8 d. ago Olivia Dean: The Art of Loving review – British pop’s biggest new star sheds the neo

(Polydor)Already dominating the charts and seemingly inspired by 70s LA, this exceptionally well-made record is full of diaristic detail and sweetly understated vocalsIf you have been paying any attention to the UK singles chart recently, it can hardly have escaped your notice that for the last couple of months it has been utterly dominated by the soundtrack for the Netflix smash KPop Demon Hunters. At the time of writing, Golden, by the cartoon’s chief protagonists Huntr/x, is enjoying its seventh week at No 1: a couple of weeks back, songs from the film would have occupied seven places in the Top 10 had chart rules not limited artists to three appearances in the Top 40.The most striking challenge to its supremacy has been mounted by London singer-songwriter Olivia Dean. Her single Man I Need has been dug in at No 2 for the last month and has been joined in the Top 10 by its predecessor, Nice to Each Other, and her collaboration with Sam Fender, Rein Me In. Further down the Top 20,...

Politics

3 w. ago Mercury Prize announces 12 best albums of the year with Sam Fender man to beat

The Mercury Prize 12 Albums of the Year have been unveiled and with the ceremony being held in Newcastle for the first time, Geordie Sam Fender is the one to beat

Politics

3 w. ago Rock acts Fontaines DC, Sam Fender and Wolf Alice shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize

An Irish act could win for the first time in Mercury Prize history, with both Fontaines DC and pop singer CMAT shortlisted, while North Shields singer-songwriter Fender will be hoping for a homecoming triumph as the ceremony takes place in Newcastle

Politics

3 w. ago Pulp, CMAT and Sam Fender among artists nominated for 2025 Mercury Prize

Britpop band Pulp previously won the prize in 1996 for Different Class.

Politics

3 w. ago Cmat, Pulp and PinkPantheress among Mercury prize shortlist light on new names

Only two debut albums – including the ‘token’ jazz release – feature among this year’s list of nominations for the coveted UK and Irish music prizeA raft of familiar names fill this year’s list of Mercury prize nominations, with only two debuts among the 12 shortlisted albums. In Limerence, the first full-length by the Scottish folk songwriter Jacob Alon, and Hamstrings and Hurricanes, the first by Welsh jazz musician Joe Webb, will compete with the likes of Pulp’s comeback album More, folk godfather Martin Carthy’s Transform Me Then Into a Fish and the album with the UK’s biggest opening week of the year so far, People Watching by Sam Fender.The list is split 50/50 between male and female or mixed acts. The solo female artists on the list tend to the iconoclastic: Irish pop star Cmat’s acclaimed third album Euro-Country, Leeds jazz musician Emma-Jean Thackray’s Weirdo, FKA twigs’ Eusexua and PinkPantheress’s mixtape Fancy That. As for bands, as well as Pulp, the Irish band Fontaine...

Politics

3 w. ago Greta goes punk! Swedish activist has ditched trademark anoraks and plaits for trendy bangs, protest tees and hanging out with Bob Vylan and Sam Fender

Ahead of Thunberg's departure from Spain for Gaza, the 22-year-old was seen wearing a Fontaines D.C. football shirt - and was praised by punk rap duo Bob Vylan.

Events

4 w. ago Sam Fender’s arena tour gives huge cash boost to UK’s grassroot venues

Sam Fender’s 2024 arena tour raised more than £100,000 for grassroots music venues.

Politics

4 w. ago Sam Fender’s tour raised £100,000 to boost grassroots music venues

Almost 40 venues in England, Scotland and Wales have benefitted from the funding.

Economics