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The Kooks Release Devastating Live Version of Hidden Gem “See Me Now”

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Some songs find their moment years after they’re written. “See Me Now” first appeared on The Kooks’ 2014 album ‘Listen’, spent a decade as a cherished deep cut, and then something shifted. A viral groundswell, a new generation of listeners, and a sold-out O2 Arena show in London turned it into the emotional centerpiece of the band’s biggest-ever UK headline tour. Now the live recording from that night is out, and it’s the version the song always deserved.

The performance is staggering in its quiet weight. Luke Pritchard sat alone at the piano, surrounded by tens of thousands of phone lights, singing to the father he lost when he was three years old. “Would you be proud?” The O2 crowd held that question with him. Pritchard has spoken openly about what unlocked the song’s new meaning: home tapes his mother delivered, footage he’d never seen, his father teaching a three-year-old Luke to use a microphone and pose like a rock star. “It was like a time capsule experience,” he says.

The accompanying music video, directed by Julien Temple (The Filth and the Fury, The Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Swindle), weaves that home footage together with clips from the original 2014 video and the O2 performance. Three stages of Luke’s life, one continuous story. Temple said he was “keen to work with Luke and bring his deeply moving relationship with his father to life.” The result is devastating in the best possible way.

The release lands during a strong stretch for the band. Their seventh album, ‘Never/Know’, released in May 2025, hit number 5 on the UK Albums Chart, their highest position since 2008, with NME calling it “The new era of The Kooks.” A new album is already in progress with producer Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers), with Pritchard describing it as leaning toward a “psychedelic rock and roll record.”

The Kooks also have a series of major outdoor summer shows lined up to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album ‘Inside In/Inside Out’, including Delamere Forest, Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre, Isle of Wight Festival, and The Piece Hall in Halifax.

2026 Summer Shows:

Delamere Forest

Open Air Theatre, Scarborough

Sky Presents the Isle of Wight Festival

The Piece Hall, Halifax

AIR Drop First-Ever Live Album as a Record Store Day Exclusive

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AIR have never released a live album. After more than 25 years, that changes on April 18th, and they’ve chosen Record Store Day to make it happen. ‘Moon Safari, The Athens Concert’ is a limited-edition vinyl exclusive, recorded during the band’s Moon Safari Anniversary tour and pressed for independent record stores worldwide only.

The setting alone makes this release remarkable. Recorded on a warm night in Athens beneath the Acropolis, the duo performed inside one of the world’s oldest and most acoustically distinct theaters. The analog warmth AIR built their reputation on collides with that ancient architecture in ways a studio recording simply can’t replicate. It’s a genuinely rare combination.

The performance moves through the full ‘Moon Safari’ tracklist, from “La Femme d’Argent” to “Le Voyage de Penelope”, with new arrangements woven throughout. This isn’t a straight reproduction of the original album. AIR reimagined the material for the space and the moment, and the recordings capture that in full.

The Moon Safari Anniversary tour ran across 2024 and 2025, bringing the duo’s landmark debut back to stages around the world to a response that confirmed just how deeply that record has held up. ‘Moon Safari, The Athens Concert’ is the document that tour deserved.

It’s available April 18th, 2026, at indie record stores worldwide. Limited quantities. No second pressing has been announced.

‘Moon Safari, The Athens Concert’ Tracklist:

A Side:

La Femme d’Argent

Sexy Boy

All I Need

Kelly Watch The Stars

B Side:

Talisman

Remember

You Make It Easy

Ce Matin-La

New Star in the Sky

Le Voyage de Penelope

Ratt Frontman Stephen Pearcy Hits the Road With Warren DeMartini on “The Undercover Tour”

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Stephen Pearcy is moving on multiple fronts at once, and none of them are slowing down. The voice of Ratt has launched “The Undercover Tour” for 2026, with several dates featuring performances alongside guitarist Warren DeMartini under their Pearcy/DeMartini banner. These two have been making noise together for decades, and their chemistry on stage remains the real thing.

The tour runs through the summer, hitting venues across California, Iowa, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Florida. Pearcy is also offering post-show VIP Meet N Greet packages at each stop, with signings, photos, and exclusive memorabilia. Tickets are limited, so early purchase matters.

While the tour builds, Pearcy is deep in the studio recording his sixth solo album, due later this year and stacked with guest appearances. Fans who want inside access can follow along on his Patreon, where he’s documenting studio sessions and road life in real time. “This is real life, Rock & Roll, and Raw access,” he says. “It’s where the real story lives.”

The momentum is already there. Pearcy’s recent appearance on Billy Corgan’s The Magnificent Others Podcast racked up 600,000 views across four clips since debuting in January, making it the fastest-rising release on the platform to date. DeMartini was also recently honored at the Metal Hall of Fame as a Sunset Strip Inductee, with Pearcy on hand to salute his longtime bandmate.

Pearcy at his best is a reminder of exactly how that era of hard rock sounded when it was firing on all cylinders, and “The Undercover Tour” delivers that live.

“The Undercover Tour” 2026 Dates:

May 9, Tulare, CA, Adventist Health Amphitheater

May 29, Davenport, IA, River City Casino

May 31, Lake Charles, LA, L’Auberge Casino Resort

June 13, West Salem, WI, Maple Grove Venue

August 21, Gatlinburg, TN, Gatlinburg

August 23, Orlando, FL, Hard Rock Café

Irish Troubadour Ben Reel Swings Hard on Twelfth Album ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’

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Twelve albums in, Ben Reel hasn’t lost a step. ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’, out now via Dutch label Mars Music Group, is the latest chapter from one of Ireland’s most tireless and underrated voices, and it hits with the kind of range and conviction that only comes from 35-plus years of doing this for real.

Focus track “Better Be Better” opens the conversation with pounding drums, big guitars, and a raw emotional core lifted straight from the best of 1960s rock. The story is a desperate plea inside a crumbling relationship, “It better be better than the year before or I’m walking out that door,” and the nod to The Beatles is unmistakable. It’s a strong, immediate song that earns every second of its intensity.

The album moves through raw rock and into soulful, R&B-infused territory, drawing comparisons to Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, and Sting. Reel has always worked in that tradition without being beholden to it, and ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’ finds him at his most focused. His message is direct: in a world full of noise and conflict, love and human connection are what hold. It doesn’t feel like a slogan when the music backs it up this completely.

Reel’s track record makes the case. He recorded ‘The Nashville Calling’ (2020) with Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack, featuring E Street Band’s Garry W. Tallent, and that record hit No. 1 on the Euro Americana Chart. He’s played the Bluebird Café, toured the US and Europe extensively, and shared stages with Jools Holland, The Cranberries, and Nanci Griffith. This is an artist with deep roots and a wide reach.

War Child’s Secret 7″ Returns for Its Tenth Edition With John Lennon, Bastille, and Glass Animals

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Ten editions in, and Secret 7″ still delivers one of the most compelling intersections of music, art, and purpose in the charity world. War Child has confirmed the full lineup for the 2026 edition, and it’s a serious list: John Lennon, The Last Dinner Party, Gabrielle, The Maccabees, Skin, Glass Animals, and Bastille, each contributing one track pressed onto just 100 seven-inch vinyl copies.

That’s 700 records total, each one a limited-edition object with a unique sleeve designed by a visual artist. The submission window for sleeve designs is open until June 1, 2026, and the brief is wide open: any design inspired by the chosen song qualifies. It’s a genuine opportunity for emerging visual artists to get their work seen alongside some of the biggest names in music.

War Child’s Fundraising and Engagement Director Charlotte Nimmo put the stakes plainly: over 520 million children currently have their lives impacted by conflict worldwide. Across nine previous editions, Secret 7″ has raised over £900,000 for War Child’s work protecting and educating children in war zones. The tenth edition carries that weight forward.

The music is strong. Lennon’s “Out the Blue”, Glass Animals’ “Take a Slice”, Bastille’s “Hope For The Future”, Gabrielle’s “Out of Reach”, these are tracks with real emotional pull, and hearing them pressed to seven-inch vinyl makes the listening experience feel immediate and intentional.

All 700 sleeve designs will be exhibited at 180 Studios in London from August 18 to August 30, with the online auction running August 18 through September 2, 2026.

Secret 7″ 2026 Tracklist:

John Lennon, “Out the Blue”

The Last Dinner Party, “Let’s Do It Again!”

Gabrielle, “Out of Reach”

The Maccabees, “No Kind Words”

Skin, “Purple”

Glass Animals, “Take a Slice”

Bastille, “Hope For The Future”

Funk and Joy: Stevie Wonder Lights Up Sesame Street With “Superstition”

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On this day in 1971, Stevie Wonder brought pure groove to Sesame Street with a joyful, seven minute performance of “Superstition.” Set against the show’s playful backdrop, the song’s deep funk rhythms and Wonder’s electrifying presence turned a children’s program into a masterclass in musicianship. It remains a moment where generations met, as kids danced along while adults recognized they were witnessing one of music’s greats in full flight.

Blues-Rock Troubadour Lena Morris Goes Raw and Live on New EP ‘Rouge’

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Lena Morris isn’t interested in shortcuts. ‘Rouge’, her second EP, is four tracks recorded live, bass, drums, and rhythm guitar captured in real time at Motif Music Studio in Paris, and the result is exactly what that process promises: urgent, human, and unfiltered blues-rock with nowhere to hide.

The EP is built around a five-card cross tarot spread, with each song embodying a card and a corresponding emotional state. Nostalgia, passion, anxiety, acceptance. It’s a concept that could feel precious in the wrong hands. Morris pulls it off because the songs earn it. “Buying a Donkey” opens with a restless desire to break free. “Red” reignites passion from a cold start. “Young Blood” calls back the fearless kid she once was. “Dancing In Hell” closes the record by choosing to move with fear rather than against it.

The music draws deep from 1970s blues-rock, but Morris isn’t recreating the past. No autotune, no AI, no digital instruments. That’s a deliberate artistic choice, and it shows. The performances are visceral and grounded, the kind of sound you can only get when real people play together in a room.

Singles “Red” and “Young Blood” have already crossed 86,000 streams on Spotify, proof that this approach is connecting. Morris also designed and illustrated the cover artwork herself, making ‘Rouge’ a fully realized artistic statement from the inside out.

‘Rouge’ is out now.

Tracklist:

Buying a Donkey

Red

Young Blood

Dancing In Hell

What Defines a Reliable Safety Company in High-Risk Industries

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By Mitch Rice

High-risk industries demand a level of safety oversight that goes far beyond basic compliance. Whether it involves construction, manufacturing, or large-scale infrastructure work, the margin for error is often extremely small. In these environments, the role of a safety company becomes essential, not optional.

Organizations operating in such conditions rely on external expertise to maintain control over complex and evolving risks. A reliable safety company does more than enforce rules; it helps build systems that prevent problems before they occur. This proactive approach is what separates effective partners from those that simply meet minimum requirements.

Understanding what defines a dependable safety company can help organizations make better decisions when selecting a partner. The right choice leads to improved safety outcomes, smoother operations, and greater confidence across all levels of a project.

Experience That Aligns With Industry Demands

Experience is often the first factor organizations consider, but not all experience carries the same value. A reliable safety company should have a background that aligns closely with the specific risks of the industry it serves. This ensures that recommendations are relevant and grounded in real-world conditions.

Companies that have worked across multiple high-risk environments tend to bring a broader perspective. They understand how different challenges overlap and can apply lessons learned from past projects. This adaptability allows them to respond effectively to new or unexpected situations.

A Menotti NYC Safety Company, for instance, often operates in environments where regulations, timelines, and site conditions intersect in complex ways. That level of exposure helps shape a more refined and practical approach to safety management.

Strong Systems Instead of Reactive Measures

A key indicator of reliability is the ability to build structured safety systems rather than relying on reactive fixes. Companies that focus only on addressing issues after they arise often struggle to maintain consistency. In contrast, those that prioritize planning create a more stable foundation.

Structured systems include clear procedures, defined responsibilities, and regular evaluations. These elements work together to ensure that safety is integrated into daily operations. When systems are well designed, they reduce the likelihood of errors and improve overall efficiency.

This approach also makes it easier to scale operations. As projects grow in size or complexity, a strong safety framework can adapt without losing effectiveness. This flexibility is essential in high-risk industries where conditions can change quickly.

Clear Communication and Accountability

Communication plays a central role in maintaining safe work environments. A reliable safety company establishes clear channels for sharing information, reporting concerns, and addressing issues. Without this structure, even well-designed plans can fall short.

Accountability is closely tied to communication. Each team member must understand their role in maintaining safety standards. When responsibilities are clearly defined, it becomes easier to track performance and identify areas for improvement.

Effective safety companies encourage open dialogue rather than strict top-down control. This creates an environment where workers feel comfortable raising concerns. Over time, this openness leads to faster problem resolution and stronger team coordination.

Ability to Adapt to Changing Conditions

High-risk environments rarely remain static. New equipment, shifting timelines, and evolving regulations all require adjustments to safety strategies. A reliable safety company must be able to adapt quickly without compromising effectiveness.

Adaptability involves more than making occasional updates. It requires continuous monitoring and a willingness to refine processes as conditions change. Companies that remain flexible are better equipped to handle unexpected challenges.

This ability also extends to working with different teams and project structures. Each environment has its own dynamics, and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. Tailored solutions ensure that safety measures remain relevant and practical.

Focus on Training and Workforce Development

A strong safety company recognizes that systems alone are not enough. Employees must understand and apply safety practices consistently. This makes training a central part of any effective safety strategy.

Training programs should go beyond basic instruction. They need to reflect real-world scenarios and provide practical guidance that workers can use on the job. This type of preparation builds confidence and reduces hesitation during critical moments.

Ongoing development is equally important. Regular updates and refresher sessions help reinforce key concepts and address new challenges. A workforce that is continuously learning is better prepared to maintain high safety standards.

Consistency in Monitoring and Evaluation

Reliability also depends on consistent oversight. Safety measures must be monitored regularly to ensure they remain effective. Without ongoing evaluation, small issues can go unnoticed and eventually lead to larger problems.

A dependable safety company implements routine inspections and assessments. These evaluations provide valuable insights into how well systems are functioning. They also highlight areas where improvements may be needed.

Consistency in monitoring creates a cycle of continuous improvement. Each evaluation contributes to a better understanding of risks and how to manage them. Over time, this process strengthens the overall safety framework.

Building Long-Term Partnerships

The most effective safety companies focus on long-term relationships rather than short-term solutions. They work closely with organizations to understand their goals, challenges, and operational structure. This deeper connection allows for more tailored and effective support.

Long-term partnerships also encourage trust and collaboration. As the relationship develops, communication becomes more efficient and aligned. This leads to better decision-making and more consistent results.

Organizations that invest in the right safety partner often see lasting benefits. From reduced incidents to improved workflow, the impact extends across all aspects of operations. A reliable safety company becomes an integral part of sustained success in high-risk industries.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Lady Gaga and Doechii’s Pop and R&B Collab “Runway” Is the First Music From ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

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 16-time GRAMMY and Emmy Award winner Lady Gaga and 2-time GRAMMY Award winner Doechii today released their new song “Runway,” the first piece of music unveiled from 20th Century Studios’ forthcoming The Devil Wears Prada 2.  The collaboration was announced earlier this week when the song was teased in the final trailer for the film.  Built for the dance floor, “Runway” arrives ahead of the highly anticipated sequel, which debuts in theatres May 1. Listen here.

Performed by Lady Gaga and Doechii, “Runway” was written by Bruno Mars, Jaylah Hickmon, Gaga, Andrew Watt, Henry Walter, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II and Jayda Love, and produced by Bruno Mars, Andrew Watt, Cirkut and D’Mile.

The song marks the first collaboration between Gaga and Doechii, who share a mutual respect and admiration for one another. Last year, Doechii presented Gaga with the Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, calling Gaga “a lifeline” and reflecting on her impact on young queer fans around the world. In a recent interview with British Vogue, Gaga praised Doechii’s artistry, writing, “You don’t often see someone come out of the gate with a pen that feels immediately legendary. That’s Doechii to me.”