create a sound that matches that of the Peppers,

linktr.ee/Vaquelin_Music Review by D.Weddle there are sparks of individuality breaking through, giving a glimpse of the true Vaquelin sound. "Through The Heavens Fall" is an awesome track with a great guitar solo and a galloping bass line, at times reminiscent of Queens Of The Stone Age. A great example of Vaquelin's songwriting skills can be heard in the gloriously rocky "Mad Alice Lane". With gritty vocals and an overall early 90s grunge feel, the band breaks out and sound like they are enjoying themselves. The midway point in the album is marked with "Interlude", a short 58-second instrumental which reminded me of Blur's "End Of The Century." The album is an outstanding debut album. The quality of the songwriting, musical composition and production are all on point. This is a great achievement for the band and is a testament to their hard work. With a start this good, Vaquelin has a promising future.

WINSTON SURFSHIRT For their first single of 2022, Sydney six-piece Winston Surfshirt deliver their latest blend of funk-soul with the Genesis Owusu assisted ‘There’s Only One’ – released via BMG.

Consistent to their hip hop groove blueprint, ’There’s Only One’ weaves funk beats with vibrant basslines for an addictive 70’s nostalgia. Offsetting Winston’s signature falsettos, the stylised vocals from Genesis Owusu deepen the track into a multi-faceted sonic experience. A soundtrack for your sundowner’s, ’There’s Only One’ lyrically explores love’s loyalty with finding “the one”. As winner of ‘Best Album by an Australian Artist’ in the BandLab NME Awards 2022, Genesis Owusu is a unique voice on the Australian music scene, generating immense buzz from his stylish artistry. A seamless merge of sounds, ‘There’s Only One’ marks another iconic collaboration from Winston Surfshirt and a new dimension to their genre-blending sound. ‘There’s Only One’ comes off the back of Winston Surfshirt’s recent feel-good bop ‘Complicated’, featuring critically and commercially adored electronic producer Young Franco. With multi-platinum releases and sell-out tours, the collective has laid down a serious foundation while generating credible buzz amongst fans and industry tastemakers including NME, ROLLING STONE, COLORSXSTUDIOS and CLASH

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PHOTO: JORDAN MUNNS @JORDANKMUNNS

‘THERE’S ONLY ONE’ FT GENESIS OWUSU

Originally beginning as a solo project consisting of frontman, singer, producer and rapper Winston, the six-piece group organically came together when he called upon some of his closest friends and local artists to collaborate and establish the globally cherished musical collective they are today. Since the band’s esteemed debut project and triple j Feature Album, “Sponge Cake”, to the present day, the boys have garnered widespread praise from international music connoisseurs including Beats 1 hosts Zane Lowe, Sir Elton John, Jason Bentley (KCRW), Huw Stephens, Phil Taggart (BBC Radio 1), and Lauren Laverne (BBC Radio 6).

Blurring the lines between soul, funk and hip hop, Winston Surfshirt continue their ascent as one of Australia’s most beloved acts. Adding to their repertoire of unforgettable collaborations with ‘There’s Only One’, this latest slice of funk-soul will be one to remember.

Shares new song 'King'

Florence + the Machine surprise drops new track ‘King’. A meditation on womanhood, family, femininity and the subverting of expectations that makes a personal manifesto in transcending gender-defined roles into a cast-iron, crowd-searing festival-uniting call to arms in which she declares: “I am no mother, I am no bride - I am king”. Being a woman artist, and one who performs provides its own conflict as to how to thrive and continue along the same path that male artists whose stars keep ascending, whose path to success is unimpeded by biology. In her mid-30s, these are the contradictions Florence is grappling with. “As an artist, I never actually thought about my gender that much. I just got on with it. I was as good as the men and I just went out there and matched them every time. But now, thinking about being a woman in my 30s and the future… I suddenly feel this tearing of my identity and my desires. That to be a performer, but also to want a family might not be as simple for me as it is for my male counterparts. I had modelled myself almost exclusively on male performers, and for the first time I felt a wall come down between me and my idols as I have to make decisions they did not.”

Traditional heavy metal has had a bad rap over the years, but has always found a way to carry on and go from strength to strength. Saxon have been a large contributor to the success of the genre, and with 'Carpe Diem', the lads are proudly flying the banner for all headbangers, young and old. With more solos than you can shake a stick at, this album is a cacophony of heavy, galloping bass lines which underpin each track, a bit like Atlas holding up the globe, Nibbs Carter's bass keeps it heavy while the hard hitting Nigel Glockler pounds away at the skins with precision, confidently showing us all how a true drumming legend does it. The drum-heavy 'Super Nova" is a prime example of this. Throw in sublime solos and awesome riffs from Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on the strings and you have the ultimate recipe for heavy metal success. Front man Biff has certainly not lost any of his signature power. With his vocals as strong as ever, Saxon has never sounded so good."All In One" is a stunner. Starting off with an awesome riff that draws you in and gives you a good shake.

CARPE DIEM

Available on vinyl, cassette and CD from saxonrecordshop.com What does it take to create the perfect heavy metal album? Well, the masters of metal, Saxon, have managed to figure it out. Their latest offering, 'Carpe Diem' is as close as it gets to achieving it. This is their....... studio album and the band have most definitely put their near fifty years of music making experience to good use. Taking the listener on an historically inspired musical journey, the album opens with the lead track "Carpe Diem". Starting slow and building up layer upon layer of atmospheric sounds, Saxon jumps out of the speakers and smacks you right between the ears with rolling drums and Biff Byford's high-pitched scream. The band lets you know they mean business from the start.

Fast and heavy, just the way it should be. This feels like the most 'traditional' metal style track on the album. It's the gift that keeps on giving right to the end. Following that is the bass-heavy opening to "Black Is The Night," which is simply outstanding. The band has honed their skills over nearly fifty years, and that time has been well spent. If it was ever in doubt before (which it wasn't), "Carpe Diem" has secured Saxon a place in metal history. The album is easy to get into and flows seamlessly from track to track. Produced by Andy Sneap (Judas Priest, Exodus, Accept and Priest guitarist) at Backstage Recording Studios, with Byford and Sneap mixing and mastering. Saxon have shown us all, yet again, why they are still going strong after all this time, true Masters of Metal "Carpe Diem" is available right now wherever you stream your music. Also available on physical formats. Visit https://smarturl.it/carpe-diem for buying options. This most certainly an album that would sound amazing live. Luckily the lads are out on the road with their new album later this year with special guests Diamond Head.

To celebrate the release of Let's Say For Instance, Emeli will be embarking on a tour of the UK and Europe in May and June 2022. The tour will see Emeli performing both with her full band, as well as select solo piano show dates, commencing on May 16 in Glasgow, before journeying through Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Europe. TICKETS Tickets are available on general sale via livenation.co.uk.

Internationally-renowned British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé has announced her forthcoming album Let's Say For Instance, due Friday, 6 May via Chrysalis Records. Alongside the announcement, Emeli has shared details of an extensive UK and European tour, including full band performances and also a number of intimate acoustic piano shows, recently previewed at a stunning London Roundhouse date that was praised in a 4* review by the iPaper as "a stirring performance of raw emotion". Her first release on an independent label, Let's Say For Instance marks a new era of Emeli's expansive artistry after a decade on stage and on the airwaves. Exploring new sonic territory through shades of classical, disco, nostalgic R&B and more, it sees Emeli freeing herself from the expectations of others, flexing her holistic skills as a songwriter, producer and vocalist in new, versatile ways. In her words: "'an ode to resilience, rebirth, and renewal". The album features current hit single 'Brighter Days', alongside previous singles 'Look What You've Done' and 'Family'. As told to Variety in an exclusive interview, Emeli shared: "I'm so proud of this album and can't wait to release it. I've felt free to express myself more naturally both lyrically and musically in this album and my wish is that it will be an uplifting experience for each listener and that they will get to know me on a much deeper level."

Emeli Sandé 2022 UK/EU 'Brighter Days Tour' Monday 16 May - SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow, UK (full band show) Wednesday 18 May - Stylus, Leeds, UK (full band show) Thursday 19 May - The Mill, Birmingham, UK (full band show) Friday 20 May - O2 Ritz, Manchester, UK (full band show) Sunday 22 May - EartH, London, UK (full band show) Thursday 26 May - Oran Mor Auditorium, Glasgow, UK (solo piano show) Saturday 28 May - City Varieties, Leeds (solo piano show) Sunday 29 May - Stoller Hall, Manchester (solo piano show) Monday 30 May - Town Hall, Birmingham (solo piano show) Wednesday 1 June - La Cigale, Paris, France (full band show) Friday 3 June - Santeria Toscana 31, Milan, Italy (full band show) Saturday 4 June - Carlswerk Victoria, Cologne, Germany (full band show) Sunday 5 June - TivoliVredenburg Ronda, Utrecht, Netherlands (full band show) Tuesday 7 June - De Duif, Amsterdam, Netherlands (solo piano show) Wednesday 8 June - La Seine Musicale, Paris, France (solo piano show) Thursday 9 June - Kulturkirche, Cologne, Germany (solo piano show)

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/KAETEMPEST INSTAGRAM/ FACEBOOK /TWITTER: @KAETEMPEST

PHOTO: WOLFGANG TILLMANS

2022 is shaping up to be a busy year for Kae, as they will also head out on an extensive UK & Ireland tour this Spring in support of the new album. The shows are Kae’s first since the resounding success of their last nationwide tour in 2019 and their critically acclaimed performances at All Points East, Edinburgh International Festival and Glastonbury the same year.

‘The Line Is A Curve’ is the new album from writer and musician Kae Tempest, set for release on 8th April 2022 by Fiction Records. It is the fourth album from the Lewisham based artist and has been produced by long term collaborator Dan Carey. The record also follows the critically-acclaimed play ‘Paradise’, which premiered at the National Theatre in London in 2021.

MUSIC NEWS MONTHLY

After the experience of touring previous album ‘The Book of Traps and Lessons’, Tempest realised that they wanted ‘The Line Is A Curve’ to be a communicative record. The concept manifested itself both in the contributions of other artists (the aforementioned Kevin Abstract, Grian Chatten of Fontaines DC, Lianne La Havas, ássia, Confucius MC) and during the recording process, when Tempest decided to do three vocal takes in one day, to three different generations of people; “a man of 78 who I’d never met, a woman of 29, the poet Bridget Minamore, who is a good friend of mine and then to three young fans of 12, 15 and 16 who had responded to a social media post.” Featuring artwork shot by renowned photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, the album is best described by Tempest themselves: “The Line Is A Curve is about letting go. Of shame, anxiety, isolation and falling instead into surrender.

Embracing the cyclical nature of time, growth, love. This letting go can hopefully be felt across the record. In the musicality, the instrumentation, the lyricism, the delivery, the cover art. In the way it ends where it begins and begins where it ends.I knew I wanted my face on the sleeve. Throughout the duration of my creative life, I have been hungry for the spotlight and desperately uncomfortable in it. For the last couple of records I wanted to disappear completely from the album covers, the videos, the front-facing aspects of this industry. A lot of that was about my shame but I masked it behind a genuine desire for my work to speak for itself, without me up front, commodifying what felt so rare to me and sacred. I was, at times, annoyed that in order to put the work out, I had to put myself out. But this time around, I understand it differently. I want people to feel welcomed into this record, by me, the person who made it, and I have let go of some of my airier concerns. I feel more grounded in what I’m trying to do, who I am as an artist and as a person and what I have to offer. I feel less shame in my body because I am not hiding from the world anymore. I wanted to show my face and I dreamed of it being Wolfgang Tillmans who took the portrait.”

With four studio albums, a novel, their first work of non-fiction (‘On Connection’), three plays and five collections of poetry to their name, Kae Tempest has firmly established themselves as one of the most unique, thought-provoking and criticallyacclaimed voices of their generation. With the release of ‘The Line Is A Curve’, in 2022, that reputation is only set to grow exponentially. 22-Apr-22 Manchester Albert Hall 23-Apr-22 Edinburgh Assembly Rooms 24-Apr-22 Glasgow SWG3 Galvanziers 26-Apr-22 Cambridge Corn Exchange 27-Apr-22 Bexhill On Sea De La Warr Pavillion 28-Apr-22 Brighton The Dome 3-May-22 Belfast Cathedral Quarter Festival 6-May-22 Bristol Marble Factory 8-May-22 Liverpool Grand Central Hall 10-May-22 Birmingham Town Hall 11-May-22 Leeds Stylus 12-May-22 Hull Asylum 14-May-22 Cardiff St Davids Hall 15-May-22 Sheffield The Octagon Centre 16-May-22 Leicester O2 Academy 18-May-22 London O2 Shepherds Bush 21-May-22 Gateshead Sage

PHOTO: D WEDDLE 2022

O2 CITY HALL NEWCASTLE 18/02/22

It was a cold, wet, and windy Friday night in Newcastle. Storm Eunice had just given the UK a battering, and the storm clouds were still lingering, with a threat of more bad weather to come. Did that dampen the mood in Newcastle City Hall? Nope. The hardcore fans gathered in the iconic venue to witness the masters of Punk Rock, The Stranglers live in concert on their 2022 tour. It is not surprising that the stalwarts of the UK punk scene, who have been playing for nearly fifty years, are still able to fill concert halls. As time ticked on, the crowd was visibly and audibly getting more excited about the gig, patiently waiting for the support act to warm their cockles. Their patience was rewarded with a high-energy performance from none other than Rutts DC. The band have been around on the music scene for almost as long as the headliners and seem to have a great Geordie following of their own.

Those who made it to the gig in good time were lucky enough to witness a stellar performance from the reggae-inspired punk rock three-piece. The band played a solid set, including their biggest hit, "Babylons Burning," to the crowds' obvious delight. They left the Newcastle audience buzzing and ready for the main event. A few short minutes later, and the house lights dimmed and the anticipation of the crowd was building. The band took to the stage to rapturous applause. Kicking off their set with "Toiler On The Sea", the band gave the crowd a taste of good things to come. There was little doubt that this was going to be a gig to remember. This tour was billed as "The Final UK Tour", and it was clear that the band were planning to give their all to their performance. There was a bit of banter with a gig goer from guitarist and singer Baz Warne, which was met with laughs from the audience, with a nod to his North East roots and the Newcastle/Sunderland rivalry.

JJ Brunel and the lads played hit after hit after hit, including "Something Better Change," "Skin Deep" and "Strange Little Girl". Each played with passion and dedication to the authentic sound of The Stranglers. JJ took the crowd on a bass filled trip down memory lane with "Peaches", then giving the crowd a hit double whammy with "Golden Brown", giving Newcastle a sprinkling of 80's magic, thanks to the instantly recognisable keyboards, though sadly without Dave, his spirit was most definitely there in the minds of the band and audience. Bear in mind that we were already 12 songs in and the audience were still up for more, which was lucky as there were another ten songs to go, including a stunning cover of "Walk On By". The Stranglers took a quick break before making their way back to the stage to play the first of two encores. "The Lines" and the poignant "And Should You See Dave...", which was met with an emotional respect for keyboard player and long-time band member Dave Greenfield, who sadly passed away in 2020. The second and final encore saw The Stranglers top off the show with "Tank" and the iconic "No More Heroes", making sure to keep the energy high right up until the last note. The band has had a long and illustrious career spanning five decades. They have played to generations of fans across thousands of venues, yet are still able to put in as much enthusiasm and energy into a gig as if it was their first. A real treat for long-serving fans who can say they were there as one of the most recognisable and influential bands in the punk rock genre played their final full tour. In showbiz, they say "Leave them wanting more", and The Stranglers certainly did that. A fitting tribute to Dave Greenfield and nearly fifty years of music.

Photos by D.Weddle 2022

PUSH BABY

“WHAT YA GONNA DO?”

Letting their creativity run wild in lockdown, push baby (comprised of Jake Roche and Charley Bagnall) dove into the studio to churn out bop after bop, while exploring imaginative, experimental new ways to perform – including a livestream show from Coleen Nolan’s garage, aptly called ‘LIVE FROM MY MUMS DAMP GARAGE’ (Coleen is Jake’s mother). Now embarking on an exciting new chapter of their careers after being signed to AWAL+, the band are building on the momentum created from their 2021 album, Wow, Big Legend, including co-signs from the likes of The Guardian, Wonderland, The Line of Best Fit and BBC Introducing.

British pop duo push baby is back with “What Ya Gonna Do?” – a divine slice of retro-infused ‘00s pop, released via AWAL+. “What Ya Gonna Do?” is a millennial’s throwback pop dream with its nostalgic boy-band aesthetics. Unashamedly diving into the exaggerated pop tropes of the early 2000’s, the track pays homage to the stylings of Max Martin but isn’t scared to revitalize classic pop cliches in a fresh way. Instantly recognizable to anyone from the MTV age, while still feeling accessible to a younger Gen-Z audience, “What Ya Gonna Do?” is packed full of retro pop samples that will take you back to those hits from the days when your favorite boybands ruled the charts. Speaking about the track, push baby explains: “'What Ya Gonna Do?’ came from wanting to capture that pristine late ‘90s / early 00’s Max Martin POP! That sound is pretty much the backbone of the whole record. Our instinct kind of always goes to that very radio friendly, punchy pop anyway, but we’d shy away from it because we were scared of ’not being cool’. However, we’ve just leaned into it now, to the point where our noses are touching the ground. If we’re going to do it then we’re going to DO IT - it’s a pastiche. From the artwork, to visuals, to what we wear, push baby wanted to deliver the perfect pop record. I think it works because it’s two idiots in their mum’s garage making it.” MUSIC NEWS MONTHLY

Utilizing Internet culture to their advantage, the band have been connecting with fans online by racking up 1.1M+ likes for their Tik Tok content alone. Allowing intimate access to the making of their upcoming record through daily live streams, push baby will soon be taking the hype they have built online directly to audiences with a national UK tour booked throughout 2022. This new iteration of the band is breaking off from all expectations and are ready to share their bold and flashy sound for fans of pure pop. Armed with a selfassurance in their music, fashion-forward style and tongue-in-cheek humour, the new year is sure to be one where push baby carve their own space in the genre by unleashing their authentic selves.

PUSHBABY.FFM.TO/WHATYAGONNADO

WILLIAM POYER "FORGIVEN" EP

FEVERJAW RELEASE HIGH-OCTANE NEW SINGLE ‘MIDSOMMAR’

Cardiff-based rock three-piece Feverjaw are pleased to reveal their latest single ‘Midsommar’, due for release March 11th 2022.

Following the recent release of his single "Forgiven", London-based Americana folk singer William Poyer is back with his stunning five-track EP of the same name. The EP was recorded at Mill Town Studios in Wiltshire and produced by Archie Sylvester of Ferris & Sylvester.

The song is a delight. There are plenty of layers to it; every listen brings something new to the ear.

With his unique vocal style, William delivers a powerful performance in the title track "Forgiven," which is an indicator of good things to come. "Eagle" is bluesy and packed full of soul. This is Americana at its finest. A little moment of calmness before William picks up the tempo with the ridiculously catchy "Lightning", which has an air of the wild west about it.

Not only are the tracks skilfully composed and produced, but there is an open honesty in the lyrical content that makes the entire EP all the more enchanting.

"Vincent's Song" starts off with glorious acoustic guitar and a subtle snare that is just enough to keep the track centred.

Finishing off with "For Yesterday", William ups the tempo again. Giving his all, this is a memorable end to a memorable EP.

"Forgiven" is available via Spiritual Records from 8th March, find out more at presave.to/pSPIRIT08DB

Instagram: @williampoyer

Formed in 2019 amidst the vibrant SouthWales music scene, Feverjaw have steadily cemented their name as a band to watch. With live performances on pause due to the pandemic, the band have instead spent the past two years focusing on writing and releasing a steady stream of new music; the most recent of which was the 2021 release of their debut album “All Bets Are Off” to SWND Records. Following up on this release comes their latest single ‘Midsommar’, taken from their upcoming EP ‘Casual Abrasive’, which is set for release on April 1st 2022. Lyrically inspired by the perils of toxic love, ‘Midsommar’ is a bruising, frenetic track, full to the brim with anthemic choruses and addictive hooks. Featuring guest vocals from Ben Fox Smith (Serafin / Stoney Sleep) and mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios by Frank Arkwright (Arcade Fire, Frank Turner, System of a Down), the high-octane track sees the band moving into grittier territory with a focus on crushing waves of distortion-licked guitars, adrenaline-fueled drums and thundering bass.

Chicago-based singer and songwriter, Nasty Geographic, releases new album

Dave Bainbridge New album "To The Far Away" WWW.DAVEBAINBRIDGEMUSIC.COM

"To The Far Away" is the brand new solo album from prog rock legend Dave Bainbridge. The album is a glorious hour and a bit of Celtic, folk, and progressive rockinspired mastery. Dave has amassed a plethora of musical skills over his career, and he isn't afraid to show them off in this epic musical showcase featuring Dave on keyboards, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, and the Bouzouki.

It feels like the kind of album that is good for the soul, with its Celtic-inspired roots giving it a spirituality that just feels right.

Overall, this album offers a welcome escape from the here and now and takes you on a Dave's stunning compositions journey that will leave you are skilfully delivered with the feeling absolutely flipping help of a few special guests, marvelous. If you let it, it is just including Sally Minnear, Iain what the mind needs to reset. Hornal, Frank Van Essen, Jon Poole, Troy Donockley, Martin A great piece of work which is Nolan, Nigel Cameron, Jonas available in five different Pap, and Julie Cameron-Hall. formats, including a very The album oozes talent. limited number of box sets which include a hardback Lyrical collaboration with collection of Dave's landscape renowned poet Lynn Caldwell photography. take "To The Far Away" to another level. Do your mind and soul a favour and grab your copy now by The album is emotionally visiting Dave's website. charged and hauntingly enchanting in places.

Nasty Geographic is Chicago-based singer, songwriter, and producer Joe Blackhurst. Nasty Geographic is the product of funk, blues, and hip-hop twisted into a new kind of pop rock. Every Nasty Geographic album is an exploration into a different and specific musical genre. Joe takes an anti-perfectionist attitude towards songwriting in which he writes and records every album in a week. Nasty Geographic's tenth studio album BAD POP is one such album. Combining the driving bass of Royal Blood, the funky guitar of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and femalebacked pop vocals, BAD POP is Nasty Geographic's most fun album to date. Listen to "BAD POP": On Spotify.

MK (Mike Kremastoules) 'Run' Video & Single News

Rising rock instrumentalist MK (Mike Kremastoules) unveils news of his latest video & single release 'Run'. The late 2021 debut 'Butterfly' provided an insight into MK's emotive & soaring guitar work - now this contrasting single shines a spotlight on MK's capability to crank things up and enter the retro hard rock arena. 'Run' powers along with its driving stadium rock grooves providing the back drop for MK's melodic hook lines and themes and for his solo outbreaks to take more adventurous twists that turns. Sonically tipping it's hat to heavyweights such as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash and Gary Moore, this new instalment from MK is taken from his forthcoming album 'Calling'. A collection of instrumental tracks exploring his adoration for guitar playing whilst projecting a fusion of styles from a wide musical spectrum. As a stalwart of the British music scene (formerly earning his stripes as lead guitarist with 80's outfit Ded Ringer), MK's music oozes maturity in sounds, techniques and compositional qualities.

www.mikekremastoules.com Facebook: MKkremastoules Twitter: @MKkremas Instagram:@mike__kremastoules TikTok:@mikekremastoules

Having taken his first steps into a solo career in 2021 - the Leeds (UK) guitarist entered the world with the soulfully melodic and ballad-like 'Butterfly'. After debuting on the No1 playlist spot at Banks Radio Australia, the track (with its genre blurring qualities of progressive rock, blues and AOR), quickly captured support from radio stations and specialist media around the globe, including the likes of UK's Total Rock & Hard Rock Hell Radio and many in the US. MK now strides forward with his energetic new track 'Run' embarking on a relentless crusade to reach a wider audience of rock music lovers. News of his full debut album and UK live shows will be landing very soon. One for head bangers and air guitarists alike - Run is officially on digital platforms right now via Kycher.

MUSIC NEWS MONTHLY

"Unsafe Turn In Tulsa"

Turn the volume all the way up to ROCK! "Unsafe Turn In Tulsa" is a hard, heavy and fast paced track with plenty of attitude. Los Angeles based heavy rock band Thunderpetz showcase their ability to get you moving with fast guitar riffs backed up by a solid, heavy bass line. If it's drums you're into then fear not as Thunderpetz drummer Stif Lo has also crammed enough power in to the drum section to please even the hardline rockers. From the first pluck of the strings, Thunderpetz are in your face with just the right amount of attitude and aggression to keep the ear interested. The lyrics speak for themselves and are delivered with skill and precision from vocalist AM Dandy Each member of the band delivers high energy and power while expressing their individuality and putting the Thunderpetz stamp on the track. Thunderpetz are a definitely a band to see live as their sound would definitely get the crowd going.

THUNDERPETZ are: AM Dandy - Lead Guitar, Vocals, writer. Stif Lo - Drums Southesizer - Electronic production, Synth Jordan Lucas - Rhythm Guitar

We caught up with L.A. rockers Thunderpetz, read on to find out what they are up to and what makes them tick. Dandy and Lorenzo you are brothers from Italy, Southisizer you hail from Turkey. How did you meet? Me and Southisizer attended Berklee College of Music, and we even lived together for a couple of semesters in Fenway. Since that time we started creating music in collaboration. Everything started, funny enough, while we were both practicing in the same room at insane volumes. One day, maybe for coincidence, maybe not, our frequencies got together and we started jamming. We then decided to try writing and producing music together. Really a lot of fun Who came up with the band name Thunderpetz, and why? (Stif Lo) Dandy did. But mostly because it is a pretty cool sounding name. (Dandy) I was thinking that this project had to be Rock and Roll mixed with Electronic Music. Petz stands for "pets" and I borrowed it from the movie "School of Rock", somehow one of the most Rock n Roll things I've ever seen. While the idea of Thunder recalls in my head Southesizer's style of producing music and shaping sounds, and in general it describes how we would love our music to be like: beautiful, majestic and dangerous ;) Could you describe your style of music for us? (Southesizer) I'd say put Skrillex, Noisia, Zeds Dead, Teddy Killerz, Rezz (on one side) and Black Stone Cherry, Muse, Winery Dogs, DLR Band (on the other side) all in the same pan. That's what we are supposed to sound like, more or less. Your new single "Unsafe Turn in Tulsa" is awesome. Could you tell us a little bit about it? (Stif) It is a simple description of a true story that happened to us while traveling from Boston to LA. In Tulsa (AZ) we have been pulled over for an unsafe turn that no one saw but the police officer, while we were leaving an isolated gas station, in a very hot, desolate, early afternoon. We just expressed our frustration on this track.

How do you write your music, do you have a set process or do you have a more laid back approach to the writing process? (Dandy) Normally I take care of music and lyrics, while Southesizer focuses on the whole electronic parts. Stif usually improvises his lines in studio. Lately though also Southesizer came out with some pretty interesting stuff that you will soon be able to enjoy. If you could name your biggest musical influencer who would it be and why? (Stif Lo) Well me and Dandy come from the same background, while Southesizer mainly electronic. We have a common education in classical music though. I am personally inspired by Mike Portnoy, Mike Mangini and Gavin Harrison. (Dandy) I go with Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, Santana, Metheny and Satriani. (Southesizer) Basically the ones I have quoted before. (dandy) As a band probably in between Skrillex feat Korn, Muse and Black Stone Cherry. You are about to embark on a US tour with Texas Hippie Coalition, what can fans expect from the show? (Stif) That leg has to be completely finalized still, since shows have often been moved due to the restrictions. It looks like it is gonna finally happen in May and it is going to be a total blast. Great venues with a great band like Texas Hippie Coalition What does the future hold for Thunderpetz, do you have any plans for a studio album? (Dandy) We do and we are already working on the pre productions. But before, we still have some interesting singles to release that you shouldn't miss out. A part from that, live shows. Next one in LA will happen at Whiskey A Gogo on March 25th. See you there!

THUNDERPETZ with Ryan from One Percenters (centre)

www.instagram.com/thunderpetz www.instagram.com/amdandymusic www.amdandy.com MUSIC NEWS MONTHLY

AMERICAN FAMILY TRIO, FEMALE PRESIDENT, RELEASES THE MUSIC VIDEO OF "BRING BACK THE GHOSTS"

www.rockford.nl "Walkin' In" is the third single and accompanying music video from Dutch rockers Rockford's forthcoming debut album out later this year. Here's what the singer/guitarist Niels Schmitz had to say about the track: "Picture yourself going to a party, gig or meeting. Everybody has high expectations and all of them believe in your skills or talent. The only one in the room who doesn't believe he can do it, or live up to the expectations is YOU. That"s what "Walkin' In" is about. So that's the reason he screams it out in the chorus "I can't be what you see". The person in the song has to figure out what his true purpose is in life."

Rockford is everything a rock band should be. Borrowing heavily from Seattle grunge legends Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains, this threepiece from the rainy and damp lowlands town of Klundert, Netherlands is a step forward for heavy, grinding, slow-riffing detuned Stoner rock that's as Pop as The Beatles. One listen to their songs and you'll be singing their lyrics unknowingly. Named after singer/guitarist Niels Schmitz' birthplace in the USA, Rockford recorded their forthcoming label debut BROKEN RECORDS on analog tape with Patrick Delabie at his legendary Recording Studio 195 in Wernhout, Netherlands.

Bring Back The Ghosts is the debut single from American family trio, Female President. This first single from their forthcoming EP, Our Year To Grieve, touches on the theme of loss as a result of the world-wide pandemic; through the lens of one family living through it. The video for Bring Back The Ghosts was shot in their home to touch on how the band started. Inspired by early roots rock, the simplistic riff, subtle drums, and catchy melody are offered as a way to bring a positive mood and hope to an audience missing concerts and community. Dréa Atkins (of Farewell Albatross), Johnny Moss (of DSR), and Jasper Cunningham (of Vacant Lights) formed the band during the summer of 2020. Female President will be releasing their next single in March 2022, and the complete EP in June of 2022. The EP is dedicated to the loss of many family and community members over the last year, including Dréa's father. An American family trio inspired by early roots of rock n roll; simplistic riffs that groove and dynamics that build to a fever pitch. Started during the pandemic as a way to cope with canceled tours and shuttered venues, Female President writes songs with an honest grit and emotional vibe that you can groove to and rock out. Combining their unique styles of playing and genuine love of music, Female President is an energized modern rock band with a sound all its own.

KAWALA

Live at Beyond Vinyl - Newcastle

www.kawalaofficial.com On a rainy evening in Newcastle upon Tyne, something great was about to happen. In an independent record store in the heart of historic Newcastle, a city with more musical heritage than you can shake a stick at, a dedicated group of like-minded music fans were about to witness a very special event. From the London borough of Camden, Kawala brought their own brand of indie-folk, pop-rock music to Beyond Vinyl on Westgate road. The store was packed out with Kawala fans eagerly clutching their brand new vinyl. The band were set up and ready to rock the socks off the Newcastle crowd with an acoustic set featuring songs from their brand new debut studio album "Better With You". With a short introduction from Jim and Daniel who welcomed the crowd the band kicked off a short set featuring tracks such as "Jesse C'mon". As Kawala strummed and hummed you could see people walking by outside the store stop and try to garner a look at the London lads. Clearly, the music hadn't just got the in-store crowd going; it was that good that the passing public were visibly intrigued.

There is honestly not a single negative. This band seems to keep going from strength to strength. They have already seen success with their previous release, "Do It Like You Do", and this album looks set to supercede that. A solid album backed up by a stellar performance. Kawala has created something very special with "Better With You". Do your ears a favour and head over to their website to find out how you can get your hands on a copy. Kawala are also about to embark on a UK tour so make sure you don't miss out on the opportunity to see this band live.

It is not always easy to play an acoustic set in an intimate venue but Kawala had no issues putting on a memorable performance. The vocal harmonies were on point, as were the instrumentals. There was plenty of crowd participation during "Hypnotized" and "Echoes" which went down well and helped everyone feel involved. Picture The lads topped off the night by asking for suggestions, to which the overwhelming majority of the audience requested "Animal". Jim jokingly asked for a moment to while he tried to remember how to play it before giving a stunning rendition. There is honestly not a single negative. This band

MUSIC NEWS MONTHLY

BRIAN MAY

Released 22 April on Boxset, CD, Vinyl, Cassette & Digital formats Single 'On My Way Up' comes out on the same date. When Brian May finished touring his debut solo album, Back to the Light, he began to throw open his doors to fresh possibilities. "I got all these little kinds of commissions and triggers and inspirations from outside," said Brian, who took ownership of these "triggers" and moulded them into a second solo album in his own image. Now released as the second strike in Brian's Gold Series reissues campaign, Another World pays rich, raucous and fully felt testimony to the legendary Queen guitarist and songwriter's roots and reach: between its expansive energies and immersive craft, the album's worldclass quality rings out.

All photos Copyright Richard Gray - Duck Productions

Another World Revisited With Remastered Gold Series Reissue

The gentleness of this track softens us up in readiness for the bulldozer anthemic crunch and Red Special roar of 'Business', originally commissioned for 1993's UK TV show Frank Stubbs Promotes. Brian made this tale of "an eternal optimist" his own, with Cozy's input thrust upfront. "You immediately hear this massive drum track come in and that's very much him. It's meant to be as big as it gets – I want Cozy's life to be marked The album receives a multi-format release April 22 along with as big as possible," said Brian at the time. "It isn't about somebody hitting something, it's about the inner energy and the album's original single release 'On My Way Up'. strength and optimism of this guy. Driven by the potent drumming of the much-missed Cozy He's a crucial part of this album and I don't know what the Hell Powell, who tragically passed away prior to the album's I will do without him." release, Another World is a superlative successor to Back to the Light. Drawn from many sources of inspiration, the record The album's fire stays lit for the playful live killer 'China Belle', emerged in June 1998 as an album of roof-raising rock'n'roll before 'Why Don't We Try Again' finds Brian digging deep and scorching guitar and indelible melodies, plus a couple of inside for a plaintive ballad. Written years earlier but deemed impassioned covers. The album is full of dangerous too personal for Queen, the song finds Brian sublimely unguarded feelings and uplift, with guests including Jeff Beck assured in his vocal range. A regular feature of Brian's solo and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins helping to stoke its concerts, 'On My Way Up' is a deliciously infectious romp, fires. commissioned for Series 2 of Frank Stubbs while work on Queen's Made in Heaven album proceeded. Backing singers Warmly received by the press on its original release in 1998, Cathy Porter and Shelley Preston help the melody reach a the album birthed four electric singles in 'The Business (Rock high, in tune with the character of Stubbs as a lead figure in on Cozy Mix)', 'On My Way Up', 'Another World' and 'Why Don't the series. "The central character of this song is someone who We Try Again'. It also ushered Brian and his band out on a is basically a loser, but has total belief and a kind of insane hugely successful 42-date tour covering a large swathe of the optimism, and he's going somewhere, you know, "man, I'm on world and packing out prestigious venues including London's my way" kind of thing, so that's what the song was, and again, Royal Albert Hall. it became imbued with different things, once I got going on the track, but it's basically funny. It's funny, and it's optimistic Space' is the album's overture, introducing the idea of opening and loud." up spaces in which one can breathe and create safely.

A more sci-fi source inspired 'Cyborg', influenced by Brian's collaboration on the video games Rise Of The Robots and Rise 2: Resurrection, the song adopts the perspective of a robot longing to escape his skin (a metaphor for humanity's longings for another world?) and features ballistic drums from Taylor Hawkins. Brian was full of praise for his guest, in the early days of the Foo Fighters: "He'd never really done a studio session for someone else, so he was wired to the hilt - you could imagine. He's going "this is f*****g awesome". I mean, there is energy spilling out all over Surrey from this guy, incredible! I think he's well represented on the track – it's insane, the amount of energy on there." For 'The Guv'nor', another contributor steps up. Though at one time intended for a proposed but unmade film about a bare-knuckle boxer, the song pivots on Brian's reverence for guesting guitarist Jeff Beck. "In our world, Jeff is the guv'nor – the standard by which you judge yourself," said Brian, who

"This, dear Listener, is the second release in my "Brian May Gold Series" reissues. To this album, historically my second solo record, we've applied the same loving care that we lavished on 'Back to the Light' – repolishing and remastering but using the exact original mixes. Originally delivered 24 years ago, 'Another World' is now reborn just as it was originally created." – Brian May. 2022

forged this low-slung, blues-rock belter from his admiration for the legendary Yardbirds man. A stark ballad follows in 'Wilderness', a late entrant for the album with Brian in fine voice once again. And it's followed by tributes to his influences. After Back to the Light, Brian envisaged making an entire album of covers titled Heroes, to include the original song 'No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)' as a tribute to the late Freddie Mercury. When Queen adopted Brian's song for the Queen Rocks compilation in 1997, he moved on from the 'heroes' concept but channelled its spirit into Another World's covers. 'Slow Down' is a classic Larry Williams 12-bar blues romp recorded live with Cozy, bassist Neil Murray, Queen keyboardist Spike Edney and guitarist Jamie Moses. And then follows a unique tribute to Brian's all-time hero Jimi Hendrix. Powered by liquid guitars, 'One Rainy Wish' is a dreamy take on the Hendrix classic, which fits perfectly with Another World's other-worldly musings. "That song was the description of Jimi's dream, his exact transposition in words and music," says Brian. "I always wanted to try my hand at interpreting it my way."

The final cover version hits close to home for Brian. 'All the Way from Memphis' was a 1973 hit for Mott the Hoople, who took the young Queenies on tour as an opening act in the very early days of Queen – formative transatlantic jaunts that inspired Brian's massive Queen rocker 'Now I'm Here'. Describing that touring experience as "blinding", Brian adds, "I used to watch them do 'All the Way from Memphis' every night, and the place would erupt, like an earthquake. They really were a fantastic band live." Hoople front man Ian Hunter appears on this adrenalized cover by Brian as 'Special Guest Raconteur'. The album reaches its close with an original song forged from Brian's soundtrack work. The years following Back to the Light saw Brian occasionally composing music for films, including The Adventures of Pinocchio and a radio version of The Amazing Spider-Man. 'Another World' emerged when Brian's film-writer friend Peter Howitt requested a song for his forthcoming movie Sliding Doors, which was to feature Gwyneth Paltrow. Brian's response was a sublime reverie on secret desires, parallel universes and paths untaken, lovingly tailored to the story of the film. Eventually, due to contractual crossed wires, the song never made it into the movie. Brian reclaimed it for Another World, where it testifies exquisitely to his melodic skills. As a kind of 'bonus' the CD reissue closes with 'Being on My Own', a previously 'hidden' piano piece now incorporated into the album's CD formats. For Brian, Another World upholds the value of the opendoor policy he adopted post-Back to the Light. "I travelled a lot of paths to gather all the pieces," he said. "In order to have something worthwhile for the next Brian May album, I would have to rediscover who I was. I decided to go out and do a lot of playing and open myself up for projects because I didn't want to make another purely introspective album. I thought I would go out into the world, experience things and rediscover my roots." This self-outreach programme assumed many forms. While some of his time in this period was devoted to Queen's Made in Heaven album, the gradual cessation of Queen's activities freed Brian up to accept some of the offers he hadn't the time to accept previously. Some of this work features on Another World's 15-track rarities set, Another Disc, which opens on a deeply moving note. Another World was dedicated to two much-loved figures in Brian's life, his late mother and Cozy, who died in a car crash on 5 April 1998 at the age of 50. "It's impossible to describe what a terrible gap it's going to leave in our lives, our mate Cozy not being here," said Brian on a spoken-word tribute to Cozy in 1998, which opens Another Disc. "He was a fantastic support, a fantastic energy and vibe, he had the most incredible attitude to life which leaked over into everything he did." That attitude roars out of 'The Business (Rock on Cozy Mix)', which emphasizes Powell's drumming thunderously. Also on Another Disc are four covers Brian recorded under the alter ego T E Conway for Retro Rock Special, an EP previously only available to purchasers of Another World in 1998.

The songs range joyously from The Rocky Horror Show's rollicking 'Hot Patootie' to Buddy Holly and the Crickets' stunning 'Maybe Baby,' The Shadows' electric 'F.B.I.' (recorded with Status Quo's Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt) and Conway Twitty's immortal 'It's Only Make Believe'. Also featured on the disc is a transcendent Spanish sung version of 'Another World,' 'Otro Lugar,' alongside a blistering instrumental attack on 'Cyborg' and a hard rocking guitar version of 'On My Way Up'. Fantastic live cuts highlight The Brian May Band's live form at the time: dedicated by Brian to "absent friends," 'Hammer to Fall' starts tenderly before roaring into rock'n'roll life, while 'On My Way Up' brims with pep. Three alternative takes on 'Business' reveal Brian's work on 'stings' for the TV series. And the disc closes with 'My Boy,' a heartfelt piano ballad recorded by Brian in 1980 and until now, almost unknown to the public. Long unavailable in any format, this timely re-issue in a variety of formats has been personally overseen by Brian himself along with original co-producer Justin ShirleySmith, Queen and BM Pro Tools expert Kris Fredriksson and longtime Queen art designer Richard Gray. Meticulously restored with mastering by Bob Ludwig, working from the true original mixes for maximum quality, the album will be reissued in multiple formats, including 1-CD and – on 180g heavyweight black vinyl – 1LP versions. The 2CD Deluxe set adds Another Disc (mastered by Adam Ayan), while a 2-CD + 1-LP Collector's Edition includes both CDs and a sky-blue vinyl LP in a 12" lift lid box, complete with 32-page booklet and enamel badge. Queen Online Store exclusives will include picture disc and cassette options. On all fronts, Another World documents Brian's personal journey, with 'A Different Place, way across Time and Space" in mind, and pure emotional honesty at its core. As he explained of the record's concept, "I hoped that by the time I got to the end of the project, I would have brought about a change in myself. I thought, 'When the album is finished, I will have made this journey, and I will have got to this other place, and I can tell everyone how I did it'; but to be honest, I didn't really manage it. The truth of the album is that it's a journey which is still taking place." In his new 2022 liner notes, Brian notes how far we have all travelled since the album's release in 1998, but also that the exploration feels very appropriate at this time. "It seems perhaps that in 2022 we ARE in Another World," he writes, "but if it's not quite the world we asked for, perhaps we can still reach that perfect world... in our dreams. JOIN ME !!!" Bursting with forceful rock anthems, open-hearted yearning, lush melodies and galvanizing guitar work, Another World sends out a gloriously irresistible invitation to do just that.

Another World: The Bri-Art Collection

The re-issue of "Another World" is also celebrated with a unique book of fan-art — or, in this case, 'Bri-art', as it has become, now a phenomenon in the Instagram community. The pictures in the book are curated from the work of both amateur and professional artists. This astonishing collection of artwork offers a visual accompaniment to tracks from the album and other related imagery. It showcases the diverse talents of this community of artists, all of whom have been so deeply inspired by Brian and his music, career, and accomplishments. Within these pages reside over 300 unique pieces of artwork in various media and styles, each illustrating a one-of-kind perspective of Dr May in Another World, created by those who love him best. - Featuring over 300 unique pieces of artwork created by artists from all over the world. - Over 100 full colour pages. - Size: 300 x 300mm (The size of a vinyl album). - Hardback edition. - 100% of profit will be donated to Brian's charity the Save Me Trust. Another World: The Bri-Art Collection, published by The London Stereoscopic Company, available from https://shop.londonstereo.com or https://www.queenonlinestore.com/Brian-May 100% of profit will be donated to Brian's charity the Save Me Trust. savemetrust.co.uk

We're sure you're getting tired of seeing announcements like this. When we planned our 2022 tour 7 months ago we hoped we would be in a more ideal place to carry it out by now. Hopefully things are improving but unfortunately, because of the current state of the pandemic and travel & local restrictions, we're not quite at a point where we can pull off a tour. Our spring '22 tour of Europe and the U.S. will have to be postponed to spring '23. We'd come sooner but the rest of this year has been reserved by artists who previously had to cancel. We're extremely disappointed we won't get to see you this year, it was going to be doubly rocktastic after not being able to tour in 2020, so we will rock you triply in 2023. Hold on to your tickets, they'll be valid for the new dates (except Colorado, see below) and if the new date doesn't work for you you'll be given a full refund at the point of purchase. All of the cities and venues remain the same except the Boulder, CO show will be refunded and moved to Denver's Gothic Theatre, the venues in Vienna and Milan have changed but your tickets will be honoured, and we've added a new show in Nimes, France. See all the new tour dates here: www.eelstheband.com/tourdates/

MUSIC NEWS MONTHLY

RANDY EDELMAN ‘HOW COULD I LET YOU GO’ f/ Chioma World-renowned composer and singersongwriter Randy Edelman kicks off 2022 with his new single “How Could I Let You Go” featuring up-and-coming vocalist Chioma – released via boutique NYC label Tribeca Records (a SohoJohnny Enterprise).

As the official follow-up to Randy’s 2021 single “Comin’ Out the Other Side”, “How Could I Let You Go” combines modern pop production and classic songwriting with Randy’s undeniable ear for greatness, achieved by decades of experience as one of the world’s most prolific composers. During his illustrious career, Randy has cemented his status as one of Hollywood’s go-to composers by scoring some of Hollywood’s most iconic soundtracks including Ghostbusters II, The Last of the Mohicans, Dragonheart, The Mask, Beethoven, 27 Dresses, While You Were Sleeping, Kindergarten Cop, The Whole Nine Yards, Twins, My Cousin Vinny, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story to name a few. Joining this are Randy’s scores for hit television shows and series including MacGyver, Mr. Sunshine, Backdraft 2 for Netflix, and Citizen X for HBO. Aside from bringing Hollywood to life with his sonic creations, the Emmy Award winner has also ventured into composing for historic cultural moments, crafting “Dare Mighty Things” for NASA’s final Shuttle launch and even the NBC “on air” Olympic Theme, of which he has celebrated over 20 years of Olympic themed glory keeping the musical flame alive.

Crete, Greece's Prince Of Lilies just released "Feel Pain", the lead single from their forthcoming sophomore studio album 'Hurst' that was recorded in Chicago, USA once again by Nirvana noise-guru Steve Albini.

With two UK Top 40 singles, 250K+ Spotify monthly listeners and millions upon millions of streams to his name, Randy took home the BMI Spotlight Award for his work composing the theme of the 2014 Winter Games and has also been interviewed by the likes of Sky TV as well as numerous BBC Radio stations across the UK. Traversing decades and genres, Randy continued to make history when he co-wrote Nelly’s #1 global hit single “My Place” and has had the likes of Barry Manilow, Olivia Newton-John, Patti LaBelle, The Carpenters, Kool & The Gang, Agnetha Faltskog (ABBA) and Bing Crosby record his songs – positioning Randy as one of the most soughtafter creatives in music for decades. With “How Could I Let You Go” marking an exciting new era in one of the music industry’s most enviable careers, this single continues to prove Randy as a musical chameleon with so much more still to offer – a modern icon of our times who must be celebrated for his ongoing contributions to music and film.

www.randyedelman.com

Watch the skateboarding footage infused video below that features Mario "Stoker" Sulka, a local surfer of the CST (Cretan Surf Tribe), which all band members of Prince Of Lilies are also members of.

Here's what the band said about the track: Here's what the band said about the track: "Feel Pain is about being totally lost and in the process of losing control of your life and just not knowing where to go when you are so far down on the ground. But you can always remember the ones you hurt on that way down, and ask for forgiveness. If you can forgive all others, then you can also forgive yourself. Life is worth living so don't give up. Become humble and begin anew."

Alfie Hodgson

DaemöniK Fonce

Is Making Waves With New Single ‘Can You See Me?’

By Amy Wright – ‘Be You MUSIC PR’

Alfie Hodgson Is Making Waves With New Single ‘Can You See Me?’ By Amy Wright – ‘Be You MUSIC PR’ Cumbrian Artist Alfie Hodgson bounces back into the music world with his latest single ‘Can You See Me?’

Experimental punk rock band DaemöniK Fonce have recently released their stunning debut album "Eye Love DaemöniK Fonce" and we have been lucky enough to get our grubby mitts on a copy. The band who were formed by twins Stewart and Paul Summers with old touring buddies Sam Mansbridge on bass, Hannah Edgreen on keys and vocals with Gui Rujao on drums, are the perfect mix of psychedelia and punk rock with a dash of poetic genius thrown in to the mix. The genre defying album is very different from anything you will have heard before. Glorious vocal harmonies sit effortlessly next to hard core punk tracks like the hilariously catchy "Badgers + Ferrets". Trust me, this song will add a new perspective on a walk in the woods. A solid ten track album which will keep your head moving, your toes tapping and your mind working. With just the right amount of wit and humour DK know how to entertain.

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The highlights on the album include their love song "My Baby's The Right Side Of Rough" which is a sure fire winner. This is a band who not only want the listener to rock out, they also want to give their fans a bit of a laugh. That is not to say that they aren't serious musicians, they are clearly high skilled at their craft. "Eye Love DaemöniK Fonce" is available right now through Property Of The Lost at www.propertyofthelost.co.uk on CD, Vinyl and digitally.

With merging sounds between Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles and MGMT, ‘Can You See Me?’ is an edgy, addictive, indierock track, that will very quickly get stuck in your head, and you will be listening to it again and again. Be You Music PR caught up with Alfie to find out the meaning behind his latest track: “The meaning of the song is that you can find someone so amazing and think they are the best thing ever, and do all these fantastic things with these people, and just as fast as you met them, they forget about you and move on, and start ignoring you”. The new single will be released across all streaming platforms on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Alfie will be performing live in store at HMV Workington on Saturday March 12, 2022, at 2pm as part of HMV’s Live & Local Sessions. Follow Alfie on social media: www.facebook.com/alfiehodgsonofficial Instagram: @alfiehodgson_music

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