Irish rock band from Dublin, formed in 1976
U2 has announced Carnaval de Luz for 13 November, featuring a final collaboration with Dolly Parton on Torn. The album closes 50 years of activity, with collaborators including Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Martin Garrix and Ryan Tedder. Street of Dreams has already been released, and the band has issued two EPs this year.
A large crowd has attended Glen Hansard’s funeral at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin after the 56-year-old musician died in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of the city. Friends and fellow musicians including Bono and Eddie Vedder have paid tribute; a public wake at IMMA and queues to sign condolence books have honoured his life and charity work.
William Orbit, the producer behind Madonna’s Ray of Light, has died at home on 23 July at age 69. Born in north London, he shaped late-1990s electronic pop with a string of collaborations, including Blur and All Saints. His death is announced by family and friends in posts on social media.
A wave of art and urban-design initiatives is reshaping public spaces in European cities. From Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Baths hosting a large-scale art installation to Glasgow’s archives becoming public, the trend emphasizes accessible, site-specific works that invite community engagement.
Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after a pro-Palestine speech. The move has sparked a debate on politics in music, with backers and critics arguing over artist responsibility while venues and promoters face pressure. Sheeran has stated the decision came from promoters, not him, and aims to keep concerts as safe spaces.
Dolly Parton Day is being celebrated worldwide. Proclamations highlight Parton’s literacy advocacy, with events from Nashville to Manhattan, and charitable book donations through the Imagination Library continuing to broaden access to children’s reading.