English rock band; Liverpool origin, 1960s icons
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have secured the longest-running UK No 1 single in history with Rein Me In, spending 19 non-consecutive weeks at the top. The duet evolved from a 2025 solo release, featuring a new verse from Dean, and has outpaced Frankie Laine’s 1953 record. The track has dominated the charts since February 2026, overcoming interruptions by other artists.
Oxfam shops have benefited from notable donations of rare memorabilia. A signed Paul McCartney book has sold for £950, while a Tolkien first edition Hobbit has raised £38,400. Donors remain unknown in at least some cases, but proceeds support Oxfam’s poverty relief and emergency appeals.
Obituary confirms Michael Byrne has died on 20 June 2026. A veteran British actor with a long film and stage career, Byrne played Ernst Vogel in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Ted Page in Coronation Street, among other roles. His career spanned theatre work with the National Theatre and major screen performances.
Luxury hotel brands are entering the cruise space, offering mega-yacht-like experiences on shorter, curated itineraries. The trend includes brands like Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman, moving beyond traditional cruise models as ultrawealthy travelers seek exclusive, shipboard living with extensive amenities.
ScotsRock has confirmed plans to convert the former CCA building on Sauchiehall Street into a cultural hub celebrating Scotland’s music legacy. Midge Ure will be inaugural patron, with Lulu, Jim Kerr, Travis and Del Amitri backing the project. The venture aims to provide a permanent exhibition, live venue, educational outreach and a year‑round programme while preserving the building’s cultural purpose.
The House has cleared a key hurdle on bills to make daylight saving time permanent or standard time the year round. The debate centers on health, safety and daily life implications, with supporters arguing for more daylight and critics warning of darker winter mornings.
A new collection titled David Bowie: The Shel Talmy Recordings has been released to showcase the singer’s earliest recordings with Shel Talmy, featuring future stars like Jimmy Page and Nicky Hopkins. The set includes unheard tracks such as I Want Your Love, plus other early Bowie's performances. Liner notes by Alec Palao frame Bowie’s career as a sequence of complementary chapters.
Heritage Auctions’ Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction has seen iconic pieces—from Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker lightsaber to Willy Wonka’s top hat—fetch records, underscoring fans’ willingness to pay for film history.
Valeria Luiselli’s Beginning Middle End follows a narrator as she tours Europe with her daughter, seeking a clear arc for a life that resists linear storytelling. The book traverses memory, mythology and family, but reviewers note it struggles to gather momentum amid episodic chapters and a fragmented structure.
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has spent 15 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, the longest-running US No. 1 by a female solo artist for a non-holiday single. The song’s blend of retro country and modern production is driving cross-genre appeal, with Langley dominating streaming and social metrics. The Guardian notes the track’s cross-format success and its place in country’s pop-dominant moment.