Latest news with #UKtour
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Stevie Wonder: 'I'll keep playing as long as I breathe'
At the age of 75, Stevie Wonder is still going strong. His latest UK tour, which wrapped up earlier this month received rapturous reviews, with critics calling the star "fresh and on form" for "a riotously joyful celebration" of his while contemporaries like Billy Joel and The Eagles are reducing their musical commitments, Wonder says he will never consider retiring."For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there's more for you to do," the Motown legend told the BBC's Sidetracked podcast. "I'm not gonna stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body. "I love doing what I'm doing. An artist never stops drawing. As long as you can imagine is as long as you are going to be creative."The star also confirmed he was still working on a new album, titled Through The Eyes Of Wonder, which he first discussed in project has previously been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind would be his first studio album since 2005's A Time To Love; extending a recording career that started in 1962, when he was just 11 years old. Wonder spoke to Sidetracked presenter Annie Macmanus, the day before he headlined the BST festival in London's Hyde Park - playing a two-and-a-half hour set that encompassed his biggest hits, from Superstition and Isn't She Lovely to You Are The Sunshine Of My Life and I of the set was drawn from the 1970s purple patch when he won the Grammy Award for best album three times in a row, for Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs In The Key Of told Macmanus that he never tired of revisiting those records."Songs are like children, they're with you forever," he said. "They are statement from the spirit within you. "And singing those songs is like me taking another breath." America 'going backwards' Earlier this month, during a concert in Cardiff, the musician addressed a long-standing conspiracy theory that he is not actually blind."You know there have been rumours about me seeing and all that?" he told the audience, "But seriously, you know the truth.""Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind," he told his disability a gift, Wonder continued: "Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight." In his Sidetracked interview, the singer talked about the importance of using music to spread positivity and speak truth to his life, he has been a vocal civil rights campaigner, and played a key role in the campaign to have the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr recognised as a national holiday in the who campaigned for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year's US presidential election, told Macmanus that America was currently beleaguered by "people trying to go backwards"."It's not gonna go down like that," he insisted. "I think that if you look back in history, there's always been a point when people wake up."And I think that, for those who think it is gonna go down like that, remember that God is watching you."You can listen to Stevie Wonder's full interview on the Sidetracked podcast on BBC Sounds.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
7 Best Moments From Lana Del Rey's Biggest-Ever U.K. Show
Since her debut tour in 2011, Lana Del Rey's UK appearances have been sporadic. A mere handful of headline shows, a string of 2020 gigs cancelled, and two consecutive summers of having her set cut off early by major festivals have conjured a feeling that, when it comes to Del Rey and British stages, the stars are never quite able to align. More from Billboard Sabrina Carpenter Unveils Alternate 'Man's Best Friend' Cover - and This Time, It's 'Approved by God' Sabrina Carpenter Takes Calls From Some 'Hot' Fans in Steamy New Ad for Dunkin' Why Sombr Says 'There's Nothing That Can Prepare You' For the Success He's Having Right Now So when she announced her first U.K. and Ireland stadium shows last year, it's no wonder that 300,000 tickets promptly sold out. It was assumed, though, that the performances would follow the release of her highly anticipated 10th album Lasso, which has since been renamed The Right Person Will Stay and currently remains a bewilderment. Yet rather than frustrating, for the legion of fans descending on Cardiff this week, these twists and turns are part of Del Rey's charm – integral to the air of mystery that surrounds her like a cloud of her vape smoke. And, for an artist whose enigmatic presence on the charts has shaped modern pop in her image, she's earned the right to be elusive. It's why Cardiff – proud host to her first ever U.K. stadium show – has stepped up to the occasion. Ahead of her performance, the entire city is bathed in a Honeymoon glow. Loose feathers torn from boas dance in the wind, girls in white dresses and veils adjust each other's flower crowns and the bridge of 'Ride' leaks from the open doors of every other bar. It's a testament to Del Rey's enduring power and relevance as a songwriter, taking to the stage mere days after her 40th birthday and looking out onto a crowd mostly comprised of soon-to-be school leavers. These are the best moments from Del Rey's show at Cardiff Principality Stadium. Outside the stadium walls, mundane British life chugs on. Yet within them, Del Rey has concocted another world entirely. A nod to the presumed Southern Gothic influences of her upcoming album, the show takes place in the front yard of a full-sized shotgun house – complete with a white picket fence, creaking porch swing and vintage-looking street lamp that, as it turns out, is primed for pole dancing. White roses swirl around a pond before her, and dancers twirl beneath an oak tree embellished with twinkling lights. From the moment she steps on stage, Del Rey's gratitude to be back in the U.K. is palpable, as she peers at the 70,000-strong crowd through eyes brimming with tears. As opening song 'Stars Fell on Alabama' (no relation to the 1934 jazz standard) draws to a close, she hurries to the side of the stage to kiss her now-husband, alligator tour guide Jeremy Dufrane, before re-emerging and promising the crowd: 'They're good tears.' There are undoubtedly more than a few of those on the audience side, too. An album might not have arrived by its initial May deadline, but the songs are ready, and Cardiff bears witness to the U.K. debut of three, including western-imbued 'Quiet In The South.' The best received, though, is '57.5', first performed live in April during her headline performance at Stagecoach and already memorised by many in the crowd. Offering anecdotal wisdom from someone now nearly two decades into the game, Del Rey affirms her tenderly woven advice on navigating stardom by the fact that she has '57.5 million listeners on Spotify.' Notably, a headline-grabbing line about Morgan Wallen is replaced with a knowing look into the audience. For the die-hard fans (many of whom have camped in the Welsh capital over the past few days to get a glimpse of Del Rey arriving and leaving soundcheck), the singer's catalogue brims with cult classics. Yet it's still 'Video Games', the 2011 breakout single that propelled her to stardom, that is perhaps her most widely adored hit. Now, overlooking her largest British audience yet, she seems worlds from the brand new artist mumbling the lyrics into her MacBook camera all those years ago. Del Rey has never been predictable, and tonight's theatrics prove there's no danger of her slipping into that territory any time soon. Perhaps the set's most decisive creative decision was that, for fan-favourites 'Norman Fucking Rockwell' and 'Arcadia,' the singer wanders off stage, enlisting a projection of herself to step in momentarily. While the real Del Rey, whom many have spent days queuing to see, is presumably still somewhere within the Principality Stadium, her digital double haunts the porch steps and croons from a crooked window ledge. Bizarre, yes, but somehow it works, and the pre-recorded vocals don't dissuade a choir of Welsh voices from singing along. As the show approaches its finale, Del Rey tiptoes down the stairs and into the crowd, keen to give Cardiff one final moment to remember. 'I'm trying to think of one little thing that I could do that I didn't have planned,' she says, beckoning a chorus of screamed requests from the barrier. One impassioned plea from a front-row fan later, and she's leading the stadium in an a cappella version of 'Salvatore' from 2014's Honeymoon, the audience as her backing choir. Del Rey's admiration of John Denver has been forever immortalised in the lyrics of 'The Grants' ('Like Rocky Mountain High/The way John Denver sings'). And, tonight, it's his classic 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' she selects to see us out. 'We're gonna end like we started, with a little bit of country flair,' she says, stretching her world-building magic a little longer into the night. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
US rock band cancel UK tour as vocalist suffers ‘medical emergency'
AN AMERICAN rock band has scrapped the UK leg of their tour due to a "medical emergency." The group issued the shock statement on Instagram, uploading an image of their colourful tour poster with the word 'cancelled' emblazoned in yellow text over the top. 5 5 5 In their caption, The Georgia Thunderbolts wrote they had made their decision with "heavy hearts." The Stand Up hitmakers put: "Good day friends and fans of The Georgia Thunderbolts. "It is with heavy hearts we have to announce the cancellation of our first ever UK tour. "We have had our sights set on touring the UK since our band's infancy. "We were so looking forward to playing your stages and making new friends that we could share our live music with." The Take It Slow singers were due to kick off their tour in Newcastle on July 12, wrapping up in Maidstone on July 19. In between, they were set to play sets in Wakefield, Bilston, Southampton and London. Yet in their post they explained how vocalist TJ had suffered a stroke. They added: "On Thursday, June 19th, while operating heavy construction equipment for his father, our lead singer, T.J. Lyle, suffered a mild stroke. "T.J. is recovering the best, but his medical team feels he should rest up a bit, not get too hot and avoid flying for a while. "A huge thank you to all for prayers and everyone pulling for T.J. We promise we will be coming to your shores soon. "Full Steam Ahead…Damn the Torpedoes!! The Georgia Thunderbolts." The Georgia-founded band's loyal fans were hugely understanding, and one took to the comments section to write: "Health first always." A second put: "All the best, T.J." What are the symptoms of stroke? The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke: F = Face drooping - if one side of a person's face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it's uneven then you should seek help. A = Arm weakness - if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help S = Speech difficulty - if a person's speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke T = Time to call 999 - if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care. Other symptoms include: sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body difficulty finding words sudden blurred vision or loss of sight sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness a sudden and severe headache difficulty understanding what others are saying difficulty swallowing A third mused: "Get well soon TJ! You are in our thoughts and prayers!" One then added: "TJ's health is the most important. I'll be there for your next UK tour. Love you TJ. Big hugs from Paris to all of you GTB." It came after the group pulled out of their scheduled gig at The Hub in Bremen, Georgia, due to the medical issue - but did not at the time state what it was. They first announced their UK tour last month. In an excited Instagram post the group, which formed in 2015 but did not release their debut album Can We Get A Witness until 2021, wrote: "The time has come!! We are excited to announce we're headed to the UK this summer!! "Mark your calendars and get those tickets…on sale now in bio…" "We can't wait to meet you all!! Let's Rock!!!" 5 5
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hit 90s comedy show tours to theatres in Bath and Bristol
EXTRA dates have been added to the upcoming UK tour of An Evening with The Fast Show. The popular show will now include performances in Bath and Bristol due to high demand. The Bath Forum will host the show on November 14, followed by a performance at the Bristol Hippodrome on November 29. The tour will feature original co-creators Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse, alongside Simon Day, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and Mark Williams. Tickets are available at website. Following the success of The Fast Show's 30th anniversary shows in 2024, the show, described as 'the defining comedy sketch show of the nineties' by The Independent, is bringing back its popular characters and sketches. This celebratory UK tour will provide a real behind-the-scenes insight into some of the cast's favourite characters and catchphrases as they come alive on stage once again. The cast will chat together about how it all began, how they made the TV show, and created the characters and the fun they had doing it. This will be interspersed with performances of some of their best-loved sketches, monologues and songs, with on-screen inserts and a moment to remember their former collaborator, the late, great Caroline Aherne. Fans will be thrilled to see the return of many of their favourite characters, including: Ted and Ralph, Jesse, Swiss Toni, Does My Bum Look Big In This?, Dave Angel, Jazz Club, The Suit You Tailors, Ron Manager, The Mad Painter, Rowley Birkin, Bob Fleming, Competitive Dad, Professor Denzil Dexter, and The Girl Who Boys Can't Hear. Charlie Higson said: 'Please can you all stop buying tickets, or I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life.' Paul Whitehouse said: 'What initially started as a number of shows last year, has now turned into an even bigger tour across the UK. I'm delighted that we're adding even more shows and we are thrilled with the response.' The Fast Show first aired on BBC2 on 27 September 1994 and became one of the nation's best-loved comedy shows
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chris Brown starts UK tour in Manchester days before next court hearing
US singer Chris Brown has kicked off his UK tour in Manchester, days before he is due back in court after being arrested in the city last Grammy-winning star performed to thousands of fans at Manchester's Co-op Live arena on Sunday, with a string of stadium dates to follow in other Friday, he will appear in court in London for the latest hearing after he was charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault in a nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old, who is free on £5m bail, has not yet been asked to enter a plea."Thank you for coming and supporting me," he said to fans in Manchester. "And thank you to the jail," he joked. "It was really nice." A video montage was shown of his career highs and lows, including brief clips of TV news footage from outside the Manchester court after he was arrested, which was met by a supportive roar from his loyal star is accused of inflicting an "unprovoked attack" on a music producer with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London while on his last UK tour in was arrested when he returned to the country a month ago, when detectives from London's Metropolitan Police travelled to the hotel in which he was staying in Salford, Greater was held in custody for almost a week, before being released after agreeing to pay a £5m security fee to the court.A security fee is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court. Mr Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail the judge agreed that the singer could go ahead with his tour as part of his bail conditions, and he played the first night in Amsterdam last singer's Breezy Bowl XX tour is marking 20 years in the music industry. He has had 19 singles in the UK top 10 over that time, including number one hits Turn Up The Music and Freaky week, he won the prize for best male R&B/pop artist at the BET Awards in Los performing a second night in Manchester on Monday, he will move on to Cardiff's Principality Stadium on will then appear at court on Friday with his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old who performs under the name HoodyBaby, also from the the hearing, Mr Brown is scheduled to play at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, before further stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, and two more arena dates in Manchester.
