English rock band formed in 1985; influential, genre-blending quartet
The Mercury Prize shortlist includes big names like Olivia Dean, Paul McCartney, Raye, and Florence + the Machine, while Lily Allen’s West End Girl is absent, prompting questions about the prize’s choices. The Independent notes the album’s critical acclaim and chart success, and the Guardian highlights the lineup’s blend of legacy acts and rising stars as the ceremony nears in Newcastle.
A$AP Rocky has said Rihanna has returned to the studio and is working on new music. The comments, given on Jason Lee's podcast this week, add to years of intermittent updates about the singer's long-promised follow-up to 2016's Anti. Neither Rihanna nor her team has confirmed a release date or detailed the project.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has opened The Mad King, a Game of Thrones prequel, in Stratford-upon-Avon. The 3h45m production brings younger versions of familiar figures to the stage with a 36-strong cast and innovative puppetry. Reviews are mixed on pace and poetry, but the project aims to broaden GoT’s reach beyond devoted fans.
Geese’s Getting Killed signals a robust, contemporary rock moment. The band’s new work reflects global tensions and is doing so with force, while the political scene around Reform UK persists in a wary climate.
Oasis has revealed a 2027 tour spanning the UK, Europe and the US, with 11 Manchester shows, five Celtic Park dates in Glasgow, and four at Knebworth. Richard Ashcroft will headline all dates. The tour follows their 2025 reunion and weeks of teaser posts and a drone reveal in Manchester.
Oasis has announced a five-night Glasgow leg in May 2027 as part of a world tour, with ticket prices fixed between £71.50 and £263.50. The announcement follows a year of ticketing controversy around price transparency and dynamic pricing. Registrations for tickets are open, with controlled sale windows to improve fairness.
Festival planners outline headliners and schedules for 2027, with Belladrum in the Highlands led by Fatboy Slim, James and Amy Macdonald; Reading/Leeds, Glastonbury, Download and TRNSMT eyeing lineups amid ongoing market chatter. Primavera Sound, TRNSMT and other festivals remain unresolved.