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Irish Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Are You Dancing? Showbands, Popular Music and Memory in Ireland: who, exactly, had the postcolonial attitude here?
Are You Dancing? Showbands, Popular Music and Memory in Ireland Author : Rebecca S Miller ISBN-13 : 978-0253072368 Publisher : Indianapolis University Press Guideline Price : £27.99 In the course of this excellent account of the showband era in Ireland – roughly the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s – Rebecca Miller quotes John Waters to illustrate what was a common attitude among those alive at the time who disdained the entertainment on offer in the dancehalls. Waters suggests that the 'imitative' approach of the showbands was the result of a postcolonial mentality, an inherited sense of 'inferiority, fatalism and self-hatred'. It was an attitude expressed more succinctly by Bob Geldof in the recent RTÉ series, Ballroom Blitz : the showbands were 'crap'. It might be argued that it is Waters' and Geldof's view that is most suggestive of the postcolonial: the belief that the local must be inferior and that modernity – the good stuff – must be found elsewhere. Irish popular music has always had the distinctly mixed blessing of a powerful neighbour. The proximity, particularly through the 1960s and into the 1970s, of the rapidly changing and inventive pop and rock scene in Britain could not but highlight the apparent shortcomings of the native offering. In fact, it was Britain that was the exception – popular music elsewhere was often as focused on entertainment, on competent reproduction of covers, and on versatility as the showband scene in Ireland. READ MORE Miller, who is American, discovered the showbands long after the fact; when booking a festival of traditional Irish music in New York in 1986, a musician told her he wouldn't be available as he was playing with a showband. She was intrigued, and close to 40 years later this book, the fruit of exhaustive archival research and hundreds of interviews, is an admirable example of the best kind of academic writing: fluent, authoritative, free of either nostalgia or embarrassment – and beautifully illustrated. [ Ballrooms of romance: 'I wasn't the greatest dancer but when we danced together it was like it was meant to be' Opens in new window ] She looks closely at the business side; in a society that was underemployed and lacking in industry, the showband industry was a big fish, even if much of the cash went into, as Eamon Carr puts it 'the biscuit tin', and beyond the reach of the Revenue Commissioners. She is revealing also about the social background of the musicians and on the ways in which the expectations of the wider society regarding gender roles played out on stage, backstage and on the dancefloor. Stan Erraught lectures in music at the University of Leeds and is author of Rebel Notes: Popular Music and Conflict in Ireland (Beyond the Pale)
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Noel and Liam Gallagher seen together for first time since announcing Oasis reunion
NOEL and Liam Gallagher have finally been seen together for the first time since announcing their Oasis reunion. The British music legends have reunited on camera to announce their new collaboration with Adidas. 3 Despite starting rehearsals weeks ago for their new shows, the pair have made sure never to be seen in the same shot. Their widely circulated tour announcement shot is reported to have taken place in two studios and been stitched together. In new images Noel, 58, wears a blue top while Liam, 52, wears a beige jacket from the range. Last night an extended TV ad showed a series of historic clips of the band - set to 1994 hit single Live Forever. Liam can be heard saying: 'There are days when you are in the zone. There is all the chaos going on around you. Not feeling the need to join the madness. This is the best feeling in the world. Absolutely still.' Available to view on the brand's official website, the Adidas x Originals collection includes strip t-shirts for £45, tour coach jackets for £100 and tracksuit bottoms for £75. Bucket hats, a favourite of Liam's, are £40 each. and is thought to be making the warring brothers millions. Oasis will kick off their long awaited reunion tour on Friday July 4 in Cardiff. The sell out run of stadium gigs includes 5 shows at Heaton Park in Manchester and seven at Wembley. 3 3
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Dua Lipa lines up two HUGE Brit pop stars to support her at ‘monumental' Wembley Stadium gigs
CHARLI XCX and RAYE have found the perfect warm up for Glastonbury – supporting Dua Lipa in London. I'm told Dua has approached Charli and Raye to open her two huge Wembley Stadium shows next weekend. 8 8 8 And it's looking promising as insiders tell me the deals were close to being confirmed last night. A source said: 'These two Wembley shows are monumental for Dua and she wants to give her fans an extra treat. 'Her team has approached Raye to open Friday's show, while Charli is in talks to perform on Saturday. 'Dua, Raye and Charli are all super supportive of each other and it would be amazing to have these three British female powerhouses playing Wembley. 'With Glastonbury the week after, this is the perfect warm-up for Raye and Charli too as they'll be playing to almost 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. 'The deals are still being thrashed out but fans off to see Dua should expect to see these two on the stage.' It's a coup for us music fans, we're being spoilt for choice when it comes to huge gigs this summer. And while the Brit Awards is moving to Manchester, London is proving to be the hottest city in the country when it comes to music this summer. Our capital is the only place fans can catch Coldplay, Oasis, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Billie Eilish. And the stats speak for themselves, with more than 3.6million fans heading to the city this summer to watch their favourite acts. 'Best in the world' I'm told 40 per cent of stadium ticket sales this summer were for artists who all started their careers in venues that held less than 1,000 people, acts such as Dua, Kendrick, Lana del Rey, Imagine Dragons and Post Malone. And ladies are doing it for themselves as female-led stadium shows account for 40 per cent of sales. Mayor of London, and self confessed Taylor Swift superfan, Sadiq Khan told me: 'Our capital's music scene is the very best in the world and this summer we have another incredible line-up of performances featuring some of the globe's biggest artists. 'From headlining acts at stadiums and festivals to upcoming stars at grassroots venues, London's music scene has so much for fans to enjoy, and we'll continue to do all we can to support our venues.' Sophie dazzled at the Hall 8 IT WAS murder on a very fancy dancefloor for Sophie Ellis-Bextor as she performed a huge sold-out show at London's Royal Albert Hall. The concert was Sophie's biggest ever headline show in the capital, with the singer performing her new single Taste from upcoming album Perimenopop, which is out on September 12. This year marks Sophie's 25th anniversary as a solo star, and she said: 'I've been singing for 30 years now and throughout my career I've been lucky enough to happily play with many music genres, but my heart beats the fastest for pop.' Of her eighth record, Sophie added: 'This album is a celebration of that relationship. 'In fact, it's a celebration of lots of things, including being the age I'm at and still having so many adventures and so much fun.' Paddy's duet dream for Soccer Aid party 8 THEY defeated the World XI last year after a five-year losing streak – but Paddy McGuinness hasn't got his mind on taking home the trophy again ahead of Soccer Aid tomorrow. The Radio 2 DJ tells me he's got bigger fish to fry, like convincing football legend Wayne Rooney to have a go on the karaoke machine he's bringing to the after-party. Paddy, who has been part of the England XI line-up for 15 years for the charity match, which will be broadcast live on ITV tomorrow at 7:30pm, said: 'Obviously, I'd sing Islands In The Stream with Wayne – it's a classic. 'There are singers on the team – we've had some A-list stars over the years and everyone gets involved. 'But, to be honest, when the karaoke machine comes out, that's when the professional singers have to step aside and let the rest of us have our moment.' 8 Paddy is joining Dragons' Den's Steven Bartlett, former Olympian Sir Mo Farah, adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls, and former footballers Gary Neville and Joe Hart in the England XI team. They will be up against a team that includes boxer Tony Bellew, Strictly's Gorka Marquez and Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd. This year, Paddy revealed that the training schedule had been cut down from five days to two, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been taking it seriously at home in preparation for his moment in goal. He said: 'I keep myself fit and healthy. 'I'm going to be back in goal, so I've been doing a lot of yoga and stretching, and I've always loved combat training. I do karate. 'One year, I stopped Usain Bolt from scoring a goal with a karate roundhouse kick to the ball. 'He was already celebrating with his arms in the air, it was a real close one. 'It was like, 'I didn't know Paddy could put his leg over his head!'' WILL SMITH has admitted he needed some A-list encouragement to write his new album Based On A True Story. On Capital XTRA Breakfast, he said: 'Jay Z said, 'Don't even make music if you're not going to be honest.' 'That was the deep push for me.' Jord's hair of importance 8 MARIAH CAREY has been demanding loads of dressing rooms for Capital's Summertime Ball tomorrow but there will be an even bigger diva at Wembley Stadium for the sold-out show – Jordan North. The Capital Breakfast show host is even more of a primadonna than the Fantasy singer, according to his hilarious co-host Sian Welby, with Jordan. In an exclusive chat, she said: 'Jordan is the biggest diva. 'He's got his makeup and, in an interview, he's so busy looking at the cameras, checking his hair out that he gets lost in the interview. 'He has his own barber come into the studio and he wears a cape. And then two days later, he wants a fresh trim. "He would have a barber following him around if he could. 'He'd have special lighting. 'He'd have a tanning booth.' Sian said that working with her male co-hosts is amazing, adding: 'It's like having brothers – we can rip the p**s out of each other.' And she reckons they have hit their stride as a trio, with their show broadcast nationally. She added: 'I'm usually self-deprecating but the combo of me, Chris Stark, and Jordan is just the right timing and the right mix of personalities. 'I feel like we're in some sort of golden era of radio.' Tim's a fall guy 8 JAMES frontman Tim Booth took their 1990 hit Sit Down to heart at the Summer Sessions festival after falling off the stage. The Manchester born singer took a tumble while performing at the event at Plymouth Hoe. Ever the professional, Tim carried on singing – much to the amusement of the crowd. One fan told me: 'One moment Tim was singing and greeting fans, the next he'd gone ar*e over tit. 'He had jumped down from the main stage onto a smaller platform towards the barriers. 'As he jumped to the floor he looked like he rolled his ankle and dropped straight to the ground. 'It took him a couple of attempts to get off the floor, but he continued singing the whole time.' What a trooper.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Brit Awards are moving to Manchester
The Brit Awards will be held in Manchester for the first time next year, it's been announced. It's a big change, as the ceremony, which is all about the celebration of British music and talented artists from the UK and beyond, has taken place in London for the last 48 years. The very first awards were in 1977, with the past 15 ceremonies taking place at London's O2 Brits will be held at the Manchester Co-op Live arena in 2026 and 2027 as part of a two-year-deal. Next year's event will be on Saturday 28 February and the 50th anniversary will be celebrated the following year. "After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture," said Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. "Greater Manchester has an unparalleled music heritage known around the world..."...we will pull out all the stops to show they made the right decision." Who won big at the last Brit Awards? The Brit Awards 2025 were held in March earlier this year in London. Charli XCX was the big winner on the night, taking home five awards, including Best Artist, Best Album, and Song of the Year. Former Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall won the Best Pop Act award this year, while US pop star Sabrina Carpenter was given the Global Success Award.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BRIT Awards moving to Manchester for first time in its history
For the first time in its history, The BRIT Awards will leave the capital and make its way north. The iconic celebration of British music is set to electrify Manchester's Co-op Live in 2026 and 2027, marking a bold new chapter for the legendary event, after nearly five decades in London. The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place on Saturday, February 28, on ITV. Bosses say the move capitalises on the deep and rich roots in music; producing scores of iconic and contemporary artists and bands from Oasis, The Smiths, Harry Styles, The Stone Roses, Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, Take That, The 1975, Aitch, Blossoms and Courteeners. And also a nod to the cultural moments from Mad-chester to the Haçienda and Factory Records, and has a thriving independent music scene to support emerging and new talent. The BRIT Awards is expected to be a welcome addition to its music legacy and the event marks another milestone in the journey of Co-op Live, the UK's newest live entertainment arena, drawing acclaim from fans and artists alike since opening in May 2024. READ MORE: Chase and Status bring perfect mix of epic tunes to storm gig at Co-op Live Liam Gallagher's triumphant gig brings Definitely Maybe home to Manchester As the world gears up for the highly anticipated tour this summer from Manchester's prodigal sons Oasis, with dates at Heaton Park, this new bond between one of the UK's most industrious and thriving metropolitan cities and the biggest night in UK music and entertainment will continue to showcase the very best in not only British, but global music, creativity and talent, and evolve what The BRIT Awards can be as it nears five decades of championing new music. 2026 will be the first of three years under the stewardship of Sony Music UK, who spearheaded the move to Manchester. The Chair of the BRITs Committee, who oversees all aspects of the show including performer bookings, hosts, show creative and categories, will be announced at a later date. Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland said: 'This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music. Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can't wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.' Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said: 'For The BRIT Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester. After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture. "Greater Manchester has an unparalleled music heritage known around the world, and this summer will play host to some of the biggest gigs on the planet. That was only made possible by our strong commitment to new talent and giving emerging artists the opportunities to make their name. "We thank our friends at the BPI for choosing Manchester and we will pull out all the stops to show they made the right decision. Celebrating the BRIT Awards right here in the home of 24 hour party people is the next chapter in its story and you can be sure that we will help them do it in style.' Tim Leiweke, Co-Founder and CEO of Oak View Group said: 'The BRITs are the most important music event in the UK and were always the highlight of the year, not only because of its immense cultural contribution, but because of their commitment to improving the lives of youth through music. It is our honour to partner with our friends at BPI and Sony Music, alongside the great city of Manchester, to host the BRITs at Co-op Live and join in their mission to create opportunities for youth through music. With Co-op Live, Manchester is embarking on another chapter in its rich musical journey, and others will soon learn what we know to be true, that Manchester is one of the greatest emerging markets in the UK for business, music and culture'. Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council said: 'This is a massive boost for Manchester and we are delighted that The BRITs will be coming here for the first time in its history. Manchester is at the forefront of the UK music scene, from our iconic grassroots scene through to major events and this news is a major vote of confidence in Manchester. We have got here through a great partnership between the BPI, Co-op Live, Sony Music as well as our own businesses in the city and we hope this is the beginning of a long and successful partnership.' Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO and BRITs Committee member, said: 'The BRIT Awards have helped to tell the story of British music in all its brilliant diversity, capturing some of its most memorable moments, and this groundbreaking move to Manchester will only add to its rich legacy. This exciting new chapter celebrates not only the city's exceptional musical heritage and its status as a powerhouse of British creativity, but the great depth of artistic energy and potential that exists all across the UK. I feel sure it will fire the imagination of fans, artists and the wider music community alike, and we look forward to sharing the experience with them.' YolanDa Brown OBE DL, BPI Chair, said: "I believe that music touches everyone wherever they are and it is important that this is reflected by our industry in its strategy around a regional talent pipeline, touring, access to music education and more. So you can appreciate my delight at The BRIT Awards moving out of London for the first time ever, making that special connection with music fans in Manchester and the North of England. A city and region that has given us so much iconic music over the years and remains the home of such wonderful, diverse talent. As we approach the 50th anniversary of the first ever BRIT Awards in 1977, it is hard to imagine a more fitting and imaginative way to celebrate this special landmark and to keep the music alive.' Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment & Daytime said: "ITV is for everyone, no matter where in the UK you live. As someone who grew up in the North, I'm so excited that The BRITs is coming live from Manchester this year for the very first time in its 48 year rich musical history. Those Mancunians know how to throw a party, so don't miss it!" The BRITs in 2026 and 2027 will continue to raise funds to support education and well-being for young people through The BRIT Trust, which supports the BRIT School in south London and nationwide music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins, among other organisations adjacent to the music industry. Mastercard will continue their long-standing headline sponsorship - which is now in its 28th year, and ITV will continue to be The BRITs' official broadcaster, now going into their 33rd year, with both partnerships continuing to support and boost The BRITs' vision and values.
