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Niall Horan Announces “The Show” Live On Tour 2024

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Today, chart-topping global superstar Niall Horan announced “THE SHOW” LIVE ON TOUR 2024 – his biggest tour yet and first headline run since 2018’s Flicker World Tour. He’ll be performing songs from all three of his solo albums, including The Show, which will be released by Capitol Records on June 9, 2023. The world tour will kick off on February 21, 2024 in Belfast, UK at the SSE Arena.

Produced by Live Nation, the North American leg will launch on May 29, 2024 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL and include shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (June 3), New York City’s Madison Square Garden (June 14) and The Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA (July 27). See below for itinerary.

NORTH AMERICA TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with a presale beginning Wednesday, May 31. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale on Friday, June 2, at 10:00 AM local time at www.niallhoran.com.

VIP: The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences in North America for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include invitation to the pre-show Niall Horan themed lounge, specially designed VIP gift items and more. For additional information, visit vipnation.com.

A deeply felt meditation on everything from mental health to the infinite complexity and uncertainty of love, The Show is an endlessly spellbinding statement on following your heart to its absolute truth. The album is available for pre-order HERE. As he gears up to share his most personal material yet in a truly extraordinary career, Horan is particularly eager to return to the stage. On release day, Horan will perform in New York City as part of the Citi Summer Concert Series on TODAY. He’ll also be performing at festivals around the world this summer, including Boston Calling.

“There’s nothing better than watching the crowd sing back to you with all that emotion on their faces and knowing that they’re attaching the song to something meaningful in their own lives,” says Niall Horan. “To me, that’s always the greatest thing that can ever come from songwriting.”

Horan, who joined NBC’s The Voice” this season as a new coach, performed his new single “Meltdown” on the show last week. View his performance HERE.

Rolling Stone observed, “Unlike the optimistic pop songs that bury devastating lyrics beneath the sound of sunshine, ‘Meltdown’ keeps up an unrelenting pace that more so echos the heightened anxiety and panic Horan sings about.” Billboard noted, “’Meltdown’ finds Horan biting off a jumpy pop-rock production and swaggering through some ooo-ooo-ooo melodies; the heartbeat of the song is steady, and the singer-songwriter underlines the reliable pop presence that he was born to inhabit.”

Originally from Mullingar, Ireland, Horan has sold over 80 million records and toured the globe multiple times as part of the iconic One Direction. His full-length solo debut Flicker entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in October 2017 and contained the 3x RIAA Platinum single “Slow Hands” and the 2x RIAA Platinum “This Town.” The album hit the top 10 in 20 countries total. With combined global streams surpassing eight billion, Flicker has gone Platinum in five countries (including the U.S.) and Gold in additional seven countries. Heartbreak Weather followed in 2020 and topped the U.K.’s Official Albums chart and Billboard’s Top Album Sales tally.

NIALL HORAN – “The Show” LIVE ON TOUR 2024
2/21/24 – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena Belfast
2/23/24 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
2/27/24 – Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena
3/1/24 – London, UK – OVO Arena Wembley
3/4/24 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff International Arena
3/5/24 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
3/7/24 – Antwerp, BE – Lotto Arena
3/8/24 – Paris, FR – Zénith
3/11/24 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena
3/12/24 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
3/15/24 – Stockholm, SE – Hovet Ice Hall
3/18/24 – Lodz, PL – Atlas Arena
3/20/24 – Munich, DE – Olympiahalle
3/21/24 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
3/23/24 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Center
3/26/24 – Düsseldorf, DE – PSD Bank Dome
3/27/24 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome
4/26/24 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena
4/28/24 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
5/1/24 – Sydney, Australia – Quodos Bank Arena
5/3/24 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena
5/29/24 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Hard Rock Live
5/31/24 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
6/3/24 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
6/7/24 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
6/8/24 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
6/11/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center for the Performing Arts
6/14/24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
6/15/24 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
6/18/24 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
6/19/24 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
6/21/24 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/22/24 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
6/25/24 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6/26/24 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
6/28/24 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
7/7/24 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
7/9/24 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
7/10/24 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
7/12/24 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/16/24 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
7/17/24 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
7/19/24 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
7/20/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
7/23/24 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
7/24/24 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
7/26/24 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
7/27/24 – Inglewood, CA – The Kia Forum
7/30/24 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/31/24 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Aubrey Plaza Rewatches ‘Parks and Recreation,’ ‘The White Lotus,’ ‘Ingrid Goes West’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’

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Aubrey Plaza sits down to rewatch scenes from her own movies and television series, including ‘Parks and Recreation,’ ‘The White Lotus,’ ‘Ingrid Goes West’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.’

My Next Read: “Reach for the Stars: 1996–2006: Fame, Fallout and Pop’s Final Party” by Michael Cragg

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Using the arrival of the Spice Girls as a jumping-off point, this fascinating new narrative will explore, celebrate and contextualise the thus-far-uncharted period of British pop that flourished between 1996 and 2006. A double-denim-loving time before the glare of social media and the accession of streaming.

The bastions of ’00s pop – armed with buoyant, immaculately crafted, carefree anthems – provided entertainment, escapism and fun for millions. It was a heady, chorus-heavy decade – populated by the likes of Steps, S Club 7, Blue, 5ive, Mis-Teeq, Hear’Say, Busted, Girls Aloud, McFly, Craig David and Atomic Kitten, among countless others – yet the music was often dismissed as inauthentic, juvenile, not ‘worthy’ enough: ultimately, a ‘guilty pleasure’.

Now, music writer Michael Cragg aims to redress that balance. Using the oral-history format, Cragg goes beneath the surface of the bubblegum exterior, speaking to hundred’s of the key players about the reality of their experiences.

Compiled from interviews with popstars, songwriters, producers, choreographers, magazine editors, record-company executives, TV moguls and more, this is a complete behind-the-scenes history of the last great movement in British pop – a technicolour turning-point ripe for re-evaluation, documented here in astonishing, honest and eye-opening detail.

Rogers together with Shaw presents Darius Rucker in Calgary

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Hey Calgary, Rogers and Shaw are coming together, and they’re hosting a free concert for their customers featuring country artist Darius Rucker, along with supporting performances from The Reklaws & Kyle McKearney. The host for the show will be Calgary native Lindsay Ell, and they want to see you there. For more information, go here.

Rogers is joining forces with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area to make a meaningful impact. Let’s work together to create deliberate, international mentoring relationships between young people and compassionate adults. And here’s the best part: for every ticket scanned at the Rogers together with Shaw presents Darius Rucker concert, they’ll donate $10 to this fantastic cause. Let’s make a difference!

The concert is FREE; tickets will not be sold to the general public. Select Rogers & Shaw customers will be invited via email.  Customers will receive a unique code redeemable for a pair of tickets on Ticketmaster. Note, tickets are first come, first serve.

From May 19th to 22nd, you can visit the below retail locations to see how you can get tickets to the concert while supplies last.

Rogers Retail Locations:

  • Chinook Centre – 6455 MacLeod Trail S, Unit 306, Calgary, AB T2H 0K8
  • Southcentre – 100 Anderson Rd. SE, Unit 37, Calgary AB T2J 3V1
  • Sunridge Mall – 2525 36 St NE, Unit 275, Calgary, AB T1Y 5T4
  • Cross Iron Mills – 261055 Crossiron Blvd, Unit 373, Rocky View, AB T4A 0G3
  • Market Mall – 3625 Shaganappi Trail NW, Unit D011A, Calgary, AB T3A 0E2

Shaw Retail Stores:

  • Chinook Centre – 6455 MacLeod Trail S, Unit 139, Calgary, AB T2H 0K8
  • Southcentre – 100 Anderson Rd. SE, Unit 25, Calgary AB T2J 3V1
  • Sunridge Mall – 2525 36 St NE, Unit 278, Calgary, AB T1Y 5T4
  • Cross Iron Mills – 261055 Crossiron Blvd, Unit 347, Rocky View, AB T4A 0G3
  • Market Mall – 3625 Shaganappi Trail NW, Unit P018-A, Calgary, AB T3A 0E2

Legendary Rock Manager HARVEY LISBERG Releases New Book “I’m Into Something Good: My Life Managing 10cc, Herman’s Hermits and Many More!”

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When 22-year-old accountant Harvey Lisberg heard the Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’, he had an epiphany: he could be Manchester’s answer to Brian Epstein. He had a musical ear, a knack for numbers and a gambler’s instinct for taking a punt. Within a year he had taken local group, Herman’s Hermits, to number one with ‘I’m Into Something Good’. You can get it here.

Soon, Hermania was a global phenomenon. Harvey had found his vocation. In this uproarious, frank and moving autobiography, “I’m Into Something Good: My Life Managing 10cc, Herman’s Hermits and Many More!”, he reveals the excesses of life on the road with Herman’s Hermits; the frustration of championing unknowns Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber; the highs and lows of managing the brilliant 10cc; the utter madness of looking after snooker bad boys Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White and much, much more. Many other artists benefitted from Harvey’s guidance during this time, including Tony Christie, Barclay James Harvest, Sad Café and the Chameleons.

“I’m Into Something Good “is his account of a life that started in Salford and ended up in Palm Springs; a life in which he travelled the world, met heroes and villains, fulfilled his dreams, spent a fortune on good living, family and friends, and never took himself or his achievements too seriously.

UK-Emerging Singer Songwriter Gideon Foster Releases “Affirmation” New Single From ‘Prophecy’ Album

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Gideon Foster is a noteworthy, emerging singer-songwriter based in Yorkshire, UK, blending his philosophical outlook on life with a unique sound of his own. His love of music has led him down many different roads and genres, and while Gideon has drawn inspiration from many of them, he is not to be constrained by them, preferring to go with the flow.

Gideon answered his calling a little later than most, not producing a song until his mid-40s but hasn’t stopped since, releasing many singles, an EP, and most recently his debut album Prophecy which is a musical documentation of his journey and the life-changing event that led to him writing songs.

The debut LP, Prophecy, showcases his personal evolution with its lead single, “Affirmation.” He explains: “The album is really an introspective journey; it was recorded with the great help and inspiration of my producer Si who has imparted so much of his musical knowledge to me whilst we’ve been working together and it’s really a journey from the past to the present. The opening track ‘Affirmation’ is the corporate world I left behind to write music, a world that will always be a part of my journey to here but a world that resonated with me less and less as life progressed.”

By refusing to stay in his safe comfort zone, Gideon believes that “Prophecy has been a work in progress for the 53 years I have been living, but for the first 45 years of that time I didn’t realize I wanted to write songs—I’ve always had a love of music and played guitar a bit, but until I had a spiritual awakening nine years ago, none of it made sense. My life changed as a result of this event, and I started to look for meaning in my life and songwriting became that meaning and almost a means of documenting the journey.”

I’m not casting seeds on stone, I’m not like you all alone
Tell me when you’re ready, tell me when you’re done

The album Prophecy and the single “Affirmation” are both out now.

Nominations Revealed for the 2023 SSIMAs: Aysanabee Leads With 6, Snotty Nose Rez Kids Get 5

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The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival today announced nominees for The SSIMAs, (Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards) presented by TD Bank Group. Winners will be celebrated and honoured in Ottawa during the awards ceremony at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023.  Tickets will be available for purchase at the NAC box office, or by clicking here.

The SSIMAs span 16 categories, celebrating solo artists, duos and groups from across Canada and showcasing the diverse and growing music and culture of artistic expression and accomplishment within the Indigenous community. Nominees were selected from 250 Canada-wide submissions by an invited panel of jurors comprising Indigenous and music industry professionals. No public voting was involved in the selection process.

“Presenting and promoting Indigenous music is a cornerstone of our Festival,” says Trina Mather Simard, CEO and Producer of Ottawa’s Summer Solstice Festival which runs June 21 – 25. “We’re celebrating Indigenous voices” adds Advisory Committee Chair Elaine Bomberry. “These Awards, in Canada’s capital city, provide an excellent platform for artists to be recognized for their hard work”. She adds.

Hosted by Anishinaabe activist, broadcaster and content creator Sarain Fox, The SSIMAs presentation ceremony will feature six live performances.

Tickets will be on sale THIS Friday May 19th at 10AM, with a limited number of VIP tickets include a reception attended by artists, presenters and sponsors with an Indigenous-inspired menu by NAC Chef Chris Commandant.

Tickets for The SSIMAs start at $20.00 (including tax plus fees) and will be available at https://summersolsticefestivals.ca/2023-music-awards/, by phone and in-person at the NAC box office, starting Friday at 10 am.

This SSIMAs presentation kicks off Indigenous History Month and is a prelude to the Annual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (SSIF), June 21st-25th at Madahoki Farm in Ottawa. The free festival coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) on June 21. Authentic, interactive programming showcases the culture, history, food, music, art, fashion, dance and entrepreneurship of Canada’s diverse Indigenous community fostering cultural understanding and creating opportunities for connection.

See the full list of nominees below:

Radio Song Single of the Year
Nomads, Aysanabee
Thick As Thieves, Blue Moon Marquee
Wannabe, Indian City
Deadman, Logan Staats
I’M GOOD, Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Country Album of the Year
That’s The Way It Goes, Jim Jacobs
Classic Country Couple, Jerry Sereda
A Place To Call Home, Trent Agecoutay
It’s Time, Jarrid Lee, Chief & Council

Pop/Alternative/Rock Album of the Year
Watin, Aysanabee
Zhawenim, Digging Roots

Code Red, Indian City
Kizmet, Melody McArthur
Star Nation, Nadjiwan

Live Musical Performance of the Year
Nomads, Aysanabee
Long Black Train, Blue Moon Marquee
War Club, DJ Shub
Codeine, Logan Staats
Grave Digger, Bully Mode, No Jesus
Piece, Sink or Swim Medley, Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Social Voice
Digging Roots
Plex
Genevieve Salamone
Logan Staats
Adrian Sutherland

Roots Album of the Year
Scream, Holler & Howl, Blue Moon Marquee
Zhawenim, Digging Roots
Inuugama, Joey Nowyuk
The Spaces In Between, Amanda Rheaume
When The Magic Hits, Adrian Sutherland

Rap/Hip Hop/Electronica Album of the Year
Passage, Cody Coyote
Going Through the Motions, Patrick
Moon Bird
Unidentified, MR. SAUGA
Who Am I To Judge, Plex
I’M GOOD, HBU?, Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Metis Artist/Group of the Year
G.R. Gritt
Kaeley Jade
Andrea Menard
Amanda Rheaume
Brandi Vezina

International Indigenous Artist/Group Recording of the Year
G Precious
Solju
Secret Tween

Music in the Arts
Lacey Hill, Love Wins
Kaeley Jade, A Broken Heart
(Remembers the Breaking)
Jessica McMann, Muskwa’s Mountain Home

Recording Artist(s) of the Year
Ayasanabee
Digging Roots
Lacey Hill
Laura Niquay
Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Rising Star
Aysanabee
Laura Niquay
MR. SAUGA
Stun
Joel Wood

Inuit Artist/Group of the Year
Angela Amarualik
Beatrice Deer
Brenda Montana
Joey Nowyuk
Shauna Seeteenak

Pow Wow/Hand Drum/ Fiddle/Instrumental Album of the Year
kâkîsimo ᑳᑮᓯᒧᐤ, Cikwes
Incandescent Tales, Jessica McMann
Ôskimacîtahowin: A New Beginning,
Northern Cree
Mikwanak Kamôsakinat, Joel Wood

Artistic Video
We Were Here (Jon B. Elliott) Aysanabee
Red Flags (Doug Bedard) Plex
The Unforgotten (Genevieve Salamone) Genevieve Salamone
DAMN RIGHT (Sterling Larose/ Ellie Cameron) Snotty Nose Rez Kids
Walk With Me (RoseAnna Schick) Adrian Sutherland

Photo Gallery: Indigo De Souza with Sluice at Toronto’s Opera House

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All photos by Sophie Bouquillon. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter

Indigo De Souza
Indigo De Souza
Indigo De Souza
Indigo De Souza
Indigo De Souza
Indigo De Souza
Indigo De Souza
Sluice
Sluice
Sluice
Sluice
Sluice
Indigo De Souza

 

My Next Read: “Jazz Uncovered: A Radical Guide to the Music That Changed the World” by Sammy Stein

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Jazz isn’t what you think it is. The accepted history is that it originated in New Orleans and was created by poor, oppressed people who had been brought in from all over the world. Different cultures mixed, and the music evolved. People made their own instruments or purchased ones from the Civil War at pawnshops. With its different influences, this music became “jass,” and then “jazz,” and moved north across America with the riverboats. This simplistic view satisfies many. But the story of jazz is much more complex.

In Jazz Uncovered, Sammy Stein tells the real story of jazz, and addresses questions such as who was the first jazz musician? What makes a jazz musician great? She also demystifies jazz terms and discusses the fascinating connection between hip-hop and jazz―from the ways each art form first developed, to how hip-hop and genres like classical and rock ’n’ roll have influenced and been influenced by jazz. She also looks at the powerful social and cultural influences of jazz as well as its bright future. Above all, Stein makes it clear that jazz is a music for all and is as relevant as ever.

Ultimately, this book is at once a people’s history and an engaging guide that will educate and delight both hard-core jazz fans and new fans alike. And one thing is certain―after reading it, you will never see jazz the same way again.

UK-Based Rock Group The Goodstock Project Sings The Blues In New Single “This Rain”

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As the saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.” When something goes wrong, it seems more things go wrong and things will never be right again. The frustration and despair of this experience is captured in UK-based rock group The Goodstock Project and their newest single, “This Rain”.

The song opens with vocalist June singing how tired she is of the endless rain she’s enduring backed by acoustic guitar and piano (both played by Ol). The bass (Jon) and drums (Ben) come crashing in by the second verse.

‘I’ve black-lidded eyes,
And there are cold stormy skies,
The easy escape is the one we can’t take
Another reason we all must apologise”

Of the song’s inspirations, the band states the song is about second chances. It’s written from the perspective of a positive minded person constantly being faced with a negative response from another. The ‘rain’ is a metaphor for an incessant downpour of ‘reasons why not’.

In fact, the song is reminiscent of many blues inspired classic rock songs. One in particular that comes to mind in terms of the guitar licks and lyrical content is David Bowie’s “Rock n’ Roll Suicide”.

Although Bowie’s song is edgier in tone, his song and The Goodstock Project’s “The Rain” evoke a similar feeling of talking someone down from the ledge. A key difference is that “The Rain” brings to mind one person gradually calming themselves down and reframing things in a better light. By the time the guitar solo comes in later in the song, hope has sprung anew.

Accompanying the single is a music video that shows the group’s individual roles becoming whole. Using their phones, each of them initially filmed themselves playing their instruments or singing. These raw takes were then given to their production editor Speaks, who cleaned up the takes and added the final touches. The band jokingly refers to this as “the 2020 lockdown method.”

Originally conceived in the Spring of 2020, The Goodstock Project is a collaborative effort initially designed to see if it was possible to make music together without being in the same room.

By 2022, The Goodstock Project had created more singles that included songs such as “The Drop” and “We Mean Well”. These singles would become the group’s first EP, “Remote”, which would be released in October 2022. “The Rain” is the newest single from the EP, following their January 2023 single “Be The One.”