Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 108
April 25, 2025
Simple Minds Release New Live Album Ahead of Biggest North American Tour in 4 Decades
SIMPLE MINDS RELEASE NEW LIVE ALBUM
AHEAD OF BIGGEST NORTH AMERICAN TOUR IN FOUR DECADES
LIVE IN THE CITY OF DIAMONDS OUT TODAY
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE RECORDED LAST YEAR
AT AMSTERDAM’S ZIGGO DOME, CAPTURING THE BAND
AT THE PEAK OF THEIR POWERS
***
“Blazing with conviction.” MOJO
“As a document of one of the planet’s great crowd-pleasers in their late period pomp, this is a gem.” 4/5, Classic Pop
“Simply majestic.” 4/5, Vive Le Rock
“As commanding as ever.” 4/5, The Sun
Today, BMG releases Simple Minds’ new live album, Live in The City of Diamonds, ahead of the band's biggest North American tour in four decades. The album is available now in a variety of formats, including a 2 x CD Media Book featuring 24 tracks and a 24-page book including exclusive photos and tour notes written by Jim Kerr, Double Black Vinyl with 18 tracks, housed in a gatefold sleeve with a hi hi-spec finish, and Specialist Retail Exclusive Vinyl that is Double clear/glitter vinyl housed in gatefold sleeve with hi-spec finish.
One of the greatest live bands of their generation, from their roots as a nascent post-punk art rock band, through their arena and stadium straddling days in the 1980s and ‘90s, and up to the present day, Simple Minds have always prided themselves on their live reputation, having last year played to approximately one million people around the globe.
Live in The City of Diamonds completes the triptych of the Live in The City series, dating back to 1987, and captures the visceral excitement of a Simple Minds concert. Recorded at a sold-out Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome on April 6, 2024, to an audience of 17,000 people, the band play a perfect mixture of songs from throughout their dynamic career.
The album features early pioneering tracks such as "Love Song," "Sons and Fascination" and "Sweat in Bullet," songs from their era-defining album New Gold Dream, including their first Top 20 UK single "Promised You a Miracle," the tribute to their hometown of Glasgow and live set opener, "Waterfront," 1985’s international hit "Don’t You Forget About Me" and songs from the multi-platinum album Once Upon A Time (both celebrating their 40th anniversaries this year), 1989’s number one single "Belfast Child," and "See The Lights," a fan favorite from 1991’s Real Life.
Live in The City of Diamonds is the perfect summation of Simple Minds' current live prowess and the ever-evolving sound of a remarkable band, which features the extraordinary talents of lifelong members and friends Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (lead guitars), with Gordy Goudie (rhythm guitar), Ged Grimes (bass), Cherisse Osei (drums), Erik Ljungggren (keyboards) and Sarah Brown (vocals).
Tracklists:
CD Media book:
CD1
1. Waterfront
2. Love Song
3. Sons And Fascination
4. Sweat In Bullet
5. This Fear Of Gods
6. Let There Be Love
7. She's A River
8. Once Upon A Time
9. Glittering Prize
10. New Gold Dream
11. Promised You A Miracle
12. Belfast Child
CD2
1. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
2. See The Lights
3. Book Of Brilliant Things
4. Don’t You (Forget About Me)
5. Alive And Kicking
6. Sanctify Yourself
7. Vision Thing
8. The American
9. Solstice Kiss
10. Premonition
11. Hunter And The Hunted
12. Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel
Vinyl:
Side A:
1. Waterfront
2. Love Song
3. Sons And Fascination
4. Sweat In Bullet
5. This Fear Of Gods
Side B:
1. Let There Be Love
2. She's A River
3. Once Upon A Time
4. Glittering Prize
5. New Gold Dream
Side C:
1. Promised You A Miracle
2. Belfast Child
3. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
4. See The Lights
Side D:
1. Book Of Brilliant Things
2. Don’t You (Forget About Me)
3. Alive And Kicking
4. Sanctify Yourself
# # #
SIMPLE MINDS - NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025
MAY
16 - Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
17 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
20 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord
22 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
23 – Greater Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena
24 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
25 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
27 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
30 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
31 – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
JUNE
1 – Irving, TX – The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
4 – Rogers, AR - The Walmart AMP
5 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
10 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
11 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Mann Center
15 – Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
17 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
18 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
20 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
21 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
22 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Acclaimed Singer & Actress Ute Lemper Celebrates Revolutionary Composer Kurt Weill's 125th Birthday With New Album & Single
“Fierce, multilingual chanteuse Ute Lemper” - The New York Times
“She may channel the likes of Dietrich and Piaf, with a strong sense of Jean Ross, but Lemper is still very much her own woman” - The Guardian
"A chanteuse of unique range and ability across all media" - The Washington Post
“It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”
- Ute Lemper on Pirate Jenny
“It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”
- Ute Lemper on Pirate Jenny
April 25, 2025 - Nearly four decades after her breakthrough Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill, renowned singer and actress Ute Lemper returns to her artistic roots with Pirate Jenny, a bold electronic reimagining of classics from revolutionary composer Kurt Weill's songbook, released today through The Audiophile Society.
Leading the release is Lemper’s fierce spin on “Pirate Jenny,” the murderous revenge anthem of a maid-turned-pirate commander also famously sung by Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall. The album also features fresh takes on beloved tracks like "Surabaya Johnny," “The Salomon Song,” and "My Ship," and singles “Mack the Knife” and “Speak Low,” stripping away traditional arrangements and updating with cutting-edge production and a fresh, modern soundscape.
Sultry vocals and atmospheric beats are brought to life with The Audiophile Society’s immersive Mega-Dimensional Sound™, transporting longtime fans and new listeners alike to a smoky Berlin jazz club outside of time, reminiscent of Lemper’s award-winning roles as Cabaret's Sally Bowles in Paris and Chicago's Velma Kelly in New York and London.
“This project is about creating a new audience for Kurt Weill,” says Lemper. “By blending his timeless melodies with a groove. I’m opening the door for younger listeners who might not know his work. It’s about building a bridge between eras, where Weimar meets the club.”
Photo Credit: Jim Rackete
Lemper will perform her acclaimed one-woman show “Rendezvous With Marlene” and some of Weill’s eternal classics live at Neue Galerie and 54 Below in New York Citythis May – international tour dates here.
“Rendezvous With Marlene” | Neue Galerie
Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 15 at 7pm ET
“Ute Lemper Sings Kurt Weill” | 54 Below
Tuesday, May 27 at 7pm ET
Thursday, May 29 at 7pm ET
A Billboard Crossover Artist of the Year, Lemper has reimagined icons like Marlene Dietrich (Rendezvous with Marlene is based on a three-hour phone call between Dietrich and Lemper), Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, alongside more modern collaborations with artists like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, and Roger Waters (The Wall: Live in Berlin, 1990).
Pirate Jenny isn’t just a revival—it’s a reinvention. Whether you’re a fan of cabaret, a lover of jazz, or someone who lives for groove, this album promises a fresh perspective on music that has shaped generations.
Track List
Mack the Knife
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein
Speak Low
Lyrics: Ogden Nash / Music: Kurt Weill
One Touch of Venus
Surabaya Johnny
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
Happy End
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein
My Ship
Lyrics: Ira Gershwin / Music: Kurt Weill
Lady in the Dark
Pirate Jenny
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein
Le Grand Lustucru
Lyrics: Jacques Deval / Music: Kurt Weill
Marie Galante
Ballade vom Ertrunkenen Mädchen
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Flight of Lindbergh
The Salomon Song
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht / Music: Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera
Photo Credit: Jim Rackete
ARCADE FIRE “PINK ELEPHANT” TITLE TRACK & VISUALIZER OUT NOW
ARCADE FIRE
“PINK ELEPHANT”
TITLE TRACK & VISUALIZER OUT NOW
NEW ALBUM OUT MAY 9
APPEARING MAY 10 ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Arcade Fire has unveiled “Pink Elephant,” the title track of the band’s forthcoming seventh studio album, out May 9, 2025 via Columbia Records. Available now across all digital platforms and accompanied by a visualizer that can be seen HERE, “Pink Elephant” is the second brand new song to be made available from the album of the same name, following the “thrumming bass line and anthemic glimmers” (BILLBOARD) of “Year of the Snake.”
Arcade Fire will appear May 10 on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Taking place the day after Pink Elephant’s arrival, the performance will mark the band’s sixth time as musical guest.
The term “pink elephant” refers to that paradoxical effect where the effort to suppress a thought leads to it being impossible to avoid— as exemplified in the song “Pink Elephant” by the impassioned futility of the repeated refrain of “Take your mind off me.”
The first full-length collection of new Arcade Fire music since 2022’s GRAMMY-nominated international #1 album WE, Pink Elephant is comprised of 10 new tracks of cinematic mystical punk clocking in at 42 minutes. Pink Elephant is produced by Win Butler, Régine Chassagne and Daniel Lanois and was recorded at Win and Régine’s own Good News Recording Studio in New Orleans.
When experienced in its entirety, Pink Elephant invites the listener on a sonic odyssey – a quest for life – that exists within the perception of the individual, a meditation on both darkness and light, the beauty within. The layers of this condensed epic unfold to reveal new dimensions with each successive listen.
In the lead-up to Pink Elephant’s release, Arcade Fire has embarked on a limited series of special gigs in select cities — including tonight at New Orleans’ Saenger Theater and London’s Royal Albert Hall on 14th May — performing the upcoming new album in its entirety. Visit Arcade Fire site and socials for more information on these intimate sold out shows, or alternatively download the Circle of Trust app – a resource for Arcade Fire news, music, videos, early access to tickets, exclusive merch, and episodes of Santa Pirata Radio, where the band speak directly to fans and offer personal insights and behind the scenes info on all things Arcade Fire.
The Circle of Trust app can be downloaded HERE
Pink Elephant will be available in multiple formats. Pre-Order HERE
Photo Credit: Danny Clinch
Billy Idol's "Dream Into It" out now on Dark Horse Records; performs on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Monday, U.S. tour kicks off Wednesday
AVRIL LAVIGNE ON “JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!” APRIL 28TOUR WITH JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS KICKS OFF
APRIL 30 IN PHOENIXIDOL NOMINATED FOR ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME, DOCUMENTARY FILM BILLY IDOL SHOULD BE DEAD TO DEBUT AT TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
photo credit: David RaccugliaApril 25, 2025—Rock legend Billy Idol’s first full-length album of new music in over a decade, Dream Into It , is out now on Dark Horse Records. Dream Into It includes performance and co-writing contributions throughout from Idol’s longtime guitarist/collaborator Steve Stevens plus appearances by Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett and Alison Mosshart of The Kills, and is produced by Tommy English (Kacey Musgraves, blink 182, BØRNS, K. Flay). See below for a complete track list and album art, and stream/purchase the record HERE .In celebration of the album’s release, Idol is performing his latest single “77” featuring Avril Lavigne on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” April 28. Idol recently debuted the track alongside a Spencer Ramsey-directed animated video; watch/share the video HERE .Lavigne joined Idol for an album trailer ahead of the record’s release, watch/share the Lance Bangs-directed clip HERE .Idol previously shared the single “Still Dancing” alongside a video directed by Steven Sebring; stream/share the video and track HERE .Alongside the upcoming album, Idol and Stevens were recently nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, with inductees to be announced soon. Idol is also set for the premiere of the new documentary film Billy Idol Should Be Dead at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10. Directed by three-time Grammy-winner Jonas Åkerlund, Billy Idol Should Be Dead is a feature-length documentary tracing the life and career of the punk pioneer turned rock ‘n’ roll icon. Through never-before-seen archival and personal interviews with Idol, his family, peers and collaborators, the documentary digs deep into his emergence as a prototypical punk rocker, his meteoric rise as a global superstar in the MTV era and the myriad of challenges Idol had to overcome to not just survive, but to remain one of the most beloved figures in rock n roll, almost fifty years into his career. Additional details and tickets are available HERE .Additionally, Idol is returning to the road for It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again! Fellow superstar Joan Jett & the Blackhearts will join Idol on all shows. Produced by Live Nation, the run of arenas and amphitheatres kicks off at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix on April 30 and includes stops at an array of storied venues including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD and more. Tickets are available at billyidol.net/tour , see below for a complete list of dates. Five dollars from every ticket sold to the Los Angeles show at Kia Forum will be donated to the American Red Cross to support Southern California Wildfire Relief. Billly Idol will also personally match this donation.ABOUT BILLY IDOLFor 46 years, Billy Idol has been one of the definitive faces and voices of rock’n’roll. Between 1977 and 1981, Idol released three albums with Generation X as their camera-ready frontman. In 1982, he embarked on a transatlantic/trans-genre solo career that integrated the bold and simple lines of punk and rock’n’roll decadence. With his longtime guitarist/collaborator Steve Stevens at his side, Idol has toured consistently around the world for the last ten years. Showing no signs of slowing down, Idol released both The Roadside EP in 2021 and The Cage EP in 2022 on Dark Horse Records, earning praise from fans and critics alike.
BILLY IDOLDREAM INTO IT1. Dream Into It
2. 77 (featuring Avril Lavigne)
3. Too Much Fun
4. John Wayne (featuring Alison Mosshart)
5. Wildside (featuring Joan Jett)
6. People I Love
7. Gimme The Weight
8. I’m Your Hero
9. Still DancingBILLY IDOL: IT’S A NICE DAY TO…TOUR AGAIN!April 30—Phoenix, AZ—Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre*
May 3—Houston, TX—Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman*
May 4—Austin, TX—Moody Center*
May 7—Fort Worth, TX—Dickies Arena*
May 9—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre*
May 10—Tampa, FL—MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre*
May 13—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena*
May 16—Charlotte, NC—PNC Music Pavilion*
May 17—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena*
May 21—Cincinnati, OH—Riverbend Music Center*
May 23—Toronto, ON—Budweiser Stage*
June 18—Northeim, DE—Waldbuhne
June 20—Copenhagen, DK—Copenhell
June 22—Milton Keynes, UK—Forever Now Festival
June 24—London, UK—Wembley Arena†
June 27—Munich, DE—Koenigsplatz†
June 29—Bonn, DE—Kunstrasen†
July 2—Wiesbaden, DE—Brita-Arena†
Julu 4—Klam, AT—Clam Rock
July 5—Eisenstadt, AT—Lovely Days
July 8—Budapest, HU—Budapest Park
July 9—Belgrade, RS—Kalemegdan Park
August 14—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre*
August 16—Philadelphia, PA—TD Pavilion at The Mann*
August 17—Saratoga Springs, NY—Broadview Stage at SPAC*
August 20—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden Arena*
August 22—Columbia, MD—Merriweather Post Pavilion*
August 23—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center*
August 26—Bangor, ME—Maine Savings Amphitheatre*
August 28—Clarkston, MI—Pine Knob Music Theatre*
August 30—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center*
August 31—Milwaukee, WI—American Family Insurance Amphitheatre*
September 3—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
September 5—Salt Lake City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphithatre*
September 12—Palm Springs, CA—Acrisure Arena*
September 14—Berkeley, CA—Greek Theater*
September 17—Wheatland, CA—Toyota Amphitheatre*
September 19—Ridgefield, WA—Cascades Amphitheater*
September 20—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena*
September 23—Chula Vista, CA—North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*
September 25—Los Angeles, CA—The Kia Forum** with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
† with New Model Army BILLYIDOL.NET
BEL Signs with Nettwerk + Shares New Single "Fresh Start"
BEL
SIGNS WITH NETTWERK
SHARES BREEZY NEW SINGLE “FRESH START”
+ PERFORMING AT BOTTLEROCK NAPA VALLEY IN MAY
Photo Credit: SJ Spreng
April 25, 2025 – Today, rising LA-based artist BEL (née: Isabel Whelan) shares her charming new single, "Fresh Start.” Produced by Jason Vance Harris (Role Model, Juliet Ivy), the track arrives with her signing announcement to Nettwerk (Miya Folick, Alice Phoebe Lou), marking an exciting new chapter in her burgeoning career.
The breezy "Fresh Start" serves as a perfect introduction to BEL's evolving sound and thematic depth. The track explores the complex emotions tied to significant life changes – the initial melancholy and difficulty of letting go, balanced by the eventual acceptance and optimism that a new beginning brings. This sentiment is strikingly captured in the song's sonic landscape while managing to feel inherently fresh and invigorating, mirroring the promise of its title.
BEL explains, “I wrote it when I was moving out of the apartment I had been living in for three years. I had so many memories attached to it, and I lived within 5 minutes of my best friends. I was about to move to a part of town further away from everything. I was really emotional about it, but my friends knew just how to cheer me up and show me the bright side of it. It's a song of gratitude for the deep friendships in my life and acknowledging that change can be both painful and beautiful.”
The release of "Fresh Start" and partnership with Nettwerk signal a significant moment for BEL as she prepares to share more music with the world. BEL will hit the road this May, supporting labelmate Miya Folick for shows in Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco. Later in the summer, fans can also see her perform at BottleRock Napa Valley and Oceans Calling Festival. Full tour dates below.
LISTEN TO “FRESH START”:
https://bel.ffm.to/freshstart
SHARE “FRESH START” LYRIC VIDEO:
Tour Dates:
*Supporting Miya Folick
5/9 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar*
5/11 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater*
5/12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court*
5/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord
5/25 – Napa, CA @ BottleRock Napa Valley
9/26 – Ocean City, MD @ Oceans Calling Festival
Single Artwork | Download HERE
About BEL:
Hailing from the small town of Clovis, California, LA-based singer/songwriter BEL (Isabel Whelan) crafts music that resonates with a rare, timeless quality. Her work occupies a compelling intersection of indie rock, pop, and folk, distinguished by its profound honesty and meticulous attention to detail. Drawing inspiration from iconic artists like Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and Mazzy Star, BEL creates songs that feel both deeply nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary.
The UCLA graduate has spent the last few years opening for indie acts such as Cold War Kids, Boyish, Gatlin, Girlhouse, BAILEN, and The Rare Occasions. In a relatively short time span, BEL has earned accolades from SiriusXM (”Are You Okay?” was #1 on SiriusXMU), Spotify’s playlists New Music Friday, Indie Pop, All New Indie, Ultimate Indie, Undercurrents, New Pop Picks, Fresh Finds, etc. and press support from Rolling Stone, Ones To Watch, Atwood Magazine, and more across her three EPs 2021’s Muscle Memory, 2022’s Jet Lag and 2023’s Read The Room. With new music and touring on the horizon, the evolving musician and songwriter shows no signs of slowing down.
BEL’s Socials:
V**GRA BOYS RELEASE NEW ALBUM
V**GRA BOYS RELEASE NEW ALBUM v**gr aboys
Stockholm post-punk band V**gra Boys (** = ia because spam) have released their new album viagr aboys via their newly launched label, Shrimptech Enterprises. Co-produced with longtime collaborator Pelle Gunnerfeldt, the record channels the band’s sharp observational humor and unique ability to dismantle everything and nothing at the same time—juxtaposing real life with high art. The album opens with lead single “Man Made of Meat,” where Murphy taunts your mom’s OnlyFans, hopes to score free women’s sweaters from LL Bean, and lets out a full-fledged burp. Second single “Uno II” draws inspiration from Murphy’s Italian greyhound, Uno, who spent the last year in and out of vet visits. The conspiratorial anxiety of the song mirrors the paranoia of the conspiracy theorists the band has skewered in the past.
Stream the album: shrimptech.lnk.to/viagr-aboys
Watch the video for “The Bog Body”
Watch the video for “Uno II”
Watch the video for “Man Made of Meat”
After returning from extensive touring in 2023 and 2024, the band set up a new studio in Sweden and began recording. “We spent a lot of time together and went in almost every day, even if it was only for 20 minutes,” Murphy says. As the album evolved, new layers emerged in the band’s concussive mix. On “The Bog Body,” saxophones ride bass chord changes as synths singe the edges; “Waterboy” tumbles through mournful harmonies and a chunky bassline; and “Store Policy” leans into a post-apocalyptic dub groove, complete with Murphy’s cutting lyrics: “Smoking crypto is bad for your health / I’m touching myself by the health food shelf.”
Viagra Boys will support viagr aboys with their Infinite Anxiety Tour of 2025. Following their performance at Coachella, they’ll tour Europe and the UK throughout the spring before heading to North America in the fall. The 23-date U.S. and Canada leg—marking their first headline shows in the territory in two years—begins September 10 in Vancouver and includes stops in Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and more. Tickets are on sale now.
Photo Credit: Fredrik Bengtsson
v**gr aboys Tracklist
Man Made of Meat
The Bog Body
Uno II
Pyramid of Health
Dirty Boyz
Medicine for Horses
Waterboy
Store Policy
You N33d Me
Best in Show Pt.IV
River King
V**GR ABOYS - 2025 TOUR DATESEU/UK
Apr 25 FR, Paris, Zenith
Apr 26 BE, Brussels, AB
Apr 28 UK, Bournemouth, O2 Academy
Apr 29 UK, Birmingham, O2 Academy
Apr 30 UK, Cardiff, Depot
May 1 UK, Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
May 2 IE, Dublin, Olympia
May 3 IE, Dublin, Olympia
May 5 UK, Glasgow, Barrowlands
May 6 UK, London, 02 Brixton Academy
May 8 DE, Berlin, Columbiahalle
May 9 NL, Tilburg, 013
May 10 LX, Luxembourg, Rockhal
May 11 CH, Zurich, X-tra
US
Sep 11 Vancouver, BC, Malkin Bowl
Sep 12 Seattle, WA, Showbox SoDo
Sep 13 Seattle, WA, Showbox SoDo
Sep 14 Portland, OR, Grand Lodge
Sep 17 St Paul, MN, Palace Theatre
Sep 18 Chicago, IL, Fairgrounds at the Salt Shed
Sep 19 Royal Oak, MI, Royal Oak Music Theatre
Sep 20 Toronto, ON HISTORY
Sep 22 Montreal, QC, MTELUS
Sep 23 Boston, MA, Roadrunner
Sep 25 Brooklyn, NY, The Brooklyn Mirage
Sep 26 Washington, DC, The Anthem
Sep 27 Philadelphia, PA, Franklin Music Hall
Oct 21 San Diego, CA, The Sound
Oct 23 Oakland, CA, Fox Theater
Oct 24 Los Angeles CA, Shrine Expo Hall
Oct 25 Phoenix, AZ, The Van Buren
Oct 27 Salt Lake City, UT, The Union Event Center
Oct 28 Denver, CO, The Mission
Oct 30 Houston, TX, White Oak Music Hall
Oct 31 Austin, TX, Venue TBA
Nov 1 Dallas, TX, House of Blues
Nov 3 Raleigh, NC, The Ritz
Nov 4 Asheville, NC, The Orange Peel
Nov 6 St Louis, MO, The Pageant
Nov 7 Nashville, TN, Marathon Music Works
Nov 8 Atlanta, GA, The Eastern
2026 TOUR DATES
March 6 UK, London, Alexandra Palace
Tennis releases final album 'Face Down In The Garden'
BELOVED INDIE-POP DUO TENNIS RELEASES FINAL ALBUM
FACE DOWN IN THE GARDEN — OUT NOW
VIA TENNIS’ OWN LABEL MUTUALLY DETRIMENTAL
FAREWELL HEADLINE TOUR BEGINS MAY 16
IN LAS VEGAS, NV
SEE ALL DATES HERE
MILESTONE CAREER MOMENT BOOKENDED WITH FINAL EP,
NEUTRAL POETRY: FIRST RECORDINGS, UNRELEASED DEMOS 2009-2010,
COLLECTING PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD 4-TRACK RECORDINGS FROM THE FORMATION OF THEIR BAND, AVAILABLE FRIDAY, MAY 16
Press photo by Darren Vargas
Acclaimed indie-pop duo Tennis today releases their seventh studio album, Face Down In The Garden, arriving via their own Mutually Detrimental label. Produced and recorded by the husband and wife duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore in their Denver, CO home studio, the album marks the final recordings from this incarnation of Tennis. Offsetting intuitive melodies with unusual arrangements, the new album sees the duo returning to their roots; making music that both feels familiar but also resists convention. Tennis has fully blossomed and leaves listeners with an LP that is unquestionably their most fully realized effort and a natural ending point.
“Face Down In The Garden is our seventh studio album,” says Moore. “The inspiration for new work came while we were still on the road touring Pollen. We felt a clear pull to write new music, but ran up against a series of bizarre setbacks. We blew tires and lost an engine. I developed a chronic illness. We took a doomed voyage that culminated in an attempted robbery at sea. Fragments of songs that first arrived like gifts from the universe later refused to be completed. Our days were awash in major and minor crises that dragged the album out endlessly.
“Patrick and I felt out of sync with the world, as though we had been ejected from the flow of life. My response was to bury myself in my own memories. Those years weren’t easier or better, but I could make sense of them. In Face Down In The Garden, I trace the arc of my life through a series of vignettes: a first moment of connection, a conversation at a wedding, a night offshore, a tour diary.
Over the years our sound has evolved into three distinct categories: Brill Building, synth-pop, and rock. Face Down In The Garden occupies all of that space. Except for the help of some outside drumming, we worked and recorded alone as we have done for the last few albums. We wanted to write ourselves off the map by doing the unexpected thing, offsetting intuitive melodies with unusual arrangements, to make music that feels familiar but resists convention. Despite being rattled by a strange year, it is our most confident album. We are very excited for you to listen, preferably loud and on headphones.”
Tennis announced the news of their indefinite hiatus earlier this month with the release of the single “12 Blown Tires.” Met with an outpouring of love over the bittersweet news, Moore shed additional light on the duo’s decision:
“When we recorded ’12 Blown Tires’ a few months later, I had the sense of distilling the past 15 years into four minutes of music. It felt like the end of something, though I wasn’t sure what. Patrick and I spent most of our 20s and all of our 30s focused on Tennis. It has been the most joyous, bewildering, challenging, and humbling experience. After finishing Face Down In The Garden, it became clear that we had said everything we wanted to say and achieved everything we wanted to achieve with our band. This will be our last studio album, at least in this configuration as Tennis. We are ready to pursue other creative projects and to make space in our lives for new things. In that light, the upcoming tour feels more poignant, like a concluding thought. These two kids from Denver who only ever dreamed of playing a few house shows are very fulfilled. Perhaps we’ll see you on the road. As always, thank you.”
ORDER FACE DOWN IN THE GARDEN ON VINYL
STREAM FACE DOWN IN THE GARDEN
As noted, Tennis will both celebrate the arrival of Face Down In The Garden and say farewell to fans with a wide-ranging North American headline tour beginning May 16 at Las Vegas, NV’s Swan Dive and then traveling into early September. Highlights include such iconic venues as Minneapolis, MN’s First Avenue (May 21), Chicago, IL’s The Salt Shed (May 23), New York City’s The Rooftop at Pier 17 (June 1), Austin, TX’s Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater (June 11), and Los Angeles, CA’s famed Greek Theatre (August 20). Special guests include Husbands (May 16-17) and Billie Marten (May 21-June 11). For complete details and ticket availability, please visit tennis-music.com.
Tennis will bookend this milestone moment by sharing Neutral Poetry: First Recordings, Unreleased Demos 2009-2010, a new EP of previously unheard tracks from the very beginning of their artistic career, available on Friday, May 16. The eight-song collection includes early versions of such fan favorites as “Cape Dory,” “Marathon,” “South Carolina,” “Baltimore,” and “Pigeon,” along with exclusive demo recordings of the never-before-available songs, “Key Largo,” “April and It’s Still Snowing,” and “One Day This Will Be a Good Songgg.”
Press photo by Darren Vargas
WATCH “WEIGHT OF DESIRE” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
WATCH “AT THE WEDDING” OFFICIAL VISUALIZER
WATCH “12 BLOWN TIRES” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
# # #
TENNIS – FACE DOWN IN THE GARDEN TOUR 2025
MAY
16 – Las Vegas, NV – Swan Dive *
17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall *
18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party #
21 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue †
23 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed †
24 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Annex †
25 – Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron †
27 – Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall †
30 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner †
31 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall †
JUNE
1 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 †
3 – Washington, DC – The Anthem †
5 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz †
6 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern †
7 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville †
9 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum †
10 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall (Downstairs) †
11 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater †
AUGUST
18 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
20 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
22 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy + Harriet’s
23 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
24 – Santa Fe, NM – The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing Co.
26 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom
28 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
29 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Grand Lodge
30 – Vancouver, BC – Malkin Bowl
SEPTEMBER
2 – Sacramento, CA – Channel 24 ^
4 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery ^
* w/ Special Guests Husbands
† w/ Special Guest Billie Marten
# Festival Appearance
ZARA LARSSON UNLEASHES NEW SINGLE "PRETTY UGLY"
ZARA LARSSON STEPS INTO BOLD NEW ERA WITH “PRETTY UGLY” SINGLE AND VIDEO
LISTEN HERE
AND
WATCH HERE
BRAND NEW ALBUM COMING THIS YEAR
TOURING ARENAS WITH TATE MCCRAE THIS SUMMER
(Los Angeles, CA — April 25, 2025) Today, multiplatinum chart–topping global pop powerhouse Zara Larsson kicks open the door to her brazen new era with “Pretty Ugly.” The electro-blasted single and its gloriously messy music video lean all the way into the idea that — as Zara sings — “sometimes a girl don’t wanna be well-behaved.” Listen HERE and watch HERE via Sommer House / Epic Records.
The new song arrives ahead of Zara’s fourth international album — coming later this year— and follows the news that she’ll be hitting arenas across North America in August and September on Tate McCrae’s Miss Possessive Tour. See the full itinerary below.
“Pretty Ugly” was written by Zara alongside MNEK, Helena Gao, and Margo Wildman, and produced by Margo XS and MNEK. It fittingly feels made to turn arena grounds into mosh pits. Low-slung electro and iconic ’90s house keys power Zara’s swaggering verses, but the chorus explodes with a confident shout-along hook over a blown-out beat: “Have you ever seen a pretty girl get ugly like this? / Messy like this? / Losing her shit?” It’s an open embrace of “bad” behavior summed up by the line, “Fuck the ladylike, more like crazy-like.”
The “Pretty Ugly” music video, directed by Charlotte Rutherford (PinkPanthress, Charli XCX, Ashnniko), and choreographed by Zoi Tatopoulos (FKA Twigz), brings that rowdy energy to life as Zara pulls up barefoot in a retro VW to an open field full of women stretching. When she flips a switch on a huge wall of speakers, the bass blows her back and she arises in formation with the girls — but their cheer-tight choreography soon devolves into something far more fierce, feral, and mud-caked as rain pours down and chaos reigns.
Last year, she released her lauded album VENUS — a powerful showcase of her elevated sound, eclectic style, and unifying vision. Not to mention, her single “Symphony” with Clean Bandit repenetrated the culture with a boisterous meme moment that has helped the video achieve over 1.3 billion views, as the song topped the TikTok Billboard chart for several weeks. It’s kismet then that Zara’s forthcoming, much anticipated body of work channels the popstar at her most unfiltered and authentic. The album is her true essence, capturing lightening in a bottle in a way that only she can. “Pretty Ugly” then is completely undeniable, as Zara looks to the future, boldly and loudly setting off her most exciting chapter yet with a firecracker.
Watch this space for more information coming soon. Things are about to get pretty ugly in the best way.
Zara Larsson 2025 live dates
Monday, August 4 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena *
Tuesday, August 5 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena *
Thursday, August 7 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place *
Saturday, August 9 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre *
Wednesday, August 13 - Saint Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center *
Friday, August 15 - Chicago, IL - United Center *
Saturday, August 16 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena *
Tuesday, August 19 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena *
Friday, August 22 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre *
Sunday, August 24 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre *
Tuesday, August 26 - Boston, MA - TD Garden *
Wednesday, August 27 - Boston, MA - TD Garden *
Friday, August 29 - Cleveland, OH – Rocket Arena *
Sunday, August 31 - Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena *
Wednesday, September 3 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden *
Thursday, September 4 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden *
Saturday, September 6 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center *
Tuesday, September 9 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena *
Thursday, September 11 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena *
Saturday, September 13 - Orlando, FL - Kia Center *
Sunday, September 14 - Orlando, FL - Kia Center *
Tuesday, September 16 - Austin, TX - Moody Center *
Thursday, September 18 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center *
Saturday, September 20 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena *
Wednesday, September 24 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center *
Friday, September 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Kia Forum *
Saturday, September 27 - Los Angeles, CA - Kia Forum *
*Supporting Tate McRae
(Photo credit: Julian Buchan)
Rosie Darling Shares New EP 'Roomful Of People'
SHARES NEW EP
ROOMFUL OF PEOPLE
FEATURES ENTHRALLING NEW SINGLE
“IT IS WHAT IT IS”
Photo Credit: Catie Laffoon
April 25, 2025 – Today, LA-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Rosie Darling shares her new EP, Roomful Of People via Nettwerk. The record, which was produced by Justin Gammella (FINNEAS, Ashe), features the alluring new song, "It Is What It Is," a poignant track that delves into the complexities of relationships and self-realization.
"It Is What It Is" showcases Rosie's signature blend of heartfelt lyrics and ethereal melodies. The lithely plucked melody gracefully sways as Rosie confronts a relationship that has run its course, ultimately coming to terms with the necessity of moving on. With raw honesty, she sings, “I say, ‘It is what it is,’ because I know what it isn’t.”
Rosie elaborates on the song's meaning, stating, “It's about realizing where you stand with someone. If they aren't showing up for you, it's easier to make excuses for them than to just call it what it is, and ‘what it is’ is ‘it's not working!’ Communication in relationships is complex, but it can also be simple. This song points out the idea that some things are clear if you allow yourself to see them for what they are and not what they could be.”
The Roomful Of People EP marks a new chapter for Rosie Darling, offering a refreshing and upbeat sonic landscape. “My last album, ‘Lanterns’ was very serious and emotional, but I was able to have more fun on this project. It feels more playful and upbeat. It’s energized, and it’s like a reset for me. With this EP, I was more carefree across the board. I hope it’s a fun listen. Maybe, you sing along in the car, or maybe you tap into your own feelings and resonate however you can.”
The single “Roomful Of People” explores the bittersweet experience of moving on while still feeling deeply connected to someone from the past. The song’s organic guitar accompaniment creates a poignant backdrop for Rosie’s heart-on-her-sleeve lyrics, as she confesses the magnetic pull that draws her back to a former love. It reaches its emotional climax through the powerful back-and-forth vocals between Rosie and Nashville-based singer Jake Scott.
On the vulnerable track "Smoke & Mirrors," Rosie opens up through the song about feeling like a puppet "performing" for someone who doesn't even see your potential: someone who strings you along and doesn't support you. "Smoke & Mirrors” starts off reflective in a slow recounting of Rosie's feelings, leading into the chorus, which sees Rosie reclaiming her power and confronting her antagonist.
Other powerful songs off the EP include “Joanna,” a nostalgic journey through formative years, capturing the essence of a bond that has stood the test of time. With a touch of nostalgic reflection, Rosie shares a message to her younger self: “If I could go back, I would tell myself to ‘Slow down’.” The song is a beautifully crafted ode to female empowerment and the enduring power of friendship. With “This Is Me Letting Go,” Rosie’s breathy delivery weighs heavy on softly strummed acoustic guitar. As emotion overflows, the lesson of the song is one of liberation and learning to disassociate from someone who wasn't right for you.
With each new song, Darling invites listeners to connect with their own emotions and experiences, offering solace and understanding in return. Deeply personal and utterly relatable, Roomful Of People is a testament to her growth as an artist, offering listeners a glimpse into her evolving sound and perspective.
LISTEN TO ROOMFUL OF PEOPLE EP:
https://rosiedarling.ffm.to/roomfulofpeople-ep
SHARE “IT IS WHAT IT IS” VISUALIZER:
https://youtu.be/B7BS9A0BGx4
Roomful Of People EP Tracklist:
1. This Is Me Letting You Go
2. Joanna
3. Roomful Of People (feat. Jake Scott)
4. It Is What It Is
5. Smoke & Mirrors
6. I’m Scared
RECENT PRAISE FOR ROSIE DARLING:
"Sonically, 'This Is Me Letting You Go' channels the best of singer-songwriter pop, with a minimalism that spotlights the vulnerable lyricism." – Ones To Watch
“’This Is Me Letting You Go’ comes steeped in Darling’s melancholic songcraft, with her vocals lilting above meditative acoustic chords, minimal synth drums, and flickering electronic production.” – Under The Radar
“It’s Darling’s country-inflected vocal timbre—reminiscent of artists like Kacey Musgraves—that lends a refreshing, authentic weight to the song.” – EARMILK
"Together, their voices are perfection, bringing the pain of their emotion to life over the delicate sounds of an acoustic guitar." – Sweety High
About Rosie Darling:
Boston-born, LA-based singer-songwriter Rosie Darling is quietly confident, exuberantly passionate, and creatively inclined to infinity. Known for her emotionally raw and introspective music, her songs blend pop, indie, and alternative influences, often exploring themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Darling gained significant recognition with her 2021 debut EP Coping with the title-track cracking the Top 20 of the Spotify Global Viral Chart. She followed up the project with 2022’s Golden Age EP and 2023’s debut LP Lanterns. Working alongside producers such as Justin Gammella (FINNEAS, Ashe) and Andy Seltzer (Chelsea Cutler, Joan), Darling’s discography has amassed over 350M+ streams, received praise from likes of Billboard, V Magazine, The Line of Best Fit, FLAUNT, Ones To Watch, Under The Radar, performed alongside the likes of Ashley Kutcher, Katelyn Tarver, Caleb Hearn, and attracted major co-signs courtesy of Halsey, The Chainsmokers, Andrea Russett, and more. In January 2025, she collaborated with electronic artists Audien and Shallou for the dance-y, pop effort “Bittersweet” that has 2.2M+ Spotify streams.
April 24, 2025
Emma-Jean Thackray releases new album 'Weirdo'
EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY RELEASES NEW ALBUM WEIRDO VIA BROWNSWOOD RECORDINGS / PARLOPHONE RECORDS / EAST WEST RECORDS
IN-STORE PERFORMANCES ACROSS THE UK KICK OFF TONIGHT
Emma-Jean Thackray by. Lewis Vorn
What the press is saying about Emma-Jean Thackray:
"a fascinating blend of spiritual jazz and brass band that can sound full-on psychedelic while staying grounded in its clever arrangements."
Pitchfork
“Emma-Jean Thackray overdubs herself into a one-woman jazz combo”
The New York Times
“undeniably groovy…bold vocals layered with thick, complex basslines”
Stereogum
“A crossover star”
The Guardian
Weirdo
LISTEN:
https://emmajeanthackray.lnk.to/weirdo
(April 25th, 2025) - Acclaimed producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray releases her highly anticipated album Weirdo via Gilles Peterson’s label Brownswood Recordings in conjunction with Parlophone and East West Records. Drawing on an eclectic mix of influences—grunge, pop, soul, p-funk, and jazz– Weirdo is a triumphant celebration of survival and individuality. Written, performed, recorded, mixed, produced and arranged entirely by Thackray in her South London flat, the album stands as a testament to her extraordinary musicianship and fearless self-expression.
The album release follows Emma-Jean’s tour with Kamasi Washington and marks the beginning of a string of in-store performances in the UK and a range of festivals across the EU including End of the Road, MoMo Festival, World Wide Festival and We Out Here Fest.
Originally conceived as a meditation on neurodivergence and mental health, Weirdo evolved after the unexpected loss of her long-term partner from natural causes in January 2023, resulting in an album that feels deeply personal and universal. With intricate compositions, raw emotion, and an unflinching authenticity, Weirdo is more than an album; it’s a masterpiece of resilience, a celebration of individuality, and a bold leap forward for an artist at the forefront of British music. Blurring the lines between genre and emotion, Weirdo evokes comparisons to Meshell Ndegeocello, Kate Bush and Nirvana—on the dancefloor.
Emma-Jean’s journey to becoming one of the most talked-about figures in contemporary music has been anything but conventional. Born in West Yorkshire and classically trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire, she spent her early career defying musical boundaries with her genre-blending sound. Emma-Jean grew up in a low-income, working-class family. This alone makes her unusual, when over 92% of actors, musicians and writers grew up cushioned by medium or high-income backgrounds, according to the Office for National Statistics. Her rise to prominence included her self-released EP Walrus (2016) and the Jazz FM award-winning Yellow (2021), which solidified her position as one of the UK's most innovative musicians and saw her performing at iconic venues and festivals, from the London Symphony Orchestra to numerous Glastonbury slots.
The new project heralds the start of a new musical chapter for Emma-Jean as part of the revered Brownswood Recordings (Yussef Dayes, KOKOROKO). An institution proudly rooted in London’s diverse music community, the label has become a hub for eclectic genre-defying music and feels like the perfect home for a boundary-blurring musical force such as Thackray.
Listen to Weirdo above and find full tour routing and album details below.
Upcoming Live Dates
4/25 - London, UK @ Instore Stranger Than Paradise Records
4/26 - London, UK @ Instore Banquet Records
4/26 - Brighton, UK @ A L P H A B E T (DJ)
4/27 - Southampton, UK @ Instore Vinilo
4/29 - Nottingham, UK @ Instore Rough Trade
4/30 - Liverpool, UK @ Instore Jacaranda
5/9 - Manchester, UK @ YES
5/13 - Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade
5/14 - London, UK @ Hoxton Hall
6/7 - Antwerp, BE @ Jazz Middelheim
6/26 - Somerset, UK @ Glastonbury
6/29 - Somerset, UK @ Glastonbury
7/4 - Sete, FR @ World Wide Festival
8/17 - Dorset, UK @ We Out Here Festival
8/30 - Dorset, UK @ End of The Road Festival
11/20 - London, UK @ Koko
Weirdo album artwork
Emma-Jean Thackray
Weirdo
April 25, 2025
Brownswood Recordings/Parlophone
1. Something Wrong With Your Mind
2. Weirdo
3. Stay
4. Let Me Sleep
5. Please Leave Me Alone
6. Save Me
8. What Is The Point
9. Black Hole ft. Reggie Watts
10. In Your Mind
11. Tofu
12. Fried Rice
13. Where’d You Go
14. Wanna Die
15. Staring At The Wall
16. I Don’t Recognise My Hands
17. It’s Okay ft. Kassa Overall
18. Remedy
19. Thank You For The Day
About Brownswood Recordings
Brownswood Recordings is an independent record label founded by the DJ and Broadcaster Gilles Peterson in 2006. With a strong ear for the most singular artists, the label has built a platform that has acted as a springboard for many - as well as creating a space for more established artists to experiment and create something different. At almost 20 years old Brownswood stands proud as a pioneering record label driven by the idea that music can bring people together.
Connect with Emma-Jean Thackray
